Alive with ambition
The home of enterprise and innovation
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Scene setting
Northampton is located at the heart of the UK, with unrivalled national and international transport links. It is a growing town, with one of the country’s most dynamic and vibrant economies. It remains one of the Government’s key areas for economic growth, and with its Waterside Enterprise Zone it is attracting global interest. The latest Cities Outlook report from Centre for Cities revealed that Northampton is the UK’s top place for business start-ups outside London. It also has the country’s second highest rate of employment, a rapidly increasing population, housing stock is keeping pace, and superfast broadband connectivity is well above the national average.
The town is already home to around 13,000 businesses, the vast majority of which are small and medium sized enterprises. But global brands also call Northampton home, from precision engineering firms like Cosworth, to prestige footwear companies such as Church’s and major financial businesses including Barclaycard and Nationwide. Thanks to its geographical position, distribution, transport and communications feature heavily in its list of employment sectors.
The University of Northampton is in the process of building a new campus at the edge of the Enterprise Zone, very close to the town centre. This will place it in direct proximity to businesses which, along with its new Innovation Centre, will help feed the next generation of leadership and entrepreneurial spirit. Industry sectors currently being targeted for investment include high-performance engineering, low-carbon and sustainable technology, business and professional services and new enterprise start-ups.
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Case Study: Phipps NBC In 2008, brothers Alaric and Quentin Neville revived a beloved Northampton brand – Phipps NBC. Brewing of Phipps ales ceased in 1968, shortly before Carlsberg moved onto its former site at Southbridge, Northampton. But after Quentin took ownership of the brand in 2004, the pair hatched a plan to resurrect the household name. The relaunch took place in 2008, at the Grainstore Brewery in Oakham, but the brothers wanted to return the brand to its rightful home. In 2014 their aspirations became a reality, at the former Albion Brewery site – the home of Phipps more than 100 years previously.
“When we were considering
with all the benefits that brings
locations for the new Phipps
- mutual support, collaboration,
Brewery, Northampton
and a sense of family.
was obviously top of the list because of our deep historic
“The existence of the Enterprise
links with the town but there
Zone was a big attraction, along
were other positives that helped
with the County Council moving
seal the deal.
its staff back into the town centre and the University of
“There’s a sense of vitality, a
Northampton creating a new
can-do attitude about the place,
campus nearby.
a huge amount of progress has been made in the past few years. “Northampton is the heart of the county and we’ve been able to tap into a thriving food and drink sector in Northamptonshire,
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“We benefit from and hopefully contribute to the growing sense of optimism in the future here.”
Alaric Neville, owner
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Creating places to do business Skills Agencies across Northampton work together to make sure Northampton can offer a skilled workforce ready to meet the demands of growing businesses. Local authorities, local enterprise partnerships and educational establishments are all focussed on the needs of business locally and nationally. The University of Northampton is the country’s fourth for employability, targeting realworld, transferrable skills. It is also the UK’s frontrunner in social enterprise and entrepreneurship. Apprenticeships also form an important part of the solution, and are supported across both public and private sectors as a way to generate appropriate skills in the workplace.
Business Support Firms looking to set up in Northampton have access to
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a variety of support streams, including funding, advice and professional services.
Waterside Enterprise Zone, is one of the UK’s largest developments of eco-homes.
Both the Northamptonshire and Velocity Growth Hubs offer guidance on starting a business, access to finance, recruitment support and growth strategy.
Tourism
And Northampton Borough Council has an open-door policy regarding development issues, working with developers to help them achieve their needs.
Housing A wide selection of housing options are available at below the national average price, with a large amount of new housing being built in the town. This ranges from exclusive apartments in former shoe factory conversions and an abundance of new-builds, to sturdy and affordable Victorian terraces. The Upton development, at the western edge of the Northampton
Northampton has great heritage, and its rich and varied history has left its mark on the town of today, forming a heritage trail of fantastic buildings and locations. As well as convenient access to London and Birmingham, Northampton also has other key destinations right on the doorstep, including Stratfordupon-Avon, Warwick, Oxford and Cambridge. The town is right at the heart of the UK’s motorsport cluster, with the home of the British Grand Prix and MotoGP – Silverstone Circuit – just minutes away. There’s also top-flight rugby union from Northampton Saints, league football from Northampton Town, and Northamptonshire County Cricket which has produced
some of the game’s most famous names.
Shopping St Giles Street in Northampton recently won the title of Great British High Street, thanks to its mix of independent stores. These sit side-by-side with national retailers in a town centre which is supported by Northampton Borough Council through grants and mentorship. Extensive free parking and increasing footfall have combined to make this a very sought-after location for retail and leisure and the upcoming development of Greyfriars will create a new Quarter in the town centre.
Entertainment Theatre, cinema, museums and art galleries help form Northampton’s burgeoning Cultural Quarter, and more is on the way. The Royal & Derngate offers shows to rival the West End, along with avant garde works that often transfer to the national stage. Its Errol Flynn Filmhouse gives an arthouse experience, while carrying top mainstream titles. Other attractions include the Deco Theatre, Charles Rennie Mackintosh design masterpiece 78 Derngate, and numerous events on the Market Square.
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Optimum location
Northampton offers a huge range of opportunities available for businesses, developers, investors and land owners. The town occupies a key position on the country’s road network:
Well placed access to the road
Rail offers a direct route to
network provides an easy link to
London and Birmingham
Located on the M1, about halfway between London and Nottingham, providing a direct link to Yorkshire and the North East.
many of the UK’s ferry ports, as
with both cities just under an
well as five international airports
hour away.
which are located little more than
Connections continue into the
an hour from the town:
North West of England, Wales
The M6 begins just north of the town, offering a direct route to Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool. This continues on to the Lake District into Scotland via the M74 to Glasgow. Just to the south lies the M40 which opens up southern England and Wales via the M3, M4 and M5.
and Scotland with links to the • Heathrow
North East.
• Stansted
Thanks to its central location, road
• Birmingham • East Midlands • Luton
and rail networks, Northampton has become a convenient commuter town with comfortable travelling times to major UK cities.
The town occupies a key position on the country’s road network 8
M6
A1
East Midlands M1
Northampton
Birmingham
Cambridge A14 Stansted Luton
Birmingham
Oxford
M4
Ipswich Port
M25
Harwich International Port
Heathrow London
Dover Ferry Port Portsmouth International Port Newhaven Ferry Port
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Enterprise Zone
Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone capitalises on our town’s clear strengths – its central location, diverse economy and appetite for success means that we have been recognised as one of the best performing Enterprise Zones in the country. The Zone is composed of 21 sites along the River Nene, stretching from Sixfields in the west to the town centre. It incorporates a range of brownfield development opportunities, and growing business parks. Global brands sit alongside a large number of thriving small businesses, each complementing and supporting the other. The University of Northampton is developing a new campus within the zone, which will place it at the heart of the town’s industry. This, alongside the university’s new Innovation Centre, and plans for a comprehensive portfolio of twenty-first century office accommodation, adds to the considerable opportunities on offer in Northampton. The zone receives strong support from a business-oriented public sector which is determined to ensure Northampton is the very best place to start and grow your business. As well as the obvious advantages of investing in Northampton, you are eligible for a wide range of benefits by calling Northampton Waterside home.
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Business rate relief Businesses that occupy a building in the zone before April 2018 could be eligible for a business rate discount of up to £275,000 over five years.
Simplified planning process Any development proposal within the Enterprise Zone boundary will benefit from a quicker and simpler planning process.
Infrastructure investment Public sector partners are investing in the infrastructure to support success. This includes an iconic new railway station, which is located in the centre of the Enterprise Zone.
Superfast broadband Northampton is in the UK’s top ten cities for superfast broadband
connectivity, and work continues to improve this even further. A ‘one stop shop’ approach: Whether you’re a business, landowner or developer, you have access to the skills and services of the Enterprise Zone team. Led by Northampton Borough Council, there is a partnership of public and private sector organisations covering everything from planning to marketing.
...you are eligible for a wide range of benefits by calling Northampton Waterside home 11
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Case Study: Cosworth Cosworth’s Advanced Manufacturing Centre (AMC) is a significant landmark at the Waterside Enterprise Zone, and has cemented Northampton’s position at the forefront of advanced automotive manufacturing. The remarkable structure has featured in BBC Panorama’s “What Britain Wants” and in February 2015 received a visit by Prime Minister David Cameron, who recognised it to be the “perfect example of a British manufacturing success story”. The £22million AMC spans 38,000ft² and houses industryleading flexible manufacturing systems that feature first-of-their-kind UK technologies such as plasma ion coating. The centre logged £75million-worth of orders before reaching operational status, opened up over 80 new employee roles and introduced four new apprenticeship opportunities.
