Wellingborough is on the “cusp of an buoyant economic revival” following a positive two years for the town, according to Chamber President James Wilson.
More than 40 people attended Wellingborough Chamber of Commerce’s Ambassador Business Briefing on Tuesday September 11, which provided an update on key planning, development and economic activity for the area’s business community.
James said: “In the past we have missed out on investment into the county, but with these latest pledges from the government’s Growth Deal as well as a number of private sector projects, including the land opposite Castlefields Retail Park, this is Wellingborough’s decade.
“Together with the redevelopment of the town’s Tresham campus £16 million campus, we have got a lot to shout about in Wellingborough. It has been a very positive two years for Wellingborough, it feels like we are on the cusp of a buoyant economic revival.”
Delegates also heard about Tresham College’s new Experience Wellingborough inititaive, which is encouraging the borough’s businesses to give young people a chance through work experience placements of between one and four weeks.
Rachel Kay, deputy principal and managing director at the college, said: “It is an opportunity for companies to find fantastic candidates for free and it also helps young people to have something to talk about in interviews. It might be time consuming but you might just find that superstar.”
Jo Lappin, chief executive of Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership, also spoke at the event at Weatherbys, in the town’s Sanders Road, while there was a presentation from Wellingborough Norse, the new public/private partnership delivering waste and grounds maintenance contracts.
In July the government announced funding for three major Wellingborough projects as part of a £67.3m package allocated to the county to boost infrastructure.
The Growth Deal included a commitment of £9 million towards building a bridge across the railway line to the new Stanton Cross housing and industrial development as well as funding of £15 million to the A509 road link and more than £11 million will also help to build the town’s new Tresham College campus in Church Street.