A joint bid for a Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) for Northamptonshire has been approved by VisitEngland, paving the way for a far more co-ordinated and strategic approach to promoting the tourism sector.Local Visitor Economy Partnerships have been introduced as part of the Government’s response to an independent review of how the nation’s visitor economy is co-ordinated and promoted and will have the potential to draw in additional support and funding from Westminster. This new national portfolio of LVEPs will work in collaboration locally, regionally and nationally on shared priorities and targets to support and grow the visitor economy.As well as...

20 February, 2025

Northampton-based health and safety consultancy Acorn Safety Services has appointed a new fire safety manager, who has previously worked for former Top Gear stars Jeremy Clarkson and James May.Julian Dean was featured on television series Clarkson’s Farm, series two, episode six, carrying out a fire risk assessment on the Diddly Squat Farm Shop.He has also carried out the fire risk assessment for Jeremy Clarkson’s newly opened pub in the Cotswolds called The Farmer’s Dog.Julian said: “I was working for a local housing association, and they pick up work occasionally from West Oxfordshire Council. They asked if there was a fire...

20 February, 2025

In a move to further support its growth plans, local estate agent Belvoir Corby has appointed a property professional as its new face of inspections.With a wealth of experience in lettings management, Heidi Barber joins an already strong team of property experts working at its George Street office in Corby, which is well-known for its exceptional customer service and friendly staff.Having started her estate agency career in South Africa working in lettings as a property manager, she spent eight years honing her skills there before moving to the UK in 2005 to work in property management in London.Four years later...

20 February, 2025

Silverstone Leasing has welcomed a new account manager to its talented team.Adam Greatrix joined the Northampton-based vehicle leasing firm just two weeks ago but has already made an impact with customers and colleagues alike.Adam, a former customer care consultant, sales agent and real time analyst in local firms, loves the fast pace and interaction at Silverstone Leasing.He said: “I’m loving the sales environment here, the enjoyment of providing customers with a brand-new car for a great price that they are happy with.“The team as well for me is a big thing, I have always been surrounded by great people in...

20 February, 2025

Members of Northamptonshire based credit union Commsave have been awarded a 4% return on their savings totalling £3.1million.At January’s Commsave Annual General Meeting (AGM) members voted for 2024’s 4% dividend rate meaning the credit union’s 37,000 plus members received a share of the profits with the next dividend payment due in January 2026.Richard Munro, Interim Chief Executive, explained: “We are delighted to be announce a very competitive 4% return on savings on our instant access, no notice savings account. Our members are not just customers, they are also owners. This means that instead of distributing profits to external shareholders, we...

20 February, 2025

Ambitious and exciting next steps have been taken with a team of nationally renowned placemaking, and regeneration specialists has been appointed by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) to create a bold new masterplan for Northampton town centre, setting the vision for its transformation over the next 15 years.Ambitious and exciting next steps have been taken with a team of nationally renowned placemaking, and regeneration specialists has been appointed by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) to create a bold new masterplan for Northampton town centre, setting the vision for its transformation over the next 15 years.Looking at over 400 hectares of the town...

20 February, 2025

Apprentices in England will drive £25bn of economic growth over their lifetime, new figures have revealed.This is almost double the £14bn contribution found the last time this was assessed in 2018, demonstrating apprentices’ importance to the government’s mission to grow the economy under the Plan for Change.These figures are for apprentices who were participating in an apprenticeship at levels 2 to 5 in the 2021-22 academic year, representing the immense value of apprentices to economic growth.The research comes as the government reaffirms its commitment to apprenticeships as the golden thread through all six missions under the Plan for Change, and...

14 February, 2025

Safeguarding Britain’s national security - a key pillar of the government’s Plan for Change - and protecting citizens from crime - will become founding principles of the UK’s approach to the responsible development of artificial intelligence from today (Friday 14 February), as the Technology Secretary sets out his vision for a revitalised AI Security Institute in Munich.Speaking at the Munich Security Conference and just days after the conclusion of the AI Action Summit in Paris, Peter Kyle has today recast the AI Safety Institute the ‘AI Security Institute’. This new name will reflect its focus on serious AI risks with security implications, such as how the technology can be used to...

14 February, 2025

Credit unions have never been more popular or more critical, according to new Bank of England findings.The Bank’s latest figures reveal that credit unions across England, Scotland, and Wales continue to see steady growth in membership, loans, and savings, with total membership reaching a record high of more than 1.5 million.This national trend is mirrored in Northamptonshire, where credit union Commsave has reported a surge in new members since the start of the year and a record number of calls from local residents seeking savings, loans, and financial advice.Richard Munro, Interim CEO of Commsave, said: “For the first time, we now have...

13 February, 2025

A Northamptonshire-based social enterprise supporting vulnerable young people leaving the care system has received a £1,000 grant from Commsave Credit Union’s Community Fund.Right Resolution CIC offers mentoring, advocacy and practical assistance to young people in Northamptonshire who are transitioning into adulthood from the care system, providing services such as housing support, training, education guidance and employability skills.Amarjit Pawar, Director at Right Resolution CIC, said: “This funding has made a real difference to the young people we work with. Thanks to the grant from Commsave, we were able to expand our support, providing care leavers with personalised Christmas gifts, food parcels...

13 February, 2025

A leading Northamptonshire IT consultancy is celebrating supporting its 20th apprentice as the country marks National Apprenticeship Week this week.3RS IT Solutions, based in Wellingborough, is a big advocate of apprenticeships after managing director Steve Souch started his own career as an apprentice.Steve believes there is great value in the “raw talent and eagerness to learn” that comes from the practical approach to joining a new industry.He said: “I started my IT career in 2006 as an IT Practitioner Apprentice with Northampton College. Having left school with no qualifications, a local Wellingborough computer shop gave me a second chance. This...

13 February, 2025