CONTENTS 22 The Big Interview


Pauline Wild looks back to when she was a woman on a mission – to show that a mum with two young children could also play an influential role in a leading law firm. She certainly made her point. Today she is managing partner of Forbes and on another mission, to make it the number one regional law firm in the UK.


ISSUE 122 MAY/JUNE 2025


Regulars


The Lancashire Business view


In View


Barometer Dealmakers LBV Hub


Appointments Interviews


The Big Interview: Pauline Wild


Lancashire Leaders: Jenny Rutter


Special Features Planning


Start-up Toolkit Sub36


Health and Wellbeing Red Rose Awards


Review In Depth


Hotspots:


Lancaster and Morecambe Net Zero


Advice Legal View


The Guide to... Wills and Probate


Debate Nelson and Colne


College 39 48 51 46 55 77


Health and Wellbeing It is a national problem that is affecting businesses across Lancashire. Work-related illnesses are costing the UK economy more than £415m a week. In this report we examine what is being done in Lancashire to counter the problem and to enhance workplace health and wellbeing.


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Red Rose Awards More than 1,000 guests gathered at the Winter Gardens Blackpool to celebrate the very best of Lancashire businesses. And there was even more cause for celebration on the biggest night of the county’s business calendar as our Red Rose Awards marked its 15th year recognising excellence and endeavour.


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Advertising Supplement The Blackburn Learning Quarter describes itself as a place where Lancashire’s ‘ambition meets opportunity’. A place for technical and vocational education for more than 130 years, today it continues to offer its support to businesses and employers in the county, investing in future success.


LANCASHIREBUSINES SV IEW.CO.UK


04 06 20 32 80 82


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In View Chancellor Rachel Reeves declared that the UK would become a “defence industrial superpower” as she confirmed a £2.2bn spending boost for the sector in her spring statement. Now the government is being urged to back up those words with orders for Lancashire built Typhoon fighter jets.


25


Planning There is revolution in the air. The government has announced a ‘bold’ reform of the planning system aimed at slashing red tape and getting Britain building. We put planning under the microscope and asked our experts what impact, if any, this revolution will have in Lancashire.


31


Lancashire Leaders When it comes to driving change Jenny Rutter’s creative impact is hard to ignore. Among her roles she is the chief executive of the British Textile Biennial and chairs Creative Lancashire. She says arts and culture must be at the heart of economic and social regeneration.


22 31 32


25 35 44 51 59


Dealmakers In a “hugely significant” move for the sector a major new tech business has been created following the strategic acquisition of Lancashire technology consultancy Sundown Solutions. It is a deal focused on “growth and scale” and co-founder Heath Groves says it makes “massive sense.”


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Start-up Toolkit Every successful business can trace its history back to its start-up stage. Setting up a new venture is exciting and rewarding but it can also be a leap into the unknown. Our start-up toolkit offers guidance to fledgling businesses and their owners taking those first uncertain steps.


39


Hotspots Our tour of Lancashire sent us north to talk about all things Lancaster and Morecambe. We look at how progress is being made, albeit slowly, on the delivery of Eden Project Morecambe and hear of major investment plans for the Port of Heysham.


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