The purpose-built joinery hub is designed to equip prisoners with practical woodworking and employability skills before their release. By teaching them a hands-on trade, organisers hope the project will build self-confidence and significantly improve their chances of securing stable employment when they return to the community.

Through the joint partnership, offenders will gain real carpentry experience by crafting a range of wooden items, such as planters, bird boxes, and bug boxes, which will be donated to local schools and community groups across Yorkshire. Beyond manual trade skills, those on the programme will develop critical, transferable workplace habits including teamwork, time management, and proactive communication.

Shaun Mycroft, Governor at HMP Lindholme, commented: “At HMP Lindholme, our priority is to equip the men in our care with the skills, behaviours and confidence they need to build stable, productive lives on release and, ultimately, to reduce reoffending and protect the public.

“By collaborating with Keepmoat and Strata, we are able to provide high-quality, real-world training that reflects the needs of local employers and the wider economy. We know that sustainable employment is one of the most significant factors in reducing reoffending. Initiatives like this play a key role in helping individuals turn their lives around, while also supporting safer communities across Yorkshire.”

According to research from the Ministry of Justice, securing stable work upon release dramatically cuts the likelihood of an individual reoffending.

Ciaran Aldridge, Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat, Yorkshire East, said: “Meaningful employment can play a huge role in helping people rebuild their lives after prison. This new woodworking hub provides prisoners with practical, hands-on experience while also helping them develop confidence, discipline and transferable skills that employers are looking for. Supporting initiatives like this is about giving people a genuine second chance while helping to develop future talent and skills.”

Mark Leaf, Chief Growth Officer at Strata, shared similar pride in the project’s launch: “Providing hands-on, practical training means people leave with something tangible to offer employers. Supporting individuals to make the most of a second chance and helping to reduce reoffending is something we are incredibly proud to be part of.”

To find out more about Keepmoat’s community development programs, visit the homebuilder’s official website at www.keepmoat.com.

Praveen Gupta, the UK Head of Tax at international accounting and business advisory group Azets, which operates major Yorkshire offices in Leeds, Bradford, and York, argues that the existing regime is draining the economic optimism needed to drive national growth.

“There is no incentive to set up, scale and sell a business in the UK,” Gupta stated. “It costs more than ever to recruit staff and if you are able to sell your company, the Treasury takes a bigger slice of the proceeds than it has in decades. We understand the government needs to balance the books, but right now the tax system is preventing entrepreneurs from doing what they do best and the economy is suffering as a result.”

Gupta warned of a looming talent drain, pointing out that the UK risks losing its future business leaders because they will either move their operations overseas or decide against launching a start-up altogether.

To counter this threat, Gupta has proposed a four-point policy solution to unshackle the UK’s small-and-medium enterprise (SME) sector:

1. Raise the Employment Allowance rate to £50,000: Under this change, an employer would not pay National Insurance contributions until their total wage bill exceeded £333,333, down from the current threshold of roughly £70,000. Gupta says this single adjustment would dramatically reduce overheads and give local firms the confidence to recruit.
2. Slash Capital Gains Tax (CGT) to 10% for individuals selling an active business.
3. Restore the Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR) lifetime limit back to £5 million.
4. Introduce a rolling two-year Employment Tax Roadmap to give founders the stability needed to forecast and budget effectively, avoiding the abrupt policy shifts seen in recent Budgets.

Gupta believes that any immediate drop in Treasury revenues from these tax cuts would be quickly balanced out by the resulting economic activity.

“Entrepreneurs typically don’t retire – many of them invest some of their hard-earned money from selling their businesses into start-ups or new companies looking to scale,” Gupta explained. “Taking less of the money they make from selling a company would give them a larger amount to invest in new businesses, effectively creating an army of business angels who could help the entrepreneurs of the future grow.”

The warnings are supported by sobering corporate data analysed by Azets. Figures from Companies House show that there were nearly 13,700 fewer company incorporations in 2025 than in 2024. Furthermore, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals that there were an estimated 104,000 fewer payrolled employees between March 2025 and March 2026, alongside a drop of 65,000 vacancies compared to the previous year.

Compounding the problem is a notable demographic shift; ONS figures indicate that approximately 75,000 more people aged 16 to 34 left Britain than arrived in 2025, a growing net-departure gap that has widened every year since 2022.

“If the UK wants to avoid its entrepreneurs becoming an endangered species and really fuel economic growth, the government needs to take action now and evolve the tax system into something that encourages rather than stifles entrepreneurs,” Gupta concluded.

With 191,000 active VAT and/or PAYE-registered businesses operating across Yorkshire and the Humber, local advisory teams are urging the Treasury to act before more firms are forced to close their doors.

The new-format store drew massive queues around the block, welcoming hundreds of eager customers through its doors on opening morning and marking an important milestone in Asda’s targeted investment into the standalone George brand.

To celebrate the arrival, the grand opening featured a day of live entertainment, exclusive prize giveaways, and celebrity appearances to create a memorable launch for local shoppers. Barnsley-born radio personality Stephanie Hirst entertained visitors with a live DJ set throughout the event, while style expert Mark Heyes, best known for his regular fashion segments on ITV’s Lorraine, offered customers personalised style makeovers and fashion advice using the latest George collections.

The transformed 28,000-square-foot store offers a completely dedicated destination for fashion and interior design enthusiasts. It brings together an extensive, curated range of George clothing for women, men, and children alongside a vastly expanded George Home collection featuring trending bedding, bath essentials, dining ware, and home accessories. Visitors can also browse the latest high-profile seasonal lines, including Stacey Solomon’s popular George Home range and selected pieces from Yasmin Le Bon’s George fashion edit.

Designed from the ground up to make the shopping experience easier and more inspiring, the modern layout features upgraded fitting rooms, a dedicated character shop tailored specifically for families, additional self-service tills, and a streamlined parcel collection service to handle online orders smoothly.

Karl Doyle, Vice President of George, commented: “We’re absolutely delighted to have officially opened our new George store in Barnsley and to have welcomed so many customers through the doors to celebrate with us. The store has become one of our most successful openings to date, achieving record-breaking sales over opening weekend.

“There was a real sense of excitement and a fantastic atmosphere from the moment we opened with queues around the block, and the incredible response we’ve received reflects the strength of the George brand in South Yorkshire.”

The Barnsley site is the sixth former Asda Living location in the UK and the very first store in South Yorkshire to be fully reimagined as a standalone George store. The conversion forms part of Asda’s long-term strategy to accelerate and strengthen the George brand by creating exciting, modern shopping destinations for non-food customers nationwide.

To check out the latest homeware and fashion collections or find your nearest store, visit the official website at www.george.com.

The online series, titled Neurodivergent Wellbeing Workshops: Sensory Regulation, Sleep & Sex, will take place across three consecutive Wednesday evenings in August. The curriculum has been thoughtfully curated for autistic, ADHD, and otherwise neurodivergent adults, but it is equally valuable for parents, carers, educators, therapists, support workers, and healthcare professionals.

The interactive events will run online from 18:00 to 19:30 on the following dates:

• Wednesday 5 August 2026 – Sensory Regulation for Neurodivergent Adults: Autism, ADHD & Overload Workshop
• Wednesday 12 August 2026 – Sleep & Neurodivergence
• Wednesday 19 August 2026 – Sex & Neurodivergence

Throughout the series, participants will dive into everyday areas of neurodivergent wellbeing that are frequently misunderstood by traditional healthcare models. Key topics include navigating sensory overload, the toll of masking, understanding shutdowns and meltdowns, providing nervous system support, managing sleep differences, and identifying the complex relationship between neurodivergence, embodiment, intimacy, and pleasure.

The introductory workshop on August 5th will focus heavily on understanding individual sensory needs. Rather than framing regulation as simply “calming down,” the session views overload, masking, and meltdowns through a strictly neurodiversity-affirmative lens, providing highly practical guidance for daily life.

