Author: Business Enquirer
A New Era for Sustainable Construction Sustainability in the built environment is entering a decisive new phase. For years, environmental performance was largely judged at the design stage, relying on modelling, projections and theoretical efficiency targets. Today, that approach is rapidly being replaced by a far more demanding benchmark: measurable, real-world performance. Digital innovation and PropTech are at the centre of this transformation. Across the construction and real estate sectors, new technologies are enabling developers, investors and occupiers to track how buildings actually perform once operational, turning sustainability from a design ambition into a verifiable outcome. In this evolving landscape,…
Air travel across the Middle East is slowly beginning to recover after widespread disruptions caused by regional conflict and airspace closures. In a sign of gradual stabilisation, Qatar Airways has restarted limited flight operations from its hub at Doha’s Hamad International Airport, while Jazeera Airways is launching special flights from Saudi Arabia to help stranded passengers return home. The developments come after several days of severe aviation disruption across the Gulf region, when missile strikes and military activity forced the temporary closure of airspace and halted commercial flight schedules. Qatar Airways Begins Limited Operations Again Qatar Airways restarted restricted flight…
UK housebuilding giant Persimmon has increased production at its in-house brick factory to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week as it responds to rising demand for materials across its housing developments. The move forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen supply chains and reduce reliance on external building materials. By producing key materials internally, the company aims to improve cost control, construction efficiency and quality standards across its residential developments. Persimmon’s latest financial results reveal that the company delivered around 60 million bricks in 2025, representing a 23% increase compared with the previous year, with the…
Solar power has emerged as the most desirable energy feature for people buying newly built homes in the UK, reflecting growing consumer demand for energy efficiency and protection from volatile electricity prices. A nationally representative survey of 2,500 adults conducted by E.ON found that 75% of people would prefer to buy a new-build property with solar panels rather than one without them. In addition, 68% believe solar panels should be mandatory on all newly built homes. The findings underline how renewable energy technology is moving from a “nice-to-have” feature to an expected standard in modern housing developments. Solar Leads the…
Manufacturers across Leeds are expanding a city-wide initiative designed to tackle one of the UK industry’s most pressing challenges: the growing shortage of skilled workers. The Leeds Manufacturing Festival 2026 is broadening its programme of events to connect employers, educators and students while raising awareness of career opportunities in engineering and advanced manufacturing. The initiative comes at a critical time for the sector. UK manufacturers continue to report difficulty recruiting skilled staff, while youth unemployment has risen and fewer young people are considering technical or vocational careers. Organisers say the festival aims to bridge this gap by bringing together industry…
A British mining company has discovered a significant new graphite deposit in northern Uganda, a development that could strengthen Africa’s position in the rapidly expanding global market for electric-vehicle battery minerals. The discovery was made by Blencowe Resources at its Orom-Cross graphite project in Uganda’s Kitgum district. The company identified a new deposit known as Iyan, which substantially expands the potential of the overall project. Initial exploration indicates the Iyan prospect could contain around 16.9 million tonnes of graphite-bearing material, adding a third major resource area to the site alongside the previously identified Northern Syncline and Camp Lode deposits. With…
For decades, rising oil and gas prices typically meant prosperity for Aberdeen and the North Sea energy sector. When global prices climbed, offshore operators expanded drilling programmes, service companies hired staff, and supply vessels filled the harbour. But the situation today is far more complicated. Despite another surge in global oil and gas prices driven by geopolitical tensions and energy market volatility, analysts say a new boom for the North Sea is far from guaranteed. Instead, the region’s energy industry now sits at a crossroads shaped by taxation, investment uncertainty and the accelerating global energy transition. When High Prices Meant…
In recent years, global supply chains have faced unprecedented disruption—from pandemics and geopolitical conflicts to tariffs and inflationary pressure. Against this backdrop, businesses are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to strengthen resilience across procurement, logistics and production networks. New research suggests that organisations adopting AI technologies are significantly better equipped to manage volatility. Companies using AI-driven procurement tools were found to be 3.7 times more resilient to market shocks compared with those relying on traditional processes. The findings highlight a growing consensus across industry and academia: digital transformation, particularly through AI, may be one of the most effective ways to…
The London Stock Exchange Group has launched a new Sustainability Ratings and Data suite, providing investors and financial institutions with enhanced tools to analyse corporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance. The new platform introduces a comprehensive set of ESG scores and sustainability analytics, designed to help market participants measure how effectively companies manage sustainability risks and opportunities. The initiative aims to improve transparency and comparability in ESG assessments while supporting capital allocation decisions and regulatory reporting. As sustainable finance continues to move into the regulatory mainstream, demand for reliable ESG data has surged. Financial institutions increasingly rely on such…
The Cheltenham Festival is first and foremost about racing, but anyone who has walked through the gates knows it is equally a showcase for British style. Each March the racecourse becomes one of the most distinctive fashion stages in the country, where countryside heritage meets modern tailoring. Unlike many sporting events, the fashion at Cheltenham is shaped as much by the setting as it is by the occasion. The festival sits in the Cotswolds at the end of winter, which means practicality has always played a role in how people dress. Warm coats, textured fabrics and sturdy footwear have historically…