inbusiness June July 2024

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Editor: Laura Smith

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Twelcome

ime really is flying, isn’t it? We’ve almost reached the midpoint of the year already, and it’s time to reflect on what has been achieved so far and look ahead to some exciting events on the horizon.

Mark your calendars for our Chamber BBQ event on 17 July. It’s a fantastic chance to connect will all our members from both Chambers to network and reflect on what we’ve achieved in the past six months.

You’ll find more information about this event, as well as all our upcoming events in this edition of inbusiness and on our website - we can’t wait to see you there!

I’m also delighted that the countdown has begun to the Northamptonshire Business Awards! This year’s ceremony, sponsored by Wilson Browne Solicitors, promises to be bigger and better than ever. Entries are open until the 30 June and we look forward to celebrating with you on Friday 22 November.

Louise Wall CEO, Northamptonshire Chamber and Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce

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business report

inbusiness keeps Northamptonshire Chamber and Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce members up-to-date with the latest business news

Chamber attends ‘inspirational’ event

Leaders from the national Chamber network gathered at the prestigious House of Lords terrace for the British Chambers of Commerce President’s Lunch.

The exclusive invite-only event saw the distinguished guests meet for networking and insights, hosted by BCC president, Baroness Martha Lane Fox.

Among the esteemed guests were Northamptonshire Chamber and Milton Keynes Chamber CEO Louise Wall, president Robyn Allen, vice president Reemesh Patel and nonexecutive director Rachel Collar.

Louise said: “Attending the BCC President's Lunch was both a privilege and an inspiration. It reinforced the importance of collaboration and innovation in driving positive change, and we are looking forward to continued growth and opportunities ahead.”

The special event provided the opportunity for attendees to connect with colleagues from across the Global Business Network over a two-course lunch and refreshments and gain valuable insights from the expert speaker, Priya Lakhani OBE.

Priya is the Founder CEO of award-winning artificial intelligence education technology company CENTURY Tech.

Northamptonshire Chamber and Milton Keynes Chamber vice president Reemesh Patel, CEO Louise Wall, president Robyn Allen and board member Rachel Collar

Cheryl dedicates her life to health

The founder of a pioneering ethical vitamin company in Northamptonshire has been honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Cheryl Thallon, who founded Daventry-based Viridian Nutrition, was presented with the plaque at the Natural & Organics Innovation Award 2024 ceremony. The award was in recognition of her commitment and dedication to the natural and organic industry which spans over 40 years. It was also an evening for a double celebration after Viridian’s innovative Viridian Collagen Pro Factors won Best New Supplement Product 2024.

MD Cheryl ‘fell in love’ with the natural products movement while working in specialist health food stores and became interested in nutrition and food supplements, launching Viridian in 1999. The vitamin company is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

‘I am truly passionate and feel privileged to be able to help others to better health and wellness’

Viridian sits on a number of trade association and is a member of numerous associations including the British Independent Retailers Association, Living Wage Foundation, Health Food Manufacturers Association. Cheryl is personally on the committee of Health Stores UK and works with the Alliance for Natural Health.

Cheryl said: “I am truly passionate and feel privileged to be able to help others to better health and wellness. Although we are all living longer, there’s still many people with chronic illnesses, and it’s our responsibility to take care of our own health and help take care of others, which is my mission. I feel very honoured to receive this award.”

College ranked among best in country

New national league tables have revealed Northampton College is now the fifth bestperforming college in the country.

Data released as part of the latest 2022/23 National Achievement Rates Tables (NART) shows Northampton College is fifth out of 225

colleges for 16 to 18-year-old education and training. It was rated 10th for its adult provision and given an overall rating of fifth nationally.

The rating cements Northampton College’s position as the leading provider of Further Education in the Midlands, and among the very best in the country.

The data revealed 96 per cent of Northampton College students pass their course.

Principal Pat Brennan-Barrett said: “These ratings reflect the incredible work and dedication of our staff and students. There is a relentless focus on equipping students with the very best skills that prepares them to succeed.”

The rating puts Northampton College in the top two per cent of colleges in the country while it ranked first for its English for Speaker of other Languages (ESOL) provision. National Apprenticeship data has also revealed an overall achievement rate of 10 per cent above the national average.

Over the past 10 years the college has worked with employer partners to develop an ambitious curriculum that aligns with local and regional skills priorities.

Viridian founder Cheryl Thallo with her Lifetime Achievement Award

Northampton College

Silverstone to host glittering gala

For the first time ever, Silverstone Museum will open its doors at night for a spectacular star-studded, black-tie gala dinner to celebrate and kick-start the British Grand Prix.

This unforgettable preview evening on Wednesday 3 July, offers limited seating for just 20 tables of 10, nestled among priceless racing cars in the heart of the museum.

Formula One commentator David Croft, aka Crofty, will be sharing exhilarating tales and extraordinary anecdotes from some of

Building numeracy skills in the region

Learning & Skills Academy (L&SA) CIC have engaged with more than 300 people across Northamptonshire with the Multiply programme since it launched three years ago.

The scheme supports people from all walks of life with managing money and growing confidence in the use of numbers in everyday life.

L&SA CIC are one of several providers supporting on the Multiply programme across the county.

The academy provides both cost-ofliving support and real-life numeracy support, incorporating technology to help with online banking and paying bills as well as improving accessibility to money management.

Tony Knaggs, managing director, said: “We really pleased with the results. It’s brilliant we can help so many people with using numbers in their everyday lives and we’re looking forward to helping more people moving forward.”

motorsport’s elite, with special guests Martin Brundle and Ross Brawn, and another special appearance from a legend in the world of motorsport. After an evening filled with the essence of British motorsport at The Silverstone Museum Gala, the festivities escalate with live entertainment and an exclusive auction, ensuring an unforgettable night of celebration.

Indulge your senses with locally produced British cuisine, immersing yourself in the spirit of the evening with live entertainment paying homage to all things British. Experience

electrifying performances and musical delights that complement the spirit of the occasion. There will also be an exclusive charity auction like no other, featuring coveted memorabilia, one-of-a-kind experiences, and treasures from the world of motorsport. Guests can bid on items that encapsulate the legacy of Silverstone and Formula One, with proceeds contributing to the preservation of racing history.

For more information visit: www.silverstonemuseum.co.uk

Aircare boss’ new BCAS role

Wendy Hayward, managing director of Aircare Compressor Services Limited has been appointed as the new vice president of the British Compressed Air Society (BCAS).

She joins Steven Rohan, BCAS president and the BCAS Board in continuing to drive standards, educate members and compressed air end users and provide independent advice to Industry.

With more than 30 years’, hands-on experience in the compressed air industry, gained through her family-run distribution business, Wendy is familiar with the challenges faced by many smaller organisations and plans to bring this knowledge to her new role.

She said: “The compressed air industry is a highly skilled sector, with businesses offering excellent engineering services to their valued customers - providing technical advice on ways to reduce energy consumption, stay compliant, improve compressor performance and minimise maintenance costs to name but a few.

“However, while the industry comprises a wealth of engineering talent, managing the multitude of other priorities as a smaller business can be complex. This is where I feel my experience as a compressed air distributor,

together with the broad range of services available from BCAS, can really help.

“For example, we are working towards new apprenticeship groups for our members and their employees, with the aim of advising and supporting on how to recruit and retain apprentices in our industry. BCAS can also assist with training, with courses available to fit around busy schedules.”

Wendy Hayward of Aircare Compressor Services Ltd

Silverstone Museum Gala

Historic hidden gem shows off extensive regeneration

Visitors to Northampton’s iconic and historic 78 Derngate can now visit the heritage house and its expanded visitor centre, spend time in the rejuvenated secluded garden and enjoy the revitalised visitor shop following the completion of the extensive £950,000 refurbishment.

The only building located outside Scotland with interior designs made extraordinary by renowned artist, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, and former home to local businessman and proud Northamptonian, WJ Bassett-Lowke, this hidden gem has enjoyed a fantastic facelift to the adjoining building.

Following funding from West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) of £400,000 through the Town Funds, £200,000 match funding from WNC and generous donations from a multitude of individuals and organisations, the expansion to this cultural facility took more than 12 months of regeneration work.

The site now boasts an extension to the main buildings and the secluded gardens have been superbly landscaped and cultivated to allow, in time, as many species of the flowers and shrubs which Mackintosh famously painted to flourish.

The addition of this two-storey, glass-sided extension allows even larger groups to gather in the reception and retail area.

It also offers different opportunities for unique venue hire, either by day or during evening events.

In April, a charity fashion show was held in the new mezzanine and gallery space with 76 guests attending to check out a wonderful range of Spring/Summer outfits from local boutique Voni Blu.

Currently, an exhibition by contemporary artist, Lisa Timmerman is on display in the galleries until 29 June.

MAIN PICTURE: The two-storey glass extension INSET: Charles Rennie Mackintosh

The interior

The secluded gardens

Charity trustee wins BBC hero award as At Home project is launched

The trustee of a special charity set up by his terminally ill nine-year-old son has been recognised with a One Big Thank You on BBC’s The One Show

Samuel Leib’s dying wish was to establish a charity to improve hospital facilities for poorly children. He set up Samuel’s Charity, which support seriously and terminally ill children, in hospital and at home, across the UK, just five months before he died.

Since his tragic death from a rare blood cancer in 2017, Samuel’s father Martin has worked tirelessly to turn his little boy’s vision into reality.

‘This will mean a child can be in their own home, feeling safe’

His fundraising and awareness efforts have raised over £350,000 for underfunded children’s wards, funding toys, electronic entertainment equipment, pain reducing equipment, ward redecoration, playrooms and activities. They are now beginning a project called At Home to help children leave hospital and give them the support to be able to stay at home.

It was his daughter Evie who nominated Martin for the BBC hero award, which saw him

visit the set of his favourite programme Match of the Day and meet footballing superstars Gary Linekar and Jermaine Jenas.

Martin said: “I was blown away by this and so very proud of Evie, who kept it secret for nine months.

It is especially poignant as this is 10 years since Samuel started his charity and this year we are launching the At Home project to get children out of hospital and back home.

“Many serious and long-term illnesses can be managed at home but there is no community support for this and many parents - myself include, when Samuel was home for a five day break during his treatment - are constantly scared and unprepared. Now we can change this. We will hire a care co-ordinator - they will be an

Martin Leib and his family visited the Match of the Day set and met football pundits Gary Linekar and Jermaine Jenas

Samuel Leib died tragically in 2017

ex-senior nurse with many years’ experience of looking after children in critical wards - who will support the family and the child through the transition home and to be there to ensure there is always professional and immediate support.

“This will mean a child can be in their own home, feeling safe and away from the awful hospital environment. The family can begin to heal along with a much more positive environment for the child to have treatment, reducing depression, fear and loneliness. As well as hugely improving the outcomes of the treatments for children it will reducing waiting times in the Wards and save hundreds of thousands of pounds per area the project is in.

We aim to begin the At Home project in Milton Keynes this year.”

Aegis Support Services appoints new team head

Aegis Support Services, the fast-growing security and facilities management services provider, has appointed experienced operations professional Darren Austin to its team as head of national operations.

Darren brings more than 25 years of experience in security and facilities management to the business having worked for several leading providers of integrated facility and security solutions. In his new role, he will oversee operational delivery, quality of service, systems, and technology across multiple workstreams and for clients across the UK.

‘Darren is an excellent addition to our growing team at Aegis’

This latest appointment follows a period of strong growth for the business, which launched its new security control centre in Milton Keynes in 2021 and has also opened offices in Cardiff, Manchester, and Glasgow as part of its plans to develop its offering to customers across the UK in a wide range of industry sectors.

Qadeer Qureshi, CEO, said: “Darren is an excellent addition to our growing team at Aegis. His experience and expertise across the security and facilities management industries will help us to accelerate our growth plans as a national provider of integrated security and facilities management services. Darren will

play a key role in helping us to continue to develop our offering and build on the excellent service and value for money we provide for our customers, and we are delighted to have him in the team.”

Darren Austin, head of national operations, added: “I am thrilled to join the team at Aegis Support Services and support their ambitious growth plans and help them continue to develop its excellent reputation for delivering high-quality and value-for-money service. The security and facilities management sector plays a key role in ensuring an organisation’s people, assets, and premises are safe and secure and Aegis is well placed to provide that support to organisations across the UK.”

Sharing top tips for growth

An engaging workshop focusing on the five keys to exceptional business growth will be hosted by Hawsons Chartered Accountants. Step Change Growth For Ambitious Business Leaders will be held on Tuesday 25 June at Fairspace MK in Midsummer Boulevard from 9:30am to midday.

The event will feature a presentation from Hawsons Chartered Accountants partner Will Amos, who will look at the critical importance of producing robust management accounts in order to empower business owners to take control of their finances and provide a platform for further growth.

Founder and managing director at Tinderbox Business Development, David Turner will also host a Q&A session with access to their e-book on the subject.

Will said: “There is a major common denominator for businesses small or large, the desire to grow and grow profitably.”

Samuel and his father Martin

Hawsons Chartered Accountants partner

Will Amos

Darren Austin and Qadeer Qureshi

Northampton youth enjoy unique theatre experience

Asaw young people from the East of Northampton watch the nationally renowned play Dear England starring global star Joseph Fiennes.

Dear England is a gripping examination of both the nation and the game of football and is a fictional account of the struggles and successes of the England Football team.

The National Theatre Live are developing community screenings of the production with the key focus of bringing an immersive theatre experience to those who might not usually have an opportunity to experience it.

Trilogy Active’s Forum cinema hosted the local screening, and Emmanuel Church then

consultation event facilitated by Silhouette Youth Theatre and Free2Talk CIC.

‘We are delighted to have hosted this important event at the Forum Cinema’

The event encouraged young people to share their aspirations, future ambitions and what they feel are the barriers to reaching their own full potential. Youth providers also promoted their services and engaged with the guests.

The initiative is a partnership effort which has stemmed from the Northampton East Local Area

and Rectory Farm, Riverside Park and Talavera. Partners involved in this project include West Northamptonshire Council (WNC), Trilogy Active, Silhouette Youth Theatre, Free2Talk CIC and National Theatre Live with grant funding from Northampton Town Council.

“We are delighted to have hosted this important event at the Forum Cinema.” said managing director of Trilogy Active John Fletcher. “As an organisation we are committed to inspiring active lifestyles and themes of Dear England of mental health, creating a supportive environment and young people from challenging backgrounds reaching success if something we very much support.”

Successful first year for social enterprise

The founder of No Fuss Meals for Busy Parents CIC Milly Fyfe has reflected on the success of the social enterprise since it’s formation one year ago.

No Fuss Meals for Busy Parents provides a connection between food grown in the UK and how to make a tasty meal from scratch with easy-to-follow recipe ideas, promoting seasonal produce.

The aim is to help more people to come away from a reliance on ultra processed food, which will improve health and nutrition as well as supporting the farming community in the UK.

The not for profit has seen growth and audience reach increase since its formation thanks to grant funding to enhance the website and production of a hero video to explain exactly what the CIC is all about.

The CIC has also collaborated with various community groups and organisations to further its work including a cookery project with the

Brixworth Food Larder and becoming a Grow, Cook, Eat Ambassador with the Northampton Hope Centre.

Milly won Local Food Hero (silver) in the Northamptonshire Food and Drink awards, Best new start up from NNBN awards, and Small Business Britain have recognised Milly as part of the F:Entrepreneur campaign as one of 100 top female entrepreneurs in the UK.

Milly said: “The last year has been a complete whirlwind, and I am thrilled with the direction in which the CIC is heading. The foundations have been laid and relationships formed, now the focus is to establish long term income streams, corporate sponsorship and paid collaborations on social media to be able to serve the community.”

Follow the CIC on social media with the handle @NoFussMealsForBusyParents on Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin.

Milly Fyfe with her two sons Angus and Dougie with a celebration cake they have made

Joseph Fiennes in Dear England

‘Since the end of Covid we have increased our workforce by 20% and with the new expansion we’ll be looking to provide more jobs and opportunities’

Mace industries are on the engineering cutting edge

Eof Mace Industries, renowned for crafting portable conveyors, Mace Laser and Fabrication quickly evolved into a pivotal player in the manufacturing and engineering landscape. With a robust suite of laser cutting and fabrication capabilities, the company offers specialised services to a diverse clientele.

Mace is expanding. It has acquired a second large space in the Corby industrial estate. With more space comes more expansion, allowing the firm to take on new projects and fulfil orders in a speedier fashion. This new space has also allowed it to create a new training area. Being able to carry out familiarisation courses on a number of its hoists and lifts is not only to the firm’s benefit

space to come and train. Since the end of Covid, Mace Industries has increased its workforce by 20% and with the new expansion it will be looking to provide more jobs and opportunities.

Mace Industries is working hard to commit to its green agenda. As well as measuring impact, it is looking at Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi) aligned targets, including a commitment to reduce emissions by 42% from its baseline by year 2030 and to reach Netzero by 2050.

Boasting EN1090 accreditation and welders with structural welding qualifications, Mace Laser and Fabrication prioritises precision and reliability in every project. The dedicated design team ensures clients' visions are realised with unmatched expertise and creativity.

Financial planning firm scoops top accolade hattrick

An award-winning Northamptonshire-based financial planner has been named as a top rated adviser in a national newspaper for the third time.

Conor O’Sullivan, of O’Sullivan Financial Planning, featured in the latest VouchedFor’s 2024 Top Rated Financial Adviser Guide, which recently appeared in The Times

‘The fact that we are one of only two firms in Northamptonshire to get this accolade really shows the difference in our offering’

Listed advisers must have passed all of VouchedFor’s extensive checks and have received at least 10 excellent client reviews during the past 12 months.

Conor, his colleague Laurence Murphy, and the firm itself all qualified for a spot in the

highly respected guide after scoring an impressive five out of five from 144 reviews.

Only one other firm in Northamptonshire was included in this year’s roll call.

Conor said: “We are thrilled to be a Top Rated firm in this prestigious guide featured in The Times, determined solely by voluntary client feedback. It is a tremendous honour of which we are very proud.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our clients and to the entire team.

“The fact that we are one of only two firms in Northamptonshire to get this accolade really shows the difference in our offering compared to a large number of other financial planning firms out there.

“We really do things differently to traditional independent financial advisers by focussing on the client’s life rather than their wealth and finding solutions to help them achieve their goals. It resonates with our clients that we’re not interested in their money but in their dreams and ambitions. Our work can change people’s lives.”

Director Conor O’Sullivan

event in focus

Northamptonshire Business Awards 2024

The Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the return of the Northamptonshire Business Awards 2024, headline sponsored by Wilson Browne Solicitors.

The Northamptonshire Business Awards are back to honour the region’s most outstanding businesses, entrepreneurs, and individuals. The annual event aims to recognise the achievements and contributions of the Northamptonshire business community while championing excellence, innovation, and growth.

This year, we aspire to make the Northamptonshire Business Awards aims the biggest and best yet. With 15 categories up for grabs, including favourites such as Employer of the Year, Global Business of the Year and Best

fact file

DATE: Friday 22 November

TIME: 18:00 – 00:30

VENUE: Hangar One, The Aviator, Sywell Aerodrome, NN6 0BN

New Business of the Year, the awards promise to showcase the finest talents.

This year’s awards will be the biggest and best yet

Group commercial director for Northamptonshire Chamber and Milton Keynes Chamber, Sunny Singh

Louise Wall, chief executive of the Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are delighted for the return of the Northamptonshire Business Awards for what promise to be our most remarkable year yet. The awards are a fantastic opportunity to showcase the success and achievements of the Northamptonshire business community.

