Active Ants, a fulfilment specialist for global online stores, has launched its first ever e-fulfilment centre in the UK with its revolutionary robots working alongside human team members.The e-fulfilment company, which was created in the Netherlands in 2010, has opened its first e-fulfilment centre in Northampton, after successfully establishing multiple robot operated warehouses across Europe.Active Ants, which has state-of-the-art robotised operations at its warehouses in The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium, has unveiled its new UK facility offering a unique setup in the e-commerce industry.Khalil Ashong, Country Director UK, said: ‘’We have a structured and efficient process which combines humans and...

12 June, 2023

The government is giving people more time to pay National Insurance contributions towards their State Pension.Taxpayers now have until 5 April 2025 to fill gaps in their National Insurance record from April 2006 that may increase their State Pension - an extension of nearly 2 years - the government announced today (12 June).Extending the voluntary National Insurance contributions deadline until 2025 means that people have more time to properly consider whether paying voluntary contributions is right for them and ensures no-one need miss out on the possibility of boosting their State Pension entitlements.The original deadline was extended to 31 July...

12 June, 2023

Half of SMEs believe that employee retention is the most important aspect of people management in 2023, according to the latest data from award-winning HR experts.Kettering-based HR Solutions’ 2023 SME Business Survey found that 50 per cent of respondents were concerned about employee retention during the current economic climate.The HR consultancy suggest that implementing a cost-effective, strategic people plan will create a strong, motivated and dedicated team - the key factor in driving an SME’s profitability.HR Solutions CEO Greg Guilford said: “An employee’s intentions to remain with their employer, increases when the employer addresses their needs. As businesses navigate changes...

12 June, 2023

Following seven months of extensive redevelopment works to transform a former derelict supermarket in Towcester into a new parking facility for the town, Sponne Arcade Car Park officially opened to the public on Saturday, 10 June.The former Co-op and Poundstretcher building in the Sponne Arcade located in the heart of the town stood empty for four years prior to the construction of the expanded parking facility.Over the last year West Northamptonshire Council (WNC), has worked with Jeakins Weir to demolish the derelict stores, level out the area to provide a high-quality central parking facility and expand the site from 70 to...

12 June, 2023

Small Business Saturday is once again highlighting 100 small businesses, one a day for 100 days leading up to Small Business Saturday 2023!For the last ten years, the 100 have not only received exposure on Small Business Saturday's social media channels and in the local and national press, but also joined the Small Business Saturday team in London at receptions in Downing Street, House of Lords and the Treasury Drum with the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Applications close on June 30, 2023. Successful applicants will be notified by email in August. Small Business Saturday are committed to making the application process as inclusive as possible. If you need...

12 June, 2023

YOUNG people at risk of permanent exclusion from education or being lured into a life of crime will be among those who are put on the path to a brighter future following the opening of Northampton Saints Foundation’s Corby Hub.The hub, based at Stewart and Lloyds Rugby Football Club in the town, was officially opened by the new Mayor of Corby, Councillor Leanne Buckingham at an event on Wednesday attended by representatives from Northampton Saints Foundation, Northamptonshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Stephen Mold and the Foundation’s ambassador, Jack Fleckney.The new hub will allow the Foundation to support young people aged...

12 June, 2023

As part of our recent series of articles around customer service, today we ask the question - Which metric can help businesses assess the efficiency of their customer service ?Here are some options:1. Average Response Time (ART):The time taken by your customer service team to respond to customers' messages or calls.2. First Response Time (FRT):The time taken to send an initial response to a customer's inquiry or problem.3. Resolution Time:The time taken to solve a customer's problem or issue.4. Customer Satisfaction Score (CSAT):The level of satisfaction customers have after interacting with the customer service team.5. Net Promoter Score (NPS):Measures the...

12 June, 2023

As was evident from summer 2022, our weather is changing, and heatwaves are becoming both more frequent and with greater extremes in temperature. Some people are more susceptible to the effects of hot weather than others and tragically the Office of National Statistics estimate there were around 3,000 excess deaths because of high temperatures last year. For businesses, extreme heat can have serious impacts such as equipment failure, lost stock, safety issues for staff and overall lower productivity.From a meteorological perspective, 1st June marks the start of summer and beginning of the Met Office and UKHSA heat-health alert service. This...

09 June, 2023

A trial to redirect Self Assessment queries from the helpline to HMRC's digital services will run between 12 June and 4 September 2023.HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will pilot a new seasonal model for the Self Assessment (SA) helpline, to prioritise helping those with urgent queries.For 3 months from 12 June 2023, HMRC will trial directing SA queries from the helpline to the department’s digital services, including its online guidance, digital assistant and webchat.This will free up 350 advisers (full-time equivalent) to take urgent calls on other lines and answer customer correspondence. If focused on urgent calls, these advisers will answer around 6,600 each...

08 June, 2023

The UK’s leading supplier of technology for the blind has praised a Northamptonshire recruitment firm for its understanding and attention to detail in sourcing people with not just the right skills but the right moral compass.Sight and Sound Technology, which supply the tools to enable those who are fully or partially blind to live life to the maximum, said family run recruitment consultancy Wills Consultants find “good people, not just good employees”.Kettering based husband and wife team Simon and Nikki Wills first started working with Sight and Sound CEO Glenn Tookey back in 2017, when - after being recommended by...

07 June, 2023

Essential maintenance work on a railway bridge on the A6 near Desborough will start this week.The works will involve removing the existing carriageway and verges to expose the bridge deck to apply a new waterproof coating.Once the waterproof coating has been installed the carriageway and verges will be re-instated. The works are to improve the lifetime of the structure.Because of the complexity of the work – a full road closure will be needed between the Desborough Road roundabout and the Braybrooke Road roundabout.The closure will be in place between 8pm on Friday, June 9 and 6am on Tuesday, June 13.A...

07 June, 2023