Martin Long Blackpool Business Leadership Group/Napthens
One of the biggest attractions for Blackpool is the fact that we’ve got an amazingly proactive and ambitious local authority, combined with a strong and sustainable vision and strategy for the future of the town.
There’s also been reference to the positivity amongst the business community in Blackpool, and I think that is epitomised by the Blackpool Business Leadership Group. We hold those meetings every two months, we have upwards of 160 people there and there’s a discernibly positive atmosphere in the room.
Over the last few years, we’ve really seen a joined-up approach, so that we have one vision for the economic development of the Fylde Coast, rather than all three local authorities doing their own thing.
The BBC’s John Simpson came to Blackpool, I think it was last year, and one of the things he mentioned was its teams of deeply impressive, dedicated people who are working hard to regenerate the town. He summarised what you see amongst the local business community.
When it comes to digital industries based upon the Aqua Comms North Atlantic link, Blackpool is working with Lancaster University to create an innovation zone which is connected to data and energy technologies.
We already have strong sectors on the Fylde Coast in aerospace, manufacture, advanced engineering, food manufacture and processing, and we have the opportunity to build on those industries in particular.
Michael Williams Winter Gardens
This year the Winter Gardens celebrates being open for 142 years. The new conference and exhibition centre is the first major development on the site for more than 80 years and probably one of the biggest in the town centre in recent years. It is very important.
We’re an arm’s length management organisation of Blackpool Council and its foresight in buying leisure assets, including the Tower and the Golden Mile Centre, back in 2010, was a very bold decision and one that is now paying dividends for the town, the region and the UK generally.
The conference and exhibition centre will be state of the art. There’s massive investment going into technology and it’s no coincidence that Blackpool is investing more than £3m in one of the fastest broadbands available, that will link across the pond to America in milliseconds and that will give us great connectivity as well.
This, the improved transport links and the new hotels, including the five- star hotel on the Promenade, is all coming together and that is great news for Blackpool.
We are classed a seasonal resort, so the more year-round attractions we can have the better for employment opportunities.
For me it is about ensuring we have the hotels and the attractions and the reasons for people to visit out of season as well.
Nick Gerrard Blackpool Council
Before the Covid-19 lockdown, Blackpool’s Growth and Prosperity Programme was both large and extensive and was critically important to our economic recovery.
Exploiting opportunities in growth sectors and providing opportunities for our young people through a series of major regeneration programmes like Talbot Gateway, the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone and Blackpool Central – that’s a balanced portfolio of major projects supported by a series of smaller ones.
The way the Blackpool economy has been affected by Covid-19 has reinforced the importance of maintaining and implementing those long-term plans as quickly as we can. One of the things I am particularly pleased about is that we’ve been able to maintain progress on all of those schemes.
We need to diversify and expand our tourism offer to create year-round visits and longer staying, high-spending businesses to create that sustainable economy.
We’ve been invited to bid for the Future High Street Fund and we’ve just signed off £25m of activity which we’ll be putting to government.
If we’re successful in that, we’ll have a wide-ranging programme of physical regeneration, digital infrastructure and other programmes that will rejuvenate our economy at the time when it needs it the most.
Another opportunity the government has given to the ‘levelling up’ agenda and stimulating towns like Blackpool is the Town Deal. We’ve been invited in the first wave and I’ll be submitting our town investment plan.
We also have a Town Deal board. People who are committed and passionate are shaping our plans and represent the real hope and opportunity for the future.
Blackpool - an exciting offer for investing businesses
• Skilled workforce • High quality property solutions
• Significant cost advantages • dedicated business support
Working together to build a stronger, more resilient future. Find out what Blackpool could do for your business.
Freephone: 0808 1644922 / Nicole Billington 07393 796951 Email:
nicole.billington@
blackpool.gov.uk Twitter: @Blackpool_Biz
www.businessinblackpool.com
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