NNBN - Supporting Business Growth - Issue 4 - November 2022

Simon Cox, Editor

Welcome to another edition of the NNBN Digital publication. I can’t believe how fast the next edition has come round! Again, thank you to all our members who have supported this edition with content, news and advertising. We’re really pleased with our fourth edition and looking forward to going into 2023 with the NNBN Digital brand growing and helping more news from our business community getting out there.

The last quarter has been a busy one with interesting and engaging speakers at our events, whether they are face to face or the NNBN Online meeting, helping to share their knowledge and open up key talking points for us to consider in what each of us does. We’ve been fortunate to have been joined by Sam Lux from the Government’s Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy team talking to us about the environment and where we can find further information within the SME Climate Hub as we work towards a net zero future. We also enjoyed a presentation from Marion Turner-Hawes at our last face to face event also talking about the environment and that fact that we need to take action. Going into 2023, there will be more come on this.

I’ve been invited to join the new Northamptonshire Anchor Network whose membership includes both Leaders and CEO’s of both North and West Northamptonshire Councils, the Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce, the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, senior NHS decision makers within both Northampton and and Kettering hospital, key employers within the County and representatives of the University of Northampton, Tresham College and Northampton College as we work together on solutions to societal challenges. This will also see that our NNBN community will have an input into the future and how we can play a role in ensuring our voice is heard. I’m already enjoying being involved and see this as a great opportunity for our members to be heard in the future.

Not only am I involved with the new Anchor Network in Northamptonshire, but I’ve also joined as a Member of the National Council for the Organisation of Responsible Businesses and am working at a national level to help our community locally and to learn from others across the 12 other national members. You can read more about this on page 35 of this edition.

Finally, it would be wrong of me not to say thank you to everyone who put Marie and I forward for the BBC Make A Difference Awards last month. We had a great evening at Northampton Saints and received a Highly Commended award for our hard work which we do in running NNBN, the North Northants Business Network website and other community projects. We appreciated it.

Simon Cox

New foot bridge connects Chester House

Donate a Christmas gift to hospital patients Northamptonshire Council Quality planning areas Top 10 benefits of hiring a virtual assistant The perfect location for global business Weetabix’s zero carbon cereal boxes Why strong branding is essential Stress - how are you managing it? Golf day raises £6,600 for NHS charity Publishers put on a show HVO gritters gear up for winter Leicester Business Exhibition

Message from Jess Slater, CEO at SERVE

Kettering town centre business wins award Wellbeing event held for HGV drivers New baby showroom opens in Wellingborough The Mentaur Group North Northants Businesses being scammed NNBN director joins national council Northants chamber deliver local skills plan Business & IP Centre Northamptonshire Countdown begins to business expo Kier highways begins new 7 year contracts Beat

NEW FOOT BRIDGES CONNECT CHESTER HOUSE ESTATE WITH COMMUNITIES

Two new bridges have been completed providing a footway linking North Northamptonshire Council’s Chester House Estate with the heart of Wellingborough and beyond.

The wheelchair-compliant, steel structures are set to open on Friday ready for the first birthday celebration at Chester House on Sunday and half term week at the venue.

One bridge is across the River Nene, replacing an old burnt-out structure that connects Chester House Estate to the Wellingborough embankment and is key to the future Greenway active-travel project. The previous bridge had been closed to the public for the past 15 years.

The second bridge is smaller and goes across the Chester House stream with both structures forming part of a right of way, connecting Wellingborough to Irchester.

Cllr Graham Lawman, The Council’s Executive Member for Highways, Travel and Assets, said: “I’m delighted that we have been able to re-instate this important part of our Right of Way network, so that walkers, cyclists and wheelers can cross the river here again. It’s been a very challenging project due to the nature of the area, which

is a flood plain and includes the scheduled monument at Chester House. The team have had very strict guidelines to follow including having to lay an access road to protect the archaeology below. We would like to thank Historic England, Natural England, The Environmental Agency and Kier and their contractors for their efforts getting this challenging project completed.”

Cllr Helen Howell, Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Sport, Leisure, Culture and Tourism, said: “The Greenway project is now full steam ahead and we are working hard to connect the estate up to Wellingborough, Rushden Lakes, the river Nene and beyond.

“It is a small part of a bigger project to improve accessibility throughout North Northants to create more opportunities to access our attractions by other means than the use of a car and goes towards our commitment to go carbon neutral.

“The bridges also accompany the new mooring which is fully open and operational.”

Cllr Jason Smithers, Leader of the Council, said: “Chester House Estate is a wonderful addition to North Northamptonshire and I’m delighted that these new structures now make it more connected.”

DONATE A GIFT FOR A PATIENT IN HOSPITAL THIS CHRISTMAS

The countdown to Christmas has begun as Northamptonshire Health Charity launch their annual Christmas Gifts for Patients appeal. With your help, the charity can ensure that EVERY patient in local NHS hospitals receives a present on Christmas day.

Typical items that are perfect for patients include toiletries, slippers and socks, dominoes, puzzle and colouring books, sweets and chocolates. For infection control they must be new, in their original packaging, and not gift wrapped. There is also an Amazon Wish List set up so if you’d prefer to donate something from the list, please visit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ ls/2388BCLQ07H41 and items will be delivered directly to the charity office.

You can also make a donation for the team to purchase gifts for you. This has always been helpful in previous years when there has been a need to top up gifts for male patients.

You can drop your donations into the charity office at Springfield near the Main and A&E entrances to Northampton General Hospital, as well as at the Volunteers Desk at the South Entrance. At Kettering General, you can leave them with the reception at the Main Entrance or call the charity office on 01536 491569.

Trish Ribano, service manager at Welland Centre for Adult Mental Health in Kettering said:

“We are so grateful for your support at Christmas. It makes our day when all the gifts arrive for us to give out as this can be a very lonely and difficult time for patients.”

For all the information visit the website at https://northamptonshirehealthcharity.co.uk/ appeals/christmas-gifts-appeal/

If you have any queries you can contact the charity team by emailing greenheart@nhcf. co.uk or calling the Northampton office on 01604 626927.

North Northamptonshire has a proven track record as an attractive and highly successful place for people to work, invest, live, visit and grow.

It’s population has grown at one of the fastest rates in the country during the last few years and this is expected to continue, driven by it’s location within the Oxford to Cambridge Arc and the North Northamptonshire Garden Communities developments beginning to take shape.

It has special environmental qualities, great locational advantages, immense potential and ambition.

The Council provides a wide range of Business facing services and is dedicated to supporting your business to achieve its full potential, and ensuring North Northamptonshire is an attractive place for people to work, invest, live, visit and grow.

North Northamptonshire Council is your new council, covering the geographical areas of Corby, East Northamptonshire , Kettering and Wellingborough.

NORTH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUNCIL BUSINESS SERVICES INCLUDE:

Economy and Regeneration

Support for start up and established businesses and information about funding and grants. Visit website here

Business and Licencing

Advice on health and safety, business rates, food safety, trading standards and licencing. Visit website here

Planning and Building Control

Advice on applications, building control, local searches, delivering growth and policy. Visit website here

Waste and Recycling

The Council offers a competitive and reliable commercial waste service for local businesses Visit website here

Selling to the Council

The Council purchase a wide range of goods and services each year, including from local suppliers. View website here

Partners: To ensure that we deliver on our Corporate Plan Key Commitments and priorities for both the economy ‘Safe and Thriving Places’ and the Climate Change Agenda ‘Green and Sustainable environment’, the Council is working with a range of Organisations: South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership, University of Northampton, Tresham College, Federation of Small Businesses, Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce and Job Centre Plus.

For more details about our corporate plan visit here

JOHN HENDERSON TALKS ABOUT AREAS OF QUALITY PLANNING

It is somewhat of a cliché to say that quality should be at the heart of everything a business does. But, when we start to dig to get a better understanding of what makes good quality we start to see why this adage holds so much value.

Quality is associated with understanding what customers and stakeholders want and how we are going to deliver. If we are running a business and we don’t understand what customers want we are likely to get into difficulty. This forms the first phase of quality, planning. To undertake the background research and preparation before we even start to sell our first unit.

It sounds rather obvious. Surely, we should understand our customer wants. But history is littered with examples from the Blackberry phone to Blockbuster Video. Customers’ demands moved forward, the company did not.

So why does this happen? Here are 3 potential reasons

1. Poor identification and harvesting of knowledge from customers. The relationship between the customer and the supplier is not working as well as it should. The supplier needs to ask questions of the customer about what they want and need. This information should be carefully fostered, nurtured and developed, before being transferred to the wider business. Too often rigid processes affect this relationship, restricting suppliers ability to think on their feet and add genuine value to the customer by solving their problem. Maybe the listed solution does not work, but per-haps from another perspective it could be a better fit. The competitor who can do this and satisfy the customer will win the sale and deepen the relationship.

2. Poor understanding and communication of customer requirements now and in the future

Gaining the information from listening and questioning forms the basis to understand what the customer wants. Suppliers teams need to analyse and evaluate this information effectively to ensure they are clear on these requirements. Decisions taken at this stage are vital in the quality process and should be based upon accurate and un-biased information. Part of the downfall of Blockbuster’s business was the belief of ‘we’ve always done it like this’ and not the hard evidence that was there in the market clearly indicating customers were changing.

3. Inability to match requirements against capabilities and realise the value of the product to the customer and the standards needed

Once the customer’s needs have been understood and communicated this is trans-formed into a product. Therefore, it is essential that the supplier has the capability to produce. De Havilland, an aircraft manufacturer pioneered the passenger jet aircraft in the late 1950’s and early 60’s with the Comet. Until a structural fault in the design caused several catastrophic accidents. The constraint was that De Havilland did not have sufficient capability to deliver what the customer wanted. E.g., safe air travel, the market was then lost to Boeing, who did.

Read the full article here: https://northnorthantsbusinessnetwork. co.uk/areas-of-quality-planning/

TOP 10 BENEFITS OF HIRING A VIRTUAL ASSISTANT

We all know that as a business owner, there are a million and one things to do. You’re constantly being pulled in different directions, and it can be hard to keep up. This is where a virtual assistant comes in – they can help take some of the load off your shoulders by taking care of tasks you don’t have time for.

Here are the top ten benefits of hiring a virtual assistant:

First, they’re experts in their field. Virtual assistants are professionals with experience in various areas, from social media marketing to customer service. This means they can take on tasks you may not have the time or expertise to do yourself.

They’re cost-effective. Hiring a virtual assistant is often more cost-effective than hiring a full-time employee. This is because you only pay for the hours that they work, and you don’t have to offer them employee benefits like paid Holiday days.

They’re flexible. Virtual assistants are often more flexible than full-time employees. This means they can work around your schedule and complete tasks when convenient for you.

They’re available when you need them. Unlike full-time employees, who may have other commitments outside of work, virtual assistants are available to work when you need them.

Because virtual assistants are often freelancers, they have a wealth of experience in various fields. This means you can find a virtual assistant who is an expert in the specific task you need help with. You may save money by hiring a virtual assistant. You don’t have to be concerned about tax, national insurance, holiday/ sick pay or other perks that come with employing a full-time staff member.

Many virtual assistants work from home, which means there is no need to provide them with office space or computer equipment.

Virtual assistants are often more efficient than traditional employees because office politics or distractions do not bog them down.

A virtual assistant can help you with tasks outside your skill set. This can free up your time to focus on what you’re good at.

They can help to free up your time so that you can focus on the things that are most important to you.

Working with Pippins Business Support is unlike working with other Virtual Assistants or agencies since we have an extensive network of experts that may assist with all activities under one umbrella. Pippins Business Support provides all the support an online business owner needs to be successful. Contact the team today to discover how Pippins Business Support may assist you in your company.

NORTH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE – THE PERFECT LOCATION FOR GLOBAL BUSINESS

The North Northamptonshire area is fast becoming a place for big names and hive of activity as inward investment appears to be on the increase and global brands look towards this perfect location in the UK.

With great access to the North, East, South and West, and an electrified rail line into London, the A14 corridor from the M1 through to the A605 is certainly becoming a place of interest for business.

Whereas the home of Weetabix used to dominate the A14 skyline located between Kettering and Burton Latimer, we’re seeing a flutter of new businesses arrive with Woodway Packaging being joined by the largest European site for filling recycled aluminium cans in the shape of Ball Corporation, whose clients include some the largest known names in the drinks industry, opening their new Burton Latimer operation in early 2023.

Just North of the A14, we’ve seen changes going on in Corby with New Cold Logistics opting to relocate to the former steelworks and more recently it was announced in the local newspaper that Top Hat is to relocate to the area opening a factory big enough to build a house every HOUR, create 1,000 jobs and boost the local economy.

South of Kettering and down the A509 is Irthlingborough and Wellingborough where you’ll find the home of Whitworth Bros, specialist flour millers since 1886 and Booker Cash and Carry Head Quarters and recently, BCW Manufacturing Group and Lotus Cars announced a collaborative project which sees BCW take over the operation of the former Lotus Lightweight Structures Anodising (LLSA) plant in Wellingborough.

It’s not all industry though as the new Chelveston Renewable Energy Park, situated on the site of a former RAF base large enough to accommodate three runways and used by the United Army Air Force (UAAF) from 1942 to 1945 for bomber operations over Germany in the Second World War, now boasts 9 x 125m wind turbines and over 250,000 solar panels which is thought to generate enough energy in 2022 to power 60,000 homes in the local area.

With further developments happening all the time, the A14 corridor is certainly becoming an attractive location to new businesses who see the main road from Birmingham to Felixstowe being an integral part of their future plans.

An interesting and exciting future beckons for North Northamptonshire.

WEETABIX COMMITS TO CREATING A ROADMAP FOR PRODUCING ZERO CARBON CEREAL BOX

The Weetabix Food Company, makers of the nation’s favourite breakfast cereal[1], has committed to setting out a roadmap that will enable it to produce its first box of zero carbon Weetabix Original. The roadmap will draw on the results of carbon footprint studies that the company is undertaking with its farmers to explore the different factors contributing to carbon emissions associated with producing their wheat.

The first study – completed this year with 17 of its top farmers who produce a third of the wheat supplied to make Weetabix biscuits – reveals that their greenhouse gas emissions for the 2021 harvest were likely to have been between 40% and 50% lower than the standard emission factors for UK wheat production used in previous calculations.

Weetabix has formed a collective of British farmers all located within 50 miles of its Northamptonshire factory to grow the best quality wheat for its products. Since it was set up in 2010, the Growers’ Group has involved over 350 local farmers growing approximately 75,000 metric tonnes of wheat each year across more than 4 million acres –equivalent to almost 3,000 football pitches.

Working with Map of Ag, a global data platform that provides insights to the agriculture industry, Weetabix were able to help some of the farmers within its Growers’ Group collect carbon footprint data more easily and provide accurate information that enabled them to look carefully at their processes. The farmers also demonstrated high nitrogen use efficiency, resulting in lower impacts on air and water quality.

John Petre, Supply Chain, Procurement and Technical Director at the Weetabix Food Company says: “We’re really proud of the study’s results and the work our Growers’ Group has put into reducing their emissions but we know that this is just the start of what’s required to significantly lower our overall carbon footprint. We want to get to a place where we can empower customers to use their buying power to choose lower carbon products. All of the work we’re currently doing with our farmers and across the business to reduce our carbon footprint will hopefully lead to producing a zero carbon box of Weetabix. That’s ultimately our goal.”

Andrew Crossley, a farmer who took part in the carbon footprint study, says: “Working with Weetabix to find ways in which we can lower our carbon emissions is the start of a valuable journey. The Growers’ Group is committed to finding the most sustainable way to grow wheat that we can. Weetabix is one of the few food manufacturers that takes the time to directly engage with farmers whilst we grow quality wheat for them. Group members also support environmental stewardship initiatives; for example planting hedgerows and having wider field margins to sustain local wildlife within Countryside Stewardship agreements.”

Following the success of the first carbon footprint study, Weetabix is repeating the assessment with more farmers over the next several years with the goal to source carbon neutral wheat. It will also work with smaller groups of pioneer growers to evaluate new technologies, such as precision nitrogen applications and soil assessments, to accelerate its carbon reduction strategy.

WHY STRONG BRANDING IS AN ESSENTIAL FEATURE OF ANY BUSINESS

Here are several ways in which a strong brand can boost your business.

1

BECOME EASILY RECOGNISABLE

What do Apple, Nike, Google and Coca-Cola all have in common? Well, these multinational companies are among the biggest in the world and some of the most recognisable brand names. For example, the average consumer can readily associate premium electronic products with the simple outline of a bitten apple or high-quality sporting goods with a single tick. This is how powerful the branding of Apple and Nike has become. Even without directly mentioning their name on their ads, people can quickly recognise which company is which and what type of products they offer.

However, branding is more than just a memorable or eye-catching logo. It is both an intangible and tangible representation of how people perceive a company’s image, reputation, marketing endeavours and customer service. If all these crucial elements work together consistently, more consumers will support the company’s products and service offerings.

THE IMPORTANCE OF STRONG BRANDING

With the advent of social media, having a strong brand has become more important than ever. As customers are inundated with new brands on a daily basis, strengthening your company’s branding can go a long way towards achieving growth and success even in a highly competitive environment.

2

As mentioned earlier, strong branding can enable your company to be easily recognised and on a more regular basis. If someone gets just a quick glimpse of your brand and they associate it with something positive (e.g. a relatable ad or good customer service), they are more likely to remember who you are even if they are not yet ready to buy your products or enlist your services. As they are now aware that your brand exists, there is a greater chance that they will come back to you when they are ready to make a purchase.

BECOME EASILY RECOGNISABLE

In the world of business, a positive image is everything. Consumers are less likely to trust you if they perceive that you haven’t taken the time to invest in a clear and professional brand. Conversely, strong branding will highlight that you are a legitimate business that they can rely on. More importantly, it will also help you retain the trust you have worked so hard to establish.

3

SHOWCASE YOUR COMPANY VALUES

Most consumers tend to gravitate towards brands and businesses that share their values. If your brand does not reflect who you are and what you represent, creating marketing campaigns your target customers can rally around could be challenging. It could also be difficult to interact with your prospects on a personal level.

Here’s an example to illustrate this point. Museum development provider Museum Development East Midlands (MDEM) enlisted the branding expertise of DeType to help them remain visible during the first national lockdown. As a result, after using the same branding for many years, MDEM underwent a brand overhaul to reflect their vision and “speak more quickly” to what they say and do. The change has been met with positivity. MDEM have received fantastic feedback from their main clients, funders and stakeholders.

Sam Sayer, Creative Director from DeType in Kettering talks to us about branding…..

4

ENHANCE CUSTOMER LOYALTY

Various studies have shown that loyal customers contribute significantly to a company’s revenues. They tend to spend more on brands that earn their loyalty and are thus more likely to become repeat customers. Moreover, they also always anticipate the release of their favourite brand’s new products and follow them online for any updates.

