Spotlights shine bright on Blackpool transformation at magazine launch

Guests at the launch of the latest edition of Lancashire Business View magazine went on a rollercoaster ride learning about the impressive transformation and ambitions of Blackpool.

The launch event was staged at the Holiday Inn and general manager Mark Winter shared the success story of the hotel as more than 110,000 guests have been welcomed since it opened in May 2024.

Blackpool was the latest destination visited in the magazine’s Hotspot tour across Lancashire and it offered an insight into exciting times for the coastal town.

Laura Cavanagh, PR manager from Blackpool Pleasure Beach, talked about the new ‘Aviktas’ ride and how it was the attraction’s ‘biggest investment in a long time of £8.72m.’

She said: “It's going to be 138 feet at its highest point and it's really going to change the Blackpool skyline and that is something we have been famous for in the past with the Big One.”

Nick Gerrard of Blackpool Council told delegates it is an exciting time for the town with a number of ‘innovative’ projects redeveloping the area including the Silicon Sands data centre.

He said: “We've been managing the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone since 2016.

“The strategic focus of that is to create jobs in the growth sectors to diversify the economy and give local people, especially access to better paid jobs so that they can fulfil careers here.”

Steve Sorah, sales and marketing director at energy and net zero consultancy Trident, was enthusiastic about the opportunities, especially Silicon Sands.

He said: “The big thing at the moment is Net Zero, so the Silicon Sands Project is incredible. There's two big topics that every business gets told you have get on board with and that’s sustainability and AI.

“Having something on our doorstep, which is going to embrace both, is incredible.”

Sarah Hall, director of B&FC for Business at Blackpool and The Fylde College talked about the £65m Multiversity project for the college and how it will ‘give people of Blackpool and the Fylde coast social mobility to go out and get those better paid jobs’.

She added: “It also allows those people to stay on the Fylde Coast as they don't need to go away, they don't need to take those skills away.”

Neil McManus, of Chorley-based property and land company Northern Trust featured in the magazine’s Built Environment Summit.

He told delegates about some of the challenges Northern Trust face.

“The government are trying to push the planning system to react quicker, to determine applications within the 12 weeks or eight weeks for a smaller application,” he said.

“In our housebuilding experience, we are seeing that we're getting towards the 12 weeks point and we are getting planning application refused because it means that they've met their government target.

“We’re need the planning system to move quicker, and be more efficient but if all you're generating is refusals then you are not actually pushing anything in the right direction.”

Mark Edwards, operations director at Seriun, talked about trying to help SMEs to get onto the AI journey.

He said: “The easy wins are with AI are for those people who use Word, Excel, Outlook and the back-office functions of the business.

“You will get a huge amount of return of investment by implementing any AI.”

Ian Williams, managing director of Warden Construction, spoke to the audience about how the Preston based business were new category sponsors at the Red Rose Awards 2026 - fresh from winning an award earlier this year.

The deadline for entries is December 5 at midnight and Ian shared tips for a successful entry.

He said: “It's got to be an engaging story. Everyone wants to win awards, but spend some time and pick the right category.

“Get your staff to help with the application. Try to get a cross section of people that can do the entry and get a true reflection of your company.”

Editor Ged Henderson gave an insight into the current edition Issue 125 and about Issue 126 of Lancashire Business View which will focus on Lancashire’s top leaders and looking at the year ahead.

This event was held in association with Blackpool Council and powered by Seriun.