20 LANCASHIRE BUSINESS WEEK
ASPIRATION AND CELEBRATION
THE NORTH DOESN’T STOP AT MANCHESTER
Lancashire has to shout harder to get the message to those in power that the North doesn’t stop at Manchester.
That was the rallying call from Steve Fogg, who chairs the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
Speaking on the final day of Lancashire Business Week he said: “We have to get more active in the media and more active in Whitehall and Westminster.”
Steve said that no matter what local authority system was in place in Lancashire, the county had to “shout harder”.
He added: “It is about getting those in power to remember that the North doesn’t stop at Manchester.”
He also outlined the challenges facing the county as a result of the Covid pandemic and the work being done to support businesses in hard-hit sectors such as aerospace and advanced manufacturing.
Steve stressed that that there were opportunities for Lancashire in areas such as the emerging green economy. And he also spoke of the massive impact the Eden Project North could have for the whole of the county.
Looking at the green economy, he said: “We have got to position ourselves really well” and called for more strategic thinking and collaboration between local authorities and educational establishments from schools to universities.
He underlined how the advanced manufacturing and aerospace sector had been hit hard by the impact of Covid-19 all the way down the supply chain.
Looking at aerospace, he warned: “If we are not careful, we stand to lose around 30 per cent of jobs in that sector. That would have a dramatic impact for Lancashire.
“It is a frightening prospect, not only for the economy but for the heritage and what we are known for.”
Tourism and hospitality had also been badly hit, with seasonal towns like Blackpool suffering. However, he pointed out that other sectors had not been as badly affected, with agriculture and food being bolstered by a “real push” to buy local.
He underlined the partnership approach being championed by the LEP as the county looked towards its path to economic recovery.
Steve explained: “The LEP is a partnership. We have come together to stimulate and drive inclusive economic growth across Lancashire. That’s what we have to do.”
He said the government had welcomed the LEP’s work in getting businesses round the table and really wanted to listen to its “fighting back” proposals for the county.
He added it was “vitally important” that business voices were heard and were part of decision making. And he went on: “The LEP has started to reach out in terms of being inclusive and collaborative.”
Dave Walker, managing director of Burnley-based +24 Marketing, said it was important that Lancashire’s towns and cities continued to be “loud and proud”.
He said: “We have got to keep spreading the message. There are some incredible businesses in Burnley across a number of different sectors, and it is so important that we shout about that.”
Dave also highlighted the work of the Burnley Bondholders group in raising the profile of the borough.
Tony Attard, chief executive of textile business Panaz and chair of Marketing Lancashire, said that attracting and retaining talent remained a challenge for businesses in the county.
He said: “We need to keep our own talent within Lancashire and attract great talent. Lancashire is a fantastic place to live and we need to communicate that as much as possible.”
Stacey Turner Andrew Leeming
Steve Fogg
Dave Walker
Karen Buchanan
Tony Attard
The skills of the county’s workforce also have a role to play in attracting new businesses to the county, he added.
And he underlined the “incredible opportunity” presented by the county’s 2025 City of Culture bid.
Stacey Turner, founder and managing partner of CG Professional, spoke about the importance of ambition as well as communication. She said: “You have to talk to our clients, talk to your customers, talk to your staff.”
Karen Buchanan, principal of Burnley College said better communication between business and education was vital. She said: “Businesses are going to grow the economy; they need to be at the heart of the decisions that are made for Lancashire.”
Looking at the response to the pandemic she said: “People’s resilience and flexibility has really amazed me, how people have supported each other and collaborated.”
Andrew Leeming of Boost Business Lancashire, said the organisation had moved quickly to provide support for companies during the pandemic and had worked with around 7,000 businesses.
He said: “In terms of the support agenda, that support has become a lot quicker. People have come with particular issues they want resolving.”
The event also heard again from a number of guests from the earlier Breakfast Blast sessions, including Melissa Conlon, commercial director of AMRC North West, Iain Round, partner at Beever and Struthers, Julien Parven, director of partner business and marketing at Daisy Communications and Jamie Grimshaw, investment executive at FW Capital.
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