10 IN VIEW
FEELING THE LOVE
A BIG SHOUT OUT
The 2022 lovelocalexpo was a major hit with visitors and exhibitors.
The annual event at Impact Conferencing in Burnley brought businesses and buyers together to meet new suppliers, clients and collaborators.
It was also the perfect opportunity to access a wealth of business support and guidance as well as growth and scale-up advice.
Organiser Rachel Kay said: “It was fantastic to be back fully face-to-face again with warm smiles, handshakes and constant chatter filling the exhibition space. For me, nothing beats the buzz of watching and listening as new relationships are sparked and existing ones are expanded upon at our events.
Stephen Bolton of Lancashire Business View, exclusive media partners for the expo, said: “A few years back we made a conscious effort to set up strategic partnerships with key associates, including lovelocalsolutions, helping promote one another’s events. It’s one of the best decisions we’ve made.”
The 2023 expo will return to Burnley on April 26 next year. To secure free visitors tickets, book one of the remaining stands, or view the sponsorship packages, head to
lovelocalexpo.co.uk
Shout Expo’s flagship event, Lancashire Business Expo, exceeded all expectations when Preston Guild Hall opened its doors to businesses from across the North West.
From Caribbean queens to prize draws, challenges and party games, exhibitor stands excelled in delegate engagement.
More than 1,200 delegates stepped through the doors to visit 120 exhibitor stands, enjoy coffee in the café area, catch up with existing contacts and make many new connections.
Director of Shout Expo, Jordan Conlin, said: “The feedback from LBE has been phenomenal from both exhibitors and delegates.
“There was a real buzz about the event from start to finish, both around the stands and in the social areas. We know that many new valuable connections have been made in a really fun environment.”
Lancashire Business View supported the event as media partner, part of an ongoing relationship between the magazine and the Shout Network.
Stephen Bolton, Lancashire Business View’s commercial director, said: “I’d like to congratulate Shout on hosting a fantastic event. Like us, they believe that business is better when we all come together, buy from local suppliers, and build long-lasting relationships.”
CHEERS TO A GREAT FESTIVAL
The most successful Blackburn Beer and Gin Festival to date saw hundreds of individuals attend over three days.
More than 100 businesses sponsored the big event at Blackburn Rugby Club, including The Cardboard Box Company, Harrison Drury and Handelsbanken.
The weekend also saw some fantastic entertainment, with money raised going to
Blackburn Youth Zone. Pictured here is Andrew Graham, vice chair of the youth zone with Wayne Wild, trustee.
TECH HUB LOOKS NORTH
The new parent company of e-commerce and online retail software business EKM has revealed ambitious plans to create a Northern Tech Hub at its Preston office.
ClearCourse, which acquired EKM last October, has brought together three of its brands under one roof at the offices in Fulwood.
It says the primary purpose of the move is to foster “organic collaboration” between the innovative software businesses and offer the group’s clients “a truly integrated tech offering”.
As a result, Evolution House, the distinctive ‘Google-style’ office, which represented a £3.5m investment when it opened in 2017 and features a three-storey slide among other attractions, will become the base for around 150 workers.
Private Equity backed ClearCourse, founded in 2018, has embarked on a strategy of buying tech businesses where they can see clear synergies. The growing partnership consists of companies servicing the payments, membership, business services, events and leisure, and retail and hospitality sectors.
Antony Chesworth
John Antunes, group managing director, said: “This is a big opportunity for us. We are also actively recruiting.”
He added: “One of the major plusses of creating the tech hub is cross-pollination. It gives us a huge opportunity to work better together.
“It allows us to share best practice across multiple businesses, getting to work across all different businesses. Our approach is that businesses work better together.”
ClearCourse acquired EKM, which began life in founder Antony Chesworth’s bedroom in 2002, for an undisclosed sum.
EKM has grown to be a leading provider of e-commerce and online retail software powering more than £350m of transactions annually for its customer base of SMEs.
John Antunes says the group’s ethos is to invest and grow its brands and he revealed that it was continuing its buy to build strategy. He said: “This year we are probably looking at between 10 and 12 acquisitions.”
Antony Chesworth remains in charge of the EKM operation, which is part of ClearCourse’s retail division.
He said: “ClearCourse is investing in the North of England and I’m really proud to be part of that. It is levelling up in action.
“The creation of the tech hub here in Preston also means that people who join us potentially have a career path. I’m really excited by it and what it means for Lancashire.”
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