Hotspots event drives in to north of county

By Dean

14 Dec 2016

Around 70 business leaders travelled the new Bay Gateway for the latest Lancashire Hotspots event at Heysham Golf Club.

The event, which links to a feature on the district of Lancaster which will appear in the January-February issue of Lancashire Business View, was presented by the magazine in association with Harrison Drury, Fat Media and HSBC.

Delegates included businesses from across the county as well as representatives from three universities – Lancaster, Cumbria and UCLan – the Federation of Small Businesses, Marketing Lancashire, the county council and the Chamber North Lancashire.

Susan Parsonage, the recently installed chief executive of Lancaster City Council, opened the event.

She said: “There are lots of new and established businesses alongside some really successful individuals in Lancaster: the foundations for growth are here. There are many opportunities and great potential.”

A Question Time-style panel, which was chaired by Richard Slater, publisher of Lancashire Business View, featured Colin Mclaughlin technology transfer manager at Lancaster University; Mark Ayrton, managing director at Pinington; Phil Simpson, director of C2 which owns Lancaster Brewery; Adrian Cresswell managing director of AM Support Services; and Brett Cooper who leads Harrison Drury’s Lancaster team.

Panellists said:

Colin McLaughlin

“I’ve always found Lancaster to be an enterprising community, a county of hidden gems. Our challenge has always been to try and get small organisations in front of students to encourage them with local opportunities as well as pushing local companies.”

 

Mark Ayrton

“If you look at the city and its surrounding area we have got the Lake District on our doorstep, the west coast mainline: we couldn’t be in a better location.”

 

Phil Simpson

“All the restaurants, bars, hotels, shops in town hang off the university. Our customer base is predominantly from the undergraduates and their families. The only worry with this is that we are continuously at threat of becoming a 30 week a year city.”

 

 

Adrian Cresswell

“We are a central location and the link road that has just been opened has made activity go through the roof because the time and ease to get here now is just unbelievable.”

 

Brett Cooper

“The potential for growth thanks to the opening of the Bay Gateway is massive. There are many great businesses and it’s about utilising them and providing them with the right professional services.”

  A full report, plus an extended feature on the district of Lancaster, will feature in the January-February issue of Lancashire Business View. Subscribe here

Enjoyed this? Read more from Dean

Latest news

1

Chiptech announces major innovation initiative at high-profile reception with the New Zealand Prime Minister in London. The Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds, the Rt Hon Christopher Luxon and the Rt Hon Steve Reed (L-R Front Row) David Hammond, and Daniel Knowles

Chiptech announces major innovation initiative at high-profile reception with the New Zealand Prime Minister in London.

30 Apr 2025

2

Northstone secures full planning permission for 50 new homes in Edenfield Edenfield housing development

Northstone secures full planning permission for 50 new homes in Edenfield

29 Apr 2025

3

Ring Stones Maintenance and Construction celebrates completion of Dovestone Gardens Dovestone Gardens launch

Ring Stones Maintenance and Construction celebrates completion of Dovestone Gardens

29 Apr 2025

4

PHX Training welcomes new business leader to drive learner success Louise Kirby

PHX Training welcomes new business leader to drive learner success

29 Apr 2025

5

Lidl to invest half a billion pounds in its expansion as it eyes sites in Lancashire Lidl

Lidl to invest half a billion pounds in its expansion as it eyes sites in Lancashire

29 Apr 2025

Pc Prestonmacan Gif980x120 March
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
LBV122 May/June Launch Event
121 Lancashire Business View Magazine Launch
Networking
21 May 2025

LBV122 May/June Launch Event

Lancaster and Morecambe College, Lancaster, LA1 2TY

08:30 - 10:30

Sub36 Networking
Networking
11 Jun 2025

Sub36 Networking

British Jewellery School, Scorton, PR3 1BA

15:00 - 17:00

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200px 2
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

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 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

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

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes
Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes for website.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
01 May 2025 - 01 May 2025

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes

Stanley House Hotel, Mellor, Blackburn, BB2 7NP, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

08:00 - 10:30

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 2
EV-land-2025-05B.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 2

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Manchester Road, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:00

A night at the races
1.png.png
LBV Hub Dinners / Balls
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

A night at the races

Morecambe FC, Morecambe, LA4 4TB

19:00 - 23:59

Innovating business solutions through PhD Partnerships
30478 Skills Bootcamp open day setting.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
07 May 2025 - 07 May 2025

Innovating business solutions through PhD Partnerships

University of Central Lancashire, Preston , PR1 2HE

14:30 - 15:30

Celebrating 50 years of KTP
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
07 May 2025 - 07 May 2025

Celebrating 50 years of KTP

University of Central Lancashire , Preston, PR1 2HE

16:00 - 18:00

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 Lbv121 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin