Pulse Fromtheheart of thebusiness worl d northwest
OCT-NOV2026
Business owners: your mental healthmatters too 1
Latest updates
Regional news
Business in focus
2
Inside this edition Click a headline to jump to an art icle
Feature Business owners: your mental health matters too
4
News Freeze from the Bank of England as UK economy risks feeling the chill GiftRound named one of nation's favourite businesses Leeds architect backs future of housing by building own low-energy home The British Bank invests £210m to unlock growth in SE England Your Event Solutions moves forward as ALTOUR
16 20 36 52 58
Focus How AI could make us work even harder Why government debt is growing: public spending explained Research: companies identify serious supply chain risks but few can manage them The autonomy paradox: how more work freedom can leave you feeling powerless
12 24 45 62
Regional Different AIs can't agree whether to recommend your business
Pulse
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by 3
Business owners: your m 4
Feat ure
mental health matters too 4
By Advance Copy 5
Feat ure When we hear about mental health in the
Because everything is on you. Sure, it?s what
workplace, it?s usually about ways to support
you sign up for in this game, but even the
staff. Like how you need to take it seriously,
most driven person has to admit: it?s a lot,
to follow proper policies and procedures,
isn?t it?
and to help your people through their issues
All that pressure. Long days. Short sleeps.
as best you can.
And you can add home and family life into
But what about you, the small business
the mix, too.
owner? Who?s there for you and your mental
Whether you?re starting your business or
health? Who?s giving you support and
growing it, nothing seems to let up. It?s
advice?
always more, more, more... and then some
After all, you?re clearly not the kind of boss
more. That?s the life of an entrepreneur.
who sits out of sight of your team, twiddling
When you think about it, it?s pretty amazing
your thumbs while everyone else gets on
what you can achieve, isn?t it? But that
with the work (and if you are, please let us
doesn?t mean it?s easy. And it doesn?t mean
know how you?ve managed that). No, you
that it comes without consequences.
wear many hats. You?re the HR department. You manage the finances. You?re marketing,
Survey
research and development. You?re many
According to Simply Business in
roles and more to keep your business not
collaboration with Mental Health at Work (a
just going ? but improving. And if something
programme by the charity Mind), 56% of
goes wrong?
small business owners said they?ve had poor
You better believe that?s on you.
mental health at some point over the
6
Feat ure News
previous year. The biggest issues they
physically. And that?s burnout.
reported include anxiety (59%), financial
Burnout
worries (41%), depression (38%) and loneliness (22%).
Burnout is difficult to describe. But if you?ve had it, you know it. The way it affects people
It seems like the weight of responsibility as
is different from person to person, but it?s a
a business owner is the major cause of those
form of chronic stress that takes hold over
problems, working far more hours than
extended periods. You might not even notice
anyone else ? way above the national
you?re experiencing it. For example, as an
average ? yet taking fewer days?annual
entrepreneur, you may be used to pushing
leave. In fact, 73% of respondents said
forward, working hard, skipping weekends
they?ve haven?t even taken 20 days off (some
and holidays, but gradually, a form of
Americans reading may shrug their shoulder
detachment from your work may drift in. So,
at that one).
you?re doing the work while also being
Even if you?re someone who thrives from
absent and feeling tired with no way of
being ?on the go?all the time, energy isn?t an
turning it around.
endless resource. It gets depleted, and it
On the other hand, you could hit a wall and
needs time to be restored. When it doesn?t,
6 suddenly find yourself unable to get out of
it?s not just mentally taxing, it hurts you 7
Feat ure
bed for days on end, foggy brained and
jobs or the ones you like to your team, that
heavy bodied, as your body shuts down and
leaves you with all the stress-causing tasks.
forces you to rest and recover whether you
And if someone in your team has a problem,
have time for it or not. And there are
who?s it then on to sort that out?
a host of other possible ways burnout can
You, of course.
affect you.
That?s a case of building a team with
Which is why for business owners like you,
responsibility but with no authority. Then,
it?s important to recognise stresses early and
it?s on you to coach the team to be able to
fix the root causes now, rather than try to
do the work properly. It might feel easier to
treat the serious mental and physical
either give them the solutions or think, ?I?ll
symptoms later.
just do it myself,? but doing so adds to your
Cont rol
mental capacity, which could be close to or over its limit. It?s easy for staff to fall into a
Business owners often find it difficult to give up control, taking on the bulk of the work and feeling like anything important is their priority. But if you only delegate the ?easy?
state of ?learned helplessness?where they rely on their boss ? that is, you ? to fix everything. That?s not the way it should be. So instead, it?s guiding the team to find the 8
Feat ure News
solutions to problems themselves,
For those who are well into their careers, it?s
freeing you up for a more focused,
frustrating to work in an economy that has
manageable workload.
stagnated since pretty much the 2008
Of course, that?s just one example of a
financial crash. It seems like there is more
limitless number of scenarios you might
work to do than ever, but without the wages
face, and while it might sound obvious, it?s
to reflect that ? plateauing as costs rise and
always important to remember to set
rise with inflation. As Pulse covered in the
boundaries by learning to say no. Rember to
last edition, that seems likely to get worse.
delegate, delegate, and delegate some more.
Much worse.
Outsource if you need expert support. And
And then there are those at the start of their
take breaks and holidays ? your body and
careers. In 2024, the BBC reported that for
mind (and business) will thank you for it.
the first time ever, more younger people
Remember, your work won't thrive if you're
than older people were out of work due to
burnt out.
their mental health.
St ress
Meanwhile, the climate today for those who 8 are looking for a job is dismal. There is
It seems that the UK is a stressed workforce. 9
Feat ure
currently little demand for employers to take
stimulation we have now through the
on the least-skilled levels of staff to train
internet and social media, which are
them up. Plus, the recent increase in
designed to keep users hooked
minimum wage for 18-20s as well as
through spiking our cortisol ? AKA the
employer?s national insurance have both
stress hormone.
raised the cost of hiring, especially in
Add that to the challenges or running a
sectors like hospitality where younger
business and home life, plus fewer third
people normally dominate staff numbers.
spaces and social interaction as the world
You can?t get a job if there aren?t any jobs to
migrates further online, it?s no wonder that
get. And without enough money, mental
poor mental health is so common. But with
health seriously suffers.
every downturn ? whether societally or
Focus
individually ? eventually, there?s an upturn.
It?s a strange time. This is the safest and
If you focus what?s within your control ? by
most affluent the West has been in history
giving up some control ? and taking the time
(and worldwide, poverty is at its lowest ever
to care for yourself (especially away from
levels), but the UK?s stagnating wages, living
screens), stress levels should come down
standards and rising costs make things feel
and hopefully, the results will follow.
worse than before. But humans have never
Less really can be more. By Advance Copy had to face the levels of information and 10
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11
How AI could make us work even harder Malte Jauch Lecturer in Management and Marketing, University of Essex
12
Regional Focus Technological progress has taken more than
their jobs might be lost to automation,
its fair share of the workload from humans
research shows they may be inclined to
over the years. Washing machines clean our
increase their efforts as a way of
clothes, tractors plough the fields and
signalling to employers that their labour is
computers sort out the admin.
still valuable.
Meanwhile, economic growth and
My research on the rat racessuggests that
redistribution of wealth means most
this kind of response is to be expected.
workers in industrialised countries do not
Employers must continuously decide whom
need to spend most of their waking hours
to hire, promote or dismiss. In making such
on gainful employment. The 12 hour working
decisions, employers seek to reward
day that was common during the 19th
productivity. But productivity is often hard
century has been largely reduced.
to measure, so employers rely on
So will developments in AI help us gain even
alternatives metrics such as the amount of
more free time?
time spent working.
Not necessarily. In fact, AI might actually
Checking whether a work station is still
cause working hours to increase.
occupied after everyone else has gone home
One reason for this has to do with the
is much easier than assessing the accuracy
effects of AI on people?s bargaining power in
of a complex project. And from a worker?s
the workplace. If workers are fearful that
point of view, increasing the time they spend at work seems like an effective way of
dai sychai n dayn ur ser y.co.uk
0151 521 1641 12
13
setting themselves apart from other
Researchers recently found evidence for this,
(apparently less motivated) workers.
noting that workers in AI exposed industries
But when everyone pursues this strategy, it
like financial services and IT are literally
becomes self-defeating. No one gains a
switching off their office lights later than
positional advantage, while everyone
those in less exposed industries.
works more.
Another problem is that employers can
The introduction of AI to workplaces can
overestimate the extent to which AI boosts
turbocharge this dynamic. Existing AI tools
workers?productivity. The availability of AI
have already automated some tasks, like
tools to improve efficiency creates an
data entry, creating an expectation that
expectation among employers that workers
entire roles will be redundant soon.
can do more than they could before in the same amount of time. However, when these
Against this backdrop, the rat race becomes more cut throat. Workers reasonably expect large scale restructurings of their companies
expectations are overblown, they can lead to additional work intensification or longer work hours.
and seek to make sure that they will retain their jobs in the process.
Working nine ?t il? ? Finally, the adoption of AI causes significant 14
Focus
frictions. Established routines are
over AI?s design and implementation is not
overhauled, existing roles change and new
left to employers and large AI firms.
roles are created. Workers must be trained in
It is possible in theory to design and
the use of AI tools and must learn to work
implement AI in ways that improve workers?
alongside them.
skills, enhancing their areas of expertise,
But what makes this particularly challenging
making their work more valuable and
is that existing AI tools are continuously
thereby enhancing their bargaining power
being improved and new tools developed at
with employers. An empowered workforce
a rapid pace. All of this places additional
would be able to bargain for favourable
demands on workers?time.
working conditions, including working
It may be sobering to contemplate that AI
time patterns that fit with people?s lives
might not improve our lives by relieving us
and preferences.
from toil. Overwork and burnout might even
And if developers were to prioritise
increase over the coming years.
augmentation and empowerment, AI could
But that situation is by no means inevitable
be the ultimate tool that helps to tackle
or unavoidable ? especially if future control 14 widespread resentment and disenchantment with our working lives. 15
News
FreezefromtheBank of Engl andas UKeconomy risks feel ingthechil l -
-
The Bank of England has kept Bank
fragile, and already feeling the chill of
Rate on hold at 3.75%.
sluggish growth and a cooling jobs market,
Policymakers voted 6-3 to make no
and for now this should offset the risks of
change, with three members voting for
steamy energy costs being passed easily
an increase by 0.25 percentage points.
through to hotter consumer prices. With
The Fed moved first, given the US
shoppers worried about rising borrowing
economy is growing more robustly,
costs and bracing for higher bills to land,
with resilient spending, strong
they may be less likely to spend if price tags
productivity and investment, while
become more expensive.
demand remains weaker across the
However, the longer the war with Iran
UK.
