From 27 September 2026, businesses marketing products and services to EU consumers will be subject to stricter rules on claims such as “carbon neutral”, “climate neutral” and “carbon positive”.

GC Angels, the venture capital investment arm of The Growth Company - the largest social enterprise institution in Greater Manchester - has announced the third cohort of its Venture Forward accelerator programme. The Innovate UK-backed programme supports underrepresented founders from across the North of England to prepare for their first institutional seed investment round.

As businesses across Cumbria look to build the skills they need for the future, Kendal College is urging employers to consider whether their next team member could be an apprentice.

Grant Thornton UK welcomed India's High Commissioner and the Mayors of West, South and North Yorkshire to Leeds last week, as the region prepares for its first-ever joint trade mission to India.

AIM-listed Fintel plc has reported a strong first half of 2026, with organic adjusted EBITDA up 11.2% to £11.8m and continuing revenue rising 5.3% to £38.6m, as the financial services technology group presses ahead with a strategy built around data, AI and higher-margin recurring income.

Spencer Group has demonstrated its commitment to bringing more women into the engineering industry as it welcomed nine new apprentices to its growing team. Four of the new recruits are young women, meaning that, in this year’s cohort, the percentage of female apprentices is an impressive 44% - more than double the national industry average.

Teesside International Airport has signed an agreement with Sary-Arka Airport in Kazakhstan to establish direct freight connections between northern England, Central Asia and China. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishes a partnership between the North East gateway and the Karaganda-based airport, which sits along primary trans-Eurasian trade routes.

North West-based Aerospace Engineering Tooling & Defence (AETD) is set to accelerate its growth plans after securing two five-figure loans from the British Business Bank, delivered by GC Business Finance (GCBF).

The North has a lot to offer when it comes to food and drink. Yorkshire is one of the UK's premier food and drink powerhouses - its supply chain generates more than £3.8 billion in GVA and provides jobs for approximately 67,000 people. Meanwhile, the North West food and drink sector is experiencing rapid expansion, capturing roughly 15% of total UK food production.

Confidence is often regarded as an essential attribute in business. Entrepreneurs are expected to embrace risk, question established norms, and advance initiatives where others may hesitate. A robust belief in one's vision is frequently the catalyst for ventures to commence. However, distinguishing between confidence and hubris, a far more hazardous trait, remains critical.

The Institute of Directors has published its submission ahead of the Autumn Budget on 28 October, calling on the Chancellor to focus on restoring business confidence, encouraging private investment and creating the conditions for stronger long-term economic growth.

Veuve Clicquot is looking for the next business leaders and founders to follow in the footsteps of the trailblazing Madame Clicquot as nominations open for the 2027 Bold Woman Awards. Celebrating its 55th year, the prestigious awards are the longest-running international accolades of their kind, continuing a legacy that began over 200 years ago with a woman who dared to defy expectations.

New funding takes the North West equity fund to £180m and extends its investment period to 2030