Debate: Shouting out for the Red Rose

By Lancashire Business View

12 Jan 2018

Lancashire Day was celebrated in style across the county and the globe. We teamed up with our Lancashire Business Day partner Marketing Lancashire and an invited panel of patrons and sponsors to talk about what makes our county a great place to do business and how it can share its story with the world. Historic Samlesbury Hall was our setting for the discussion.

PRESENT: Richard Slater ~ Lancashire Business View (Chair) • Mark Bradley ~ Beever and Struthers Accountants • Ruth Connor ~ Marketing Lancashire • Keith Pressler ~ Mattioli Woods • Jonathan Shaw ~ Anderton Gables • Claire Shore ~ Blackburn College • Peter Street ~ Cardboard Box Company

What is attracting businesses to invest and employ in the county?

Ruth Connor: There’s a sense that the conditions are right, that the county is open for business and there is support for business growth. It is also about the talent that is here and the quality of life is a big thing.

We are very open in terms of what we’ve got to offer.

Claire Shore: In terms of skills the supply side is both strong and diverse. Higher and further education and the strength of independent training providers gives businesses a breadth of opportunity and employees the progression paths they need.

The value of education at primary and secondary level is of equal, if not greater, importance when families are choosing to invest in Lancashire.

Promoting the collective offer is one of the things we can work on together.

Mark Bradley: It’s about making sure businesses have the infrastructure around them that enables them to deliver, whether that is manufacturing or services. In the SME sector businesses want local advisors.

Lancashire’s property is also a cheaper alternative to other locations. The message Marketing Lancashire promotes about buying in Lancashire if you can has a very friendly feel.

We talk to new businesses and clients and they very much want to work with people in Lancashire and grow Lancashire. They’ve got that love of the county.

Peter Street: When you look at the North, we invented canals, trains; atomic energy in Preston, computers in Manchester.

Lancashire and Blackburn was the silicon valley for textiles a couple of hundred years ago. There was nowhere else in the world like it. We keep quiet about it. We don’t say what we’ve done and what we are doing, do we?

Ruth Connor: There has been a real step change in terms of Lancashire being recognised and that’s because we can stand shoulder to shoulder with the city regions.

We’ve got this renewed confidence and renewed ambition and a lot of that is because of the business community.

Jonathan Shaw: We’ve got a huge opportunity. If you look across Lancashire, everyone is accessible. They’ll meet you; they’ll have a brew with you.

Our brand, everything we do, shouts what we believe we are: down to earth, approachable. We peddle that across Manchester. We’ve just opened an office in Yorkshire and all of this is about us being approachable.

Peter Street: The people here are outstanding. We had a major breakdown yesterday and four of our people worked on it all night. When I’m asked how many people I employ I say ‘I don’t employ any people, I’ve got 80 families to look after’.

Keith Pressler: We’ve got a can-do attitude. No matter what’s going on we can do it, we can get on. We keep evolving and moving with the times and that’s the strength we have in Lancashire. We just knuckle down and move on.

Ruth Connor: We’ve started to create this drumbeat in terms of our strengths, our ambition, our confidence; having a great business community and great people. It’s about showcasing that we are a trading nation in our own right. If you think how many countries our businesses trade with, we want people outside to go ‘Wow, I didn’t know that’. We’ve got to go to the market internationally. For the full debate, see the January/February edition of Lancashire Business View.

Latest news

1

Roundhouse secures approval for new £15m office and industrial scheme in Preston Momentum

Roundhouse secures approval for new £15m office and industrial scheme in Preston

25 Jul 2025

2

Homebuilder's high-performing sales advisers clinch awards Ben Garland and Julia Lorente

Homebuilder's high-performing sales advisers clinch awards

24 Jul 2025

3

Work is set to start on Multiversity project Multiversity Blackpool

Work is set to start on Multiversity project

24 Jul 2025

4

BAE Systems welcomes MOU between Republic of Turkiye and UK for purchase of Typhoon aircraft Typhoon production Warton

BAE Systems welcomes MOU between Republic of Turkiye and UK for purchase of Typhoon aircraft

23 Jul 2025

5

Assystem to double UK jobs to deliver Sizewell C EDF Assystem

Assystem to double UK jobs to deliver Sizewell C

22 Jul 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
Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

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: Buzz Word Bingo. Challenging Todays's Buzzwords In Tech
July PTC banner long updated.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Buzz Word Bingo. Challenging Todays's Buzzwords In Tech

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th
Navy--Event Tile.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
14 Aug 2025 - 14 Aug 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (24).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
21 Aug 2025 - 21 Aug 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

Morecambe Bay Walk
Walk.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
30 Aug 2025 - 30 Aug 2025

Morecambe Bay Walk

Arnside, CARNFORTH, LA5

09:30 - 14:00

Longridge Soap Box Derby
Screenshot 2025-06-10 090035.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
14 Sep 2025 - 14 Sep 2025

Longridge Soap Box Derby

Berry Lane, Longridge, PR3 3WH

10:00 - 16:30

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

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

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

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