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BLACKPOOL


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She agrees there is a more unified approach among tourism businesses in Blackpool and includes the council in that. “We are working together, you can learn from each other,” she says.


Andrea adds: “Because Blackpool is known for value for money we are doing better than other areas of the country.”


She points to the impact of events like Blackpool’s World Fireworks Championships, which take place on set days throughout September and October on the Promenade, and adds: “That is a massive pull for our customers because it is a free event and it is wonderful.”


Andrea says: “We’ve seen an increase in people who want to stay at our parks, the figure is 20 per cent up on last year. That is great news for the town, because it means people aren’t just coming for a day trip.


“You have to make continuous changes and give people something that is a little bit different to their expectations.”


Family is central to that approach. She says: “Since Covid people want to be with their families and want to be doing something that feels wholesome. That could be going with their family to the Pleasure Beach or Sea Life. That’s what we offer as a town.


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“We can be seen as a town that gives value for money and one that is progressing. And it is, there is so much investment.”


Laurance Hancock is founder and chief executive of The Boathouse Youth charity. It works with children and young people in socio-economically deprived communities across Blackpool, helping tackle the challenges they’re experiencing.


He says: “The only way out of poverty is employment and the best way out is through meaningful employment, where there is a career opportunity.


“One of the big challenges when we started 16 years ago was the seasonal employment gap that existed in tourism. That gap has shrunk and that is significant.


“The extended season meets the needs of visitors who are feeding the economy but that is also benefitting residents and families in the town and that is a really powerful thing.”


Tom Smith, is managing director of Blackpool based digital marketing agency Complete. He is well versed in the tourism sector with a number of clients operating locally.


He says: “Tourism businesses are getting more digital savvy in terms of marketing. They have to be, otherwise they will fall behind.


“We live in a world where everything is driven through mobile devices or laptops and you need to be at the forefront of that.”


Tom says businesses looking to attract visitors also need to be more aware that older age groups are active users of social media.


And he adds: “When it comes to selling itself as a destination, Blackpool is doing a good job.”


Artist’s impression of Multiversity


MULTIVERSITY RISES TO THE CHALLENGE


Peter Greenall describes it as a “symbol of aspiration” that will transform Blackpool’s educational and economic landscape.


And there is no doubting the massive impact those behind the £65m Multiversity project believe it will have on the town, its businesses and individual lives.


Work to build the new world class higher education campus in Blackpool town centre is underway. The campus for Blackpool and The Fylde College will bring up to 3,000 students and staff into an inspiring and aspirational new learning environment.


It is being created as part of a new model for learning that aims to deliver more flexible higher education that is better aligned to the ‘real world’ and student and employer demand.


The Multiversity concept has been designed to provide a range of new routes for learners that


“It is about providing flexible opportunities that will allow people to upskill and reskill at any point in their lives.”


The building itself will include five floors of education space to deliver more than 70 individual courses and will support a wide range of qualifications, from further education, through to higher education and adult learning.


And from a regeneration perspective is replacing poor housing in the area and supporting the Talbot Gateway development.


The land for the new Multiversity has been acquired with the support of a £9m government grant, with the construction phase supported by £40m of government money.


Tom Smith, managing director of Blackpool based digital marketing agency Complete, believes the development of the multiversity is “vital” to support the


It is about providing flexible opportunities that will allow people to upskill and reskill at any point in their lives


will boost local opportunities and social mobility, and lead people into highly skilled jobs.


Peter, the college’s vice principal for higher education and frontier economy, describes it as a “bold new ambition for what we want higher education to be for Blackpool.”


And he adds it will “provide people with the opportunity to develop their skills and capabilities and be able to access some of the careers that are on the horizon.”


One of the aims is to increase the accessibility of degree level study, higher technical qualifications, short courses and apprenticeships.


Peter explains: “The initiative recognises the fact that it is not just about developing skills for young people, it has to be for people throughout their lives. We want to create opportunities for people of all ages to access higher technical education and skills.


job-creating initiatives and opportunities being developed locally.


He says the need for skilled people in areas like AI is already here and with competition from bigger towns and cities there is a need to “nurse that talent so it comes through and fills those jobs.”


Steve Sorah, sales and marketing director at energy and net zero consultancy Trident, based at the Enterprise Zone at Blackpool Airport, is also enthused by the Multiversity’s possibilities.


Trident employs 65 people in a range of roles from sales to analytics and almost 20 per cent of its workforce has been through the apprenticeship system.


He says: “Although we are not a huge employer in the area, we do need a range of skills and we need that pipeline that the Multiversity will deliver.”


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