#BrilliantBurnley – a Lancashire Hotspot!

By Dean

08 Apr 2016

More than 80 Lancashire business representatives gathered in Burnley to discuss the opportunities for growth and development in the borough.

DSC_4142

The Question Time-style panel event was hosted by Lancashire Business View in association with Burnley Council and PM+M Chartered Accountants at Prairie Sports Village.

Pam Smith, who was appointed chief executive of Burnley Council in 2015, took part in a Q and A before the main panel discussion.

She said: “One of the biggest highlights of my first 12 months in post is the Manchester rail link which links us in to the Northern Powerhouse and enables us to make more connections, but also bring people here and show them what Burnley has to offer.

“We are one of the top five North West boom towns, we were named the UK’s most enterprising area, and we need to get the word out more.

“The fluidity of communication and long term relationships between ourselves and businesses in the town is critical.”

Guest panellists at the event included Rupert Gatty, CEO, CoolKit; Kate Ingram, head of regeneration and planning policy, Burnley Council; Helen Binns, director, PM+M; Andrew Henderson, managing director, Lanway and Colin Birchall, executive chairman, Birchall Foodservice.

Kate Ingram, who is responsible for major regeneration projects in the town such as Burnley Bridge and Vision Park, said: “The key message is that Burnley is well connected, well located and there is easy access. We will always pull together as a community to make sure doing business in Burnley is a smooth process.

“Our aim is to improve the economy, create more jobs and get more people to come and live in Burnley. We’re achieving all of our goals and have had year on year employment growth since 2009, way above regional and national levels. We’re now also in a period of positive population growth.”

Helen Binns, who was instrumental in the relocation of PM+M’s Burnley office to Finsley Gate, said: “With the amount of investment here, there’s a really good feeling and we wanted to be part of that. There are big opportunities to do business in Burnley and be a big part of the community.

“It’s a civic town with a strong business community. The Bondholders network is really important for people to tell their stories and get involved. We come across a lot of businesses with real tenacity and determination to get things done for themselves and for the town.”

Rupert Gatty, who relocated his firm in 2015 from the Shuttleworth Mead Business Park to a larger site at Farrington Place, said: “Burnley’s location, with its proximity to areas of outstanding natural beauty, neighbouring towns and the great road and rail networks the town has are all real positives.

“We get a lot of support as a Burnley-based business and well informed.”

Andrew Henderson, who has been doing business in Burnley for more than 20 years, said: “We want to tell as many people as possible to come to Burnley; it is a great place to be. Burnley is a forerunner in the respect that its private and public sectors work together so well.

“One thing I hear a lot about is skills shortages, but certainly for us, we don’t feel that so much. There’s an enormous number of training providers in the area.”

Colin Birchall, whose growing business relocated to a new £3m site at Burnley Bridge in 2015, said: “There’s a lot of collaborative work and that is the way forward. We need to keep the focus on Burnley, continue to change the perception of the town and get people to work with us.

“We are Burnley and we should be shouting about the town. We are in a wonderful location and are fortunate to have so many good things going for us.”

Richard Slater, publisher of Lancashire Business View, said: “Events like this help the business and public sector communities to learn from each other and share ideas. “Creating a better understanding of what’s happening on the ground is good for business.”

  • The next Lancashire Hotspots event will take place in West Lancashire in June.

Enjoyed this? Read more from Dean

Latest news

1

Chiptech announces major innovation initiative at high-profile reception with the New Zealand Prime Minister in London. The Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds, the Rt Hon Christopher Luxon and the Rt Hon Steve Reed (L-R Front Row) David Hammond, and Daniel Knowles

Chiptech announces major innovation initiative at high-profile reception with the New Zealand Prime Minister in London.

30 Apr 2025

2

Northstone secures full planning permission for 50 new homes in Edenfield Edenfield housing development

Northstone secures full planning permission for 50 new homes in Edenfield

29 Apr 2025

3

Ring Stones Maintenance and Construction celebrates completion of Dovestone Gardens Dovestone Gardens launch

Ring Stones Maintenance and Construction celebrates completion of Dovestone Gardens

29 Apr 2025

4

PHX Training welcomes new business leader to drive learner success Louise Kirby

PHX Training welcomes new business leader to drive learner success

29 Apr 2025

5

Lidl to invest half a billion pounds in its expansion as it eyes sites in Lancashire Lidl

Lidl to invest half a billion pounds in its expansion as it eyes sites in Lancashire

29 Apr 2025

Pc Prestonmacan Gif980x120 March
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
LBV122 May/June Launch Event
121 Lancashire Business View Magazine Launch
Networking
21 May 2025

LBV122 May/June Launch Event

Lancaster and Morecambe College, Lancaster, LA1 2TY

08:30 - 10:30

Sub36 Networking
Networking
11 Jun 2025

Sub36 Networking

British Jewellery School, Scorton, PR3 1BA

15:00 - 17:00

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200px 2
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

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

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

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

09:00 - 15:30

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes
Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes for website.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
01 May 2025 - 01 May 2025

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes

Stanley House Hotel, Mellor, Blackburn, BB2 7NP, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

08:00 - 10:30

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 2
EV-land-2025-05B.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 2

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Manchester Road, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:00

A night at the races
1.png.png
LBV Hub Dinners / Balls
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

A night at the races

Morecambe FC, Morecambe, LA4 4TB

19:00 - 23:59

Innovating business solutions through PhD Partnerships
30478 Skills Bootcamp open day setting.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
07 May 2025 - 07 May 2025

Innovating business solutions through PhD Partnerships

University of Central Lancashire, Preston , PR1 2HE

14:30 - 15:30

Celebrating 50 years of KTP
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
07 May 2025 - 07 May 2025

Celebrating 50 years of KTP

University of Central Lancashire , Preston, PR1 2HE

16:00 - 18:00

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 Lbv121 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin