Business First’s Northlight reports 75% occupancy within three months

By Scott Dawson Advertising

02 Mar 2021

image-2-drone-shot.jpg

Business First is the Burnley based provider of fully serviced offices and shared workspaces. The company has reported an astonishing growth in occupancy for its latest development, a Grade 2 listed mill restored to its former glory.

Just three months after opening its flagship Business First Northlight offices and coworking facility, in Pendle, East Lancashire, the development has reached 75% occupancy. It’s a vote of confidence for Business First, and an encouraging sign for a post covid bounce back in the local economy.

The fully appointed reception area 

Ten years ago, if you visited the historic Brierfield mill known today as Northlight you would have seen vast empty buildings in a serious state of disrepair. English Heritage had officially designated the estate as “listed buildings at risk”.

Last November work on the Business First renovation was completed and the historic buildings firmly restored to their rightful place as a centre of business and industry in East Lancashire. The result has been incredible and is testament to the strength of the business community. Companies looking for new offices have been quick to relocate to this very special location.

The impressive entrance to Northlight

Business First operates shared offices and coworking spaces around the North of England and into Scotland. Its latest development, Northlight, has been finished to the highest standards, creating luxury office spaces from what was until recently a brownfield site with an uncertain future.

Many local residents will have fond memories of working at the establishment which was a powerhouse of the Lancashire cotton industry right up until 2007.

With such positive feeling towards this development and the brilliant renovation job carried out by Business First, it is little wonder Northlight has had such an enthusiastic uptake.

One of the coworking spaces at Northlight

A spokesperson from Business First commented: “We’ve been blown away by the response from the public and the business community. It’s been so encouraging.

“When you take on a big project like this, one that carries so much historic and cultural importance, there’s always an element of pressure to get it right. We knew this was an important building to local residents. Now we’re seeing such a positive response, it feels like a vote of confidence from the business community.”

A good deal of their success is down to the state-of-the-art facilities on offer with superfast broadband throughout, and flexible office spaces to suit all kinds of businesses. Northlight is ideally located two minutes’ drive from the M65 corridor with a railway station nearby. It’s like a modern city centre office space in rural Lancashire with commanding views of the iconic Pendle Hill. Being based on the Leeds and Liverpool canal there are plenty of opportunities for exercise, relaxation, or to take lunch in the green spaces around the building.

For more information about Business First and their Northlight development, visit the website www.businessfirst.co.uk, or call 01282 330 330 / 07929 035 517 to speak to the team.

                                            

Latest news

1

Blackburn and Burnley companies strike gold at regional manufacturing awards Chloe Baine from MGS Plastics with Dan Hulme of Inspired and then Abby Watson from Safran presented award by Dawn Huntrod.

Blackburn and Burnley companies strike gold at regional manufacturing awards

05 Nov 2025

2

Rosebud named as judging partner for Red Rose Awards Red Rose Awards 2025 scene

Rosebud named as judging partner for Red Rose Awards

05 Nov 2025

3

Blackpool Council moves forward with plans for first data centre as part of Silicon Sands Artists impression of how Silicon Sands could look

Blackpool Council moves forward with plans for first data centre as part of Silicon Sands

04 Nov 2025

4

Monks Contractors eyeing expansion after deal Monks Contractors new vehicles for Lancashire Renewables

Monks Contractors eyeing expansion after deal

04 Nov 2025

5

Eric Wright Construction hands over first care home to Wrightcare James Eager, director Eric Wright Construction and Gill Chadwick, managing director Wrightcare

Eric Wright Construction hands over first care home to Wrightcare

04 Nov 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
November / December 2025 Magazine Launch Event
Holiday Inn Hotel
Networking
19 Nov 2025

November / December 2025 Magazine Launch Event

Holiday Inn, Blackpool

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

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

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 09 Jan 2026

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

The Small Business Academy, Blackpool, FY4 5JX

09:30 - 15:30

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

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
06 Nov 2025 - 06 Nov 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November

Porsche Centre South Lakes, Carnforth, LA6 1FW

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Roundtables
10 Nov 2025 - 10 Nov 2025

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner

Lancaster Castle, Lancaster, LA1 1YN

14:00 - 16:00

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human
2.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
11 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:00

Beyond the Brand: Building trust through values and integrity
1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
11 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025

Beyond the Brand: Building trust through values and integrity

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:00

The Great Winter Pie and Pea Social
Logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Social
12 Nov 2025 - 12 Nov 2025

The Great Winter Pie and Pea Social

The Royal Hotel & Bar, Lancaster, LA1 1YD

17:30 - 20:00

The Business Network Central and East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
13 Nov 2025 - 13 Nov 2025

The Business Network Central and East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

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