Apple and its customer base is a great example of this concept. Loyal fans will queue up at Apple’s stores, even in the wee hours of the morning, every time the tech giant releases a new version of the iPhone. Such a loyal following often stems from a consistent and positive customer experience, which is a critical component of strong branding.

5 INCREASE YOUR FINANCIAL VALUE

A company’s branding also contributes to its financial value, particularly if it trades publicly on the stock market. Depending on the strength of the brand, it can help guarantee future growth. For instance, if your company has plans for an expansion or IPO, a positive image and high brand value can make it easier for you to borrow the funds you require to fulfil such financial undertakings.

6 REDUCE PRICE SENSITIVITY

Price sensitivity refers to how the cost of your products or services will affect your prospects’ willingness to purchase them. The less sensitive your customers are, the more likely it is that they will support your business no matter how expensive your products become.

A strong brand makes your business more attractive, allowing you to increase your prices over time. By building a loyal brand following, you can attract more customers with reduced price sensitivity.

TO ACHIEVE GREATER SUCCESS IN BUSINESS, INVEST IN BETTER AND STRONGER BRANDING

It can take a great deal of time and effort to create a strong brand. Nevertheless, with all the benefits and advantages it can offer, the hard work will certainly be worthwhile.

If you haven’t done so already, now is the ideal time to start strengthening your brand. Not only will this enable you to become more recognisable and attract more potential customers amid stiff competition, but it will also allow you to create a loyal following that will help ensure the growth and success of your business.

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STRESS – HOW ARE YOU MANAGING IT ?

During these difficult times, having navigated our way through the pandemic, we are now faced with huge increases in fuel costs, the general cost of living and increased interest rates. As a result, our stress levels have, quite understandably, sky-rocketed.

It is important that we recognise stress in ourselves and our families in order to manage it effectively and for it not to undermine the fragile balance of life we are presently living in.

Stress is a normal part of life and we need positive stress to make us get out of bed in the morning, but it is when the stress levels become overwhelming and tip into the negative that we need to take action. People are individuals and stress overload is different for everyone.

Recognition of stress in ourselves and close family is crucial. It manifests itself in a number of ways, both in behaviour and physical symptoms. Changes in behaviour can be constant irritability, feeling unable to cope, a lack of interest in life, constant fear of disease, difficulty in making decisions, loss of interest in other people, anger, loss of sense of humour, feeling neglected, feeling there is no-one to talk to, difficulty in concentrating and inability to relax.

Physical symptoms can be lack of appetite, indigestion, insomnia, tiredness, headaches, nausea, desire to cry, inability to sit still and more.

Long term stress can result in illnesses such as high blood pressure, heart attack, migraines, allergies, ulcers, arthritis, diabetes, skin disorders, depression and more.

It is, therefore, essential that we take control and manage our stress effectively, as well as being aware that there are healthy and unhealthy ways of doing so. Reaching for that bottle of wine every evening, although very tempting, I am sorry to say, is not the answer!

So let’s consider the healthy options:-

Exercise – although gyms may be expensive, we can still go out walking in public places. Fresh air, being in nature and sunshine (if we are lucky) is a good way of raising the mood. Even a turn around the garden or preparing the garden for the winter will lift us and give us a sense of achievement.

Healthy eating – we are going into the winter months where we are at risk of the usual winter ailments as well as COVID. Well prepared good food gives our bodies the nutrients to keep our immune systems functioning to their optimum. Vitamins and supplements should also be considered, in particular, those that boost the immune system.

Talking – make sure you chat to a family member, good friend, or colleague every day. Don’t be afraid to talk about feelings. Bottling them up doesn’t help. Find something to laugh about in the conversation. A good belly laugh releases endorphins – the feel -good hormones.

Relaxation – which comes in a number of forms and is personal. There are Yoga and Relaxation classes on line and some are free. Northants Adult Learning are offering Wellbeing courses and some are free of charge so visit their website, Instagram or Facebook pages to find out more. Reading a good book is another form of relaxation or listening to music. Try something you have been meaning to do for a while, for example, learning an instrument, knitting, painting, crochet, drawing, woodwork or even write a book. They say everyone has a book in them!!

Meditation – a very effective form of relaxation but not for everyone. If you are able to become totally absorbed mentally in one thing then this, in itself, is a form of meditation as your mind is completely focussed.

Pets – stroking a pet is very calming and they say can prevent heart attacks. Our animals are very in tune with us and will often offer their form of comfort when we feel low. Then again, some are just plain bonkers and make us roar with laughter!

Planning and prioritising – often we find ourselves stressing over things we have no control over. This is the point where we need to rein ourselves in and only worry about what we can change. We mostly have control over how we spend our time and how to make best use of it. We can plan our days and prioritise tasks so that not only do we have structure to our day but we can also feel a sense of achievement when we have crossed through lines on the ‘To Do’ list.

And last but not least – count your blessings. As the old saying goes ‘every dark cloud has a silver lining’ – we just need to find it.

ANNUAL GOLF DAY RAISES £6,600 FOR NHS CHARITY’S FUNDRAISING APPEALS

Northamptonshire Health Charity recently held its seventh annual golf day at Northampton Golf Club raising money for two major appeals. The event, which was again sponsored by MHA Caves Wealth, Rieker and Complete Safety Systems Ltd, raised £6,600 beating last year’s total by £700!

Community Fundraiser, Michelle Leighton said, “Everyone had a really enjoyable day and we’d like to thank them all for taking part and helping us to raise such fantastic amount of money for our appeals. A huge thanks to our event sponsors who sponsor our Golf Day every year, we couldn’t raise so much without their kind support.

We would also like to thank Chris Doran for sponsoring the halfway house; Les Sameday Collections and Deliveries for sponsoring Longest Drive and Nearest the Pin; and to Brampton Valley Enterprises for sponsoring our refreshments and bar buggy.”

This year’s grand total means £3,300 for the children’s outside play area appeal for the children’s wards at Northampton General Hospital and £3,300 for the Twinkling Stars appeal for the new maternity bereavement suite at Kettering General Hospital. Next year’s golf day will be held on Thursday 14 September so if you’d like to reserve space for a team please email us greenheart@nhcf.co.uk or call 01604 626927.

Christmas at a glance...

Sat / Sun 19 / 20 Nov - Frost Fair - FREE shop small & support local this Christmas - Santa’s Grotto Arrives! select dates until 23 December book online: www.bit.ly / SantaAtStanwick - Wreath Making Workshops morning and afternoon sessions available

Mon 21 November - Festive Menu available groups of 20+ get a private room free ( STA )

Sun 27 November - Santa Run - 5k, 10k & Half Marathon book online: www.runatstanwicklakes.co.uk

Sat 17 December - A Viking Yule - just £5! a winter’s evening of music & entertainment with The Bifrost Guard Viking re-enactors. 4.30 pm -7.30 pm

Wed 21 December - Lantern Walk & Lakeside Christmas Carols a magical walk around Solstice Lake and Christmas carols in our outdoor theatre with the Raunds Temperance Band. 5 pm -7.30 pm - just £5! Coming Soon! - Look out for details of our Christmas Trail!

Stanwick Lakes Nature Reserve is open 364 days a year, with imaginative play areas, open spaces and paths for you to explore. The site is closed 25 December. The visitor centre is closed on 25 & 26th December.

PUBLISHERS PUT ON A SHOW AFTER SEALING PARTNERSHIP WITH EXHIBITION ORGANISER

THE PUBLISHERS of leading business newspapers Business Times and Business MK have added a new string to the company’s bow after agreeing a partnership with the organiser of two major annual business exhibitions.

Pulse Group Media, which also publishes the lifestyle magazines MK Pulse and NN Pulse, has joined forces with Your Business Expo and will co-host exhibitions in Northamptonshire.

“Joining forces to organise these exhibitions is a logical bolt-on to our current publishing business in print and online,” says Pulse Goup Media director Kerry LewisStevenson. “There is so much synergy with what we are already expert in and, in the current climate, diversification into a complementary sector makes an awful lot of sense.”

Your Business Expo is run by Sheila Smith. She launched a networking group back in 2010, from which evolved the Northamptonshire Business Expo. It continues to attract dozens of exhibitors from all over Northamptonshire and beyond and has enabled Sheila to launch Business Expos elsewhere in the UK, including in Leicester.

“We have known Sheila Smith for some time and know that she is hugely respected in the exhibition sphere,” says Kerry. “When the opportunity came up to team up with her on the exhibitions, we felt it was a chance not to pass up.”

Sheila will continue to contribute to the expos as a consultant. “I have been running the expos for some 12 years now and feel that it is time for them to benefit from a fresh set of eyes and ideas,” she says.

Kerry Lewis-Stevenson (left) and Sheila Smith, organiser of Northamptonshire Business Expo.

“I am delighted that Pulse Group Media have come on board. They are hugely respected regionally for the quality of their publications and online offer and I have no doubt they will bring the same level of quality, positivity and innovation to the expos. We cannot wait to get started.”

HVO GRITTERS GEAR UP FOR WINTER ACROSS NORTH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

North Northamptonshire Council is getting ready for harsher weather conditions as Kier Highways, the council’s highways provider, deploys its fleet of gritters to take on precautionary gritting routes. The contractor activated winter working protocols in mid-October, with the season set to run through to April next year.

The gritters, which are powered by sustainably sourced Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), will cover over 821 miles (1,841km) of the councils’ road network – which is the equivalent of driving from Northamptonshire to Dundee and back. The Council has reserves of 2,500 tonnes of salt, with 643 grit bins across the region filled for use on public roads and footpaths.