“We look forward to reading the entries that come through and hear about all the outstanding achievements of local organisations over the past year.

“We’d also like to take this opportunity to thank all of the sponsors, especially Wilson Browne Solicitors who have been our headline sponsor since the launch of the Northamptonshire Business Awards in 2018.”

Entries for the Northamptonshire Business Awards 2024 are now open to both members and non-members of the Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce. This inclusive approach ensures that businesses across the region,

regardless of their membership status, have the opportunity to showcase their achievements and be part of this prestigious event.

Whether you're a long-standing member or a newcomer to the Northamptonshire business community, we welcome your participation and look forward to celebrating your success.

The finalists will be announced at the Northamptonshire Business Exhibition at Cinch Stadium, Franklin’s Gardens – the home of Northampton Saints - on Thursday 19 September with a glittering awards evening set to take place on Friday 22 November at our new and exciting venue, Sywell Aerodrome.

Winners of the Northamptonshire Business Awards 2023

business report

Key employment law changes for the new financial year

By Amy Lee (pictured), Paralegal, Employment Team, Wilson Browne Solicitors.

From 6 April 2024, it is important to ensure your policies and procedures are amended accordingly.

Flexible Working Amendment Regulations 2023.

All employees regardless of their length of service will have the right to make a flexible working request from day 1 of employment (previously available to employees who had 26+ weeks’ service).

It is anticipated the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023 will come into force at the same time, although there has not yet been confirmation from the government. Regardless, we recommend that you incorporate the wider changes, namely:

• Increasing the number of flexible working requests that can be made in 12 months from 1 to 2.

• Reducing the time for an employer to respond to a request from 3 months to 2.

• Removing the requirement for employees making a flexible working request to set out the effect their request would have on the business.

Carer’s Leave Regulations 2024

These give the right to take unpaid leave to provide/arrange care for a dependant with longterm needs. This is a day-1 right, meaning so long as the employee meets the eligibility criteria, they will be entitled to apply for up to one week of carer’s leave in any rolling 12-month period.

The leave can be taken as half-days or full days, up to a block of one week, but employees must give written notice of their intention to take carer’s leave and their request must contain prescribed information.

Employers may be able to postpone carer’s leave requests if the leave would unduly disrupt the operation of their business

Whilst employees taking carer’s leave lose their right to remuneration, they remain entitled to all other benefits of their employment and will have the same employment law protections. Therefore, ensure that current family leave policies include a reference to carer’s leave.

Redundancy Protection Changes

From 6 April 2024, redundancy protections are being extended – more via the QR code below.

(This is a heavily abridged version of these changes, the complete article/guide is available via the QR code on the right)

Contact the Employment Team on 0800 088 6004 for more information.

Kettering is offering free consultations to help businesses safeguard against cyber threats.

James Southcombe, cyber security expert at PCS, offers advice and suggestions in the form of a free 30-minute Cyber Essentials consultation to organisations looking to strengthen their cyber security measures. He assists organisations in understanding risks, implementing mitigations, and preparing for incidents.

Essentials certification is a must for any business, no matter the size or domain. It helps protect against common online threats and demonstrates a commitment to cyber security. Don’t let cyber threats ruin your business in 2024, secure your organisation today.”

By booking a free consultation with James, businesses can take proactive steps to protect themselves from these threats.

James Southcombe

ARopes course is reaching new heights!

n aerial high rope challenge and adventure golf course is celebrating its first anniversary.

Iron Pit Woods Adventure, based at the Holiday Inn Corby, has welcomed more than 10,000 visitors since it opened in July last year.

The activity centre has hosted numerous corporate bookings of over 50 people for private hire events and have also organised 20 children’s birthday parties so far this year.

Holiday Inn Corby/Kettering sales manager

Janette Weedall said: “We are thrilled with the way the community have welcomed the activity centre. It has been great to see both local families and visitors from other areas having fun here.

“We are proud of all we have achieved so far and hope to increase footfall in 2024 and introduce new activities such as axe throwing. It would be fantastic to see more group bookings from community groups and youth clubs as well as additional corporate use.”

Awards to celebrate fine food and drink

Northamptonshire is renowned for its awards, which celebrate the best of the best. In the food and drink world, Chamber member The Mallows Company launched the Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards last month at The Snooty Fox in Lowick, home to one of the sponsors, Greedy Gordons.

Awards director Rachel Mallows said: “We are sweet 16 in 2024 and proud to celebrate all that is great about food and drink in Northamptonshire. This year we have a superb array of sponsors, media partners and

supporters who are geared up for the sixmonth nomination, entry and judging programme leading to the awards dinner and the big reveal in October.

“We have great evidence of the importance of awards to help food and drink businesses to grow, so my personal encouragement is for Chamber members to consider entering awards that are offered locally, regionally and nationally. The credibility of a well-known awards programme really does help with customer engagement.”

This competition welcomes nominations from the business community and if you want to help the sector to flourish take a look at the 18 categories at www.northamptonshirefoodanddrink.co.uk or email awards@northamptonshirefoodanddrink.co.uk

Prestigious win for RMS

A leading provider of ISO consultancy services in Milton Keynes is celebrating after winning the New Business Award at the Milton Keynes Business Achievement Awards (MKBAA) 2024.

Established by director Paul Robinson in August 2022, Robinson Management Services (RMS) beat off tough competition from a record number of entries to scoop the prize in front of more than 700 attendees at the 10th MKBAA at the Marshall Arena.

Judges praised the company for having ‘a clear five-year growth plan’ and its ‘use of technology and innovation across many areas of the business, including the use of AI to support administrative tasks, saving time and costs’.

Paul said: “I founded RMS to help companies manage risk, continually improve and protect the planet through the implementation and maintenance of ISO standards. We are incredibly proud to receive this esteemed award, which recognises our growth to date and our strategic plan for the

future. Our innovative use of AI have been instrumental in our success, allowing us to implement tailored ISO management systems that meet the evolving needs of our clients.”

Paul Robinson and Louise Robinson

Rachel Mallows with Oli Nesbitt from Santina’s Pizzas

Chamber Business Partners are an exclusive group of influential companies within Chamber membership

Sponsors sought for return of Gala Ball

The Lewis Foundation, a charity that provides over 2,000 free gift bags every week to people undergoing cancer treatment at 17 hospitals across Northamptonshire and the Midlands, is looking for sponsors for its second annual Gala Ball.

Following the success of its inaugural event last year, The Lewis Foundation is looking forward to bringing together supporters from across the region for another enjoyable evening at the beautiful Fawsley Hall on Saturday 9 November, 2024.

Organisers of the Gala Ball are promising a “show-stopping” event featuring a cocktails and canapés reception, three-course dinner and wine, silent auction and luxury raffle, and an exclusive performance by critically acclaimed singer/songwriter, VV Brown.

Lorraine Lewis, co-founder and CEO of The Lewis Foundation, said: “After such a fantastic event last year, which raised almost £12,000 for The Lewis Foundation, we’re determined to make this year’s Gala Ball even better. Alongside some excellent food and drink options, we’ve already secured some amazing prizes for our silent auction and raffle. We’re really looking forward to welcoming sponsors on board to help us build on the success of last year’s ball and we’re confident that we can raise even more money.

“One hundred per cent of the ticket sales and fundraising on the night will go towards

funding our free gift packs, which means we can bring more smiles and comfort to adult cancer patients undergoing treatment in hospital.”

Sponsorship packages range from £2,000 for a table to £5,000 for the headline sponsorship package, which includes a VIP Champagne reception, table for ten in a prime position, and credit in all event promotions before, during and after the gala.

For more information or to register your interest in becoming a sponsor, email lorraine.lewis@thelewisfoundation.co.uk

‘Alongside some excellent food and drink options, we’ve already secured some amazing prizes for our silent auction and raffle’

Lorraine and Lee Lewis giving their Founders Welcome speech

Cyber threat warning issued to Chamber members

Members of the Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce are being urged to proactively implement measures to safeguard their businesses from cyber attacks.

Cyber threats are now a common everyday business risk, and Towergate Insurance are warning that cyber incidents can happen at any time.

In December 2023, the UK parliamentary Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy issued a report by the authority of the House of Commons and the House of Lords titled A Hostage to FortuneRansomware and UK National Security

‘Consider how your business would react and importantly, whether it could cope’

In the first few opening lines of the report, it makes the following statement; “Due to its potential ability to bring the UK to a standstill, ransomware has been identified by UK authorities as the number one cyber threat to the nation”.

Area sales director Richard Davies said: “Consider how your business would react and importantly, whether it could cope, if all systems were locked and you were faced

Grants available for growing firms

Grants of up to £20,000 are available from the University of Bedfordshire to local businesses as part of a new programme launched by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) to deliver business support, growth and innovation in the region.

The initiative seeks to forge pathways to innovation while fostering a dynamic business ecosystem that fuels local pride, skill enhancement, and the expansion of employment opportunities, with £325,000 in funding available as part of the support package.

As part of this comprehensive programme, the University will deliver business growth initiatives, including activities designed to empower businesses with innovation and technological support, enhancing their productivity and competitiveness. From fullyfunded participation in short courses to personalised 1-2-1 consultancy sessions with industry experts, businesses will receive tailored support to address their unique needs.

with a demand for payment from a cybercriminal in order to get back up and running.

“At Towergate we now have access to a new and proactive Cyber Insurance Policy which enables businesses to not just fix problems, but also to identify and manage them, so that they can prevent and minimise the risk of issues occurring in the first place.

“The cyber insurance policy we have access to offers protection against data breaches, cyber-crimes, fraud, extortion, data or software loss, network and business liability cover. It also offers access to a 24/7/365 cyber incident response line.”

Funded by £625k of UK Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF), a central part of the Government’s Levelling Up agenda, this project marks a strategic investment in local businesses operating within the West Northamptonshire region. Building upon the successful outcomes of previous partnerships, this venture is poised to deliver tangible results in business innovation and support.

