Rising interest rates and bringing inflation under control will be the key topics discussed during the latest Bank of England Annual Economic Update hosted by Sheffield Hallam University this week

One of the big winners in UK chancellor Rishi Sunak’s summer statement is the housing market, where stamp duty has been scrapped for all house purchases under £500,000 until March 2021. This will cost the Treasury £3.8 billion, about 0.4% of the total tax take, and comes in response to four months of falls in house prices – their worst performance in almost a decade.

Labour’s industrial strategy green paper, Invest 2035:The UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, sets out the scale of work that needs to be done to achieve their vision for economic growth.

There are nearly seven million 16-24 years olds in the UK. As many of this group finish school, college or university, they face the real prospect of long-term unemployment.

Universities have never been under more pressure to demonstrate their worth. Not only to their students and funders, but also to their communities in the cities and towns where they are located.

With origins in the design, manufacturing and fabrication industries of Victorian Sheffield, through to the pioneering innovations of Sheffield City Polytechnic, Hallam is firmly rooted in the making and creating heritage of South Yorkshire.

As we head into 2024, small businesses across our region, and the country, are facing myriad challenges. Rising costs, recruitment and retention issues, the climate emergency, pressure to achieve net zero and geopolitical uncertainty to name a few.

As Britain stands on the cusp of potential political change, our nation faces significant economic challenges. With stagnant growth and constrained public finances, the next government – regardless of its political stripe – must prioritise revitalising our economy.

Decisive action must follow the warm words about degree apprenticeships

A new report published recently by the social mobility charity the Sutton Trust, has claimed that higher-level apprenticeships are being snapped up by the middle classes and have become as sought after as a traditional university degree.