LOOKING BACK


By Rob Kelly


In this feature we delve into our archives to revisit some of the stories we have shared over the past two decades


YEARS 5 BUILDING NEW


PARTNERSHIPS March/April 2021


Karen Hirst featured on the front page of our second edition of 2021.


The then managing director of Maple Grove Developments, part of Eric Wright Group, spoke about working with different business partners, trying to change the face of building in Lancashire and the virtues of getting people to work together to deliver real change.


She said: “Most of my career has been about partnership working. The key to a successful partnership is to have a common goal you all aim for.”


That commitment to regeneration and partnership working will be at the heart of her new role in business in the North West.


In October last year Karen announced she was ‘stepping away’ from her managing director role at Maple Grove ‘proud’ of what the business developed and ‘grateful for all the people’ she worked with.


She said: “Together we have grown a strong pipeline of projects and developed long standing relationships across the public and private sectors.”


She has since been named as the project director of the Old Trafford Regeneration Mayoral Development scheme in Manchester.


The multi-billion pound masterplan to develop a new neighbourhood around Old Trafford for businesses, residents and visitors was unveiled in January. It could also include a new stadium for Manchester United. Karen said: “I am delighted to be leading this amazing project.


“Working in partnership with local people and public and private sectors, the OTR MDC will co-ordinate efforts, attract investment and help communities at the heart of decision making.”


STANDING THE


TEST OF TIME March/April 2016


A recognisable figure throughout the history of Lancashire Business View, Edwin Booth still remains the backbone of his family business.


This edition featured an in-depth interview with Edwin, chairman of the grocery group that shares his family name, talking about relationship building being the cornerstone of his career.


Booths, headquartered in Preston, traces its roots in the county back to 1847 and it has evolved in that time from just ‘traditional family’ affair to a ‘modern retail business’.


Then the 60-year-old, who was also the first chair of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP), revealed how the business was facing many challenges in the market.


He said: “Once, our competitors were the Co-op and private grocery stores, now we have a plethora of multi-national operators in our region in addition to the German discounters advancing at pace.


“Yes, it’s had an effect on us but not as great as it’s having on standard supermarkets.”


Last year Emma Booth became the sixth generation and the first female family member to join Booths when she began her role as a category development manager.


Her father Edwin, now executive chairman, said: “Never a moment goes by without a conversation about how positive the future is .”


10 YEARS


20 YEARS


DESIGNS ON A BRIGHT FUTURE March/April 2006


Andrew Graham is passionate about wallpaper – you would not have expected anything else from the head of Britain’s biggest manufacturer.


In this edition he discussed the fortunes of family business Graham and Brown and shared how it had grown to capture a 50 per cent share of the UK wallpaper market.


Andrew described wallpaper a ‘fashionable item’.


Then, he said: “Five years ago, paint was in the ascendancy. TV programmes such as Changing Rooms were very popular and the basis of home decorating was about quick change and colour.


“The wallpaper market had to fight back and we took a totally different approach to marketing our products.”


However, times continue to change. And the continuing transformation of the business was the focus of a more recent interview with Andrew.


In our November/December 2024 edition he shared the company’s evolution journey to a digital future and the ending of 75 years of wallpaper making at India Mill in Blackburn.


The company had moved the production of traditional wallcoverings to “strategic” manufacturing partners in Europe and invested in digital capabilites at a new state-of-the-art, low carbon production site in Padiham to meet changing demand.


LANCASHIREBUSINES SV IEW.CO.UK exposure Online


8,000 Email


subscribers 30,000


Page views per month on


the website


37,500 Social media followers


▸ Feature in the next issue of Lancashire


Business View Opportunities to raise your profile with 50,000 readers include:


▸ Business Essentials: Wills and Probate Relevant for legal advisors, tax specialists, wealth managers and advisors.


▸ Business Growth: Franchising and Licensing


Relevant for franchise experts, legal advisors and funding and financial specialists.


For advertising opportunities please contact Joanne Hindley on 07442 949697 or email joanne@lancashirebusinessview.co.uk


13


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70