continues to rage and keeps crude and gas
Susannah St reeter, Chief Invest ment
prices elevated, the greater the chances of a
St rategist , Wealt h Club
hike later this year and next, especially if
?Inflation is the fever central bankers want
data shows consumer price inflation
to bring down, but the Bank of England is
continues to rise. Already three members
holding off administering the bitter medicine
around the table wanted to hike rates
of an interest rate hike. The UK economy is
immediately to 4%, and they may well be 16
News joined by more if the chronic energy crunch
Fixed mortgage rates are guided by swap
continues. So, a hike on November 5th still
rates, which reflect expectations for where
looks like a distinct possibility if the bonfires
interest rates are heading, rather than simply
of inflation intensify.
where Bank Rate stands today. With markets
The US is a more robust patient, with the
still pricing in further rate hikes, swap rates
spending might of AI hyperscalers pulsing
have been pushed higher, and lenders have
through the veins of the economy,
already been raising some fixed mortgage
supporting strong job creation, which is why
rates. So even though the policymakers have
the Fed moved to douse down inflation by
kept their hands firmly in their pockets for
hiking rates yesterday.
now, borrowers coming off fixed deals could still face higher rates when they remortgage.
What will t his mean for borrowers However, savers could have more time to
and savers?
benefit from higher rates on cash, Borrowers shouldn?t assume that today?s
particularly if the Bank is forced to keep
hold means mortgage rates will stay frozen.
rates elevated for longer, although
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Wealth Club is also the UK's largest broker of
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Today, Wealth Club has more than 70,000
sophisticated investors.
members and 14,200 clients, who have
The company provides access to a wide
invested over £1.8 billion through the
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In 2025, Wealth Club launched the UK's first
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dedicated Private Markets SIPP, enabling
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19
News
GiftRound named one of ?Nation?s Favourite Businesses? With over 1.2 million people helped and more
Stirling, Scotland, with team members
than £12 million contributed across 172,088
based across Scotland and Cornwall, has
group collectionssince inception, GiftRound is
been selected as part of the national
recognised nationally as one of 100 small
campaign, which celebrates and champions
businesses celebrated.
small businesses across the UK, ahead of
A business that helps people collect money
Small Business Saturday on 5 December.
for group gifts, completely free of fees has
Founded by Craig Forsythe in 2018,
been named one of the ?Nation?s Favourite
GiftRound makes it easy for groups to
Businesses?for 2026 by Small Business
organise collections for gifts and special
Saturday UK.
occasions, from leaving gifts and birthdays
GiftRound, based in Bridge of Allan, near
to teacher gifts, new babies, weddings, retirements and simply showing someone 20
Regional News you care.
UK?s small-business community.
The national recognition comes as Small
Cr aig For syt h e, Fou n der an d CEO of
Business Saturday launches its 2026
Gif t Rou n d, says:?Being named one of the
campaign to showcase the ?Nation?s
?Nation?s Favourite Businesses?is a huge
Favourite Businesses?. This is a new format
honour for GiftRound. As a small team of
replacing the long-running SmallBiz100.
four, we?ve built the business quietly with
The businesses selected this year range
plenty of determination and a genuine
from independent food and hospitality to
belief that bringing people together to
makers, service businesses and innovative
show they care should be simple, joyful and
companies, reflecting the diversity of the
free from any fees. This recognition feels like a wonderful vote of confidence in that
Samuel Farley Senior Lecturer in Work Psychology, University of Sheffield David Hughes Lecturer in Organisational Psychology, University of Manchester 20 Karen Niven Professor of Organisational Psychology, University of Sheffield
21
News
News
vision, and we?re incredibly proud to
are a true representation of the UK?s
represent Scotland?s thriving small business
most-loved small businesses. From
community on a national stage.?
independent, family-run cafés and local
GiftRound has recently expanded its ability
restaurants, to makers, services and
to support group collections for local gift
traders, they showcase the incredible
cards, working with Town & City Gift Cards
diversity of the UK?s small business
across more than 90 UK towns and cities.
community. We know how important small businesses are and the challenges they
M ich elle Oven s CBE, Dir ect or of Sm all Bu sin ess Sat u r day UK, con t in u es:?Small businesses have always been, and will continue to be, among the nation?s
face, so as we kick off this year ?s Small Business Saturday campaign, we?re urging the public to get behind them during the most critical trading quarter of the year.?
favourite businesses. Whether on our high streets, online or embedded in local
Dan Edelm an , Gen er al M an ager , UK
communities, they play a vital role in the
M er ch an t Ser vices at Am er ican
places we live and in the strength of our
Expr ess,con clu des:?Small businesses bring
economy.
energy, innovation and character to our high streets and local economies. That?s
?This year ?s Nation?s Favourite Businesses
why American Express is proud to have 22
Regional News founded Small Business Saturday and why
encouraging the public to support and
we continue to back small businesses to
spend with small businesses.
help them thrive.
Since launching in the UK in 2013, the
?This year ?s Nation?s Favourite Businesses
campaign has engaged millions of people
are a brilliant showcase of the UK?s
and seen billions of pounds spent with
entrepreneurial spirit, and we?re delighted
small businesses across the UK on Small
to be providing grant funding that will help
Business Saturday, with an impact that lasts
two of these inspiring businesses invest in
all year round.
their next chapter of growth.?
Last year, the campaign saw extensive
The Nation?s Favourite Businesses
media coverage, as well as public support
campaign will showcase each business as
from the Royal Family, the Prime Minister
part of the official countdown to Small
and Chancellor, leader of the opposition,
Business Saturday on 5 December - a
The Mayor of London, and over 90% of the
grassroots non-commercial campaign,
nation?s local councils.
originally founded by American Express in
To learn more about Small Business
the U.S. in 2010, and the principal
Saturday?s ?Nation?s Favourite Businesses?,
supporter in the UK, aimed at celebrating
visit the official page.
and uplifting independent firms by
22
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Why the government current public spending 24
Focus
John B Hewitt / Shutterstock.com
nt?s debt is growing: ng pressures explained 24 David McMillan Professor in Finance, University of Stirling
25
Focus Pressure to make cuts in public spending has
have implications across the economy,
intensified in recent weeks, with increased
including for government spending and tax
calls on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to
decisions, investment by firms and mortgage
find savings urgently.
rates for households.
The need to reduce expenditure has become
Spending scrut inised
more pressing as the cost of loans used to
The question is why are yields rising,
pay for services has shot up.
especially for the UK?
With the bill on the government?s borrowing
The level of government debt is at record
rising sharply there is less room for
highs. The US has just passed £29.6 trillion,
manoeuvre in the public finances ahead of
the UK owes around £3 trillion, Japan £6
new Chancellor John Healey?s first budget on
trillion and France over £2.5 trillion.
October 28. These levels of government debt have So, why is this happening, and what is
worried the market and investors because of
causing the interest to grow so quickly?
concerns about the ability of governments to
When governments borrow money, they do
repay the loans. While debt rose through
this by issuing bonds. These are essentially
policy responses to the financial crisis in
IOUs in which the government agrees to pay
2008-09 and the Covid pandemic with little
back the borrowed sum on a certain date,
impact on long-term yields, markets
with interest paid in the meantime. These
are now scrutinising current government
bonds are then bought by a range of
spending closely.
investors, including pension and insurance
This was seen with the Liz Truss
companies, commercial and central banks,
?mini-budget? of September 2022 and when
hedge funds and private investors.
Keir Starmer reversed proposed welfare cuts.
As these bonds change in value according to
In each case, the UK bond yield rose
market fluctuations, their cost to the
noticeably. This is now an issue confronting
government varies. The amount in yields
the new Burnham government that has
paid to investors on the bonds goes up or
already committed to higher spending such
down accordingly, and when the yields rise it
as a VAT cut on energy bills, a bus fare cap, a
is more expensive to issue new bonds.
rough sleeper commitment, council house
Long-term bond yields have risen to
expansion, and an increased defence budget.
multi-decade highs. The UK is not alone in
With the autumn budget coming up, bond
seeing such expensive yields and, therefore,
markets are sending a warning shot to the
high government borrowing costs, but has
UK government to present a plan to control
seen the largest rises among major
spending. The UK has the highest long-term
economies.
bond yields of comparable countries as a
The UK is experiencing a notable switch from
result of a greater sell-off of UK bonds by
low to highest rates. These higher yields
investors worried about a new bout of 26
Focus
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27
government borrowing.
cargo traffic through the Strait of Hormuz
Bond markets are reflecting concerns that
has inflated prices.
the UK government may seek to cover some
The increase in Middle East hostilities has
of its increased spending though higher tax
seen the crude oil price rise around 30% in
rates, which will have a dampening effect on
the last two months, from the high US$60s
future economic growth and employment.
(£44) in early July to near US$90 now. In the
Debt is not the only reason behind the
UK, the effects of higher oil and gas prices
increase in bond yields. Higher inflation and
are seen in the energy price cap, which has
the view that it may remain elevated, largely
recently risen and is expected to do so again.
due to the re-escalation of the Iran conflict
The effect of the Iran conflict and
and associated higher energy costs,
restrictions on cargo passing through the
also contributes.
Strait of Hormuz have broad effects across
The Middle East conflict and restrictions on
fuel, energy, shipping and food prices. This 28
Focus
drives up inflation and expectations for
billion in debt.
future inflation. This may also lead to
This all adds to the total amount of bond
increases in the Bank of England base
supply, resulting in investors requiring
interest rate, which directly affects
higher returns.
mortgages. Cuts in the rate expected This brings us back to the budget next
at the start of the year will certainly
month. The bond market is sending a clear
not materialise.
signal that the UK needs to control spending There is a further factor driving up bond
given its current level of debt, its exposed
yields. While governments are issuing bonds
position to inflation and global energy prices
to cover spending gaps, technology firms are
plus the uncertain outlook for sustained
also issuing bonds in order to invest in AI,
economic growth.
because they believe that this sector will see large future growth. This year, to date, tech companies have issued US$220
This creates difficult choices for the new 28
prime minister and chancellor. 29
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Regional
Different AIs can't agree whether to recommend your business
30
31
When UK buyers ask AI assistants who to
recommendations in a fundamentally
hire, the assistants can't agree on the
different way.
answer. A newly published study that logged
-
Chat GPT recommended businesses
first answers from ChatGPT, Perplexity and
from their own websites ? every
Gemini to ten fixed buyer questions found
source it cited carried a tracking tag,
the three assistants cited 104 different web
utm_source=chatgpt.com, ChatGPT
sources across just 30 answers ? with only
literally labelling its own referral
eleven sources cited more than once, and
traffic. Businesses whose sites block
only three businesses recommended by all
AI crawlers, or never state plainly
three assistants.
what they do, cannot be
The study, conducted on 19?20 August 2026
recommended this way.
by Manchester-based AI visibility agency The
-
Perplexit y almost never cited a
Happy Cat, asked each assistant identical
business's own site, drawing instead
questions a real buyer might pose ?
on third-party comparison articles,
including "best AI visibility agency UK" and
industry roundups ? and in one case,
"AI SEO agency Manchester" ? recording the
a press release.
first answer verbatim, with every response screenshotted and published.
-
Gemini quoted passages from detailed published articles, rewarding
By Advance Copybusinesses that have written Its central finding: each AI assistant chooses 32
Regional
something substantive enough
It has committed to re-running the identical
to quote.
30 queries on 16 September and 14 October
"The practical upshot is that AI visibility is
2026 and publishing the results regardless
currently a lottery with three different sets of
of outcome.
rules," said Alex Golombeck, founder of The
"Every agency in this industry claims it can
Happy Cat. "A business can be ChatGPT's top
get businesses recommended by AI. Almost
recommendation and completely absent
none publish a measured starting point ?
from Perplexity. And because the citation
including for themselves," Golombeck said.
landscape is this fragmented ? 104 sources, most cited exactly once ? there's no
"We published our zero because a dated,
entrenched winner. Small, specific
logged baseline is the only honest way to
businesses are winning answers against
prove anything works. Any business can
much larger competitors simply by being
replicate our method for free; it's all
readable and quotable."
published."
In an unusual step, the agency also
The full study, including methodology and a
published its own result: The Happy Cat
data-based comparison of UK AI visibility
appeared in none of the 30 answers, a
agencies ranked solely by logged
baseline it recorded days after its own website first became readable to AI crawlers.
32 recommendation counts, is available at:
www.thehappycat.com 33
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Focus
Leeds architect backs the futureof housingby buil dingapioneering l ow-energy homeof his own Page 22
36
News Leeds architect Ian Collins is putting his own
Against that backdrop, the co-founder of
design principles to the test by building a
Leeds-based Mesh Architects believes the
pioneering low-energy family home
way homes are designed and built can play
designed to dramatically reduce energy use
an increasingly important role in reducing
and keep household bills low ? as millions of
their exposure to high and unpredictable
UK households prepare for another rise in
energy costs.
energy costs.
Collins is creating a highly energy-efficient
The project comes at a timely moment for
home for himself in the city, using
homeowners, with Ofgem?s energy price cap
Passivhaus principles to demonstrate how
set to rise by four per cent from October,
intelligent design, insulation and
taking the typical annual household gas and
construction can create comfortable homes
electricity bill from £1,663 to £1,723.
that require significantly less energy to heat
s t e r it e c h e n g in e e r in g @g m a il .c o m
0 79 6 7 8 3 7 3 74 36
37
News
Soph ia Th e Robot
and run.
to growing demand for more sustainable
Passivhaus buildings can reduce heating
homes and targets further growth.
demand by as much as 90 per cent,
Mesh already has experienced Passivhaus
demonstrating the potential for good design
expertise within its team and describes its
to make a significant difference to a home?s
own approach as?Pract ically Passive??
long-term running costs.
taking the best ideas from Passivhaus and
The project comes as Mesh invests further in
applying them sensibly to real-world
its low-energy expertise, recruiting architect
projects, whether or not a client ultimately
Patrick Roobottom as the practice responds
chooses to pursue formal certification. 38 www.paramountmedia.co.uk
Regional News
John B Hewitt / Shutterstock.com
Ian Collins said:?For us, this is the future of
somebody wants from their home. Often it?s
the business and the future of the built
about making better decisions at the
environment.
beginning and having people around the
?Buildings use an enormous amount of
table who understand how to get those
energy and we think the responsible thing to
decisions right.
do is improve their performance wherever we
?We want Mesh to be at the front of that.
realistically can.
?And with energy bills continuing to rise, it?s
?It doesn?t necessarily mean spending a fortune or completely changing what
38 another reminder that the cost of a home
isn?t just what you pay to buy or build it ? it?s 39
News
40
Regional News
what that home costs you to live in for the
insulation, carefully positioned glazing,
next 20, 30 or 40 years.?
airtight construction and controlled fresh-air
Collins?own home is providing perhaps the
ventilation.
clearest demonstration yet of that
But Collins is equally determined that
philosophy and will be officially certified as
sustainability should not dictate how a
a Passivhaus Low Energy Building.
home looks or feels.
Having lived in Chapel Allerton for around 30
He said: ?There?s sometimes an assumption
years, he is building on a tight infill plot
that an energy-efficient house has to be a
between existing Victorian terraces in the
box with tiny windows. It absolutely doesn?t.
neighbourhood he has long called home.
?First and foremost, it has to be a great place
The property has been designed to require very little energy to run, using high levels of
to live. It needs light, views, spaces that work 40
for the person living there and those little 41
News moments that make a house feel special.
homeowners from the earliest conversations
?Technical performance matters enormously,
around ideas, budgets and feasibility
but good architecture should also bring you
through planning, finding the right
joy. The exciting part is bringing those two
contractors and managing the project during
things together.?
construction.
The project also reflects the personal
Meanwhile, 25-year-old Patrick Roobottom,
approach Mesh says has helped build much
originally from North Wales, joins from
of its business through recommendation
Wighton Architects in Farsley after
across Leeds, Harrogate and York.
completing his Masters in Architecture at Leeds Beckett University.
Rather than simply producing drawings and stepping away, the practice works with
Having recently passed his exams, Patrick is
42
now a fully qualified Passivhaus Designer
own experience to them.?
and will work across Mesh?s residential and
Mesh?s growing sustainability portfolio
commercial projects, bringing particular
includes work at Stainbeck Church, where
expertise in sustainable architecture and
improvements are targeting reductions of up
low-energy buildings alongside graphic
to 85 per cent in heating bills; a major
design and visualisation skills.
low-energy retrofit of a bungalow at West
His appointment forms part of a deliberate
Park Road; and a 38-apartment zero-carbon
strategy by Mesh to build specialist
development in Leeds?Climate Innovation
knowledge in an area Collins believes will
District.
become increasingly important to
Alongside residential work, the practice
homeowners, developers and the wider
delivers architecture for developers and
construction sector.
commercial clients across sectors including
The practice currently employs 12 people
retail, hospitality, health and fitness, with
and, while Collins expects the team to grow,
projects completed across Yorkshire and
he has no ambition to turn Mesh into a large
further afield.
corporate architecture business.
