When Helen Beeby was notified about her brother Matt’s passing, she was facing a traumatic death scene at which his body had been undiscovered for up to three weeks.Maggots and flies had infested his Northampton flat and the mammoth clean-up operation ahead was too much for a bereaved sister to bear.Helen recalls: “Matt lived on the top floor. I went to the apartment but as soon as I got out the lift there was an awful stench, so I got straight back in and left again.”Helen was aware of biohazard cleaning experts Specialist Remediation Solutions, which provide crime scene and...

16 July, 2025

The mammoth fundraising mission of an award-winning Northampton-based asbestos management consultancy has already raised more than £3,000 for a trio of charities.In April, Acorn Analytical Services pledged to complete 10 events in six months to raise much-needed cash for local cause Cynthia Spencer Hospice, plus Mesothelioma UK and Muscular Dystrophy UK.Already, after just three months, the dedicated team have completed six fundraising events including the London Moonwalk, the Northampton Dragon Boat Festival and Cynthia Spencer’s annual Northampton Colour Run, as well as a parachute jump and boxing match.Two courageous colleagues, Viviana Pista and Abbie Bruce, from our sister company Acorn...

16 July, 2025

Commsave Credit Union has launched its first ever Green Month, a campaign running throughout July to inspire greener living, highlight the organisation’s sustainability efforts, and promote its range of Green Loans.The initiative supports Commsave’s long-term commitment to becoming carbon-neutral by 2030 – a key objective set out by the organisation’s board. Activity during Green Month will showcase the steps Commsave is taking to reduce its own environmental impact, while helping members finance eco-friendly choices in their homes and daily lives.Caitlin Connelly, Green Team member and Senior Business Development & Communications Administrator at Commsave, said: “Green Month is all about supporting...

16 July, 2025

A charitable trust has donated £2,500 to the wellbeing service at Cynthia Spencer Hospice, to help support patients with life-limiting conditions in Northamptonshire to live life to the full.The Thomas and Rosemary Greenhalgh Charitable Trust has gifted the money to Wellbeing @ Cynthia, which offers a variety of programmes to help palliative patients to maintain their physical functionality and retain their independence for as long as possible.Wellbeing @ Cynthia is available for patients living in Northamptonshire aged 18 or over who are living with life limiting conditions including cancer, rapidly progressive neurological conditions such as Motor Neurone Disease, and advanced respiratory...

16 July, 2025

Aspiring entrepreneurs looking for help to bring a business idea to life can apply to join the third cohort of the Vulcan Works business incubation programme.Launched in 2024 by the popular business support hub, Vulcan Creatives is a free six-month initiative supporting ambitious individuals to create business plans and learn the skills needed to succeed in the world of entrepreneurship.So far, two cohorts of 10 entrepreneurs have graduated from the programme with thriving new businesses or having grown an innovative idea.A further 10 local visionaries will be chosen for the third cohort, for which applications are open now and close...

16 July, 2025

Landlords, business owners and anyone else involved in water system management are being urged to sign up for a legionella awareness course launched by a leading Northamptonshire health and safety consultancy.Acorn Safety Services, which provides health and safety services to businesses, charities and organisations across the UK, is recommending the course for anyone responsible for the maintenance of safe water in buildings, including landlords, business owners, facilities managers, and health and safety professionals.The newly configured course covers the history of legionella, hot water and cold water systems, temperature monitoring and record keeping.It also gives more detail on legionella itself, the...

16 July, 2025

A new dynamic duo has joined the fold at growing Northampton-based vehicle leasing firm, Silverstone Leasing.The thriving company - which has grown its team by a third in the last six months - has now welcomed Joe Clark as account manager and Ned Masalskas as customer care apprentice.Joe, who previously worked as a fleet coordinator for a large car dealership, will be instrumental in the personal leasing side of the business, Embrace Leasing, and says he is extremely motivated by the new challenge.He said: “I am really enjoying my new role, specialising in personal leases for brand new vehicles. Every...

10 July, 2025

A leading UK-based vegetation management and landscaping contractor is helping to put arboriculture back on the map again by joining forces with Moulton College to become its first Ambassador.Kev Garfield, head of business support at VMS Ltd was presented the accolade during the Student Awards held at Moulton College on Wednesday 18th June, where 27 students were recognised for outstanding achievement.The event was led by Principal & CEO, Oliver Symons with Kev Garfield, VMS and HM Lord Lieutenant for Northamptonshire, James Sanders Watson both speaking during the evening.Of accepting the award, Kev said: “It’s a great honour to be announced...

10 July, 2025

Students from the Creating Tomorrow Partnership have organised a special Charity Day at The Chester House Estate on Wednesday 16th July 2025, from 11am to 2pm, to raise money for The Lewis Foundation, a charity which provides more than 2,000 free gift packs each month to adult cancer patients in 17 hospitals .The initiative is part of an inspiring new collaboration between The Lewis Foundation and the multi-academy trust, which supports children and young adults with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) across Northamptonshire and Leicestershire.The event promises a fun-filled few hours for the whole community, with a variety of...

10 July, 2025

West Northamptonshire Council’s (WNC) Cabinet will next week consider a refocus of the authority’s sustainability work to prioritise practical, realistic projects that improve lives, reduce energy bills, and support local businesses.In 2022 the Council moved away from a purely climate change focus to endorse Sustainable West Northants, a new strategy for its sustainability ambitions. It has since made strong progress across a wide range of areas, as detailed in its annual sustainability report and recognised by the Investors in the Environment accreditation scheme.The Council’s new political administration has now expressed its aim to refocus the organisation’s sustainability commitments to ensure...

10 July, 2025

Residents are being advised of upcoming changes to the flow of traffic on the Queen Eleanor Interchange, as part of ongoing works to improve the roundabout.Works are progressing well on this important scheme to ease congestion and make the busy interchange fit for purpose, with the next phase of works involving a change to the current traffic management measures.The following changes will be put in place from Sunday, 13 July:The entrances onto Queen Eleanor roundabout from Mereway, London Road, Hardingstone and Newport Pagnell Road will be reduced to one lane.The Queen Eleanor roundabout from the A45 Southbound on...

10 July, 2025