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Spirax raised first-half profit while keeping its full-year guidance unchanged. Revenue increased 5%, with semiconductor and biopharmaceutical demand supporting growth across the engineering group’s specialist thermal and fluid-technology businesses.
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West Midlands leaders launched £10m to revive regional high streets. The programme will target empty shops, public spaces, events, markets, and business activity across several town and city centres.
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Bellway delivered more homes despite weaker demand and rising costs. Completions increased 10.8%, but the forward order book fell as higher mortgage rates and affordability pressures weighed on reservations.
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UK vehicle investment is backing next-generation manufacturing and skilled jobs. Nearly £130m of matched funding will support zero-emission and automated mobility projects, with more than 1,800 manufacturing jobs expected to benefit.
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Glasgow is expanding executive education around changing employer skills demands. Adam Smith Business School has built programmes around AI, neuroinclusive leadership, menopause support and women’s leadership, with lower pricing for smaller and non-profit organisations.
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Regional cities are taking a larger share of workforce travel. Roomex says non-London bookings grew 12.5%, with Manchester, Bristol and Birmingham collectively closing much of the gap with the capital.
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Employer PAYE debt deferrals have climbed beyond £7bn through HMRC. FOI data obtained by PayFit shows arrangement numbers barely changed while average deferred liabilities rose by more than £12,700 in two years.
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Persimmon increased completions and profits despite persistent housing market pressures. The housebuilder expects to deliver about 12,500 homes this year after strengthening its forward-order book.
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Britain’s construction downturn eased sharply, but activity remained in contraction. Orders and confidence improved, although employment fell for a nineteenth consecutive month.
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Electric van registrations reached record market share during July’s recovery. Battery-electric vehicles captured 14.7% of the monthly market, although year-to-date adoption remains below half the mandated level.