Burnley's great sense of pride and resilience

By LBV

17 Dec 2010

Recently, Burnley was said to be a borough most vulnerable to ‘economic shock’. The research, by Experian, identified areas that might be most vulnerable to issues such as business failures and job losses.

The study suggested that factors such as high crime, poor school achievement and low house prices all contribute to Burnley being amongst the least resilient places in the country.

The town was ranked 314th out of 324 local authorities. In the light of forthcoming cuts in public spending, it may be the case that Burnley’s resilience is going to be tested as the largest employment sector in the town is public administration, education and health, accounting for 31.2% of workers.

However, Burnley also hosts 6.5% of Lancashire’s entire manufacturing businesses with more than a fifth of the town’s working population engaged in this sector.

The key manufacturing employers operate in highly specialised fields including aerospace and automotive and it is these companies that may soften the blow of spending cuts.

Burnley has dealt with and overcome many setbacks over the years including closure of a number of key employers (Prestige in 1997, Michelin in 2002 and Shop Direct this year).

It moved on from the riots of 2001 that focused national attention on the town and its community issues. Racial tensions have reduced and 2009 saw the opening of Burnley’s first purpose built mosque.

Between 2005 and 2010 approximately £65m of government investment was poured into the town’s poorest areas.

Whilst research suggests Burnley is not the most affluent borough in the country, there is still a great sense of pride and resilience that endures, and that is why PM+M continue to be associated with the town.

There are developments planned that will do much to develop Burnley’s contribution to the economy of Pennine Lancashire. The town centre is already home to four major retail parks and work on ‘The Oval’, a new £40million shopping centre, is now scheduled to start next year after Primark and Next agreed to become tenants.

In recent times, a number of industrial estates and business parks have been developed with plans for a further development, Burnley Bridge, near Hapton.

However, more of this kind of investment is required so that proposals such as the ‘Weavers’ Triangle’ can move from being just a plan in the pipeline.

Improving Burnley’s transport links is key to regenerating the town’s future and the biggest project is the ‘Todmorden Curve’ to allow direct links to Manchester.

Given the town’s strength in aerospace and advanced manufacturing and the availability of a highly skilled workforce, Burnley would benefit greatly from government money steered to attract manufacturing companies to the area.

Hopefully, the forthcoming Local Enterprise Partnerships will provide such investment.

Stephen Anderson
PM+M Solutions for Business
 

Enjoyed this? Read more from LBV

Latest news

1

Pleasure Beach Resort takes home four prizes at UK Theme Park Awards Pleasure Beach Resort’s David Hill, head of rides, and Stuart Cumming, marketing manager with the awards

Pleasure Beach Resort takes home four prizes at UK Theme Park Awards

18 Sep 2025

2

Brookhouse Aerospace invests more than £500k in additional machinery to support growth Brookhouse Aerospace machining facility

Brookhouse Aerospace invests more than £500k in additional machinery to support growth

18 Sep 2025

3

Growth Plan maps out £20bn-plus investment journey Mo Isap from the Lancashire Business Board with the plan

Growth Plan maps out £20bn-plus investment journey

18 Sep 2025

4

Post Office future secured as council explores new options Abington Street Post Office

Post Office future secured as council explores new options

17 Sep 2025

5

Airframe Designs supports new defence strategy with pledge to nurture talent Jerrod Hartley

Airframe Designs supports new defence strategy with pledge to nurture talent

17 Sep 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
LBV124 September/October Launch Event
MBP Arc Cinema Preston Opening 205
Networking
18 Sep 2025

LBV124 September/October Launch Event

The Arc Cinema, Preston, PR1 2BL

08:30 - 10:30

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

Ladies Lunch
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
18 Sep 2025 - 18 Sep 2025

Ladies Lunch

Lancaster Golf Club, Lancaster, LA2 0AJ

12:00 - 16:00

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

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September
Sept Freelancer (1).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
Chorley Council breakfast event new
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

Worden Hall, Leyland, PR25 3DH

08:00 - 11:00

Speed Networking with BNI
2.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
24 Sep 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Speed Networking with BNI

Chorley Football Club, Chorley, PR7 3DU

16:00 - 19:00

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) drop-in day
MTD drop in session.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) drop-in day

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) drop-in day, Blackburn, BB1 5QB

10:00 - 16:00

The Marketing Metrics That Matter – Sept 25
Metris 25.09.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Metrics That Matter – Sept 25

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:00

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September
TMM Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September

Chorley, PR7 2SL

18:00 - 20:00

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

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