Lancashire business leaders among 27 for '27 Northern Stars

Four Lancashire business leaders have been highlighted in '27 for '27 Northern Stars', an initiative shining a spotlight on the innovative, scaling businesses creating high value jobs across the north of England.

The initiative is led by True North, led by law firm Brabners, which backs ambition, celebrates impact and brings together privately owned and owner managed businesses from across the region.

From Lancashire the list includes Gillian Ashcroft, founder of Ormskirk based Exceptional Care; James Cole, founder and chief executive at luxury and ultra holidays firm Panache Cruises in Chorley; Kate Houlden, managing director at Lancaster headqeartered Like Technologies; and Paul Buck, founder of EPIC Global Solutions, an Appley Bridge based business that delivers solutions to help prevent the destructive effects of gambling related harm.

The full cohort will be officially showcased at an evening event at The Lowry in Salford Quays on Tuesday 17 November. Hosted by broadcaster Lucy Meacock, the event will feature exhibition photography of the 27 selected leaders and conversations on the ambitious mindset that allows them to build and scale market leading businesses.

Robert White, chief executive at Brabners, said: “The national economic debate spends far too much time dissecting ‘what is broken and what needs fixing’, rather than highlighting ‘what is working and how we scale it’.

“True North and our ‘Northern Stars’ seek to address this imbalance. Our 27 for ’27 initiative spotlights just that – 27 great businesses that are innovating, scaling and creating high value jobs.

“Furthermore, as devolution expands and regional leaders take greater command of local growth levers, the blueprint for sustainable economic expansion will not come from Whitehall white papers - it is already in plain sight, being written by privately owned, owner managed businesses delivering on the ground.

“These leaders and their businesses possess an ambitious optimism, frequently turn local strengths into national and global leadership and prove that the north’s growth engine is alive and kicking, ready for its ambition to be matched.”

Paul Buck, of EPIC Global Solutions, said: “Authenticity, resilience and community spirit sit at the heart of what we do: using lived experience, insight and technology to protect people from gambling harm. From our home in Lancashire, that mission now reaches elite sport, regulators and industry around the world.

“The 27 for ’27 initiative shows that northern businesses can lead globally while staying rooted in their communities, and that commercial success and social impact go hand in hand.”