Cllr Daniel Lister, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Town Centre Regeneration and Growth at West Northamptonshire Council, said: “We appreciate the unique challenges businesses face, which is why we’ve chosen to dedicate this funding to support and enable them to innovate and grow.

“Our ambition is to enable every business in West Northamptonshire to thrive and for this reason we have allocated the majority of our UK Shared Prosperity funding towards supporting businesses and creating employment opportunities to sustain the local economy.”

Find out more about the business support available through this programme via the university’s Research & Innovation Service.

Cllr Daniel Lister

Towergate Insurance area sales director Richard Davies

going global

Expert advice, guidance and updates from the world of international trade

Transport firm goes for gold

Northampton-based trucking company BSI Transport are working with a local firm to take broadcast rigging to France in time for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The distribution company will transport approximately 50 trailer loads to various venues in the European city, including the Aquatic Centre, Stade de France, The Velodrome etc, from April to July.

They are delivering on behalf of their client Unusual Rigging in Bugbrooke, who are supplying rigging to the Olympic Broadcast Services.

The loads consist of rigging truss, steel wires, chain hoists etc which will be constructed into impressive camera towers for TV cameras and lighting.

In early August, the BSI Transport team will return to Paris to collect all the equipment and bring it back to the UK.

BSI Transport event manager Steve Devereaux said: “Each trailer load needs its own ATA Carnet which is where we work with the Chamber’s international trade team to get all the documentation we need for temporary export to the continent.

“It has been a really exciting project to be a part of.”

Don’t

There are still some tickets remaining for the British Chambers of Commerce’s Global Annual Conference on Thursday 27 June.

The theme for this year’s event, which takes place at the QEII Centre in London, is The Future of the Economy.

The full day conference will be an opportunity for business leaders from across the UK, and the globe, to come together to discuss the key challenges to build a better future for business, the economy, and people in our local communities.

Throughout the day, delegates will hear from key senior politicians and other notable public figures and engage in thought-provoking

conference tickets

discussion with colleagues from across the Chamber Network.

The conference will be centred around five key breakout sessions - People and Work, Global Britain, Digital Revolution, Green Innovation and Local Economy of the Future.

Away from the sessions, the Networking Zone is an opportunity for delegates to meet existing and new contacts; and the exhibition stands will see the best of British business, and the Chamber Network, from across the UK and around the world showcasing their work.

To secure your spot visit: www.britishchambers.org.uk

One of the BSI Transport trucks in action Just some of the many speakers at a previous BCC Global Annual Conference

talkingbusiness A helpful hand to find the right hire

More than just a recruitment firm, hireful is adapting to the changes in the industry and is putting people first.

By Clare Brennan

With the workplace evolving at pace so too is the world of recruitment. Fuelled by an acceleration in the use of AI and huge shifts in the way we work post-Covid, the way businesses find new people is undergoing a revolution of its very own, with the team at Northamptonshire-based hireful proudly leading the charge.

More than 25 years after the company was launched as Online IT Solutions in the 1990s, hireful, which is based at Strixton Manor Business Centre near Wellingborough, helps businesses get even smarter when it comes to recruitment, using its own innovative applicant tracking system (ATS) to help with the shortlisting of candidates and scheduling interviews, right through to onboarding and even training. It also works with businesses to create bespoke recruitment ads, mining job boards and LinkedIn for candidate gold.

Contd on page 34...

‘hireful is a play on the word helpful and that’s key to our core values’

L-R: hireful’s COO Steve Grainger, CEO Sean Maher and CFO Sarah Brinkley

talking business

...from page 32

Put simply, in the words of CEO, Sean Maher, hireful does everything it can to be helpful.

He said: “We offer a complete end-to-end recruitment solution as well as lots of free resources for the HR community including webinars, workshops, surveys, audits and guides – some people use all of our products while others just use our free online resources. At first, we were all about recruitment ads with the software coming second, now it’s very much the other way round – people come to hireful for our tech rather than the advertising side.

“We’re a proud partner to many businesses of all sizes whether they have teams of 50 or more than 1,000. hireful is a play on the word helpful and that’s key to our core values.”

Like many businesses, hireful has seen the needs of its clients change in the four years since Covid with many choosing to adopt hybrid working patterns.

“Recruitment has changed a great deal and as a result, hireful is constantly evolving,” Sean explains.

“Hybrid working just wasn’t heard of before Covid, now most businesses have a form of it in place. The use of AI is also growing. We use it in advert copy and as a tool in the decisionmaking process, although humans still very much make the f inal decision when it comes to recruiting new people.”

From humble beginnings, hireful now employs 75 people the vast majority of whom live in Northamptonshire and

‘The culture at hireful is one of trust – we trust everyone to do their jobs within a highly supportive environment’

surrounding areas in Milton Keynes and Wellingborough. The company also has a team of software developers in Spain and an administration team in South Africa.

Sean said: “Remote working has meant that we can recruit talent from anywhere, which has really helped us to develop.

“As a client of ours, all of the sales, marketing, tech support and account management is based here in Northamptonshire, and our developers are in Madrid and administration team in South Africa. It works very well and we make sure we come together regularly as a team.”

25 years on, hireful has become one of the biggest employers in the county with a reputation for nurturing the next generation of professionals.

Sean explained: “I joined hireful straight from university in 2006 and I think one of our biggest achievements has

been to facilitate careers both internally and externally. We had an apprentice who is now our selling our product to more than 400 clients – a real success story. Equally, we are so proud of those people who have started our career with us and then gone on to achieve bigger and better things elsewhere – it’s a huge compliment.

“We are really passionate about apprenticeships as they are a real win for everyone. Our apprentices really shine and are achieving amazing things.”

Among those shining stars is marketing executive, Caitlin Plimmer who is in the second year of her degree apprenticeship at Nottingham Trent University.

She said: “Doing an apprenticeship has meant I’m able to learn up-to date content and apply it to real projects in my work at hireful. I’ve been able to share knowledge and ideas with the team that have been beneficial to the overall marketing strategy.

“I believe the degree apprenticeship route is definitely an undervalued path– it’s great to be able to learn on the job. You get the best of both the working world, gaining years of industry experience, while also being a student too!”

A strong culture is also key to the success of hireful.

Sean said: “The culture at hireful is one of trust – we trust everyone to do their jobs within a highly supportive environment. Covid has meant that you have to work even harder to develop a culture but I believe we have achieved that at hireful.

“We genuinely care about our people and we understand that family will always come first, it’s something we embrace. We are always here to listen and we will always do everything we can to ensure our people are happy.

“We’re very lucky that many of our employees have stayed with us for more than ten years so you experience life together. Anything that affects someone within the team affects us all. A member of our team was diagnosed with cancer, and we all went on that journey with her. It inspired us to show our support for Cynthia Spencer Hospice and we also now offer free mammograms.

“It’s important to us to be the best employer we can be.”

With its roots very firmly in Northamptonshire, hireful is very proud to be Chamber Partner, developing its partnerships with businesses across the county and beyond.

“hireful is a big supporter of the Chamber’s business exhibitions which are bigger and better than ever before and we like to keep the community updated with our news through regular articles in inbusiness.

“The awards are fantastic too and we are very proud to have been finalists – they get better each and every year.

“Looking ahead the coming years will be about growth, and we have plans to grow quite aggressively. We haven’t stood still and we are constantly investing in the product. We believe our client base will grow organically and we have the right structure in place to accelerate the company forward.”

The hireful team

issue spotlight: engineering issue spotlight

Each issue of inbusiness takes a closer look at the key sectors operating in Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes

Engineering a lasting partnership

Aglobal engineering firm, wowed by the results provided by an award-winning Northamptonshire recruitment team, has chosen the expert consultants again to source its new talent.

SSI Schaefer Ltd, which operates across six continents and has more than 10,000 employees, originally chose Kettering-based Wills Consultants to lead its recruitment processes in 2020.

The Recruitment Process Outsource (RPO) agreement, which sees Wills Consultants manage and

‘It has been our pleasure to help SSI Schaefer to find the right people for their vacancies over the last three years’

enhance the end-to-end sourcing and recruitment strategy for permanent and contract roles across all UK sites, including the head office, was so successful that SSI Schaefer have recently extended the contract for another three years.

Wills Consultants have hired a range of staff for SSI Schaefer since the relationship began, this has

been across the business including engineering, finance, admin, procurement, legal, and IT teams.

The recruitment specialists have also undertaken other projects for SSI Schaefer, identifying the most successful practices, and integrating them into the company procedure.

Simon Wills, director at Wills Consultants Ltd, said: “It has been

our pleasure to help SSI Schaefer to find the right people for their vacancies over the last three years and we are delighted that they have chosen us once again to continue to provide the talent they need.

“We have built strong relationships with the hiring managers, and we are proud to have exceeded their expectations for the partnership in such a short time. We now look forward to building on these foundations to continue to work together to provide a first-class experience for the client and their candidates.”

Andy Wightman of SSI Schaefer, and Simon WIlls, director at Wills Consultants

issue spotlight: creative industries

Film company celebrates 10th anniversary by giving back

Afilm company, with a base in Northampton, is celebrating a decade of media production by sponsoring a football academy for disadvantaged young people.

Over the past 10 years, Wildwood Media has produced films for partners including the NHS, National Grid, Vanity Fair, English Heritage, and the National Citizen Service.

For the past five years, they have also covered events run by the Street Soccer Foundation, which helps vulnerable and disadvantaged young people.

The foundation’s flagship project is the Street Soccer Academy - a ten-week personal development

programme using football as a catalyst to engage 18 to 30-year olds who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness.

‘I’ve seen firsthand for over five years the

life-changing

reach that these academies have –it’s been incredible’

The academies are run in partnership with professional football clubs and, as a Spurs fan, Wildwood Media managing director Chris Newberry has chosen to sponsor the Academy at Tottenham

Hotspur Foundation to mark the company’s 10th anniversary.

Chris said: “I really wanted to do something special to thank all our clients and team members who have got us this far. I’ve seen firsthand for over five years the life-changing reach that these academies have –it’s been incredible. To be in a position to help put on a course is beyond words.”

Wildwood Media’s sponsorship will enable around 10 young people to access the course, which aims to help implement positive change

and help them move into education, training or employment afterwards.

Keith Mabbutt, founder and chief executive officer of the Street Soccer Foundation, said: “Chris has become a dear friend to me and him choosing to invest in the support of others through our programme he knows so well, means a great deal. It’s a special moment for both of us, particularly with the chosen academy being with our valued partners at the Spurs Foundation.”

Keith Mabbutt and Chris Newberry

Wildwood Media film a SSF match

A new direction for creative arts firm

Beccy Hurrell Voice & Arts (BHVA), a renowned leader in creative arts coaching and mentoring, has announced a significant rebrand and strategic expansion to include business-tobusiness (B2B) services.

This evolution reflects the company’s commitment to empowering voices, fostering creativity, and transforming lives through the arts, while reaching out to new markets and sectors.

BHVA’s Academies has now become Amplify, as it is designed to be a springboard to amplify creative talents from beginners to professionals. Arts4All remains the same, but with a clear focus on learning for schools and individuals, and health.

A new division, Academy, has arrived, offering comprehensive training programs aimed at individuals wanting to take the next step in their career or get into employment, creative entrepreneurs who are wanting to start or grow their business, and organisations who want to develop their workforce.

"Stepping into the B2B domain is a natural step for us” said Beccy Hurrell, founder of Beccy Hurrell

our creative skills, knowledge and expertise into designing programmes

entrepreneurs. Our innovative and person-centred approach means that everyone will feel a part of something.”

Voice & Arts. “Our core vision of empowering voices remains but expands to beyond teaching the traditional arts. We’re putting all

that will benefit workforces, individuals and

Beccy Hurrell and Lindsey Atkins with the new branding

issue spotlight: growing your business

Brand new premises for Eco Flexibles

Eco Flexibles, a sustainability-focused flexible packaging specialist, has marked its commercial evolution with the opening of its new high-tech UK headquarters.

Now located in a new 40,000 sq ft production site in Northampton, the move signifies a significant leap forward for Eco Flexibles, accompanied by substantial investments in packaging press machinery and technology as part of its strategic expansion plans for 2024 and beyond.

The investment includes the multi-million-pound installation of a next-generation Fujifilm Jet Press FP790 digital water-based inkjet press, which is specifically designed for the flexible packaging market and the first of its kind outside of Japan. This sits alongside new slitting and laminating capability.

The decision to relocate and invest extensively comes in

response to Eco Flexibles’ rapid growth and the escalating global demand for its circularity-focused flexible packaging designs, which include recyclable monopolymers and paper-based solutions.

‘The new facility is more than just a futuristic showcase to wow customers, it’s built to perform’

Simon Buswell, director at Eco Flexibles, said: “Eco Flexibles is a true packaging success story. Our approach to developing and delivering sustainable packaging and circularity has struck a chord with the retail market, and it soon became clear that we needed to

Simon Buswell and Matt Francklow, directors at Eco Flexibles

scale up our operations and expand our team. The new facility is more than just a futuristic showcase to wow customers, it’s built to perform and is armed with the print and converting technology we need to constantly evolve our business.

“Our new premises give us true end-to-end support capabilities –including in house plate making for

our flexo jobs – and more logistical flexibility and capacity than we’ve ever had before. It also means that our range, which includes both ‘off the shelf’ and bespoke packaging solutions can also grow. Nobody knows what the future holds, but our investment assures our customers that we’ll deliver flexible packaging excellence no matter what.”

issue spotlight: growing your business

Brightspace Events managing director Sarah Threfall

Growing your business with the power of events

Face to face interaction is the most powerful way to make an impact on another person and you can use this to help grow your business, according to a Northamptonshire events company.

Brightspace Events managing director Sarah Threfall believes businesspeople should be more confident in using live events as opportunities to connect with their audience.

She said: “We all know that Zoom, Teams and other virtual calls just cannot replicate the connection you gain in a reallife exchange. Business growth always starts with speaking to more people about what you do: appealing directly to your customers; building relationships with distributors or launching new products to retail and network buyers.”

There has always been a wide range of channels on which to spread the word and promote your business, but in the crowded digital space, in person events are still a vital part of any growth strategy.

Sarah added: “Live events can be used in so many different ways and deliver so many benefits to companies who are looking to expand their market. However, most people panic that they don’t have the skills, experience or simply time to capitalise on this and miss opportunities for connecting with their audience.

“There are also some great opportunities to reward top sales people or retailers with incentives – or even an awards dinner or other kind of memorable, in person celebration.”

The art of entrepreneurship – as easy as baking a cake?

The key to a successful business venture can be compared to baking a cake states Professor Stephanie Hussels (pictured), director of the Bettany Centre for Entrepreneurship at Cranfield University’s School of Management.

“You can choose between various options of flour, sugar and fat, but you always need these ingredients to make the cake, and that is the same in business. But what makes your cake stand out is the icing, and the icing represents the values of your business.” states Stephanie.

Stephanie continues to liken the act of following a recipe to following a business plan, adding “while there is no guarantee for success, it improves the odds of succeeding!”

Cranfield’s School of Management has over 30 years’ experience helping SME’s grow and refine their businesses, including names like Hotel Chocolat and Go Ape!

Stephanie has highlighted seven key ingredients for a successful business venture:

1. Differentiated product/service.

2. Staying ahead of the competition.

3. Exercise financial discipline.

4. Creating a top team.

5. Clear customer segmentation.

6. Live your company values.

7. Have clear instructions.

Of course, you may follow the recipe and find that your cake still doesn’t look like Delia’s or Nigella’s…

Stephanie concludes: “We should not dismiss the skill of the baker or the entrepreneur – if it was easy to create a successful business, everybody would be doing it.”

sector focus: manufacturing sector focus

The latest news from the manufacturing, finance & legal and skills sectors

A strategic move for manufacturing experts

Turbo Technics, a leading name in turbocharger technology, is expanding its product range by stepping into the world of suspension manufacturing.

The company is taking over the manufacture of suspension units from AVO UK, marking a strategic move into this specialised market. The newly manufactured suspension units will be marketed under the name AVO-TECHNICS.

With a rich history in engineering excellence, TT is set to apply its expertise in precision manufacturing to produce AVO-TECHNICS suspension units. The initial focus will be on the existing line of dampers and coil-over suspension units, showcasing a commitment to quality and performance.

Production began in February 2024, and AVOTECHNICS is poised to benefit from Turbo Technics’ decades of experience in delivering cutting-edge automotive solutions.

Geoff Kershaw, CEO of Turbo Technics, expressed enthusiasm about the venture. He said: “This move aligns with our commitment to innovation and excellence. We are excited to bring our precision engineering skills to the world of suspension with AVO-TECHNICS.”

Turbo Technics is a renowned name in the automotive industry, specialising in turbocharger technology and precision engineering. The company has consistently delivered cutting-edge solutions for automotive performance.

‘We are excited to bring our precision engineering skills to the world of suspension with AVO-TECHNICS’

After a long period of development, the igus:bike, made of 92% plastic with a high proportion of recycled material, is going into volume production. However, managing director at igus, Matthew Aldridge (pictured)

Plastic bike put into production

emphasised: “We are now continuing to invest in research and development in order to increase the recycled content to 75% as quickly as possible, and even to 100 percent in the future.”

The partner company MTRL is currently producing the first 100 bikes in conjunction with igus. At

the same time, the plastics specialist is building its own production line to increase production capacities to 10,000 bikes within two years. The companies are therefore one step closer to their sustainability vision of transferring plastic waste into the circular economy and using it

for the urban mobility of the future.

Under the new brand-new name, RCYL, 1200 pre-orders have been placed. The vision for the igus bike is ever expanding with the ambition to see it become a symbol of sustainability at university campuses, hotels, campsites, and exhibitions.

Proud to be able to offer this

sustainably purposed product, igus are looking to connect with companies and organisations interested in beginning their ecofriendly journey by implementing these bikes into their operations as well as working with bike manufacturers to forge ahead in using motion plastics.

Global tax on plastic packaging

Environmental taxes to drive the sustainability and net-zero agenda are rising at pace across the globe.

Plastic production has more than doubled in the last two decades to 450 million tonnes.

‘HMRC expects businesses will conduct, as a minimum, annual checks on their suppliers’

According to the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) only nine per cent of plastic waste is ever recycled, so it’s unsurprising that bans and taxes on single-use plastics have been introduced in more than 120 countries.

January 2023, and Germany from January 2024. AsiaPacific regions have also stepped-up regulations on plastic use, while Canada has adopted an ambitious Zero Plastic Waste Strategy.

The UK government introduced a Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) in April 2022, followed by Spain and Italy in

Alison Horner (pictured), VAT & indirect tax partner at MHA said: “A patchwork of differing regulations across the globe adds considerable complexity for multinational businesses to ensure compliance.

“HMRC expects businesses will conduct, as a minimum, annual checks on their suppliers, which could include obtaining confirmation of the tax status of plastic packaging components from your supplier or getting signed documents from your supplier confirming that Plastic Packaging Tax has been properly accounted for.

“You would also be expected to check details provided against other sources, such as supplier websites, product specifications, sales, and marketing information.”

A recycled cycle: The igus:bike

sector focus: finance & legal

Do we still need an office?

Do businesses still need an office? That’s the question being posed by a solicitor at FG Solicitors in Northampton. In a time when most businesses are faced with employees wanting to work from home and products are imported rather than manufactured, is it important to consider if you need to own or occupy commercial property.

Harshinder Hundal said: “Most businesses that employ people or manufacture a product find themselves at some point needing a base, whether that is an office, warehousing or manufacturing facility. Not only is this one of the most important decisions to make, it may also be one of the single largest cost items that a business will encounter.”

