CONTENTS 54 The Big Interview
Graham & Brown shocked east Lancashire in August last year when it announced plans to shut its manufacturing site at India Mill in Blackburn, ending 75 years of wallpaper making there. Managing director Andrew Graham shares the digital transformation that has swept through the business and the thought process behind the evolution.
ISSUE 119 NOVEMBER/ DECEMBER 2024
Regulars
The Lancashire Business view
In View
Barometer LBV Hub
Appointments Interviews
Lancashire Leaders: Steve Peters
The Big Interview: Andrew Graham
Special Features
Built Environment Conference
Events and Conferences
In Depth
Hotspots: Ribble Valley
Doing the Deal
Advice Dealmakers
Legal View Business Clinic
Debt Recovery and Insolvency
Debate Energy
Hospitality
Recruitment and Retention
49 57 Events and Conferences
21 46
65
Lancashire’s meeting and events venues are on the up. The conference sector is reporting steady growth over the past 12 months, driven by the county’s unique appeal as a destination, some special venues and strong local partnerships.
59 Doing the Deal
Dealmakers told our gathering they believe companies in Lancashire are increasingly attracting the attentions of larger international businesses, not only because of the growth opportunities that they present but because they also offer good value to potential investors.
65 Recruitment and Retention
Recruitment and retention are still proving hard work for companies in all sectors. We asked our panel, drawn from businesses across the county, what specific strategies they were engaging to attract and keep the workforces they require.
LANCASHIREBUSINES SV
IEW.CO.UK
29 59
34 49 29 Hotspots
Our tour of Lancashire arrived at the Ribble Valley. Leaders from business, local government and education came together to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the borough and to stress there is more too its economy than weddings.
26 44
34 Built Environment
Our 2024 built environment conference took an in-depth look at Lancashire’s ‘big ticket’ projects. The game changers put under the microscope included Eden Project Morecambe, Blackpool’s Silicon Sands and Burnley’s ‘university town’ project.
46 Hospitality
Lancashire’s hospitality sector has a lot on its plate. We brought a top panel of industry experts from around the county together to discuss what’s currently on the menu for one of the county’s key economic drivers.
24 54
04 06 16 68 70
06 In View
Better transport links are vital if Lancashire is to drive up productivity. Katie Day, strategy director at Transport for the North, presents its ‘clear vision’ for transforming the network and spells out the prizes it would deliver.
21 Energy
We brought our panel of industry experts together to discuss the issues facing the county’s energy sector. The range of topics under discussion included the continued drive to reach net zero emissions and the business value that surrounds decarbonisation.
24 Lancashire Leaders
“If I only had a pound for every time someone asks me when the airport will re-open,” says Steve Peters. The fact is Blackpool Airport is very much open for business and its managing director is determined that it remains that way.
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