When Footie Meets Phonics: A real business club success story

By StopPress

21 Feb 2025

Website
LBV_Actiphons_Partnership.png.png

You know those moments when everything just clicks? That's what happened when we met the brilliant folks at Actiphons through Bolton Wanderers Business Club. Talk about a match made in Lancashire (don't get us started on whether Bolton is in Greater Manchester)

Actiphons are proper clever - they're using sports to help kids crack the reading and writing code. When they needed some big, bold print materials for their video shoots, we couldn't wait to get stuck in. We're talking massive floor mats, whopping great books, and all sorts of props that make learning feel more like playing.

Simon Austerberry from Actiphons said: "It is through this work that we have forged a great working relationship with StopPress who we are currently collaborating with us on a unique and innovative YouTube series which will be recorded early March 2025. Initially this will be recorded with Bolton Wanderers and Salford City Football Clubs with the aim to roll the initiative out to more teams. This partnership has evolved in such a short space of time due to Mike's flexibility, motivation and enthusiasm to help local communities thrive."

It's not just about the print though - it's about what happens when local businesses come together.

Carl Sanderson, head of commercial at Bolton Wanderers, said: "When you build a business club, it can easily become tokenistic but we are proud that at Bolton Wanderers, we are building a community. We are proud as a football club to see this new partnership between Actiphons and StopPress and can't wait to see how more and more businesses develop alignment in the future."

For us at StopPress, this project shows exactly what we're about.

As our Mike Walker says, "This isn't just about printing stuff - it's about helping Actiphons bring their vision to life. When you combine sports, education, and real good design, magic happens. Plus, meeting them through the Wanderers Business Club shows that when local businesses support each other, everyone wins."

This is what happens when you get the right people in the room together. One conversation at the Business Club, and boom - we're helping kids learn to read through sport. That's the power of partnerships, that is.

And the best bit? This is just the start. We reckon there are loads more stories like this waiting to happen in our awesome Lancashire business community. We are already talking with Simon and the team about where else we can work together, as well as a whole host of relationships with businesses in our special part of the world.

Enjoyed this? Read more from StopPress

Latest news

1

Breck Homes appoints new managing director Phil Dolan, Breck

Breck Homes appoints new managing director

20 Oct 2025

2

Management buyout at Suresite Group Steve Holden

Management buyout at Suresite Group

17 Oct 2025

3

Meet the influencers who have generated £2m sales for one company Helen and Richard Chalu new

Meet the influencers who have generated £2m sales for one company

16 Oct 2025

4

WHN strengthens position in prestigious legal guide Daniel Long

WHN strengthens position in prestigious legal guide

16 Oct 2025

5

Warden appoints new commercial manager to strengthen project delivery and growth Peter Heskine

Warden appoints new commercial manager to strengthen project delivery and growth

16 Oct 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 09 Jan 2026

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

The Small Business Academy, Blackpool, FY4 5JX

09:30 - 15:30

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues
EventBrite NORi - 22nd Oct Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
22 Oct 2025 - 22 Oct 2025

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues

Online - Teams, Leyland, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

North West Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880456273-4862066883-1-original.20241022-105445.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Oct 2025

North West Business Expo 2025

Bolton Stadium Hotel, Bolton, BL6 6SF

09:00 - 15:00

Chamber Business Lunch – October
LBV Hub Networking
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Chamber Business Lunch – October

Lancaster Golf Club, Lancaster, LA2 0AJ

11:00 - 13:30

Lancaster District Business Support Expo
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Oct 2025 - 29 Oct 2025

Lancaster District Business Support Expo

The Platform, Morecambe, LA4 4DB

10:00 - 15:00

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
06 Nov 2025 - 06 Nov 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November

Porsche Centre South Lakes, Carnforth, LA6 1FW

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Roundtables
10 Nov 2025 - 10 Nov 2025

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner

Lancaster Castle, Lancaster, LA1 1YN

14:00 - 16:00

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human
2.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
11 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin