Blackpool Growth Business Academy highlights common barriers to scaling in 2025

GROWTH-BARRIER-2.jpg.jpg

The Blackpool Growth Business Academy are highlighting growth barriers that most scaling businesses in Blackpool are facing in 2025, and how they can be overcome.

The academy is helping local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) identify the hidden challenges that are holding them back from scaling. And through fully funded tailored support they are providing expert guidance to move from steady performance to strategic growth.

Two of the academy’s experienced transformation and growth experts, John Woodruffe and Mick Cox, are at the heart of this work. Alongside a wider team of specialists and industry professionals, they’re supporting Blackpool businesses with targeted advice tailored to their unique needs.

According to the academy’s team, some of the most common, and often overlooked, growth barriers include limited operational capacity, informal or unclear strategies, leadership pressure points and digital hesitation.

These issues are simply natural hurdles many growing businesses encounter, even after years of solid performance.

The academy’s approach is to work directly with business owners and leadership teams, to help them review and improve internal operations, build scalable systems, strengthen leadership and team capacity, and adopt digital tools with confidence, as well as working with businesses to define their goals and vision.

Through tailored one-to-one support, businesses are guided through personalised steps required to make time for strategic thinking and implement growth strategies that stick.

Beyond personalised mentoring, the academy also runs a variety of expert-led workshops and events. Covering essential topics such as financial planning, digital transformation and leadership development, these sessions are delivered by academy specialists and external experts with real-world experience in helping SMEs grow.

With fully funded support readily available, the Blackpool Growth Business Academy encourage any local businesses that are ready to scale to get in touch.

Enjoyed this? Read more from Blackpool Unlimited

Latest news

1

Burnley chosen for second-ever digital and tech festival Leon Caverley Door4 Mark Edwards Seriun Cat Mawdsley Northern Reach Dave Walker and Liz Wilkinson Brandlifi

Burnley chosen for second-ever digital and tech festival

05 Mar 2026

2

CRC Evans accelerates global growth strategy Steven Mackay

CRC Evans accelerates global growth strategy

05 Mar 2026

3

Star Academies set to anchor £45m Blackburn town centre scheme The regeneration in Blackburn

Star Academies set to anchor £45m Blackburn town centre scheme

05 Mar 2026

4

Forbes buys specialist employment practice in growth move Pauline Wild, Nick Jones, Jonathan Holden, Dan Bickerstaffe,Simon Ost

Forbes buys specialist employment practice in growth move

04 Mar 2026

5

Commissioner brings Lancashire businesses together to strengthen the fight against business crime Clive Grunshaw

Commissioner brings Lancashire businesses together to strengthen the fight against business crime

04 Mar 2026

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
LBV127 March/April Magazine Networking Event
Jan/Feb Networking Event - Closer up
Networking
19 Mar 2026

LBV127 March/April Magazine Networking Event

Salmesbury Hall, Preston New Road, Lancashire, PR5 0UP

08:30 - 10:30

AI & Cybersecurity Summit
AI and Cybersecurity Logo
Summit
28 Apr 2026

AI & Cybersecurity Summit

Dunkenhalgh House , Blackburn Road, Clayton Le Moors, BB5 5JP

08:30 - 11:00

Sub36 Networking - Outdoor Elements
Sub36
Networking
29 Apr 2026

Sub36 Networking - Outdoor Elements

Outdoor Elements, Pump House Dean Wood, Trapp Lane, Burnley, BB12 7JD

09:00 - 11:00

LBV128 May/June Magazine Networking Event
Jan/Feb networking event - hands up image
Networking
14 May 2026

LBV128 May/June Magazine Networking Event

Lancashire

08:30 - 10:30

LBV129 July/August Magazine Networking Event
Nov/Dec Networking Event
Networking
16 Jul 2026

LBV129 July/August Magazine Networking Event

Lancashire

08:30 - 10:30

LBV130 September/October Magazine Networking Event
Jan/Feb Networking Event - Entrance
Networking
17 Sep 2026

LBV130 September/October Magazine Networking Event

Lancashire

08:30 - 10:30

LBV131 November/December Magazine Networking Event
Networking
19 Nov 2026

LBV131 November/December Magazine Networking Event

Lancashire

08:30 - 10:30

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

Understanding AI
understanding AI image.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
06 Mar 2026 - 06 Mar 2026

Understanding AI

Strawberry Fields Digital Hub, Chorley, PR7 1PS

09:30 - 12:00

Payroll Update 2026 Samlesbury Hall
payroll.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
06 Mar 2026 - 06 Mar 2026

Payroll Update 2026 Samlesbury Hall

Samlesbury Hall, Preston, PR5 0UP

08:00 - 10:00

Preston College Brings Industry and Education Together for Green Skills Summit 2026
LBV Hub Seminars
06 Mar 2026

Preston College Brings Industry and Education Together for Green Skills Summit 2026

Brockholes Nature Reserve, Samlesbury, PR5 0AG

09:30 - 13:00

Women Growing Together in Lancashire
IWD Lancashire March 2026 Landscape Graphic Final
LBV Hub Networking
07 Mar 2026 - 07 Mar 2026

Women Growing Together in Lancashire

Dalvee Restaurant, Lancashire

10:00 - 14:00

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