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

VARS Technology team up with debt resolution specialists to fight fuel theft David Nichol John Garnett Aydan Jones and Laura Tilley

VARS Technology team up with debt resolution specialists to fight fuel theft

12 Sep 2025

2

University of Lancashire unveils Preston campus installation to celebrate name change University of Lancashire new feature

University of Lancashire unveils Preston campus installation to celebrate name change

12 Sep 2025

3

PM+M welcomes ten new apprentices for 2025 intake Lucy Field, Kate Walsh, Ellie Fisher, Zainab Aswat, Reece Jones, Aisha Bibi Patel, Finley Vila, Uzair Zariwala, Richard Prest, and Charlie Harrison

PM+M welcomes ten new apprentices for 2025 intake

11 Sep 2025

4

ROCCIA strengthens commercial division with senior appointment Andrew Grove

ROCCIA strengthens commercial division with senior appointment

11 Sep 2025

5

Final call for investors: Rossendale community solar project must hit target by November Gary McEwan managing director of Interfloor

Final call for investors: Rossendale community solar project must hit target by November

10 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
Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs
Sub36 Deaf Village Social1200
Networking
17 Sep 2025

Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs

The Deaf Village, Blackburn, BB2 5EN

10:00 - 12:00

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

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!
Preston Tech Connection Sept 25.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Sep 2025 - 16 Sep 2025

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
17 Sep 2025 - 17 Sep 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

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

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

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

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 LBV 123 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin