The Bridge and QinetiQ Sign Materials and Engineering Partnership
Bradford signs 25-year lease with Trafalgar Entertainment for flagship venue
Bradford Council has finalised a 25-year lease agreement with Trafalgar Entertainment to operate the newly restored Bradford Live venue, a key asset in the city’s cultural and economic strategy.
The former 1930s cinema has been transformed into a 3,800-seat venue, with Trafalgar Entertainment now managing operations. The long-term lease guarantees Bradford Council an annual rental income and a share of the venue’s profits, with projections suggesting the agreement could generate £17 million for the council over the contract period.
Initially expected to cost up to £25 million, the project received nearly £44 million in public funding—primarily from Bradford Council, with additional contributions from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, central government and the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The deal follows a turbulent period after the previous operator, NEC Group, withdrew from the project in 2023. Trafalgar Entertainment has since completed major renovations and installed thousands of seats before the venue’s official opening in September. A preview concert on 1 August, featuring the Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra and community choir Bantam of the Opera, will mark the first public event in the space.
While the full events calendar has yet to be announced, the venue is expected to play a significant role in Bradford’s upcoming City of Culture year, enhancing the city’s profile and offering local economic development and tourism opportunities.
Viking Pipeline project approved to support large-scale carbon capture
The UK Government has approved the £200 million Viking onshore pipeline, enabling the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) infrastructure on the Lincolnshire coast.
The project will see a 55-kilometre underground pipeline built from Immingham to the Theddlethorpe Gas Terminal. Captured CO₂ will then be transferred offshore to the Viking gas fields in the North Sea for long-term storage.
Led by Harbour Energy and supported by BP, the Viking CCS Pipeline is part of a broader decarbonisation strategy projected to attract up to £7 billion in investment across the Humber region by 2035. The initiative is expected to support 10,000 construction jobs and deliver £4 billion in economic value by 2030.
The pipeline’s design includes operational infrastructure such as valves, inspection and venting systems, handling facilities, and temporary construction sites.
After a six-month review by the Planning Inspectorate, which involved input from stakeholders and local authorities, the project received final consent from the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.
The Viking fields have the potential to store up to 300 million tonnes of CO₂, with infrastructure designed to handle up to 10 million tonnes annually by the end of the decade.
National Organic Conference 2025 seeks to inspire the regen-curious
The upcoming National Organic Conference (NOC) 2025 will highlight the role of organic and regenerative practices in building more resilient and secure farming and food systems.
The flagship OF&G event takes place on Wednesday 11 June, this year hosted in the scenic Yorkshire Wolds and bringing together two experienced, pioneering organic farming families to share their insights and practices with attendees.
The day begins at Carr House Farm, managed by the Sellers family for over five generations. As stewards of a designated Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI), they have embraced organic farming within their 192-hectare estate to enhance biodiversity and sustain their traditional milling and food production enterprise.
The Side Oven Bakery, established by Caroline Sellers, showcases the farm’s commitment to provenance and delivering better food security with its range of locally produced goods, where food miles are measured in metres.
The conference then moves to High Callis Farm, where Mike and Kate Stringer, third-generation tenant farmers, manage a diverse organic and partially conventional farming operation.
Their dedication to organic principles, which started following conversion in 1999, has turned their farm into a successful business model for environmental and agricultural cooperation.
OF&G interim chief executive, Steve Clarkson, emphasises the importance of such models for the future of farming; “Both the Sellers and Stringer families exemplify how integrating organic and regenerative practices can create robust farming systems that contribute significantly to our national food security.
“This conference is not only a showcase of their remarkable efforts but also an educational platform for all farmers interested in sustainable and resilient agricultural methods.”
The conference aims to foster a collaborative environment where conventional, regenerative and organic farmers can explore common ground. Attendees will gain firsthand experience of how a farmer moves towards these practices to deliver economic and ecological resilience for future generations.
IC Development launched to streamline housing delivery in Yorkshire
Identity Consult has launched a new service, IC Development, to help housebuilders and residential developers accelerate the delivery of homes across Yorkshire and the Midlands. The service targets delays and inefficiencies in the housing development process by offering flexible, interim development management support.
The initiative is aimed at addressing the UK’s housing shortage and will expand Identity Consult’s existing portfolio of housing projects, including past work with social housing provider WDH. IC Development will assist clients across all stages of development, from feasibility assessments to funding applications and securing land.
The team is led by Russell Gallagher, who joined Identity Consult in 2021, and Clive Durkin, a recent hire with experience in both the public and private housing sectors. The new arm will also benefit from a strategic partnership with A&D Asset Release, supporting clients with land identification and planning processes.
