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THELANCASHIREBUSINESSVIEW
This time last year we shared with our readers the challenges we believed they would face in 2022. We didn’t know the half of it.
It was a year that saw war in Europe, crippling energy bills, soaring inflation, a disastrous Budget that brought turmoil and the political uncertainty of three Prime Ministers in just two months, not to mention the pandemic hangover and growing skills shortage.
This year the only prediction that we will make is that Lancashire businesses will once again show their resilience and harness their innovation to face whatever the next 12 months throws at them.
Optimism may seem in short supply, but as this first Lancashire Business View issue of 2023 shows, there are many areas that look encouraging for the county.
Our automotive sector is taking advantage of the journey towards electrification, carbon reducing initiatives and the focus on ensuring robust supply chains post-Brexit and Covid.
Defence giant BAE Systems’ Lancashire plants will play a key role in the development of the UK’s next generation fighter aircraft under the new ‘Global Combat Air Programme’ announced in December.
The international project is set to bring £26bn into the UK economy, with forecasts that a substantial amount of that figure will find its way into Lancashire.
There is also plenty of optimism around the plans to bring the government’s new National Cyber Force headquarters to Samlesbury and with it the promise of thousands of highly skilled roles.
Ambitious regeneration projects are also set to breathe new life into town centres such as Leyland, which has received £25m of government funding for its proposals.
Levelling up aspirations in Lancashire also received a pre-Christmas boost with the announcement of more than £30m from the government’s Shared Prosperity Fund.
The cash is being handed out to councils across the county. However, while the money was widely welcomed, some authorities were quick to point out that the amount received was less than the EU funding which the programme has replaced.
Lancashire businesses will once
again show their resilience and harness their innovation to face whatever the next 12 months throws at them
The largest amount, £6.7m, has been handed to Blackburn with Darwen Council which will use it to advance the £250m masterplan for Blackburn town centre and the £100m Darwen town deal.
The new year will also see an announcement on whether Lancashire’s major levelling up scheme Eden Project North will receive £50m of vital government support.
A positive outcome will be a massive boost to Lancashire and a project that epitomises what levelling up should be all about. It will be a ‘game changer’ for the whole of our county and the wider North West.
However, in our eyes the biggest source of optimism for 2023 comes from the ‘can do’ attitude of the county’s business community and its strong track record of continuing to deliver, whatever challenges it faces. As we say once more, resilience, innovation and inspiration will see us through.
Richard Slater, chairman
richard@lancashirebusinessview.co.uk t: 01254 295584
EDITORIAL
Ged Henderson, editor
editor@lancashirebusinessview.co.uk t: 01254 295585
SALES
Joanne Hindley, sales director
joanne@lancashirebusinessview.co.uk t: 01254 295585
SUPPORT
Abbey Coates, operations manager
abbey@lancashirebusinessview.co.uk t: 01254 295585
Anna King, senior administrator
anna@lancashirebusinessview.co.uk t: 01254 295582
Kath Bell, LBV Hub manager
kath@lancashirebusinessview.co.uk t: 07385 381073
Tim Aldred, online editor
tim@lancashirebusinessview.co.uk t: 01254 297870
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.
Photography: Clive Lawrence, Paul Adams, Liz Henson Photography
Photograph on page 70: Gary L Hider -
stock.adobe.com
Artwork and layout: Magnificent Studio Printers: Peter Scott Printers, Burnley
Northpoint Publishing East Park Lodge, East Park Road, Blackburn BB1 8DW
t: 01254 297870 ISSN: 1757-479X
Stephen Bolton, managing director
stephen@lancashirebusinessview.co.uk t: 01254 295583
Rachael Norris, marketing and events director
rachael@lancashirebusinessview.co.uk t: 01254 295586
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