Spotlight PUNCHING ABOVE
OUR WEIGHT By Councillor Stephen Atkinson,
leader of Ribble Valley Borough Council Slaidburn
OPENING UP THE HIDDEN VALLEY
The Ribble Valley has gained a national reputation for its wedding venues which have created a huge local supply chain.
The area is also known for the excellence of its food and drink offering, which has sparked a thriving hospitality sector, attracting visitors from across the UK and beyond.
A council report at the end of 2023 underlined the importance of the weddings industry to the valley.
It estimated that between 2,000 and 3,000 weddings now take place annually in the area and added: “Given that 2022 recorded the highest national average cost per wedding at just over £19,000, the value of wedding tourism as an economic driver begins to be appreciated.”
That average cost does not include additional guest accommodation, local dining and retail benefits. The report went on: “Weddings account for more than 40 per cent annual turnover at many mixed purpose venues and 100 per cent at the increasing number of bespoke venues.”
There is no doubt it is big business with a huge local supply chain that includes bridal shops, caterers, florists, photographers and car suppliers. Ribble Valley’s excellence in the sector even led to a reality TV show last year.
However, there is much more to the borough’s economy, with a host of thriving SMEs delivering in a wide range of less high-profile sectors. The question is, does the Ribble Valley shout about them enough?
Danielle Robinson of Love to Brand doesn’t think so. She says: “Even though we stand for tourism, which is amazing and a wonderful thing that we have, I don’t think people realise what businesses there are in the Ribble Valley and we don’t shout about it enough.”
Paul Sharples from Stonyhurst College agrees. He believes there should be more focus on the valley’s business diversity, pointing to the strength of its professional services sector as an example, and he adds: “Shouting about that a little bit more, overtly, would pay dividends pretty quickly.”
Zahra Hanif, a lawyer in the Clitheroe office of WHN Solicitors, takes up the theme and believes the message also needs to get out to the local workforce.
She says: “There are people out there that don’t know how much the Ribble Valley has to offer and until we tell them, it will stay the same and they’ll go to places like Manchester and they’ll go to the bigger firms and the bigger companies, rather than looking locally.”
Continued on Page 32
There’s many ways to describe Ribble Valley but in this instance the words special, success and sustainability perhaps sum it up best.
I’d defy anyone to argue that our beautiful borough isn’t special – that’s what draws tens of thousands of visitors here each year, keeps our towns busy and buzzing, and supports our many and varied locally-based businesses that often have long-standing roots in our communities.
We’re proud to boast that Clitheroe is one of the few towns in the UK with 90 per cent of its businesses being classed as independent. Add in wonderful countryside, low crime rates, top quality homes and schools, and healthy, happy residents you can see why Ribble Valley is such a great place to be.
Which leads me to success.
The Ribble Valley Economic Partnership meets regularly to ensure that local businesses work together and with the council to create the necessary exciting, ambitious and entrepreneurial business environment and conditions in the borough to allow them to thrive.
The council is committed to maintaining our borough’s strong track record of delivering fantastic entrepreneurial businesses who lead from the front, whilst maintaining our unique identity.
We are determined to create the right environment for our businesses to thrive, invest and continue to be market leaders in increasingly competitive markets.
But this success needs to be sustainable.
The council has invested more than £2.4m of Shared Prosperity Funding on capital projects across the borough and has secured millions more in match funding.
The schemes have been wide-ranging, including gigabit internet schemes connecting our most rural businesses to superfast broadband boosting productivity and outputs, installing rural car chargers supporting sustainable transport, and improving Clitheroe high street to attract more people to the town to help support local businesses.
Ribble Valley will continue to punch above its weight and its strong, independent spirit is the key to its future.
Danielle Robinson Mark Sutcliffe
ribblevalley.gov.uk LANCASHIREBUSINES SV
IEW.CO.UK
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IN VIEW
RIBBLE VALLEY
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