For Ian, however, the firm?s future remains
Instead, the firm expects to remain at
firmly rooted in Leeds.
around 15 people, allowing Collins and fellow
He said:?I came here 30 years ago not really
director Martin McWilliams to stay closely
knowing the city and fell in love with it.
involved with clients and projects. ?Leeds has this attitude of getting on with ?We don?t want to become administrators
things and making things happen. People are
who never design anything anymore,?
open, straightforward and friendly, and that?s
Collins added.
very much how we want Mesh to operate too.?
?We enjoy being architects. We want to know
42 Source: businessmondays.co.uk
the projects, know the clients and bring our 43
www.paainteriors.co.uk 0207 096 1835 in f o@paain t er ior slt d.co.u k
INTERIOR DESIGN, FIT OUT & DECORATING SPECIALISTS
44
Focus
New research finds companies are identifying serious supply chain risks but few can show that they manage them
S
New research finds companies are ident ifying serious supply chain risks but few can show t hat t hey manage t hem. Kumi Consult ing?s Responsible Sourcing Barometer 2026 finds a growing gap bet ween corporate act ivit y and evidence of effect ive risk reduct ion as supply 44 chain due diligence requirement s cont inue to increase and grow in complexit y. 45
Focus
Companies are increasingly identifying significant human rights and environmental
Key findings -
Only 14% of companies can point to
risks in their supply chains, but many still
clear improvements resulting from
lack the evidence needed to determine
their responsible sourcing activities.
whether their due diligence efforts are
-
Less than one in five (19%)
actually reducing those risks.
measure outcomes for workers or
New findings from the Kumi Responsible
the environment.
Sourcing Barometer 2026, an independent
-
industry survey of 110 medium-to-large enterprises across 13 indust ries, reveal that
A quarter (25%) do not measure programme impact at all.
-
More than a t hird (36%) of companies
while responsible sourcing practices are now
identifying forced or child labour
firmly embedded within many organisations,
among their most serious risks
companies are focusing on activity rather
conduct no due diligence beyond
than effectiveness. The findings come at a
their direct suppliers, leaving
time when supply chain due diligence is
potential blind spots deeper in their
increasingly subject to complex, changing
supply chains.
global regulatory requirements, customer
-
Nearly half (46%) have board-level
expectations and commercial risk.
oversight of responsible sourcing
Organisations are under growing pressure to
and 77% assign accountability to a
demonstrate not just that they have policies,
senior executive.
processes and governance structures in
-
Supplier capability is identified as the
place, but that these activities are producing
biggest barrier to progress, but only
meaningful results.
15% of companies prioritise building 46
supplier capability.
to occur.
Companies know t he risks t hat exist in t heir
Act ivit y is running ahead of evidence
supply chains. The quest ion is whet her t heir
Over the past decade, supplier assessments,
risk management act ivit ies are act ually
audits, certifications, corrective action plans
working.
and governance systems have become
Labour and human rights issues dominate
commonplace, with data on these activities
companies' stated risk priorities with around
now reaching the attention of boards as part
half those surveyed stating this as their
of corporate risk management. However, the
biggest risk. Yet the research found
survey found that few organisations are
significant gaps between the recognition of
measuring whether their activities are
relevant risks and the due diligence
improving outcomes for workers or the
practices necessary to take action on
environment or meaningfully reducing
these risks.
harms. Less than one in ten companies (9%)
Nearly a quarter (24%) of participating
seek feedback from stakeholders such as
organisations have mapped only direct
workers when assessing the effectiveness of
suppliers or have not mapped their supply
their responsible supply chain programmes.
chains at all. Among companies identifying
The result is a growing evidence gap. Many
forced or child labour as a priority risk, more
organisations can demonstrate what they are
than a third conduct (36%) no due diligence
doing. Far fewer can demonstrate whether it
beyond Tier 1, direct suppliers.
is working.
The findings indicate that organisations may
Reducing risk or t ransferring responsibilit y?
not be directing their resources to the areas 46 The research also highlights a tension where the most significant risks are likely between what companies identify as their 47
48
Focus biggest challenge and how they respond
confidential, cross-industry benchmarking
to it.
survey of responsible sourcing practices from
Supplier capability emerged as the most
across 110 independent responses from
frequently cited barrier to progress. However,
medium to large enterprises operating across
a third of respondents (32%) said they
13 industries. The research captures the
typically require suppliers to implement
experiences, priorities and challenges of
corrective actions without providing
companies managing supply chain due
additional support, while only 15% said
diligence across a wide range of sectors and
building supplier capability was a priority for
geographies. Unlike many studies that rely on
the year ahead.
public reporting, the Barometer draws on confidential insights from companies about
The report warns that unless expectations are
what they are actually doing in practice.
matched with practical support, there is a danger that corrective action programmes
The findings provide valuable insights for
become exercises in transferring
boards, sustainability leaders, procurement
responsibility rather than addressing the
teams, compliance professionals and
underlying causes of risk.
investors seeking to understand the current state of responsible sourcing.
