Christmas has come early for four Northampton shoppers who have each won £500 in a ‘Golden Ticket’ giveaway.The competition, organised by Northampton Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID) saw thousands of shoppers enter by collecting entry forms from retailers and posting them into dedicated post boxes around the town.A prize draw carried out at Royal & Derngate by Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs panto star Ore Oduba then saw four lucky winners each receive £500 in vouchers to spend with national and independent retailers in Northampton town centre.Dale Welsh, aged 30 from Glebe Road, Northampton split his vouchers between...

As the festive season draws to a close and with it the Winter Light Trail at Delapré Abbey, organisers are thrilled to announce a show-stopping Boxing Day Sale, treating the people of Northampton to an exclusive 30% discount on all remaining tickets using the code BOXING30.Season Recap:The Winter Light Trail has been nothing short of a triumph, enchanting over 50,000 attendees this year. The captivating journey through Delapré Abbey's illuminated grounds has solidified its place as a beloved tradition, uniting families and friends in the spirit of festive joy and wonder.Feedback from customers has been exemplary this year; Kate M...

A kindhearted logistics firm will use its lorries and routing expertise to support Cynthia Spencer Hospice’s newly launched Christmas Tree Recycling Scheme.This environmentally friendly initiative offers a convenient way for households to dispose of their real Christmas trees while contributing to a worthy local cause.Xtra Express Logistics will collect the trees from postcodes across West Northamptonshire and use their vehicles to transport them to a chipping plant, sustainably repurposing them back into the local environment.Ecologically conscious residents can register their real Christmas trees for collection online until Tuesday 2nd January 2024.Xtra Express Logistics will then assist a team of dedicated...

An award-winning Northampton restaurant will ensure nobody goes hungry on Christmas Day by offering complimentary takeaways to the homeless community.Saffron, In Castilian Street, will be handing out a hot meal and a soft drink to those living on the streets between 2pm and 3pm on Christmas Day.Saffron manager Nahim Islam said: “Supporting the most vulnerable members of our society is a key priority for all of us over the festive period and providing a hot meal for those who find themselves without a roof over their heads on Christmas Day is the least we could do.“Christmas is a time where...

The West Northamptonshire SEND partnership is extending a special invitation to all stakeholders: a call for collective action and collaboration. The agenda is centred around an imperative dialogue on employment opportunities for young people with Special Educational Needs and/or disabilities (SEND). This crucial discussion will unfold at the upcoming 'Business Brunch.'This initiative follows the partnership's recent unveiling of a comprehensive three-year SEND and Alternative Provision Strategy. This strategic roadmap outlines the necessary enhancements required within the partnership-wide system to support young individuals with SEND or those in Alternative Provision over the next triennial period. Notably, within this blueprint, one of...

Join the team at Accommodation Concern for a night of fun and excitement on January 19th, 2024, at Wicksteed Park in Kettering.Accommodation Concern is hosting a fun Quiz Night. But this isn't just any ordinary event. By attending this incredible evening, you will be making a difference in the lives of those who need it most.  At Accommodation Concern, our mission is to prevent and relieve poverty and homelessness in North Northants. They go the extra mile by offering impartial and life-changing advice on housing, debt, and benefits. They empower individuals with the knowledge they need to overcome their challenges...

Help shape the future of the Greyfriars sites in Northampton as West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) seeks views on the first stage of engagement to ask the community their views on the emerging vision.Over 1,100 people have shared their feedback on the emerging vision, there are just a few weeks left to share your thoughts on how the site could be transformed.The online engagement launched on Tuesday, 5 December and will run through until Sunday, 7 January. Visit ampnorthampton.com to view the emerging vision to amplify the area and have your say.The area includes the former Greyfriars bus station site, the East and...

People across West Northamptonshire are being asked to share their views on the public e-scooters, to support councillors who are scrutinising the effectiveness of the scheme.As part of West Northamptonshire Council’s (WNC) Scrutiny process, the Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee is seeking people’s feedback on the scheme, which is currently operated by Voi and WNC in the Northampton and Moulton areas.The Committee is looking for evidence into the opportunities and issues around the e-scooter scheme, which has been running in the town since 2020.At their recent meeting (4 December), Scrutiny members decided to establish a task and finish group on...

The 2023 edition of the Northamptonshire Limited report has been published. Compiled by professional services firms Grant Thornton UK LLP and Howes Percival LLP, the report highlights the county’s entrepreneurial dynamism and business performance by analysing the Top 100 privately-owned businesses in Northamptonshire.Turnovers range from £18.3million at number 100 to £1.26billion at number one. The top spot was held by Avara Foods, based in Brackley, who supply chicken and turkey products to supermarkets and restaurants around the country.Overall, these 100 businesses generate £10billion in turnover and £664.7million in profit between them and employ more than 39,000 people around the county....

IT might be the most wonderful time of the year but it could also be the most dangerous according to the experts at Acorn Safety Services.With Christmas fast approaching health and safety might be the last thing on many people’s minds, but ignoring the basics could cause problems, leading to accidents which could easily be prevented.John Crockett, Health and Safety Manager at Acorn Safety Services said: “No-one wants to be killjoy, particularly at this time of year, but it’s really important to stay on top of health and safety as the big day approaches.“Think carefully about where you are putting...

Charities in Northampton are being urged to submit their ideas for how they can work with a town centre hotel to benefit both themselves and the community.The Northampton Town Centre Hotel, in Silver Street, is aiming to host a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style pitch in the New Year where charitable organisations will be given the chance to outline their vision for how they could establish a partnership with the hotel.The hotel is currently being upgraded to four stars as part of a seven-figure refurbishment that will see it become a 146-room Mercure next year. Parent company Accor announced the deal earlier...