Coreena Ford

Twenty-year-old Bethany Fenwick launched Bee’s Treats in Thornton near Pocklington after severe anxiety made it difficult for her to leave home. Baking became her coping mechanism and developed into a roadside-stall and Instagram-based business selling brownies, cheesecakes, cookies, cakes and dog treats. After only eight months, the business has built a loyal local customer base and Fenwick has been shortlisted for Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Best New Business for the York area at the UK Small Business Awards 2026. She is continuing her teaching degree while considering whether to pursue teaching or expand Bee’s Treats into a café.

A £5.5 million refurbishment of Hull’s four-storey Treasury Building has begun, with completion expected in summer 2027. Hobson & Porter is leading the work, which includes new windows, heating and cooling systems, energy-efficient lighting, photovoltaic panels, internal meeting spaces and external improvements. The project, partly funded through the government-backed Salix fund, will allow up to 500 Hull City Council corporate, IT and finance staff to relocate from the inefficient Maritime Buildings. The council says the scheme will bring an empty building back into use while supporting its carbon-neutral ambitions.

Ryan Cooksey, a 29-year-old from Winterton, is recovering after his motorbike collided head-on with a bus near Scunthorpe in March. The crash caused extensive injuries, including a torn aorta requiring three stents, broken bones, internal trauma and the loss of a kidney. After five months in hospital and rehabilitation, he is walking short distances with crutches and returning cautiously to the gym. Cooksey praised staff at Hull hospitals, Castle Hill Rehabilitation Centre and district nursing services for saving his life and helping him return home. A GoFundMe campaign funded private physiotherapy, while his employer has kept his job open and Energie Fitness has offered a rehabilitation programme and free six-month membership.

Ellerker Lodge Garden Centre near Brough has submitted plans to East Riding of Yorkshire Council for a new storage building, extensions to the existing centre, replacement retail premises and additional customer parking. The proposals are intended to rationalise the site, improve operations and help the established business remain competitive and viable. A separate replacement building would support offices, commercial and professional services, diversification and local employment.

Esmée Gummer, who was paralysed from the waist down after complications during surgery at 18, is attempting to set a Guinness World Record by hosting and running at 76 free 5k events in 99 days. More than 120 runners joined her Hull parkrun, the largest turnout of the challenge so far. As she approaches the halfway point of the 5,000-kilometre journey, Gummer describes the physical strain, emotional isolation and mental challenges while remaining motivated to run every day. The fundraiser will support Wings for Life, Sport in Mind, parkrun Global and other recommended charities.

Esmée Gummer, who was temporarily paralysed after complications from a routine operation at 18, recovered to become a personal trainer and athlete. She is attempting to set a Guinness World Record by completing 76 free 5K events in 99 days across UK cities, travelling between them on foot. Gummer will join Hull parkrun on August 9 and is encouraging local runners to participate and donate. Funds will support Wings for Life, Sport in Mind, parkrun Global and other recommended charities.

Beverley healthcare specialists Deborah Marshall and Lucie Jones have won three awards for their Foot Health and Wellness Clinic, including Best New Business and Best Wellness Clinic in the Yorkshire heat of the England's Business Awards. The clinic, which offers footcare, wellness injections, IV infusions and cosmetic treatments, will now compete in the national final. The partners credit their investment in a spa-style facility, commitment to services such as diabetic foot care, and support from Invest East Yorkshire for the venture's early success.

Graham Stephenson, 55, of Hull, was sentenced at Grimsby Crown Court to 18 years and four months in prison after pleading guilty to offences including rape, sexual activity with a child, inciting a boy to engage in sexual activity and making indecent images of a child. He sexually abused four boys over many years, using money and manipulation, and will remain on the Sex Offenders Register for life under an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order. The investigation began after a report in February 2023 and expanded as three further victims came forward. Police seized about 45 devices from Stephenson’s home and found more than 500 illegal images. Detective Constable Rebecca Davison praised the victims’ bravery and urged others to report both recent and non-recent sexual abuse.

