During Downtown’s recent Lancashire Business Week there was much concern raised about the county being overshadowed by the Northwest’s big cities, Liverpool and Manchester.
In terms of profile, political influence and marketing collateral the ‘big two’ have a significant advantage over Lancashire and indeed the rest of the region.
However, the more entrepreneurial and ballsy members of Downtown relish that challenge, and rightly expressed the view that we should just roll our sleeves up and get on with it, because that’s what we Lancastrians do.
I can subscribe to that approach, but would also want to take this opportunity to remind the local business community that if you are ambitious, and you do have genuine aspirations to grow your business, then Lancashire has something that is a far more effective business support initiative than anywhere else in the Northwest – BOOST!
The growth hub that has been created by the Local Enterprise Partnership in association with Lancashire County Council is private sector led, easy to access, and offers the most effective business support tools to high growth businesses that are around.
As someone who is involved and aware of similar initiatives in Liverpool, Manchester and indeed Leeds, there is no doubt in my mind that Lancashire has got the business support model spot on – and has a programme that is way ahead of its city rivals.
Nevertheless, I still have businesses saying to me that they are struggling to find the necessary help, guidance and support to grow. My advice to them – and to you – is to do your business a favour and visit the BOOST website today. What have you got to lose?
The BOOST business hub services can be found at www.boostbusinesslancashire.co.uk.