Accu named Exporter of the Year at regional awards

Huddersfield-based precision engineering distributor Accu has secured the 'Exporter of the Year' title at the Made in Yorkshire awards. The firm, which supplies more than 125 countries, was recognised for its rapid international expansion and digital-first approach to component sourcing.

Founded in 2012, Accu has disrupted the traditional engineering supply chain by replacing bulky catalogues with a streamlined e-commerce platform. The business now maintains an average annual growth of 40% and employs 130 people at its 45,000 sq ft headquarters.

Managing Director Alastair Morris said: “This award really is a fantastic honour as it recognises our passion for expanding the business across the world. The fact that we do things differently gets noticed and by playing a part in modernising the engineering components industry, we have reached a point now where we supply over 70% of the world’s leading manufacturers.”

The company is set to open an Indiana-based distribution centre later this year to bolster its North American presence. Accu’s recent projects also include providing components for the world’s first underwater seagrass harvester, developed in collaboration with Tandem Ventures and Project Seagrass.



Yorkshire women feel least supported through menopause at work

A new study commissioned by wellness brand Serenova has revealed that women in Yorkshire and the Humber feel the least supported in the UK when experiencing menopause at work. Only 45% of respondents in the region felt 'somewhat' or 'very' supported, compared to 59% in London.

The survey of 1,000 women found that just 18% of workplaces currently have a menopause policy. This comes as the government prepares to make menopause action plan guidance compulsory for large businesses by April 2027.

Sector-specific data showed that healthcare and social services employees felt the most supported (57%), while those in retail felt the least (44%). Elle Sheppard, global head of marketing at Serenova, noted: “Mid-life women have so many pressures to face; the last thing they need is to feel like they have to suffer in silence at work.”



HBC completes Ideal Heating R&D centre in Hull

HBC Construction Limited has handed over the new UK Technology Centre to Ideal Heating in Hull. The 38,000 sq ft facility on National Avenue is a £2 million project supported by Humber Freeport seed capital, designed to accelerate the development of low-carbon heating solutions.

The centre features solar PV panels and air source heat pumps, reflecting the sustainable technology being researched within. Lee Powell, Managing Director of HBC, said: “The project joins our large portfolio of research and development projects delivered across Yorkshire and the Humber.”

The facility will house Ideal Heating’s R&D team in a collaborative environment, serving as a hub for the transition to a net-zero economy in the region.



Lesley Beach named Yorkshire Businesswoman of the Year

Lesley Beach, Group Managing Director of Grimsby-based Splash About, has been awarded the title of Yorkshire Businesswoman of the Year 2026. The award recognises her leadership in positioning the firm as a global authority in early-years swim development.

Beach recently led the acquisition and turnaround of sustainable nappy brand Bambino Mio, returning it to profitability within eight months of purchasing it from administration. Under her direction, Splash About now supplies 85% of UK holiday park operators, including Center Parcs and Butlins.

"This recognition reflects the hard work of everybody across the Splash About and Bambino Mio brands," Beach commented. "Thinking globally, while remaining firmly committed to investing in the local economy, has always been important to me."



Leeds Manufacturing Festival returns to bridge skills gap

The Leeds Manufacturing Festival 2026 launched this week amid warnings that youth unemployment has hit a 10-year high. The festival aims to connect students directly with regional employers such as AW Hainsworth and Brandon Medical to highlight career paths in modern engineering.

With the unemployment rate for 16-24-year-olds reaching 16% at the end of 2025, organisers are focusing on T Levels, apprenticeships, and graduate recruitment. Ben Wilson, festival spokesperson, said: “It is vital that we make those connections and show that there are high-quality, long-term career opportunities available right here in our region.”

Highlights of this year’s festival include careers showcases that will enable students to meet employers, as well as company visits for FE teaching staff. A two-day STEM Fest, supported by the festival this summer, will see 2,000 students from schools across Leeds attend, and the ever-popular Leeds Manufacturing Festival Awards take place in June, celebrating some of the outstanding younger people working in the industry.

For more information and the full Leeds Manufacturing Festival 2026 programme, go to www.leedsmanufacturingfestival.co.uk



MP urges women to claim seats at the table

Dr Marie Tidball, MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, has called on women across South Yorkshire to advocate for one another and pursue leadership roles. Speaking at the Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber’s International Women’s Day event, held at the AESSEAL New York Stadium, Dr Tidball shared her personal journey from a childhood shaped by disability to becoming a rights campaigner and the first person in a century born in the constituency she now represents.

The sell-out event focused on the theme "Give to Gain," highlighting how mentorship and collaboration drive regional economic success. Dr Tidball was joined by Ava Jones, Head of Marketing at Rotherham-based global manufacturer AESSEAL. Jones, who joined the firm as an apprentice at 17, now oversees its expansion into the German market.

“Women often don't lack ability, they lack advocacy,” Jones told the 100-strong delegation. Dr Tidball added: “Too often women are told to doubt themselves but success grows when we support and encourage one another. Be part of building a bigger table and always, always put down the ramps as well as the ladders so that other women can rise with you.”



Covéa Insurance secures double win at national awards

Halifax-based Covéa Insurance has been named ‘Best Place to Work’ and won ‘Outstanding Commitment to Training and Apprenticeships’ at the Modern Insurance Magazine Claims Awards.

Operating from Dean Clough, Covéa is one of Calderdale’s largest employers with over 1,000 staff. The firm recently transferred £250,000 in apprenticeship levy funds to support local organisations, including The Piece Hall. Lisa Meigh, Chief People Officer, said the awards reflect a "culture our people help to create every day."



Law firms Ison Harrison and Switalskis expand footprint

The legal landscape in West Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire is shifting as two prominent firms announce expansions.

Ison Harrison, a 100% employee-owned firm, has opened its 25th branch in Bradford’s Little Germany. The office will focus on family law and legal aid services. Managing Director Jonathan Wearing noted that the firm has almost doubled its revenue to £35 million since transitioning to employee ownership in 2022.

Meanwhile, Switalskis has opened its 12th office in Grimsby at Fisherman’s Wharf. The move allows the firm to offer legal aid-funded child care work in North East Lincolnshire, a service that requires a physical local presence.



In Brief: Charity sports, Fintech, and Steel heritage

Hull: Educational charity Run With It is hosting a networking event at the Federation of Sport on 20 April. The evening offers businesses access to VR and racing simulators to raise funds for youth literacy and numeracy programmes.
Harrogate: Fintech veteran Will Lenehan has launched Life Plan Partners, a wealth management firm designed to bridge the gap between digital platforms and traditional face-to-face advice.
Sheffield: Sheffield Forgemasters marked its 250th anniversary by partnering with Hillsborough Primary School. Directors visited pupils to discuss the city’s steel heritage and the environmental future of the industry.
West Yorkshire: Training provider Realise has partnered with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to provide funded training for nearly 500 people, focusing on leadership and health and social care. Realise has also won contracts to deliver funded training in Liverpool, Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire.
Harrogate: TL Dallas has opened a new office on Victoria Avenue. The fourth-generation family-owned broker has also become a corporate patron of the Harrogate International Festival.

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• Pupils from Longhill Primary School during a Run With It programme at the MKM stadium in Hull.
• Life Plan Partners' Will Lenehan
• Ryan Edmonds from Sheffield Forgemasters and Year three teacher and Personal Development Lead, Jessica Harvey,from Hillsborough Primary School pose with year-three pupils (left/right): Toby Agus, Ellie Adams, Reegan Booth, Esme Adams, Abel, Bodhi and Finley Aiken
• TL Dallas opens a new Harrogate office: Corporate Account Executive James Bright, Chief Executive Tim Mortimer and Group Head of Private Clients Caroline Pullich