▲ Burnley College has earned gold status in recognition of its delivery of the government’s Cyberfirst programme, which has been designed to inspire and encourage young people to pursue careers in cyber security. The college has committed more than £570,000 this year alone to enhance its digital and cyber capabilities.
▲ Barrowford-based design agency D&M Creative has acquired Stoked Marketing, which was based in Colne.
▲ Walton Summit-based property developer Breck is set to complete more than 850 affordable homes across the North West over the next four years with a combined contract value of more than £150m. The Hot 100-listed company develops affordable homes of between 25 and 250 units for registered affordable housing providers.
▲ Calico Homes has submitted plans to Burnley Council to redevelop the site of Wood Top School on Accrington Road which closed its doors in 2000. The proposals would see the vacant site demolished to make way for affordable apartments for over 55s.
▲ Chorley Group has invested more than £2m in the launch of three new Peugeot dealerships, opening franchises in Blackpool and Ormskirk, with a third set to open in Wigan soon. It has also added the MG franchise to its Blackpool site.
▲ Blackburn-based social landlord Together Housing Group has secured a £50m funding deal to facilitate sustainable upgrades to its portfolio of more than 38,000 properties across Yorkshire, Lancashire and the north midlands. The group is the first affordable housing association to secure funding of this nature as part of Royal Bank of Scotland’s (part of the NatWest Group) new Green Housing Retrofit Loan pilot scheme.
▲ Blackpool Illuminations has been named the best event in the UK for group trips and holidays. The winners of the Group Leisure and Travel Awards were voted for by readers of Group Leisure & Travel, a magazine for people who organise such excursions.
▲ Nelson and Colne College Group is to become one of the first further education colleges in the country to commit to achieving carbon neutrality by 2035, 15 years ahead of the UK’s net zero target. The college’s campuses in Accrington and Nelson will undergo a significant transformation over the coming months, replacing their fossil fuel-based heating systems as part of a major £8m green energy retrofit.
William Lancaster Director, Ember Energy
CUTTTING THE FRONT COSTS
OF SOLAR With electricity prices still double what they were two years ago, businesses across Lancashire are understandably concerned about soaring energy bills.
While solar panels might seem like an attractive option to combat these rising costs, the initial expenditure can be daunting.
If you’re looking to stabilise your expenses and futureproof your business against rising costs without an initial capital investment, there are solutions available.
Power Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) allow you to enjoy the benefits of solar power without any upfront costs.
Essentially, we can purchase and install your solar panels at no cost to you. You’ll then be able to buy the electricity generated from them for as little as 8p per kWh, much cheaper than the rate from local suppliers.
This means you can start saving on energy costs, immediately protect yourself from fluctuating energy prices and contribute to sustainability goals without the financial burden of an initial investment.
▲ The government has pledged as much as £2.5m to aid Eden Project Morecambe in securing the services of external contractors to further develop its designs. The funds are part of the £50m investment committed to the project by the government, which will cover half of the total £100m construction costs.
DOWN
▼ The number of Lancashire-based firms in significant financial distress has increased by 43 per cent over the last year according to a new report issued by Preston-based Begbies Traynor. In the second quarter of 2024, the number of companies in the county which have triggered its ‘red flag’ warning has increased from 8,481 last year to 12,124, outpacing the national average by six percentage points.
▼ The latest NatWest Growth Tracker report showed a slowdown in the rate of expansion of business activity across the North West. Although the total output of goods producers and service providers in the region increased in July, as has been the
case throughout the year to date, the pace of expansion slowed to the weakest for six months. The headline North West Business Activity Index slipped from 53.2 in June to 51.5, its lowest reading since January.
▼ Avanti West Coast managing director Andy Mellors was summoned to talks with new transport secretary Louise Haigh over its “unacceptable performance”. The BBC reported that the minister demanded “immediate action” after the July meeting where figures showed passengers faced some of the worst disruption in the country. A spokesperson for Avanti, which operates services on the West Coast mainline running through Preston and Lancaster, said the talks were “constructive”.
Not only does a PPA help reduce your monthly electricity bills, but it also shields you from the volatility of conventional energy prices. With fixed, lower rates, you’ll always know what’s coming, so you can confidently manage your energy budget and plan for the future.
At Ember Energy Lancashire, our PPA provides a win-win solution for businesses of all sizes. Don’t wait until grid space becomes scarce. Secure your grid connections and futureproof your business today.
william@emberenergy.co.uk 07464 729759
https://emberenergy.co.uk/ ember-energy-lancashire/
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