An unnamed buyer has acquired 11 care homes, hotels and guest houses in Bridlington for an undisclosed sum, 11 months after their owner, UK Communiiity Homes Impact 1 Ltd, entered administration. The wider portfolio originally included 14 properties, with three in Scarborough, and had a disclosed book value of £4.9 million. Watling Real Estate reported 76 expressions of interest by March from landlords and developers attracted by refurbishment, rental-growth and asset-management opportunities. The former owner was unable to cover development and holding costs because of insufficient trading income and faced significant creditor arrears; administrators received £4.4 million in unsecured claims, with creditors unlikely to recover any money.

Previous winners Pride in Hull and Gemini Chocolate are urging East Yorkshire tourism and hospitality businesses to enter the 2026 Remarkable East Yorkshire Tourism Awards. They say winning improved their visibility, confidence, partnerships and access to new commercial opportunities. Organized by Visit Hull and East Yorkshire, the awards cover 16 categories across the visitor economy, with winners eligible to progress to the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence. The ceremony will be held at Bridlington Spa on November 18, while most entries close on July 31 and the tourism-event category remains open until August 31.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council approved Unity Holidays’ plan to redevelop part of the Skirlington Coast holiday park, enabling a £20m upgrade featuring new leisure, dining and entertainment facilities. The decision will end four decades of trading at Skirlington Market, despite objections and a petition from traders. The council ruled that the market dispute fell outside planning considerations, though the proposal to add 92 caravans was deferred pending further clarification.

Residents, workers and businesses in Hull are being encouraged to take part in a six‑week public consultation to guide priorities for the city’s new 15‑year Local Plan. Hull City Council aims to identify which issues, including climate change, housing needs, healthcare support and economic opportunity, should be addressed first. Council representatives will attend a series of events to help people complete the survey, and participants can enter a prize draw for shopping vouchers. The consultation closes on 26 August.

Local celebrities from Hull, including figures from sport, television and politics, collaborated with Hull and East Yorkshire Children’s University and INIT Creative to produce Storytime in Hull, a video series designed to inspire children during the National Year of Reading. Inspired by CBeebies Bedtime Stories, the project features well‑known Hull personalities reading their favourite books for schools and families, with videos freely available on YouTube and social media. Organisers emphasized the project’s goal of sparking a love of reading and celebrating local community pride.

MM Band Services, an East Yorkshire luxury tour bus provider for major music artists, has been acquired by the Netherlands-based Pieter Smit Group, expanding the Dutch company’s Nightliner fleet and establishing a UK hub. The acquisition allows Pieter Smit to strengthen its touring logistics network amid post‑Brexit complexities, while MM Band Services continues operations under founder Mike Moulds. The company’s innovative offerings include the custom-built, HVO‑powered Star Bus designed for Teddy Swims. Executives from Pieter Smit highlighted improved positioning for international tours and expanded service capabilities across Europe.

A full‑day tennis festival at South Cave Tennis Club will mark the opening of its new clubhouse, upgraded with council funding and enhanced facilities. Activities include tournaments, coaching sessions for all ages, a serving challenge, and free public court time, with donations supporting Dove House Hospice. Club leaders emphasise the aim of strengthening community engagement and broadening participation for players of all ages and skill levels.

Analysis indicates that selecting the Humber as the UK’s first hydrogen transport and storage hub could generate £17bn in economic growth, create over 50,000 construction jobs and nearly 900 permanent roles, while cutting up to five million tonnes of CO2 annually. A consortium of major energy companies supports the proposal, citing strong industrial demand, infrastructure and storage capacity. Industry leaders, Hydrogen UK, and regional politicians argue that the funding would secure energy-intensive industries, enhance energy security and drive long-term investment. Regional bodies urge the UK Government to allocate £500m to the Humber to accelerate decarbonisation and avoid potential job losses.

Rising numbers of Yorkshire and Humber pet owners are using AI chatbots for behavioural and health advice, prompting warnings from the RSPCA that reliance on such tools risks missed diagnoses and potential legal consequences if pet illnesses go untreated. Data from the Animal Kindness Index links the trend to cost‑of‑living pressures, with many owners worried about affording veterinary care and some skipping checkups entirely. RSPCA experts and vet Rory Cowlam stress that while AI can support professionals with tasks like lab work or general pet‑care tips, it cannot replace physical examinations or detect subtle signs of pain, urging owners to seek veterinary help whenever an animal’s health is in doubt.