Equity markets recover sharply following the US President’s claim of productive talks with Iran. Brent crude falls from $115 to $98 a barrel before climbing back up to $105. UK 10-year gilt yields fall back sharply but then head back above 5%. Both sides in this conflict are proving to be unreliable narrators, and that’s still causing nervousness.

VinFast: High cash burn rate raises questions about the required CAPEX for production expansion; continued growth in EV deliveries remains a key focus. UniCredit–Commerzbank bid: Complementary regional footprints and client mix; but Momentum 2028 goals may be too ambitious.

With National Nutrition Month in full swing, HECK! is celebrating a major win after being named ‘Health Hero’ at the Food Manufacture Excellence Awards, recognising the company’s commitment to delivering healthier, great‑tasting food through continuous innovation. The award highlights HECK!’s mission to make healthier choices easier and more enjoyable for everyone.

Seda secures £15m BGF investment to accelerate global pharma growth Seda Pharma Development Services, a Cheadle-based contract research, development, and manufacturing organisation (CRDMO), has secured a £15 million investment from BGF.

Nearly three-quarters of family business owners in the North of England are fearful that looming policy and tax changes will disrupt both their commercial operations and long-term succession plans. New research from Hymans Robertson Personal Wealth reveals that 73% of owners are concerned about the upcoming tax year.

Brarista, a Manchester-based "femtech" firm, has transitioned from a single beta partnership to a multi-territory platform following a £510k pre-seed investment led by GC Angels in early 2025. The company, which uses artificial intelligence to provide remote bra-fitting services, now operates across the UK, US, and Australia.

New data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals a sharp divide in the North of England’s trade performance as 2026 begins. While goods exports to the EU and emerging markets grew steadily in January, trade with the United States has bucked the trend, falling by double digits amid rising "tariff weariness".

President Trump claims the war with Iran will be ‘wrapped up very soon’, but concerns remain high that this will be a longer and more protracted conflict. Brent crude prices stay volatile, climbing higher to hover around $103 after Monday’s losses. NATO members push back on requests to help secure the Strait of Hormuz.

A north west security business which counts Premier League footballers and global logistics giants among its client base is on track to double annual turnover after winning a series of major contracts and expanding its range of services. Alan Townley set up Aztek Security Services in 2024 and achieved revenues of almost £250,000 in the company’s first year to August 2025.

Workers in the North of England and across the UK are increasingly commanding higher wages by demonstrating basic artificial intelligence (AI) literacy, according to new research.

A leader behind a growing international firm has urged more companies to apply for a prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise. Hartlepool-based Hogg Global Logistics became the first organisation in the North East of England to receive the King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade in 2023.

Inditex: Elevation of the Zara brand paying off, helping itdifferentiate from Shein and capture higher-end shoppers. Rheinmetall: 2026 outlook falls short of expectations; questionremains how quickly it can scale its industrial base to meet demand despite strong order intake.

Artisans lead North West’s digital industrial revolution Heritage craft manufacturers across the North West are proving that centuries-old techniques and cutting-edge technology are a perfect match.

It takes something more than intelligence to act intelligently.Fyodor Dostoyevsky, the Russian novelist, short story writer, essayist and journalist. For generations, the prevalent belief held that intelligence was the sole factor that could lead to success.

The UK economy flatlined in January, showing a lack of resilience before the energy crisis hit. FTSE 100 is set to open flat after the S&P 500 fell 1.52% to the lowest level since mid-November 2025. Crude prices stay above $100 a barrel, despite efforts to shore up supply, with the US planning to buy Russian oil. Financial stocks feel the fallout from the Middle East conflict. Governments under pressure to alleviate consumer pain, with price gouging at UK forecourts the focus for the UK government.

Stockport-headquartered wholesaler Parfetts has secured national recognition after its Go Local fascia was named Retailers’ Favourite Symbol Group at the Convenience Awards, marking the second consecutive year it has taken the title.

A sustainable floral studio in Cumbria has been named one of three winners in a national competition providing small businesses with high-profile brand ambassadors. Natalie Louise Seviour, founder of Blossoms and Blooms Floral Studio, will receive marketing support from double Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes and former British and Irish Lions captain Brian O’Driscoll.

The thirteenth edition of the Kuits NRB Top Fifty Hospitality Power List has been revealed at the Northern Restaurant and Bar (NRB) trade show in Manchester. The list recognises the most influential hospitality operators across the North of England, covering regions from the North East to Cumbria, based on commercial success and critical reception over the past year.

The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) has been reaccredited as a Disability Confident Leader, the highest level of the UK government’s national scheme. The reaccreditation, announced on 9 March 2026, follows an assessment of the organisation’s commitment to recruiting, developing, and retaining employees with disabilities and long-term health conditions.

The labour market in the North of England has reached a significant turning point, with permanent staff appointments rising in February for the first time in over two and a half years. According to the latest KPMG and REC, UK Report on Jobs: North of England survey, the region ended a 31-month period of decline, outperforming all other English regions.

Mike Roberts, Co-Founder and Technical Director of Slipstream Engineering Design, is the latest regional business professional in the hot seat as we give him just 10 minutes to answer our 10 burning questions. 1. What does a typical working day for you involve? My day usually starts with a cycle down the canal path into work.

Women are starting businesses across the UK at an unprecedented level. In 2023 alone, 164,000 companies were founded by women, and almost half of early-stage entrepreneurs are currently female. Yet when these businesses seek investment, the picture changes. In 2024, all-female founding teams received just 2% of equity funding, while all-male teams secured 80%.