‘The decisions about acquiring commercial property are never taken lightly’

Harshinder Hundal of FG Solicitors

“Commercial property represents a variety of attributes to a business. Its location, size and appearance can act as an effective business development tool for customers and a recruitment tool for attracting and retaining great talent. The decisions about acquiring commercial property are never taken lightly and the pitfalls of getting it wrong can sometimes be insurmountable.”

When seeking, identifying and obtaining commercial property, Harshinder suggests considering the potential for future business growth, accessibility for employees

and customers, whether to buy or lease and any restrictions on the activity you will undertake from the premises.

She added: “It is essential that commercial property acquirers select carefully the business partners who will guide and assist them from search and identification to acquisition. Acquiring any commercial property is a stressful journey. FG Solicitors are commercial property lawyers who can advise and navigate through the maze of issues that generally arise on the sale or acquisition of commercial property.”

Making your business more attractive

If your ultimate goal is to sell your business yet you’re struggling to take a holiday, DFA Law suggest implementing some changes to ensure your business is attractive to any potential buyers.

Managing partner Danny Roberts said: “If you’re not doing so already, you need to start working on your business rather than in your business. Having a business that is entirely reliant on you is not an attractive proposition for any buyer, as what is it they would be acquiring?

“And if a buyer isn’t seeing your business as an attractive opportunity, they’re likely to either not be interested in buying it or

want to pay a minimal purchase price.

“Consider putting in place policies and procedures to ensure that you don’t need to be involved with everything and that key information relating to the business isn’t stored solely in your head. You may be able to automate some things.”

The law firm also recommends getting a better understanding of your business’s working capital cycle. Being able to drive efficiencies in working capital management can unlock additional value in a sale process.

Managing the risk of your business improves resilience and

reduces the risk profile in the eyes of a buyer. It is important to consider if your business is reliant on a particular customer or supplier, what might happen if that relationship comes to an end.

Ensure that any intellectual property used by the business is actually owned by the business and that existing employment contracts contain necessary provisions to protect your business.

Danny added: “The sale of your business is likely to be one of the most significant transactions you will undertake. It’s therefore crucial to have the right advisor team around you to help guide you through the process.”

Danny Roberts, managing partner at DFA Law

sector focus: skills

Showcasing job opportunities

An exciting event showcasing job opportunities in and around Corby attracted hundreds of visitors.

Staged at Tresham College Corby campus, the event brought together the biggest and best employers in the area and helped potential employees to understand the training pathways which are open to them in new or more rewarding careers.

‘These

are exciting events for employers to meet hundreds of people who are actively seeking opportunities’

This event follows others staged across North Northamptonshire by North Northamptonshire Council, Jobcentre Plus and Tresham College.

“These are exciting events for employers to meet hundreds of people who are actively seeking opportunities and for people to talk to companies who are looking to invest in new talent,” said Cheryl Needham Head of Adult and Community Learning of Tresham College. Nearly 40% of people are in low-paid work but could develop their skills and step up the promotion ladder with the right encouragement. We want to help them to meet employers who are looking to help them achieve their full potential.”

Cllr David Brackenbury, North Northamptonshire Council’s executive member for growth and regeneration, said: “It is great that we are able to team up with

partners to provide vital support and assistance to job seekers across North Northamptonshire –underlining our desire to create prosperity throughout our area.”

Michelle Wass, DWP employer adviser manager for Northamptonshire, said: “Jobcentre Plus is delighted to be working collaboratively with North

Northamptonshire Council and Tresham College to bring this innovative event to our customers and the residents of North Northamptonshire.”

LSIP to help tackle the local skills gap

A group of Further Education (FE) Colleges that represents almost 60,000 learners is launching a campaign across the South-East Midlands to help bridge the skills gap.

The group, known as Colleges of the South-East Midlands, comprises Bedford, Barnfield, Milton Keynes, Moulton and Northampton colleges. The group collectively engages with 8,500 employers already, but says thousands more companies just don’t know about the help on offer to recruit new staff or retrain

existing employees.

The Delivering Skills, Boosting Business campaign has come out of the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) with expert input from local authorities, colleges and universities, employers, business groups and trade bodies.

The colleges have launched a one-stop shop for employers to find out more about the education and training available and to demystify the sector for companies who don’t currently partner with a college. It will also be an initial point of

contact. Because the vast majority of learners are local to them, colleges are best-placed to connect businesses with the right recruits in

their area, or to train up existing members of a company’s workforce. As well as helping to write an individual’s curriculum to suit their needs, businesses are also encouraged to come into the classroom to speak to learners directly, which can also be a useful recruitment tool in itself.

The Colleges of South East Midlands Group says FE is a great untapped resource, largely because of the lack of wider understanding of how colleges can help to boost business.

L-R: Cheryl Needham, head of adult and community learning at Tresham College; Azalea Coleman, employment adviser, Corby Jobcentre Plus, and Annamaria Cast, enterprise officer, North Northamptonshire Council

events & training events & training

Sales & Marketing

Face 2 Face Sales Skills

Date: 18 June 2024

Time: 9:30 - 16:30

Cost: Members £249+VAT

Non-members £319+VAT

Venue: Northamptonshire Chamber, 8 Waterside Way, NN4 7XD

A face-to-face meeting with a prospect is one of the best ways to build rapport, gain an understanding of their issues/problems, effectively demonstrate your solution, and ultimately close to win the business. The purpose of this course is to show you how to achieve this.

Telephone Skills

Date: 9 July 2024

Time: 9:30 - 16:30

Cost: Members £249+VAT

Non-members £319+VAT

Venue: Northamptonshire Chamber, 8 Waterside Way, NN4 7XD

This workshop is designed to show you how to effectively use the concept of upselling and cross selling for effective telesales that will have an immediate impact on the business.

Management & Personal Development

The Fundamentals of Project Management

Date: 11 June 2024

Time: 9:30 - 16:30

Cost: Members £249+VAT

Non-members £319+VAT

Venue: Northamptonshire Chamber, 8 Waterside Way, NN4 7XD

This is a professional course around how to manage change. It is aligned to industry standards of the accrediting professional body, the Association for Project Management. The purpose of this course is to equip people with the fundamental principles of project management to enable them to manage change effectively within their organisations.

Coaching for Managers

Date: 27 June 2024

Time: 9:30 - 16:30

Cost: Members £249+VAT

Non-members £319+VAT

Venue: Northamptonshire Chamber, 8 Waterside Way, NN4 7XD

This course will provide you with the skills you need to run effective coaching sessions. Coaching is now acknowledged as an essential skill for all managers and leaders to create a motivated and engaged workforce. This course will provide you with the skills you need to run effective coaching sessions

Effective Appraisal Skills

Date: 18 July 2024

Time: 9:30 - 12:30

Cost: Members £150+VAT

Non-members £199+VAT

Venue: Northamptonshire Chamber, 8 Waterside Way, NN4 7XD

The course provides business owners, line managers and leaders with the skills they need to plan and deliver appraisals with confidence. Regular and effective appraisals improve retention, make people feel engaged and motivate them to go the extra mile.

How to Hold Difficult Conversations

Date: 23 July 2024

Time: 9:30 - 12:30

Cost: Members £150+VAT

Non-members £199+VAT

Venue: Northamptonshire Chamber, 8 Waterside Way, NN4 7XD

The purpose of this course is to help you identify what it may be that’s preventing you from having difficult conversations and provide you with strategies to handle them effectively.

Successful Supervisory Management

Date: 24-25 July 2024

Time: 9:00am - 16:30

Cost: Members £679+VAT

Non-members £549+VAT

Venue: Northamptonshire Chamber, 8 Waterside Way, NN4 7XD

This course will introduce you to some of the tools and techniques essential to the role of supervisor/manager and to develop the skills to enable you to manage and motive people effectively and productively.

Business Toolkit

Emergency First Aid at Work

Date: 6 June 2024

Time: 9:00 - 16:30

Cost: Members £199+VAT

Non-members £249+VAT

Venue: Northamptonshire Chamber, 8 Waterside Way, NN4 7XD

This course will train attendees to give appropriate emergency first aid to anyone who is ill or injured in the workplace. The course teaches the appropriate level of first aid required in low-risk businesses under the HSE 1981 legislation. Students are assessed to ensure that they understand and would be able to fulfil the role of first aider within their workplace. Bostock are registered by the First Aid Industry Body (FAIB) to provide EFAW training.

Powerspeak – Public Speaking & Presentation Skills

Date: 19 June 2024

Time: 9:30 - 16:30

Cost: Members £259+VAT

Non-members £329+VAT

Venue: Northamptonshire Chamber, 8 Waterside Way, NN4 7XD

This course is designed to enhance public speaking and presentation abilities. It focusses on voice control, overcoming public speaking anxiety, effective body language, and practical scenario training. The aim is to build confidence and improve communication skills for a variety of professional contexts.

Mental Health First Aid

Date: 30-31 July 2024

Time: 9:30 - 16:30

Cost: Members £599+VAT

Non-members £679+VAT

Venue: Northamptonshire Chamber, 8 Waterside Way, NN4 7XD

This course will allow you to become part of the largest MHFAider® community in England, gaining access to resources, ongoing learning and 24/7 digital support through our MHFAider Support App®, to give you the tools and knowledge you need to carry out the role effectively and confidently, whether that be in your workplace, a volunteer role, or in the community.

International Trade

Incoterms

Date: 10 June 2024

Time: 9:30am - 12:30pm

Cost: Members £210.00+VAT

Non-members £249.00+VAT

Venue: Online

This course is suitable for all those currently working in an export environment or are new to exporting. It will advise on the most appropriate Incoterm® to use for their international transactions. This covers a full update on the changes between 2010 and 2020. It will guide on who has what obligation during a sale including where risk and cost pass from Seller to Buyer.

