▲ West Lancashire Council has launched a public consultation as it launches the next phase of its green regeneration vision for Skelmersdale. The £150m Skelmersdale Masterplan will focus on sustainability, economic growth and transforming the town centre.
▲ Eric Wright Civil Engineering has submitted a planning application on behalf of Preston City Council for the creation of a new £2.5m sports and leisure facility at Waverley Park. Part of Lancashire-based Eric Wright Group, it has been appointed to advise the council on the project.
▲ One of the UK’s most comprehensive static packaging test centres has opened at Castle Industrial’s state-of-the-art facility in Carnforth. The £500,000 investment sees the company play host to an array of testing equipment that can help customers ensure their products are packaged and transported in a cost-effective and safe manner.
▲ Boutique business brokerage network Altius Group has announced a record month of transactions in October, with 31 business sales completed across a diverse range of sectors. The Preston based group says it saw unprecedented sales in the month notably through healthcare, childcare and corporate markets.
William Lancaster Director, Ember Energy
HOW TO COMBAT RISING COSTS
OF ENERGY The news of yet another hike in energy prices is unlikely to have shocked anyone, but that doesn’t make it any easier for businesses across Lancashire.
As bills continue to rise, finding practical ways to cut costs becomes more important than ever.
One proven solution is investing in solar panels and battery storage. Solar panels allow you to generate your own electricity, reducing reliance on increasingly expensive grid power. Pairing solar with battery storage takes the savings further by storing surplus energy produced during the day for use at peak times when electricity costs are highest.
This approach doesn’t just ease financial pressures, it’s also a step towards energy independence and sustainability – two factors likely to enhance your business reputation among eco-conscious customers and partners.
▲ Staci, the UK and Europe’s leading specialist fulfilment provider which has four sites in Blackburn, has been awarded a Great Place to Work Certification for 2024, ranking it among the top 25 large employers in the manufacturing, production and transport sector.
Now is an ideal time to make the switch. Advances in solar technology have made it more affordable and efficient than ever, and government incentives can help offset initial costs.
DOWN
▼ Business confidence in the North West fell by four points during November to 49 per cent, according to the latest Business Barometer from Lloyds. Firms’ confidence in their trading prospects and optimism in the wider economy both dipped. However, confidence in the North West still remains above the national average.
▼ Shop workers union Usdaw highlighted the loss of 6,000 retail outlets in the past five years at Labour’s North West conference. The under-pressure sector provides nine per cent of all employment in the North West. Regional secretary Amanda Bailey-Coll said: “Retail closures have left shop vacancies within our communities and workers facing redundancy. Action to address the issues facing the retail sector will be a critical step in establishing an effective industrial strategy.”
▼ Small businesses are counting the cost
of pothole damage to their vehicles, leaving them out of pocket and at risk of losing business. New research from the Blackpool headquartered Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has revealed almost half of small firms have been negatively impacted by potholes in the last 12 months.
This includes damage caused to work vehicles, as well as occasions where business owners and staff were unable to reach customers, missed meetings and appointments, or being involved road accidents.
Over a third of all small firms say pothole damage has cost them more than £100 in the last year, according to the data based on a survey of 1,341 small business owners. A quarter were forced to pay out more than £300 in the same period, while potholes have caused more than £500 damage for more than one-in-ten.
Today’s battery systems come with warranties of up to 10,000 cycles, so you can count on their reliability. Plus, with lithium prices having dropped by more than 60 per cent, these systems are now more affordable than ever.
Businesses that act now stand to gain long-term savings while insulating themselves against future energy price volatility.
Ember Energy Lancashire specialises in helping businesses reap the benefits of renewable energy.
william@emberenergy.co.uk 07464 729759
emberenergy.co.uk/ ember-energy-lancashire
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