South West Connected

Developer helps buyers in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and the North East Yorkshire-based housebuilder Stonebridge Homes has announced a 5% deposit contribution on many homes in its portfolio – helping buyers amidst a year‑on‑year rise in regional house prices. The move is designed to make deposits more affordable for thousands of families as household needs shift.

Ahead of , the World Avocado Organisation rounds up some of the most unexpected facts about avocados — from sleep and potassium to pregnancy, eye health and the fruit’s surprising origin story. You probably already know that avocados are rich in healthy fats and endlessly versatile in the kitchen. But did you know there is far more to this fruit than toast and guacamole?

New UK research reveals that 73% of mums say they felt barriers affecting their decision to pursue a career after having children. Released as part of the ongoing ’Mums in Music’ campaign, conducted for Soprano and songwriter Lola Ganzarolli, the latest findings of 1,000 mums add fresh insight to the wider conversation around mum’s experiences in the creative industries.

Small businesses in the transport, distribution and logistics sector are entering the second half of 2026 with sustainability still in focus, but the operating environment has become more challenging. Volatile fuel costs, ongoing freight disruption and uncertainty following renewed tensions in the Middle East are making it harder for SMEs in the sector to keep momentum behind their sustainability plans.

26% also believe claiming business miles will become significantly more difficult according to Venson research www.venson.com New research from Venson Automotive Solutions reveals that 62% of drivers say the introduction of Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) on electric cars will discourage them from switching, with almost a quarter (24%) confirming it will have a significant impact on their future purchase decisions.

Leaders should stop feeling guilty about taking time off this summer, according to a leadership expert who says recovery, not relentless graft, is what drives performance for the rest of the year. Drew Povey, author and founder of the Drew Povey Consultancy, has busted five common myths about summer breaks, arguing that switching off properly in July and August is what sets leaders up to perform strongly through to Christmas.

The Funeral Officiant Authority (FOA), a voluntary national register launched in May 2026 to vet and standardise funeral celebrants and ministers across the UK, has issued a statement expressing shock at the scale of Robert Bush’s crimes. The 48-year-old funeral director Robert Bush faces sentencing this week after admitting 67 offences, including 30 of preventing the lawful burial of a body.

A men’s health charity has accused the Government of years of delay after the National Screening Committee decided in May against a nationwide prostate cancer screening programme. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in UK men, with around 63,000 cases and 13,000 deaths a year. Almost half of cases present with advanced, incurable disease. The UK ranks 23rd out of 31 European countries on prostate cancer mortality.

New data reveals working capital loans have almost doubled in two years — and for the first time in over a year, start-ups are borrowing more than established businesses July 2026 — New data from Purbeck Insurance Services, the UK’s only provider of personal guarantee insurance for SME owners, reveals that applications for personal guarantee-backed finance rose 63% year-on-year in Q2 2026, reflecting sustained and growing demand for borrowing among small and medium-sized businesses.

British holidaymakers are paying an average of £163 in fines after unknowingly breaking local laws while abroad, according to new research. A survey of 2,000 UK passport holders found almost one in four believe they have broken a law or cultural rule on holiday without realising it at the time. Of those, 14% said they were fined, while 6% reported being arrested. France was the country where travellers were most likely to receive a fine, followed by Spain and Italy.