Continued collaboration between the public and private sectors will be essential, but overall we feel cautiously optimistic about the region’s ability to create opportunity and support sustainable growth.


Our wish-list centres on encouraging a continued shift in mindset, where organisations fully embrace fractional services and flexible facilities.


By providing virtual staff support and physical space on demand, we can help businesses free up resources, operate more strategically, and focus on sustainable growth.


Rob Binns, Preston based entrepreneur, owner of Cotton Court Business Centre and professor in practice at the University of Lancashire


Our biggest challenge is balancing the growing demand for flexibility with the operational realities of running large, modern business centres.


Meeting the need for services with compressed lead times, undefined commitment periods, and tighter budgets requires an ever-evolving approach to how we deliver our offer. Ensuring our services remain affordable for SMEs, charities, and training providers while maintaining the high standards they rely on will continue to be a central focus.


The strongest opportunities lie in flexible workspace, virtual office services, and hosting training and development programmes, all of which continue to expand as organisations move away from traditional long-term leases.


We’re also seeing significant potential in deeper partnership working across Lancashire, positioning Cotton Court as an even more active hub for business support, collaboration and skills development.


Given Lancashire’s resilience, we expect steady, positive momentum as investment in skills, innovation, and business finance continues.


Many organisations are growing, albeit with a more cautious, value driven outlook and rising costs remain a challenge.


We would also welcome a clearer roadmap for what a devolved Lancashire will look like, with towns and cities aligned, working collaboratively, and pushing in the same direction to build a genuine economic powerhouse for the UK economy.


Dr Fazal Dad, principal and chief executive of Blackburn College


With the publication of the government’s Post-16 Education and Skills white paper, the biggest challenge facing the education sector next year is stepping up and fulfilling the policy.


The growth in the demand for apprenticeship places is huge, but there are not enough and we are constantly looking at ways to expand our network of employers offering apprenticeships.


We are increasing our offering surrounding artificial intelligence. AI is a huge area of technological advancement and growth and having those skills and that knowledge will only become more vital over time.


We are in a very positive place with our local


economy. Lancashire has some of the best performing colleges and schools in the country and our population as a whole is very aspirational.


Social mobility and the opportunity to move into top jobs is here, and more opportunities are opening up all the time. Overall, we are in a very positive place.


I would love for there to be more opportunities for the college to work more closely with industry. With the opening of the National Cyber Force (NCF) in Samlesbury the conditions are here for Lancashire to become the centre for cyber in the country.


The young people of Blackburn and Darwen are in the right place to seize these new tech opportunities, and we are doing everything we can to provide students with the tools necessary to succeed. When the NCF opens, it is important we are ready.


Continued on Page 22 Local Government Reorganisation is clearly


a hot topic across the county at the moment, and I am watching with interest to see what opportunities and challenges it may bring


tourism industry and other sectors. It is a common theme at every meeting I attend.


For businesses the increasing costs for payroll, business rates and utilities are a significant concern and are resulting in difficult decisions.


Working collaboratively with all sectors is crucial to the success of the resort. This has been a key focus of Blackpool Tourism Limited since its establishment in June last year and will continue throughout this year.


Kate Shane, managing director of Blackpool Tourism Limited and chair of Blackpool Tourism BID


Rising costs, both directly to businesses or to the consumer, will continue to affect the


In 2026, Blackpool will celebrate several anniversaries, including 130 years of Pleasure Beach Resort, 100 years of Stanley Park, 100 years of the Blackpool Dance Festival, and 40 years since Sandcastle Waterpark opened. There will be many opportunities for visitors and residents to join the celebrations and showcase the very best of Blackpool.


Local Government Reorganisation is clearly a hot topic across the county at the moment, and I am watching with interest to see what opportunities and challenges it may bring.


In the Autumn Statement, the majority of funding was directed to mayoral authorities. I hope the balance will be readdressed this year, with greater recognition of the impact of Lancashire’s visitor economy.


The latest figures show that the visitor economy across Lancashire is worth £2.7bn to local businesses and communities, while supporting more than 57,000 full-time equivalent jobs. We need support and will be lobbying to make sure we receive it.


Blackpool Central is a key development site in the heart of the town. Blackpool Council is currently working with consultants to develop a new proposal for the area, and I look forward to seeing those plans progress over the year.


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THE YEAR AHEAD


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