InBusiness Burnley - Issue 18, December 2021

InBusinessBurnley

Why esports means business

To find out more about future developments in Sandygate Square, contact the agent

Michael Cavannagh michael@tdawson.co.uk

Retail & Leisure Units Available Now

Preliminary Announcement available September 2020 TOLET

Two Retail, Food and Beverage, Office Units within a new landmark 136 Bedroom Student Accommodation Scheme

Edge of Burnley Town Centre

Three Retail, Food and Beverage, O ce Units within a new landmark 136 Bedroom Student Accommodation Scheme

Within the Weavers’ Triangle OnTheBanks development

Edge of Burnley Town Centre

Adjoining the New UCLan Campus with student numbers to reach 4,000 by 2025

Within the Weavers Triangle development

Adjacent to the New UCLan Campus with student numbers predicted of 4,000 by 2025

Welcome from the Editor

Does anyone else feel that since restrictions eased up, life has suddenly gone back to a million miles an hour? We could barely keep up with how our amazing resilient businesses were flipping their focus, rallying together and in many cases significantly growing during the pandemic. Now it seems that growth continues, innovation is still on the up and our business community is coming out the other side stronger.

That’s not to say there hasn’t been and won’t continue to be challenges, but we only have to look at the growth of the Burnley Bondholders to see how businesses have come together to ensure our borough remains united and strong and just a handful of our amazing community features in this latest edition of InBusiness Burnley.

Showing how Burnley is ahead of the curve, we already had a plethora of stories from businesses looking to reduce their own carbon footprint and that of others before the buzz about COP 26 got louder and louder. Did you know that in early 2019, Burnley Council declared a climate change emergency and work got well underway on how the borough could lead the way in carbon net zero and reducing its environmental impact? So the timing has worked out well that whilst being as responsible as possible is in everyone’s minds, this issue has an In Focus Green special.

From what Safran Nacelles is doing in the aerospace sector to how one Burnley business is helping transform city centre buildings across the country, you can get an insight into the green clout our businesses have.

Our striking front cover image reflects the innovative partnership between Burnley College and Burney FC in the world of esports. It’s incredible that our borough is helping to lead the way in this growing and influential industry and you can find out exactly what the new partnership is within these pages.

Of course, this magazine is only a snapshot of the positive news out there and we’d encourage you to follow Burnley.co.uk on all our social media channels to get the full picture of what your fellow companies are doing. It would also be a huge help if you liked and shared our content to get the message far and wide and we know our readers are Burnley’s biggest champions.

If you’d like to see how our Business Support Team could assist you in investing and growing within our borough, you can reach out to them at info@burnley.co.uk and you can find out more here burnley.co.uk/work-invest

Rachel Bayley Editor rbayley@burnley.gov.uk

design by:

28 Upskilling to secure the future of the borough’s businesses

9 Burnley Council buys Charter Wallk in boost for masterplan

24 Financial Affairs: £10million in 10 years

Leading international software business chooses Burnley

A London-based international business automation software company has chosen Burnley as the location for a new customer-facing division to support business growth and expansion plans.

Zigaflow’s new office on Shuttleworth Mead Business Park in Padiham, will be the base for the company’s sales, marketing, customer service and training teams, while the existing headquarters in Central London will remain the base for software development teams.

Tim Randall, CEO at Zigaflow, said:

“Our new base is not only ideal from a recruitment perspective, but it’s also in a great spot in terms of accessibility and has plenty of space for our future growth.”

Specialising in software that helps growing businesses streamline and automate processes, Zigaflow has set up the new customer-facing division to enhance and develop the service and support provided to those using the software.

Euan Aitken, Sales & Marketing Director at Zigaflow, said: “We believe that software as a service should be exactly what it says on the tin – not just a software, but a fully managed service with customer interaction at every stage of the journey, and that’s exactly what we provide.

“Zigaflow has always been 100% focused on enabling businesses to grow by simplifying their processes and expanding our customerfacing team solidifies that approach.”

Following a number of recent appointments, additional roles are also currently available across IT, telemarketing and creative specialisms.

Euan added: “We’re constantly on the lookout for great individuals to join the team and are proud to offer good quality, well-paid jobs with amazing prospects for people in the local area. Anyone interested – get in touch!”

This is amazing news for Burnley and Padiham, bringing an exciting new business and plenty of career opportunities to our borough. We wish Zigaflow all of the best and are pleased to announce they have also chosen to become Burnley Bondholders.

Left to right: Tim Randall – CEO at Zigaflow, Euan Aitken- Sales & Marketing Director at Zigaflow.

“To support our expansion plans we’ve been looking for a location where there’s a great pool of candidates with the varied skill sets we’re looking for across different industries.”

AMS Neve founder Mark Crabtree awarded Freedom of the Borough

Mark Crabtree, the founder and managing director of Burnley’s AMS Neve, has been awarded Freedom of the Borough.

Mr Crabtree took his business from his kitchen to become a world-leading company, helping to provide the soundtracks for leading musicians and Hollywood blockbusters which led to the company being awarded two Oscars.

Councillor Anne Kelly, who put him forward for the honour, said: “Mark is a visionary designer, having pioneered many ‘world firsts’, techniques and technologies which are still in use today in music, film and TV sound.

“As well as his significant influence on the professional audio industry, Mark was also chairman of the Burnley Bondholders, and is heavily involved in supporting the local community, and encouraging business and enterprise in Burnley.

“In recent years he has devoted much of his time and resource to developing and promoting Burnley as a thriving centre for advanced manufacturing and engineering.

Batch Distillery partners with Tailenders for charity gin

“Mark continues to support the development and raising the aspirations of young people in the town, attending careers events at schools and colleges, supporting headteachers and staff by helping them forge links with local businesses, and inviting colleges and universities to visit the AMS Neve Art of Sound exhibition, welcoming more than 3,000 students through its doors since 2014.”

Mr Crabtree, who was awarded an OBE in 2014 for services to advanced manufacturing and create industries, recently invested a seven-figure sum in the redevelopment of the former Burnley Grammar School to create The Landmark, a digital tech hub for digital start-ups, SMEs and micro-businesses.

Some of Burnley’s greatest achievements during the time of Mr Crabtree being at the helm of the Bondholders for eight years includes being named the Most Enterprising Area in 2013, the second most successful town for digital jobs growth in 2016 and a Top 16 UK Tech Town in 2018.

Burnley’s Batch Distillery who produce delicious unique gins, have teamed up with cricket prodigy James Anderson and fellow Tailenders Greg James, Felix White and Matt Chin to create a special Go Well Gin in support of the Go Well Fund. With a shared love of gin the cricketers wanted to come together and celebrate the genius local production methods of Burnley’s Batch boutique distillery. Throughout lockdown they’ve had fun developing their own unique flavours with the talented Batch team and built their own brand to engage with the cricket community and support the projects of their charity the Go Well Fund all year round…and so Go Well Gin was born.

Go Well Gin is a premium luxurious gin expertly crafted by the boutique distillery in the heart of Jimmy’s home town of Burnley. 20% of all profits raised through the sales of the Go Well Gin are being donated to the Go Well Fund. We’re delighted to announce that sales have been huge and send our thanks and congratulations to the Batch team for supporting and investing in this project.

To order your special bottle of Go Well Gin and to support the Go Well Fund visit gowellgin.com

<Go Well Gin by the Tailenders, made by Burnley’s Batch Distillery

Speakman Contractors: from Burnley to beyond

And for Burnley Bondholder and business Speakman Contractors, this central location has helped them grow and attract clients from Scotland, Birmingham, Wales and many other places across the UK.

Burnley.co.uk met with director Chris Speakman, who told us all about the growing business and why they will never leave the borough.

Chris used to be a sole trader in the electrical industry, whilst his brother Andrew was working as a self-employed joiner. Over the years, they ended up working on many of the same projects together and in 2009, decided to amalgamate their two businesses and Speakman Contractors was born.

They’ve grown organically over the years and now have 35 staff based at their Billington Road site.

“Being based in Burnley gives us a fantastic advantage. We design, build, install and maintain with planned and reactive maintenance at the core of the business. We provide a 24/7, 365 days a week service to numerous clients with mobile phone masts underpinning our reactive division. Our telematics fleet means that when a mast fails to operate, we can deploy our nearest engineer. Being located on the M65 corridor gives us great access to the motorway network and ensures we can achieve the strict service level agreements in a timely manner,” Chris explained.

This work takes their engineers across the country, but they also enjoy contracts much closer to home too.

The week we met with Chris, Speakman Contractors had just secured a contract in partnership with fellow Burnley Bondholder Barnfield to create a purpose-built facility for Science in Sport, leaders in endurance sports nutrition. Science in Sport has a site in Nelson and will take up a new facility at Frontier Park, Blackburn.

Speakman Contractors also helped fellow Burnley Bondholders Birchall Foodservice move to their new facilities at Burnley Bridge Business Park and works closely with Themis apprentices at Burnley College.

Speakman Contractors Burnley Investing in Burnley’s future workforce

“I’m on the college advisory board for construction, which means I can update them on industry changes, and they can feed this into how they shape their courses. Our in-house training programmes have also been recognised nationally – we won a North West National Apprenticeship Award for medium-sized businesses. Considering we were at the smaller end of the scale with our employee numbers, we were really pleased with that,” Chris said.

Speakman Contractors have employed five new apprentices over the past 18 months and are passionate about this route into a career.

Chris is also pragmatic around the fact

that a few of his trained staff have eventually gone on to set up their own business.

“Some may be disheartened that an employee is trained and leaves, but we see it as a positive. If we’ve given someone the confidence, skills and passion to go on and set up their own company, we must be doing something right. In fact, we often go on to use them as sub-contractors,” Chris explained.

Speakman Contractors also have a lot of contracts in the pharmaceutical industry, including healthcare for animals. They recently installed an automated system that could transform a powder to a pill for animals, whilst they are also experts at security and electrical installations, office fit outs and maintenance.

But it’s not just the strategic location that Chris enjoys about being in Burnley. “The health and wellbeing benefits are incredible. You can finish work and head out into the countryside to walk, cycle, sail, mountain bike – the list is endless, and I spend a lot of my spare time outdoors.”

We have to agree with him, we’re certainly proud of the work life balance that our borough provides and it’s fantastic to hear a local business so committed to not only having a base here but training local people to enjoy successful careers.

Burnley is not only at the heart of the North West but also the UK, making us incredibly well connected.

Businesses storm the Forbes Top 50

Forbes Solicitors have recognised several Burnley businesses in its second Reinvention and Resilience Report.

Low Carbon Energy Co, Birchall Foodservice, Crow Wood, Recycle IT, Fagan & Whalley and EFS Global have all made the Forbes Top 50, whilst Pendle’s Barnfield Construction also made the list.

Out of the seven, six are Burnley Bondholders. Burnley Bondholders is a private sector led, private/public partnership dedicated to raising the prosperity and profile of the borough; an innovative and successful scheme which has been growing for ten years and is made up of over 200 members. In short, Burnley Bondholders are passionate about the benefits of being based in Burnley and where the borough is heading.

The report details those North West businesses that have innovated and diversified during the past 12 months.

Rachel Bayley, Burnley Place Brand Manager, said: “We are thrilled that Burnley businesses make up such a large proportion of the Top 50 – especially as most of these are also Burnley Bondholders. Just like Burnley’s success on the 2020 inaugural Top 50, everyone has rolled up their sleeves and pulled together during the past year.

“We’ve not only seen how resilient the borough’s businesses have been, but also how many are coming back stronger.

It’s fantastic news for our business community and wider borough.”

You can read the full case studies of how Burnley businesses proved innovative and resilient during the global pandemic here.

Some of case studies include Low Carbon Energy Co, which has not only seen businesses looking for ways to save money but, also a new-found environmental awareness.

Business enquiries have increased by 145% in the past 18 months and turnover will hit £5m next year.

“I think, through the process of Covid, public awareness of sustainability and climate has changed,” director of Low Carbon Energy Co Ged Ennis said. “There has also been a genuine shift towards reducing the cost of running businesses, and we’re in a good place, as a result.”

Oliver Burton, chief executive of Forbes, said: “As the business world begins to move into the next chapter, it’s clear that these leaders have made some big decisions. Their companies will emerge from this period looking very different. They will be better prepared for the future and the challenges they will face. But I also know that many people still have their sleeves rolled up. They have been working hard to shore up their operations and look after their people. To change a business once in two years is a lot, but to change again and again is unprecedented.”

What More UK leading the way on plastic re-use

Zero to landfill company What More UK, based on Shuttleworth Mead in Padiham, is leading the way on plastic re-use. All of What More’s award-winning Wham® Upcycled range produced is from 100% recycled household plastic.

The quality Upcycled range includes everything from mop buckets and laundry baskets, through to coat hangers and cutlery trays.

