Business

Michael Jones Jeweller is unique in that it has two stores within Northampton town centre, each offering a slightly different selection of jewellery and watches – yet both cater to a wide range of budgets and tastes.

Long-standing jeweller shares what it has to offer this Christmas

We believe free parking is key to the success of the town centre this festive period and the survival of the beloved businesses at the backbone of the Northampton community into 2027 and beyond.

Business slams WNC for ‘zero understanding’ of town parking impact

Lorena Dumitru is an eyelash extension specialist, beauty entrepreneur and most recently an international competition judge, having dedicated eight years to the industry.

Beautician celebrates hard work after international judge status

We believe free parking is key to the success of the town centre this festive period and the survival of the beloved businesses at the backbone of the Northampton community into 2027 and beyond.

Former town centre worker of 30 years calls WNC ‘deluded’

Ad Feature Cole Haan completes SAP S/4HANA transformation

Ad Feature FCM Travel appoints Mark McSpadden as Chief Product Officer

The long-established Jones Wholesale, on Heathfield Way, has confirmed its final day of trading as Friday, November 20 and invites everyone to make the most of the final closing down sale.

Fourth generation family business reveals closing date after 107 years

Delapré Abbey is providing eight winter-themed, chalet-style cabins that will host businesses from Friday to Sunday every weekend from November 27 until January 3.

Delapré Abbey hosting Market chalet cabins and cocktail masterclasses

Our campaigning reporter, Katie Wheatley, who has passionately fought for independent businesses for more than four years, responds to the opinion piece published yesterday from the leader of West Northamptonshire Council, Councillor Mark Arnull.

WNC leader stating Chron campaign is ‘easiest headline’ is insulting

Swap and Lupa were named among Europe's most promising AI-native companies

Ad Feature London AI startups make Europe's top tech firms list

The group has reaffirmed its 2026 outlook despite ongoing market volatility and delayed customer investment decisions.

Ad Feature Bilfinger sees orders surge

The Event Man is fully booked from November 12, with up to four Christmas doors per day, some huge Christmas installations and three weddings.

Fully booked business prepares for Christmas door installation chaos

Maggie’s Northampton is kickstarting the festive celebrations with its first ever Christmas fair, taking place from 9am until 3pm next Thursday (November 19) at Towcester Racecourse.

Christmas shopping experience with a difference coming to market town

Park the Charges is calling for free parking at all council-owned multi-storey and surface car parks, as well as the premium on-street parking, on Saturdays and Sundays from November 21 until December 20 – as well as Christmas Eve for last minute shoppers.

‘The town centre is going to die,’ says founder if changes aren’t made

Solomon Global is offering a limited allocation of signed Una and the Lion 2027 gold bullion coins

Ad Feature Solomon Global offers limited allocation of gold coins

The campaign is encouraging consumers to support small firms during the festive shopping season

Ad Feature Small Business Saturday launches shop small advert
The nationwide campaign has unveiled its first festive advert ahead of Small Business Saturday on December 5, highlighting the contribution of independent businesses to communities across the UK.
Ailsa Marshall

Ashley White, Area Sales Manager at Marsh Industries and Rachel Roberts, Partnership Manager at The Bedford College Group

The Bedford College Group welcomes Marsh Industries

Taking place from 6pm until 9pm on Thursday, November 19, you are invited to browse 25 independent businesses at Duston Village Bakery's eleventh annual Christmas market.

Popular Christmas market returns next week – here’s all the details

The Northampton Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID), a business-led partnership and non-profit organisation created to make the town centre a more vibrant place, is the latest to issue their response to the Park the Charges campaign.

BID ‘supportive’ of measures to make town centre ‘more attractive’

Three quarters report of COOs straight to the CEO, but only 36% call it a true partnership

Ad Feature Seven in 10 COOs grow into role, new research finds

Jack and Sam English are working together to bring a new golf and social venue to their hometown, with SIM Club set to open at Peterbridge House at The Lakes in early 2027.

Brothers join to open venue with golf simulator bays and darts

The next non-sold-out event being hosted by Gs Private Dining and The Vault Cocktail Lounge is G’s Christmas Supper Club, with live jazz music performed by Sarah Jones.

Market town businesses collaborate on popular Christmas supper club

Nicola Griffiths runs the Grown Ass Women Collective, an artist-led initiative creating spaces for black women and women of colour to gather, connect and experience collective care.

Founder invites women of colour to breathwork, movement and sound day

Our Park the Charges campaign is calling for free parking at all council-owned multi-storey and surface car parks, as well as the premium on-street parking, on Saturdays and Sundays from November 21 until December 20 – as well as Christmas Eve for last minute shoppers.

WNC says scrapping parking charges is ‘not a sustainable solution’

Spread opened on Adnitt Road in Abington in January 2023, less than three years after grazing tables and boxes kickstarted the business for founder Amy Adams.

