Manufacturer Normandy Caravans has secured funding from Barclays Corporate to support its continued growth in the UK market. Gary Cooper, managing director of Hull-based Normandy, said: “The new funding will allow us to continue with our strategic growth plan to develop new products far beyond the traditional single unit.” Founded in 1981, the company predominantly traded with customers in Belgium and Holland, until a change of ownership in 2003 led to a strategic plan to grow its UK business.

In his weekly blog, Yorkshire Business Insider editor Jim Pendrill explores public sector cuts as the first casualties begin to emerge. Jim was in Hull when news of Hull Forward’s demise broke and he comments: “When one talks about economic development and regeneration then surely these are precisely the kinds of places that need our help urgently.” To read more from Jim, click here.

As the World Cup kicks off, a PricewaterhouseCoopers’ (PwC) poll has revealed only 7 per cent of fans in Yorkshire & Humber will watch the action online, half the amount in London. PwC says this highlights the UK’s “digital divide”, and Arif Ahmad, partner at PwC in Yorkshire & Humberside, said: “Broadband access, quality and speeds in urban areas, particularly the country’s capital, exceed those in rural parts. Promises have been made of broadband trebling current speeds – but this still seems regionally patchy.”

Commercial law firm Walker Morris has been appointed to the Legal Services Framework Panel for a consortium of London Boroughs. Under the terms of the three-year framework, the commercial public sector and projects team of the Leeds-based firm will provide legal advice to eight London boroughs and four Kent districts on a number of areas, including property, contracts, housing, commercial, regulatory, litigation and environment.

In this month’s Ask the Expert – International Trade, Enterprise Europe Yorkshire (EEY) has answered Insider readers’ questions about trade with Europe. EEY comments on issues including exports, EU regulation and advice to business looking to Europe, and said: “If you find you are being asked to deal with lots of bureaucracy and red tape when doing business in another EU country, which you feel is unjustified, there is a special service which can help.” To read more from EEY, click here.

The National Media Museum (NMM) in Bradford has appointed Rob Shaw as its head of development. Shaw, who joins from Manchester Camerata, the city’s professional chamber orchestra, will lead a fundraising team of four and oversee the museum’s fundraising campaigns. NMM is part of the National Museum of Science and Industry, a group of museums which includes the National Railway Museum in York and the Science Museum, London.

Conference Leeds this month hosted a two-day familiarisation visit for buyers from the UK events industry. The convention bureau’s event was part of a business tourism campaign to raise the profile of Leeds, Bradford and the wider Yorkshire region as a world-class conference destination. Delegates, including Laurie Scott, the New York-based business development manager from VisitBritain, attended venues including the City Inn, Queens, Met and Radisson BLU Hotels, Aspire, The Rose Bowl and the New Ellington Hotel.

Harrogate Theatre won the Achievement of the Year award at this week’s Harrogate Hospitality and Tourism Awards. The theatre, which had faced an uncertain future due to funding cuts, has bounced back following an extensive refurbishment to record the most successful year in its 110-year history. Other award winners at the event, held at the Harrogate International Centre’s Royal Hall, included Caroline Bayliss, of Yorkshire Dales and Harrogate Area Tourism Partnership (Harrogate Ambassador of the Year); the Royal Baths Chinese Restaurant (Newcomer of the Year); and Tom Van Zeller of Van Zellers Restaurant (Chef of the Year).

To submit your property to Commercial Property Finder click here

Vehicle component distributor Andrew Page has expanded its south Leeds operation by letting a 10,821 sq ft distribution facility on Lockwood Way. The new detached warehouse unit, which is located off Dewsbury Road, was marketed by GVA Grimley’s Yorkshire Industrial team on behalf of landlord Wilky Fund Management.

WSB Property Consultants has appointed Adam Mobley to lead its retail leisure advisory service throughout the north of England. The recruitment of Mobley, a former partner at King Sturge Leeds office, expands Leeds-based WSB’s team to six partners. Working at King Sturge, Mobley acquired 12 years’ experience in the retail and leisure sectors.