All items in the range are durable and can be re-used over and over again, lasting decades, unlike the single-use plastics which are ending up in landfill and our oceans.

Making a pledge to help the current plastic crisis by producing durable, re-usable plastic products is not where it stops however, with What More also ensuring that they recycle their own plastic waste.

In a single day, What More manages to divert around 27,000 tonnes of waste plastic from landfill. Products that don’t pass QC but are properly moulded will be used around the warehouse for storage, while partly moulded products and defect products go into their grinder. Once ground, it is made into new pellets and mixed with black plastic pellets to be re-moulded into products such as their Eden dust bins.

Made in Britain but distributing all around the world, the Wham® ranges of products include storage boxes and housewares of all kinds including bakeware, around-the-sink items, products for the home laundry, utility room, and items for the garden such as planters and troughs. 76 countries all around the world stock a variety of items – sent from right here in Burnley.

Burnley Council buys Charter Walk Shopping Centre in boost for masterplan

The long-term future of Burnley town centre has been bolstered after the purchase of Charter Walk Shopping Centre by Burnley Council.

Charter Walk Shopping Centre has been acquired by the council for £20.7 million. It was brought to market alongside neighbour Curzon Square earlier this year by Savills, who requested offers over £25.6 million.

Savills sold the shopping centre on behalf of Tristan Capital and Addington Capital. Charter Walk comprises 280,000 sq ft and also benefits from a below ground car park which generates a significant income.

Knight Frank acted for Burnley Council, whilst Geldards LLP provided the legal support.

Council leader Councillor Afrasiab Anwar said: “Burnley Council launched its Town Centre & Canalside Masterplan in 2018

and improving the retail and leisure offer in the town was a key priority within that strategy.

“Our town centre plays an important role to residents, businesses and visitors. We have a catchment area of approximately 250,000 people and it is our intention to ensure that our town centre continues to be successful and vibrant.”

An important reason for the council’s purchase of the shopping centre was to ensure it remained a priority and to once again highlight the confidence and commitment the local authority has towards its town centre.

Another key proposal of the Town Centre & Canalside Masterplan includes Pioneer Place. Plans submitted by developers Maple Grove include five retail and leisure units, the relocation of Reel cinema to the site and a 125-space car park.

THE BURNLEY BUSINESS THAT’S FEEDING OUR WORKFORCE

Many of us may know Simply Classic as the 90-seater bistro on Shuttleworth Mead in Padiham. This popular venue opened in 2002 and not only welcomes diners throughout the day but can also be exclusively hired in the evenings and weekends for events and private dinners, complete with a 24-hour drinking licence and music licence due to its location.

However, there’s much more than meets the eye behind this family-run bistro. Simply Classic is home to contract catering, vending and an outside catering company that’s growing at such a rate that it feeds many of our borough’s workforce.

Classic Cuisine was established by Robert and Ann Bradshaw in 1996 and is a family affair. Their daughter Sally runs the business with her partner Chris Burt and her sister Joanne, with Sally having experience at venues including Northcote Manor. Like Sally, Joanne worked at The Bay Horse in Roughlee, whilst professional chef Chris spent 2.5 years at Claridge’s in London and several years at The Devonshire Arms at Bolton Abbey. Whilst Sally, Joanne and Chris lead the day-to-day running and business growth of Simply Classic, they have fantastic support from all their staff, with Michael Noonan area manager at the bistro.

Burnley.co.uk sat down for a coffee at the bistro with Chris, where he told us how the company started with four staff and now has 26 in Burnley and 14 in Sheffield.

“The business started out as an external catering company called Classic Cuisine, but in 2002 Simply Classic was born from an opportunity which was presented to us via Barnfield and H Rigg Properties to open a café on Shuttleworth Mead. It was originally planned as more of a traditional café to serve lorry drivers and workers, but we knew we could do so much more with it. We came up with the idea of the Simply Classic bistro and we’ve been here ever since.”

The bistro is certainly excellent value –you can find the breakfast menu here and lunch menu here. It’s also proven popular during the lockdowns, where it offered takeaways in the form of Friday night boxes (we were shown a burger box and it looked delicious!), as well as a three-course Mother’s Day meal. Via this offer, £500 was raised for Pendleside Hospice and Simply Classic matched it, earning them Bronze Ambassador status. However, it’s the outside catering success that particularly caught our eye.

From Burnley to Sheffield

You may have come across Simply Classic if you’ve attended an event in the area, but we were surprised to hear just how much of Burnley’s workforce it feeds every day.

