A fast-growing Warrington nationwide refurbishment specialist is toasting its second ‘Welsh’ birthday in style after sealing two of its biggest contracts to date. Inco Contracts, which is based on Knutsford Road, has been appointed to deliver the major refurbishment of the former MCC Building in Cwmbran and the redevelopment of Units 2-6 at The Beeches in Bristol.

EY teams based across the firm’s Manchester and Leeds offices acted on 17 transactions worth a total of £7.2bn in the first half of 2026. Among the largest transactions was British investor, Rosebank Industries’ £2.25bn acquisition of US-based industrial businesses CPM and MW Components.

One-in-five employers lack the confidence to implement new trade union rules, according to a new survey by workplace expert Acas. The YouGov survey, commissioned by Acas, asked employers how confident they are making these changes to their organisation’s policies and practices. Nearly two-thirds (62%) of employers said they were confident about adapting to the change in law.

Many senior business leaders remember their A-Level results with mixed feelings. Some may have felt, at the time, that poor grades closed doors. But did they really? Research from Cambridge Advance Online shows that nearly half of UK managers, directors and senior officials do not hold a degree or higher qualification.

With Andy Burnham becoming Prime Minister and appointing John Healey as Chancellor of the Exchequer, attention is already focused on what the change in leadership could mean for the UK’s tax system.

UK real estate markets have proven to be resilient through the first half of 2026 despite a more challenging economic and geopolitical backdrop, according to CBRE's 2026 UK Real Estate Market Outlook Mid-Year Review.

The IoD Directors’ Economic Confidence Index, which measures business leader optimism over prospects for the UK economy, fell marginally to -63 in July 2026 from -61 in June. Business leader confidence in their own organisations also fell, to -2 in July from +7. The majority of the underlying indicators also declined: Revenue expectations fell to +9 from +11 – the lowest reading in 2026.

Manchester-based Street Group, a provider of software and AI solutions for the UK residential property sector, has reached a valuation of more than £200m following a strategic growth investment from Hg, representing a successful exit for NPIF II – PXN Equity Finance which is managed by PXN as part of the Northern Powerhouse Fund II.

Over the past decade, the way we work in the UK has changed dramatically. Remote working, which once felt like a niche option reserved for a select few, is now a staple of British employment. The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a huge catalyst, forcing companies to adapt almost overnight.

Mid-market businesses in the North West could provide vital employment opportunities for young people, according to new research from accountancy and advisory firm BDO LLP, but heightened business costs and skills barriers risk derailing those plans.