Letters of Credit and Methods of Payment

Date: 25 July 2024

Time: 9:30 - 16:30

Cost: Members £330+VAT

Non-members £365+VAT

Venue: Online

The course provides an overview of all methods of payment when trading internationally to include the risks and benefits involved. It will then concentrate on the Letter of Credit aspect guiding you through the rules of managing a letter of credit, making sure documents are compliant.

Import Procedures including IP & OP

Date: 13 June 2024

Time: 9:30 - 16:30

Cost: Members £330+VAT

Non-members £365+VAT

Venue: Online

The course provides an overview of the end-toend import process and reviews all the areas that would be applicable to a new supplier. It will review documentation requirements and how to ensure goods are imported successfully to include duty payments and an overview of the available Special Procedures.

Chamber Summer BBQ

Enjoy round-table style networking with all members of the chambers coming together to enjoy dinner at the summer barbecue on Tuesday 16 July, taking place at Northamptonshire’s historic Country Cricket Club.

Hosted by the Chamber, we invite you to join us between 17:30 and 19:30 for the first of its kind summer barbecue, where members from all chambers across Northants, Milton Keynes, and Next Generation are all welcome. It will be a

upcoming events event in focus

fantastic opportunity to unwind nearing the end of busy quarter with good food, good company, and the opportunity to connect with other professionals in a casual setting. Book your place for an evening that promises to be the highlight of your business calendar this summer!

The cost is £35+VAT or for an extra £20+VAT you can raise your business profile by buying a banner stand sponsor space.

To book your place, visit www.northants-chamber.co.uk/events

Women with Vision Summer Event

Date: 7 June 2024

Time: 11:30- 13:30

Venue: Kettering Park Hotel

Cost: Members £30+VAT

Non-members £50+VAT

Milton Keynes Chamber

Business Before Hours

Date: 12 June 2024

Time: 8:30 – 10:30am

Venue: Holiday Inn MK

Cost: Members £10+VAT

Non-members £20+VAT

Next Generation

Next Generation Personal Development

Date: 18 June 2024

Time: 17:30- 19:00

Venue: Chamber Offices

Cost: Free to attend (Next Generation Chamber Members only)

Speed Networking & Buffet Lunch

Date: 20 June 2024

Time: 11:30 - 13:30

Venue: Northampton Town Centre Hotel

Cost: £20+VAT (members only)

Speed Networking & Buffet Lunch Banner Stand Sponsor

Date: 20 June 2024

Time: 11:30 – 13:30

Venue: Northampton Town Centre Hotel

Cost: £50 + VAT, members only (includes banner stand display and opportunity to address the room)

Maximise Your Membership

Date: 26 June 2024

Time: 8:30- 10:30

Venue: Silverstone Museum

Cost: Free of charge (members only)

Open to both Chambers

Meet the Neighbours with Northamptonshire, MK, and Coventry & Warwickshire

Date: 4 July 2024

Time: 11am – 1pm

Venue: Stockton House, CV47 8LB

Cost: Members only - £20+VAT

Women With Vision

Northamptonshire Chamber

community zone

Bringing Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes businesses together and celebrating our community

Giving back to your community

Northamptonshire Community Foundation are encouraging local businesses to join its new Corporate Giving Network.

The network enables Northamptonshirebased businesses and entrepreneurs to make the biggest possible impact with their charitable giving. Members form a giving circle of like-minded businesses whose donations will be combined to create funding for local groups providing life-changing services to those in need.

Northamptonshire Community Foundation manage the fund created by these donations and work with their corporate members to direct grants towards the causes that need them most.

A similar giving circle run by the foundation awarded more than £39,000 to several small, local projects set up to tackle food poverty across the county in 2023.

The Corporate Giving Network is led by the foundation’s head of giving and development, Dean Jones. He said: “As your business grows, managing charitable and corporate social responsibility objectives becomes more challenging. More employees often mean a broader range of causes close to the hearts of your team members, which can make it all the more difficult to choose how and where to direct your organisation’s charitable donations.

“Joining our Corporate Giv ing Network will give growing local businesses the opportunity

to improve their company culture, enhance brand reputation and make a meaningful impact within their local community.

"What better way to build effective partnerships within the community and across the business and charitable sectors.”

The Northamptonshire Community Foundation team are experts in place-based philanthropy and grant making, having awarded more than £2.97m in grants during the last financial year.

If you’re looking to give back to your local community as your business grows, get in touch with Dean Jones: dean@ncf.uk.com.

Northamptonshire Community Foundation CEO, Rachel McGrath (centre), with Dominic Hopkins DL (left) and Charlotte Thornton-Smith, both joint managing partners at HCR

community zone

A thrilling race to raise funds

The Rotary Club of Nene Valley have organised ROkart for the past eight years, raising more than £80,000 for local charities.

This year’s race was the closest yet, with less than a one second gap between first and second places in the final of ROkart 2024.

The event took place at Teamworks indoor karting track and three teams in the final completed 295 laps in just two hours.

David Smith Associates (DSA) only just retained the overall winners title and trophy for Fastest Company in Northamptonshire.

Wheel 2 Wheel - a variant on last year’s second placed team Forti Tiling – were

runners up but also took the trophy for Fastest Group of Friends.

In third place, only nine seconds behind, were Carbon Racing, winners of the event in 2022.

‘One of the real fun elements of ROkart is the sheer diversity of the teams that enter’

This year’s organiser Rotarian Richard Poynter said: “The race is not only about the winner. All this year’s finalists – Professional

Finish, Tollers, Macintyre Hudson, New Duston Garage and Cotton Group - also achieved personal bests.

“One of the real fun elements of ROkart is the sheer diversity of the teams that enter from all aspects of the Northampton community.”

President of Nene Valley Rotary Club David Harding thanked sponsor Michael Jones the Jeweller who had enabled them to raise this year a further £8,500. This will be used to support a refurbishment project at Eve women’s refuge and continued support for other local charities including The Lewis Foundation.

Take a chance and play hospice lottery

Cransley Hospice Trust (CHT) is celebrating a significant milestone as their weekly lottery draw surpasses £1,000,000 in funds raised, dedicated to providing end-oflife care.

This remarkable achievement translates to an astounding 1,324 days of patient care at the hospice, a testament to the community’s loyal support for this vital cause.

Since 2015, supporters of CRT have eagerly participated in the weekly lottery draw, demonstrating their commitment to end of life care for our community. Held every Friday, the draw offers participants the chance to win one of 217 prizes

ranging from £10 to £1,000, or the weekly jackpot, which progressively increases by £500 until claimed or reaches a maximum of £25,000.

Tickets for the weekly draw cost just £1.00 per play and since it started CHT has had 4,814 lucky winners, together winning a total prize pot of £120,850, with one lucky Cransley winner scooping a jackpot of £5,500.

Louise Gurney (pictured), Community and Events Development Manager for CHT said “Playing Your Hospice Lottery is a great way for people to support the hospice while adding a little excitement to a Friday.

“The excitement is about to go up a level as the weekly draw is about to get even better with a bigger prize pot each week, offering players the chance to win even more prizes. We’re also delighted that we will soon be able to offer our shop customers the chance to purchase lottery tickets from our shops.”

The Cransley Hospice Trust lottery supporters raise around £150,000 each year. This makes a significant difference to the patients at the hospice and to those who wish to stay at home with their families.

For more information visit: www.cransleyhospice.org.uk/supportus/lottery-2

The ROkart winners

Buying the building, brick by brick

Along-established Northamptonbased charity has launched a new campaign to help it to purchase the building they operate from.

For almost 30 years The Doddridge Centre Ltd has provided services and resources to enable the community to develop and thrive from its base in the old school rooms at the United Reform Church.

Now the charity has been allocated “in principle” a large chunk of money to purchase the building by a grant funding body - if it can raise an initial £40,000.

So, The Doddridge Centre has recently launched a Buy A Brick campaign, where individuals and organisations can donate to the cause and in return, they will have their name in lights in the Wall of Bricks in the centre and a certificate of contribution.

Centre director Rachel Bott said: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase the building. This opportunity will secure the

future of our charity, enable us to build on our continued success and deliver on our charitable aims to enhance and support our local communities, providing the muchneeded support and opportunities for every community member.”

The Doddridge Centre Ltd hosts a variety of community engagement events, supports

people who need a little help with a warm space and food and also hire meeting rooms to commercial, non-profit and CiCs. It also provides office accommodation to other organisations.

If you can help in any way visit www.doddridgecentre.org.uk or contact Rachel on cd@doddridgecentre.org.uk

The Doddridge Centre Ltd at the United Reform Church

chamber chat

chamber chat

Meet Chamber members and learn about the latest member benefits available to you

member profile Jason Lister

Company: WT Transport Ltd

Job Title:

director

What does your organisation do?

Provision of warehouse and transport services to meet the varying needs of our customer base. We have a top of the range warehouse facility with capacity for 20,000 pallets and an owned fleet of over 50 vehicles, ensuring all and any logistical requirements can be handled in house.

How did it all start?

Way back in 1997, our director and founder, Warren Tattersall, started as a sole trader with a single van. As Warren was growing the business, he took the step to become a limited company in 2013. Since then, the business has grown significantly and has seen substantial year on year growth.

What’s your greatest achievement so far?

Moving to our new facility in Swan Valley, just off of the M1 J15a. In 2022 we moved into our current facility, seeing our warehouse capacity double and our overall service offering increase. The team handled the move excellently and new business has been implemented seamlessly.

What keeps you awake at night?

The transport/logistics industry itself is very fragile. Last year saw a record amount of established businesses enter into administration. This is obviously very concerning and something that needs to be addressed. Finding the balance of competitive pricing without undermining the value of the service offered is a something that we are continuously monitoring.

What has surprised you most in your job?

The variety of clients that I speak to on a daily basis. Prior to life at WT Transport, I worked in

contract logistics with one/two customers at any one time. Now I have a multitude of customers and potential customers covering a vast array of different sectors.

