Rossendale business expo celebrates successful debut

The inaugural Rossendale Means Business Expo brought together more than 40 exhibitors and hundreds of visitors.

The expo was held at The Whitaker Art Gallery and Museum in Rawtenstall. It was organised by digital marketing agency GrowTraffic’s Rachel Weinhold and Erin Dempsey, Rossendale Council's business advisor Tariq Ali and Boommm Consultancy and Marketing's Jane Pallister.

Mayor of Rossendale, Coun Judith Driver, said: “This event is absolutely fabulous; it is just what we need to be doing – shouting about what fantastic businesses we have in Rossendale and community diversity. This needs to be an annual event.”

Platinum sponsor Woodcocks Haworth Nuttall, WHN, presented one of the free workshops when director Sara Beaumont discussed credit control and debt recovery.

WHN associate director Julie Sutherland said: “Our roots are firmly here – with offices in Rawtenstall and Haslingden – and for us the Expo has been making business friendships in the area and seeing how businesses can work together.

“I think this is about putting a face to a name. For some people, it can be a challenge to step through a door of a solicitors, but here people have been to call at our stall, meet us informally and have a chat and find out what we do.” 

After 20 years of working for others, financial advisor Laura Shufflebotham has just set up working for herself as Smith-Taylor and used the event to launch her new business.

Also launching her new Be Better Networking Hubs was Tracy Heatley. She said: “It has been really good for reconnecting with people and some of those I have met here I have only previously seen online.”

Her Rochdale and Accrington hubs opened that day with Preston, Rossendale and Burnley following on.

With a workforce of just over 300 in Haslingden, Interfloor was another Gold sponsor. Marketing manager Paul Marsh said: “It has been great to see all the local businesses represented; it is surprising what there is available in this very small community. We have had lots of really relevant inquiries about our industry too.”

Commercial photographer Liz Hall, of Liz Henson Photography, was busy capturing the event, while also promoting her business. She said: “We have had lots of interest in corporate headshots and profile images, and genuine interest in local businesses working with local businesses. As a working mum, that fits my business ethos.”

The Expo will return in 2025.