Welcome to the first edition of Business NK News. This newsletter is designed to deliver the latest on current projects, developments and business events within the district.

Further and ongoing updates will be provided in future editions and at the BusinessNK website www.businessnk.co.uk 

Leader of the Council, Councillor Richard Wright views this as a great opportunity to communicate the District Council’s projects and share the latest developments with a wider audience. Cllr Wright said: “With such great developments within the District, this business newsletter is a great platform to share the current and future work, as well as celebrating the various successes in North Kesteven”.

Heart of Sleaford Regeneration Project

2020 will bring the start of impressive changes to Sleaford thanks to the ambitious Heart of Sleaford Regeneration Project, which aims to create a new destination in the centre of Sleaford. The project includes a multi-screen cinema as well as a food court, public open space and a footbridge over the River Slea connecting Money’s Yard to the Market Place.

Artist impression of the cinema in Sleaford.

£1.2 million refurbishment for National Centre for Craft & Design

Sleaford’s National Centre for Craft & Design (NCCD) sees the start of a £1.2 million refurbishment in early 2020. The investment will provide a 200sqm ground floor extension: creating a ground floor gallery, an artist’s workshop, a children’s zone as well as a performing arts studio. The extension will also see a large indoor bistro and an outdoor seating area created on an extended
platform over the River Slea. The project also provides a new home for a global software business, retaining 60 jobs in Sleaford.

Artist impression of the NCCD.

New pop-up street furniture

NKDC’s pop-up public realm project aims to enhance and celebrate Sleaford’s town centre with the use of colourful and vibrant street furniture. In 2020 the project will build on the success of bold seating areas and brightly coloured planters exploring more ways to create a vibrant town centre environment in Sleaford.

Vacancy rate lower than the UK average

Springboard is the leading provider of data and intelligence on customer activity in stores and destinations. Springboard’s latest quarterly survey shows that Sleaford’s town centre vacancy rate is 8.5% and lower than the UK average of 10.0%. The town’s vacancy rate in January 2017 was considerably higher at 12.5%, and this encouraging trend demonstrates both the resilience and resurgence of the independent retailer sector, which accounts for 80.4% of town centre retail units. Sleaford has more than double the national average of independent retailers. NKDC’s Economic Development Team is working on a range of town centre projects and regeneration initiatives such as the shop front scheme (in partnership with Heritage England and Sleaford Town Council), Pop-up landscape and Heart of Sleaford, all of which are designed to promote Sleaford Town Centre and reduce leakage of consumer spend.

Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership (GLLEP) offers advice and support to foreign owned business

Businesses with a minimum of 10% foreign investment can receive free support from the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership’s Investment Team. Working closely with the Department for International Trade (DIT) and local authority partners, the GLLEP supports all foreign-owned businesses that are already located in Greater Lincolnshire to help them grow and also any that wish to relocate to our region from overseas or elsewhere in the UK.

The toolkit provided includes international, national,
regional and local advice and information. Designated
account managers will be assigned, who will visit and
discuss the support on offer which includes access to a
range of facilities:
• DIT and Greater Lincolnshire LEP sector specialists
• DIT post located in the embassy of your parent company’s country
• Senior officers and councillors representing Greater Lincolnshire
• Relevant events/ training information / networking opportunities

Mrs Smith’s Cottage refurbishment

Mrs Smith's Cottage, Navenby

The National Lottery Heritage Fund and NKDC are working together on the Mrs Smith’s Cottage project to bring the museum back into use as a popular heritage attraction. Minimal alterations to the Cottage since its construction in the 1830s means most original features remain intact. The museum was closed in 2012 when serious structural issues and deterioration of the building became apparent. Our project includes urgent repairs and conservation work, reinterpretation of the site, a new learning programme and range of events and activities; restoring the Cottage to its place at the heart of the local community and ensuring its vital contribution to the visitor economy, whilst providing an enjoyable, engaging visitor experience.

Commercial developments

The Council is responsible for developing and managing a Commercial Portfolio of more
than 100 properties. Working with agents Lambert Smith Hampton, NKDC provides a
range of commercial properties designed to encourage the growth of start-up, small and
medium businesses in the District. NKDC works closely with commercial developers
and agents operating throughout the District.

NKDC has more than 100ha of allocated, serviced employment land for development and we work proactively with local landowners and agents to ensure an adequate supply
of well-connected strategic sites. We have a focussed spatial strategy supporting
business hubs and corridors in three key locations; Teal Park (North Hykeham), St.Modwen Park (Witham St Hughs) and Sleaford Enterprise Park.

Discovery Court

Future developments in North Hykeham

Discovery Court will provide 21,000 square feet of start-up and grow-on space in North Hykeham. A total of 15 units are being delivered on Discovery Park, off Whisby Road ranging in size from 750 square feet to
2,750 square feet.

The project will be completed through a ‘Design and Build Scheme’ operated between the Council and Lindum Group. The development falls within the LN6 postcode, identified in the Local Plan as Central Lincolnshire’s largest and most strategic Established employment Area.

Cllr Wright said: “This proposal is another demonstration that
we are open for business and that this Council wants to
do everything it can to develop new jobs in our District”.
The £2.2m scheme demonstrates NKDC’s continued commitment to providing support to growing businesses.

Delightful Hair & Beauty

Business Success

Delightful Hair & Beauty is the first and only hair and beauty wholesalers in Sleaford, ecerntly established on
Royal Oak Business Park.

Proprietor Dena Field was
supported by NK’s retained business adviser Phil Means
who provided assistance at various stages of the project.

Dena recalls: “Phil helped in creating a plan and
formulating my ideas into a viable business with forecasting
and financial planning.” More information on Delightful
Hair & Beauty and other businesses that have benefited
from NKDC business support – and inspiring business
advice and guidance – can be found on the Business
NK website 

River Slea investment

A successful funding application has enabled the start of work on the Witham/Slea Blue/ Green Infrastructure Corridor project, which will see improvements in
the river and riverside environments in Sleaford and Grantham, focusing on the
River Slea and Witham.

This project will be delivered in
partnership with SKDC, NKDC, Environment Agency and the National Trust with grant
funding from the ERDF Priority Axis 6 programme. Improved riverside pathways and habitats will protect and enhance
both the River Slea and River Witham.

The aim of the project is to enhance natural habitat environments, improve river flows and the overall offer to residents and visitors, providing improved
opportunities for footpaths and travel links as well as engagement and learning offers about the natural environment.

Businesses wishing to support our Breastfeeding Friendly initiative should get in touch with the Partnerships Team. You will then receive a sticker to display in your window to show you are a 'Breastfeeding friendly' business.