OCTOBER 2006
31/10/2006 - £1.3 million Investment in Northampton Town Centre
Today WNDC Board Members backed £1.3 million pounds investment of Growth Area Funding for three cultural projects in Northampton town centre. The projects are £800,000 for the Royal and Derngate Theatre enabling redevelopment and theatre performances to be taken out to the wider community; a further £450,000 enabling the improvements fo the world class 78 and 82 Derngate visitor attraction. Northampton Arts Collective will receive £50,000 to enhance the quality and availability of space for local artists in the Fishmarket. Collectively these projects will add to the town centre's cultural offer, attracting both local residents and visitors to the town. Roger Mendonca said: "WNDC is delighted to be supporting these initiatives and demonstrate our commitment to Northampton town centre". Final approval to the investment will now be sought from DCLG.
31/10/2006 - Falling in Love with Northampton
Yesterday evening guests from around Northamptonshire were entertained with an inspirational presentation on 'the art of city making' by Charles Landry, founder of Comedia, Europe's leading cultural planning consultancy; Charles has delivered projects in over 35 countries including Canada, Japan, Australia and Russia, in addition to many European Cities. Parading a series of visual images including those of Northampton town centre Charles said Northampton cxould become a great place retaining the quality of the small and unique with the buzz of the big place; people need to fall in love with Northampton be it for the first time or all over again; and that ordinary people speaking the needs of different generations can make the extraordinary happen if given the chance. During the thought provoking event, Charles talked about the big new agenda 'creating the best places for the world' not 'creating the best places in the world'; considering not just day to day living requirements of residents but the bigger picture of the links between planning and the health of the nation. Charles highlighted the need for governance to be strategically principled yet tactically flexible, commmenting that many people go into politics to do a good job, however, they often find that once appointed regulation presides over creativity. Challenging those inpower to think differently he said that those in control need to start thinking out of the box, avoiding the silo mentality and remember that what was great in the pastmay not be so great today. The event was the second in a series of three lectures organised by WNDC and the University of Northampton on the 'Future of the City'.
27/10/2006 - Presentation Celebrates First Contact Centre Course Successes
Successful candidates from the first cohort of the new Certificate in Management Studies (CMS) for Contact Centres at The University of Northampton will have their efforts celebrated at a special presentation morning on Friday, 10 November 2006. Six candidates from Avon, Northamptonshire County Council and Dataforce have all completed the pilot programme of the CMS, which started at the University in March 2006. Running from 10.30am - 12.30pm at Sunley Management Centre, the candidates will be presented with certificates and guests will hear from a range of speakers, including delegates, their employers and industry specialists, demonstrating how the course could benefit other contact centre operations. Tracy Forskitt, New Business Executive, Sunley Management Centre, commented: "We've invited an extensive range of businesses to attend the celebratory morning to find out more about how to achieve best practice in contact centre management and operations. It will hopefully be beneficial to meet other well-known organisations who have been through the first cohort of the course, which isthe first of its kind in the UK." The University is now recruiting for future cohorts of the Certificate in Management Studies for Contact Centres, starting in December 2006 and March 2007. For further information, please contact the University Freephone on 0800 358 2232 or email: study@northampton.ac.uk.
