4 PUBLISHER’S VIEW
MEET OUR TEAM
Ged Henderson, editor
ged.henderson@lancashirebusinessview.co.uk t: 01254 295585
PUBLISHER’S VIEW
Richard Slater, publisher
t: 01254 297870 e:
richard@lancashirebusinessview.co.uk www.lancashirebusinessview.co.uk
Resilience, innovation and inspiration – three characteristics that sum up the qualities found in Lancashire’s business leaders.
They are also themes that run through this edition of Lancashire Business View as we begin 2022 and all the challenges, and opportunities, it will bring.
Uncertainty remains in the air, with the arrival of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 threatening to slow Lancashire’s journey out of the pandemic. Rising costs, supply chain problems, skills shortages and the implications of Brexit have also to be faced.
So, are our leaders up to the challenge? Absolutely, if the business leaders we highlight in this issue are anything to go by.
From a diverse range of businesses and sectors, they are leading from the front and making a real difference, not just in their organisations but in the wider community.
The leadership qualities being shown in communities like Darwen, which has secured £25m of government cash to kickstart its ambitious, locally led regeneration, also give much cause for optimism.
So too does the response of county business leaders to emerging issues such as net zero and the growing Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) agenda, which is another theme running through our first issue of 2022.
We also highlight how the private sector, coming together with politicians and the general community, is making a real difference through clear vision and deliverable plans.
However, there is another significant challenge to our economic fortunes where progress remains painfully slow. We speak of the thorny, and often referred to, devolution question.
While elected officials and council officers across Lancashire are working to deliver ambitious regeneration projects in their individual neighbourhoods, the bigger picture, and the rewards that devolution delivers, still seem far out of reach.
This lack of progress was the subject of deep discussion during our annual Lancashire Business Week series of debates.
Business leaders again spelled out the dangers of the county being left behind as the rest of the North, including Cumbria and North Yorkshire on our borders, forge valuable new relationships with central government and the large-scale funding and decision-making ability it delivers.
Mo Isap, founder of IN4 Group and the subject of our big interview, summed up those fears when he warned that without a deal the county would be “grateful for the crumbs off the table” when it should have the confidence to deal directly with central government and spell out what Lancashire can deliver for UK plc.
He, and others, are also urging Lancashire to stop thinking it must compete with Manchester and Liverpool and instead to work harder on collaboration, becoming a “key partner” on the prosperity journey.
We know we can – and must - play an important part in levelling up and the work to deliver for the wider region.
Our role needs spelling out clearly. It must be delivered to the corridors of power, not only in Whitehall but across the North of England. We need a place at the top table.
01254 297870
www.lancashirebusinessview.co.uk
Editorial: Ged Henderson, Tim Aldred Principal photography: Clive Lawrence Artwork and layout: Magnificent Studio Printed by Peter Scott Printers, Burnley
Lancashire Business View is written, designed and produced by Northpoint Publishing. Lancashire Business View and LBV are registered trademarks. The views expressed by our columnists are not necessarily shared by Lancashire Business View.
Northpoint Publishing: East Park Lodge, East Park Road, Blackburn BB1 8DW. t: 01254 297870 | f: 01254 295581 e:
info@lancashirebusinessview.co.uk
ISSN: 1757-479X
Stephen Bolton, commercial director
stephen@lancashirebusinessview.co.uk t: 01254 295583
Rachael Norris,
head of marketing and events
rachael@lancashirebusinessview.co.uk t: 01254 295582
Abbey Coates, operations manager
abbey@lancashirebusinessview.co.uk t: 01254 295586
Kath Bell,
LBV Hub manager
kath@lancashirebusinessview.co.uk t: 01254 297870
Holly Martin,
marketing and events executive
holly@lancashirebusinessview.co.uk t: 01254 295587
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88
