Cransley Hospice Trust have partnered with talented local potter Louise Crookenden-Johnson to create a 25th anniversary art installation “Robins appear when loved ones are near”.  The anniversary art installation will be made up of 500 individually hand crafted limited edition clay robins at the newly refurbished Chester House Estate in June.These are not just robins, they are limited edition robins, each stamped with a number between 1 and 500 and designed as a bird feeder with a hollow back for bird seed to attract other feathered friends into gardens, to bring a little joy even on the darkest of days.The...

15 February, 2023

The DWP has signed the Age-friendly Employer Pledge, a nationwide programme run by the Centre for Ageing Better to promote age inclusive working practices.The Department for Work and Pensions recognises the immense benefit that a multigenerational workforce brings and will encourage other government departments and employers to sign up.Permanent Secretary Peter Schofield CB said:“I am very proud that DWP is leading the way as a workplace where all our staff can thrive – whether at the start of their career or experienced members of the workforce.“Signing this pledge shows our continued determination to support our colleagues throughout their working life. From offering...

14 February, 2023

The British Independent Retailers Association has said that news big retailers such as TK Maxx and New Look are exiting the high street is leaving it 'fragille'.BIRA, which works with over 6,000 independent businesses of all sizes across the UK, has said that the cost of living crisis, along with the impact of covid and soaring energy costs are continuing to crush the high street even further.Figures released from the Centre for Retail Research have shown that almost 50 shops are closing a day, however the larger stores are now starting to also exit, including Paperchase, House of Fraser, New Look...

14 February, 2023

The National Trust at Lyveden have partnered with Tresham College (part of The Bedford College Group) in Kettering and Corby to create a unique art exhibition ‘Views on Lyveden’, which opens 1st March.Art students visited the Elizabethan site, including the beautiful Manor House,16th century lodge, and 140acres of orchards and meadows - harbouring secret religious symbolism. There they learned the captivating story of its former owner Sir Thomas Tresham, who lived as a Catholic during Protestant Tudor England, and [after whom their college was named].Inspired by their visit, the students created a variety of pieces, reflecting on themes from religious...

14 February, 2023

At the Cabinet meeting on Monday, 13 February, West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) presented its baseline emissions report for 2021-22; taking a step forward in meeting its sustainability goal to be net zero by 2030.Sustainability is high on the agenda for WNC with work already underway to make West Northants a sustainable place to live. In response to the UN’s 2030 Sustainability agenda, the United Kingdom has adopted its own sustainability agenda. The Government called upon local authorities to support in delivering these targets.This report provides a robust set of baseline CO2e emissions data for the Council’s first year, April 2021...

14 February, 2023

Businesses across the UK will benefit from a share of more than £12 million government funding to help energy-intensive industries cut their carbon emissions and energy costs.The funding for the 22 winning projects will help businesses across England, Wales and Northern Ireland clean up their industrial processes and improve their energy efficiency – benefiting industries including pharmaceuticals, steel, paper, and food and drink.This £12.4 million funding was awarded as part of the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF), which has awarded grants to British projects across the country to increase the energy efficiency of their industrial processes, from car manufacturing to...

13 February, 2023

West Northamptonshire Council’s Cabinet has set out proposed changes to next year’s budget to address people’s concerns on key local issues like parking and potholes.At their meeting tonight (Monday, 13 February), Cabinet members unveiled plans to invest an extra £1m in the year ahead towards repairing local roads, which have been hit hard by this winter’s particularly harsh temperatures. The new funding pot is in response to residents’ calls for action in the recent budget consultation and in addition to funding already earmarked for maintaining highways in 2023/24.Having also listened to feedback from residents and businesses around the budget proposals...

13 February, 2023

Residents, businesses, organisations, and visitor attractions are being urged to have their say and help shape the future of Northamptonshire’s visitor and tourism sector.A new survey, launched jointly by North Northamptonshire Council and West Northamptonshire Council, is inviting people to share their priorities and wish lists for the county’s visitor economy.This survey, which touches on all the elements that attract visitors to Northamptonshire as well as the infrastructure and services that support the county’s tourism sector, has been designed to encourage people to share their views on everything from Northamptonshire’s public transport and public right of ways to the county’s...

13 February, 2023

A Northamptonshire estate agent kicked off 2023 with a surge in home valuation requests.The beginning of January saw the number of people sending a request to Belvoir to value their home at its third largest on record.In total, the first week of 2023 was the busiest for home valuation requests since August 2022.Property asking prices are up by 6.3% year-on-year in Northamptonshire and although average asking prices are still £8,720 lower than their peak in October, after two months of falls, they increased by 0.9% (+£3,301) in January. This is the biggest increase at this time of year since 2020.While...

11 February, 2023

Northamptonshire Membership organisation, NNBN are delighted to announce an exciting new addition to their organisation thanks to The CPD Group.Members and attendees to NNBN events and workshops will be able to earn CPD credits towards their professional development to help grow, not only their businesses, but also their own knowledge and development. At the end of every event, a QR code will be provided to attendees who are interested in gaining CPD credits and each delegate or attendee will receive a certificate signed by our Director Simon Cox as confirmation that they attended NNBN events.NNBN Director Simon Cox said “We’re...

09 February, 2023

Parents who are anxious about the future employment prospects of their teenager and twenty-something children can join two special events at The Bedford College Group.During National Apprenticeship Week 2023 events will be staged from 5 - 8 pm at Tresham College, Kettering on Tuesday 7th February and again on Thursday 9th February at Bedford College, specially aimed at parents.Local and national employers and agencies involved in apprenticeships will be there to showcase the many opportunities, and there will advice and guidance on how exactly today’s apprenticeship schemes work. These can range from 16 -year-olds going straight from school into work,...

08 February, 2023