If central government has its way, the Northamptonshire economy is set to grow significantly over the next few years. That’s because the county has been designated a Growth Area, and that means a rising population, more housing and increased number of businesses and jobs.
And as Tim Bagshaw, head of business investment at Northamptonshire Enterprise points out, the county is well-positioned to attract investment. “We offer close proximity to London and South East but at much lower cost,” he says. “The road and rail links are good and we also have nearby airports at Luton, Stansted and Birmingham.
Northants’ central location combined with a good transport infrastructure has helped the area to establish itself as a logistics centre. Indeed, according to Simon Kay, general manager of the Panasonic Logistics company, it’s now the premier area in the UK for transport and distribution. “
Northamptonshire is extremely well situated from a logistics perspective with an excellent road network linking all of the major cities and towns. So much so, that I believe that Northampton is now considered the centre of the country's logistics industry,” he says.
Logistics is by no means the only game in town. The presence of the Silverstone racetrack in the county not only provides a prestige sporting venue, it has also helped to establish Northamptonshire as a centre of excellence for the high end of automotive design. “It’s a centre for high performance engineering,” says Gregg Chopper, marketing manager at Northamptonshire Enterprise. “We have Mercedes, Honda and Cosworth all working in the area.” And as Chopper ads, the area is also strong in environmental technologies, sustainable building, and the food and drinks industry.
The presence of sector-based clusters provides a two-fold benefit the local economy. “One the one hand, we get businesses coming here because they know the skills are available in the county,” says Bagshaw. “At the same time, there are opportunities for suppliers to serve a particular customer base.”
At a strategic level, Northamptonshire Enterprise is closely involved with delivering the economic plan for the county, but is also plays a very practical role in helping business to either locate or relocate. Among the services on offer is a confidential property search that enables companies to find the premises they need without going public. “If need be, we will negotiate with agents,” says Bradshaw. The agency also provides advice on local recruitment and can help businesses find and procure grant funding. “And we know a lot of people in the county so we can provide contacts,” adds Chopper.