News by Region

Southgate Global joins leading trade organisation UKWA
Southgate Global joins leading trade organisation UKWA

Southgate Global has joined leading trade organisation, the UK Warehousing Association (UKWA), to consolidate its stance as a leading supplier and advocate for sector needs. The partnership with UKWA – a trade organisation dedicated solely to warehousing – allows Southgate Global to contribute to UKWA’s…

Two thirds of first time buyers cannot afford homes on the open market, new survey data reveals
Two thirds of first time buyers cannot afford homes on the open market, new survey data reveals

Key stats: 77% of respondents do not think they could currently afford to buy a property on the open market. 76% of respondents feel that buying as a single person on the open market in 2024 is not achievable. 76% have not received any money from parents or family members to put towards a deposit. 41% say that being…

Investment to cut waiting times for family law cases welcomed
Investment to cut waiting times for family law cases welcomed

A £170 million cash injection into the justice system has been cautiously welcomed by a Shropshire legal expert. Sue Hodgson, head of family law at Lanyon Bowdler, said the investment announced in the Chancellor’s Spring Budget was positive – but only if it was used in the right way. During the Budget, Jeremy…

Harrogate BID launches International Work Experience Grant with twin towns
Harrogate BID launches International Work Experience Grant with twin towns

Harrogate BID is excited to launch a brand new match-funding scheme, offering Members the chance to gain valuable experience working overseas with Harrogate’s twinned towns. The new International Work Experience Grant from the BID will allow staff from levy-paying businesses to travel to one of Harrogate’s four…

Spotlight On – Laura Vernon, Partner at FBC Manby Bowdler
Spotlight On – Laura Vernon, Partner at FBC Manby Bowdler

Laura is a Partner in the Litigation team at FBC Manby Bowdler, specialising in commercial property and real estate disputes. Laura is recognised as a key lawyer in the Legal 500 2024 Directory and is also ranked in Chambers & Partners 2024. She fights tirelessly to achieve her clients’ aims and adopts a…

Housing association tenants have opportunity to save money and energy
Housing association tenants have opportunity to save money and energy

Tenants at a housing association in Shropshire are being given the opportunity to save money and energy through two new projects. Shropshire Rural Housing Association provides homes for people in rural parts of Shropshire and manages more than 300 properties across the county. John Green, chief executive, said a key…

Childhood friends celebrate two years in business
Childhood friends celebrate two years in business

Two best friends from Northampton are celebrating a successful two years in business. Lucy Wright and Louise Keightley could never have predicted when they met as 10-year-old girls at St Peters Independent School that more than 30 years later they would go into business together. Fast forward to 2022 and, after a…

Liverpool opticians excited to welcome new faces as two well established practices join forces
Liverpool opticians excited to welcome new faces as two well established practices join forces

Two independent opticians in Liverpool are merging their practices to safeguard the future of independent eyecare in the local community. Bennett and Batty Opticians and Stephen Wilcox Optometrists have joined forces and will continue to trade from the former’s site on Allerton Road. The merger will allow Stephen…

A Budget built on loss leaders or a leadership that might have lost its way?
A Budget built on loss leaders or a leadership that might have lost its way?

Was it more ‘Middle Lidl’ than Middle England? By James Pinchbeck, Partner at Streets Chartered Accountants. The headline grabbing announcement from the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Spring Budget, and perhaps his last before an election, was the 2% cut in rate of National Insurance. This second cut follows a similar…

Business development expert joins NLT board
Business development expert joins NLT board

Mel Archbould, Owner and Managing Director of Cloud-busting, a business scale-up consultancy based in Chesterfield, has joined NLT Training Services’ Board of Directors. Mel joins the five-strong board and will play an active role in advising on and shaping the training provider’s strategy for its future growth…