PROSPECTUS INSPIRING INSPIRING PROSPERITY WELCOME TO THE HIVE

BACKGROUND VISION

The Hive Business Leaders’ Network For Blackburn with to be was first launched in 2012 with the aim prosperous, vibrant and successful, we of transforming 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 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. can offer as part of a much larger provision.

In doing so, it will allow more businesses to get involved and thereby provide a greater range of HOW MIGHT MY BUSINESS support to the schools, whilst also developing the CONTRIBUTE? right skills, aspiration and motivation to take our businesses forward. Any one of the following would be a useful contribution in supporting our future workforce:

Enterprise and employment Hosting a visit to your place of work Pupil mentoring and career information and advice Work experience opportunities Attending jobs and careers fairs Helping with interview practice Running a competition or challenge

Curriculum support Bringing subjects such as mathematics, language and science to life by using real life business situations

School leadership and governance Practical advice on areas such as HR, IT, change and project management Becoming a school governor Providing teacher work placements

7 YOUR HIVE

Since its creation in 2012, Hive has benefitted A powerful network has been formed which is from tremendous support within the Blackburn committed to: and Darwen business community, with Inspiring prosperity and encouraging enterprises of all sizes subscribing to Hive’s businesses to grow and succeed ethos of “it’s what I can do for the borough, not Creating platforms where businesses of all what the borough can do for me”. sizes and sector can share knowledge, share experience, collaborate and trade locally Promoting the borough, locally and across the wider UK, as a great place to do business and invest Improving opportunities for the borough’s residents, especially our young people – by Become a member of the Hive network at raising aspirations and improving skills, www.business-hive.co.uk ensuring that businesses’ needs are met

WINNERS OF THE INAUGURAL HIVE BUSINESS AWARDS 2015

The Bright Spark Award Blackburn Alarms, Daniel Devitt Chase Templeton, Lynsey Doran Twist Event Catering, Megan Gallacher WEC Group, James Pickles – WINNER

The Eureka Award Prefix Systems Scancapture Twist Event Catering WEC Group – WINNER

The Enterprise in Education Award Blackburn College Darwen Aldridge Community – WINNER Training 2000

The Creative Agency Award Contrado Digital Gregory Audio Visual Source Creative TPW Design Consultants – WINNER

The High Growth Award Access Ability CIC AMT Lawyers Lance Mason Solicitors – WINNER Northern Industrial

The International Achievement Award Contrado Digital Northern Industrial Precision Polymer Engineering – WINNER Sovereign Beverage Company

8 SUPPORT HIVE

We believe all businesses play an equally Funds generated on an annual basis will be important part in the future prosperity of the re-invested in projects and initiatives which borough, and should be allowed to decide if they support the objectives of Hive, as directed by its would like to contribute. members and under the stewardship of the Hive steering group. To become a supporter of Hive, the minimum annual donation is £100.00 To make a donation, However, there is no maximum so we would encourage businesses to give generously so visit Hive online at that together we can make a real difference www.business-hive.co.uk in the borough.

The Investing in the Future Award Lance Mason Northern Industrial Twin Valley Homes – WINNER WEC Group

The Manufacturing Excellence Award Precision Polymer Engineering Prefix Systems WEC Group – WINNNER Woodscape

The Newcomer Award Access Ability CIC Praetura Asset Finance Prefix Systems – WINNER Pure Star Cleaning

The Young Entrepreneur Award Blackburn Alarms Chocolat By Daniel Coletta – WINNER Contrado Digital Duffin’s Estate Agents

