Business News
Concerns over price rises temper business confidence
Tech showcase hails innovation
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Turnover set to rise but survey reveals recruitment challenges
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any firms in Northamptonshire are expecting their turnover to increase this year. But they are also bracing themselves for a rise in prices. Service sector companies were the most upbeat about 2022, according to the county’s most extensive business survey. Most manufacturers are also confident about their future turnover figures but they also anticipate that their profits will fall in the next 12 months. The findings have been published in the latest Quarterly Economic
Survey by Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce for the last quarter of 2021. Chamber head of policy Sean Rose said: “It is good to see that Northamptonshire businesses are positive about the future. However, despite the optimism, concerns about price pressures are once again dominating our survey results.” Almost nine in ten service firms and nearly 60 per cent of manufacturers who responded to the survey expect prices to increase during the first three months of 2022, he added. Almost half of the county’s service firms had seen domestic sales grow
during the last quarter and more than 80 per cent of manufacturers had seen their current and advanced domestic orders remain constant or increase. A similar percentage of Northamptonshire’s service firms report that their overseas orders had increased or remained at the same level as the previous three months. Around half of service firms also said their workforce had grown at the end of 2021 and nearly 70pc of manufacturers reported that their numbers had remained stable. However, businesses in both sectors which tried to recruit at the end of 2021
Sean Rose said they had experienced difficulties in hiring new staff. The QES is part of the biggest and most representative survey of its kind in the UK. QES data is used by the Bank of England to inform interest rate decisions, by the Treasury to help formulate economic policy and by international finance institutions to assess the UK’s economy.
Government reappoints law firm to private sector contracts advisory panel
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consortium of three law firms has been appointed to a central government panel to provide legal advice to government departments and their agencies. Howes Percival, which has offices in Northampton, joined forces with Sharpe Pritchard and Bevan Brittan to submit a joint proposal for a place
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on the Crown Commercial Service Legal Services Panel, a four-year framework with a potential value of more than £300 million. The consortium has secured one of 12 slots on Lot 1 – General Legal Advice and Services, a single tier of firms that will all have the opportunity to work with central government over the next four
February 2022
years. The Crown Commercial Service was established in 2014 by the Cabinet Office to manage central government contracts with private sector suppliers centrally. The three firms have significant track records in advising central and local government. Howes Percival has previously advised government agencies including HM Revenue
& Customs and the Insolvency Service on instructions such as the investigation into the failure of retailer BHS. Howes Percival chair Geraint Davies said: “We are looking forward to continuing to provide central government with formidable legal expertise alongside our Londonbased consortium partners.”
n invitation has gone out to businesses, organisations and academics involved in innovative technology to take part in a showcase. Merged Futures, Digital Northampton’s annual technology innovation showcase, brings together digital and tech experts in business, education, healthcare and more from Northamptonshire and beyond. The June showcase will be the fourth event and will return to the University of Northampton. In 2020 and 2021when the event went online it gained a global audience. n To find out more, visit www. digitalnorthampton.com/events2/ merged-futures-4
Magazines celebrate
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taff at community publisher Northampton Magazines are celebrating after the business was named Best Community Magazine in Northampton at the SME Midland Enterprise Awards. Northampton Magazines has published community based, bimonthly magazines for 15 years, delivered door to door across Northampton. The company also publishes the quarterly Northants Fifty Plus magazine.
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