Northamptonshire’s economy has been on the government agenda for all the right reasons over recent weeks. Business Secretary, Vince Cable, was in the county recently todiscuss the progress being made in Northamptonshire regarding economic growth. Mr Cable met with a number of the county’s key business leaders including NEP chair Paul Southworth, and NEP Board Members Milan Shah of Virani Foods and John Markham, Chair of West Northamptonshire Development Corporation as well as Chair of SEMLEP, Dr Ann Limb, Jim Harker, Leader of Northamptonshire County Council and Northampton Borough Council Leader David Mackintosh.
Mr Cable also visited NVision, at The University of Northampton’s School of Science and Technology. Funded by Northamptonshire Enterprise Limited, NVision is a 3D immersive Technology Centre, and Mr Cable met with a tenant of the centre, Threshold Studios, a social enterprise which focused on creative media for social change. Together, they discussed how Threshold is working with the University to help ‘upskill’ graduates and identify talented people to ensure employers are connected with highly capable and technically advanced individuals.
Mr Cable’s visit to the county was closely followed last week by some great news for the future of Northamptonshire’s economic development as Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership was formally allocated £3.9m as part of the Government’s new Growing Places Fund.
The fund will boost economic growth in the area by unlocking infrastructure constraints and getting stalled projects moving again. It is anticipated that this will lead to the creation of new jobs and homes. We are delighted to have the opportunity to make further investments into the local community and we are keen to see this investment being put to use as soon as possible.
Plans are now underway to work with business and industry to establish a range of projects that not only fit the criteria but that will offer the best investment opportunity for Northamptonshire. We will be looking to provide this investment on a rolling basis and releasing funding over the course of the year to ensure sustained support and re-investment over a period of time.