The Divergent Space was co-founded by Clinical Psychologists Dr Helen Gowling and Dr Becky Hull. Based out of their clinic on Victoria Street in Skipton, the service provides specialised neuroaffirmative screening, diagnostic assessments, therapy, and bespoke support for adults, children, families, and professionals across the UK.

Commenting on the launch of the series, co-founder Dr Helen Gowling said: “Many neurodivergent people are given advice that asks them to fit into environments that were never designed with them in mind. This series is about making space for more compassionate, practical conversations around regulation, rest and pleasure – and helping people better understand their own needs without shame.”

Co-founder Dr Becky Hull added: “We wanted these workshops to focus on real-life wellbeing: the sensory overwhelm, sleep struggles and intimate parts of life that can have a huge impact, but are not always spoken about openly. Our aim is to offer clear, neuroaffirmative support for neurodivergent adults and the people around them.”

The workshops are open for public registration and can be booked directly through Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/regulation-rest-pleasure-for-adhd-autism-4854655. For further inquiries or information regarding the service, the team can be reached via email at info@thedivergentspace.co.uk.

Developed over the past year in close partnership with Leeds-based creative agency Serviced and York-based digital product specialists The Distance, the Backstage app has been created as an exclusive destination where artists can share behind-the-scenes content, unreleased music, personal updates, and dedicated fan experiences. The app is completely free to download, with premium artist subscriptions available from £9.99 per month.

The big launch sees Simon and his fellow Blue bandmates become the platform’s very first featured artists, giving fans unprecedented access to exclusive content as the app begins rolling out across iOS and Android devices in the UK.

Unlike traditional social media platforms, which reward reach and algorithms, Backstage has been designed entirely around the quality of connection. Artists can build private communities of superfans, share content unavailable anywhere else, and develop recurring subscription revenue through a model intended to give creators a significantly larger share of income than existing streaming platforms. To keep things personal, the platform currently limits membership to 10,000 fans per artist in each country.

The clever concept originated with Simon himself, whose 25-year career in the music industry inspired him to rethink how artists connect with their audiences. Having experienced first-hand the changing economics of the music business, Simon wanted to create a platform where fans could play a more active role in an artist’s journey – from hearing new music before release to influencing creative decisions like touring locations, album tracks, and music videos.

Speaking about the launch, Simon said: “Launching Backstage Music has been an incredible moment, and I’m genuinely excited for fans to finally experience what we’ve been building. Creating something that brings artists and their audiences closer together has always been the goal, and this is only the beginning.

“I also want to give a huge thank you to the team at Serviced. They’ve been with us from the very start, helping turn what began as an idea into a platform we’re all incredibly proud of. Their creativity, technical expertise and belief in the vision have been invaluable throughout the journey. Every time I head up to Leeds, it feels like I’m working alongside one team with one shared ambition. It’s been a pleasure collaborating with such a passionate and talented group of people.”

While the initial rollout focuses squarely on the UK, discussions are already underway with additional international artists, with the long-term ambition of establishing Backstage as a leading global superfan platform that serves both established acts and emerging talent.

Adam Shire, Managing Director at Serviced, added: “Backstage has been built around a simple idea: fans want to feel closer to the artists they love, and artists need a better way to build relationships with the people who support them. Launching with Blue gives us the perfect opportunity to demonstrate what that looks like, from exclusive content and unheard music to the moments that usually stay behind closed doors.”

More information about Backstage is available at www.backstagemusic.co.

The partnership aims to champion and provide nourishing morning meals that help children and young people learn, concentrate, and thrive in the classroom. Through its direct work with schools, Magic Breakfast ensures pupils start the day properly fueled so they are fully ready to engage with their education.

Ian Hoad, CEO at Keepmoat, said: “Child hunger in the UK remains alarmingly high, with one in seven children at risk of starting their day too hungry to learn. That’s why we’re proud to be partnering with Magic Breakfast and supporting its vital work.

“At Keepmoat, we’re passionate about supporting communities and the families and children within them, and we understand that being fueled for the day is incredibly important. Unlocking the next generation of talent starts in the classroom and we’re committed to raising as much as we can across all our ten regions to support this amazing charity, over the next three years.”

Fundraising for local classrooms

The target will be raised through a wide variety of upcoming fundraising activities led by Keepmoat teams, ranging from adrenaline-fueled sponsored skydives and marathons to social events like charity golf days and gala balls.

Ciaran Aldridge, Regional Managing Director at Keepmoat, Yorkshire East, added: “Supporting the local community is incredibly important to us, which is why we’re proud to be partnering with Magic Breakfast. The entire team is looking forward to seeing the positive impact this partnership will bring to children across our region to help give them the best possible start to their school day.”

The partnership comes at a critical time for school food policy. Magic Breakfast is currently campaigning to ensure the incoming Children’s Wellbeing and Schools bill delivers free, high-quality breakfasts in every primary school, ensuring no child starts the school day too hungry to learn, regardless of their background or family circumstances.

Ali Roberts, Head of Corporate Partnerships at Magic Breakfast, commented: “Magic Breakfast is delighted to be partnering with Keepmoat over the next three years, as teams across the UK work together to raise over £250,000. Thanks to this incredible support, we will be able to provide thousands of children and young people with a nourishing breakfast – ensuring they start the day with the energy they need to learn and thrive.

“We’re hugely grateful to Keepmoat for its commitment – the support will make a lasting difference to the lives of young people across the UK.”

To find out more about the initiative, visit www.keepmoat.com.

For companies operating across Yorkshire and beyond, Leeds city centre offers a combination of connectivity, talent and commercial opportunities that can help you move forward with confidence.

By helping you attract and retain the right talent

Recruiting skilled people has become more competitive, so your location can influence how potential employees view your business.

A central base in Leeds city centre makes commuting easier thanks to Leeds railway station, the National Rail network and extensive local transport links. This practical advantage can widen your recruitment pool across West Yorkshire rather than limiting candidates to one area.

Location also supports your employer brand. Graduates from the University of Leeds – the 9th most targeted university by UK graduate employers – alongside Leeds Beckett University and Leeds Trinity University, often look for employers that offer accessible workplaces and opportunities to collaborate in person. 

By unlocking new business opportunities

Business growth depends on relationships as much as strategy. A central location places you closer to customers, suppliers and professional networks, making it easier to develop opportunities that might not arise otherwise.

For example, you can attend events organised by the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce or connect with businesses through Leeds Digital Festival. 

Similarly, regeneration projects at South Bank Leeds and Wellington Place continue to attract investment, creating opportunities to collaborate with organisations across technology, professional services and the creative industries.

By giving your business the space to grow

Growth rarely follows a straight line, so your workplace should adapt alongside your business. As your team expands, you may need additional meeting rooms or quieter spaces for focused work. Choosing flexible office space that can scale with your business helps you respond without the disruption of frequent relocations.

A considered workplace strategy also reduces operational complexity. Managed workspaces often include facilities management, workplace technology and shared amenities, allowing your team to focus on serving clients instead of managing the building. 

Furthermore, a well-designed environment supports collaboration and creates a professional setting for customer meetings.

Final thoughts…

Business growth depends on many decisions, yet location influences more of them than you might expect. So instead of viewing location as a property decision alone, treat it as part of your wider growth strategy. 

When your workplace connects your business with the people, opportunities and infrastructure that matter most, you create stronger foundations for sustainable success.

Named JJ Double Gold, the comprehensive collection is manufactured exclusively by HempWell. It spans premium CBD oils, supplements, topicals, and functional wellness products designed to support recovery, performance, and day-to-day fitness health.

The range directly reflects Jones’ hands-on approach to her own elite recovery and fitness regimes, translating her experience at the absolute peak of international sports into products for athletes, fans, and fitness enthusiasts alike. For HempWell, which operates popular retail stores in York, Harrogate, and Brighton, the collaboration marks a significant milestone, solidifying the company’s status as a rising name in the highly competitive sports nutrition and recovery manufacturing sector.

Looking forward, HempWell and JJ Double Gold are already in the early stages of expanding the lineup with a bespoke “nutraceutical” gummy range. Formulated and manufactured on a new, jointly owned gummy production line, the incoming range is designed to support a variety of individual health needs and is slated for an Autumn 2026 launch.

Philip James, Director of HempWell Ltd, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be the team behind JJ Double Gold. Jade and Richard have a clear vision for what they want to build, and Jade’s story – the dedication, the resilience, the relentless pursuit of excellence- mirrors everything we believe in at HempWell.”

Jade Jones added: “Recovery has always been at the heart of what I do – it’s what keeps you in the game. I wanted to create a range I genuinely believe in, made by people I trust. Working with HempWell felt like the perfect fit, and I can’t wait for people to try it.”

Ahead of the launch, the double Olympic champion visited HempWell’s retail stores to connect with the local teams behind the manufacturing process. The brand launch comes at a busy time for the athlete, who is preparing for a lightweight title boxing match at the Misfits event in Manchester on 12th September.

The full JJ Double Gold range is available to purchase now across HempWell’s brick-and-mortar stores in York and Harrogate, as well as online.

With nominations open until mid-July 2026, the stage is set to honour the ultimate pioneers shaping our digital future. If you or a business you champion is breaking new ground, now is the time to get your entry in.

An Accessible Judging Process

In a refreshing departure from traditional corporate award formats, the British Tech & Innovation Awards believe that true recognition should be accessible to all. The entire evaluation operates via a fully digital process, completely stripping away cost-prohibitive, exclusive award ceremonies and hidden attendance fees.

Entry into the awards is entirely free of charge. Every single submission is personally reviewed by an expert independent judging panel, evaluating core operational strengths, market disruption, and real-world impact to find the absolute best in British tech.

The Categories to Watch

The 2026 lineup spans 14 highly competitive categories, divided across three distinct foundational pillars:

• Sector Awards: Honouring industry-specific breakthroughs, including FinTech Innovator of the Year, EdTech Excellence, HealthTech & Bio Innovation, SaaS Product of the Year, Cybersecurity Defence, RetailTech & E-commerce Leader, and the highly anticipated AI & Machine Learning Pioneer.
• Growth & People: Celebrating the human element and commercial momentum driving the industry forward, featuring Tech Startup of the Year, Scale-Up Business of the Year, Tech Employer of the Year, and Young Tech Entrepreneur of the Year.
• Social & Future: Spotlighting purpose-driven innovation, including the GreenTech & Sustainability Award, Tech for Good: Social Impact, Excellence in Digital Transformation, and the Women in Tech Leadership Award.

Key Dates & Next Steps

The clock is officially ticking for innovators across the country to secure their place in the spotlight.

Mid-July 2026 (Nominations Close): This is your final call. All entry forms must be finalised and submitted by mid-July to be handed over to the judging panel. Finalists will be officially revealed shortly after the close, granting standout nominees a prestigious, free Finalist’s Badge to showcase to their industries.

Late July 2026 (The Winners Announcement): The ultimate standout companies and entrepreneurs will be crowned at the end of July. Winning organisations will unlock an extensive, premium PR package, a dedicated business showcase editorial on The Business Journal, the official Winner’s Badge, and a physical trophy to cement their place at the top of British innovation.

Don’t leave your hard work unrecognised. Head over to the official website to Nominate Yourself or a Business Here before the mid-July cutoff!

Taking place this Thursday, 2nd July at 4:00 PM at the Copthall Bridge site, Mills will share deep insights from his career playing at the absolute pinnacle of professional football. He will discuss his unique, personal experiences competing on the international stage, drawing on the leadership, elite mindset, and complex team dynamics required to achieve ultimate success in his field.

Attendees will gain valuable knowledge on how to overcome professional setbacks, work efficiently within a team, and perform successfully under high-pressure environments, all while learning about football at the most exciting time to be a fan.

Following the headline talk, guests will have the rare opportunity to take part in an interactive Q&A session with the former defender, before networking with fellow attendees and regional business leaders over drinks and refreshments.

Places for the event are strictly limited. Prospective attendees looking to secure their spot can find further information here.