Chris explained: “We have a fresh on-site catering presence at many places in Burnley, one of the biggest kitchens we operated from is Victoria Mill at UCLan. We also feed the large workforce at Exertis and provide the catering at The Landmark. One of our biggest and most successful partnerships is with Boohoo. As well as providing meals for the hundreds of staff, Simply Classic also organises special events.

“Boohoo gave its staff ten days of free food at Christmas and a recent great event we worked with them on was National Diversity and Inclusion Week. Boohoo has a diverse workforce, so we chose seven nationalities and asked them what their favourite dishes were and what they missed the most. We loved doing it, and when some of the feedback said our versions were almost as good as their mum’s or grandma’s, we knew we’d done well.”

He showed us the menu and we must admit we were jealous. There was gnocchitopped with feta, crispy bacon, soured cream and spring onions. (Bryndzove halusky) on the Slovakian day, baked rice with pork belly and black pudding (Arroz al horno) on the Spanish day and chicken koral with pilaff rice and chapattis on the Pakistani day, as well as a whole host of other nationalities, meals and snacks.

So how did Simply Classic end up in Sheffield?

When Boohoo moved Pretty Little Thing to Sheffield, it was so impressed with the catering at its Burnley site, it also decided to use them for the Pretty Little Thing Sheffield base.

Simply Classic also provides corporate hospitality for Burnley industry giants such as Velocity Composites, AMS Neve and VEKA. Another fact we learnt is that many businesses in the area have vending machines filled with fresh food that is made at Simply Classic each morning. Once made at the bistro, fresh vending machine food is delivered to the likes of Fort Vale, Coach House Antiques, Doric, Futaba Manufacturing and BCW Engineering. The vending machines have card readers on them for extra convenience and they sound like a great idea.

So, what next for Simply Classic?

“We continue to grow and are excited about the continued easing of COVID restrictions, meaning we can hopefully get back to our busy events schedule. We love doing weddings at iconic venues such as Towneley Hall and we hope that many people decide to make use of our bistro’s external terrace area, drinking and music licences for their own private events such as christenings, birthday parties, anniversaries and even work Christmas parties. We can even come to your home and cook an exquisite meal for your guests, and we are excellent value for money,” Chris told us.

Multi-million pound Levelling Up boost for Burnley

Regeneration plans for Burnley have been given the green light after receiving a multi-million pound boost in the October 2021 Budget.

The successful bid for almost £20 million of Levelling Up funding means three major schemes to transform the town can go ahead. Burnley Council worked with the borough’s MP Antony Higginbotham to submit the funding bid.

It will see major investment in the further expansion of the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), upgrades to Manchester Road railway station and improving links between the town centre and Turf Moor.

Combined, the plan is to connect expanded education facilities at the UCLan campus, through the new Pioneer Place development in the town centre and on to Burnley FC to create an economic corridor running directly from one side of the town to the other.

Councillor Afrasiab Anwar, leader of Burnley Council said:

“This is great news for Burnley. It follows on from the council’s recent acquisition of Charter Walk, our work on Lower St James’s Street Heritage Action Zone, and our continued work in bringing forward Pioneer Place.”

“The bid was based around three key projects within our Town Centre and Canalside Masterplan and these, along with our other developments, will mean that Burnley town centre can continue to develop, diversify and prosper.

“Having worked closely with our partners in developing the bid, I am so pleased that these projects will now be

delivered. I would also like to thank our officers who worked all hours to meet the very tight deadlines for submitting the bid.

“The bid was for nearly £20 million and this further investment will help transform the face of Burnley and make it more attractive to residents, visitors, shoppers and investors.”

UCLan Campus Expansion

Following a master planning exercise to look at how projected growth (4000 students by 2024/5 and 6000 by 2031) could be accommodated over several stages to create a thriving canalside campus, this project will include:

• The purchase and reconfiguration of Sandygate Mill.

• Creation of circa 35,000 square foot of space incorporating a Knowledge Exchange Zone, teaching and social space

• New public realm including on the George Street Mill Site to create a spine for future development, and public realm enhancements to Sandygate and Queens Lancashire Way

• Servicing and remediation of the George Street Mill site for future phases

• Towpath improvements between Westgate and Manchester Road to create improved access to the rail station and integrate the campus with the canal.

