Top of the league

Blackpool FC’s wonderful elevation to the heady heights of the Premier League is evidence, if any was needed, that achievement is all about aiming high and truly believing you can reach your goals.

It’s a concept which doesn’t just work on the football field but in business too. It’s one we certainly believe in when we promote Lancashire and Blackpool as a business tourism destination.

The Tangerines’ promotion has already sparked increased interest in the area as a destination for conferences and meetings – and the new Conference Ambassador Programme launched by Lancashire & Blackpool Conferences & Meetings aims to build on that.

Leading business and academic figures have already joined the Programme and will be given help to promote the area as a destination as well as in bidding to bring conferences to the area.

Successful Lancashire businessman Craig Bancroft, joint proprietor of Michelin-starred restaurant Northcote, was the first Conference Ambassador to sign up to the scheme.

It was launched at a high-profile event held at the restaurant in Langho, which he jointly owns with his business partner and leading chef Nigel Howarth.

The Ambassadors come from the key business sectors of the area including advanced manufacturing and aerospace, health and regeneration. Academic professionals are represented by Lancaster University, UCLan and Blackpool and Fylde College.

The process of bidding for conferences and events does require time, planning and resources. This is where we at Lancashire & Blackpool Conferences & Meetings, a joint initiative of Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board and visitBlackpool, come in.

We offer Ambassadors a full support service which includes completing bidding documents, preparing presentations, hosting familiarisation visits and sourcing appropriate venues and hotels.

Just as Ian Holloway and his team have combined a high level of skill and some exciting and innovative planning to help the club ‘take off’, business sectors such as advanced manufacturing and aerospace in this area are also combining the same attributes to sit among the elite.

They are in a wonderful position to help us build on the national attention which Blackpool FC have focused on the area and we would love them to become part of what we are aiming to achieve.

Blackpool FC are joining the Premier League elite – our aim is to do the same with the business community to show that our conference and meetings facilities are Premier League standard as well as our football teams.

Tony Openshaw, Director of Marketing, Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board.