A new business support contract has gone live as of today from North Northamptonshire Council to help support retail businesses across Kettering, Corby, Wellingborough, Rushden and East Northamptonshire.North Northamptonshire is home to a wide range of small and independent retailers who continue to feel the impact of the pandemic and changing consumer habits.Business Support measures to drive employment growth has been identified as a key priority in the North Northamptonshire UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Investment Plan.Funding is available through the UKSPF to deliver a comprehensive programme of support to retail businesses across North Northamptonshire until 31st December 2024. This...

15 August, 2023

If the mere thought of attending business network meetings triggers a mix of excitement and nervousness, rest assured that you're not alone. For business owners and those embarking on their entrepreneurial journey, these feelings are entirely natural. In this article, we'll delve into why embracing these opportunities is vital for personal development, underscore the welcoming and friendly atmosphere of such gatherings, and shed light on the manifold ways these meetings can support business growth while building a vibrant local business community.A Journey of Personal EvolutionImagine business network meetings as a conduit to personal growth, a chance to venture beyond your...

15 August, 2023

Calling all quizzers and curry lovers!Northamptonshire Health Charity is excited to be hosting its second Curry & Quiz Night at the Mewar Haveli fine dining Indian restaurant on Wellingborough Road, Northampton. The charity is raising funds to enhance patient care and support staff wellbeing in your local NHS hospitals.Join the team for a fun-filled evening where you can bring a team of 2 to 6 people. Not only will you get to take part in the quiz but your entry fee also includes a delicious meal freshly prepared by Mewar Haveli – starters, choice of mains, sides, rice and coffee. ...

14 August, 2023

Residents of Priors Hall Park have warmly welcomed The Village Kitchen as the latest business to open on the development.The new diner is open seven days a week, serving everything from breakfast to lunches, snacks, kebabs, pizzas, burgers and more. Visitors are able to dine inside, outside or take away their food and enjoy at home.The diner is also fully licensed and offers competitively priced beverages to suit all, whether it be a glass of wine or Prosecco, a beer or something shorter. Collections, deliveries and tables can be booked on 01536 295 000.A Weldon family, born and bred, had...

14 August, 2023

The Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce have announced the publication of the Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) report.Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs) were introduced as a key part of the Government’s vision of an adult skills system where businesses are given a much stronger voice in local skills planning. Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce working in conjunction with both Milton Keynes Chamber and Bedfordshire Chamber were the designated lead for the development of the regions LSIP over the last 9 months.The Government’s Skills for Jobs White Paper set out an employer-led approach aimed at making Post-16 Further Education (FE) provision more responsive...

14 August, 2023

The marketing mix, also known as the 4 Ps of marketing, is a strategic framework used by businesses to promote their products and services to potential customers. It comprises four key elements: product, price, promotion, and place. These elements work together to create a well-rounded marketing strategy that helps companies to reach their target customers, create brand awareness, generate leads and ultimately, drive sales.In this article, we will explain each of these elements in detail, provide examples of how they are used in real-life marketing campaigns, and offer practical tips for businesses looking to optimize their marketing mix.Product...

14 August, 2023

Northamptonshire based Simon Acres Group Limited, the kitchen, bedroom and bathroom (KBB) industry’s leading recruitment agency and an online training and service provider, hosted a successful roundtable event, in partnership with apprenticeship training provider Workpays, to examine the barriers to hiring apprentices. Following the event, the company is sharing the main obstacles that hinder businesses from hiring apprentices, in an effort to empower and inspire the industry to employ more apprentices. The roundtable was held at the Stanwick Hotel in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. Industry professionals gathered for an insightful discussion on the barriers that businesses face when hiring apprentices. A particular focus...

11 August, 2023

A Corby estate agent is urging house hunters not to be despondent after mortgage rates hit 6% last month and continue to creep upwards in Britain.The government previously estimated that more than half of fixed-rate mortgages ending in 2023 had an interest rate below 2% which means anyone remortgaging this year will see an unavoidable rise in outgoings.But property experts at Belvoir, in George Street, have said the housing market is still buoyant despite the rates hike and cost of living crisis and there are still worthwhile opportunities available for those looking to buy property.For those struggling to get on...

11 August, 2023

STAFF, customers and businesses rallied round and helped raise more than £850 for Rushden-based charity Serve.Happy Mondays Coffee in High Street, Rushden, held a second anniversary party on Saturday, August 5, with fantastic prizes up for grabs and plenty of soft drinks and treats, as well as a cocktail bar for the day.The coffee shop, which recently won The Best Café in The Northants Live Awards, helped raise £871.43 for Serve.The charity’s fundraising manager Nick Tite said: “Wow! What an amazing effort. We cannot thank the staff, customers and all the businesses which contributed prizes, enough.“As a local charity, we...

11 August, 2023

Northampton’s Delapré Abbey has partnered with a local high-performance coach to host the town’s biggest ever wellbeing festival ‘Mind, Body & Soul’ - Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd September. Lucienne Shakir, founder of Northampton-based Lucienne Coaching, has teamed up with the abbey to co-create a packed programme of immersive workshops, talks and activities. The high-profile event will be focused on diversity and inclusion and will involve a range of sessions, including a SEN and family day on the Friday and keynote presentations from Laura Hof - world-famous holistic therapist and daughter of ‘Iceman’ Wim Hof on the Saturday. A full day of holistic...

11 August, 2023

Local fine jewellers Michael Jones Jeweller have pledged £5,000 to support Royal & Derngate’s Derngate at 40 fundraising campaign, recently launched to mark the 40 year anniversary of the theatre’s Derngate auditorium.This donation will go towards the cost of replenishing and refreshing seating in the Derngate as it celebrates this significant milestone. Since its last full refurbishment in 2006 the auditorium has welcomed over six million guests, leaving the seating looking tired and in need of some rejuvenation. Refurbishing the seats is one of the theatre’s priorities, and this campaign aims to ensure that the very ‘fabric’ of the building...

11 August, 2023