Monday 15th  May 2023 is the start of Business Continuity Awareness week with the focus on “Embracing the challenge of resilience”, this is being led by the Business Continuity Institute (BCI).There are five areas of resilience, being focused on:Cyber resilience Supply chain resilience Operational resilience Personal resilience Organisational resilienceCyber ResilienceSafeguarding your digital infrastructure against cyber threats is paramount. Robust cyber security tools such as multi factor authentication, staff training to spot phishing attempts, and contingency planning are all part of a strong cyber resilience strategy.Supply Chain ResilienceYour Supply chain needs to be agile enough to swiftly adapt to disruptions....

15 May, 2023

Over 50 students will receive a £5,000 planning bursary, covering up to 50% of university fees, to support a career in planning.More students across England will benefit from a £5,000 bursary to pursue careers as planners designing greener neighbourhoods and thriving towns, the Housing Minister announced today.Over 50 young professionals with be offered a bursary through the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) to study a planning masters, attracting the next generation of students aspiring to train and work in the planning sector.This funding from the Department for Levelling Up will back more careers in the planning sector, helping councils recruit...

15 May, 2023

There is just under one week left to give your views on the proposed Walk and Cycle Plan for Kettering. Make sure you have had your say.To give feedback on any or all of the 14 proposed routes (good if you've a few minutes to spare and are interested in details), click here.To see the overall plan and give general feedback (good if you are in a hurry), click here.Views are sought from a wide representation of views from local people so please share with your friends and family too.   ...

13 May, 2023

BHVA Axis Hub CIC, a community interest company dedicated to promoting the creative arts on the High Street to bring communities together, is proud to announce the launch of its crowdfunding campaign to purchase the former Gala Bingo Hall on the High Street for the residents of Kettering and Northamptonshire.Beccy Hurrell and Lindsey Atkins, co-founders, want to bring back to life the old Granada Theatre in Kettering (also a former cinema and lastly a bingo hall), built by Princess Diana’s father. Their vision is to return the theatre, which once played host to the Rolling Stones, The Who, and Morecambe...

13 May, 2023

For a family fun-fuelled day out this May Half Term head to the Silverstone Museum.The museum has an array of exciting eye-catching displays and interactive activities on offer during its motor racing mad May Half Term of Fun, from May 27th to June 4th, including a guest appearance from presenter and author Fran Scott.The star of TV’s popular programme LEGO Masters will be visiting the museum on Saturday, 27th May for an exclusive family event to talk about her new book How to Build a Racing Car, where she will meet families and sign copies of her latest title.Engineer, pyrotechnician...

12 May, 2023

Focusing on family fun, great displays and a weekend of entertainment, the nostalgic event is set to be a date you can’t miss this August. The Northampton Balloon Festival is back this August after several years of postponement and this year is set to be a bigger event back at the event's original home of the Racecourse in Northampton town. On the 18th-20th August, you can enjoy a whole host of flights, sights, and family fun.The event is set to hold numerous hot air balloon launches, tethering and night glows. There will also be arena entertainment, live music, stalls, a...

12 May, 2023

HMRC interest rates for late payments will be revised following the Bank of England interest rate rise to 4.5%.The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee announced on 11 May 2023 to increase the Bank of England base rate to 4.5% from 4.25%.HMRC interest rates are linked to the Bank of England base rate.As a consequence of the change in the base rate, HMRC interest rates for late payment and repayment will increase.These changes will come into effect on:22 May 2023 for quarterly instalment payments 31 May 2023 for non-quarterly instalments paymentsInformation on the interest rates for payments will be updated shortly. How HMRC interest rates are...

11 May, 2023

Are you a business owner with questions on how to navigate mental health in the workplace?The latest SME Business Survey undertaken by Kettering people specialists HR Solutions showed that 85 percent of small business owners believe mental health at work is currently the most important area of health and safety.This is an increase of six percent on last year, which saw 79% of respondents choose mental health at work as the highest priority.Next week, as part of Mental Health Awareness Week (15th-21st May), HR Solutions knowledge manager Victoria Templeton and health and safety consultant Dom Greenwood will answer all questions...

11 May, 2023

Initial package of regulatory reform will reduce unnecessary regulation for businesses, cutting costs and allowing them to compete.Reducing burdensome red tape and tailoring rules to suit the UK economy could save employers around £1 billion a year First of a series of announcements taking advantage of the UK’s post-Brexit regulatory freedoms, delivering on our promise to grow the economyThe first dynamic package of deregulatory reforms to grow the economy, cut costs for businesses and support consumers was unveiled today.Taking advantage of post-Brexit freedoms, the Government will remove unnecessary red tape and regulatory burdens, ensuring rules and regulation for British...

11 May, 2023

Life-saving emergency services will benefit from greener zero-emission vehicles, thanks to £77 million in new funding for projects developing clean transport technologies, announced today.The HYER POWER project, to develop a hydrogen fuel-cell range extender for specialist electric vehicles in demanding roles like fire engines and ambulances, is just one of seven pieces of work across the UK that are getting joint Government and industry backing.The schemes, which range from work on battery-powered buses, to a hydrogen-powered version of the iconic Ford Transit van, will support more than 4,400 jobs across the UK over the next decade, from Bath to Ballymena.Investing...

10 May, 2023

Have your say before 7 June on proposals to disclose more information on business rates valuations.The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is asking for views on disclosing more information on business rates valuations.This includes having access to:an analysis of the evidence used to calculate the rateable value of your property an explanation of how evidence has been used.The proposed changes follow the government’s review of the business rates system.We welcome views from:ratepayers (including occupiers or tenants of non-domestic properties who do not pay business rates due to reliefs) landlords rating agents business representative bodies local authorities other stakeholders interested...

10 May, 2023