Cllr Graham Lawman, executive member for highways, travel and assets for North Northamptonshire Council, said:

“Preparing for winter is an all-year-round task and requires extensive analysis of previous weather conditions to make informed decisions about priority gritting routes. We’re working hard to ensure minimal disruption to road-users throughout the autumn/winter period.

“We will deliver a value for money service by sharing resources and intelligence with West Northamptonshire Council, via our highways partner, Kier. After considerable preparation, we are now in a strong position to grit the roads as soon as forecasts predict the weather to drop below 0.5C.”

Cllr Jason Smithers, Leader of the Council, added:

“Keeping North Northants moving when severe weather strikes is essential and I’m pleased that we’ve prepared robustly for the coming winter.”

The fleet of gritters uses HVO with immediate effect, which reduces the carbon produced from combustion engines by up to 90% compared to diesel. The move demonstrates Kier and NNC’s shared commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.

Enhanced weather forecasting and temperature readings will be taken via weather stations and sensors set out along North Northamptonshire’s roads, with updates sent every 15 minutes. Through route-based forecasting, routes will be treated if the temperatures are forecasted to drop below 0.5C. The gritters are also fitted with advanced GPS technology which requires only one person to operate the vehicle in clear conditions, by accumulating route data and reporting back to the office to ensure that works are safely delivered.

John Coombes, general manager at Kier Highways, calls for drivers to be careful on the roads:

“The UK faces increasingly unpredictable weather year-onyear. Even once a road has received a gritting treatment, the salt requires activation from the movement of vehicles – so road users should remain vigilant.

“With crews on standby 24/7, we’re confident in the steps that we’ve taken to be winter-ready, and we actively encourage feedback from the community to help us to continue to deliver a resilient and reliable service.”

If Grit bin salt stocks run low, you can report that they need refilling via the Street Doctor service at https://www. northnorthants.gov.uk/roads-and-paths-maintenance/gritbins

For more winter information and how to stay safe, please visit https://www.northnorthants.gov.uk/roads-and-paths-maintenance/gritting

To learn more about Kier Highways, visit https://www.kier.co.uk/expertise/highways/

AN INVITE TO LOCAL BUSINESSES TO EXPLORE THE LEICESTER BUSINESS EXHIBITION

Businesses from across North Northamptonshire are invited to the Leicester Business Exhibition in a drive to help growth across the East Midlands.

The Leicester Business Exhibition, sponsored by the Glide Group is providing opportunities for businesses in Kettering, Corby, Wellingborough and East Northamptonshire to engage and exhibit at the event taking place on Tuesday 29th November at Winstanley House in Leicester.

The exhibition is a highly anticipated event which brings together all industries, SME’s and sole traders from across the East Midlands for a lively one-day event to enjoy face-to-face networking and high level business interaction and education.

Home to the best talent, tech and business resources in the country, the East Midlands region continues to work hard on new initiatives designed for all to excel in our business arena.

There is space for 60 exhibition stands, networking events and with a packed show floor to surf there is an abundance of opportunities for both visitors and exhibitors alike and the venue, Winstanley House, offers you easy access, free parking and everything under one roof.

Exhibition stands are available via the exhibition website https://leicesterbusinessexpo.com/ at £295 (no vat) each (double stand £500), or you can explore the chance elevate your brand by utilising one of the sponsorship packages available on the website.

Please call Sheila Smith (07809 635181) or Kate Ilott (07725 762152) for more details or email: hello@leicesterbusinessexpo.co.uk. It is FREE to attend Leicester Business Expo as a visitor, don’t miss your chance to join this high-energy event! Register HERE

MESSAGE FROM JESS SLATER, CEO AT SERVE FEATURE

Coming out of the pandemic has been a real eye opener at SERVE, and more than ever we have noticed that the beneficiaries’ needs are changing. SERVE embraced the challenge of the pandemic, and more services were set up to tackle isolation and loneliness such as the Countywide Befriending Service, Meals on Wheels and the new gardening project ‘servescape’. The local authorities and other funders have supported us to set up and deliver effective services to enable us to support as many people as possible.

Nationally, the pandemic put charities like SERVE on the map and they have been identified as being crucial to support people with the health and wellbeing. The government have known for some time that the wider determinants of health such as housing, employment, isolation, financial advice, plus many more determinants contribute to poor health and as a result more people end up in hospital or contacting their GP to try a resolve their problems.

As a result, the new Health & Care Act 2022 introduced the Integrated Care System legislation, there are 42 integrated care systems in the UK and Northamptonshire is one of them. Integrated Care Systems have existed informally in some capacity since 2016, and the new legislation means it is the responsibility of the NHS and local government to deliver joined up health and care services that include a wide range of partnerships including the voluntary sector to provide suitable placedbased services to suit the needs of local communities.

What does this mean for you?

In broad terms, the aim of integrated care is to join up health and care services required by individuals, to deliver care that meet their needs in an efficient way. This is easier said than done, because health and care services are made up of many constituent parts, and arrangements for delivering and funding them are complicated. Treatment and care for a single problem can require care from GPs, ambulance and hospital services, and a range of professionals working in the community including nurses, therapists and home carers. This is a mammoth task for the NHS and local authorities, but the process is underway and there has already been some major changes to way services will be delivered in future.

In summary, over the next few years you should see better ways of working and more locality-based services delivering local area priorities.

What is SERVE’s role in the changes?

SERVE in partnership with charities; Support Northamptonshire and Groundworks is supporting the local authority with engagement In the community, bringing together local voluntary organisations so they can learn about the changes and what it will mean for them as charities and more importantly what it will mean to the people they support in the community.

As partners, we are holding engagement events across North Northamptonshire, there will be five altogether across Kettering, Corby, East Northants, Wellingborough and Black Communities.

If you would like to learn more about the changes, please visit: How does the NHS in England work and how is it changing? - YouTube Integrated care systems explained | The King’s Fund (kingsfund.org.uk)

SERVE is a local independent charity offering services in North Northamptonshire to Older People, Informal Carers and local grassroots voluntary sector organisations.

KETTERING TOWN CENTRE BUSINESS WINS AWARD!

A Kettering town centre business are delighted to have been announced winners at this year’s Kettering Business Awards.

Beccy Hurrell Voice & Arts Limited are celebrating after winning the Community Business of the Year Award at the awards ceremony which was held at Kettering Park Hotel on Friday 15th October.

Lindsey Atkins, Director said “This award means so much to us. When we created the company, the focus was on bringing accessible, quality arts provision to the high street to allow all members of the surrounding communities to benefit from the incredible power of the arts. Each month we are working with over 300 individuals, this award is just as much a celebration of all the people we work with who are at the heart of what we do here at BHVA!”

Beccy Hurrell Voice & Arts (BHVA) was incorporated during the Covid-19 pandemic, and is based at The Yards in Kettering Town Centre. With a focus on the individuals that come through their doors, BHVA not only provides quality tuition but support those with additional needs and supports community engagement. BHVA provides holiday clubs through the Holiday Activity and Food fund, and works alongside mainstream schools to help support students on Pupil Premium funding.

The company is also brought in to help with community engagement for developers and other businesses when they wish to connect with children and young people. With a passion for working with people with additional needs, BHVA has also forged close working relationships with Isebrook School, and Creative Learning Trust giving additional support to students for work placements, preparing for college, and supporting the growth of confidence, participation and engagement, communication, self-belief, problem solving, motivation, teamwork, and ideas generation.

Beccy Hurrell, Director said “Friday night was a true celebration of so many years of hard work. To receive this award is an absolute highlight for us as a company so far! BHVA is about breaking down barriers and building confidence with everyone we work with, using the Arts as our tool. Getting to do this every day within the communities we work within brings us so much joy and is what drives us!”

To learn more about what Beccy Hurrell Voice & Arts Limited offers pop over to their website www.bhva.co.uk or email Beccy and Lindsey at: hello@bhva.co.uk.

WELLBEING EVENT HELD FOR HGV DRIVERS

North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) have teamed up with partners for a wellbeing event for HGV drivers who use the Welcome Break Rothwell Truck Stop.

The event, held on Thursday 27 October, tied in with National Lorry Week and followed on from a successful event earlier in the year.

At the previous event, Officers from NNC’s Public Health, Community Wellbeing and Environmental Health teams worked in partnership with Welcome Break and the Road Haulage Association to support the wellbeing of the drivers. During the session, drivers could come and chat to the team, have their blood pressure check and use the body composition scales.

Last week, there were stands from a series of partners including Northamptonshire Sport, Kettering Mind, University of Northampton, the NHFT’s Sexual Health Outreach team, Living Well Taking Control and Public Health, who had a variety of mental health and smoking cessation information and brought back the blood pressure checkers and scales.

Feedback at the event from lorry drivers included what a good idea it was to have an event targeted at lorry drivers – something most of those who attended had never seen or heard of before, how refreshing it was to be able to voice opinions and be listened to and that the organisations really cared about the health and wellbeing of lorry drivers.

Cllr Helen Harrison, the council’s Executive Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing, said:

“It is great that we are able to work with partners on an events that we hope will make a real difference to people’s lives, especially as we know this demographic tends to be overlooked.

“At both events, we have received really positive feedback and engagement from drivers, which is really encouraging to hear.”

Cllr Jason Smithers, Leader of the Council, added: “As a Council, we have a commitment to support everyone across North Northamptonshire and, in this case, that includes those passing through the area. I am pleased that these events have been so successful, and it is excellent to hear that our Officers and partners were so well received.”

Attendees also received a wallet sized card full of information, including details of nationally available resources which Welcome Break are looking at the possibility of rolling out wider across the country.

Dave Newman, Commercial Income Manager for Welcome Break, said: “The Z-Cards the council have produced are a great innovative way to support drivers with their health and wellbeing, using the national resources included will be a huge benefit for drivers, something simple and to keep in their wallets.”

Those in attendance were encouraged to complete a questionnaire, with the results now being analysed and all the feedback received, NNC, Welcome Break, RHA and partners will use this for future initiatives and events to support this demographic.

NEW BABY SHOWROOM OPENS IN WELLINGBOROUGH

A new baby product showroom has opened in Wellingborough, following a ribbon cutting ceremony performed by Mayor of Wellingborough, Cllr Jon Ekins, and a launch party.

Lilycuddles, which up until now has been an online only retailer, landed in Wellingborough over the weekend with lots of visitors coming to get a glimpse of the new showroom between Friday and Sunday.

The 2,995 sq ft showroom, which is situated on the Park Farm Industrial Estate, stocks a wide range of baby products from brands including Egg, Oyster, Peg Perego, ABC Design, Britax, and Ickle Bubba.

Lilycuddles was established by Solomon Soyinka and his partner Yetunde Adebayo in 2016 after the couple experienced difficulty in finding products when preparing for the birth of for their own baby.

Solomon said: “We struggled to find the products we needed at the desired price and wondered how many other parents felt the same. We started to source products ourselves and built up some fantastic relationships with lots of different brands.

“Now, after years of selling online, we want to establish a bricks and mortar showroom that gives parents the opportunity to touch our products and see them in action.”

The couple chose Wellingborough as a location for their baby product showroom after the closure of Mothercare and Babies R Us meant that there was a demand in the area for a place for parents to go and shop for products for their family.

“We are so pleased to have finally opened our showroom – something that has been a vision of ours for some time now,” said Yetunde.

“We look forward to welcoming lots of parents and expectant parents through our doors and showing them the fantastic products we have on offer.”

Lilycuddles is located on Faraday Court on the Park Farm Industrial Estate, Wellingborough.

To find out more, go to www.lilycuddles.co.uk.

Since 1988, the Mentaur Group has been offering a diverse range of specialist services for adults with learning disabilities, mental health needs, autism, & other complex needs. The two organisations in the group are Mentaur and Mentaur Community Support (MCS).

Mentaur is a multiple award-winning provider of support and care services with a strong emphasis on quality, training, and research. In recent years, Mentaur contribution has been nationally and internationally recognized. This has resulted in various awards, such as the ‘Research Project Award’ at the European Social Services Awards and the ‘Personalisation in Social Care’ award at the Laing Buisson Awards.

Currently, the manager of one of the group’s care homes, has been shortlisted as a finalist for the ‘Registered Manager of the Year’ award at the National Learning Disability & Autism Awards. We are also proud to announce that we will be presenting on ‘Positive outcomes emerging from the COVID19 pandemic to spike engagement of people with autism living in supported accommodation services’ at the 13th Autism-Europe International Congress in Cracow.

THE MENTAUR GROUP

Mentaur provides residential care in Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Leicestershire. All the homes are designed to provide a safe and enabling environment for users of the service while the staff are trained to provide personalised support to a high standard. Our service users are able to explore new activities, develop new hobbies & recreational interests and continue to grow and develop as individuals.

Moreover, Mentaur offers day activities support in its Mentaur Day Opportunities Resource Centre (MDORC) based in Northampton. It is a hub which promotes independent skills and serves as a base for accessing public facilities in the wider community. The centre also facilitates supported work experience and work placements, coordinating college placements and provides training in areas such as horticulture, computer studies, social and domestic skills.

Mentaur Community Support (MCS) provides supported living and domiciliary care services to empower vulnerable people and encourage more independent forms of living. Our outreach support consists in personalised services at home tailored to every individual’s needs: assistance with the procurement of housing benefits, day-to-day support with maintaining a tenancy, supporting people to a more independent life within their communities, accessing healthcare and others. MCS staff provide this support according to people’s needs, ranging from a few hours a week to 24-hour support. These services are available in Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire.

MCS also provides supported living services in two dedicated supported living units in Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire. Users of these services are either making their first move to independence or stepping down from a more intensive placement. With a secure tenancy in place, users are supported by trained MCS staff to develop new skills similar to those described above for outreach clients.

The Mentaur Group is making a significant contribution to supporting vulnerable people within the community. Our commitment to providing growth-enhancing care and support of the highest quality with integrity and constant innovation is at the core of our values. Visit The Mentaur Group’s social channels below Find out more via the websites below: Specialist Care Services | Residential Care Homes | Mentaur

NORTH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE BUSINESSES BEING SCAMMED

Trading Standards have seen a recent increase in local businesses being targeted by unscrupulous traders.

It has been brought to the attention of North Northamptonshire Council that businesses in North Northamptonshire are being cold called by traders who offer to carry out services, including remedial works, “free of charge”.

Businesses who agreed have then been presented with demands, in some cases aggressively, for payment.

The following link Business scams | Business Companion provides some useful information on scams for businesses.

If a business wishes to report such activity they should contact North Northamptonshire Council’s partners at the Citizens Advice Consumer Service

Contact the consumer helpline – Citizens Advice

NNBN DIRECTOR JOINS NATIONAL COUNCIL TO BACK THE DRIVE FOR SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS

NNBN Director Simon Cox is one of 13 members of a national organisation who have come together to form a new Member Council focussing on the future.

The Organisation for Responsible Businesses (ORB) is a national membership organisation with a vision of a better way of doing business: a way that is good for business and a better world and will work alongside the newly formed council to focus on a series of specific initiatives.

ORB believes that micro and small businesses are not only the powerhouse of the British economy but they also, collectively, have the power to make a real difference to our societies at local, national, and even international levels.

“It’s key that there is a strong focus on local communities, sustainable future and looking at economical and environment changes. We live in challenging times but by working together, we can explore opportunities for the businesses and organisations and work together for a brighter future.”

Founder and CEO of ORB Jill Poet said “ORB is owned by its members and the new Member Council is the representative body that ensures a flow of information between members and the Board of Directors and vice versa. We welcome the formation of the Member Council and look forward to working closely with its representatives. We are also excited by the increased potential to drive forward changes that will not only benefit our members, but also the whole of society.”

Simon said, “I’m looking forward to working with a group of passionate business owners from across the UK within this national council and with like-minded people who believe in an ethical way of doing business.”

If you would like to learn more about the Organisation for Responsible Businesses, then visit https://www.orbuk.org.uk/

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE CHAMBER TO DELIVER

LOCAL SKILLS IMPROVEMENT PLAN

Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce, and Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, confirm funding to continue the development of a Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) on behalf of the region.

A Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) is to be developed in each Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) area with the intention of giving employers a stronger voice in shaping local skills provision by working closely with FE providers, engaging effectively with local leaders and other stakeholders and forging a stronger and more dynamic partnership that will enable provision to be more responsive to skills needs of employers in local labour markets.

In May of this year, Government asked for interested parties to apply to be the Local Employer Representative Body for the South East Midlands LEP (SEMLEP) LSIP and The Northants Chamber of Commerce (in conjunction with Milton Keynes and Bedfordshire Chambers) led an application which was submitted on 6 June

We are very pleased to announce that this bid was successful and that development of the LSIP will commence from November of this year.

Louise Wall, Chief Executive of the Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce, said:

“Government recognises that employers know what is needed for their businesses and, through the Local Skills Improvement Plan, the Chambers across our region will be diligently gathering the information and then presenting a “living” report that identifies the true needs of employers and maps out a plan that can deliver the skills provision that businesses require”

“We look forward to working with our neighbouring Chambers of Commerce, local stakeholders and educators to deliver a meaningful plan, incorporating and building on the significant work already underway to upskill talent across the region.

“We also have great links with our education providers, Trade bodies and Local Authorities so it will be exciting to be working with them on the LSIP and to be speaking to businesses of all sizes and sectors on what their skills needs are.”

Justin Richardson, Chief Executive of the Bedfordshire Chambers of Commerce, said:

“Skills shortages are regularly highlighted by businesses as a key recruitment issue and the Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) are an exciting opportunity for Chambers of Commerce across the region to bring together employers and key stakeholders to set out the priorities needed to ensure local provision is reflective of emerging skills needs.

It’s fantastic to be a key part of the vision where businesses are given a much stronger voice in local skills planning and putting the needs of business at the heart of the skills system.

We are really looking forward to working with local businesses, education providers, employer representative bodies and key stakeholders to deliver a meaningful plan for the area.”

For more information, please visit the Department for Education’s website here

BIPC Libraries act as engines for economic growth through helping businesses to start, run, innovate and grow. As part of the British Library Business & IP Centre National Network, the Business & IP Centre Northamptonshire helps establish enterprises, create new jobs, increase turnover and boost our local economy. For every £1 invested in the BIPC Network, £6.95 is put back into the economy, which we believe represents a fantastic return on investment.

Our services cover the whole of Northamptonshire, both West Northamptonshire and North Northamptonshire, which includes: Corby, Daventry, East Northamptonshire, Kettering, Northampton, South Northamptonshire and Wellingborough. You can find the Business & IP Centre Northamptonshire at your local library.

We have hubs in Northamptonshire Central Library, Kettering Library, Wellingborough Library, Brixworth Library and Towcester Library.

You can pop into any of your nearest libraries (not just the ones mentioned) and ask for more information.

