The business networking events this month across Northamptonshire

Franklin’s Gardens, Weedon Road, Northampton

Contact: Duncan Webster. e: duncan@ bnibreakfast.co.uk or call 07977 422220

2nd Friday 7.30am-9am: Online

Afternoon

Fridays 3pm-4pm: Online

Visitors welcome.

THE ACCOUNTABILITY CIRCLE grow for a brighter future.

GET OUT THERE WITH VIDEO

May 3 9.30am-11am:

A group for networkers looking for referrals, introductions, opportunities and sales. A tried and tested model offering dynamic weekly online meetings and an experienced management team:

Northants and surrounding areas

Every Tuesday at noon.

National networking

Every Wednesday at noon.

Contact Gary Thorpe for all events.

Email:gary.thorpe@debt-doctors.co.uk

Tel: 07963 766052 or 01536 333425

If you are serious about growing your business, BNI works. Last year BNI members in the UK generated more than £482 million worth of business for each other. To find out how, visit a local chapter meeting and see for yourself. Each chapter has a personality of its own and finding where you fit best helps you get connected.

Elite BNI (Kettering)

Tuesday 6.45am-8.30am: Online

Ignite BNI (Daventry)

Tuesday 6.45am-8.30am:

The Turnpike, Harpole Northampton Pioneer BNI (Northamptonshire)

Wednesday 9.30am-11am: Online

Pavilion BNI (Northampton)

Thursday 6.45am-8.30am:

The Old Northamptonians RFC, Sir Humphrey Cripps Pavilion, Billing Road, Northampton Prosperity BNI (Kettering)

Thursday 6.45am-8.30am:

The Kettering Golf Club, Headlands, Kettering Sterling BNI (Northampton)

Thursday 11.45am-1.30pm:

The Old Northamptonians RFC, Sir Humphrey Cripps Pavilion, Billing Road, Northampton Lighthouse BNI (Northampton)

Friday 6.45am-8.30am

Regional sponsor: Business Times; Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce

No fuss, no membership, pay as you go... The Business Buzz format is relaxed, informal, conversational networking. Our town-focused events meet face to face, allowing visitors to build better and more robust relationships.

These are complemented by regional virtual events. All Business Buzz events run 10amnoon.

Brackley Buzz

May 4: Paisley Pear, Northampton Road.

Price: £8.

Northampton Buzz

May 17: Fox & Hounds, Harborough Road.

Price: £8.

Wellingborough Buzz

May 9: Castello Lounge, Market Street

Price: £8.

For more details, download the Buzz App or visit www.business-buzz.org/about/locations/. Book

Monday 10am-11am: Online

Advice and tips for small businesses on time management and productivity. Price: £6 per session or £12 per month. Find out more at buscomm.co.uk/ourevents

Holiday Inn Express, Kettering Workshop introducing delegates to basic equipment, editing, how to add your logo and branding, transitions between video clips, adding text to a video and getting it seen.

Aimed at small businesses, charities and organisations wishing to explore more about video. Free event for NNBN members; visitors £10.

BUSINESS NETWORKING

May 11 7pm-8.30pm:

Kettering Park Hotel & Spa

The FSB has 2,000 members across Northamptonshire. Northamptonshire

May 25 10am-11am: Online

Hosted by Sally Wood, director of Sally Wood Consultancy Limited and FSB area leader for Northants, Leics & Rutland.

To book and for details of other networking, support and webinar events online, visit www. fsb.org.uk/events.

May 22 7pm-8.30pm:

Delapre Abbey, Northanpton

Free event for NNBN members; visitors £10. For more information and to book, visit https://nnbn.co.uk/events/

Monthly breakfast meetings, 7.30am-9.30am.

WELLINGBOROUGH

1st Thursday: Great Doddington Club, Lower Street

Price: £16.

NORTHAMPTON

3rd Wednesday: The Turnpike, Harpole.

Price: £16.

VIRTUAL MEETINGS

Price: £6

Brunch

2nd Tuesday 9.30am-11am: Online Breakfast

4th Wednesday 7.30am-9am: Online

3rd Thursday 7.30am-9am: Online

Networking events to meet and build relationships with peers and fellow members. The group also hosts personal development sessions, with talks from business leaders.

