On the back of a sobering Autumn Statement last week, the CBI is arguing that while a deeper recession was averted, more needs to be done to improve the long-term growth potential of the UK. Tony Danker, CBI Director-General, will argue that while fiscal credibility looks to have been restored, there are three imperatives to get the economy growing: Government must now become the great unlocker of private investment; Government must change economic rules to overcome political barriers and businesses must show even greater ingenuity than during Covid. In the opening speech of the CBI Annual Conference 2022 in Birmingham – sponsored...

21 November, 2022

The Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) will play an essential role in helping deliver the commitments made by the Chancellor in yesterday’s Autumn Statement.Yesterday (Thursday 17 November), the Chancellor delivered his Autumn Statement to the House of Commons, announcing a raft of measures aimed at ensuring the UK’s economic stability, continuing growth, and providing support to the most vulnerable.The Chancellor highlighted how the government’s priority is to tackle inflation and prevent it eating into the paycheques and savings of people across the country, while eliminating disruption to business growth plans.Among the key measures that BEIS will be charged with delivering is...

18 November, 2022

Shoppers are being encouraged to support Kettering businesses next month for Small Business Saturday.The event, on 3 December, is a grassroots, UK-wide campaign which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to shop local.Kettering Town Council is working to get shoppers into the town with a series of events this Christmas.On Saturdays throughout the festive period, the council is running Christmas markets in the Market Place – and encouraging local traders to come and hire a stall.The markets feature a range of stalls, including craft and gifts as well as food and drinks. There will also be a range of...

17 November, 2022

The Chancellor has today (Thursday 17th November) announced his Autumn Statement, aiming to restore stability to the economy, protect high-quality public services and build long-term prosperity for the United Kingdom.Chancellor unveils a plan for stability, growth, and public services. Tackling inflation is top of the priority list to stop it eating into paycheques and savings, and disrupting business growth plans. To protect the most vulnerable the Chancellor unveiled £26 billion of support for the cost of living including continued energy support, as well as 10.1% rises in benefits and the State Pension and the largest ever cash increase in...

17 November, 2022

You can now see the future rateable value for your business property.The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has updated the rateable values of all business, and other non-domestic, property in England and Wales.These future rateable values will take effect from 1 April 2023.What does this mean?The information released today gives the future rateable values for non-domestic properties in England and Wales.You can check the factual information used for your valuation and tell the VOA if anything is wrong.The rateable value for your property is not what you pay in business rates or rent. Your local council uses the rateable value to...

17 November, 2022

In today’s Autumn Statement, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has unveiled a £13.6bn support package for businesses dealing with higher business rates bills, including freezing the business rates multiplier for another year, says commercial property agent Prop-Search.Delivering his first Autumn Statement as Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt confirmed that the next revaluation of rates will go ahead in April 2023 – the first update to reflect changes in property values since the last revaluation in 2017.  However, a warning was given that this could unfortunately result in increased costs due to inflation – so stated that – to help those facing higher bills, there...

17 November, 2022

The countdown is on to North Northamptonshire Council’s virtual climate change conference which takes place tomorrow.NNClimate22 will be broadcast live on YouTube on Thursday, November 17, starting at 9.30am with three sessions:Looking forward – our new low carbon future Sustainability and nature recovery – the way ahead The future of our communities – providing local solutionsA full list of the speakers is now available online. People are invited to submit questions in advance to form the basis of Q&A discussions which will follow each of the sessions.Questions can be submitted, along with the name of the relevant speaker, to NNClimate22@northnorthants.gov.ukThe day will feature keynote speakers...

16 November, 2022

Be like Santa Claus and support local businesses on your High Street is the message from North Northamptonshire Council as the countdown to Christmas begins and festive celebrations in the area are unwrapped.Returning for a second year, a heart-warming video showing how Santa is getting ready for the festive season will run alongside a social media campaign featuring independent businesses operating in North Northamptonshire’s town centres, and the reasons to shop and support local.The Christmas Hi Street campaign promotes all our towns have to offer including shopping, culture, food and drink, business, leisure, and health and beauty services, and aims to increase...

16 November, 2022

Small Business Saturday is a time to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities. This year, the SME Climate Hub know that small businesses need our support more than ever as they navigate, retool and pivot from the effects of the pandemic, while facing increased inflation and rising energy costs.With hundreds of competing demands, small businesses are likely to deprioritize climate action. However, this only continues the cycle of instability. Climate resilient businesses can benefit from reduced costs, increased access to capital, unique growth opportunities, and lower business risks — it’s in their best interest...

16 November, 2022

A review of the night-time economy in Northampton and Kettering will begin by asking members of the public how the towns can become even safer on an evening out.Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold is working with several partners to improve the safety of people, particularly women and girls, at night. The public survey is set to kick start a new programme of works that are being delivered in partnership with Night Time Economy Solutions (NTES).The survey will ask people why they visit the town centres, what kind of things they don’t like and what kind of experiences...

16 November, 2022

Wellingborough Town Council continues to be committed to making the town a better place to live, work and relax. They have created a list of aspirations that the Town Council are looking to provide for the community over the next five years. To help them, Wellingborough Town Council would ask that you read through the corporate plan booklet and complete our simple questionnaire about the services they plan to offer.The Town Council are keen to hear your views and suggestions, and this questionnaire is to establish whether these aspirations meet with the communities needs and whether there is support to...

15 November, 2022