Customer service is one of the most important aspects of running a successful business.It is the frontline of your operation, the first point of contact with your customers. Good customer service can keep your customers coming back, while poor customer service can drive them away. Every company should make improving customer service a top priority.Here are some tips on how to improve customer service and keep your customers happy.1. Know your customersKnowing your customers is key to ensuring that you're meeting their needs and providing them with the best possible service. Take the time to gather information on your customers,...

22 May, 2023

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) has been awarded £642,871 funding from Active Travel England to roll-out a new traffic free route in Northampton.The 1,300-metre route will provide an accessible route through Delapré Park to link Far Cotton with Brackmills, and will encourage walking, wheeling, and cycling whilst providing a missing link between these areas. A planning application showing the routes in Delapré Park has previously been submitted.The funding will also provide covered cycle parking, wayfinding and information boards in the area and support the social prescribing and cycling hub project, which aims to promote mental and physical wellbeing, based at Delapré...

19 May, 2023

We're delighted to be organising a Procurement Workshop in July for businesses, charities and organisations looking to tender or bid for local procurement opportunities.The workshop will be delivered by the Procurement Team from North Northamptonshire Council who will be able to explain how local businesses who can serve the supply requirements of North Northamptonshire Council can apply for public sector contracts.NNBN Director Simon Cox said "We're delighted to be sponsoring this workshop for people wishing to understand more about tendering opportunities and public sector contracts and are inviting those with an interest in tendering and bid writing to attend our workshop.""It's key, especially after...

19 May, 2023

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) is investing an additional £1 million for 2023/24 into our roads. The Council is also looking to invest in new technologies to help maintain the roads it is responsible for more efficiently and to a better standard.In addition to the Council’s additional investment, WNC has been awarded £1.86 million from the Government to boost the planned improvements for the year ahead.As part of the new Highways contract which kick-started in September 2022, WNC is working with Kier to deliver a multi-million-pound plan to maintain our road network through the Community Enhancement Plan. This work has reached...

19 May, 2023

Dog trainer talks, Flyball demonstrations, an artisan market and a Puppucino stand are some of the many things you can expect from Woof Fest, a fun-filled festival this June for you and your four-legged friends.The festival is in partnership with The Canine Cottage, which is a dog boutique based at The Chester House Estate. The one-day festival will take place on Saturday 10th June from 10am to 4pm.Organiser Nadine Berger, owner of The Canine Cottage, said: “We are happy to announce we are bringing back Woof Fest after the huge success last year. This is a day dedicated to our...

19 May, 2023

North Northants Council and partners are proud to announce that the annual North Northamptonshire Active Communities Awards 2023 will be held on Wednesday 15th November 2023 at the Kettering Conference and Leisure Village. The awards celebrate local individuals, groups and clubs that have given their time to improve the lives of their community and celebrate the legacy of the past year’s sporting success at a Local, National and International level. Amazing work has been happening to help residents be active in North Northamptonshire and we want to recognise this again. We also want to pay tribute to our unbelievable local...

18 May, 2023

It’s been a whole decade since Jessica’s Gray’s mother suggested she followed in her footsteps and became an estate agent.Despite not being able to drive at the time, Jessica applied for an estate agent apprentice role, wowed the interview panel, bagged the job and quickly worked her way up the ranks.She was hired as a full-time employee within just six months and three years later was promoted to branch manager.This month, the now sales manager for Belvoir in Northamptonshire celebrated 10 years in estate agency.Jessica, who is a lynchpin to the Belvoir team, runs the sales side of the agency...

18 May, 2023

AN HR and training company which celebrated its first anniversary in January has been named as a finalist at the Northamptonshire SME awards.Ena HR &Training, which is based in Cogenhoe, is in the running for the Best New Business award at the prestigious event which is being held in Daventry in June.The company was founded in January 2022 by HR expert, Kate Coulson, who has more than 20 years’ experience in corporate HR and management.She said: “Starting the business in January 2022 was one of the most daunting journeys I have ever embarked upon, but I knew it was the...

18 May, 2023

Last week, Northamptonshire Community Foundation celebrated their latest milestone, having awarded over £20 million in grants since the foundation’s inception in 2001.These funds have supported charities and community groups across the county in their work to improve the lives of Northamptonshire’s most in-need residents, setting up food banks, maintaining multi-use green spaces, providing counselling and wellbeing sessions, and various other vital services. Most recently, a grant has been awarded from the Poverty Hurts Appeal Fund to Weston Favell Centre Foodbank, to support the running of their warehouse and delivery of food parcels.Rachel McGrath, CEO of Northamptonshire Community Foundation, said: “As...

17 May, 2023

The redevelopment of Northampton’s historic market square is three months into the extensive programme of regeneration works.West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) is working with leading construction firm Stepnell Ltd to carry out a multi-million-pound project to rejuvenate the area for business, traders, residents and visitors alike.In March, preparations works were well underway to enable construction works to take place. The existing surface has been removed with the cobbles to be cleaned and reused as part of the new market square development. Digging has commenced to achieve the levels required for the new paving and work is underway to disconnect and remove...

17 May, 2023

Counselling and wellbeing services will no longer be provided by Northamptonshire charity Teamwork Trust – with trustees announcing their decision to focus on the organisation’s day service provision.Teamwork Trust, first set up 40 years ago, has centres in Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough and works with autistic adults, people with learning disabilities and individuals with mental health needs. Alongside this, the charity has historically also offered a counselling service and wellbeing programme to the wider community.Ceri Davies, Chair of Trustees, explained: “This has been a very difficult decision, but given the current funding climate, our trustees could no longer see how...

17 May, 2023