ASPIRING LEADERS

May 16 5.30pm-7.30pm

Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce offices, Northampton

Delivered by Tom Clife. Aspiring Leaders is an interactive development programme recognised by CMI and CPD and is aimed at those preparing to take a first step into a management role. To book, email info@nextgenerationchamber.co.uk

MEET THE NEIGHBOURS

May 11 11.30am-1.30pm

Staverton Park Hotel & Golf Club, Daventry Co-hosted with Northamptonshire and Coventry & Warwickshire Chambers of Commerce. Chamber members only. Price: £20 + VAT. For details of all Chamber events, visit www.northants-chamber.co.uk

NNBN is a business membership for all of Northamptonshire which aims to help businesses in the county to recover, build and

UK BUSINESS FORUM NORTHAMPTON

2nd Wednesday 5.30pm-9pm:

Delapre Abbey, London Road

A friendly, informal and relaxed networking event for small business owners. Each event features a short presentation on topics to support business owners followed by informal networking.

UK Business Forums has been the home of small business community support and advice for nearly 20 years. Membership is not necessary but join for free and maintain the business relationship you make at our networking evenings through our free online business support forums. Free event. Book at www.ukbfevents.co.uk

BUSINESS ROOM

The Business Room is a one business area group for business owners, those in employed positions, MLMs and franchised businesses.

KETTERING

May 8 6 12 noon-2pm:

Kettering Park Hotel

NORTHAMPTON

May 11 12 noon-2pm:

Old White Hart, Far Cotton

WELLINGBOROUGH

May 17 12 noon-2pm:

The Stanwick Hotel, Stanwick

SOUTH NORTHANTS

May 16 12 noon-2pm:

The White Horse, Silverstone

THE CONNECTIONS CLUB - NORTHANTS

Only open to business owners, influencers and decision-makers.

NORTHAMPTON

May 2 11.45am-2pm:

Delapre Abbey, Northampton.

Contact: Barbara Hodgson 07504 946 585 / 01933 652884, email barbara@yourbusinessmatters.co or visit www.yourbusinessmatters.co

Youth charity set for expansion

Youth charity the lowdown has won a Youth Investment Fund grant to extend and refurbish its Kingswell Street building in Northampton and to expand its service offer across the county. The funding means that the charity will support up to 3,000 young people a year when the project is complete - almost doubling its capacity - and deliver new youth services for 11-18 year olds.

The lowdown is one of 43 youth services in England to benefit from the first wave of YIF grants announced by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the charity Social Investment Business.

Over the next two years the funding will go to a total 300 youth services across England to enhance health, wellbeing, skills and opportunities for young people. New services include a new Youth Advisory Board which will feed into new youth activities and wellbeing groups. The funding will also go towards improving accessibility to the lowdown’s services and its infrastructure as it grows.

Sharon Womersley, chief executive of the lowdown, said demand for its services had increased fourfold since 2019. “Our Kingswell Street location is a discreet, trusted, safe, nonjudgemental space and has been since we opened in 1989, hence the need to further develop this site.”

The charity opened its Lowdown Lounge space in December. “Our new Youth Advisory Board will help us develop our new services to ensure they meet the needs of the young people who will use them,” said Ms Womersley.

Donation boost for food banks

Recruitment company Gi Group UK, which has a branch in Northampton, has donated a range of food items and household toiletries to food banks in the town.

“It is really important to our teams that we support our local communities,” said GI Group’s people partner Sally Charlton.

“The cost of living crisis has put a huge strain on communities which is why we want to support those around us and make a real local difference.”

Get your boots on: Football fundraiser sets goal of a bonanza for hospice Cricket commentary service calls for volunteers to take up the mike

Vehicle leasing company Silverstone Leasing aims to hit the back of the net with its fourth football fundraiser this summer.

The Northampton firm has raised more than £5,000 in total for its nominated charity Cynthia Spencer Hospice through its annual five-aside soccer tournament. Silverstone Soccer 2023 will see businesses from across Northamptonshire take to the field to compete at the event on July 2 at Daventry Town FC. Kick off is at 10.15am.

Up to 16 teams will compete for the winner’s title, which last year went to Euro Building and Maintenance Contractors. Ox Seven Talent Partners finished runner-up. There will also be a grand raffle.

Registration is £300 + VAT per team, which includes a teambranded shirt for each player

Drive historic F1 circuit...

Scalextric style

Put yourself on pole position for a spin around the iconic Silverstone motor racing circuit… Scalextric style.

The new On Track Scalextric exhibit is the latest attraction to be unveiled at Silverstone Museum, recreating the worldfamous circuit in miniature - a two-lane Grand Prix track.

Sky Sports F1 duo Anthony Davidson and commentator David Croft were joined by former England, Tottenham Hostspur and Liverpool defender Neil Ruddock to put the Scalextric track through its paces.

Said Mr Davidson, a former racing driver: “The museum is a celebration of everything that has not just gone on here but in motorsport around the world.”

“If I lived closer, I would come here every day,” said Mr Croft after putting his skills to the

Recognising that charity is serious business

The fundraiser is the idea of Silverstone Leasing’s sales manager Ryan Bishop, who first organised the tournament in 2020 to raise funds for the hospice. “Cynthia Spencer has been our chosen charity for a number of years and is close to all our hearts,” he said.

