Placing education at the heart of Lancashire's economic growth

Ambition. Collaboration. Purposeful skills development. These are the cornerstones of ensuring that businesses across Lancashire have access to the talent and support they need to thrive.

At Burnley College, we’re proud to share this vision with the educators, employers and civic leaders who joined us for the Thrive 3.0 Summit.

The event brought together 80 attendees, all united by a shared commitment to shaping Lancashire’s future. We were privileged to hear from an inspiring line-up of speakers, including Leon Calverley, chair of the Burnley Neighbourhood Board (Burnley Town Board); Mo Isap, chair of the Lancashire Business Board and founder of IN4 Group; and Helen Gbormittah, CBI North West regional director.

Their insights were transformative, highlighting the power of co-creation and the importance of aligning employers and training providers to ensure education remains ambitious, relevant and full of opportunity for everyone.

Strong partnerships are the key to Lancashire’s success

Leon Calverley captured this perfectly, emphasising the vital role education plays in driving confidence, aspiration and future-ready skills: “You cannot grow a strong local economy without strong educational pathways as a starting point. Skills are the golden thread that run through everything from business growth to talent retention.”

Mo Isap delivered a powerful call to action, urging us to focus on collaboration over competition. By working together, Lancashire can attract greater investment, unlock new funding opportunities and position itself as a force to rival the UK’s major cities.

Building a sustainable talent pipeline is the foundation for resilience and growth

Together, we are stronger. Events like Thrive 3.0 remind us of our shared commitment to ensuring Lancashire achieves its potential as a leader in the skills revolution.

If your business would like to be part of the next Thrive Summit, we’d love to hear from you. Let’s continue to shape the future of Lancashire, together.