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Academy hooker Harri Morris, 21, will join English Championship side Doncaster Knights this summer on a season-long loan. A product of the city’s George Watson’s College, former back-row Morris represented Edinburgh throughout the age-grade ranks while featuring for FOSROC Super Series side Southern Knights as part of his academy deal. A key member of the Edinburgh U20 team that lifted the Junior 1872 Cup in 2019 – a game in which he was named Player of the Match – the young hooker went on to be a part of the Scotland U20 squad for the 2021 U20 Six Nations. Morris made his Edinburgh Rugby debut in a Rainbow Cup clash against Ulster in June 2021 – becoming Edinburgh player #1296 – while the hooker spent time on loan at London Scottish last season. On joining Doncaster Knights, Morris said: “I’m really excited to make the move to Doncaster this summer and test myself in a new environment. I’ve heard really positive things about the club and I’ve got no doubt increased playing time at senior level will really help elevate my game." “I want to keep progressing as a hooker so I’m really grateful of this opportunity with Doncaster. If I perform well, I can hopefully kick on and return to Edinburgh as a much more rounded player at the position.” Academy Coach Rob Chrystie added: “Harri is an exciting young player who has recently converted from backrow to hooker. This season long loan is an important part of his long-term development plan." “He will continue to receive our full support and we are really looking forward to seeing him play week in and week out in the Championship before returning to Edinburgh Rugby to compete for a first team spot.”

Two Yorkshire family businesses have collaborated to create recipes that celebrate Yorkshire produce. The team at Thixendale based Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil has created a series of three recipes using cheese and yoghurt from Yorkshire Dama Cheese in Sowerby Bridge to celebrate summer: Smoked Chilli Squeaky Cheese Flatbreads, Baked Ricotta with Chilli and Spice and Labneh Topped Spiced Carrot Cake. Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil's Marketing Manager, Jennie Palmer explained the rationale for the recipe creation: "Here at YRO, we're passionate about spreading the word about fabulous Yorkshire producers. Over the years we have found that the best way to do this is to create recipes that encourage people to try the fabulous food that we have on our doorstep." "Yorkshire Dama Cheese was established by Razan Alsous after she fled war torn Syria in 2012. She was inspired to make dairy products after discovering the distinctive taste of Yorkshire cow's milk for the first time and has gone on to win numerous awards for her products that include Squeaky Cheese, Ricotta Cheese and a selection of dairy lines including the spreadable yogurt Labneh that we used to top the spiced carrot cake." Mrs Alsous said: "We love the creative ways that the Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil team have used our products in their recipes and we can't wait to try them - especially the Smoked Chilli Squeaky Cheese Flatbreads." Mrs Alsous and Mrs Palmer are both Board Members with deliciouslyorkshire; the organisation dedicated to making Yorkshire food and drink the first choice by respecting tradition, encouraging innovation, and celebrating great taste. Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil was established in 2008 by the Palmer family on their farm in the heart of the Yorkshire Wolds. They produce a range of oils, dressings and mayonnaise based on their award-winning Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil that is pressed, blended, bottled and labelled on the family farm.

Robinsons Brewery announce another year of increased operating profits despite the challenging economic climate that the hospitality and brewing industry has faced. The sixth-generation Stockport-based family brewers generated an operating profit of £5.9m and invested a further £7.7m across their 249 tenanted and managed pubs. Recently the company further consolidated its family shareholder base by concluding a share buyback. Sixth-generation family members and Joint Managing Directors, Oliver and William Robinson, commented: “2022 was a year of challenges across our sector and across the UK. Although we had the first full year without significant coronavirus restrictions in place, we faced new challenges. Brexit arrangements impacted on worker availability, the lasting impact of the pandemic and the cost increases caused by the war in Ukraine hitting utility and food costs particularly hard. We saw our business affected by difficulties in recruiting new team members across all areas of the business from chefs to engineers. Like many businesses, these pressures have driven up our operating costs. We have risen to this challenge and are investing in our systems and processes to improve efficiency and performance across the business; whilst simultaneously developing our consumer offering and our learning and development program.” In this challenging economic climate, Robinsons has maintained a strong performance in the market. The family brewers increased sales by approximately 20% in 2022, rising from £63.3m (2021) to £83.1m comparing favourably with our pre-pandemic sales of £75m in 2019. The increase in turnover for the brewers delivered an operating profit of £5.9m, noticing a growth in trade as the country recovers from the impacts of the pandemic. Robinsons have continued their commitment to investing into their pub estate, this year almost trebling their investment figure (£2.8m in 2021). The company spent £7.7m on the development and improvement of 40 sites to achieve quality and enjoyable environments for their guests and licensees. This figure saw the family brewers invest £3.9m across their tenanted estate. Significant investments included the Shoulder of Mutton, Chapel-en-le-Frith and the Church House, Buglawton. The company has also acquired two new premises for their managed house division, in 2022 The Woodman Inn, Thunderbridge, West Yorkshire and more recently in early 2023, Hartford Hall near Northwich. The £3.8m investments across their managed house division included the Tatton Arms, near Manchester Airport and the Waggon and Horses, Eaton. The year also saw brewhouse plans come to fruition as construction work began at their Unicorn Packaging Centre in Bredbury with plans for the new brewery to be operational by 2024. The sixth-generation family directors commented: “We feel confident our business is well placed to develop and continue strengthening and investing over the coming years. The conclusion of the buyback of a number of shares from family branches less directly connected to the operation of the business is a significant moment for the business and family. It is the first time since the company was founded such an exercise has been undertaken. We are committed to continuing investment in our pub portfolio during 2023 and will continue to seek to acquire pubs, or small pub groups in exceptional trading or idyllic locations which align with our future business vision.”

2023 is turning out to be a highly successful year for Lincoln based entrance matting manufacturer Make An Entrance, whose Managing Director Stuart Burlton has been shortlisted for the sought after title of Institute of Directors, Director of the Year. The IoD Awards are designed to find the stars of UK business and leadership. There are 3 regional awards: North, Midlands, and the East and South, with directors being recognised in 9 categories such as: Innovation, Young, Family, and Sustainability. The story of the Make An Entrance journey is truly inspirational. Having started out as a simple e-commerce operation, today it has brought almost all production in-house to become a thriving UK manufacturing business and in doing so has prevented the traditional skill of hand-stitched doormat making from being lost. The team’s hard work was recognised earlier this year when they scooped the Business Transformation Award in the 2023 Business Champions Awards. This further nomination in recognition of Stuart’s particular leadership skills as an accomplished Managing Director is the icing on the cake for the family firm. The IoD said: "The calibre of entries has been consistently high this year, so it is a great achievement to be shortlisted. Congratulations!" Stuart Burlton, Make An Entrance Co-Founder said: "I am delighted to be shortlisted as a finalist in these awards. It is wonderful for me and the team to be recognised for all the hard work that has gone on, to transform ourselves from a humble online company 5 years ago to a full-blown UK manufacturer today. Success is a complete team effort, and my shortlisting is just a reflection of that, and is proof that manufacturing in the UK can succeed!!!" Winners will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony at IoD Headquarters in Pall Mall, London on Friday 29th September 2023.