Refurb nearly done for sandwich shop with reopening date coming soon

What we want to see is free parking at all council-owned multi-storey and surface car parks, as well as the premium on-street parking, on Saturdays and Sundays from November 21 until December 20 – as well as Christmas Eve for last minute shoppers.

Chron calls for WNC to SCRAP town centre Christmas parking charges

Weston Favell Shopping Centre was awarded diversity and inclusion scheme of the year at the Retail Destination SCEPTRE Awards 2026.

Popular shopping centre wins diversity award for wellbeing groups
“We started with nothing”
Katie Wheatley

Founded by Nicola Griffiths, the first WomenKin event was hosted at the end of last month as part of the Breathfolk offering – which launched in the town in October 2026.

Breathwork business offers women chance to step away from life demands

Ad Feature Avaada Electro secures 7.1GW solar cell manufacturing milestone

A new survey found firms are implementing regulatory changes faster, but confidence in compliance effectiveness is declining

Ad Feature Firms speed up regulatory change

HDI Seguros and insureMO are using AI agents to accelerate the development of insurance products

Ad Feature HDI Seguros and insureMO bring AI into insurance product development

Tamsin Shawe launched Scribe & Sign in August 2024 and hosted her first ScribeFest event in June this year.

Days to go until readers and authors will flock for this book festival

Ryan Grigg runs Pat-a-Cake Man from Pineham, which specialises in bespoke celebration cakes for every occasion including birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and corporate events.

Award-winning baker prepares for international cake competition return

Delapré Abbey prides itself on being a place that belongs to its community and every visit, volunteer hour, wellbeing session and restored building tells a story of people coming together.

Wellbeing activities at iconic landmark boasting 900 years of history

Colebrook Bosson Saunders is hosting a webinar on December 2 exploring how research can strengthen workplace collaboration and inform design decisions

Ad Feature Colebrook Bosson Saunders hosts webinar

Michelle Ovens CBE says greater support is needed to help side hustles grow into sustainable businesses.

Ad Feature Side hustling UK adults face outdated systems

Nathan Reardon and Pat Villaceran lead Innovation Philosophie’s UK launch

Ad Feature Nathan Reardon leads Innovation Philosophie's UK launch

The compact SumUp card reader helps market traders, craft sellers and small businesses accept contactless and card payments without expensive equipment.

Cash is king? This £30 gadget gives customers a much easier option

The Shack, which opened at Woodmeadow Garden Centre in March 2024, began with 31 traders and has continued to increase its capacity.

Business that houses 50 crafters looks forward to busy festive season

Lovey has secured a funding facility of up to £250 million from Pollen Street Capital to expand lending to UK small and medium-sized businesses

Ad Feature UK fintech Lovey secures £250m funding facility to boost SME lending

AOT representatives met with airlines and airports from around the world at Routes World 2026 in Frankfurt.

Ad Feature AOT strengthens Thailand’s global air links at Routes World 2026

Bodor Laser will showcase two new premium tube laser cutting machines at EuroBLECH 2026

Ad Feature Bodor Laser showcases two premium tube laser cutting machines

RavenPack's AI model labelled more than 845,000 financial text excerpts in under an hour, helping researchers quickly create datasets for investment analysis.

Ad Feature RavenPack launches AI-powered dataset pipeline

Search ’n Stuff brought more than 350 digital marketers together across two conferences

Ad Feature Search ’n Stuff wraps up a landmark year

SumUp's Solo Lite is making it easier for people who sell items in their spare time to take payments

The £30 card reader giving casual sellers an answer to ‘got no cash’

Soft2Bet has received three awards at The European Global Business Awards 2026.

Ad Feature Soft2Bet wins triple award

Rowan Carstensen and Andrea Savi, Flyber

Aerospace entrepreneurs set sights on global expansion

The new entity will focus on building investment solutions that enable Indian and foreign investors to participate in global opportunities

Ad Feature Aditya Birla launches two retail fund of funds from GIFT City

The top side hustling cities include Bristol and London

Half of Brits work a ‘second shift’ after hours on side hustles

The case study traces ABB Bank’s transformation from the challenges of 2016 to its strategic goals for 2026–2028

Ad Feature ABB Bank transformation to be business case study

The expanded team who leads Forward Global's disputes communications practice in London

Ad Feature Forward Global strengthens London investigations team

Gurmeet is the first non-promoter CEO in Saksoft's 25-year history

Ad Feature Saksoft names Gurmeet Chahal as CEO

It was also found 21 per cent have walked away from a purchase altogether because they didn't think it would have much resale potential

Marketplace sellers buy fashion items to sell after just a few wears

The findings demonstrate that restaurants power far more than dining

Ad Feature The £95 restaurant ripple effect

The exclusive ceremony was presented by JPMorganChase at London's Hilton Park Lane hotel

Ad Feature Black British Business Awards 2026: Winners announced

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