Date: Tue 1st December, 2009
Venue:
Number of Guests Attended: 60
More than 50 people crowded into the Marriott Hotel in Northampton for Insider's latest economic forum. Business leaders from the county witnessed a panel-based discussion which touched on recession, regeneration and inward investment. Paul Southworth, chairman of economic growth body Northamptonshire Enterprise, said: "The success of Northamptonshire shouldn't come as a surprise. Across the board, we have we have worked for days and hours to attract the likes of Kenmark. And we need to use that as a platform to move forward."
The panel agreed that what Northamptonshire needed was to market itself better.
Southworth added: “Some of our town centres have fallen behind in the development stakes, but it’s all about getting the timing right. We’ve got to concentrate on marketing and selling Northampton as a place to be. Kenmark chose Northamptonshire because they realised we’ve got something special here. But we have to get a better balance. We’ve got a reputation as a centre for big sheds and highly skilled people, but we have to be better at marketing ourselves in other areas.”
Simon Evans, chief executive, North Northants Development Company, said: “What we have to do as a public sector body is put confidence in the public realm through town centre regeneration. Corby is a good example of this. We’ve got to sell our vision of the town centres in Northamptonshire to the wider business community.”
Russell Legg, managing director, DeVirgo, said what local businesses wanted was access to quality sites. “People aren’t willing to gamble on unestablished sites at the moment. We’ve been lucky with Grange Park because it’s already a very well-established area. We have to reduce things like traffic flows. At Grange Park we’ve committed to a 10 per cent reduction in traffic flow around the site and are investing in cycle and bus vouchers. We’re also supplying 100,000 sq ft of occupational space on site which will create around 600 jobs.”
And Evans added: “I think it’s important we don’t talk down the employment situation to prospective inward investors. Northamptonshire is doing well, and if it continues on trend the towns in the county will continue to do well. But choice is important when it comes to occupational space. That’s why Kenmark came here – because the buildings were right. The importance of employment sites can’t be underestimated."
