30 IN VIEW BLACKBURN WITH DARWEN
Stephanie Ashcroft Continued from Page 29
Work is currently underway on the £3.3m transformation of the town’s youth centre which will double its size.
The extension will pave the way for state-of-the- art facilities, including a new creative workshop space, recording and DJ studio, gaming zone and multi-use spaces and upgraded outdoor sports facilities.
Hannah believes the £100m town deal has made Darwen “an equal partner” with neighbouring Blackburn and points to the next £20m raft of cash coming. She is also a member of the new board looking at how to spend it.
Stephanie Ashcroft, co-founder of Darwen based web design and market company Fruity Llama, hopes that housing will be part of the next stage of investment. She says: “There are a lot of young professionals and young families that want two-bedroom high-end flats. Darwen
Mick Smith is massively missing flats and apartments.”
She has other things on her shopping list. Darwen is known for its bars, pubs and vibrant night-time economy. But Stephanie believes there needs to be more alternative attractions. She says: “We need a local cinema. We need more facilities.
“The town deal is delivering gamechangers and that’s why we need the infrastructure and the housing. We need everything to pull together so we can prosper.”
Mick Smith, social landlord Together Housing’s group director of commercial services, also sits on the new long-term plan board. He says the housing challenge is a borough wide one.
He explains: “From a Together Housing point of view, we’ve got more demand for housing than we’ve got properties available, so there is a need for more across the borough.
Phil Riley
“We are investing in new homes, we’ve got a number of sites, including in Darwen where we’re building currently, but it’s a challenge for us that there’s more people wanting homes.”
Council leader Phil Riley says there has been an “explosion” in owner-occupation on peripheral sites in Darwen, with evidence showing at least half of the people moving onto the new housing estates coming from Manchester and Bolton, or even further afield.
However, he adds that there is a lot of poor quality private rented accommodation in the town and a strategy is needed to tackle that problem, including the demolition of properties.
He says: “If you want to create some brownfield sites, you’ve got to knock some stuff down.”
And he adds: “Over the last 25 or 30 years, government policy has ended up pushing private rented and it’s not done anything to help organisations like Mick’s, and we’ve noticed it.”
Stephanie Ashcroft Business development manager, Fruity Llama
Who we are
Founded in 2022, we have quickly made a name for ourselves as an award-winning leader in digital marketing specialising in helping businesses grow through services like web design, SEO, lead generation and content marketing. Using innovative, data-driven strategies, we focus on delivering measurable results that align perfectly with our clients’ growth objectives.
What we’ve achieved
We’re proud to have received several industry awards that highlight our commitment to excellence. We had the pleasure of launching cutting-edge websites and comprehensive digital marketing strategies for Sencat and Tom Martin & Company. Looking ahead, we’re excited about expanding our service offerings and bringing more local talent into the Fruity Llama team.
Why we love Blackburn and Darwen
Being based in Blackburn with Darwen is truly special for us. We get to be part of a vibrant, local business community filled with entrepreneurial spirit and supportive networks. This environment fosters innovation and growth, allowing us to build strong, personal relationships with our clients. We’re passionate about helping our local area thrive, creating new jobs, and giving back through sponsorships and charity initiatives. Our vision is to see Blackburn with Darwen prosper, and we’re dedicated to contributing to that success.
fruityllama.co.uk Who we are
Pierce is a business advisory and accountancy firm located in the heart of Blackburn. We offer core compliance services, accounts and audit together with personal and corporate tax and payroll solutions. Our added value solutions incorporating an inhouse forensic and corporate finance team of experts assists our clients with more strategic business decisions to bring trusted advice and tailored resolutions.
What we’ve achieved
Over the last four years, we have increased from 60 employees to over 85 and in the past 18 months, we have continued to expand with a new office site in central Manchester, following on from the successful acquisition of DonnellyBentley Chartered Accountants in Bolton.
These are the first steps in our growth plan, and we aim to continue this trajectory by seeking future acquisitions. However, Blackburn will remain the main focus of our business.
Why we love Blackburn and Darwen
We are proud to be part of the vibrant Blackburn community, rich in history, culture and modern development. The area boasts a strong sense of close-knit support amongst businesses, fostering an honest and open approach. The local workforce is skilled and dedicated, contributing to a thriving business climate.
pierce.co.uk
Simon Diggle Director, Pierce Business Advisory & Accountancy Group
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