“Cosworth has a long history at St James Mill Road, and with Northampton Borough Council, so the Waterside Enterprise Zone was the perfect location for us to invest in developing our automotive manufacturing capability. “The council, along with the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership, are to be commended for their support of local business – it is invigorating to work with those who understand Cosworth’s priorities and share our vision to supply excellent products and services. “The AMC forms an essential foundation of our strategy to develop next generation
manufacturing capability for lowcarbon powertrains. “Our partnership with Northampton Borough Council has enabled Cosworth to realise this state of the art facility rapidly, in just 18 months, successfully expanding our footprint to secure orders with global automotive brands. “Cosworth’s AMC is an embodiment of local and national Government ability to enable projects that will create the jobs, apprenticeships and worldclass high-tech manufacturing capability needed to drive sustainable economic growth in the UK.”
Hal Reisiger, CEO
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Case Study: Newspaper House The conversion of Newspaper House into an £8m scheme of 64 apartments builds on extensive work already completed on Northampton’s Cultural Quarter. The development consists of duplex and studio apartments organised around a landscaped courtyard, plus duplex penthouses with panoramic views of the Guildhall and beyond.
“This is an exciting development that addresses some of the renewed demand over the last few years for town centre living. “The cultural quarter has really taken off and people want to enjoy the local theatres, restaurants, Errol Flynn Filmhouse, and shopping, particularly on St Giles Street which has recently been awarded Great British High Street of the Year. “We are taking a redundant building and introducing top quality design and materials to produce an attractive and desirable living environment. “Right from the start of the planning process we have been very impressed with the positive attitude of the council. “We have felt that everyone has worked with us rather than against us to agree the best possible scheme for this site. This has been very refreshing and the council has acted on their promise of being open for business.”
David Corley, Derngate Lofts Ltd
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FOUR St Peter’s Waterside FOUR St Peter’s Waterside is a landmark office development in the centre of the Northampton, the first new, high-spec office development in a generation. The Borough Council is investing in the new development, which is centrally located opposite in Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone, the new Northampton railway station – just an hour away from London and Birmingham - and gives easy access to the M1, M45 and other strategic routes. The first phase of the development will comprise 60,000 sq ft of contemporary, commercial office space. Interest in FOUR St Peter’s Waterside is already growing, and there is a significant opportunity on the site for investors seeking either a corporate headquarters or other prestigious office space.
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Town centre
The long-term enhancement of Northampton town centre is a key priority for Northampton Borough Council and many innovative schemes have helped to drive footfall and increase investment. Northampton Borough Council launched a Business Incentive Scheme in 2014 to help new and existing businesses to support the growth of the local economy and create jobs through mentoring and grant funding. With more than ÂŁ690,000 of funding committed, the scheme has helped to reduce the number of empty retail units,
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improve the retail offer and appearance of the town centre and helped to create more than 314 jobs, supporting more than 81 businesses. Numerous projects are underway to bring more people in to the town centre to help boost the local economy even further.
Project Angel will see thousands of public sector staff move to new low-carbon office space in the heart of the town, creating an estimated ÂŁ12 million spending power in the town centre. Work driving forward on a new University of Northampton campus at the Waterside, will bring 16,000 students and staff to
boost the economic vitality of the town centre even further. The strategy to drive footfall to the town centre has also seen the middle section of Abington Street reopened to traffic and the creation of more than 40 free short-stay parking and droppingoff bays, bringing shoppers right into the very heart of Northampton’s shopping district. An extensive free parking scheme has increased the vitality of the town centre. With daily free parking offers in the multi-storey
car parks - including all day free on Saturdays and Sundays – driving an increase in visits and footfall numbers. A major project is enhancing St Giles Street – winner of the prestigious Great British High Street competition in 2015. Celebrated for its wealth of independent niche retailers and boutiques, the St Giles Quarter is also undergoing a facelift to improve the footpaths and roadway, including new paving, lighting and tree planting.
The St Giles Street enhancements are in keeping with the recent improvements in Guildhall Road with widened pavements allowing for street entertainment and pavement cafes to help further develop the environment and atmosphere of the Cultural Quarter. And the growth of the town continues to bring new opportunities for businesses, developers and investors with the development of the four-acre site at Greyfriars on the horizon.