Eastern Gateway, Town to Turf

This project aims to create a gateway between the town centre and Turf Moor, incorporating high quality public realm, a new four-way junction replacing the Yorkshire Street roundabout, cleaning and restoration work to the Culvert, and pavement widening in front of the football club.

The works will complement planned investment in the stadium, including a major facelift to the stadium stretching from the corner of Belverdere Road, including LED lighting and a major investment in the James Hargreaves stand to create a hospitality and conferencing venue.

The Town Centre Masterplan Public Realm Strategy identifies an east-west axis through the town from Turf Moor to the canalside UCLan campus. The extension of public realm works along Yorkshire street will create a mile-long promenade connecting the UCLan campus, shopping centre and Turf Moor.

Manchester Road Rail Station Access for All

In recent years Burnley Manchester Road station has been upgraded and a new direct rail service to Manchester opened via the Todmorden Curve.

This project will complete the station masterplan and will increase the overall accessibility of the station to all passengers. The development will deliver a new footbridge and passenger lifts, creating better connections between both platforms and the main station building, increasing accessibility to a wider range of destinations for a wider range of passengers.

The three projects within the bid are:

Centrica awards contract to Smile Mediation

Burnley.co.uk spoke to Karen Ainsworth, chief executive at Smile Mediation, which is based on Croft Street in the town centre.

Burnley business Smile Mediation has secured a contract with Centrica to deliver a skillsbased mediation programme to 16 employee relations managers within the brand’s HR consultancy services.

It’s an impressive coup for Smile Mediation, a Burnley not-for-profit which delivers community and workplace mediation services. And it’s also an impressive step to take for Centrica who wish to engage their staff via mediation and improved two-way communication and offer this service as an alternative to a formal process.

“It’s fantastic that Centrica is offering mediation as an alternative to formal processes such as grievances, as often within a workplace, it can appear that such avenues have ‘winners and losers’ and that’s not the case with mediation. Colleagues can communicate in a safe and confidential environment to come to a solution that all parties agree on.

“We’ve had amazing feedback from those who have taken part and we are so pleased that Centrica has chosen us as their preferred supplier.”

The contract commenced in 2021, with the first accredited training delivered in May.

Karen added: “We are so

proud that a small Burnley-based social enterprise is delivering services to a giant brand.”

It is testament to the awardwinning Burnley business, which was established in 1998 and secured its charity status in 2002. It delivers a wide range of services within the local community, such as resolving neighbour disputes, family mediation and also teaching children and young people how to deploy effective communication skills.

One recent project was working with Cherry Fold Primary School on Cog Lane, teaching year 4 and 5 pupils mediation and therefore lifelong communication skills. In fact, Smile and Cherry Fold won the College of Mediators National Young Mediator of the Year award in 2020.

They have also worked with the women’s group at West End Community Centre.

Another important initiative was the launch of Smile Mediation’s listening service for those who felt isolated during the pandemic. You can read some of the feedback from service users on their website and it is clear how much simply having someone to talk to and listen meant so much to them.

We encourage anyone who feels isolated or has anxiety around the pandemic to reach out to Smile Mediation, as well as other services available within Burnley Together. The past year has shown us how our community comes together to support one another, and we are proud of our borough’s achievements.

Holker IT moves to Network 65

A thriving technology company has become the largest IT business in Burnley after relocating to new premises.

Holker IT has just expanded into the 15,447 sq. ft Crown House on the Network 65 Business Park – the very place MD Matthew Metcalfe worked as an engineer.

Matthew founded Holker IT in 2009 after spending more than ten years learning his trade.

Rated among the top ten IT experts in the North West, Matthew has led the rapid development of a company founded on honest and outstanding client services and on a principle of working

in partnership for the good of all.

The company specialises in providing secure solutions for businesses – particularly in the energy, haulage, and education sectors.

It has built its own public and private cloud – giving more flexibility when it comes to secure solutions for clients – and has developed its own internet service provider (ISP) to offer better connectivity for clients at lower prices.

In 2020, the company acquired Burybased education specialist PC Edutech to further strengthen their offering.

The large office space, formerly the home of Lanway and Chess, boasts ample office

Matthew said:

space, conferencing facilities and a demo suite.

Holker currently employs 43 staff and has plans to expand significantly. The company is currently establishing links with local colleges to provide apprenticeship opportunities for those looking for career opportunities.

Matthew said: “Holker is the biggest IT business in Burnley. Not only do we recruit the best engineers from across the North West, but our company also provides IT support around the world for clients.

