Northampton Film Festival (NFF) has issued a call to all Northants creatives working in, or aspiring to work in, the Creative Industries to complete a short online consultation about the sector locally.NFF Director Becky Carrier says, “We ran our first Creative Industries Expo in Nov 2023 including a session which asked 'What does Northants really need to prosper in the Creative Industries?'. Some very interesting conversations started as a result of that session and we found there was lots of synergy about what those in the room thought might make the Northants creative scene stronger, so this consultation is about...

17 April, 2024

New national league tables have revealed Northampton College is now the fifth best-performing college in the country.Data released as part of the latest 2022/23 National Achievement Rates Tables (NART) shows Northampton College is placed fifth out of 225 colleges for 16 to 18-year-old education and training.  The College was rated 10th for its adult provision and given an overall rating of fifth nationally.The rating cements Northampton College’s position as the leading provider of Further Education in the Midlands, and among the very best in the whole country, thanks to a continuing and determined focus on ensuring each individual student reaches...

16 April, 2024

A new multi-purpose room designed ‘to bring the outside in’ has opened at Cynthia Spencer Hospice.The beautifully refurbished Woodlands Room offers hospice patients the chance to experience the peace and calm of the forest in a comfortable setting.There is suitable access for those who are bedbound, and the room is also available to patients’ families for parties or events.It was recently used for the hospice’s annual Easter trail and has also housed wellbeing groups, clinical team meetings and staff training.The space was funded primarily through a legacy gift, as well as donations from the Phillips Charitable Trust, with the support...

16 April, 2024

An arts academy for people with learning disabilities in Northamptonshire is holding its first showcase at Royal & Derngate.Performed by Cube Disability Arts Academy, the show on Saturday 20th April has a ‘Night at the Movies’ theme. It will feature special guests from the West End and be hosted by Liam McHugh, who also tutors the Academy on Fridays.The Cube Disability Arts Academy was established in 2017 by Northamptonshire’s largest independent care provider for adults with autism and learning disabilities, Cube Disability, to embrace everyone’s talents and abilities and provide a space in which people with learning disabilities and autism...

16 April, 2024

Businesses in West Northamptonshire can now access a new decarbonisation support programme aimed at helping them to reach net zero and achieve their sustainability goals, including free business support, tailored energy audits and match funding up to £20,000 to implement energy efficiency measures.The programme is specifically tailored to help small and medium sized businesses make the transition to net zero and implement their sustainability plans and has received £630,854 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), a central part of the Government’s Levelling Up agenda.The Net Zero West Northants project combines technical advice and diagnostic work with access...

15 April, 2024

LUXURY lifestyle store Bell of Northampton has unveiled a new-look Bell BBQ Shop bringing together some of the biggest brands in outdoor living as barbecue season gets underway.The shop, which is situated within the showroom at Bell of Northampton on Kingsthorpe Road, is the place to be for barbecues, outdoor kitchens and accessories, with something to suit every budget, every cuisine and every garden space.Richard Kingston, Departmental Director – Fires, Stoves and Outdoor Living said: “We are delighted to be unveil our new-look Bell BBQ Shop to our customers, just in time for the start of the summer season.“After months...

12 April, 2024

A Northamptonshire charity which supports autistic adults, people with learning disabilities and individuals with mental health needs is recruiting.Teamwork Trust, which has day centres in Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough, is seeking to strengthen its trustee board ahead of the launch of its new three-year strategy and is particularly keen on recruiting a new trustee who has expertise in commercial property as well as a parent/carer who cares for someone with a learning disability or autism.Helen Burdett-Wright, Chief Executive at Teamwork Trust, explained: “We will be launching our new three-year strategy this spring, so it is a particularly exciting time to...

11 April, 2024

Grants of up to £20,000 are available from the University of Bedfordshire to local businesses as part of a new programme launched by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) to deliver business support, growth and innovation in the region.The initiative seeks to forge pathways to innovation while fostering a dynamic business ecosystem that fuels local pride, skill enhancement, and the expansion of employment opportunities, with £325,000 in funding available as part of the support package.As part of this comprehensive programme, the University will deliver business growth initiatives, including activities designed to empower businesses with innovation and technological support, enhancing their productivity and...

11 April, 2024

Axil, announces their 2023 Impact Report showing significant strides in its sustainability journey, marking a significant transformation from the 2022 baseline figures.With innovation and people-centric practices, Axil is reshaping sustainable business operations, empowering clients to surpass environmental and social commitments.The environmental total waste management leaders, based in the Midlands since 2018, surpassed all expectations for 2023 with advancements in sustainability and social responsibility, confirming their commitment to driving positive change within the industry and beyond. Some comparisons to 2022:197% surge in employee community support hours: Axil's dedication to social responsibility. 32,270 surplus products reused and redistributed: Supporting the social...

10 April, 2024

West Northamptonshire’s fleet of highways machinery is preparing to roll out the summer road maintenance programme, focusing on majorLike many councils, West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) faces the challenge of roads deteriorating during cold and wet winter weather, needing urgent action. Over the years, here as well as elsewhere, there has been a gradual decline in road conditions due to available budgets and funding not being able to keep up. WNC is prioritising essential work, alongside a comprehensive maintenance plan for the year. However, adverse weather conditions, including record rainfall since October, have hindered schedules.WNC and its highways partner, Kier, will...

10 April, 2024

Founder of No Fuss Meals for Busy Parents CIC Milly Fyfe is reflecting on the success of the social enterprise since it’s formation one year ago.No Fuss Meals for Busy Parents provides a connection between food grown in the UK and how to make a tasty meal from scratch with easy to follow recipe ideas, promoting what is in season and interviews with UK farmers and growers. The aim is to help more people to come away from a reliance on ultra processed food, which will improve health and nutrition as well as supporting the farming community with promotion of...

10 April, 2024