12 IN VIEW
TIME TO ANSWER LANCASHIRE’S CALL
When Lancashire Business View launched its ‘Buy It In Lancashire: Bring Back a Billion!’ campaign the world was a very different place.
The aim was to increase Lancashire’s GDP by £1bn – with anchor institutions and the private sector actively seeking out suppliers in the county and working with them to stimulate growth.
Given Lancashire’s economy at the time was in the region of £30bn we reckoned a 3.5 per cent rise would deliver a £1bn-plus boost.
As publisher Richard Slater said at the time: “It is a simple campaign. We are calling on businesses of all sizes and in all sectors to work harder to keep more money in the county - by spending a little more locally wherever possible.”
We are now in very different times. But we believe that call is even more critical today as businesses of all sizes and in all sectors work to meet the massive challenges brought on by the coronavirus crisis.
We will need to all work together in Lancashire’s recovery. And it is why we are renewing our plea for all businesses, large and small to join with us and make the pledge: “If you can buy it in Lancashire, buy it in Lancashire!”
If every business and every private sector organisation spends a little bit more money
here in Lancashire, it will help our economy in its recovery, give our businesses a boost and help protect jobs.
The aim of the campaign remains to bring the county and its business closer together, to get those businesses to seek out local suppliers.
If you can buy it in Lancashire, buy it in Lancashire
The campaign had been gathering momentum before the crisis, we believe that the coronavirus pandemic makes it even more vital that businesses rise to the challenge and join up.
Nasir Kothia is managing director of Blackburn-based eBusiness UK, which has already signed the Buy it in Lancashire pledge, along with scores of other companies.
He says: “Since signing up our general policy has been to recruit from Lancashire and buy from Lancashire wherever we possibly can.
“We have since transferred our telephone system, broadband, server hardware, printing and vehicles to Lancashire-based businesses.
“Having spoken to many of our customers, suppliers, business colleagues and friends,
it is clear that pretty much every single business in Lancashire has been hit by this crisis in some way.
“However, there is also a general recognition that ‘we will get through this’, and most businesses are working extremely hard to balance today’s clear and present challenges with the need to get through to the other side in a good shape.
“Of course it’s not easy, and in some instances the difficulties may be insurmountable, but I strongly believe that if businesses in Lancashire stick together and support each other with some extra TLC, empathy and flexibility, then there will be many more businesses still trading and sustainable when the crisis ends… which would be great news all round, and particularly for the Lancashire economy.”
For more details of the campaign, its manifesto and how to pledge visit
buyitinlancashire.co.uk
ENERGY PARTNERSHIP CONNECTS COUNTY TO SAVINGS
the county that we can work with and who can add real value to our readers’ businesses.”
Lancashire Business View has joined forces with Inspired Energy, the UK’s leading energy consultancy, to help companies across the county save money.
This new strategic partnership will look to give Lancashire Business View’s audiences access to Inspired Energy’s specialist and highly- experienced teams.
And it allows businesses in the county to ‘buy local’ with essential energy supplies.
Headquartered in Kirkham, Inspired Energy offers a range of specialist solutions aimed at lowering bills and protecting businesses against rising energy costs and changes in legislation.
Lancashire Business View commercial director Stephen Bolton said: “We see our role as connecting the county and encouraging businesses to buy from one another locally – we’ve now taken this one step further by offering direct cost savings to our audiences from a Lancashire supplier of essential services.
“We’re actively looking to develop a portfolio of leading suppliers in
Inspired Energy works with businesses to optimise the value of every pound spent on utilities.
Ben Beetham, director of partnerships at Inspired Energy, said: “We’re really excited to announce our strategic partnership with Lancashire Business View.
“As a Lancashire business, we already have strong relationships with several local businesses, but this partnership will continue to strengthen our ties with the Lancashire business community.”
Andrew Nuttall, managing director of the group’s SME division added: “We know that a lot of businesses, especially SMEs, are feeling the pressure at the moment.
“We’re supporting business owners across the region to make sure they come out of this crisis as strong as possible. By working with us, you will get access to our specialist teams that are highly experienced in dealing with the energy spend demands of your business.”
For more information about the partnership, contact Ben Beetham on 01772 689 250, email
partnerships@inspiredenergy.co.uk or visit
inspiredenergy.co.uk/partnership-referral
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