SEPTEMBER 2006
29/09/2006 - Daventry Goes for £110m Investment
Public sector investment of more than £15 million has been secured for the regeneration of Daventry town centre. The funds from Daventry District Council, Northamptonshire County Council, West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC) and economic development firm Northamptonshire Enterprise are expected to lever in £95 million from private developers, WNDC said. Daventry is part of the Milton Keynes - South Midlands growth area: more than 6,000 homes are planned for the town by 2021 and the town centre's regeneration is planned to support this growth. The first phase of the regeneration includes road improvements that will release land for commercial and retail use. A footbridge wiil be built to link the town centre and future housing developments. WNDC regeneration manager Paul Quinn said infrastructure development had to be conducted in parallel with housing growth. "Daventry is going to grow enormously. We need to improve the retail, employment and leisure offer ahead of the new homes being built," he said. Source: Regeneration & Renewal : 29/09/06
13/09/2006 - Church's Shoes Exhibit at Northampton Museum
A new exhibition which chronicles the story of Church's shoes opens at the Northampton Museum and Art Gallery next week (16th September). The story of Church's shoes began in the late 1600s when a lone Northampton man called Stone Church began making shoes. His skills were passed on through four generations of shoemakers to his great, great grandsons, Thomas, Alfred and William Church. In 1873 the three brothers expanded the family's cottage making industry and Chuch's Shoes was born. The exhibition called 'With these hands we make great shoes' is enjoying its first ever showing at the Northampton Museum and Art Gallery. Exciting information about Church's past will be revelaed as well as a look at the company's present day image and exploration of what the future holds for this world-class brand. In a layout uniquely designed for the show, Church's has incorporated sound and images to tell the story of its past. A replica store like the ones found in Hong Kong, New York and Milan helps to give visitors a tast of the authentic Church's experience. The exhibition has been organised by Northampton Borough Councilas part of its commitment to providing quality education and promoting learning throughout life. Councillor Penny Flavell, Northampton Borough Council cabinet member responsible for museums, said: "The story of Church's Shoes goes back over 133 years, from a small Northampton shoemaker to an international brand distributing in over 70 countries. Northampton has a long and illustrious association with the shoe industry, and has played a key part in Church's success. We are proud to have such a dynamic and lively company as an ambassador for our town and we hope that people will enjoy learning about the company's history and its association with our town." Stephen Etheridge, Church's Group chief executive, said: "Northampton has a long and proud association with the footwear industry and the town has played a key pivotal role in Church's success and continued growth. The Northampton Museum is now one of the premier reference points for the shoe industry in the world, and we are delighted to be able to launch this exhibition in collaboration with them." 'With these hands we make great shoes' will be showing at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery until 3 December 2006. Running alongside the exhibition there will be weekly shoemaking demonstrations and a one-off lecture on shoemaking on 28 October. Muesum opening times are Monday-Saturday 10am - 5pm, and Sunday 2pm - 5pm. Admission is free.
11/09/2006 - Tourism Brings Billions to East Midlands Region
East Midlands Development Agenc (emda) has announced that the contract with East Midlands Business (EMB) Ltd to deliver the core Business Link service across the region from 1 April 2007 has now been signed. The move to a regional model will enable improvements in service to customers, deliver better value for money for the public purse and also ensure consistency in further building the Business Link brand. EMB Ltd is a new company formed by three Chambers of Commerce that currently provides Business Link services in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire. Set up specifically to deliver part of the business support strategy of the region through its Information, Diagnostic and Brokerage (IDB) service, EMB Ltd offers a strong, clear vision for the future of the Business Link service, backed up by detailed regional knowledge and an experienced private sector-led team. One of its key objectives will be to maximise the amount of support available to businesses, with advisor resources concentrated on dealing directly with companies. This means an increased focus on front line advisers and less on back office, which businesses have fully endorsed as the best way of providing them with the support they need. EMB Ltd will also invest in state of the art technology to provide a more consistent sservice to clients and extended service availability, enabling more businesses to access Business Link services. New technology will also support staff in working more effectively with clients, and all advisers will undertake regular tailored training sessions to ensure they are equipped with the latest skills and knowledge to benefit the region's businesses. John O'Reilly, Business Support Director at emda, says: "This is a significant milestone which represents step forward in simplifying business support services across the region. The new Regional Economic Strategy, published in July, highlights this as a key challenge, so we're pleased that real steps are being taken to address the issue. Wilst EMB Ltd is already working hard to ensure that the changeover is managed effectively and the new arrangements are in place for April 2007, it continues to be business as usual. Customers should expect to see the same levels of high quality support and advice being offered across the region from their local Business Link service". Stephen Smith, Chief Executive of EMB Ltd, added: "This announcement once again confirms our commitment to shape the future of Business Link in the East Midlands. We are fortunate that the existing fice Business Link providers have put in place strong foundations and we will now build on these by developing detailed implementation plans and drawing up our organisational structure". David Williams, the recently appointed Chair of EMB Ltd, is also looking forward to the future: "I'm delighted to be joining such a motivated team. My colleagues at EMB Ltd and emda are extremely focused in their efforts to deliver the best possible service to Business Lin kclients. They have my full support in taking the necessary decisions to make the vision for the service a reality and every effort will continue to be made to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible for all concerned." A solicitor by background with over 20 years of legal and commercial experience, David brings a wealth of experience to his role as Chair of EMB Ltd. He is East Midlands Senior Partner at Geldards LLP and heads up the East Midlands property team. With a wide range of expertise in property development, public and private sector partnerships and joint venture companies, David brings a pro-active and customer-driven approach to his work. The decision to contract with a single provider for a branded Business Link service from 1 April 2007 was taken by the emda board last October, with EMB Ltd being announced as the preferred provider in April. The move to a regional Business Link model will deliver sustained and consistent support to companies wishing to set up, expand and thrive in the region.