The Business & IP Centre Northamptonshire has been supporting businesses since 2015. In that time, over 1750 people have used its services and they have helped over 500 entrepreneurs start a business through a rich variety of webinars, workshops and one-to-one business and intellectual property advice sessions. The library service also provides entrepreneurs and SMEs across the UK with free access to databases, market research, journals, directories and reports worth thousands of pounds.

Libraries are not just full of books. They are full of ideas. As part of the British Library National Network the Business & IP Centre Northamptonshire is leading a revolution by inspiring a thriving community of new and existing business owners. It is free to join and open to everyone. And it is transforming the way ideas grow into successful businesses.

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

Workshops/Seminars

We deliver a range of supporting activities aimed at anyone considering self employment, starting a new business or requiring advice on intellectual property.

Reset. Restart webinars

We are delivering a dedicated programme to support SMEs which can be accessed remotely, whereever you are in the UK, all for free.

One-to-one advice

We offer a wide range of one-to-one sessions for anyone who is considering self employment, and new start-ups. Advice on business basics, business planning, IP and ask an expert.

Intellectual property advice

We offer advice and information on: Patents, Copyright, Trade marks and Registered Designs.

Free subscription resources

We pay the subscription fee so that our library users can benefit from access to: COBRA, EMIS, Fame, Frost & Sullivan, Grantfinder, IBIS World, Kompass, Mintel, Newsbank, Statista and Local Data Company.

Links to useful start-up websites

Free quality business and enterprise selected by our information professionals

Networking opportunities

All our events, webinars and social media platforms provide ample networking opportunities.

All services are provided free of charge to the local community.

“We are delighted to support this new initiative in North Northamptonshire. The new NNBN membership service will provide much needed additional support, engagement and exclusive discounts to local entrepreneurs and businesses and will serve to complement existing services within North Northants. We look forward to supporting and working alongside NNBN.”

- Barry Crisp

COUNTDOWN BEGINS TO BUSINESS EXPO NOT TO BE MISSED

The countdown has begun to a superb event for businesses across the county to reach, engage and connect.

The occasion is the first Your Business Expo of 2023, brought to Northamptonshire’s business community by Business Times – the county’s leading business newspaper – and sponsored by full service marketing agency qoob.

Your Business Expo aims to create opportunities for quality sales leads, to meet with the county’s key decision-makers and to increase awareness of your business brand. Major exhibitors have already signed up to take part and visitors can also benefit from insightful workshops delivered by industry experts on key business topics.

These will include the latest expert advice on marketing, delivered by qoob, and on HR matters in a discussion led by Your Business Expo fellow sponsor HR Solutions.

SJP Contracts in Milton Keynes have also signed up as a Your Business Expo sponsor, leaving only five further sponsorship slots available

Your Business Expo will begin with a networking breakfast ahead of the main exhibition itself, giving participating businesses and others the opportunity to enjoy some extra networking.

Your Business Expo 2023 is the first since the Your Business Expo brand became part of Pulse Group Media, publisher of Business Times and its sister title Business MK, covering Milton Keynes and Bedfordshire. Plans are under way to stage a Your Business Expo in Milton Keynes later in 2023.

“Already the buzz is starting,” said Pulse Group Media director Kerry Lewis-Stevenson. “The reaction to our announcing the date has been overwhelming, frankly, and we are delighted with the response in terms of enquiries, the enthusiasm of the sponsors we have already secured and the quality of exhibitors who have already signed up to be there.

“Sywell will be a wonderful venue befitting an event of the quality we are aiming to stage and we know that businesses around the county will benefit by coming along to join us.”

Find out more, book your exhibition stand and register for your free tickets at www.yourbusinessexpo.co.uk or email hello@yourbusinessexpo.co.uk

Kier Highways has mobilised its two highways services contracts with new clients, North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) and West Northamptonshire Council (WNC). This week, the contractor rolls out plans to accelerate maintenance across the whole county.

Approximately 300 employees will operate the two contracts on behalf of the unitary authorities for seven years. The contracts have a combined value of £420m, with the option to extend for up to 14 years.

Residents will see an increased presence on the roads this week as both councils launch their contracts with individual plans. The plans include works such as pothole repairs, vegetation clearance, sign cleaning, road marking renewal, drainage investigation, footpath clearance and defect repairs.

James Birch, maintenance managing director, Kier Highways, said: “After months of preparation, we are delighted to start our works with WNC and NNC on a high. It brings me great pride to see our newly-branded PPE and livery out on the roads and in the community –to deliver a positive impact from day one.

“We are committed to supporting the local economy by prioritising local suppliers and SMEs, and providing exciting career opportunities. We are also closely collaborating with both councils to provide sustainable solutions that reach our shared ambition of net-zero by 2030. We look forward to building Kier’s presence in the region further, and to demonstrate our abilities as a trusted partner of choice within the sector.”

Cllr Graham Lawman, North Northamptonshire Council Executive member for Highways, Travel and Assets, said: “This contract is an exciting new opportunity and we’re looking forward to working with Kier and seeing continued improvements made to the road, footpath and cycling network over the coming months and years.

“The bid from Kier was comfortably the best on quality and price and we must acknowledge the work and attitude to collaboration with us to get the contract over the threshold.

“The contract is very much designed towards modernising the service, including meeting our carbon neutrality targets and achieving value for money for residents through quality performance.

“A fit-for-purpose highways contract is essential in the delivery of so many of our services and vital to every single resident that uses the network, whether for work, leisure or day-to-day journeys.”

To mark the start of the new contracts, delegates from both NNC and WNC attended Kier’s formal induction briefing to its employees and welcomed colleagues to the new contracts.

Cllr Phil Larratt, Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways, Transport and Waste Services at West Northamptonshire Council, said: “We have a longestablished working relationship with Kier. As an organisation, they have the knowledge and expertise to deliver an effective, value for money service, which meets the needs of residents across the whole of West Northamptonshire. This is especially needed during the challenging times that we are facing right now.

“As we launched this new service, specifically tailored for West Northamptonshire, I was delighted to welcome colleagues as part of their induction. The condition of our roads, verges and signage is very important to our residents and businesses and I am confident that this new contract will offer increased flexibility and improved service delivery. We look forward to working together over the forthcoming months and years.”

The councils have also launched new social media pages to coincide with the new contract launches. You can now find West Northamptonshire Council highways on Twitter and Facebook via the handle @WNHighways. You can also find North Northamptonshire Council highways on Twitter and Facebook via @NNCHighways.

For more information about Kier Highways, please visit https://www.kier.co.uk/expertise/highways.

IS YOUR COMPANY USING OFFICE365?

Most companies may not be aware that Office365 operate a shared responsibility model which means Microsoft has NO responsibility when it comes to the security of your data in email, Teams, One Drive or Sharepoint.

Microsoft states. “We recommend that you regularly backup your content and data that you store on Office 365.”

Why do Microsoft say this?

If you accidentally delete an email, Teams site, OneDrive file or SharePoint item then Microsoft has places where it stores deleted items that allow you to retrieve them for a set period of time. But what if you don’t notice these files have been accidentally deleted or a malicious malware infection deletes your files or folders ? You would only be able to recover them if you notice the deletion within the limited retention period, and if you don’t notice in time or you are not able to access this data because of a cyber breach you lose the data forever.

How can I protect my data?

Datastore365 can secure your critical Microsoft Office 365 in email, Teams, OneDrive and Sharepoint with a best in breed backup and cyber security wrap to ensure your data is clean and safe. Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud can back up everything from files and folders to individual email attachments and even access permissions and chat and with unlimited data size you will have sufficient storage space to protect all your data.

The first reason why Microsoft 365 should be protected by a third party is the golden rule of the 3-2-1 rule of backups. Three copies of your data on two different pieces of media, one of which should be offsite. Using Microsoft 365 to protect itself violates every one of these basic data protection steps.

Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud will allow you to easily find and restore as many files as you need, or even restore an entire user or folder to a point in time.

If you would like more info, contact Datastore365 on 0800 0481 848.

Is

backup still fit for purpose? Just having a traditional backup is no longer considered sufficient in today’s modern world of constantly evolving and increasingly sophisticated threats. Let us show you how Datastore365 & Acronis are redefining the backup landscape in the face of these new and constantly evolving threats.

Regardless of where your data is currently held be they VM’s, Cloud, Microsoft 365 or on premise let us show you how we can provide your business with the backups & cyber security you need.

CULINARY WINNERS REVEALED AT THE GLITTERING FOOD AND DRINK AWARDS

After much anticipation and a great deal of excitement, the winners in the Weetabix Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards 2022/23 are finally celebrating being named the best of the best in the county!

The competition, now in its fourteenth year, received hundreds of nominations and applications across 15 categories, from a diverse range of ambitious and driven individuals and businesses who make up the fabric of Northamptonshire’s food and drink sector. The Awards are aimed at celebrating all that is great about local produce and drink, recognising excellence within the county’s dining venues, producers and rewarding those who work so hard within the culinary sector.

The results were announced at a dazzling Awards Dinner staged at Northampton’s Royal & Derngate on Wednesday 12th October.

The evening began with formal welcomes from Awards Director, Rachel Mallows MBE DL of The Mallows Company, Jo Gordon from Royal & Derngate and Stuart Branch of headline sponsors, Weetabix before guests then enjoyed a sumptuous three course meal designed by Portfolio Events. Guests were in safe hands as Portfolio made a return to cater for the Awards for a second year, creating a bespoke menu for the special event.