Matthew added: “We look forward to celebrating with new and existing customers who have been on the journey with us.”

“Holker IT isn’t the same as other IT businesses. We design networks underpinned on strong business resilience and security to give clients the reassurance they need to get on with their day-to-day business.”

< Karen Ainsworth, the Chief Executive at Smile Mediation Burnley.

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Toby Cooke, undergraduate at Alcidion

Australian health tech giant Alcidion has established a new UK base at the Burnley Business Centre on Empire Way.

Lynette Ousby, Alcidion’s UK managing director and who lives in Hapton, said the company was looking for graduates in the borough, particularly those who had computer science and medical-related degrees.

And now they have their first undergraduate, Toby Cooke, whose parents Justine and Andy run Basics Junior Theatre School and encouraged their son to contact Lynette after reading the article on Burnley.co.uk.

Lynette told us: “We are so pleased to have Toby on board, he really impressed us and continues to do so. We’ve

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

The company, which is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, already works with 34 NHS hospitals across the UK where it provides innovative technology for healthcare professionals. One recent success story is their work with NHS Fife, which resulted in a 76 per cent decline in cardiac arrests, an impressive statistic, and all with technology deployed from Burnley. As those

recently signed off a significant deal with the East Lancashire Hospitals Trust and that’s enabled us to take on new starters.

“We’ve found being part of Burnley Bondholders has already been so incredibly helpful and we’ve not been members for long. Justine Cooke also owns Positive Solutions creative marketing, which too is a bondholder. In

of us who have ever been in hospital will know, typically, medical staff use bedside paper observations to monitor patients and any subsequent declines. But early warning scores are calculated manually, observations can be missed and sometimes, doctors are stretched and may not stick to a defined schedule to visit patients at their bedside. Alcidion’s electronic observation technology

addition, when Burnley.co.uk met with bondholder Lisa Sourbutts from Cube HR, who have the office above, Lisa spoke to me about what her business does, and we’ve subsequently struck a deal with them.”

It’s great news that businesses in Burnley are working together, creating more opportunities within our borough.

connects to the bedside device and if staff miss an observation, the software spots any deterioration and sends an alert, with staff using iPads instead of paper. We are pleased to hear that a global company has chosen Burnley for a UK base and that it’s committed to investing in our borough and we wish Toby and all of the new starters the best of luck with their new careers.

CASE STUDY – Toby Cooke, 19yrs old, studying Computer Science with Software Development at The University of Liverpool

How did you hear about the role?

I first heard about Alcidion when Burnley.co.uk released an article publicising the move of a global smart healthcare technology business, choosing Burnley, in an office around the corner from where I live, as their new UK base!

Lynette Ousby, the UK managing director, spoke of her passion for bringing young talent from within Burnley into the global healthcare industry, promoting the recruitment of computer science graduates and students. I saw this as an incredible opportunity to gain vital industry experience, whilst studying for my degree, and applied that day!

What are you studying?

I am currently studying for a degree in Computer Science with Software Development at the University of Liverpool. In order to gain invaluable industry experience, and apply the knowledge I have gained to date, I have taken an academic year out of my studies following completion of my second year. I will return to university to continue my final year studies after my 12 months with Alcidion come to an end. My passion for both people and technology makes my role as a Service Desk Analyst perfect for my skillset. I hope very much to return to Alcidion following completion of my degree.

Why Alcidion?

Alcidion is a leading business within the healthcare technology industry, delivering a smarter and safer future of care within healthcare organisations worldwide, or as I viewed it, not your standard 9-5 office job! Providing the opportunity to come out of work every day knowing the work you’ve completed has made a difference to over 57,000 patients using Alcidion’s technology, I knew Alcidion was the perfect placement for my year in industry. Alcidion take a rounded view on recruitment and hire people with the right attitude. They don’t focus purely on grades and accolades.

Do you enjoy your job?

Yes! Not only because of the innovative work Alcidion do, but their passion for people makes working with the team a pleasure. The team is more like a family. The camaraderie and support they provide is second to none, and every working day is enjoyable.

The Burnley office is a fantastic place to work, the energy in the room is always high and everyone always has a smile on their face. The team here are also big on post-work activities, whether it’s football group chats or pub meetups, the staff go out of their way to be more like friends than colleagues.

