More county companies are surviving recession
Nearly half of new businesses set up in the county are battling the recession and surviving for at least five years, new figures have revealed.
Office for National Statistics data shows that 47.3 per cent of businesses set up in Northamptonshire in 2005 were still trading in 2010 – around three per cent above the national average.
In Wellingborough, 48.2 per cent of 330 new businesses survived. In Kettering 47.8 per cent of 365 businesses survived and in East Northamptonshire, 47.2 per cent of 420 businesses survived.
In Corby, 40.4 per cent of 180 businesses survived – the only part of north Northamptonshire below the national average of 44.1 per cent.
Experts are largely positive about the outlook and what they can do to help.
Neil Griffin, manager of the Newlands Centre in Kettering, said: “What we have done is try to get people in on realistic rates they can afford to pay.
“If we can nurse businesses along, when they start to grow they can start to pay more towards the market rent.”
Dan Pickard, centre manager at Willow Place in Corby, said: “From a retail perspective, incentives are on offer such as a rent-free period or monthly rather than quarterly rent.
“We are open and honest with people, and we are not the sort of landlord that will just take people’s money and run.”
Wellingborough Business Improvement District manager Joanna Chapman said: “In Wellingborough town centre we have had more businesses open up in the last six months than in the six months before.
“Businesses that survive in these difficult times will be able to go on and reap the benefits of the next boom.”
And businesses were also largely buoyant about the outlook.
Rob Medhurst, who runs coffee shop Cortardo, in Montagu Street, Kettering, said: “At the moment the only companies surviving in this mess is independent businesses, because we are so flexible. You can change with the times.
“With businesses starting up, as long as you have a sound plan and good location it is okay.
“The biggest problem is rent and rates.”
Denis Smart runs Owen Smart Jewellers, in London Road, Kettering – a family business established in 1949.
He said: “If you are starting afresh it is tough. There is so much competition. You can go on the internet and buy anything.”
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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paulgreen
Thursday, January 12, 2012 at 06:48 PMWhat great news - but still over 50% of businesses failing to survive - why is this? Maybe they should have not started up in business in the first place because what was being offered was not distinct enough from the competition or more than likely their marketing message and method of delivery was not great and never reached the target audience? Did the successful businesses have a plan that had specific, measurable and targeted objectives that were reviewed on a regular basis. I would be interested in a pollsurvey of local businesses in terms of how they see their business growth over the next 12 months: increase, flat, decline? And what the influencing factors would be that had them predict whatever they chose. At the end of the day it is the SMEs (Small Medium Enterprises) that will add to the economy and get is back on track and they are best placed to do it as they are more flexible, dynamic and, with a plan, able to adapt in the current environment,
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