Nina Gandy, corporate partnerships fundraiser at Cynthia Spencer Hospice, said: “The event has become a real key event in the summer calendar. Silverstone Leasing are a fantastic corporate partnership. Relationships such as these make a significant difference to those who need support dealing with the most challenging circumstances.” n Sign up for Silverstone Soccer at https://www.silverstoneleasing.com/ silverstone-leasing-soccer-2023. For sponsorship details, email Ryan at ryan@silverstoneleasing.com

Acall has gone out for new volunteers to join the team providing commentary for visually impaired spectators at Northamptonshire County Cricket Club’s matches this season.

The Ball by Ball service provided by Northamptonshire’s sight loss charity NAB is marking 15 years of live commentary at NCCC first team home games at the County Ground.

The service is thought to be the only one other than that at Lord’swhere it was introduced in 2007 - to have run for so long.

The commentary team provides detailed descriptions of what is happening during play so that visually impaired spectators can appreciate what the crowd are reacting to via their headset. The live match commentary can be heard at the ground using headsets which are free to hire, subject to a £5 refundable deposit. n Call NAB on 01604 719193 or email helpline@nab.org.uk to find out more about the Ball by Ball service.

NAB’s then-general secretary John Wood, who remains a long-standing supporter, attended the launch at the home of Middlesex CCC. He identified the equipment required and any potential costs to bring the service to Northamptonshire.

NAB raised funds to purchase the transmitter, receivers and headsets and Northamptonshire County Cricket Club agreed to support the service.

“As they say, the rest is history,” said a NAB spokesman.

Foundation hails firm’s £20k gift

Northampton-based building products manufacturer

Scalextric test. “It has all the right corners, as close as we possibly can, to what I still think is the greatest track on the F1 calendar.”

The museum is preparing new family activities including the opportunity to build your own Scalextric circuit, a journey through Silverstone’s history and a ‘Design your own livery’ competition, with the winning design recreated on a model car.

“To see Silverstone Circuit recreated in such detail by the Scalextric team is fantastic and we know the new attraction will be a winner with motorsport addicts, families and car fans alike,” said Silverstone’s head of marketing Rachel James.

Scalextric is delighted with the Silverstone collaboration. “With our collective passion for racing together with the museum’s unparalleled collection of artefacts and racing memorabilia, we are creating an experience that’s not just fun and exciting, but also informative and educational,” said head of brand Simon Owen.

Forterra has given £20,000 to Northampton Saints Community and Foundation programmes. The partnership will help fund Northampton Saints Foundation, which uses sport to inspire, support and educate young people. Forterra’s contribution will support five students on their pathway to employment through the Foundation’s partnership scheme Sponsor A Student.

Saints chief executive Mark Darbon, a trustee of Northampton Saints Foundation, said: “This fantastic partnership will enable us to further the great work that we do across the Foundation and Community programmes.”

Adds Stephen Harrison, Forterra’s chief executive: “We have been very impressed by the work that Northampton Saints and its Foundation does to support young people in Northamptonshire.”

Victory a la kart: Rotary winners celebrate chequered flag and endurance record

Three Northamptonshire charities are to receive a share of £10,000 raised in a karting endurance competition by The Rotary Club of Nene Valley.

The Rokart competition has taken place since 2016 and has raised a total £70,000 for charities across the county. This year’s funds are going to The Lewis Foundation, which provides free gift packs and support to adults going through cancer treatment in hospitals across the Midlands, and Northampton’s Cynthia Spencer Hospice. Also to benefit is Eve, the women’s refuge organisation in Northampton.

The team from structural engineers David Smith Associates pictured, which has taken part in the race every year since its first green light, took first prize with a record 300 laps. They were pushed hard by runner-up Forti Tiling, who finished only a lap behind with GP Karting taking third place.

The trophies were presented by club president Tony Bilson. Teams from some of Northampton’s leading employers entered, along with those from law firms, family businesses, villages and Northampton Hospital.

DSA team member Joe Butter said: “The real winners, though, are the charities.” n Major refurbishment is set to begin at a women’s refuge in Northampton. n To find out more, contact the Rotary Club’s David Harding at davidcloudshill@gmail.com

Rotary Club of Nene Valley is project managing the work replacing 39 windows and repairing the external walls at Eve’s training and support centre.

The work will be carried out by building company Stepnell. Now Rotarians are appealing to Northamptonshire businesses to help fund the repairs, which are due to begin this summer.

“This work will ensure that Eve will be able to function for many years to come,” said the Rotary Club’s immediate past president Geoff Yeowart.