Befitting a celebration of the excellence of the county’s food and drink sector, the menu included a wealth of Northamptonshire ingredients, including Green Kitchen Preserves Tomato and Chilli Chutney, Whittlebury Bakery white sourdough crisp, Hamm Tun Fine Foods and the Northampton Cheese Company’s cheese, The Food Library’s Spiced Rhubarb Chutney and Mee Farmers’ Blueberry and Lavender Jam. The main course was a Roast Rib of Booker’s Black Gate Signature Beef.

Find out the winners here:

MAINLAND PLUMBING

Mainland Plumbing is a family owned business of Joe Walton and Megan Smith. Joe had qualified as a plumber, then he and Megan decided to travel for 6 months to see a bit of the world before settling down. 4 years later having spent time travelling and working in Australia working with a large plumbing firm they decided to return to Northamptonshire and Mainland Plumbing was born (at the same time as his son). 7 years on from that initial decision Mainland is growing rapidly and going from strength to strength.

Mainland initially concentrated on the domestic market working for local residents servicing and installing boilers. A chance to become involved in new builds with Bloor Homes in Uppingham led the business on a new road and after 3 years working with Bloor we now service 6 new build sites alongside our domestic and commercial arm of the business.

Mainland is extremely proud of the regular 5 and 6 star NHBC recognitions for the new build work and this same conscientious approach to detail is carried over into our domestic work. We are also a Which? Approved trusted trader and a member of the TrustATrader.com network.

Covid has caused the same headaches for the business as many other UK based firms but Mainland has managed to weather the storm and has come out stronger and more focused. We run a mixture of employed and sub contractor plumbing engineers with varying strengths to enable us to offer the wide range of services required by all our clients. This year with the unprecedented increase in utility prices we are seeing a surge in new boiler installations to ensure a more efficient heating system to help reduce consumption of gas and therefore assist with the running costs of a typical household.

The domestic market is seeing huge changes with pushes from the government to become greener and more environmentally friendly. With this in mind as a firm we are investing heavily in training for Heat Source, solar and LPG heating systems.

Mainland Plumbing and Heating can provide support across Northamptonshire (and a handful of neighbouring counties) in boiler service and replacement. We also offer an extremely competitive service plan to help spread the cost of servicing across the year. We can be contacted on 01536 691638 or info@mainlandplumbing.co.uk. Look out for special offers across our social media platforms.

Business leaders often find themselves tied up with the day to day running of their businesses with no time to step back, take stock of recent challenges or focus on the future. In addition, managers in small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) can find themselves running successful businesses with little or no management training.

Over the past year, the University of Leicester School of Business has supported over 150 SMEs to innovate, boost productivity and build resilience through the 90% government-funded Help to Grow: Management course.

The course is completed over 12 weeks on a parttime basis and covers key topics such as strategy and innovation, digital adoption, winning new markets, employee engagement, responsible business practices, leading change and efficient operations. The course includes webinars, face to face workshops, peer group calls and 10 hours of 1-1 business mentoring resulting in a business growth action plan.

Feedback from course participants has been excellent and demonstrates that business schools can be impactful drivers of business development.

Nisha Ravat, Director at Leicester-based mobile green grocery, outlines the impact on her business:

Since completing the course, Sanjay Gogia partner at Stratford upon Avon-based Notary training says:

“It will prepare you to be a successful leader, acquire new managerial skills and develop business acumen. Grow your professional network and build business connections throughout the country. In particular the mentoring scheme is excellent. Mentors become trusted advisers who have “been there” and “done that”.”

Professor Paul Baines, Deputy Dean at the University of Leicester School of Business says “we are proud to be helping business leaders build their companies, especially after they had it so tough in recent years. The comments of our course alumni are fine examples of how business higher education can be made practical and make a difference”.

The Help to Grow: Management course is due to run until 2025 and we look forward to welcoming more business leaders on to the course for our next start date on 3 November with further intakes available in January and March.

Hear further from participating SME managers at https://youtu.be/O8JYzq68IlU and find out more HERE

“The Help to Grow programme has had a significant impact on my business already. I have gained confidence in approaching different sectors to grow my business and am already seeing the benefits. We have transformed our operations through digitalisation and are ready to expand our services to a second area”

Low Carbon Spaces are making it easier for your business to save money on energy, and contribute to the bottom line. Until now, they’ve given you up to £5,000 in grants, but now they’re upping the ante!

Grants are now available up to £6,750 to cover a maximum of 45% of the cost of many different energy-saving measures. Grants are available to SMEs based in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Milton Keynes and Northamptonshire. Eligible projects must result in a quantifiable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions – don’t worry, the Low Carbon Workspaces team can calculate this for you!

The Low Carbon Workspaces team can be contacted on 01494 927131 and at info@lowcarbonworkspaces.co.uk or to find out more go to www.lowcarbonworkspaces.co.uk.

STUDENTS INSPIRED BY ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT IN DIGITAL SHOWCASE EVENT

Tresham College, part of The Bedford College Group, working with North Northamptonshire Council, hosted their first Techspo event at the Kettering campus on Friday, October 21. Aimed to inspire their students to think like entrepreneurs and learn how digital technology is being used to transform the world we live in.

Students started the day by taking part in a Dragon’s Denstyle event focused on using technology in the field of sustainability. Ideas ranged from the use of robots to pick up and recycle litter on beaches to solar powered e-bikes. The winning students pitched the idea of monetising recycling by using a QR code for people to tap, identify their item to recycle before opening a recycling container to drop the item into. Money is then transferred to your bank.

The rest of the day was made up of a market place with innovative businesses engaging with students on their area of technology and career pathways. There were workshops all day for students to attend and learn how different skills, including the user centred design skills to design their own mobile app led by North Northants Council’s Head of Digital Kat Sexton.

The event was part of the Digital Northamptonshire initiative which also includes a Merged Futures event hosted by the University of Northampton in the summer.

Cllr David Howes, the Council’s Executive Member for Rural Communities and Localism led the dragons and presented the winning team with a virtual reality headset. He said:

“What a fantastic day. I was genuinely blown away by the sustainability pitches we received, the motivation of the students and the energy of the staff to make all this happen. I really hope this is just the start of turning Tresham into a place where entrepreneurial thinking is encouraged and developed in the students. Some of the ideas were good enough to hit the market straight away.”

Cllr Jason Smithers, Leader of the Council, said:

“How inspiring to see such young entrepreneurs in action, demonstrating the talent that we have in the North Northants area. I look forward to some of these ideas becoming a reality!”

Abby Smith Head of Quality at Tresham College said: “I am thrilled with how the day has gone, the students were fully engaged and taking part in some exciting activities and interacting with local and national businesses.

“The Dragon’s Den was a success and the final seven teams pitched worthy ideas to Cllr Howes and local business owners that showed remarkable dedication and professionalism. It was lovely to see their creative and entrepreneurial skills in action as they explained their sustainability ideas.”

A scheme which helps victims of fly-tipping on private land in North Northamptonshire has been extended.

When waste is fly-tipped on private land, it falls to the landowner to arrange for the waste to be removed at their expense. However, since October 2021, a scheme launched by the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) and administered by North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) has supported those impacted by fly-tipping on private land.

Under the scheme, farmers and other private landowners can apply through NNC for a grant towards to the cost of having the waste removed and putting preventative measures in place to make the land less vulnerable to fly-tipping in the future.

Over the past year, preventative measures that have been put in place include gates at entrances to known fly-tipping hotspots and the installation of an earth bund on a lay-by near Lilford Woods along the A605.

Cllr Graham Lawman, the council’s Executive Member for Highways, Travel and Assets, said:

“Fly-tipped waste on private land falls to the landowner to remove and it can be costly, especially if the land is a hotspot for fly-tippers, as well as being anti-social and possibly dangerous to farm animals. In the last year, this scheme has meant we have been able to help landowners and alleviate some of the cost, whilst also preventing future incidents.

FLY-TIPPING GRANT SCHEME EXTENDED INTO 2023

“I can only re-iterate that private waste can be taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centres and, if you have someone take your waste away for you, ensure that they have a Waste Carriers’ Licence and you note it, because you could be liable should that waste be dumped.”

Cllr Jason Smithers, Leader of the Council, added:

“Fly-tipping is such a blight on the beautiful scenery we have in North Northamptonshire. With this in mind, it is great that we are able to continue to work with the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner on this scheme which can help private landowners clear up and prevent fly-tipping.”

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Stephen Mold said:

“I am often contacted by people who have been repeatedly targeted by organised fly-tippers. They face escalating costs of clearing their land and it also has an enormous impact on our environment and our ability to enjoy it.

“Fly-tipping is an offence and through this scheme, partner organisations are working together to tackle it, to stop it happening again and to track down the offenders.

“I want to create a safe environment in Northamptonshire, and I am pleased to be able to roll this pilot scheme out and support more people across the wider county.”

Anyone struggling with illegal fly-tipping on their land can apply for a grant of up to £1,500 and more information, including how to apply, is available on the NNC website.

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE’S TOURISM TREASURES IN

Northamptonshire’s tourism partnership has launched an Autumn campaign to showcase the county as an attractive destination for Autumn breaks.

Go Northamptonshire! focuses on all the county has to offer to visitors this Autumn, ranging from well-known attractions like Silverstone, Wicksteed Park and Adrenaline Alley to a whole host of hidden gems visitors can discover for the first time, including 10 family days out for under £10.

Encouraging families to avoid the crowded coastlines and head inland to “meet in the middle”, Go Northamptonshire! promotes the county’s brilliant location just one hour from London, Birmingham, Oxford and Cambridge; as well as its many and varied family-friendly places to visit, stay and eat.

