Chinese stocks have staged a remarkable comeback- and it’s likely there’s more upside to come, predicts the CEO of one of the world’s largest independent financial advisory and asset management organizations.

A new managing director and chief operating officer have taken the helm at Northern this week. As managing director, Tricia Williams now leads the UK’s second largest train operator, an organisation that makes an annual contribution to the national economy of £1.25bn. Williams has been with Northern since 2020 when she joined the organisation as chief operating officer.

The managing-director of fashion giant Whispering Smith says the company’s move to a new Manchester headquarters is evidence of the business staying true to its roots.

HEINEKEN UK is investing £39m in upgrading and reopening pubs in its Star Pubs’ estate in 2024 – demonstrating its confidence in the resilience of the great British local in the face of global uncertainty. The move will create an estimated 1,075 new jobs. Over £2.24m is allotted to pub investments in the North West* with a further £1.04m invested by licensees.

Legislation was passed last week to ensure those competing in the Champions League Final at Wembley on 1 June 2024 will not be subject to UK income tax. Such tax rule changes are now a regular occurrence when big sporting events come to our shores. Chris Etherington Private Client Partner in the Leeds office at audit, tax and consulting firm RSMUK explores why the new legislation is necessary.

Trainline: Focus is on expanding in Europe; Rail nationalization in the UK could pose a threat but customer habits are hard to change

For self-employed individuals in the UK, understanding and complying with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) regulations is crucial. Managing your own tax affairs can be complex, and certain aspects of the rules are frequently overlooked, leading to errors that can be costly.

Who hasn’t daydreamed about basking in sporting glory? But the school run is not Silverstone, Swingball in the back garden is not Wimbledon, and a kickabout in the park is not Wembley. However, rather than mourn our lack of athletic achievement, we should be looking at our sporting heroes and learning lessons to take into our own professional lives.

We need to value and invest in our young people. Every generation has its hyperbole about young people's poor attitude towards work and fecklessness. It's not a trait I recognise when speaking to young people. I see ambition and a desire to do a good job and get on in their lives.

For many businesses, applying for a sponsor licence is the first step towards accessing a broader talent pool and developing a competitive edge in recruitment. You need a sponsor licence to employ most workers from overseas, as you must issue a Certificate of Sponsorship to each employee to enable them to apply for a UK work visa.

Private sector activity fell again in the three months to April (weighted balance of -14%, compared with -12% in the three months to March), according to the CBI’s latest Growth Indicator. Activity has now been flat or falling in our surveys since mid-2022.

Business confidence in the North West fell seven points to 36% in April. Firms’ optimism in their own trading prospects fell seven points to 48%, while optimism in the economy dipped seven points to 24%. In Overall UK confidence held steady at 42% in April – the same level as in March and February

The BCC remains concerned about the impact on small British businesses of new customs checks and charges that come into force tomorrow (April 30). The second phase of the UK’s Border Target Operating Model will introduce charges of up to £145 for imports of plant and animal products.

Kerry Pearson, Restructuring & Insolvency Partner in the North East at accountancy and advisory firm Azets, comments on the latest company insolvency statistics for England and Wales:

I recently attended an event where one of the key speakers introduced herself as one of four collaborative CEOs at her business. This peaked my interest, and I decided to find out more about the concept of Co-Leadership. Employers are increasingly recognising that their approach to executive leadership roles needs to change if they are to attract and retain a more diverse workforce.

With political parties searching for revenue raising policies ahead of the election, Chris Etherington Private Client Partner in the Leeds office at audit, tax and consulting firm RSMUK looks at the potential implications of a policy highlighted in recently published commentary from the Institute of Fiscal Studies in restricting certain inheritance tax reliefs. What might the real-life consequences be for taxpayers of such a move and could it genuinely raise much needed funds for general election spending pledges?

The Education Select Committee has today launched a new inquiry into international student tuition fees. This will be welcomed by universities and businesses alike, who both reap benefits from the inclusion of international students. We warmly welcome the announcement of a new inquiry to assess the changing landscape of international student enrolment in UK universities.

St Helen’s Farm pledging total of £10,000 for good causes, with individual grants of up to £5,000 Grants are available nation-wide

At a recent dinner in Manchester for technology leaders, one thing came through loud and clear - every business is facing similar challenges, and collaboration is the best way to address them. It’s time for Yorkshire and Lancashire, particularly Leeds and Manchester, to work together. The 40-odd miles that separate the two cities is similar to the 36 miles from the East to West of London.

Gap emerging between rising office demand in London and a subdued picture for rest of the country 89% of respondents cite seeing repurposing of office space for other uses

Improving skills and tackling labour shortages were the key topics discussed by Chamber Chief Executives, at a meeting this morning, with Education Secretary Rt Hon Gillian Keegan MP. Chambers of Commerce are leading the development of Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) across much of England. The Government designated Chambers to lead 32 out of the 38 LSIPs.

Expend, the expense management fintech, is calling for an end to the ‘outdated business mileage’ rate which causes a painful financial shortfall for employees and volunteers. When businesses ask their employees to use their private car for a business trip, for example a training course, or travelling between sites, they repay their staff at the rate of 45p per mile.

Advanced engineering company Synthotech has completed a merger with HMG Water Solutions in a move that will support its growth plans in the utility sector. Synthotech provides advanced engineering services and in-pipe robotics to utility companies worldwide.