Eve provides a women’s refuge with 18 family units and outreach services for a further 40 families. It has been working in Northamptonshire for 40 years.

Awards highlight importance of volunteers

They are back and ready to celebrate Northamptonshire folk who go above and beyond to support their local community.

The Rose of Northamptonshire Awards have opened and are seeking nominations from around the county.

Barrister turned charity founder Lorraine Lewis has put pen to paper to reflect on her journey from the courts to support for cancer patients in hospital.

She took advantage of the pandemic lockdowns to collate her daily journal entries into a powerful book, published last month. Dare To Dream records Lorraine’s decision to follow her heart, to abandon her thriving law career and to set up the Lewis Foundation, a charity that today delivers thousands of free gift packs to adult cancer patients in 17 hospitals across the Midlands. It shows, she said, that anything is possible.

The book reveals Lorraine’s take on the personal challenges, experiences, highs and lows that she and husband Lee went through in setting up the charity. The inspiration behind it was four years of hospital visits when Lee’s mother had cancer treatment. Recognising the challenges, upset and loneliness for individuals and their loved ones, the couple set about sourcing donations and packaging and delivering gifts and support items to patients in oncology wards.

Now their work is backed by a team of almost 50 volunteers and hundreds of regular supporters.

“I have kept a journal my whole life

Book reflects highs and lows of founder’s journey

and I finally took the opportunity during the first lockdown in 2020 to pull all my notes together into a book,” said Lorraine, pictured. “It was a bit of a reflection exercise in a way and I realised wanted to throw everything into the charity - it is where my heart was.”

She took a sabbatical from her law career in 2022 and gave up her career to concentrate on the charity in 2023. “I was still working as a barrister at the time and somehow managing to carry out my charity work on the side. But I knew I had more to give.”

Today The Lewis Foundation delivers more than 2,000 gift packs every month to patients alone in hospital. Each contains items including overnight essentials and toiletries, letter writing kits, miniature radios complete with batteries and headphone.

Dare To Dream was launched at a party over afternoon tea at Delapre Abbey in Northampton, hosted by business author, broadcaster and leadership coach Dr Audrey Tang.

“People have been telling me for years that I should share my story but I have never really had the time or confidence to take the leap,” she said.

“By sharing my journey, I really hope others are inspired to pursue their calling.” n Dare To Dream is available to purchase on Amazon and online through most bookshops. It is also available direct from the publisher https://www.troubador.co.uk/bookshop/autobiography/dare-to-dream/

Tourism hub will deliver boost to county’s visitor economy

English Tourism Week marked the opening of the Discover Northamptonshire hub at Rushden Lakes.

The venue promotes days out, attractions, walks, town and village offerings, places to eat, sustainable transport, heritage, accommodation and events across the county. There is also a space for retailers to showcase their products to the six million visitors to Rushden Lakes annually.

“The opening is very much the start of the Discover Northamptonshire hub’s journey and the offering will continue to grow and develop,” said West Northamptonshire Council’s deputy leader Cllr Helen Howell, executive

Recognising that charity is serious business

member for sport, leisure, culture and tourism. “It is a very positive move for the industry.”

The council is working with its

North Northamptonshire colleagues ona strategy to promote the county as a tourist destination. “The hub will have enormous benefits

The awards are being run by Northamptonshire Community Foundation with North and West Northamptonshire Councils. They were first launched in 2021 as part of the Unsung Heroes Initiative to identify and thank those who had worked tirelessly to keep communities safe and businesses moving during the pandemic.

HM Lord-Lieutenant of Northamptonshire James Saunders Watson and the county’s High Sheriff Crispin Holborow are fully behind the awards. “This gives all of us in Northamptonshire an opportunity to recognise the incredibly valuable contributions that individuals and groups make to our lives in the county,” said Mr Saunders Watson. “This also highlights the importance of volunteering, which is one of the key themes of the Coronation.”

To nominate, find the form and criteria at the Northamptonshire Community Foundation website www.ncf.com.

Both local authorities are backing the awards. West Northamptonshire Council chairman Cllr André González De Savage said: “Those brilliant people do what they do in such selfless and generous ways and deserve our full recognition.”

His North Northamptonshire counterpart Larry Henson agrees. “This is such a wonderful way to recognise and reward the many outstanding individuals, charities and groups in our county who go above and beyond.” to the local area,” said North Northamptonshire Council leader Cllr Jason Smithers.

Both councils are working with the Crown Estate, businesses, schools, colleges and universities to provide learning and volunteering opportunities for those interested in working in the tourism industry.

Discover Northamptonshire has received £245,000 from the government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The hub opens Monday-Saturday 11am-6pm, and 11am-4.30pm on Sunday.

ELSBY WEALTH MANAGEMENT