The NatWest survey of private businesses has the region’s economy close to growth

The Yorkshire and Humber private sector is close to a return to growth after a stabilisation of new orders during July, a new survey suggests.

The NatWest Regional Growth Tracker, which measures the output of the region’s manufacturing and service sectors, rose to 49.1 in July from 45.5 in June. Scores above 50 denote when the economy is in growth.

New orders were little changed in Yorkshire and Humber during July, the survey found, with a number of respondents indicating that customer confidence remained subdued amid market uncertainty. Non-replacement of departing staff as part of efforts to limit costs resulted in a further fall in employment, now marking 20 months of decreases in the regional workforce.

Companies reported sharp rises in input costs, particularly fuel oil and raw materials. The rate of inflation slowed markedly from the previous month, however.

Business confidence in Yorkshire and Humber fell slightly in July amid ongoing uncertainty and worries about geopolitics. But firms in the region were broadly optimistic overall for the prospects in the coming year, which was reflected in investment plans, the survey found.

Malcolm Buchanan, chair of the NatWest North regional board, said: “There were some encouraging signs from the latest Yorkshire and Humber Growth Tracker, particularly with regards to customer demand which stabilised following a period of decline amid geopolitical issues. Although still muted, the inflow of new orders was such that firms posted softer reductions in output and employment levels as the second half of the year began. Adding to the alleviation of headwinds facing firms, inflationary pressures also cooled.

“While conditions looked to be moving positively in July, firms remained only cautiously optimistic regarding the future as geopolitics continues to loom over the global economy and has the potential to throw the nascent recovery off course.”

His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service has banned Meta smart glasses from court buildings across England and Wales, with security staff instructed to confiscate the devices on entry and return them when the wearer leaves.

“There are clear restrictions on taking images or videos within courts and tribunals which is why the use of Meta glasses is prohibited,” an HMCTS spokesperson said.

HMCTS runs the criminal, civil and family courts in England and Wales. Smartphones remain permitted in court buildings, provided they are not used to record hearings. HMCTS is not extending that exception to smart glasses because the glasses can record while being worn.

Section 41 of the Criminal Justice Act 1925 prohibits taking a photograph, or making a portrait or sketch, of judges, jurors, witnesses or parties to proceedings. The prohibition applies in the courtroom, in the building, in the precincts of the building and to images of a person entering or leaving. Section 9 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 covers sound recordings made in court. Unauthorised recording can result in contempt of court proceedings.

The issue has already surfaced in a UK courtroom. Earlier this year a claimant in a High Court case was accused of using smart glasses to receive coaching while giving evidence under cross-examination. He denied the allegation and said the glasses were not connected to his phone.

The HMCTS decision follows a comparable restriction introduced by New York’s court system last month.

Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses take photographs and record video while worn. Meta says a pulsing LED activates during recording and that tamper-detection technology stops users covering it. The company has shipped more than seven million pairs, and the devices account for more than 80 per cent of the global AI eyewear market, figures reported as the glasses became the centre of a widening privacy row.

Clara Westbrook, partner and head of privacy at Arbor Law, said the ban points to a gap between the technology and the rules governing it. Westbrook has more than 20 years’ experience advising organisations on European and English data protection law, was previously a director in the international privacy centre at Warner Bros. Discovery, and has held senior data protection roles at Yum! Brands and Richemont. She holds a part-time senior counsel position at Burberry.

“This week’s court ban shows how far behind the law is on this technology,” Westbrook said. “Most people in a meeting, a client office or a public space have no way of knowing someone nearby is recording, these glasses look like ordinary eyewear. That’s a real problem for data protection: if personal data is captured and stored without people’s knowledge, that’s potentially unlawful processing under UK GDPR, and it can breach a company’s own confidentiality and IT policies.”

She added: “It also creates a headache few organisations have thought through, footage sitting on someone’s wearable is personal data too, and it could fall within scope of a subject access request. Courts moving to ban them outright is a sign other institutions and employers need to get ahead of this now, not after something goes wrong.”

Under the Information Commissioner’s Office guidance on the right of access, organisations must provide personal information held on staff personal equipment where they remain the controller, and must supply a copy of footage containing a requester’s data unless an exemption applies. The ICO says footage that identifies other people will usually need to be redacted.

The court ban lands in a year in which UK firms have been warned about tightening rules on data and AI, and follows the introduction of a statutory data protection complaints process under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, which took effect on 19 June 2026.

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Plastic manufacturer Formica has reported an improving financial picture despite falling to a fifth consecutive year of losses.

The North Shields company – which has been a fixture on the Coast Road for more than 70 years – has released accounts for 2025 in which its revenues increased from £35.7m a year earlier to £41.4m. Over the same period, the company’s operating loss narrowed from £8.3m in 2024 to £5.7m.

A breakdown of sales shows that more than half the company’s income (£28.1m) came from exports to Europe, with £13.2m of sales in the UK.

Formica has been restructuring its operations in the North East over the last few years, with headcount at the factory more than halving since 2018. The new accounts put the company’s employee numbers at 232, a slight rise on the previous period.

The company has also been remodelling the Coast Road site, knocking down a number of buildings that are no longer in use. Restructuring costs of £300,000 are recognised in the accounts that relate to the demolition of the Finished Goods Warehouse at North Shields.

In the accounts, the company says it is “continuing to focus on its North Shields facility”, adding that “whilst reducing the factory footprint we believe through modernisation and centralisation we will be able to support future growth in a controlled manner and therefore benefit from an improved operating leverage.”

The directors add: “Formica Limited has completed a number of projects as part of a significant investment programme at its North Shields site, resulting in a reduced cost footprint. Meanwhile, the company has taken steps to strengthen its commercial margin.

“Along with other actions such as administrative cost reductions and commercial and operational synergies with sister companies in the group, the financial run-rate of the company is improving and is expected to continue to improve, driven by the market demand as well as ongoing commercial and marketing initiatives.”

The Formica product dates back to 1913 when an employee of US-based Westinghouse filed a patent for process to make laminated insulators.

The North Shields plant has been part of the Dutch Broadview Holdings group since 2018 after it was bought in an $840m deal from previous owners Fletcher Building, which is based in New Zealand. In March, Formica’s third party UK sales business was also sold to Broadview.

Rhodium Group Director Reva Goujon highlights the increasing security challenges faced by AI companies globally, emphasizing concerns around cyber threats, data privacy, and geopolitical tensions. She underscores the importance of robust protections and international cooperation to mitigate risks, ensuring responsible AI development and deployment amid evolving technological and regulatory landscapes.

As AI chatbots become more prevalent, companies face increasing risks of malicious attacks aimed at exploiting these systems. To safeguard their digital assets, organizations should implement robust security protocols, including strong authentication and encryption measures. Regularly updating chatbot software ensures vulnerabilities are patched promptly, reducing potential points of entry for attackers. Additionally, deploying continuous monitoring systems helps detect abnormal activity or suspicious behavior that might signify a breach.

Training human staff to recognize and respond to chatbot threats is equally essential. Employees should be aware of common attack vectors such as phishing attempts or social engineering tactics targeting chatbots. Implementing strict access controls for chatbot management also limits the scope of potential damage. Combining technological defenses with well-trained personnel creates a comprehensive shield against malicious AI bot attacks.

Ultimately, staying informed about emerging AI security threats is crucial. Companies should collaborate with cybersecurity experts to develop proactive strategies and participate in ongoing threat intelligence sharing. By embracing a layered security approach, businesses can protect their chatbots and maintain customer trust amidst evolving cyber threats.

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