Less energy use, more electric vehicles? Less waste, more trees? Whatever you think we need to do more or less of, we want to hear about it.

Our Climate Emergency Strategy is reaching the halfway point in its lifecycle, and in 2025 we’ll be launching a refreshed version. A survey is now live to gather your views and insights.

Hearing what you think about climate action in North Kesteven is hugely important so that we can best reflect the issues and concerns in our area. We’re looking for responses from residents and local businesses.

As an added incentive, everyone who completes the survey will be entered into a draw to win one of three £30 shopping vouchers!

Please take a few moments to complete the survey and give your views on a wide range of climate-related topics, which will help to shape the future strategy.

The survey closes on 30 August. If you require a printed copy of the survey please contact [email protected] and specify whether you are completing it as a resident or for a business.

Does your business want to join in the celebration of community volunteering and selfless endeavour which is such a defining feature of life in North Kesteven?

The North Kesteven Community Champion Awards 2024 are currently open for nominations across ten categories which span a broad range of ways through which people within our communities give generously of their time and talents.

These include contributions to arts & culture, climate action, or as a community-minded business which contributes to community life through goodwill, generosity and ways that stretch beyond the bottom line, just to name a few.

Would you like to sponsor a category? It is only through the generosity of community-minded businesses that we are able to run the awards. Already Lindum, Branston Ltd, Better, and Schroders Greencoat, which runs the Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant in Sleaford, are signed up for categories this year, hosted by the Hub in Sleaford.

Get in touch to discuss getting involved – for just £750 +vat to be a category sponsor, or in other ways, or in kind – we’d love to chat.

Businesses are also welcome to self-nominate or to encourage customers to consider nominating them in the business category or indeed any category. Nominations can be made at www.NKawards.org before September 16. There’s information there to guide nominations, or you can email [email protected].

Lincolnshire County Council has given advanced notice of works set for Northgate in Sleaford that will involve road closures over an eight week period from Monday, July 22.

In the main the closures will happen in sections, but with a full overnight road closure in place from 6pm to 6am daily from Saturday, August 3 for up to two weeks.

They say ‘sections of the B1518 Northgate are deteriorating, so we are taking the opportunity to rebuild them to improve safety and usability of the road. In addition, we’ll also be using this opportunity to carry out a full refurbishment of the traffic signals at the B1518/Tesco junction, under a single lane closure for up to eight weeks from Monday, July 22. Additionally, we will be undertaking footway resurfacing and numerous pedestrian improvements from Monday, August 19 for up to four weeks.’

The diversion route will be via the B1518, the A17 and Sleaford’s one-way system.

The County Council says that because it is such a large project, there will inevitably be some disruption , but every effort will be made to keep this to a minimum. This includes:

• Maintaining access for residents and emergency services throughout the project as far as reasonably practicable
• Keeping pedestrian footways open to the public
• Having gatemen present at each end of the closure to assist with access and egress
• Implementing a signed diversion route during closures
• Seeking to carry the scheme out as quickly and efficiently as possible

Up-to-date information about roadworks in Lincolnshire can be found at https://one.network/uk/lincolnshire.

Entering your business for an award is the perfect way to highlight your excellence and increase your visibility. There are several awards currently open, listed below:

Barclay’s Entrepreneur Awards celebrate the entrepreneurs who are committed to driving innovation and support communities and the wider economy. Nominations close on 28 June.

The Taste of Excellence Awards celebrate Lincolnshire’s food, drink and hospitality businesses There are 14 categories to choose from and entries close on 31 August.

The King’s Enterprise Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in innovation, international trade, sustainable development, and promoting opportunity through social mobility. Applications are open until 12 September.

There’s lots planned throughout the inaugural RiverLight Festival, including the RiverLight Business Trail!

Beginning on Saturday 15 June, through to the festival finale on Saturday 22 June, an amazing 25 local businesses across Sleaford are involved, with sheets available to collect at each business. Collect all five stamps and you can enter into a prize draw, with items up for grabs that have been donated by local businesses. Once complete, enter your sheet into the post box found at the Hub. The prize draw will take place on Wednesday 26 June and winners will be then be contacted within 28 days.

Armed Forces Day is an annual event, held to commemorate the service of men and women in the British Armed Forces, this year taking place on Saturday 29 June.

Many businesses offer special discounts and deals as a token of appreciation to veterans and holders of Armed Forces card. We encourage you to promote your offers ahead of Armed Forces Day, to ensure they reach veterans and show them the appreciation they deserve.

Visit Heart of Lincs to view events taking place around Armed Forces Day, including flag raising and a veterans lunch.

One-hundred small businesses are once again being celebrated in the lead up to Small Business Saturday, where one business will be highlighted each day.

Being part of the Small Biz 100 offers your business excellent exposure across social media and through local and national press. In recent years, some have even joined the Small Business Saturday team in London at receptions in Downing Street, House of Lords and the Treasury Drum.

Applications for the Small Biz 100 are open until June 30, if successful, you will be contacted in August. Click here to apply.

We’re thrilled to share the news that Sleaford Moor Enterprise Park has been shortlisted for Building or development of the year – Commercial.

Sleaford Moor Enterprise Park, off Pride Parkway, is designed to provide a low-carbon home for growing businesses of various sizes, and includes planet-friendly features such as solar panels and electric vehicle charging points.

All the units so far completed achieved energy efficiency ratings of A or higher following a fabric-first approach. The site even takes wildlife into consideration, providing extensive trees and planting to benefit biodiversity.

Phase one of the scheme was completed in late 2023. Already eight of the 15 units in phase one are fully let and occupied by businesses. Three of the remaining units are under offer and undergoing all the final legal preparations before businesses can move in, and the remaining four units are either the subject of ongoing discussions or are continuing to generate enquiries.

Fingers crossed for Wednesday 26 June!