The Sub 36 young stars shine

Lancashire Business View brought together its 2022 Sub 36 ‘Ones to Watch’ at a special event held in the sunshine at Brindle Distillery.

The networking event celebrated the achievements of some of the county’s most talented young people – including business owners, decision makers and key employees.

What they have in common is they are making an impact within their own organisation, within their local community or within their sector.

The event also featured some of those who featured in the magazine’s 2021 list, who couldn’t be brought together at the time because of the pandemic.

The special gathering was held in association with The Lancashire Skills and Employment Hub, Big Presence and Lexus Preston as well as Brindle Distillery. It was hosted by the BBC’s Mike Stevens.

He introduced Sara Gaskill, strategic partnership manager at Lancashire Skills Hub and Jonathan Finch, strategy director at Big Presence, who were involved in putting together this year’s Sub 36 list.

Sara described this year’s list as “incredibly impressive” and said putting it together had been a difficult task for all involved. She also spoke of the importance of sharing the success stories with other young people across Lancashire.

Jonathan highlighted the importance of mentoring and the difference having a strong support network can make.

The event also introduced three individuals who have appeared on the Sub 36 lists: Gemma Slater-Avery of Active Lancashire; Lee Chambers, founder of Essentialise Workplace Wellbeing and Jenna Atkinson of Harrison Drury Solicitors.

Gemma is responsible for promoting Active Lancashire and has taken responsibility for leading the £8m Business Health Matters programme, which is working with 22 partner organisations to encourage SMEs to promote workplace health.

Gemma also spoke of the “amazing” role mentoring can have in young people’s professional development. She said: “People putting time aside to mentor others is invaluable.”

As well as founding his own growing business, psychologist and coach Lee is also a director of Wellbeing Lancashire and won the Great British Entrepreneur of the Year Award for Service Industries in 2021.

Lee spoke of the value of bringing people together at gatherings like the Sub 36 networking events and of working to make a “real difference” to people.

Jenna is a family associate solicitor but is perhaps better known for her #bealittlekinder campaign, which encourages others to undertake random acts of kindness for the benefit of others.

She explained its role in showing the human side of the legal profession and said: “The impact of these small acts of kindness has really made a difference.”

Sub 36 is one of Lancashire Business View’s longest-running programmes. It supports members of the business community aged under 36 through networking events and editorial coverage.

This year’s list features young people making an impact in a whole range of sectors, from woodcraft to the Internet of Things.

Mark Long, director of Brindle Distillery, who has featured in the magazine’s Sub 36 section in the past, welcomed the guests to the event and explained the thinking behind the growing business.

Guests were treated to food and a tour of the operation as part of the event. Lexus Preston also held a prize draw to win one of its cars for a weekend.

View the photos taken at the event by Clive Lawrence Photography here