Andrew Brit ton, CEO of Kumi Consult ing and one of t he principal aut hors of t he report ,
About Kumi Consult ing
said:
Kumi is an independent management
"The question is no longer whether
consultancy specialising in responsible
companies are doing due diligence. The
business conduct in global supply chains. We
question is whether it is delivering results.
help organisations understand and address responsible sourcing, human rights and
Our research shows that while companies
sustainability challenges, and put
have done a lot to make responsible sourcing
commitments into practical action.
part of their core business activities, there are crucial blind spots that many companies are
Kumi works across the world with
yet to address. There are now serious
organisations in diverse industry sectors
regulatory compliance and commercial risks
including mining and metals, energy,
related to responsible sourcing, so it is vital
infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing,
that companies can demonstrate that their
consumer goods and fashion. We combine
programmes are not simply producing activity
expertise in risk assessment, management
but are meaningfully reducing risks and
systems and controls, internal governance
improving outcomes for people and the
and capacity building with practical, on the
environment."
ground experience across global value chains.
About t he Kumi Responsible Sourcing
For more informat ion
Barometer 2026
visit :www.kumi.consult ing
The Responsible Sourcing Barometer is a
48
49
50
News Light ing & Cont rols Solut ion Provider Offering a t urnkey solut ions for a wide scope of sectors, from init ial consultancy & design t hrough to specificat ion, supply & project management .
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01925 444735
MARKDIMECKLIMITED El ect r ical & Inst r ument at ion Qual it y Consul t ant 50
51
News
The British Business Bank launches £210m investment fund to unlock growth in the South East of England 52
Feat ure
News Regional
New £210m invest ment fund launches to
access to finance for small and
unlock growt h in t he Sout h East of England
medium-sized businesses, offering loans from £25,000 to £2 million and equity
-
-
-
£210m South East Investment Fund
investments of up to £5 million to help
launched to support small and
businesses start, scale and grow.
medium sized businesses
The Fund has already made its first
The Fund will offer a range of
investment with a £250,000 loan to
commercial finance options with
Basingstoke technology company Process
loans from £25,000 to £2m and equity
Vision, demonstrating early impact in the
investments of up to £5m
region. The funding is backing the company?s
Launch of the South East Investment
next phase of commercial growth and
Fund and forthcoming East of England
international expansion.
Investment Fund means the British
The South East of England is home to 17% of
Business Bank is now delivering
the UK?s university spinout businesses,
targeted finance across every UK
behind only London[1],while the region
Nation and region outside of London.
received 5% of the UK?s total equity
A new £210m Fund designed to support the
investment by value last year[2]. The launch
growth of small and medium sized
of the fund will help to ensure the bridge
businesses in the South East of England
between academic innovation and market
has been launched today by the British
deployment is adequately supported in
Business Bank.
the region.
Launch of the South East Investment Fund
David Hourican, Incoming Interim Chief
and forthcoming East of England Investment
Execut ive Officer of t he Brit ish Business
Fund later this month means the British
Bank, said, ?Today?s launch of The South East
Business Bank is now delivering targeted
England Investment Fund will help to
finance across every UK Nation and region
stimulate economic growththroughout the
outside of London.
region. The South East of England is home to
This supports the Government?s plan for
some of the UK?s most innovative
growth in every postcode by helping
technological and scientific businesses and
businesses access finance close to home. By
this fund will ensure that business have local
backing ambitious smaller businesses, the
access to the finance they need to grow, scale
fund aims to support innovation, create jobs
and expand.?
and stimulate sustained economic growth in
Business Secretary Jonat han Reynolds said:
the region.
?Small businesses are the bedrock of our
Covering Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire,
economy and a vital part of any high street,
Berkshire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight,
whether it?s a tech startup in Surrey or a
Sussex, Surrey and Kent, the South East Investment Fund will provide much-needed
52
creative agency in Margate. Making sure that smaller businesses have the backing they 53
News Regional
need to thrive is a crucial part of creating
leading me to consider all aspects of my
good growth in every postcode.
business from marketing strategy to sales
?We are determined not to let access to
prognoses and target audience. I was
investment be a barrier to success for
supported and clearly guided through all
businesses in the South East. The launch of
stages of the application process, and I
this fund will help to ensure that small
genuinely felt that all of the people I dealt
businesses across the South East can grow to
with were there to help me succeed.?
match their ambitions, whether that is
The South East Investment Fund will be
bringing in new staff, moving into a new base
managed by a team of fund managers
or scaling into an international company.?
appointed by the British Business Bank
Isis du Jour, Founder of Yoga Yurt , said: ?I am
including The FSE Group and Maven Capital
incredibly grateful for the support of British
Partners. The FSE Group will manage the
Business Bank which made it possible for me
debt finance part of the fund while Maven
to start my dream business. The whole
Capital Partners will manage equity
process was very detailed and informative,
investment through the fund. 54
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57
News Regional
Your Event Solutions mo After 25 years building one of the most
Together, these strengths enable ALTOUR to
trusted specialist businesses in meetings
address a broader range of needs with
and events, Your Event Solutions (YES) is
greater consistency, visibility and control.
becoming ALTOUR. The transition brings
"YES earned its reputation over 25 years by
together the expertise, creativity and
combining extraordinary creativity with deep
relationships that have defined YES with
care for its clients. This is how we honor that
ALTOUR's award-winning business travel
legacy: not by replacing what YES has built,
management services under one global
but by giving the same talented team a
brand.
larger platform," said Gabe Rizzi, President of
Effective today, YES will move forward as
ALTOUR.
ALTOUR, expanding the support available to
"ALTOUR is already trusted to manage
clients, from managing complex corporate
complex global business travel programs.
travel programs to delivering every stage of
Bringing YES' fully under our brand broadens
an event, including strategy, sourcing,
that partnership, giving clients one
creative development, technology and
accountable global partner for how their
reconciliation. The name is evolving, but the
people travel, meet and connect ? with the
expertise, relationships and care behind it
scale, intelligence and creativity to turn
remain.
every interaction into measurable value.
