--- title: "Northamptonshire loves the best and brightest; we name our ‘One’s to Watch’ for 2014 You are here: Home » Blogs Detail" url: https://lovenorthamptonshire.com/blog/northamptonshire-loves-the-best-and-brightest-we-name-our-ones-to-watch-for-2014/ description: "Northamptonshire's small and medium businesses are the life blood of our econo" --- # Northamptonshire loves the best and brightest; we name our ‘One’s to Watch’ for 2014 You are here: Home » Blogs Detail Close ## Call our growth advisors on 0844 556 0101 Take advantage of Northamptonshire’s centre of excellence for enterprise. This cost-effective, conveniently positioned county has all you need in building a successful business, including; funding and business support, networking opportunities, start-up and general advice. For more information and to discover how Northamptonshire can benefit new and expanding businesses, contact our investment team. Please select from the following links: - Love Northamptonshire - Header Slide Down - Login At the heart of England and just one hour from London, business is booming in Northamptonshire, one of the fastest growing counties in the UK... and recently named the most enterprising place to do business in Britain. Read more & call our advisors now - Key business sectors - [Logistics](https://lovenorthamptonshire.com/logistics/) - [High Performance Technologies](https://lovenorthamptonshire.com/high-performance-technologies/) - [Food and Drink](https://lovenorthamptonshire.com/food-and-drink/) - [Helping businesses to startup & grow](https://lovenorthamptonshire.com/helping-businesses-to-startup-grow/) - [Reasons to love Northamptonshire](https://lovenorthamptonshire.com/reasons-to-love-northamptonshire/) ### 26th February 2014 ### Mark Hillier Northamptonshire's small and medium businesses are the life blood of our economy Northamptonshire's small and medium businesses are the life blood of our economy, making up 99.6% of the county’s total companies. That’s why we’re championing the entrepreneurial spirit at the heart of Northamptonshire’s economy by announcing our list of the individuals and businesses we think are ‘One’s to Watch’ for the coming year. These outstanding Northamptonshire innovators from across the county are set for great success in 2014. They are all up-and-coming entrepreneurs with the kind of talent and ambition that helps makes Northamptonshire the place for growth. Our ‘One’s to Watch’ 2014 are: **Karen Holland**, CEO of XCAM **Nicholas Cooper** from Stamp Shoes **Neil Purcell**, CEO of Talent Works International **Richie Frost**, CEO of Frost EV Systems **Joe Zielinski**, Director of Zinc Digital **Raimonda Navickaite**, Founder of Holdall & Co **Andrew Smart,** Managing Director, VirtualSales Team **Tom Warner,** Managing Director of Warner Edwards Distillery **Alan Bowers**, Director of English Harbour Yachts **Neil Webb**, Director of branding and marketing company, Balance **Rob Lewis,** Managing Director of Total Sim **Chris Walker,** CEO of Diamond Hard Surfaces These people are demonstrating the innovation, drive, determination and business know-how necessary to succeed in a competitive marketplace. Whether you have your own small business or have been inspired to start one, NEP can help with business advice, support or funding. For more information, [**CLICK HERE**](http://www.northamptonshireep.co.uk/funding-business-support/) « Go back | Report Link Top of page ^ | Login - Happy Customers - Love Blogs - Award-winning - Investment Opportunities - Property Search - Business Support - Growth Hub - Enterprise Zone ### Testimonials - I'm not originally from Northamptonshire, but now feel very settled in my adopted home. Having access to a great county town as well as the wonderful countryside makes Northamptonshire a brilliant place to set up home. Martin Sutherland, Chief Executive, Royal & Derngate, Northampton [Privacy Policy](https://lovenorthamptonshire.com/privacy-policy/) | [Terms of Use](https://lovenorthamptonshire.com/terms-of-use/) ### Love Blogs - ["Cortexa Love Superfast Broadband"](https://lovenorthamptonshire.com/blog/cortexa-love-superfast-broadband) [Northamptonshire has an ambition to be at the leading edge of the global digital economy. The digital economy can&...](https://lovenorthamptonshire.com/blog/cortexa-love-superfast-broadband) [Ben Mainwaring](https://lovenorthamptonshire.com/blog/cortexa-love-superfast-broadband) 5th December 2014 - ["Love being at the Leading Edge of the Global Digital..."](https://lovenorthamptonshire.com/blog/love-being-at-the-leading-edge-of-the-global-digital-economy) [Northamptonshire has an ambition to be at the leading edge of the global digital economy. The digital economy can&...](https://lovenorthamptonshire.com/blog/love-being-at-the-leading-edge-of-the-global-digital-economy) [Ben Mainwaring](https://lovenorthamptonshire.com/blog/love-being-at-the-leading-edge-of-the-global-digital-economy) 28th August 2014 - ["North by Northamptonshire…and around the world"](https://lovenorthamptonshire.com/blog/north-by-northamptonshireand-around-the-world) [This week is Grand Prix Week – celebrating 50 years of the Grand Prix at Silverstone and the tremendous impact of...](https://lovenorthamptonshire.com/blog/north-by-northamptonshireand-around-the-world) [Mark Hillier](https://lovenorthamptonshire.com/blog/north-by-northamptonshireand-around-the-world) 3rd July 2014 ### Award-winning Location In March 2014 Experian produced an independent report which recognised Northampton as being **the best performing town for business in the UK**. The report follows a string of accolades including being named as **the place making the best economic recovery in the UK** (Centre for Cities – 2013) and **Most Enterprising Place in Britain** by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) in 2012. For information on relocation funding and inward investment opportunities, call David Burrows at NEP on 01604 609533 or email him [HERE](mailto:david.burrows@northamptonshireep.co.uk) ### Investment Opportunities Northamptonshire is at the forefront of the UK’s economic recovery and at the heart of the nation’s transport and business infrastructure. The innovative approach of the county’s partners combined with unrivalled business support, bespoke funding programmes and relocation incentives make Northamptonshire’s opportunities for inward investment hugely attractive to both UK and overseas businesses. For information on relocation funding and inward investment opportunities, call David Burrows at NEP on 01604 609533 or email him [HERE](mailto:david.burrows@northamptonshireep.co.uk) ### Property Search Northamptonshire offers several investment ready sites. Local investors that have already moved or expanded their businesses at sites such as these (Silverstone Park, Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone, Prologis RFI Dirft, Kettering East and Rockingham Park) include Cosworth, Church’s, Carlsberg UK, DHL, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Weetabix. The investment team at NEP has access to both the necessary systems and people to enable you to locate available properties from 100sq.² to 1,000,000sq.² [CLICK HERE TO START YOUR SEARCH](http://www.northamptonshireep.co.uk/invest-in-northamptonshire/winning-location/looking-for-a-new-property/) ### Business Support In 2014, Northamptonshire will implement a new £100m programme of investment and unlock substantial new opportunities for private sector and institutional investors. The business team at NEP offers start-up funds, capital and research grants, rate rebates, rent-free periods on property and relocation grants as well as numerous training programmes and face-to-face support. [CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE](http://www.northamptonshireep.co.uk/funding-business-support/) ### Growth Hub The result of a partnership between Northamptonshire County Council, NEP and The University of Northampton, the Northamptonshire [Growth Hub](http://www.northamptonshiregrowthhub.co.uk/) signposts to a complete range of business support and access to expert business professionals working for local and national providers – all in one place. Call the Growth Hub now on 0844 556 0101. [CLICK HERE](http://www.northamptonshiregrowthhub.co.uk) to visit the site. ### Enterprise Zone Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone comprises more than 20 sites along the River Nene stretching from Sixfields in the west right across Northampton town centre. It incorporates a range of brownfield development opportunities, growing industrial estates and expanding sports stadium sites where global brands sit alongside a large number of thriving small businesses. For information on Enterprise Zone investment opportunities, call Tim Bagshaw at NEP on 01604 609392 or email him [HERE](mailto:tim.bagshaw@northamptonshireep.co.uk) - [Our Lovely Partners](https://lovenorthamptonshire.com/our-lovely-partners/) - [View our Campaigns](https://lovenorthamptonshire.com/view-our-campaigns/) - [Projects we Love](https://lovenorthamptonshire.com/projects-we-love/) - [Love Blogs](https://lovenorthamptonshire.com/love-blogs/) - [Social Wall](https://lovenorthamptonshire.com/social-wall/)