A health and safety consultancy from Northampton has been named as a finalist in the Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards (NBEAs), set to take place next month.Acorn Safety Services has been shortlisted for the Innovation Award at the prestigious ceremony taking place on Thursday 7th November at The County Cricket Ground, Northampton.The award recognises businesses that demonstrate originality and creativity in implementing change and make a significant contribution to their industry through the introduction or improvement of an idea, method, technology, process or application.In the last 12 months, not only has Acorn Safety Services moved to new, larger premises and grown...

01 November, 2024

Torrential rain didn’t stop determined golfers from raising £27,700 for Cynthia Spencer Hospice at the charity’s annual golf day.The fundraiser, which has been running since 2018 and for the past two years has been sponsored by Northampton-based marketing agency The Brady Creative, saw more than 130 golfers play at Northampton Golf Club.Many were local businesspeople, including representatives from Bechtle, Smurfit Westrock, Digital Origin Solutions Limited, and Xtra Express Logistics.As well as raising vital funds for the hospice, the event also offered a fantastic networking opportunity for those who attended.Each team enjoyed breakfast before a shotgun start at midday. After the...

01 November, 2024

More than a third of Northamptonshire people are now living in ‘financially vulnerable circumstances’.These are the results of a two-year UK study from not-for-profit financial inclusion organisation Fair4All Finance, which has concluded that 37% of people in West Northamptonshire and 39% of people in North Northamptonshire are now financially vulnerable.The report also found that 37% of households in the wider East Midlands suffered from financial vulnerability – a rise of 17% in the past two years – and cited factors such as rising living costs, low or unstable incomes, persistent debt and a lack of ‘safety nets’ such as insurance,...

01 November, 2024

In a move to drive continued success and growth, Corby-based See Limited has appointed Daniel McNerney as its new managing director.The appointment comes at an exciting time for the group holding company, who walked away with a national award for sustainability at the recent National Building & Construction Awards.Daniel has played an integral part of a successful period at See Limited, having previously worked as managing director of Bousfields, one of the company’s operating businesses. He will use his insights and understanding of both its fabrication and distribution arm to help drive continued success.As managing director of See Limited, he...

01 November, 2024

Today, Chancellor Rachel Reeves presented the most significant tax-raising budget in modern British history, positioning businesses as a key source of funds to address the UK’s £22 billion budget deficit and maintain critical public spending. Making history as the first woman to deliver a budget, Reeves outlined an Autumn Statement with policies aimed to generate an additional £40 billion in annual revenue from the corporate sector for the upcoming financial year. This marks the first Labour Autumn Statement in 14 years and sets a new tax record, with the percentage of GDP collected in taxes projected to hit 38% by...

30 October, 2024

The Government has failed to deliver its promise of business rates reform in today’s budget, says commercial property specialist Prop-Search, despite repeated calls from industry for a total overhaul of the existing system which discourages investment.In her first Budget as Chancellor under the new Labour Government, Rachel Reeve’s announcements were desperately disappointing despite pre-election promises of business rates reform.Samantha Jones, an Associate Director and Retail Specialist at Prop-Search, said: “Nothing significant was announced – there is to be no consultation on the current outdated system, just the production of a discussion document.”“Whilst the new Government says it believes a fair...

30 October, 2024

The Government has today announced its acceptance of the Low Pay Commission’s (LPC) recommendations on the rates of the National Minimum Wage (NMW), including the National Living Wage (NLW). The rates which will apply from 1 April 2025 are as follows:NMW Rate Increase (£) Percentage increaseNational Living Wage (21 and over) £12.21 £0.77 6.718-20 Year Old Rate £10.00 £1.40 16.316-17 Year Old Rate £7.55 £1.15 18.0Apprentice Rate £7.55 £1.15 18.0Accommodation Offset £10.66 £0.67 6.7The LPC’s recommendations meet the remit set by the Government. The recommended NLW rate is expected to equal two-thirds of median earnings and to have the highest real value in the history of the UK’s minimum wage. The increase in the 18-20 Year Old...

29 October, 2024

Continuing in its run of award wins, Corby-based See Limited has scooped their first national award for Sustainability at this year’s National Building & Construction Awards.This latest accolade, presented at a black tie event in London, follows hot on the tails of the company winning the prestigious Green Award at this year’s NNBN Awards.The group holding company, responsible for operating businesses Performance Panels and Bousfields involved in the supply, distribution and fabrication of wood veneer and decorative laminate panels, was recognised for its contribution to the global effort to fight climate change, having implemented an Annual Carbon Footprint Report; formed...

28 October, 2024

The University of Leicester School of Business has supported over 350 SMEs through the 90% government-funded Help to Grow: Management programme and provides an additional bursary enabling businesses, social enterprises and community interest companies to benefit on a fully-funded basis.With a 50-hour commitment over 12 weeks, the course makes it possible to balance working on the future of your business with existing work and personal responsibilities.The combination of online and face-to-face sessions reduces the time you need to attend in person, while still providing you with the benefit of face-to-face time with our experts and your fellow business leaders, for...

25 October, 2024

A collection of images taken by a local photographer have been used to highlight the impact of a Northamptonshire hospice.Nick Freeman, of Nick Freeman Photography, was originally commissioned by Cransley Hospice Trust to take photographs of the team for a new website earlier this year. However, when the Cransley Hospice team were thinking of ways to mark Hospice Care Week in October, they realised they could use the striking images to highlight the different emotions felt by staff who worked at or for the hospice.Speaking at the official opening of the ‘Because Every Moment Matters’ photography exhibition, Jenine Rees, marketing...

25 October, 2024

Two vaccination clinics will be held at Corby Foodbank, based at St Peter & St Andrew’s Church on Beanfield Avenue, during November and December.The clinics are open to anyone who is eligible for Covid, Flu, MMR, RSV and whooping cough vaccinations.Covid and flu vaccinations will be available for the over 65s or those who are immunosuppressed, while the MMR is available to all. The whooping cough vaccination is suitable for pregnant women and children up to age 9, while pregnant women and the over 75-79s will be eligible for the RSV vaccination.Blood pressure checks for the over 40s will also...

25 October, 2024