Celebrating Amanda Meachin as she retires from Community & Business Partners

Community & Business Partners (CBP) has announced the retirement of Amanda Meachin, a transformative leader who has dedicated 24 years to empowering communities and businesses across the region.

Amanda began her career with Blackburn Partnership, the predecessor to CBP, in 2000 and became CEO in 2004.

With the dissolution of Blackburn Partnership in 2005, Amanda founded Community & Business Partners, transforming the organisation from a blank canvas into a thriving hub of innovation and support.

One of the key programmes, Amanda nurtured during her tenure was the Guardian Angel Entrepreneurs Network, originally established in 1992 as part of Blackburn Partnership.

Amanda championed this programme to ensure startups and self-employed individuals could benefit from the mentorship and guidance of experienced business leaders, bridging gaps in business support during challenging times for the local economy.

Amanda’s commitment to fostering collaboration between education and business led to the creation of the Schools Friends Project.

This initiative paired business professionals with school boards, enabling schools to benefit from industry insights and practical guidance. It provided an early blueprint for collaborative partnerships between education and the business community.

Inspired by her work with schools, Amanda established SAMS (Scrap Art Material Store), a project designed to help schools access essential materials more cost-effectively.

By focusing on sustainability and affordability, SAMS supported educational institutions while promoting resource efficiency.

Amanda’s leadership also extended to strengthening the dialogue between councils and businesses through the development of Employers Forums.

Acting as a vital bridge, these forums helped councils understand and address the needs of businesses, fostering initiatives like the Whitebirk Development project.

Amanda’s tenure has been marked by significant milestones, including securing the country’s first asset transfer in 2008, which established the Energyzone as CBP’s headquarters.

CBP also became the first independent non-profit outside London to achieve and sustain ISO9001 accreditation, a standard it has held for 14 years.

A personal passion for addressing food insecurity led Amanda to establish one of Blackburn’s first food distribution centres in partnership with Fareshare.

This initiative tackled food waste while ensuring families in need had access to essential resources, a cause deeply rooted in Amanda’s values and life experiences.

Reflecting on her career, Amanda said: "It has been the biggest privilege to work with so many different people and achieve success. I’ve had to be brave at times to make an impact, but the experience has been incredibly rewarding. I am proud to leave CBP in strong hands and excited to see its next chapter unfold."

Amanda leaves behind a legacy of innovation, collaboration, and compassion. Her leadership has secured numerous bids, awards, and funding, ensuring CBP’s continued growth and impact. She has always prioritised people—staff, businesses, families, and individuals—placing their needs at the heart of her work.

While Amanda is stepping down from her role, she will remain a part of CBP as a member of the board of directors, with aspirations to become Chair in the future. She looks forward to a gentler pace of life in Pendle while continuing to support communities and businesses.

Amy King, CBP’s managing director, along with senior leaders Andrea Wallace and Victoria Braithwaite, will carry forward Amanda’s vision.

Together with the dedicated CBP team, they are poised to build on the strong foundation she has established.