Blacko businessman appointed teaching fellow

By We Love Creative

18 Feb 2020

victor-pic.png

A retired Pendle businessman has been appointed an Honorary Teaching Fellow at Lancaster University Management School.

Victor Giannandrea, of Blacko, was thrilled to be invited to become an Entrepreneur in Residence (EiR) at the prestigious university.

Drawing on 45 years’ experience of director level roles within the furniture and bedding industry, Victor’s role is to help students gain exposure to the real world of business; the highs and the lows.

Since retiring, in 2011, Victor has still been hard at work mentoring local businesses, with a huge degree of success in turning around businesses at high risk, helping them to change direction, cultivate new customers and increase trade with existing customers. 

Victor, former sales and marketing director at Silentnight Beds in Barnoldswick for 20 years, said: “It is a true honour to receive this appointment at such a fantastic, progressive university. 

“Today’s job market is very different to the one I knew growing up. Competition for jobs is rife and those who demonstrate an understanding of business outside of the university walls are certainly at a strong advantage.”

Before becoming an EiR, Victor has long been a supporter of the Lancaster University Management School; attending events as speaker and grilling students on their ideas as part of a Dragon’s Den style panel.

Brian Gregory, director of the Entrepreneurs in Residence scheme within Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) said: “Victor is a great asset to our programme and his experience in business really does give students a true insight into the world of work. 

“Entrepreneurs in Residence are the stars of the local community and are valued, important members of our LUMS community.

“They bring expertise from the front line of business, interesting and varied viewpoints and a real-world experience that benefits our students, teaching and research. In return, EiRs get access to LUMS’ cutting-edge knowledge, both from our students and research, and the opportunity to strengthen their peer networks.”

Victor’s own education Falkirk, Scotland, couldn’t be more different than the university educated audiences he speaks to.

He said: “I was the youngest of 8 siblings when my father died. When I left secondary school, my mother sent me straight out to get a job and I became a laundry delivery boy;the pay was much better that the apprenticeships being offered locally.

“One day, I was struck with a light bulb moment when delivering laundry to Walter Alexander’s, very large and posh house in Falkirk. The Alexander’s were a family of coach builders and they had a huge fleet of buses on the road, which we all knew as the Bluebird Buses 

“There I was trudging up their massive driveway, with beautifully manicured lawns at the side in the pouring rain, soaked to the skin. 

As I headed back down the drive, struggling with another basket of soiled laundry, I looked back at the big house and I said to myself: ‘I want some of that’! 

“Remember, I was 15 years old, I had no qualifications and, but my vision and desire were strong. To remind me of this vision of what I wanted to be, but no idea of how I was going to get there, I had the Walter Alexander’s Bluebird Logo tattooed onto my arm. Now I had to do something about it!”

Those invited to be part of Lancaster University Management School’s Entrepreneurs in Residence scheme volunteer two or three days a year to spend in the School to share their expertise, networks and experience. 

They take part in a range of activities while on campus varying from judging students’ business ideas, mock interviews, masterclasses and guest speaker opportunities. In return, entrepreneurs become embedded in the school and its way of thinking. 

They spend more time helping students, get fantastic networking opportunities and access world-leading academics from across Lancaster University. 

Latest news

1

New India branch campus on the horizon for Lancaster University Keir Starmer meets Indian PM and included Prof Simon Guy Lancaster University. Pic Simon Dawson

New India branch campus on the horizon for Lancaster University

09 Oct 2025

2

Best events and talented students complete finalists list for Lancashire Tourism Awards 2026 Best Events and Talented students on Lancashire Tourism Awards finalist list

Best events and talented students complete finalists list for Lancashire Tourism Awards 2026

09 Oct 2025

3

East Lancashire Learning Group named UK digital transformation leader in CIO 100 Awards Andrew Dewhurst with the award win

East Lancashire Learning Group named UK digital transformation leader in CIO 100 Awards

09 Oct 2025

4

PHX Training appoints new business leader in Blackpool Jason Davenport PHX Training

PHX Training appoints new business leader in Blackpool

09 Oct 2025

5

Velocity seals Airbus extension worth up to $54m Velocity Composites Has Announced Its Entry Into The Us Market

Velocity seals Airbus extension worth up to $54m

08 Oct 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
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

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

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th
Ai 10.10.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
10 Oct 2025 - 10 Oct 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West

Strathmore Hotel, Morecambe, LA4 5AP

08:00 - 10:00

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials
EventBrite NORi - 15th Oct 2025 Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials

Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Teams, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

October Freelancer Meet-Up
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

October Freelancer Meet-Up

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

The Autumn Re set - pour me a wine
LBV Advert_Autumn Reset 1200 x 630px.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Autumn Re set - pour me a wine

The Artistry House , Preston , PR1 3JJ

17:30 - 19:30

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (26).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 09 Jan 2026

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

The Small Business Academy, Blackpool, FY4 5JX

09:30 - 15:30

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues
EventBrite NORi - 22nd Oct Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
22 Oct 2025 - 22 Oct 2025

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues

Online - Teams, Leyland, PR253XH

13:30 - 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 LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin