Prospectus Inspiring Inspiring Prosperity Welcome to the Hive
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PROSPECTUS INSPIRING PROSPERITY WELCOME TO THE HIVE BACKGROUND VISION The Hive Business Leaders’ Network For Blackburn with Darwen to be was first launched in 2012 with the aim prosperous, vibrant and successful, we of transforming Blackburn with Darwen need businesses in Blackburn with Darwen into a “world-class business area.” Since to be prosperous, vibrant and successful. then, 250 local organisations from micro to Prosperous communities are made up of multinational have joined Hive; we have had confident, successful, well-adjusted people recognition of Hive’s role in improving the who feel they belong and are wanted – and local business environment (Enterprising who want to contribute to making their own Britain Awards, 2014); we have hosted community and the wider community even leading figures from within industry and we stronger. There are challenges to address, have celebrated the very best of business but Hive believes that this can only happen via the inaugural Hive Business Awards. by bringing business to the forefront and Most recently, we have incorporated Hive empowering them to drive the changes as a not-for-profit Community Interest needed to build a prosperous borough. Company in order to further the reach Underpinned by the town’s famous motto and impact of what has quickly become a of arte et labore (by skill and hard work), powerful network of local business leaders. Hive members are businesses who have significant pride in their towns, and who want to ensure that they have a stake in the borough’s prosperity helping it to create wealth and opportunities for all. Working together, Hive is the platform where businesses of any size and sector can share knowledge and experience. We will promote collaboration and local trading. We will harness the borough’s talent and invest in future skills to support local business and investment, and we will continue to promote the area as a great place to live, work, visit and invest. We hope that you will join and support us. Hive launch event at Blackburn Youth Zone, 2012 The inaugural Hive Business Awards, 2015 2 BUSINESS IS BUZZING IN BLACKBURN WITH DARWEN Up an impressive TOP 10 TOP 10 in the UK for the in the UK for patents 9 PLACES highest private sector granted per 100,000 for number of new jobs growth population business starts ( 7TH OUT OF 63 ) ( 5TH OUT OF 64 ) ( 29TH OUT OF 64 ) Centre for Cities: Cities Outlook 2015 BLACKBURN WITH DARWEN ECONOMIC MONITOR: 2015 Annual GVA output up Number of new businesses Unemployment rate at its greater than the number 5.2% of closures for the LOWEST - higher than regional since 2009 (3.6%) and national (3.3%) 3rd increases consecutive year LATEST BLACKBURN AND DARWEN BUSINESS SURVEY 94% More than ¾ 79% said their business was of businesses had taken of businesses expect doing well on additional staff in the to grow sales in the last year year ahead WEC Group Ltd, Darwen Precision Polymer Engineering, Blackburn 3 HIVE: THE STORY SO FAR FEB SEP JAN A visit by the Government’s ‘Creativity in ‘Connectivity in Minister for Trade and business’ with Wayne business’ with 6G Investment, hosted by Hemingway MBE, Internet at Ewood Graham & Brown hosted by Crown Paints Park 2012 2013 2014 SEP JUL DEC Launch event at Hive young Hive finance Blackburn Youth Zone people-employer workshop hosted by engagement event at Accrol Papers King George’s Hall 4 MAR JUL Business growth summit Made in the UK exhibition with the Local Strategic at Liverpool as part of the Partnership at Blackburn International Festival for Youth Zone Business 2014 JUL Enterprising Britain MAR Award commendation MAR ‘Doing Business in for improving the business ‘Investing in Blackburn’ Blackburn’ with NW environment with NW Business Insider Business Insider at at Ewood Park Blackburn Cathedral 2015 MAR OCT MAR OCT Launch of the ‘Arte et Labore’: By Inaugural Hive Blackburn Hive event with creative ‘Creative Hive’ skill and hard work and Darwen Business director and fashion network at Blackburn – Hive event hosted by Awards Dinner at designer Patrick Grant Museum and Art Blackburn Rovers F.C Blackburn Cathedral Gallery NOV Launch of the Borough’s ‘Plan for Prosperity 2014- 2020’, hosted by Accrol Papers 5 MEET THE HIVE STEERING GROUP Khalid Saifullah Nicola Clayton Mike Damms David Sharpe Khalid Saifullah is Director Nicola Clayton is Director Mike Damms is Chief Executive David Sharpe is a Director of Star Tissue UK and of Business Development at the East Lancashire of Pierce Group. He is Chair of the Hive Network. & External Engagement at Chamber of Commerce. also president of the East Established in 2003, Star Blackburn College. Founded The Chamber lobbies for Lancashire Chamber Tissue manufactures away more than 127 years’ ago, its members and the wider of Commerce. Pierce from home hygiene paper Blackburn College is a unique business community, engages are specialist providers products, providing private Educational Institution in that in public-private partnerships of business advice and label products to major it has Sixth Form provision, for economic regeneration, accountancy services to suppliers and distributors in extensive Further Education and provides support services predominantly family run and the personal hygiene, catering provision and a top rated specialising in international owner managed business. and medical markets in the University Centre; it is a ‘one trade, purchase & supply, Established in 1929 and UK and Ireland. Khalid has stop shop’ supporting student internet services, training and based centrally in Blackburn, previously been awarded the progression, attainment and business mentors. Among Pierce provides a wide Queen’s Award for Enterprise employability, serving the other positions, Mike sits on variety of services including Promotion and has featured in whole community with a full the boards of the Lancashire Corporate Finance, Forensic the Guardian’s annual poll of and relevant academic offer Enterprise Partnership and Accountancy, Business the 50 ‘most influential people in the heartland of Pennine the Regional Leaders’ Board consultancy, tax planning and in the North’. Lancashire. and is chair of the N.W. audit and tax compliance. [email protected] [email protected] Manufacturing Forum. [email protected] m.damms @chamberelancs.co.uk Ian Brown Mark Lomas Michael Hill Matthew Sidgreaves Ian Brown represents the Mark Lomas is Director at Michael Hill is Managing Matthew Sidgreaves is part third generation in the Lomas Office Furniture and Director of Optima Control of the Council’s Growth and family business of Graham Stationery Ltd – a Blackburn Solutions Ltd. Located Prosperity Department with and Brown. Formed in family firm for over 30 on Capricorn Park in responsibility for improving 1946 the company supplies years. Mark has worked in Blackburn, Optima boasts the prospects of businesses wall decorative products the company since leaving a team of professional within the Borough along to consumers worldwide. school, helping to transform engineers providing expert with greater opportunities Having entered the business the business from a second industrial control solutions for residents, underpinned in 1984, Ian’s current role as hand furniture retailer to worldwide. After serving by Blackburn with Darwen’s CSR Director has seen the the designing and delivery his apprenticeship at Plan for Prosperity. Matthew company develop a strong of innovative workspaces. Cobble Blackburn Ltd, and joined the Council in 2003 environmental strategy. More Services offered nationwide subsequently graduating from and has more than 10 years’ recently Ian has managed include fit out and furniture Manchester University, Michael experience of working in the company’s logistical supply, along with a dedicated held positions at Kennedy and economic regeneration. operations at Shuttleworth stationery team supplying Donkin Consulting Engineers Matthew is committed to Mead which services the all of the north west from (Manchester) and Eurotherm ensuring a positive Council- distribution of goods from the the company’s Blackburn Drives Ltd. (West Sussex) business relationship and has UK to retailers and consumers showroom on King Street. before he and a colleague provided support to Hive since worldwide. [email protected] formed Optima CS and set up forming in 2012. Ian.Brown in Blackburn in 1995. matthew.sidgreaves @grahambrown.com michael.hill @blackburn.gov.uk @optimacs.com 6 SUPPORTING OUR FUTURE WORKFORCE OUR AIM HOW WILL IT WORK? Hive has been, and always will be committed to Hive and its partners will work to understand the encouraging the future workforce of the borough needs of our schools. Similarly, we will work with to stay, work and innovate in the area. We Hive members to gauge the skill and capacity a want to support greater collaboration between business can offer the scheme. By co-ordinating business and the borough’s education providers. the two, a clear engagement process can then In the latest survey of the borough’s companies, be agreed matching the skills of the business almost 9 in 10 businesses which had experienced to a school’s needs, while being mindful of the recruitment difficulties cited a shortage of people company’s availability to provide. with the right skills or attitudes. Hive members have a diverse range of IS MY BUSINESS NOT TOO SMALL? opportunities and requirements, and our education providers play a vital role in developing No. Future job creation is likely to come from the skills and attitudes of our future workforce. today’s smaller businesses, so your participation Hive will engage with partners to provide a is vital to close a potential skills gap and ensure framework for businesses to support our young there are suitably skilled recruits in the future. All people, firstly engaging with secondary schools in businesses have a role to play, and this is a great our borough. It will replace the current Business opportunity to determine the level of support you Class programme.