Burnley Business Week 2025 is almost here

The much-anticipated Burnley Business Week is back for 2025 and is bigger than ever.

From Monday 22nd September to Friday 26th September, dozens of businesses in the borough will come together to discuss hot topics, share best practice and make new connections.

Burnley Business Week is in its thirteenth year and is organised by Burnley Council, with Burnley College as the headline partner. It provides businesses and people looking to set up their own venture with free support across several sessions and venues.

Lukman Patel, Burnley Council chief executive officer, said: “This is the thirteenth business week the council has organised and there will be something to help all types and all sizes of business, as well as expert advice for people thinking of starting their own business.

 “We are delighted we can hold so many sessions and all in person, showcasing some of our fantastic venues in the borough. Burnley is an innovative and resilient borough and the spirit and hard work of our businesses are a key reason why we continue to thrive.

 “Every year Burnley Business Week gets bigger and better and we couldn’t do it without our headline partner Burnley College and the generous time of our session leaders.”

Neil Burrows, director of skills and innovation at Burnley College, added: “We’re delighted to be the partner of Burnley Business Week 2025 alongside the council. As we continue to grow our campus, working closely with businesses and their employees is essential to ensure our students and research can help industry overcome challenges and deliver the skills, solutions and experience required.”

The itinerary

Monday 22nd September

10:00 – 12:00 How AI Does the Business: From Hype to Hands-On Execution

This session is for teams and leaders ready to move beyond ChatGPT. You can expect clear patterns, practical examples and immediate actionable insights.

Delivered by Leon Calverley, Door4

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13:00 – 15:00 How to – Podcast for Business

Whether you’re a complete beginner or ready to press record, this hands-on practical session will guide you through exactly how to get started with podcasting for your business. You’ll leave this workshop with real skills and a clear idea of your next steps.  

With Kath Lord-Green, Your Fairy Podmother and Jamie Crawford, Burnley College

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13:00 – 15:00 Business Leadership and Management Fundamentals

This interactive session will introduce emotional intelligence, motivational strategies and leadership styles to help you build confidence and capability in leading others.

Delivered by Peter Winters and Cath Dallas, Burnley College

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Tuesday 23rd September

09:00 – 11.30 WhatsApp, Workplace Culture & Workplace Law: A Mock Disciplinary with Forbes Solicitors & Hays

In this immersive session you’ll be taken through a complex case which isn’t just a typical workplace scenario! This is a deep-dive into the real world complications of handling difficult, high-stake situations in the workplace.

Delivered by Forbes Solicitors & Hays

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09:30 – 12:30 Starting your Own Business with Carole Garrett BEM

This workshop will equip you with all the essentials needed to set you up on your start up business journey.

Delivered by Profit Optimizer, Carole Garrett BEM

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10:00 – 11:30 Conflict Awareness and De-escalation for Retail Staff

This session is designed to equip shop workers with practical tools to prevent escalation, manage incidents and stay safe in difficult situations.

Delivered by Smile Mediation

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13:30 – 15:00 Conflict Awareness and De-escalation for Retail Staff

This session is designed to equip shop workers with practical tools to prevent escalation, manage incidents and stay safe in difficult situations.

Delivered by Smile Mediation

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13:00 – 16:00 Cash Flow Confidence with Kathryn Gillam

In this session you will learn all things cash flow including understanding the basics, tracking cashflow, confidence through planning and much more.

Delivered by Love your Accounts, Kathryn Gillam

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Wednesday 24th September

08:30 – 12:00 Getting into Defence

This session is designed for manufacturing companies across Burnley and Pendle who are curious about breaking into the fast growing defence sector.

Delivered by RTC North in partnership with BCW Group

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10:00 – 12:00 How to Drive Sales Through Tik Tok and Instagram with Elevated Socials

This hands-on, no fluff workshop will break down how to use Instagram and TikTok to drive real sales, not just likes and follows!

Delivered by Zoe Clough, Elevated Socials

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13:00 – 15:00 Beginners’ Guide to Building Your Own Website using WordPress

In this workshop delegates will use an example project to go through the process of building their own website.

Please note you need to bring your own laptop and create a free WordPress account before the session, https://wordpress.com/free/

Delivered by Burnley College

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13:00 – 15:00 Money, Money, Money – What it can do for you, your Business and your People

This session is ideal for business owners, managers and employees who want to take control of their financial futures. This rapid masterclass will cover financial planning and the importance of financial health.

Delivered by PM+M, Neil Welsh

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Thursday 25th September

09:15 – 12:15 Secure Your Digital Future: A Burnley Cyber Security Masterclass

Enhance your organisation’s cyber resilience at this in-person Cyber Security Workshop. This workshop will provide businesses and their employees across all sectors with the knowledge and skills to proactively protect against cyber threats.   

Delivered by North West Cyber Resilience Centre (NWCRC)

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13:30 – 15:00 Empowering Small Businesses Through Video: Practical Strategies for Maximum Impact

This session is designed to equip small business owners with the knowledge and tools needed to leverage video marketing effectively, regardless of budget or technical expertise.

Delivered by +24, Rik Holden

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18:00 – 20:15 Burnley Tech Network Event – Tech Isn’t Just a City Thing

Join this event where we will connect startups, technologists and changemakers who are proving that you don’t need to be in a city to have great ideas. Expect real talk, regional pride and collaborative energy.

Delivered by Lancashire Digital Hub  

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Friday 26th September

10:00 – 12:00 Understanding Neurodiversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

This interactive workshop will help employers, managers and HR professionals better understand neurodiversity. Find out about practical steps that can be taken to build more inclusive and supportive workplaces.

Delivered by Neurosparks, Business Solutions and AfterAthena

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13:30 – 15:00 Think in Ink: Unlock the Power of Visual Note Taking

This beginner-friendly session is the perfect introduction to visual note-taking, an easy and effective way to capture ideas using simple drawing, text and symbols.

Delivered by Emma Weston Illustration  

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15:00 – Teatime Unpack Burnley Business Week with Friday Club

Unwind at the end of Burnley Business Week with a chance to reflect and check in with fellow Burnley businesses before heading into the weekend.

Hosted by Dave Scholes from Six Connections

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