Are you, like me, a member of one or more of the local business organisations or networks? In my role at the University, and in a personal capacity, I benefit greatly from such bodies.
There are several prominent business support organisations (BSOs) providing a range of services to businesses, from advocacy, lobbying and networking to financial advice and professional development. Here’s a summary of some of the more active BSOs in Northamptonshire.
Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)
The FSB is a non-profit organisation representing micro and small businesses and the self-employed. They have a strong central research unit and are active in policy areas feeding into government. Jennifer Thomas is the FSB’s highly efficient and effective Development Manager and local lead for Northamptonshire.
The FSB offers:
- Advice and Support: free legal, tax, and HR advice through their helplines.
- Financial Products: access to business banking, insurance, and loans tailored for small businesses.
- Advocacy: representing small business at a national and local level, lobbying on issues like tax reforms, business rates, and employment regulations.
- Networking Opportunities: local and national events for networking and knowledge sharing.
- Discounts and Resources: exclusive discounts on business services like insurance, credit card processing and utilities.
Enterprise Nation (EN)
Enterprise Nation offers support for small businesses and start-ups through online resources, events, and expert advice. Are you an existing or budding small business owner? Want to grow your network in a friendly, relaxed, and supportive environment?
Run by Rachel Mallows DL MBE, well known and very active doing so much for the county in so many areas, Enterprise Nation’s monthly online meet-ups bring together founders from all sectors to share ideas, learn new skills, solve challenges and inspire one another, making sure that running a small business needn’t be lonely.
EN offers the following:
- Expert Guidance: offers one-on-one advice from business experts covering various topics like marketing, finance and e-commerce.
- Workshops and Webinars: regular online and in-person events to help small businesses learn new skills, gain inspiration, and connect with others.
- Marketplace Access: provides opportunities to sell products on major platforms through partnerships with companies like Amazon.
- Discounts on Services: exclusive discounts on business services like accounting, insurance and marketing tools.
Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce (CoC)
The Northants Chamber is part of the British Chambers of Commerce national network of accredited local Chambers of Commerce, offering support at local, regional and national levels. Northamptonshire is blessed with a very active Chamber. The energetic and popular Sunny Singh is the Group Commercial Director, and Simon Cox of NNBN (and my co-host on NLive Radio’s Open4Business show) has just been appointed as the Chamber’s Head of Policy.
The Northants Chamber of Commerce offers
- Business Networking: local and international networking events to help businesses form valuable connections and partnerships.
- Export Support: access to resources, documentation services and advice on international trade, helping businesses expand globally.
- Policy and Advocacy: works closely with government to advocate for pro-business policies and provide insights on economic conditions.
- Business Services: support in areas like HR, legal, marketing and finance, often provided at discounted rates through local chambers.
Business Improvement Districts (BIDs)
BIDs are local organisations in designated areas where businesses collaborate to invest in improvements for the area’s development, with an agreed but mandatory levy. Northampton is blessed with two local BIDs, the Northampton Town Centre BID, run by the hard working and innovative Mark Mullen, and the Brackmills BID, run by the dynamic and big-hearted Sara Homer, who does so much for the county’s businesses and charities.
The BIDs offer the following:
- Improving Local Business Environment: focus on making improvements like better security, marketing and infrastructure that benefit the local business community.
- Events and Marketing: BIDs often organise local events, festivals and marketing campaigns to attract footfall.
- Collective Voice: represent the interests of businesses within the district to local government, ensuring the area’s development supports local enterprises.
- Economic Growth: help in boosting the local economy through targeted investments that attract businesses and consumers to the area.
Institute of Directors (IoD)
The IoD is an influential organisation supporting business leaders and directors through professional development and advocacy. Membership is personal to the individual, not company. Established since 1903, the IoD has the ear of Government with weekly meetings to advocate on behalf of medium-sized businesses.
The IoD is regionally based, with a branch covering the SE Midlands. To date it has had a lesser presence in Northamptonshire, but there is now an IoD Northampton Hub opened at the Vulcan Works. The IoD is keen to raise its presence in the county. Anyone interested in learning more can contact me as Deputy Chair of the IoD’s SE Midlands Branch. You may also like to access the IoD’s National Sustainability Group, which has a lot of free as well as member-only resources.
The benefits of the IoD are:
- Professional Development: offering a range of leadership and director-level training programmes, including Chartered Director qualifications.
- Lobbying and Advocacy: representing the interests of company directors and senior leaders to the UK government and internationally.
- Networking: local and international networking opportunities, including events, seminars and access to a community of business leaders.
- Director Advice Line: free legal and tax helplines tailored for directors and executives.
- Workspace: exclusive access to workspaces in prestigious locations across the UK, including meeting rooms and co-working spaces at the prestigious 116 Pall Mall headquarters
Silverstone Technology Cluster (STC)
STC is a not-for-profit cluster support organisation for advanced engineering, electronics and software and their supplier businesses. Based in the Silverstone Innovation Park, it is a locally based member- ship organisation successfully run with drive and passion by CEO Pim Van Baarsen and his team. Membership is open to all relevant com- panies within an hour’s drive of Silverstone. STC assists its members with promotion, support, networking and thought leadership events.
NNBN
Run by the dynamic Simon Cox, NNBN membership is open to every- one that operates or provides services in the NN post code. It offers well-attended networking events, plus a range of member discounts and perks, health care benefits, a fuel card, social media promotion with a monthly newsletter, digital magazine, one-to-one business support, and it punches above its weight in advocacy for the county – now even more so since Simon has joined the Chamber of Commerce as its Head of Policy alongside his work with NNBN.
There are a number of other national organisations such as the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and Make UK, which cater for large and manufacturing businesses, but they have less of a local presence. There are also several sector specialist groups such as the Made in Northamptonshire food and drink initiative, run by the doyenne of the county’s food and drink sector, Rachel Mallows, doing a great job supporting small and artisan producers.
The University, through its Knowledge Exchange team, collaborates with all these groups, who often meet together to share knowledge, best practice and increasingly coordinate their activities for the good of the county’s business community. A good example is their recent input into the Northamptonshire innovation ecosystem mapping exercise commissioned by the University, being undertaken by the strategy consultancy Whitecap Consulting.
Whitecap are due to report soon, and their results will be covered in a future article. The report will build on the insights of the local BSOs who have contributed to the study, and facilitate even closer collaboration between all the above to help you drive innovation and thus support Northamptonshire’s economic growth and development.
Why not make sure your voice is heard and that you are getting the benefit of a connected business support community?
For information, contact Adrian on 07720 297402 or email Adrian.pryce@northampton.ac.uk
For more information on the IoD follow the link www.iod.com
