A new magazine providing important news and information about council services will start landing on the doormats of homes across West Northamptonshire this week.Produced by West Northamptonshire Council, the first edition of West Northants Life also offers a summer what’s on guide, promoting some of the areas fantastic visitor attractions, events and activities.Other articles in the summer publication include a review of the council’s activities and spending over the last year, top tips to help people recycle more and waste less, a look at recent investment in our highways, and a focus on some of the exciting regeneration schemes that...

12 July, 2023

Residents living in private homes (both owned and rented) with a gross household income of less than £31,000 are being encouraged to apply for a government grant to help improve the energy efficiency of their homes.ECO4 Flex is a government scheme, funded by energy companies, that supports households on lower incomes or those particularly vulnerable to the impacts of living in a cold home.Funding is available for things that can improve the energy efficiency of your home, including insulation and heating systems.Improving the energy performance of your property through different methods could save you hundreds of pounds in fuel bills...

12 July, 2023

The British Independent Retailers Association has said June's Retail Sales Monitor (RSM) shows that consumer demand remains 'fragile' but the good weather is helping.BIRA, which works with over 6,000 independent businesses of all sizes across the UK, said the report shows an interesting snapshot into the current retail landscape. The BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor for June 2023, revealed:UK Total retail sales increased by 4.9% in June, against a decline of 1.0% in June 2022. This is above the 3-month average growth of 4.6% and the 12-month average growth of 4.0%. UK Like-for-like retail sales increased by 4.2% in June, against a...

11 July, 2023

Organisations across West Northamptonshire came together on Friday, 7 July to celebrate the official opening of the expanded 78 Derngate.Visitors received a tour of Northampton’s iconic and historic 78 Derngate which has been expanded to offer a larger visitor centre, rejuvenated secluded garden and revamped shop following the completion of the extensive £950,000 refurbishment in June this year.As the only public building located outside Scotland with interiors designed by renowned artist, Charles Rennie Mackintosh this local gem and former home is a now a museum. Following funding from West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) of £400,000 through the Town Funds, £200,000 match...

11 July, 2023

The future of eye care is in “good hands” – according to one of the world’s leading contact lens specialists who has given a prize-winning student a taste of life working with patients at a cutting-edge independent optometrist in Northampton.Brian Tompkins, director of TK&S Optometrists in Kingsley Road, Northampton welcomed third-year Cardiff University student Deepika Khali for a two-day placement at the practice after she won a raffle prize offering the opportunity at her course’s ‘Eye Ball’ gala dinner.He said: “I always hope to instill passion, dedication and real heart into the students that we have here. I want every...

11 July, 2023

The fourth annual five-a-side football fundraiser organised by fleet firm Silverstone Leasing has been declared a huge success, raising more than £2,000 for a much-loved local charity.Businesses from across Northamptonshire rallied their troops for the popular event at Daventry Football Club, which saw eight teams compete for the much-coveted winner’s title.It was Euro Building and Maintenance Contractors who scored an impressive hattrick win, taking the trophy for the third consecutive year. Stonhills Estate Agency were named runners up.Silverstone Soccer has collected more than £8,400 for Cynthia Spencer Hospice since its inception just before the pandemic in 2020. The charity drive...

11 July, 2023

Organisations across the more rural areas of North Northants are being encouraged to come forward and apply for capital grants of up to £15,000.Using the area’s allocation from the Rural England Prosperity Fund, North Northamptonshire Council is currently taking applications for rural organisations that meet certain criteria.Organisations including parish councils, charities, community groups and school PTAs are all being encouraged to check their eligibility and apply online.Organisations can apply for capital grants of up to £15,000 if they can demonstrate that the funding will be used to support:creation and improvements to local rural green spaces existing cultural, historic and heritage institutions ...

11 July, 2023

New online gateway to help directors of SMEs with business decisions and make sure their companies stay on the right track.The Insolvency Service has today launched a new online information hub to support company directors.The hub hosts guidance and information on a range of business themes commonly faced by companies and aims to help company directors to push their business forward by being more aware of potential pitfalls.It is specifically designed for directors of micro, small and medium-size limited companies, although it will also be useful to others. Directors of limited companies, unlike sole traders, must comply with certain statutory obligations....

10 July, 2023

Hundreds of prisoners are being encouraged to take jobs in the retail and logistics sector on release to plug skills gaps in entry level roles, helping reduce reoffending while supporting businesses.Unlocking Retail and Logistics’ events were held in over 30 prisons across England and Wales with the aim of helping British businesses fill some of the estimated 1 million vacancies in the UK by employing qualified prison leavers.Events were run by businesses including supermarket giants The Cooperative and Iceland plus well-known retailers and logistic companies such as Oliver Bonas, Greggs, and DHL.The campaign is part of a wider drive from...

10 July, 2023

A lighting company in Northamptonshire is celebrating a new charity partnership - “Working with Teamwork Trust doesn’t just feel good, it also makes excellent business sense”.These were the words spoken by Dan Smith, Head of Warehousing Production at Collingwood Lighting, when he recently visited the charity’s Corby site to meet and check-in with service users.Teamwork Trust are a Northamptonshire charity which supports young people and adults who are autistic, have learning disabilities and/or have mental health challenges, to progress towards independence.The charity has announced a partnership with Sywell-based lighting manufacturers Collingwood Lighting which sees service users assemble boxes and pack...

10 July, 2023

Growing firms in Northamptonshire will be given top tips on how they can successfully bid for a share of a £4.7 million funding pot this week.Last month, SEMLEP launched its new Growing Innovation Fund which allows firms across the South East Midlands to bid for grants of between £100,000 and £300,000 for capital projects.Firms which want to make successful applications are now being urged to attend a free online workshop about the grants which is being run by experts from SEMLEP’s Business Support Team on Wednesday, July 12.SEMLEP Growth Hub manager Ruth Roan said: “This workshop is really important for...

10 July, 2023