Northampton has been highlighted as one of the top towns in the UK for business in a new survey.
The town was ranked 11th out of 74 towns and cities and praised for its “relatively diverse local business base and low business costs” by Santander Corporate and Commercial Banking’s UK Town and City Index1.
The report stated Northampton benefits from “a satisfied workforce and high levels of local enterprises, a strong local employment rate and a high sectoral specialisation in transport and storage which could expose the town to any economic changes within those sectors.
Based on 20 factors that drive private sector2 business competitiveness for towns and cities, the Index is a comprehensive study of the largest 74 conurbations in the UK as well as 32 London boroughs.
The study, which was conducted by Professor Francis Greene of Birmingham Business School at the University of Birmingham, measures five areas or ‘domains’ that are fundamental for business success in the UK’s towns and cities - enterprise, talent, cnnectivity, costs and well-being.
Northampton scored as follows - enterprise, 7=; talent, 37; connectivity, 36=; costs, 6; well-being, 11; overall ranking, 11.
Nationally, Cambridge emerged as the top town or city in the UK for its business competitiveness ahead of long-term academic rival, Oxford, with Edinburgh ranked third.
Meanwhile, the University of Northampton has been named as the Midlands Enterprising University of the Year for the second year at a recent awards ceremony. The university received the award in recognition of its work with social enterprise.
The award recognises outstanding performance from a university or university department, promoting entrepreneurship and social enterprise. The university was awarded the honour, at the Midlands Business Awards at the Hilton Metropole, Birmingham after competing against finalists, Birmingham City University and Nottingham Trent University.
Chris Moore, executive dean, strategic partnerships and social enterprise for the University of Northampton, said: “Being named Midlands Enterprising University of the Year for the second year running is a great honour. It is testament to our commitment to become the leading University for Social Enterprise by 2015.
“We encourage and support all our students to develop their entrepreneurial skills and enterprising attitudes through degree our programs, partnerships with external bodies or by supporting them with voluntary and paid work placements.”
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