Events venue sees strong growth after building resilience during pandemic

By Boost Business Lancashire

27 Oct 2021

celia-gaze-the-wellbeing-farm-web-banner.jpg

An East Lancashire events venue has seen strong growth in corporate clients and has recruited 25 additional staff after adopting a new business strategy as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Wellbeing Farm, founded and owned by Celia Gaze, has launched a dedicated corporate hospitality arm and has adopted a new strategy focusing on business wellbeing and sustainability, with the help of a Lancashire County Council-funded business scaleup programme.

The venue, which provides rural hospitality for weddings and a wide variety of other events, was hit hard by lockdown and saw the majority of bookings postponed.

Last summer, Celia took part in Two Zero’s Scaleup Resurgence programme, funded by Lancashire County Council. The programme was designed to help scaleup businesses recover quickly from the effects of the pandemic and return to their growth trajectory.

By adopting the new strategy, the business has returned to profit and with bookings also picking up, Celia is now preparing for a sustained period of strong growth.

She said: “The business faced a massive resilience test during lockdown, not only for me and the team, but supporting worried couples about their wedding plans. The Two Zero Scaleup Resurgence programme helped to reassurance me I was not alone.

“I learnt that I needed to focus on the corporate market when coming out of the pandemic. Some of the key drivers for business post-Covid are sustainability and wellbeing and we are working to combine these into a unique corporate offer.”

Two Zero is a Lancashire County Council led scaleup partnership and helps leaders of Lancashire scaleup businesses realise their ambition by delivering programmes, providing access to inspirational and educational resources and opportunities to network with other scaleup leaders.

Through the programme, Celia learned how to expand her thoughts by sharing her ideas with like-minded people and received support to develop a new corporate arm to her business, Wellbeing Corporate. She also built a network of other business leaders that were also struggling to manage their business growth targets due to the pandemic.

The Wellbeing Farm now counts several other businesses from the Scaleup Resurgence programme among its clients, including Clayton-Legal and Sales Geek which have both used the facility.

Celia’s new strategy also includes improving the company’s own workplace culture.

“We have implemented new hybrid ways of working, which is unique for the hospitality industry. We have also done a huge amount of work on productivity and staff wellbeing and addressing work-life balance for hospitality workers.”

Celia has plans for significant growth in 2022 and beyond in hosting weddings, private parties and corporate events.

She is also working with sustainability representatives to achieve B Corp status. a global business sustainability and social change accreditation, with the hope of becoming one of the first B Corp hospitality venues in the UK.

As part of this project Celia is working to establish a North West training centre to help businesses with their B Corp Impact Assessment. The first workshops of these workshops will commence in November, 2021. 

She also aims to achieve IS014001 for sustainability and is looking to pilot a scheme with Blackburn College for hospitality students.

Celia said: “We faced a really tough time over the past 18 months, as we couldn't really fully open and get trading again until July 2021. But I am happy to say we are already now in a profit situation for 2021 and have positioned the business for sustained growth over the coming years.”

Councillor Aidy Riggott, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Growth, Lancashire County Council said "Supporting local businesses and helping to build a resilient, and profitable company is the main aim of Two Zero and we are proud of what has been achieved by The Wellbeing Farm.

“Watching the business adapt and go from strength to strength has been a great pleasure. After a challenging period over the past 18 months, Celia and the team are a perfect example of what can be achieved through networking, creative thinking and ambition and we are looking forward to what looks to be a shining future for The Wellbeing Farm"

For more information about Two Zero, please visit: https://www.twozerolancs.com/

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