The model offers tailored support for short or long-term needs, aiming to reduce bottlenecks caused by skills shortages or limited in-house capacity. IC Development will work directly with local authorities, housing associations and developers to speed up housing delivery while ensuring quality and compliance.
Robot delivery scheme set to expand across Leeds
A supermarket delivery scheme in Leeds using autonomous robots has already covered 36,000 miles since its launch in 2022, reducing emissions and promoting sustainable delivery methods. The project, a collaboration between Leeds City Council, Co-op, and Starship Technologies, has saved approximately 6,000kg of carbon dioxide, with robots using minimal energy – comparable to boiling water for a single cup of tea.
The service, currently available in select areas of north and east Leeds, operates with six-wheeled robots travelling at walking pace (up to 4mph), navigating pavements and obstacles with ease.
The trial’s success has led to discussions about its expansion, with plans to extend the service to new areas in Leeds. Future pilots could partner with the University of Leeds and logistics company Evri. The initiative remains in the trial phase as the UK government has not yet permitted robots to use public highways permanently.
The pilot service is already operational in Co-op stores in Adel, Tinshill, Kippax, and Swarcliffe. Wakefield Council is also partnering with Co-op and Starship Technologies to offer the service to 13,000 residents in Outwood.
Government invests £30 million to support Doncaster Sheffield Airport reopening
The UK Government has confirmed its backing for a £30 million investment in reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport, a move expected to bring significant economic benefits to the region. The airport, which originally opened in 2005 before closing in 2022, has long been a focus for local political leaders and business groups, who argue that its reopening will stimulate job creation, enhance regional growth, and boost the local economy.
South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard has championed the effort, claiming that reopening the airport will create 5,000 jobs, contribute £5 billion to the economy, and generate an additional £2 billion in regional benefits by 2050. The airport is central to broader development plans for South Yorkshire, with the local authority and business leaders working together to make the vision a reality.
In support of the project, Doncaster Council has launched a subsidiary, Fly Doncaster, and secured Munich Airport International as a strategic partner to help manage the long-term process of reopening the airport. The government’s investment will be channelled through the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), which will use its devolved funding to support critical infrastructure development.
University of Sheffield generates £4.82 billion for UK economy
A recent report has revealed that the University of Sheffield contributed £4.82 billion to the UK economy in the 2022-2023 academic year, with a return of £6.40 for every pound spent. The report highlights the institution’s vital role in regional and national economic growth.
The university’s impact is particularly notable in South Yorkshire, where more than 80% of its regional contribution is focused. The analysis shows that over half of its total regional impact is felt in Yorkshire and the Humber, with significant contributions to local businesses, suppliers, and communities.
The findings, commissioned by the University and carried out by the consultancy London Economics, underline the institution’s strategic partnerships that aim to foster innovation, support local economic development, and shape the workforce of the future. These partnerships help the university address the challenges businesses and communities face, driving long-term growth in the region.
Aldi surpasses £14bn milestone in UK supplier spending one year ahead of schedule
Aldi has exceeded its target for spending with British suppliers, hitting £14 billion in 2024—one year earlier than planned. Initially set in 2020, the supermarket aimed to increase its UK supplier spending by £3.5 billion annually by the end of 2025. This early achievement highlights the retailer’s commitment to supporting local businesses across the UK.
Businesses like JZ Flowers, a family-run supplier based near Hull are key contributors to this success. Since 1990, the company has provided seasonal British bouquets to Aldi and is set to mark 35 years of partnership in 2025. This long-standing relationship exemplifies how Aldi has strengthened ties with UK suppliers, ranging from British-grown apples to Yorkshire Wagyu beef and locally made crisps.
Aldi’s commitment to sourcing home-grown produce has been central to its strategy, underscoring the value of local industry to the business. With more than 1,000 stores in the UK, Aldi’s growth has been driven by its ability to offer quality products at competitive prices while fostering strong relationships with British suppliers.
Perspective Financial Group boosts growth with nine new acquisitions
Perspective Financial Group has made nine acquisitions in 2025, increasing its total to 116 since its inception. The latest acquisitions have added £900m in assets under advice and expanded its client base by 2,100 households.
The deals have also seen the addition of four new office locations across the UK, including Stockbridge in Hampshire, Uckfield in East Sussex, and Grimsby and Waltham in Lincolnshire. The acquired businesses include Square One Wealth Management, Barrie Hough Financial Services, Select Financial Solutions, Friendly Wealth Management, Clarendon Financial Planning, Chapter Wealth Management, Paul Horton Financial Solutions, and Inspirational Financial Planning.
This marks a continued period of rapid expansion for Perspective, completing 50 acquisitions in the last two and a half years. The recent growth supports the company’s strategy of scaling its footprint and increasing its assets under management across the UK.
