A shared journey towards business growth

By Lancashire Business View

08 May 2018

matt-hutchinson-lancashire-forum-1000x501.jpg
By Matt Hutchinson, p rogramme manager, Lancashire Forum

Many SME business leaders, particularly owner-managers, have no one with whom they can safely share their hopes and fears. Nor, typically, have they the time and space to work on the business and its future, rather than in the midst of it.

What we offer them, through the Lancashire Forum, is the opportunity to step back, look forward, and do so in the company of like-minded business leaders who are all on the same journey from their original, often haphazard, organic growth to a more structured and managed growth strategy.

It is this peer support network that our participating businesses value so highly. “It’s like getting free consultancy from each other,” one has put it, while another said the experience handed her back her decision-making confidence.

If it’s easy to see why this peer learning experience is so welcome, what makes it effective is that it works hand-in-hand with structured interactive learning - with the entire programme representing a longer-term intervention than most.

We run a different workshop every month for six months – on themes like innovation, business finance or employee engagement – at which our twenty or so delegates benefit from expert content, which blends cutting-edge academic research with industry practice. They get to explore the latest tools and strategies and help each other relate what they are learning to their own plans or problems.

Throughout, they focus on specific issues facing their business and its growth, with the aim of leaving the programme in possession of a tangible plan of actions they can take, backed up by specific tools to support these actions.

Along the way, we also provide access to Masterclasses from leading practitioners – a recent example being Joe McEwan, Head of Brand for innocent  – as well as inspirational company visits, which have included VEKA, Graham & Brown, SMD textiles and Seatruck Ferries. It all adds up to help our businesses identify their goals and “join the dots” to see how to get there.

The businesses that benefit most from the Lancashire Forum are undoubtedly those with a real appetite for growth – businesses that want to get to the next level.

In practice, that tends to mean a real diversity of individuals and businesses. What you can expect is twenty different advisors, twenty different sounding boards, twenty different critical friends, all on a shared journey.

The Lancashire Forum is part of Boost, Lancashire’s business growth hub, and delivered by Lancaster University Management School (LUMS). The Lancashire Forum is fully-funded and available to eligible European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) companies in Lancashire. LUMS offers a range of additional business support including programmes addressing specific themes such as low carbon, productivity and innovation, standalone events, workshops and student projects.

Latest news

1

Roundhouse secures approval for new £15m office and industrial scheme in Preston Momentum

Roundhouse secures approval for new £15m office and industrial scheme in Preston

25 Jul 2025

2

Homebuilder's high-performing sales advisers clinch awards Ben Garland and Julia Lorente

Homebuilder's high-performing sales advisers clinch awards

24 Jul 2025

3

Work is set to start on Multiversity project Multiversity Blackpool

Work is set to start on Multiversity project

24 Jul 2025

4

BAE Systems welcomes MOU between Republic of Turkiye and UK for purchase of Typhoon aircraft Typhoon production Warton

BAE Systems welcomes MOU between Republic of Turkiye and UK for purchase of Typhoon aircraft

23 Jul 2025

5

Assystem to double UK jobs to deliver Sizewell C EDF Assystem

Assystem to double UK jobs to deliver Sizewell C

22 Jul 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Preston Tech Connection: Buzz Word Bingo. Challenging Todays's Buzzwords In Tech
July PTC banner long updated.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Buzz Word Bingo. Challenging Todays's Buzzwords In Tech

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th
Navy--Event Tile.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
14 Aug 2025 - 14 Aug 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (24).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
21 Aug 2025 - 21 Aug 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

Morecambe Bay Walk
Walk.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
30 Aug 2025 - 30 Aug 2025

Morecambe Bay Walk

Arnside, CARNFORTH, LA5

09:30 - 14:00

Longridge Soap Box Derby
Screenshot 2025-06-10 090035.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
14 Sep 2025 - 14 Sep 2025

Longridge Soap Box Derby

Berry Lane, Longridge, PR3 3WH

10:00 - 16:30

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV 123 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin