PLACING EDUCATION AT THE HEART OF LANCASHIRE’S ECONOMIC GROWTH


Neil Burrows, Director of Skills, Innovation and Employer Engagement, Burnley College IN SIGHT OF EDEN


Eden Project Morecambe has hit a major milestone in its development with planning approval granted for its evolved design.


The team behind the £100m visitor attraction heralded the decision, saying it marks the beginning of a ‘transformative year’ for the site overlooking Morecambe Bay, including the creation of 1.5 acres of interconnected community gardens.


Opening in early 2027, the free to enter gardens will form a gateway to the highly anticipated Eden Project Morecambe, opening in 2028.


Planners have given the go ahead for a scaled-down version of the development. The new design has two main indoor domes, rather than four as originally planned in 2022.


Visitors will journey through a series of immersive ‘Realms’ within the two shell-inspired superstructures, each exploring humanity’s evolving connection with the natural world.


The extensive landscaped gardens will welcome visitors to the site ahead of the wider opening. At their heart will sit a ‘dramatically expanded’, permanent version of the ‘Bring Me Sunshine Garden’ – Eden’s 25th anniversary showpiece at this May’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.


With planning permission now secured and formal agreements


currently being finalised, the project moves forward with confidence


John Pye, project director, Eden Project Morecambe, said: “With planning permission now secured and formal agreements currently being finalised, the project moves forward with confidence.


“This marks a hugely significant moment for Eden Project Morecambe and for the entire community that has travelled this journey with us.”


The visitor attraction is expected to create hundreds of jobs during construction and operation and deliver substantial economic, cultural and educational benefits for local people.


Year-round visitor numbers are projected to significantly boost the regional economy, supporting businesses, cultural organisations and supply-chain partners across Lancashire and Cumbria.


▸ Feature in the next issue of Lancashire


Ambition. Collaboration. Purposeful skills development. These are the cornerstones of ensuring that businesses across Lancashire have access to the talent and support they need to thrive.


At Burnley College, we’re proud to share this vision with the educators, employers and civic leaders who joined us for the Thrive 3.0 Summit.


The event brought together 80 attendees, all united by a shared commitment to shaping Lancashire’s future. We were privileged to hear from an inspiring line-up of speakers, including Leon Calverley, chair of the Burnley Neighbourhood Board (Burnley Town Board); Mo Isap, chair of the Lancashire Business Board and founder of IN4 Group; and Helen Gbormittah, CBI North West regional director.


Their insights were transformative, highlighting the power of co-creation and the importance of aligning employers and training providers to ensure education remains ambitious, relevant and full of opportunity for everyone.


Strong partnerships are the key to Lancashire’s success


Leon Calverley captured this perfectly, emphasising the vital role education plays in driving confidence, aspiration and future-ready skills:


“You cannot grow a strong local economy without strong educational pathways as a starting point. Skills are the golden thread that run through everything from business growth to talent retention.”


Mo Isap delivered a powerful call to action, urging us to focus on collaboration over competition. By working together, Lancashire can attract greater investment, unlock new funding opportunities and position itself as a force to rival the UK’s major cities.


Building a sustainable talent pipeline is the foundation for resilience and growth


Together, we are stronger. Events like Thrive 3.0 remind us of our shared commitment to ensuring Lancashire achieves its potential as a leader in the skills revolution.


If your business would like to be part of the next Thrive Summit, we’d love to hear from you. Let’s continue to shape the future of Lancashire, together.


themis@burnley.ac.uk 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


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


9


IN VIEW


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