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Greyfriars Greyfriars provides the opportunity for the once-in-a-generation redevelopment of a key, four-acre, town centre site. Interested developers are refining proposals for a vibrant, mixed use development that would include both housing and leisure elements and form a new Quarter in the town. The preferred developer and the details of their scheme will be announced in June 2016. A planning application is expected to come forward in January 2017 with work on site beginning later that year.
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Case Study: Guildhall hotel Rakesh and Minal Thakarar are creating a boutique hotel in the heart of Northampton, and have found plenty of support from local contractors. Their aim is to provide up to 13 stylish rooms, a café, and a high-quality restaurant within Northampton’s burgeoning Cultural Quarter.
“It has been great to get work underway on site and we have been lucky to find a group of local tradesmen who have been able to help us begin turning our dreams into reality. “We have found Northampton to be the perfect place to do business, with experienced contractors who might ordinarily travel up and down the country, and who are only too happy to be working on a local project instead. “Starting a new business is very challenging and though we have a long way to go, we are pleased with the support we have received to date. “Northampton has such a great mix of culture to offer and we are right in the heart of that offering, being next door to the historic Royal Theatre on Guildhall Road. “Hopefully we will be able to add to the mix by providing a fabulous period residence, for weary travellers to put their feet up and rest.”
Rakesh Thakarar
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Destination Northampton
Northampton’s Cultural Quarter brings millions of visitors to the very heart of the town, with more than 400,000 people watching world class performances at the Royal & Derngate Theatre every year. Established in 2013, Northampton’s Cultural Quarter was created to recognise and galvanise the unique cluster of creative businesses and facilities in the town centre. Collectively the sector makes an enormous contribution to the local economy. The Cultural Quarter’s Guildhall Road is home to Northampton Museum and Art Gallery which
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cares for the largest collection of objects charting the history of shoes in the world. A major extension of the museum is underway, which will double the size of the exhibition space and create new galleries. The Royal & Derngate Theatre, anchors the Cultural Quarter, with its reputation as one of the major producing venues in the country and a winner of regional
theatre of the year. The venue also presents a diverse range of visiting work including musicals, dance, comedy and music. In 2013, the venue expanded to include the Errol Flynn Filmhouse – a 90-seat filmhouse hosting the very best in world, independent British and mainstream cinema. Such has been the success; plans for a second screen are underway.
The emergence of the Cultural Quarter has catalysed further investment with a new Premier Inn hotel and restaurant recently opened on the southern part of Albion Place car park. 2016 will see the opening of a boutique hotel in Guildhall Road, offering customers 13 stylish rooms, a café and restaurant in the heart of the Cultural Quarter. Northampton Borough Council is committed to a major redevelopment of the former Vulcan Iron Works site in Guildhall Road that will play a significant part in developing the Cultural Quarter even further. This extensive grade II listed site is full of character and heritage and will be developed as a hub
for creative industries, with commercial managed workspaces and studios as well as retail and entertainment space. South of the Cultural Quarter is Delapre Abbey – one of Northampton’s most important historic buildings and part of the town’s rich heritage. The Abbey has recently undergone a major restoration project with the 18th century stable block being converted into a new visitor and education centre, shop and exhibition space, and restoration and conversion of the Billiard Room into a restaurant/café for public use and special events and will now be marketed as a major regional attraction.
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Case Study: Longthorne Guns Longthorne Guns moved to Northampton from Lancashire as the town was ideally situated to help with the company’s expansion. James and Elaine Stewart also hoped their move would help them attract engineering staff to boost production from 100 units per year to 1,000. Longthorne has several high-profile clients including the Duchess of Rutland, Lord Coke of Holkham Hall in North Norfolk, and Middle Eastern royalty. “Our former premises were small and restrictive and not in the best area for attracting technical engineering staff, limiting our growth. “We also have a much larger potential client base closer to London. We chose Northampton because of its close proximity to London, and motorway access. “The fact that there are other companies in the area using similar technology to ourselves means that there will be a good potential labour force, and the Enterprise Zone incentives offered certainly made it attractive.”
Elaine Stewart, marketing director
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Interested?
Northampton has a great location, an excellent business environment and unsurpassed support from both the public and private sectors. Come and join us, be part of our success story, and help your business thrive. To find out more email John Dale at jdale@Northampton.gov.uk or call him on 01604 837078. www.northamptonez.gov.uk
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April 2016 www.nor thamptonez .co.uk