Lancashire’s potential is unleashed!

By Ged Henderson

05 Feb 2024

DSC9456

‘Lancashire Unleashed’ was the tagline of the county’s first Festival of Business as 200 delegates came together to celebrate and support excellence and entrepreneurship.  

Organised by Lancashire Business View, in partnership with Boost, Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub, the new event brought together top business leaders and experts.

They shared their experiences and advice at the day-long event held at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel at Clayton-le-Moors.

The aim of The Lancashire Festival of Business, which is set to become an annual event, is to provide inspiration and learning to help grow, scale or start a business in the county.

This first festival, which was a sell-out, featured panel sessions on financing and funding, recruitment and retention and leadership.

Leading business figures taking part included Edwin Booth, executive chairman of Booths, Mo Isap, chief executive of IN4 Group and Helen Clayton, managing partner at PM+M, who shared their thoughts on leadership.

Entrepreneurs Paul White, founder of Patch and Rob Binns, founder of Cotton Court took part in the conversation around finance and funding.

More funding advice was provided by Mark Gibbons, senior specialist at Access to Finance and Heather Waters, regional eco-system manager at NatWest.

Recruitment and retention were put under the spotlight by Jen Briggs, head of partnerships and HR at James’ Places, Nicola Mason, HR director at law firm Napthens and Caroline Noblett, managing director at marketing logistics experts Granby.

Paul Fox, chief executive of the £150m a year turnover Fox Brothers Group took to the main stage to share his story of business growth and personal development.

Masterclasses on harnessing ESG, planning, strategy and how to drive growth and increasing sales also attracted large audiences. They were delivered by Simon Bolton from Edge Hill University, Stephen Sykes from East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce and Helen Tebay from The Sales Lady.

The festival, supported by Napthens and PM+M, was hosted on the main stage by Lancashire Business View chairman Richard Slater.

It also featured a wide range of exhibitors and networking opportunities throughout the day.

Stephen Bolton, Lancashire Business View managing director, said: “Sitting at the heart of the business community we hear daily of the challenges to be faced and opportunities grabbed.

“The festival has been designed to unleash Lancashire’s potential and to provide delegates with all they need to grow, scale and start a business.

“Our aim was to highlight that there is support available from many sources to help Lancashire businesses fulfil their ambitions.

“We’d like to thank everyone who supported what will become an annual fixture in the county’s business calendar, including the stellar cast of entrepreneurs and advisors.”

Andrew Leeming, Boost, Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub programme manager, said: 

It was inspiring to see so many new and familiar faces from the Lancashire business community on Thursday having conversations, making new contacts and expanding their networks.

Lancashire has a unique and high-quality public and private business support landscape and Boost’s role as Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub is to help Lancashire businesses find the right support at the right time to grow, scale and start."

Enjoyed this? Read more from Ged Henderson

Latest news

1

McMurrays Haulage expands fleet after contract win Warehouse Supervisor at Pets Choice Brad Eddleston and McMurrays Sales Manager Rob Spencer. Photo credit: McMurrays Haulage Limited

McMurrays Haulage expands fleet after contract win

21 Oct 2025

2

Dragons' Den star to shine on Lancashire Business Day Derry Green

Dragons' Den star to shine on Lancashire Business Day

21 Oct 2025

3

Eden Project Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 marks 25th anniversary Eden Project garden

Eden Project Garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2026 marks 25th anniversary

21 Oct 2025

4

Lancashire farm named 'Family Farming Business of the Year' British Farming Awards

Lancashire farm named 'Family Farming Business of the Year'

20 Oct 2025

5

Breck Homes appoints new managing director Phil Dolan, Breck

Breck Homes appoints new managing director

20 Oct 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
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

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

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 09 Jan 2026

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

The Small Business Academy, Blackpool, FY4 5JX

09:30 - 15:30

Chamber Business Lunch – October
LBV Hub Networking
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Chamber Business Lunch – October

Lancaster Golf Club, Lancaster, LA2 0AJ

11:00 - 13:30

North West Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880456273-4862066883-1-original.20241022-105445.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Oct 2025

North West Business Expo 2025

Bolton Stadium Hotel, Bolton, BL6 6SF

09:00 - 15:00

Lancaster District Business Support Expo
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Oct 2025 - 29 Oct 2025

Lancaster District Business Support Expo

The Platform, Morecambe, LA4 4DB

10:00 - 15:00

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
06 Nov 2025 - 06 Nov 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November

Porsche Centre South Lakes, Carnforth, LA6 1FW

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Roundtables
10 Nov 2025 - 10 Nov 2025

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner

Lancaster Castle, Lancaster, LA1 1YN

14:00 - 16:00

Beyond the Brand: Building trust through values and integrity
1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
11 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025

Beyond the Brand: Building trust through values and integrity

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:00

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human
2.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
11 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:00

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 LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin