Manufacturing order books saw a noticeable improvement in August according to the CBI’s latest Industrial Trends Survey (ITS), following a sharp deterioration over April-July. Total order books were reported as below “normal” to the least extent since November 2024, with export order books recovering to “normal” for the first time in over four years.

A NATIONAL business funding roadshow helping ambitious businesses connect with investors, lenders and advisers has helped generate a £6.1 million funding pipeline.

An underwater technology business is expanding its operations in East Yorkshire after securing new premises at Melton West business park. Neptune Sonar is set to move into the largest unit at Evolve @ Melton West, which has been developed by commercial property developer Wykeland Group.

John N Dunn Group has delivered the mechanical and electrical (M&E) installation for Advance Northumberland at a 13-bungalow, dementia-friendly housing development, in Lyndon Walk, Blyth. The scheme was shortlisted in the 2026 Northern Housing Awards.

A young East Yorkshire entrepreneur is boosting his digital content business thanks to a grant received through an innovative partnership. Rural broadband provider Quickline announced the two-year partnership with the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank (JCYEB) earlier this year as they joined forces to support digital inclusion and youth entrepreneurship across East Yorkshire.

New CBI and Oliver Wyman report identifies an emerging AI ‘execution divide’ and calls for a national partnership to make AI work for Britain.

Charity services are being squeezed by a combination of rising demand and funding pressure which is driving staff out of the sector, warns a new study from Rathbones, a UK charity wealth manager. The survey of senior executives at charities with a collective £5 billion of equity investments found almost all (96%) have introduced restrictions on their services in response to funding pressures.

Leaders behind a firm which plans to build a major new aircraft conversion campus at Teesside International Airport have visited the region after signing a landmark agreement. Alfor Aviation will create 250 permanent high-skilled jobs at the new facility after a 50-year agreement was secured during the recent Farnborough International Airshow.

Aviva has reported a strong start to 2026, with operating profit climbing 24% to £1.3 billion for the first half of the year. The insurer, which provides cover to over 25 million customers globally, attributed the growth to its diversified business model and successful integration of the recently acquired Direct Line Insurance Group.

Wykeland Group has appointed Amy Whittaker as the new Centre Manager at the Flemingate shopping and leisure destination in Beverley, East Yorkshire. Amy brings nearly 20 years of experience in retail management, having previously served as Centre Director at The Potteries Centre in Stoke-on-Trent, alongside management roles at the Trafford Centre and Merry Hill.

A West Yorkshire logistics specialist is going the extra mile as it continues to invest in its sustainability strategy.

Work is underway on the £5.5m redevelopment of Hull city centre’s Treasury Building ahead of it becoming home to hundreds of Hull City Council team members from next year. Hull headquartered construction company Hobson & Porter is the principal contractor on the Guildhall Road project.

As thousands of students across the North collect their A-level and BTEC results, many will be weighing up what comes next. University remains the traditional route for some, while others will consider apprenticeships, employment or further training.

Leeds-based Zebra Print Group has pledged its support to a Yorkshire martial arts team as it prepares to represent the region on the world stage. The family-run print firm has committed to sponsoring Team ACMAC as seven of its competitors prepare to travel to Cádiz, Spain, for the 2026 World Championships.

BLOC STUDIO, a health and fitness venture founded by Yorkshire entrepreneurs Hannah Campbell and Katie Reisch, has opened its second site in Leeds as part of a wider commercial expansion. The new venue launched on 4 August on Street Lane in Roundhay, a commercial and residential hub in northern Leeds.

FTSE 100 speciality chemicals group Croda International has highlighted the commercial repositioning of an established active ingredient alongside advancements in delivery science as key drivers of its operational and half-year financial performance.

New research from Leeds Beckett University has found that more than three-quarters (77%) of senior employers believe recruiting university graduates will be essential to their future workforce, while 87% say graduates are helping their organisations tackle skills shortages.

Business leaders are entering a new era of measured growth, according to the inaugural Nexia Global Growth Insights Survey 2026.

Hull-based holiday home manufacturer Willerby has played a key role in a project to enhance the wellbeing of personnel at one of Europe’s largest naval bases.

New Prime Minister Andy Burnham has put a powerful idea at the centre of the national conversation; that growth - good growth - is built locally, and that support for business works best when it is delivered close to the firms it serves.