Paralegals rarely feature as the stars of our TV shows and our movies, but in real life their roles are often key to the successful delivery of legal services.

Winning Leadership: Lessons from 50 Years in Business is a business book with a difference. It is written by an author who can claim that old adage, “been there, done that”, and I suspect he has got the tee-shirt! The author, Ralph Pickles, has half a century of experience in business and has picked up a wealth of knowledge along the way.

JD Sports: New dynamics as Nike re-engages with wholesale and new brands gain fashion relevance; market outperformance is unlikely in mature markets such as the UK and US. Burberry: A real turnaround remains uncertain; while the scarf and trench coat market is smaller than leather goods, selective pricing actions could help improve margins.

UK manufacturers remained under significant pressure in the quarter to January, with output and orders declining, capacity utilisation falling and investment plans weak, according to the latest quarterly CBI Industrial Trends Survey. Optimism continued to decline, but manufacturers were their least pessimistic since July 2024.

​SMH Mitchells has announced the successful Management Buy-Out (MBO) of Peak Electrical Supplies, a leading independent electrical wholesaler. The deal was led by Andrew McDaid, Partner at SMH Mitchells, whose specialist expertise in corporate finance and MBO structures played a key role in delivering a successful outcome.

TSK, a national workplace strategy, design and build company, has reported its strongest financial performance in its 30 year history. TSK, which names AJ Bell, Medical Protection Society, GHD, Post Office, KPMG and Dr Oetker among its clients, employs more than 100 people across its London and Manchester offices.

North East mid-market businesses are turning to AI and productivity improvements to drive growth in 2026. Headcount is expected to grow in the region this year. Asset-based finance will play a key role in funding the growth ambitions of North East businesses.

Despite employer confidence in workplace provision, women say lack of support is forcing them to cut hours, turn down promotions, or quit entirely - but there are solutions to prevent this

Just when there appeared to be a lull in the tariff storm, President Trump has whipped up fresh economic chaos. He’s meting out punishment to European countries opposing the administration’s demand that Greenland becomes part of the US, either through purchase or invasion.

In a world where skilled talent is more mobile and discerning than ever, employee engagement and retention are not just HR buzzwords; they are business imperatives. Companies that successfully engage and retain their people outperform competitors in productivity, customer satisfaction, and profitability. Yet, many organisations struggle to keep their top talent motivated and committed.

Ecommerce and logistics specialist Staci has secured a significant contract with Waldencast Brands - which owns the brands Glaze, Whind and Coats - supporting the group as it expands across the UK and EU. The partnership, which began in August 2025, will contribute to Waldencast Brands’s plans to build a global platform for beauty and wellness brands.

With markets stabilising, long-term value will be driven by planning certainty, sustainable placemaking and well-promoted housing sites across the region according to Peter Garrett, Managing Director of Keyland Developments, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister-company to Yorkshire Water. Having written a number of “year ahead” outlook pieces over t…

UK eeks out growth of 0.3% in November, after a contraction in October. Activity was boosted by a 1.1% increase in the production sector and a 0.3% lift in the services sector. A rebound in car production following Jaguar Land Rover attack appears to have helped. Monthly construction output is estimated to have fallen by 1.3% in November. Budget fears made some firms cautious, but there was increased activity across IT and R&D. Wealth Club survey of high-net worth investors show pessimism about the 12 months head. With the Budget in rear-view mirror and interest rates on a downward path more optimism is due.

EY teams in the North of England advised on 14 deals worth a total of more than £2.2bn in 2025.The deals involved a variety of different sectors including business services, technology, industrials, infrastructure and healthcare.

UK top 100 law firm Ward Hadaway has reported record financial results for the 2024/25 financial year, delivering turnover of £53.6m, an increase of 11.6% on the previous year. The results, covering the period from May 2024 to April 2025, mark the firm’s fifth consecutive year of revenue growth and demonstrate continued delivery against its long-term strategic growth objectives.

Fifth House, a UK design and place-making agency, has completed a range of commercial property projects in Leeds.

A leadership expert has advised leaders to focus on building a strong mindset if they want to succeed in 2026. Drew Povey says winning leaders are the ones who can learn from difficult situations and don’t fear pressure.