Clients will continue to benefit from the
Together, we can be as big as our clients
creativity and personal service associated
need us to be and as small and focused as
with YES, now backed by ALTOUR's global
they want us to be."
reach, buying power and technology.
Guilherme Klein Martins Lecturer in Economics, University of Leeds
58
Regional News
moves forward as ALTOUR By bringing strategy, sourcing, creative
incredibly proud of what we have built and
development, delivery and reconciliation
excited to see it grow further within ALTOUR,
into one framework, ALTOUR helps clients
opening up new possibilities for our clients
reduce fragmentation, strengthen
without losing the personal touch that has
governance and improve visibility while
always defined YES."
preserving local flexibility.
As YES celebrates its 25thanniversary, this
Powering this model is ALTOUR iQ, ALTOUR's
next step honors the expertise, culture and
connected intelligence and data analytics
client relationships the business has built
platform, which brings event intake,
since its founding. The Halifax office will
approved budgets, delivery, reconciliation
remain a key part of ALTOUR's operations
and experience analytics into one real-time
and the home of the people, culture and
view. This gives clients greater financial
expertise at the heart of YES's Yorkshire
oversight, a complete audit trail and a
heritage. Under ALTOUR, that legacy will
clearer understanding of event impact.
continue as part of an expanded global
"When I founded YES 25 years ago, it was
offering that connects leading business
with a belief that extraordinary events begin
travel management with end-to-end
with understanding people ? their
meetings and events expertise. This broader
ambitions, their brands and the moments
scope allows ALTOUR to support more of the
that matter to them," said Sue Gill, founder
needs surrounding every business
of YES. "That belief, and the care and
interaction ? from moving people around the
creativity our people bring to every client, remain at the heart of the business. I am
world to bringing them together with 58
purpose. 59
i
60
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0800 096 6488
01925 594120 www.litemyride.co.uk info@litemygroup.co.uk Equestrian Lighting Specialists 60
61
The autonomy paradox: how more freedom at work can leave you feeling powerless
By Andreana Drencheva Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship, King's College London
62
Focus News You may know the feeling. You?re supposed
Research shows that workers with a high
to have finished work for the day, but later,
degree of autonomy struggle to leave work
during your evening meal, you start mentally
behind at the end of the day. When you have
preparing for tomorrow?s meeting. Or just
control over your job, it can stay on your
having a quick check of your emails while
mind as you run through decisions and
you half watch TV.
ponder unresolved problems. Switching off
You might not mean to, or even want to. It?s
becomes difficult.
just something that you end up doing as part
But the capacity to stop thinking about work
of the price of enjoying some autonomy at
during personal time, what?s known as
work.
?psychological detachment?, is a form of
For a while now, research has claimed that
emotional and cognitive recovery. Without it,
professional autonomy was a good thing.
resources are never fully replenished. The
Being able to decide how, where and when
person who cannot switch off does not just
you worked was considered a major plus in
feel tired ? they go back to work the next day
terms of motivation, job satisfaction and
already running on empty.
overall health.
Autonomy can make this detachment harder
And although those benefits still exist, we
precisely because of the sense of ownership
now know that more autonomy can often
it brings. Responsibility does not respect
also mean more work and less downtime.
working hours, and the person who controls their own job carries it home in a way that
62
63
Focus
Rhyl?s biggest conve And £20m is o the person purely following instructions
but she could not stop. For her, the work and
does not.
the self had become the same thing ? the
Research my colleague and I conducted with
result of a working life in which she alone
40 entrepreneurs ? people whose working
was responsible for every outcome. No
lives are especially autonomous ? reveals
changes to her evening routine could help
another problem arrives when your work and
her separate the two.
identity are entwined. When work becomes
Another told us that she felt guilty if she
bound up in who you are, detachment
separated her business from the rest of
becomes virtually impossible.
her life.
One woman in her 20s told us that she would
Working from everywhere
regularly lie awake at night, unable to stop
Separate research confirms that workers who
thinking about her work. She explained: ?I
have a high degree of autonomy over their
feel the pressure. I am still struggling with
schedules and tasks end up working more,
[what it means] to be an entrepreneur.?
not less. When people have autonomy, they
?Sometimes, I feel I am not giving enough to
repay the trust with extra effort.
the company. Like [at] 11pm, should I just
This is especially the case in situations
work an extra hour and a half ??
where autonomy removes visibility, such as
She understood that this was unsustainable,
when people work from home. 64
Focus News Regional
versation starts now s on the table Being seen less in the workplace can mean
And that problem cannot really be solved
having more to prove. In these situations,
with legislation. Things like the
some workers end up showing their
?right-to-disconnect? or flexible working
commitment by replying quickly, being
policies tend to address intrusions from
online late or taking on extra projects.
outside ? the manager who emails at 9pm, or
The shift to working from home and the
the meeting which clashes with the school
technology which allows it, has brought a big
run.
change in what it means to stop working for
Laws can do nothing about the work
the day.
pressures inside employees?own minds.
When work requires being in a specific place,
Because in many cases, organisations have
the end of the day has a physical logic to it.
not simply given workers more freedom, they
You leave that place
have also given the job of managing that
But for many that shift has gone and been
work onto the worker themselves.
replaced with constant availability.
While autonomy is still worth having, it often
Being reachable shows commitment. Not
comes at a personal cost.
being reachable requires explanation
It can mean less power and more work ?
and justification.
64 which is unacknowledged and unpaid.
65