25/10/2006 - The Race is on for SED 2007
It's all systems go for SED (Site Equipment Demonstration) 2007 which is taking place from 22nd to 24th May at Rockingham Motor Speedway, in Corby Northamptonshire. The new custom-built venue has proved to be a big hit and to date almost 200 companies have committed to exhibiting at the UK's 41st biggest all-action plant show - The National Event for Construction. SED is planning a number of new intiiatives for the 2007 event to improve the visitor experience; Mark Bresnahan, SED's exhibitions director reported: "At SED 2007 we are introducing 'Free Parking', improved show signange and a bespoke and flexible traffic management plan, where we are loking at the possiblity of opening extra entrances to Rockingham Motor Speedway, in collaboration with the local police force, local authorities and a traffic management specialist. There will also be SED FM, a show radio station, providing real time traffic information and useful new product and show news features." SED has also announed a joint venture with Sloane Helicopters for a park and fly option. Just a short 8 minute flight to and from the show, for full details visit the SED website at www.sed.co.uk. Volvo Construction Equipment, Caterpillar/Finning, New Holland, Takeuchi, Kubota, Ammann and Terex have booked stand space in the Site Equipment Zone for the 2007 event. New Holland's communication manager, Joanne Langton, said: "At SED 2006 we had enormous interest in the Blade Runner on our stand, we experienced an unprecedented number of enquiries from potential customers, several of whom wanted to take the show machine immediately." Takeuchi also reported a good show with a number of machines sold from the stand to brand new customers. There were plenty of sales too at the Caterpillar/Finning stand. Eddie Donald, Caterpillar/Fanning's product manager said: "I was really delighted with the show and with the stand." Russon Access Platforms is back in the Cranes & Access Village as is Genie UK, Mantis Cranes, JLG Industries, Scanlift and Versalift Distributors. Russon could boast perhaps the biggest deal closed at SED 2006: 25 booms, a mix of 180ATJ's and 160ATJ's to Suffolk hire firm Forkrent. Donavan Jenkin, managing director of CGCS Midlands wasted no time in securing space in the Site Clearance Zone for 2007, as the 2006 show was a resounding success - Jenkin reported: "The first couple of days were so successful for us I was forced to race home and pick up more brochures!" Other companies to look out for include Global Recycling Solutions (formerly BE Recycling). At SED 2006 the company sold a 3680 Beast Recycler and a Dragon Palette demolition head off stand to Wood-Yew-Waste in Plymouth. Paul Cauldwell, Global Recycling Solutions managing director said, "We had a good show securing some excellent leads and significant sales". 2006 was Custodia Systems first ever SED, the company has re-booked in the Pavilion for the forthcoming show. Peter Thompson, managing director of Custodia Systems said: "SED provided an excellent opportunity to showcase our theft recovery product range. All products were very well received by SED visitors, with impressive numbers of sales and qulaity leads achieved on all 3 days of the exhibition." Igus, the chain experts, also did a roaring trade - its stand in the Pavilion was buzzing! Igus has since secured its 2007 stand. Igus product director Matthew Aldridge said, "We were surprised and of course thrilled with the huge number of orders for Igus UK's latest heavy duty energy chains." The 2007 Concrete Show is filling up and confirmed exhibitors to date include: Peri, Armcon Cementech Europe, Xact Mixers, Mek-Tek and Reimer Europe. Peter Stenning, PERI's managing director said, "The show was a great success for PERI. Three new products were exhibited for the first time and these generated a great deal of interest. "Thew new scaffolding system, PERI UP, has already generated advance orders in excess of £1m." Mek-Tek was equally impressed with SED 2006. The company's chairman, Bob Prince, said: "The company had a great show, the stand was so busy that I didn't have time to look around the other exhibits!" It's also revving up in the Truck Zone for 2007, the place for commercial vehicles of all shapes and sizes, sponsored each year by Commercial Motor. This year's exhibitors include Mercedes-Benz, Vauxhall Motors, Nissan Motors and Scania Trucks. Take a look at the SED website for a full exhibitor list, news and information on the show, you can also book accommodation. The comprehensive website is updated weekly. Visit www.sed.co.uk. Don't forget to book out teh 22nd - 24th May in your diary and if you haven't yet visited our new venue at Rockingham Motor Speedway - you don't know what you're missing - 20,459 visitors in 2006 can't wrong!