What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken – and did it work out?

WT’s biggest risk was the move to our new facility. This risk was of course calculated, but doubling our footprint and warehouse offering was a substantial step forward for our business. In terms of working out – I would say so, yes! We have a fantastic facility that our colleagues and clients really enjoy.

What advice would you give to someone starting out?

Take nothing for granted, build solid relationships and remember people buy from people. Invest in the correct equipment and most importantly, build the business around a team of people that you trust.

Which business person do you most admire?

Steven Bartlett. I admire the way that he started his businesses and the advice he provides to everyone else via his various podcasts and social media platforms.

What exciting projects is your organisation working on?

We are currently in the implementation process for a couple of clients that I expect will be key accounts over the course of the coming years. Our motto of #WorkingTogether is really key for this and we expect our logistics offering will provide the platform required to enable these customers to grow their own businesses too.

What made your organisation join Northamptonshire Chamber and how are you making use of your membership?

We wanted to be able to connect with local business owners, not only for the opportunity to trade with them, but to understand what the local business community needs, how we can help and learn from each other.

I welcome any member of the chamber to site, whether for a coffee and chat or for a potential business meeting.

Contact details

T: 01604 702090

E: sales@wttransport.com

W: www.wttransport.com

product spotlight: Start Up Membership

next generation

Introducing the next generation of the region’s business leaders

member profile

Hannah Bayliss

Company: Wilson Browne Solicitors

Job Title:

Trainee solicitor – qualifying in November 2024

Background –tell us a bit about you!

I’m Hannah and I work at Wilson Browne Solicitors in our Corby office as a trainee solicitor, due to qualify in November 2024.

I originally joined the firm back in June 2018 as a paralegal as part of a placement year at university to gain invaluable experience.

Since then, I completed my Law Degree, Legal Practice Course and Masters in Law before returning to Wilson Browne in September 2021 and starting my training contract in 2022.

At Wilson Browne, I have gained experience in Clinical Negligence, Private Client, Dispute Resolution and Commercial Property and am very excited to qualify in a few months’ time after seven challenging years of study and training.

Outside of work, I love going to the gym, going out with friends and family, going to the football and mainly… holidays on the beach!

What does your job involve?

As a trainee solicitor, no two days are ever the same. From taking client calls, to attending meetings on multi-million-pound transactions, I learn something new every day.

I have been extremely lucky at Wilson Browne as I have gained experience in so many areas of law, so I have found myself undertaking such a variety of work from reviewing medical records, preparing trial bundles and attending court hearings, sorting through client assets, compiling estate accounts, drafting Wills, dealing with probate, trusts and inheritance tax matters, drafting leases and licences and undertaking land development transactions, to even attending the Royal Courts of Justice and Lobbying Parliament in a hope to bring about changes in the Law.

As a trainee, one of my main roles is supporting the partners/head of team on their busy caseload. This has exposed me to the ‘big’, exciting and often crazy matters that you get to deal with during the course of everyday life as a lawyer!

Why did you join Next Generation Chamber?

I found out about Next Generation through Wilson

Browne and had heard from several colleagues how enjoyable and beneficial being a member of Next Gen is and so joined as soon as I could.

I used to find networking daunting at first stepping out of university, so joining Next Generation meant I could network with likeminded individuals, who all have one commonality in wanting to get to know other aspiring professionals from a variety of different backgrounds.

It has really helped with meeting new connections as well as gaining confidence in different settings, whilst not having the pressure of walking into a room with 200 new faces and not knowing where to start.

What has been your favourite Next Generation Chamber event and why?

All of the Next Generation events are enjoyable and rewarding, and I have particularly enjoyed the Networking at the University of Northampton and the MacMaker events which are all great to attend.

However, my favourite, whilst being so simple, has to be the summer BBQ’s! It is so nice to attend a networking event in the evening, outside in the sun after a busy day at work.

You get to see the other attendees in a different light as the atmosphere is great and much more relaxed than your typical networking

event - the pressure is off and everyone is having a great time.

Next Gen members attend these events because they want to, not because they have to or think it will ‘tick a box’, which make them even better as everyone’s mindsets are aligned. These events are so enjoyable and it is great to network in a relaxed environment…not to forget the amazing food of course!

What is the most important thing you’ve learned from Next Generation Chamber?

The most important thing I have learned from Next Generation is to overcome my fear of networking!

You never know what value a single conversation can hold until it is held or who you are going to meet until you walk into the room. Every single time you network, you are putting a message out there, whether that be on behalf of your firm, personally or both, all whilst making great connections and gaining confidence, making you a better professional overall.

It is a great way of hearing about other people’s experiences and background and every interaction is invaluable in one way or another.

new members

Welcoming

the

newest members of Northamptonshire Chamber and Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce new members

Ability TOWCESTER 01327 604123 www.abilitycic.org.uk

Aegis Support Services LUTON 03300501010 www.aegissupportservices.com

Als Pals MILTON KEYNES 07958800081 www.alspals.org.uk

Amalfi Flowers NORTHAMPTON 07599027565 www.amalfiflowers.com

Anchanto Ltd MILTON KEYNES 07818923295 www.anchanto.com

Anele Limited MILTON KEYNES 07944330025 www.anelelimited.com

Autism Awareness Through Sport KILSBY 07432220651 www.aats.uk

Baby Basics Northampton NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 07923135791 www.facebook.com/BabyBasicsNortham pton

Biomed Laboratory LTD MILTON KEYNES 07502315655 www.biomedlaboratoryltd.com

Brandprint UK Ltd NORTHAMPTON 01604 499962 www.brandprintuk.com

Broker Mortgages Ltd BRACKLEY 0330 133 2981 www.brokermortgagesuk.com

CA Advisory Services Ltd STOKE ON TRENT 07710 423412 www.caadvisoryservices.co.uk

Clarity People Ltd

MILTON KEYNES 01908 686630 www.claritypeople.co.uk

Concept 2 Reality KETTERING 07966 554040 www.concept2reality.co.uk

Daventry Wellness & Sports C.I.C DAVENTRY 07441396336 www.daventrywellness.co.uk

Deafconnect NORTHAMPTON 01604 589011 www.deafconnect.org.uk

Design Principle Studio Limited OUNDLE 0333 358 2274 www.design-principle.uk

Echo Personnel Ltd KETTERING 01933 226640 www.echopersonnel.co.uk

Encompass NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 01933 733001 www.encompasscharity.org.uk

Environmental Energies Ltd MARKET HARBOROUGH 01858525407 www.environmentalenergies.co.uk

EquiTech Group NORTHAMPTON 01604 346444 www.equitechgroup.co.uk

First Intuition Cambridge Limited CAMBRIDGE 01223360405 www.firstintuition.co.uk

Galvanwise Ltd MILTON KEYNES 07475 185421 www.galvanwise.com

GMB Associates NORTHAMPTON 07514452487

Ice Blasters HANNINGTON 01604266256 www.iceblasters.co.uk

Lime Green Exhibitions LTD BRACKLEY 01295 810548 www.limegreenex.co.uk

My Great First Job CIC NORTHAMPTON 07739565479 www.mygreatfirstjob.com

Nespresso Professional (Official Distributor Lyreco) TELFORD 07812 698480 www.nespresso.com/pro/uk/en/

NNC Economic Development Team KETTERING 07935 208537

NNC Services Business Centres Team CORBY 01536 560560 www.ceccorby.co.uk

No Fuss Meals for Busy Parents CIC

NORTHAMPTON www.nofussmealsforbusyparents.com

North Northamptonshire Big 50 Vision 03001263000

Northampton Abington Community Association

NORTHAMPTON 01604 401222 www.abingtoncc.co.uk

Northampton Tennis Foundation NORTHAMPTON 07943519915 www.northamptontenniscoaching.co.uk

O’Riordan Bond NORTHAMPTON 01604 766007 www.oriordanbond.co.uk

Optec Group AYLESBURY 01296 328222 www.optecgroup.co.uk

Orange Juice Communications BRIXWORTH 01604 882342 www.ojpr.co.uk Communications, PR & Events

Own Merit CIC NORTHAMPTON 07771804247

Pinnell & Bax LTD NORTHAMPTON 01604 592808 www.pinbax.com

Proactive Young People CIC RUGBY 07702 048618 www.proactiveyoungpeoplecic.co.uk

Radir Ltd MILTON KEYNES 01908370000 www.radir.com

Rockin Roadrunner DAVENTRY 07967 306906 www.rockinroadrunner.com

Sam Raheel MILTON KEYNES 07931433623 www.behance.net/samraheel Silverstone Museum SILVERSTONE 01327 320416 www.silverstonemuseum.co.uk

Sinontech Ltd

BURTON LATIMER 07855 593 581 www.sinontech.co.uk Cyber security, IT consulting, data centre, hosting Solutionise Consultancy Ltd TOWCESTER 07729481888 www.solutionise.co.uk

join us

To discuss Chamber membership and how it will benefit your company please call the team on 01604 490490.

Stamco Bid Solutions RAUNDS 07917547162 www.stamcobidsolutions.com

Sywell Aerodrome Ltd SYWELL 01604 642263 www.sywellaerodrome.co.uk

The Edge Brands BEDFORDSHIRE 07917458563 www.the-edge-brands.co.uk

The Ethical Car Wash Company NORTHAMPTON 07757646831 www.facebook.com/ethicalcarwashcomp any

The Right Track Consultancy Ltd SYWELL 07743828719 www.therighttrackconsultancy.com

The Spring Charity NORTHAMPTON 01604 458280 www.thespringcharity.org

Thomas John Brown Recruitment Ltd CORBY 01536 639041 www.thomasjohnbrown.co.uk

Wellbeing of Women LONDON 020 3697 7000 www.wellbeingofwomen.org.uk

Wise Parking Ltd DAVENTRY 03301334522 www.wiseparking.co.uk

new partners

Welcoming the newest partner of Northamptonshire Chamber and Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce.