Key sector:
Manufacturing
A High-Value Engine of Innovation and Growth
North Northamptonshire’s manufacturing sector punches above its weight. With over 22,000 jobs – nearly twice the national average share – manufacturing is not just a legacy, it’s the beating heart of a modern, diversified economy.
With strong industrial roots, a highly skilled workforce, and easy access to UK and International markets, the region is a magnet for both traditional manufacturers and greentech pioneers.
Strategic infrastructure
Available industrial land and net zero ambitions make it an ideal home for manufacturing firms looking to scale, innovate, or decarbonise
A space to make
Why Invest in Manufacturing in North Northamptonshire?
Skilled Workforce with Industrial DNA
Manufacturing employs 14% of the local workforce, rising to over 30% in towns like Corby. The area’s long-standing industrial pedigree has fostered deep skills in engineering, food production, and materials science, with a strong apprenticeship pipeline through Tresham College and local employers.
Strategic Location, National Reach
Situated on the A14–A45 corridor with direct links to the M1, M11, East Coast ports and Midlands rail freight terminals, North Northamptonshire is at the heart of the UK’s logistics and manufacturing network.
Green Tech Meets Heavy Industry
This is a place where food innovators like Alpro and Whitworths share space with advanced manufacturers like Scott Bader (composite materials) and Ball Corporation (recyclable aluminium cans). A growing clean energy cluster – including wind, solar, and EV components – is helping to futureproof the sector.
Land, Infrastructure, and Flexibility
Multiple strategic employment sites – in Kettering, Wellingborough and Corby – offer “build-ready” plots with planning permissions, high-spec infrastructure, and room to scale.
Future Opportunities for Investors
Green Manufacturing & Circular Economy
Tap into a growing clean-tech base with potential in EV components, hydrogen innovation, and sustainable packaging – backed by Chelveston Renewable Energy Park and Kettering Energy Park.
Next-Gen Food & Drink Innovation
Invest in plant-based, high-protein, and traceable foods – a sector with strong export potential and close links to UK agriculture.
Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering
From precision components to aerospace and automotive R&D, North Northamptonshire offers skills, connectivity and lower costs than southern tech hubs.
Development-Ready Land
Access prime plots with utilities, highway links, and planning in place – in Kettering, Wellingborough and Corby.
The place with space for Applied Innovation
Surrounded by A World-Class R&D Ecosystem
While North Northamptonshire offers competitive operating costs, it sits within the Oxford–Cambridge Growth Corridor – home to globally renowned research centres in materials, clean energy, AI and biosciences.
Businesses here can collaborate with institutions like Cranfield University, University of Northampton, Loughborough University, and of course the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford all within an hour, but without the cost or space constraints of locating directly in the hotspots of Oxford or Cambridge.
A space to build for the future
This is a place where you can manufacture at scale, collaborate with top-tier research institutions, and still find the space to build for the future. For businesses priced out or constrained by the high-demand centres of Oxford and Cambridge, North Northamptonshire represents a compelling, investment-ready alternative — perfectly placed for the next generation of manufacturing.
