Festival launches to help Lancashire businesses thrive

A new festival has launched to support Lancashire businesses as they seek to grab their opportunities and face their challenges.

Designed to support and celebrate business and entrepreneurship, The Lancashire Festival of Business will take place on February 1 2024 at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Clayton le Moors. It has been organised by Lancashire Business View alongside headline partner Boost; Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub, which is led by Lancashire County Council.

Stephen Bolton, managing director at Lancashire Business View, said: “We’ve spoken to businesses and the organisations that support them and we know this is an event that is needed right now.

“We have a dynamic business support community in Lancashire, which is evolving, and the festival will help us share that story and ensure our business community is prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

“Everything you need to grow, scale or start a business will be on hand at the festival.

“We’ll bring the best expertise, guidance and market intelligence to rouse the county.

“We’ll hear from entrepreneurs and be inspired by their stories, and from experts whose job it is to help business flourish.”

Organiser Lancashire Business View is the team behind the Red Rose Awards, Lancashire Business Day and the Lancashire Conferences series.

And Boost brings more than a decade of experience to the table, during which time it has supported more than 14,000 businesses, helped create over 3,500 jobs and added more than £100m to the economy.

Through panel debates, inspirational speakers, breakout sessions, exhibits and plenty of networking opportunities, the festival will address barriers to business growth.  It will run from 10am to 3pm.

Andrew Leeming, programme manager of Boost, which will be launching a new range of funded business support services in November, said:

“The festival is the perfect event for ambitious people aspiring to grow, scale and start a business.

“As a Growth Hub, Boost is here to help Lancashire businesses thrive. This thriving spirit will underpin the festival. The speakers will be motivating, the panel sessions educating and the experience will be inspiring.

“It’s a new business event not to be missed and Boost and its partners are looking forward to helping more Lancashire businesses thrive through the event.”

Stephen Bolton added: “Our magazine and year-round programme of events are designed with two objectives in mind: to celebrate the achievements of the county’s businesses, and to inspire and unleash others to create their own success stories.

“Boost, an organisation we have been working with for a decade, is a fantastic source for all the tools, advice, support and funding an ambitious business could ever need, right here on our doorstep - and we’re delighted to have them as headline partner for this new event.

“The objective of the festival is to make some noise about all the support that’s out there for all types and stages of business. Attendees will learn how they can access this support, be inspired by guest speakers, and meet new people they can do business with. It’s an opportunity not to be missed. This is how we will help Lancashire thrive.”

Tickets are £40 +VAT, or £70 +VAT for two, and includes refreshments, lunch and full conference programme.

Click here to book now

If you would like to discuss sponsor, speaker and exhibitor opportunities, please get in touch with Joanne Hindley on [email protected] or Stephen Bolton on [email protected].