THE Northamptonshire Growth Hub runs a number of industry-led forums to enable businesses to work together and collaborate on a wide range of topics. The forums are open to all in the relevant field and are intended to encourage excellence and best practice among the business community of Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire Manufacturing Forum
The Forum is led by manufacturers, for manufacturers, to enable sharing of best practice and information – a local forum with global aspirations. Discussions have included cross sector mentoring schemes and support available to companies. The March forum was held at Hexagon Metrology Centre at Silverstone Park and covered the topic of agility with a presentation from Ricoh. Previous forums have discussed lean manufacturing and knowledge transfer partnerships.
Northamptonshire Logistics Forum
This forum enables logistics companies to meet and share best practice and information and put Northamptonshire logistics at the forefront of collaboration and innovation. Discussions will include the expansion of rail freight in Northamptonshire, funding and training and mentoring schemes, and progression of the Logistics Driver Assessment Scheme.
Northamptonshire HR Forum
A peer-to-peer forum for HR practitioners based in Northamptonshire companies. The group meets regularly to share the latest information and best practice. The group undertakes a yearly salary and benefits survey. Presentations recently have included direct sourcing of candidates via the web and restrictive covenants.
Healthy Safety & Wellbeing Forum
Interactive sessions to enable companies to share best practice on schemes and activities in the workplace to improve health, wellbeing and productivity in the workplace. January forum topics included Workplace & Warehouse Warm-up demonstrations and interactive health assessments.
The Northamptonshire Growth Hub was established in November 2013 to fulfil an obvious need for business support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the county and in that time has helped over 2,500 businesses since it opened for business. It is based in the centre of Northampton in the Innovation Centre – a state-of-the art facility offering office space and meeting facilities. The Northamptonshire Growth Hub handles between 100 and 150 calls per month, 60 per cent of which are established businesses with a significant portion from pre-start and start-up enterprises.
For further information on any of these forums contact the Northamptonshire Growth Hub on 01604 212696 or email or visit the website for further information: www.northamptonshiregrowthhub.co.uk.
Ready2Grow and Innovate Northamptonshire are delivered by the Northamptonshire Growth Hub partners and is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
European Regional Development Fund
The project is receiving up to £1,431,974 of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Department for Communities and Local Government (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund
Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations. For more information visit www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding.
