The 2017 non domestic rating list is closing. This means that you have up until 31 March 2023 to make sure that the information we hold about your property on this list is correct, and to let us know if it isn’t.In England, this is known as making a Check case.In Wales, this is known as making a proposal.You will then be able to challenge or appeal the 2017 assessment if you are not happy with the outcome.Making a Check case (England)If your property is in England, you will need to have an account set up on the Government Gateway...

01 February, 2023

Residents, businesses and professional drivers are being invited to have their say as West Northamptonshire Council launches an eight-week consultation on the Draft West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing Policy.If adopted, the draft WNC policy will replace the current policies for the former local authority areas of Daventry, Northampton, and South Northants.The policy sets out the driver, vehicle and operator standards for hackney carriages and private hire vehicles for current licence holders and all new licence applicants.The consultation specifically focuses on continuing to increase standards and robust measures to ensure public safety at all times, and...

01 February, 2023

Passengers will be boarding the world’s first fully sized, self-driving bus service in Edinburgh from the Spring, after it was awarded a share of £81 million in joint UK government and industry support for self-driving transport technology.The project is one of seven successful projects from around the UK, and forms the most advanced set of commercial, self-driving passenger and freight operations anywhere in the world.The grants, part of the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Connected and Automated Mobility programme, will help British companies seize early opportunities to develop experimental projects into offerings ready for the market.The joint government and...

01 February, 2023

AM Labels Limited (AM Labels), an award-winning supplier of complete labelling solutions including manufacturing and warehouse automation, barcoding and RFID systems, celebrated the opening of its brand new, state-of-the-art Technical Experience Centre with a three-day event from Tuesday 24th January to Thursday 26th January 2023.The occasion, which was sponsored by leading printing technology manufacturer, Epson, took place at AM Labels’ head office in Northamptonshire. To celebrate the opening of the new facility, the event brought together many of the print and packaging industry’s leading suppliers and manufacturers, as well as current and prospective customers from across the country.The Mayor of...

31 January, 2023

Business owners and employees in Northamptonshire can make substantial savings on company cars with a brand-new salary sacrifice scheme recently launched by Silverstone Leasing.The vehicle leasing company began offering the money-saving scheme at the start of 2023. In it, an employee can forgo a proportion of their monthly salary in exchange for a brand-new electric vehicle.The sum sacrificed is taken out of the worker’s gross pay, before any PAYE tax and National Insurance is applied, therefore an employee’s taxable salary is reduced which means that they pay less tax.The payments are calculated and taken automatically each month and Silverstone Leasing...

31 January, 2023

A three-year project set to support more than 300 young people, recruit 300 new volunteers and develop a trio of new community green spaces in Northamptonshire has been given the green light.Groundwork Northamptonshire, which runs an extensive youthwork programme, helps people access and enjoy green spaces and provides support to those in need, has this month been awarded nearly £314,000 of lottery funding for a new project called ‘Come Together @ Green Patch’.The 2.5-acre Green Patch in Kettering is an award-winning community garden and Groundwork Northamptonshire’s flagship project at which the charity runs a host of school clubs, adult volunteer...

31 January, 2023

A talented member of staff from Northamptonshire charity Teamwork Trust is celebrating after scooping a top accolade at the Northamptonshire Logistics Awards.Macy Henderson, 21, was awarded Apprentice of the Year this month at these leading business awards – with Teamwork Trust becoming the only charity to win a trophy on the night.Macy, who completed an NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care apprenticeship last May, has since been promoted to a junior leadership role and is now a Living and Learning Coordinator, based at the charity’s Corby’s site.It is because of Teamwork Trust’s unique outsourcing offer - supporting local...

31 January, 2023

The UK government has today (31 January 2023) laid regulations before Parliament that brings airports slots rules for the upcoming summer season back in line with pre-pandemic levels, while retaining certain flexibilities to support the aviation industry’s recovery.From 26 March 2023, airlines will once again need to use their slots 80% of the time in order to keep them – the ratio in place before passenger numbers dropped as a result of the pandemic. It’s a vote of confidence in the aviation industry as demand for international travel returns – with passenger numbers at UK airports reaching 85% of equivalent...

31 January, 2023

Five-year delivery plan to restore nature and improve the environmental quality of the air, our waters and our land .Plans to restore nature, improve environmental quality, and increase the prosperity of our country will be set out by the government today (Tuesday 31st January) as it publishes its Environmental Improvement Plan 2023.Building on the vision set out five years ago in the 25 Year Environment Plan, with new powers and duties from the Environment Act, Agriculture Act and Fisheries Act, it provides a comprehensive delivery plan for the government’s approach to halting and then reversing the decline in nature.This was the central target...

31 January, 2023

Government launches competition for businesses to bid for share of £1m to stimulate innovation in Occupational Health.Organisations to receive up to £100,000 to help with challenges small businesses and self-employed face with ill health at work Projects to focus on research and development to increase access and capacity in Occupational HealthA £1 million fund for new ideas to boost health and welfare at work for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and the self-employed was launched today.Successful bidders will receive up to £100,000 to back their projects from 19 May 2023, with the Government looking for innovative solutions to drive...

30 January, 2023

Proposals for a locally led partnership for the Oxford to Cambridge region have been given the green light by the government.The partnership, which includes Northamptonshire, will champion the region as a world leader of innovation and business, acting to achieve environmentally sustainable and inclusive growth.It will strengthen the cross-boundary collaboration among its partners to focus on tackling the issues that matter to the people who live and work in the region.The partnership’s initial programme is to:develop a set of propositions to attract international investment and profile the region on a global stage continue the work underway to embed shared...

30 January, 2023