West Northamptonshire Council  (WNC) and the wider Silverstone Vision Board are among partners driving forward a new wave of innovation across the region backed by up to £20 million of government funding.The investment announced today for the central area of the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, which includes Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes, comes from the £500 million Local Innovation Partnerships Fund to enable organisations and businesses to turn cutting‑edge ideas into real‑world impact.Working with partners across this central stretch of the Corridor, the successful “Innovation Circuit” bid will deliver programmes that strengthen capabilities in autonomous systems, high‑performance engineering and dual...

07 April, 2026

The powerhouse female leader of a Northamptonshire health and safety consultancy has been shortlisted for two much-coveted national awards.Zeynep Guzelkasap, operations director at Acorn Safety Services, has been named as a finalist in the Woman in Construction category of the National Business Women’s Awards.She has also appeared in the rollcall for The Alan McArthur Unsung Hero Award at the 2026 Safety and Health Excellence Awards, which celebrates an individual who has gone above and beyond to raise health and safety standards or who has worked tirelessly within an organisation in the sector.The well-deserved recognition comes just weeks after Zeynep was...

31 March, 2026

A Northampton optometrist has highlighted how new technology can detect life-threatening health conditions during specialist eye examinations, in the lead up to World Health Day.The theme of this year’s World Health Day on Tuesday, April 7 is ‘Together for health. Stand with science’, with a year‑long campaign celebrating the power of scientific collaboration to protect health.The team at Tompkins, Knight & Son Optometrists in Kingsley Road, Northampton say the scientific and technological advancements made in recent years mean that now more than ever, eye examinations are hugely important in both protecting vision and identifying wider health issues including diabetes, heart disease,...

31 March, 2026

There are just a few places remaining to play in the seventh annual Silverstone Soccer football fundraiser this summer, which last year’s winners say is about “more than just football”.The popular charity event, hosted by leading Northampton-based leasing company Silverstone Leasing, will take place at Daventry Town Football Club on Sunday 28th June.Businesses from across the county will go head-to-head in the tournament, which sees 12 teams don their football boots to compete for the coveted trophy and raise charity cash.Last year’s winners, first time entrants Northampton Town Football Club, said the event is a special way to bring the...

31 March, 2026

Entrepreneurs seeking a welcoming workspace with a community feel are invited to drop in to the Vulcan Works open day next month.The Northampton town centre innovative serviced office space is throwing open its doors on Friday 24th April, from 9am to 5pm, so the local business community can experience the purpose-built centre free of charge and in all its glory.As well as providing a variety of different sized office space, Vulcan Works, based in the heart of the town’s vibrant Cultural Quarter, also offers invaluable business support through its in-house Business Growth Manager Darren Smith.The centre also boasts a vibrant...

30 March, 2026

Northampton is ready to ‘step up’ and progress to the next level in its ongoing regeneration, according to two well-respected experts appointed to the board of the town centre’s Business Improvement District.Branch manager of NatWest in The Drapery, Mark Townson, and Matthew Tyrrell, a director of Michael Jones Jeweller, will now work alongside other business leaders to oversee Northampton BID’s work as it looks to make the town centre a better place to work, live and visit.Mark Townson, who first moved to Northampton in 2009 and has worked in the bank’s town centre home ever since, said: “I spend every...

30 March, 2026

An exciting project to create a new health and wellbeing hub in the grounds of Northamptonshire’s historic Delapré Abbey has secured a £100,000 grant.During the pandemic, the Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust began offering a range of wellbeing activities including cycling confidence programmes, walking therapies, cooking classes for cancer patients, gardening workshops, mental health support and social prescribing services.In response to a growing need for further local wellbeing support it has embarked on an ambitious project to transform its derelict 19th century stables and associated buildings into a dedicated health and wellbeing hub with retail spaces.The project, ‘A Stable Future’ will cost...

30 March, 2026

Residents, businesses and innovators across Northamptonshire are being invited to explore the latest in technology, creativity and digital thinking as Merged Futures 8 returns this summer.Taking place on Friday 26 June at the Learning Hub, Waterside Campus, University of Northampton, the free annual showcase brings together forward-thinking organisations, industry experts and local talent to share ideas, spark conversations and demonstrate how technology is shaping everyday life.Now in its eighth year, Merged Futures has built a strong reputation for making complex topics accessible, relevant and engaging. From artificial intelligence and robotics to health technology and digital education, the event offers something for everyone, whether you are a business owner, student, public sector professional...

27 March, 2026

Delapré Abbey is celebrating a major milestone, marking 80 years since the historic site passed into public ownership on 27th March 1946.Once a private estate, the Abbey’s future was uncertain in the years following the Second World War. Facing the threat of demolition in the 1950s, it was saved through the determination of local campaigners and went on to serve as the Northamptonshire Record Office, securing its place at the heart of the community until 1992.Over the decades, Delapré Abbey has undergone a remarkable transformation. Following a period of decline in the late 20th century, renewed community efforts led to...

27 March, 2026

Reverend Shakeel Nurmahi is celebrating a year of leadership as chairperson of Corby Foodbank.He came on board in March 2025, taking up the position of chair alongside his new role as head of St Peter and St Andrew’s Church on Beanfield Avenue, from where the Foodbank operates.Having completed his first year of a three-year appointment, Reverend Shakeel has been focused on strengthening the Foodbank’s day-to-day running, alongside working on the launch of a new voluntary management board to help build a strong foundation to support its longevity.He said: “Coming into the role, the first few months were spent learning the...

25 March, 2026

Independent businesses in Brackley are set to benefit from a new funding opportunity, as a fresh grant scheme is launched to support existing small and medium-sized enterprises in the town centre.Developed by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) in partnership with Brackley Town Council, the scheme aims to enhance the visual appeal and historic character of the town centre while helping independent businesses grow and thrive. In the longer term, the initiative seeks to increase footfall, strengthen the local economy, and create a more welcoming and attractive high street for both residents and visitors.Funded through the Section 106 Brackley Town Fund, the...

25 March, 2026