The Arte et Labore Award Andrew Graham MBE – WINNER

The Hive Chairman’s Award Accrol Papers – WINNER

9 INVESTING IN OUR TOWNS

BLACKBURN SPORTS & LEISURE CENTRE BLACKBURN CATHEDRAL QUARTER A £13.5m project between Blackburn with Darwen £30m development in the Borough Council and heart of Blackburn Town Blackburn College to PENNINE REACH Centre featuring a 60 bed improve the health and Premier Inn hotel, 30,000 THE MAKING ROOMS wellbeing of residents, A £40m major transport sq ft of Grade A office students and visitors. The scheme aimed at improving space with retail/restaurant A new state of the new facility includes a six- the local bus network along space, a new public square art technology and lane swimming pool, fitness the Accrington-Blackburn- and Blackburn Cathedral’s manufacturing hub in gym, two sports halls and a Darwen corridor and linking Clergy Court. Blackburn Town Centre, health suite. in with the east-west and incorporating Lancashire’s north-south railway lines. first Fab Lab to be Includes the construction of equipped with cutting edge Blackburn’s new bus station. equipment and small scale manufacturing machinery such as 3D printers.

BLACKBURN YOUTH ZONE

The Zone is a state of the BLACKBURN art facility offering cutting- THE MALL BUSINESS edge equipment, resources, IMPROVEMENT tailor made sports and arts The Mall’s £66m redevelop- DISTRICT BLACKBURN programmes, along with ment provided 250,000 sq ft COLLEGE extensive mentoring and of retail space and facilitated A 5 year business-led and personal support to turn the £8m development and funded initiative aimed at A new £65m Student Village around the opportunities and relocation of Blackburn attracting & supporting including a £5.5m state of options available to young Market. The Mall’s investment business in Blackburn Town the art Regional Automotive people within the borough. continues in the form of a Centre through creating a Hub, and £7m Sir Bill Taylor £3.5m redevelopment of the more attractive and safer Futures Centre which Ainsworth Street side of the town centre environment houses a variety of Science, DARWEN ALDRIDGE site. and increasing promotion of Technology, Engineering ENTERPRISE STUDIO the town. and Maths based subjects. A new Studio School for FRECKLETON STREET students aged 14-19 offering LINK ROAD an alternative environment to the traditional school Construction of the final phase setting. Part of the Aldridge of Blackburn Town Centre’s Foundation’s family of schools link road connecting Montague including Darwen Aldridge Street and the Wainwright Community Academy, Bridge, creating a gateway into Darwen Vale High School and the centre of Blackburn and Sudell Primary School. opening up employment land for development.

10 PLAYING OUR PART IN THE BOROUGH’S PLAN FOR PROSPERITY

Blackburn with Darwen’s PRIORITY: PRIORITY: PRIORITY: Plan for Prosperity sets BUSINESS INVESTMENT EMPLOYABILITY IMAGE & MARKETING out the Local Strategic & INNOVATION Partnership’s key priorities to 2020. The priorities are “To grow and diversify “To improve the “To improve the internal underpinned by the need to the economy, ensuring employment prospects of and external perception create the environment for that Blackburn with residents and ensure that of Blackburn with Darwen a thriving and competitive Darwen is open for businesses’ skills needs as a place to live, work, business base, leading to business” are met” visit and invest” improved prospects for the borough’s residents. Outcomes by 2020 Outcomes by 2020 Outcomes by 2020 The Hive is an important – more private sector – 2,700 new jobs from – improved perceptions, contributor to many of the investment, more patents key private and public increased levels of inward outcomes detailed. granted, more exporting investments. More investment, a growth in residents in work. More visitor numbers residents qualified to NVQ level 4 and above. More apprenticeship opportunities. More students obtaining 5 GCSEs grade A*- C in core subjects

PRIORITY: PRIORITY: PRIORITY: HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE QUALITY OF LIFE

“To widen housing “To provide good quality “To improve the quality choice by building more employment sites, of life for all who live in quality housing for sale, serviced by a well- Blackburn with Darwen” including family and connected and effective affordable housing” transport system” Outcomes by 2020 – better resident health and Outcomes by 2020 Outcomes by 2020 a longer life expectancy – more than 3,000 new – 100,000 sqm of new homes built commercial floor space across key regeneration sites. Delivery of the £40m Pennine Reach sustainable transport scheme

11 INSPIRING PROSPERITY

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN BUSINESS LEADERS NETWORK E : [email protected] W : www.business-hive.co.uk : @HiveBwD

Company no. 09626952

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