The project is being delivered by the Britain’s Best Surprise team, in partnership with West and North Northamptonshire Councils.

Rachel Mallows, Chair, Northamptonshire, Britain’s Best Surprise, said:

“The county’s people and places offer an incredible variety of experiences to visitors. We look forward to continuing our support for local tourism and hospitality businesses this Autumn and are grateful to the North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire Unitary Authorities for their continued support of our destination Northamptonshire marketing, and of course for this Autumn campaign specifically.”

Cllr Adam Brown, West Northamptonshire Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing, Culture and Leisure, said: “Northamptonshire is a county rich in natural beauty, culture and history with destinations that people can enjoy visiting time and time again throughout the year.

“We have some superb indoor attractions, like Northampton Museum & Art Gallery which has just reopened after major redevelopment helping it more than double in size and become host to touring exhibitions.

“Along with soaking up the area’s cultural offer, there are also some fantastic opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors such as our beautiful country parks and historic sites like Delapre Abbey, Holdenby House and many others.”

Cllr Helen Howell, Executive Member for Sport, Leisure, Culture & Tourism at North Northamptonshire Council, said: “Across Northamptonshire, we have some excellent attractions, perfect for the whole family and those choosing to have a staycation this year. We are proud to support this campaign and show everyone, not just residents of Northamptonshire, the gems we have across the county.

“From art and culture at the county’s museums and galleries, to history and heritage at attractions like the Chester House Estate through to our wonderful green spaces including fantastic country parks, the Greenway and the stunning Nene Valley.

“I would encourage you to check out the Britain’s Best Surprise website to find out what is happening near you. We really do have something for all ages, with excellent events taking place at attractions across the county throughout Autumn, Halloween and up to Christmas, and I hope everyone does pay us a visit, not just this season but for years to come to discover what we have to offer.”

This Autumn campaign has been supported by the North and West Northamptonshire Councils as part of their shared commitment to supporting the local visitor economy. Go Northamptonshire! shines a spotlight on the wonderful days out, events and experiences available to visitors this Autumn, including:

Rockingham CastleNorthampton Museum & Art Gallery

The Silverstone Interactive Museum

River Nene

Adrenaline Alley

Wicksteed Park

Evenley Wood Gardens

Stanwick Lakes

Chester House Estate

Castle Ashby Gardens

Delapré Abbey

Sulgrave Manor

Grand Union Canal

Rushden Lakes

A full list of family friendly attractions, accommodation and events is available at: https://bit.ly/GoNorthants22

CHRISTMASat Kettering Park

Whether it’s your chance to get the family together, or a festive catch up with friends, we’ve planned you a Christmas to remember. Enjoy a festive feast or an indulgent Afternoon Tea in our AA Rosette restaurant. Or join us for our luxurious Christmas Ball. This special party evening promises fabulous entertainment with disco and casino tables, delicious food served in style from your greeting on arrival to the closing dance.

We look forward to welcoming you to the hotel during the 2022 party season.

Festive Lunch £27.95 per person Festive Dinner £32.95 per person Santa’s Sunday Lunch £34.95 per adult £17.95 per child

To book or for more information call 01536 416666 or visit ketteringparkhotel.co.uk/christmas

Christmas Ball From £64.95 per person Afternoon Tea From £29.95 per person

Kettering Parkway, Kettering, Northamptonshire, NN15 6XT 01536 416666 | ketteringparkhotel.co.uk | danielthwaites.co.uk

WHAT MAKES THE NNBN DIFFERENT?

The NNBN is all about North Northamptonshire and is the face of the business community in the area. We focus solely on businesses within the boundary set out above and ensure members within the area are informed, engaged and up to date with what’s happening in the best interest of them and their business. We also keep them up to date with news, events and offers from our supporters of the NNBN.

WHAT DO I GET AS A MEMBER?

The NNBN membership gives you benefits for you, your family, your business, charity or organisation. The great benefits are split into two categories, benefits for you and benefits for your business. The great thing about our membership is even students and community groups can benefit, it is all about connecting communities and supporting you all!

Visit our website here: https://nnbn.co.uk

DOWNLOAD THE DISCOVERNN APP AND START EXPLORING

From culture, green spaces, theme parks and water activities to shopping, local eateries, health, beauty and business services, what’s the best way to discover all that’s happening across North Northamptonshire?

DiscoverNN is the answer, a brand-new mobile app launched by North Northamptonshire Council, powered by technology provider Bubltown and funded by Government’s Welcome Back Fund, awarded to local authorities across the country last year during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the key aim of supporting local businesses and encouraging people to shop local, DiscoverNN features offers and tailor-made promotions for customers, geo-targeted events and activities, and is free to download.

The app is simple to use and available now for local residents and visitors to the area to help them see what’s on, find shopping opportunities, plan days out, make reservations, buy products, book services, plus much more!

Councillor Helen Howell, Deputy Leader of North Northamptonshire Council and Executive Member for Sport, Leisure, Culture and Tourism said: “We are really excited to be launching DiscoverNN, especially in the Spring when the weather is improving, school holidays are approaching and people are making plans to get out and about to explore.

It is a great way to bring everything together in one place, making it easy for people to discover North Northamptonshire from the palm of their hand.

“There is a wonderful range of tourist attractions in the area which are featured on the app and website including the Chester House Estate, Wicksteed Park, and our beautiful country parks, to name a few.

“DiscoverNN is for everyone, and we hope that residents and visitors will download the app and start using it to explore places they’ve never been to before to discover everything North Northamptonshire has to offer, which includes some real hidden treasures!”

Councillor Jason Smithers, Leader of North Northamptonshire Council said: “COVID-19 has hit businesses hard, and the launch of DiscoverNN is just one of the ways we are supporting them to take steps forward, especially now everyday life is returning to how it was before the pandemic.

“We are working closely with a wide range of local businesses across the whole area to help them join this exciting new digital platform at no cost to them, so they can start promoting their offers and services directly to new and existing customers.

“We have over 60 businesses on-board so far and anticipate that this will continue to grow as more and more people hear about and start using DiscoverNN. We are proud of this app and are looking forward to seeing it build!”

DiscoverNN is available now on iPhone and Android app stores, people can search ‘DiscoverNN’ on their preferred store,or visit our website at www. northnorthants.gov.uk/discovernn to use the direct download links.

There’s still time for local businesses to sign up to be part of DiscoverNN, it’s simple, quick and free to join, and there’s support available. Businesses are invited to visit https://join.discovernn.co.uk to get signed up.

- Simon Cox, NNBN

NEED HELP FOR YOUR BUSINESS ?

As experts in business, we offer our members a wide range of vital business services including advice, financial expertise, support and a powerful voice heard in government. Our mission is to help smaller businesses achieve their ambitions.

https://www.fsb.org.uk/

A Chamber of Commerce for Northamptonshire was founded in 1917 in response to the concerns of boot and shoe manufacturers over exports during the first world war and now represents around 1,000 Northamptonshire businesses.

https://www..northants-chamber.co.uk/

Providing free business support, the Growth Hub helps local businesses to identify and connect with the right guidance and funding to maximise potential and overcome challenges.

https://www.semlepgrowthhub.com/

The Business & IP Centre Northamptonshire supports entrepreneurs, investors and small businesses from the first spark of inspiration to successfully launching and developing a business.

https://www.bipcnorthamptonshire.co.uk/

Business and licensing information from North Northamptonshire Council

https://www.northnorthants.gov.uk/business-and-licensing

The Wellingborough & East Northants Chamber of Commerce was founded over 75 years ago and was formed to represent the interests and aspirations of local businesses. In 2019 the Chamber expanded to include East Northamptonshire.

The Executive Team includes individuals drawn from a wide range of backgrounds including Legal, Accounting, Commercial Property specialists, Planning Consultancy, Retail, Manufacturing, Marketing and Financial Services.

https://wencc.co.uk/

Small Business Britain is the UK’s leading champion of small businesses, supporting all 5.8 million small businesses in the UK – no matter their location, their sector, or their ambition level. Through a series of reports, events and campaigns, Small Business Britain champions, inspires and accelerates small businesses in the UK to foster growth and increased confidence.

https://smallbusinessbritain.uk/

Do you need to develop your capacity to push your business to the next level? Find trusted expert advice and fresh ideas from the UK’s leading business schools.

https://smallbusinesscharter.org/

Businesses in North Northamptonshire can register with us to ensure you are kept up to date with the latest Government incentives.

Claim your FREE one hour advisory session and find out how you can grow your business.

https://digitalfuturefirst.co.uk/

Each edition of Business Times features clients ranging from sole traders and startup businesses, through to many of the biggest names in the region – Business Times is distributed via the Royal Mail to some 9,500 businesses each month.

https://www.business-times.co.uk/

The SME Climate Hub is a pioneering global initiative that aims to create a tipping point for mainstreaming climate action and building business resilience.

SMEs represent 90% of business globally, employing 2 billion people. We are here to support millions of SMEs as they commit to halve greenhouse gas emissions before 2030, and race to net-zero emissions before 2050. Our pragmatic approach aims to remove the obstacles SMEs face as they take climate action — whether curbing emissions in their own business or getting green solutions to market — and help them unlock valuable incentives.

https://businessclimatehub.org/uk/

Enterprise Nation is a vibrant community of small businesses and business advisers that exist to shortcut your route to trusted business support. Whether you’re starting or growing a business, we have the resources, expertise, and connections to help you get it right.

https://www.enterprisenation.com/