Source: Rockingham Motor Speedway
12/10/2006 - Excellence Centres on Daventry College
A new centre of excellence offering training for people entering the logistics sector has opened at Northampton College in Daventry. The CoVE (Centre of Vocational Excellence) was launched last Friday at the Badby Road West Campus amid a varied timetable of events and workshops. To make way for the new facilities, part of the college has been remodelled and will now deliver extensive skills and training in logistics, including apprenticeships and NVQs. Professor Alan Wallwe, vice-president of supply chain innovation at Solving International, was invited as the keynote guest speaker. In the day's programme, college principal Len Closs said: "Today marks the culmination of many months of hard work by numerous members of the college' staff, supported by the Learning and Skills Council and Skills for Logistics staff. "As such, this day is as much a celebration of their dedication and effort as it is about launching our new centre in appropriate style." Last week he said the new facilities were an 'exciting venture' for the college and theu would bring positive effects to the logistics industry in the Daventry area. The CoVE includes a state-of-the-art conference facility and an administration and management centre. It is the second such centre to open in the East Midlands, adding to one at North Nottinghamshire College.
Source: Daventry Express
12/10/2006 - New Office Could Bring 100 Jobs
11/10/2006 - New Business New Life Announces Key Speaker for Northampton Event
The New Business New Life campaign, designed to give people in the East Midlands the inforamtion and assistance they need to start their own business, has announced that Tom Edge, one of the UK's leading experts in the practical aspects of starting and running a business, and Tina Knight, entrepreneur and Chairman of Nighthawk Enterprises, will be speaking at the New Business New Life road show in Northampton on Saturday 11th November. Tom Edge has been helping businesses to set up, survive and prosper for over 25 years. He is a successful businessman who has helped over 25,000 businesses with his high profile workshops and seminars. His company, Training Projects, and Tom's seminars, CD's and books are inspiring entrepreneurs all over the UK. Tom is principle speaker at the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies (NEFA), Conference this year delivering the topic: "How to start and grow a business". Tom has also written a business book called 'Over50.Biz - age is now barrier' and appeared on Radio and TB. As a 'Business Guru' he is helping people identify and solve problems in areas of start-up, sales, marketing, customer service, and staff motivation. Tina Knight bcame owner and Managing Director of Nighthawk Electronics Ltd, a world leader in the field of computer resource sharing devices, in 1985. She started Nighthawk Electronics with an initial investment of £4,000 and within three years, sales turnover had risen to over £2 million. Tina owns a number of companies including Nighthawk Enterprises and sits on the board of companies in both the private and public sectors. She is also a Director of J.I.T. International, a non-profit making company that provides training and encouragement to women in third world countries who are seeking to become business entrpreneurs. Tina is involved with the Essex Board of the Prince's Youth Business Trust, RFCA (Reserve Forces and Cadets Association of East Anglia), the Small Business Bureau's Policy Advisory Unit to the Government, the China-Britain Trade Group and she was one of the first women to be appointed director of a government Training and Enterprise Council. She has recently served as a member of the East of England Industrial Development Board of the Governments Department of Trade and Industry. Tom and Tina will bring their wealth of business and entrepreneurial experience to the New Business New Life roadshow in Northampton in order to help people gain all the useful information that theu can to become self emplyed. Tom and Tina will speak about how they would have done things differently if they had had the knowledge that they now have, how they made it happen for themselves, what obstacles theu encountered and how they overcame these. The event will be held in Northamptonshire on Saturday 11th November, at the County Cricket Club in Northampton, between 11.00am and 5.00pm and will include seminars, exhibitors and speeches from Tom Edge and Tina Knight. Tina will be giving her short speech at 12.05pm and Tom will be giving his at 14.50pm. They will bpth talk about thier business experience and how they became an entrepreneur. Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask them any questions that they may have. The Northampton event is part of a series of road shows running across the East Midlands throughout October and November and forms part of a wider New Business New Life campain - run by the East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and delivered through Business Link - designed to stimulate local enterprise and sustainable new business growth. The campaign is being promoted through the events and through Starter Packs that can be registered for online and which contain valuable information for new businesses and entrpreneurs. John O'Reilly, Business Support Director for emda, said: "New Business New Life is an excellent vehicle to promote the business start-up agenda. The new Regional Economic Strategy, co-ordinated by emda and published in July 2006, suggests that more responsive business support is needed. This is why we are committed to continuing and evolving the New Business New Life campaign, so if you are thinking of starting your own business, I would urge you register for your Starter Pack and book your place at one of the road show events now".If you are interested in receiving a Starter Pack or want more information on the New Business New Life campaign call 0845 155 0144 or visit www.newbusiness-newlife.com.
New Business New Life Roadshows are scheduled for:
- 14/10/2006 - Assembly Rooms, Derby (11.00-17.00)
- 23/10/2006 - Leicester City Football Club Walkers Stadium (12.00-20.00)
- 04/11/2006 - The Lawn, Lincoln (11.00-16.00)
- 11/11/2006 - Northamptonshire County Cricket Club (11.00-17.00)
- 15/11/2006 - Mansfield Civic Centre (12.00-20.00)
05/10/2006 - Corby Launches Campaign to Woo Londoners
Corby in Northamptonshire is the subject of a major new place marketing campaign aimed at attracting Londoners to move to the East Midlands town. The first tranche of the £1.2m campaign kicks off on the 4th October 2006 with an eight week splash across the capital's print and broadcast media. Advertorial, adverts, and inserts are set to run with the Evening Standard, ES Magazine, London Lite and www.thisislondon.co.uk website. In addition, 60-second ads, voiced by Stephen Fry, will be aired on two of London's leading commercial radio stations, Magic and Heart. Commuters and city dwellers will also be targeted through escalator panel advertising in key Zone One underground stations. The Urban Regeneration Company, North Northants Development Company (NNDC), is behind the campaign, which is part of it's long-term strategy for the successful regeneration of Corby, a former steel town. The campaign has also backed and funded by key stakeholders in Corby including Bee Bee Developments, Cofton Ltd, English Partnerships, Land Securities, and major UK Housebuilders. Creative for the campaign has been carried out by Creative Lynx, the Manchester-based design house, which has established an award-winning reputation in the field of place marketing over the last 20 years. The campaign is aimed at Londoners looking to swap the congestion and over-priced housing of London for the green space, fresh air and affordable new homes now found in Corby. First-time buyers, young professional saddled with bank-busting mortgages and expanding families will all be targeted by a series of adverts, which promise 'More room to breathe', 'More time to relax' and 'More for your money' in Corby. A 65-minute journey to St Pancras via Kettering, Corby is looking to attract commuters with new four-bedroom, detached houses available from just £177,000*. But, the campaign will also be seeking to tap into the new property market trend of greenshifting, i.e. city dwellers who are upping sticks in search of more open space and better quality of life. Primarily the campaign will aim to put Corby on the map of would-be buyers. Research carried out prior to the campaign revealed that a lot of people thought Corby was in the north of England. The reality is very different. With its proximity to London and major regional airports, Corby is potentially a prime location for housebuyers. As a result of major, on-going investment in the town's regeneration programme, Corby is building a reputation as a property hotspot. Good schools, the complete re-development of the town's shopping and civic centre and consistently low levels of unemployment have resulted in most of the major UK housebuilders coming to the area over the past four years.
The advertising campaign will be supported by an Information Line - 0800 068 0165 and the launch of a new website - www.moreincorby.co.uk - which will provide potential buyers with all the information they could possibly require on the town and plans for its future. A major public relations drive will also form an important part of the campaign led by the London-based agency ING MEDIA. Bob Lane, Chief Executive of NNDC, said: "Corby has made great progress in recent years and now is the time to tackle wider perceptions and really open people's eyes to what the corough already has to offer in terms of open space, affordable homes and the exciting changes taking place in the town centre".
*Price as at September 2006.
Source: North Northants Development Company - http://www.nndev.co.uk