Our Teams meetings provide an opportunity to meet those colleagues working elsewhere in the country. There are so many reasons to enjoy working at Alcidion, as they nurture each individual’s journey.

Talking of journeys, I happen to love that my journey to work with an industry-leading company happens to take me just three minutes!

What are your aspirations for building a career in Burnley?

I love the fact that I will be able to return to my hometown following completion of my studies and put my Computer Science degree to good use. Burnley is at the forefront of the digital marketplace and is perfectly located to attract people with the digital skillset required in today’s workplace.

The standard of living in Burnley is excellent. I hope to buy my first home here knowing I’ll get a lot more for my money than I would in the city. The town has excellent leisure facilities, Crow Wood is one of them. I also enjoy and appreciate the surrounding countryside as I take our Cockapoo for daily walks. If I do fancy a night out, there’s loads of brilliant restaurants in the town.

Meeting up with uni mates is easy too – thirty minutes on the train or bus and I can be in Manchester. What’s not to love about Burnley!

The model apprentices impressing Boohoo

Two Themis Advanced Mechatronics Engineering Apprentices have impressed their employers by designing and 3D printing innovative tools to make the workplace even safer and more efficient.

Jacob Platt, 18, from Astley, Greater Manchester, and Sebastian Swindells, 18, from Waddington, have both started their careers as Themis Apprentices at Burnley Bondholder Boohoo, the successful, multi-national online fashion retailer.

And both have made a huge impression with Boohoo management – by recognising a potential need for new devices; designing and then 3D printing prototypes to make the company even more efficient.

Sebastian was keen to increase efficiency for engineers working on the production line. He noticed one task which could slow down output was replacing damaged belts on motors. After talking to the engineers, he has created a unique Belt Box, designed to carry all the spares potentially needed in one simple container – saving several journeys to the storeroom.

Sebastian, who attended Bowland High School, says the idea came to him straight away:

“Changing damaged belts is one of the most common jobs, but finding out which belt is broken then heading to the store room to get a replacement was taking a lot of time.

“I realised if I could design a simple, lightweight and easy-to-carry box which contained everything you’d need to fix any belt on the system, we could save hours every day.”

Jacob, meanwhile, used his problemsolving abilities to create an improved storage system for ladders on the shop floor. He identified how he could potentially both increase safety and ensure vital equipment remained where it was needed. Instead of chains and padlocks to secure ladders, Jacob designed a quick-release system which keeps the ladders safe and vertical, as well as allowing them to be locked, to make sure they stay where needed.

Jacob says the concept for the product came quickly to him and added:

“The actual design took me around two-and-a-half weeks. I specialise in CAD (Computer Aided Design) so I worked on getting the model exactly right.

“The facilities at the Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Excellence at Themis at Burnley College are exactly the same as you work with in industry, which meant

Sebastian and I could use the 3D printers to turn our ideas and designs into reality.”

Using state-of-the-art 3D printers at Themis, Jacob and Sebastian spent a month turning their plans into fully-functioning prototypes to demonstrate to their employers. The management team at Boohoo were so impressed by the Themis Apprentices’ ingenuity and problem-solving skills they are now considering further development of the prototypes and they introduction into the company’s warehousing facility.

Chris Platt, Themis Engineering Curriculum Manager, says he’s immensely proud of the initiative the Apprentices have shown:

“Being a Themis Apprentice is so much more than simply training in the theory and the practice of your trade. We are committed to supporting the development of the very best Apprentices, those who have the additional skills valued by employers, such as problem-solving, communication, confidence and team work.

“By securing Apprenticeships with industry-leaders such as Boohoo and perfecting their skills and knowledge with expert trainers in the industrystandard facilities at Themis at Burnley College, our Apprentices are given every opportunity to excel and take the first steps to becoming a #futureboss.

“Jacob and Sebastian have shown exactly the kind of initiative and confidence that will see them excel in their future careers.”

Hannah Cutler, Head of Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering, Logistics & Transport at Themis at Burnley College; Chris Platt; Sebastian Swindells & Jacob Platt.

“Time is money on a production line. The longer it’s down, the more money you lose.”

labour cost savings VS national average 12.5%

1 st for % of industry made up by manufacturing

Manufacturing

We are proud to also host renowned advanced manufacturing companies that deliver cutting-edge products. Burnley’s average labour costs are 12.5% lower than national average. In comparison, Derby’s average labour costs tracks the same as the national average, making our town an affordable strategic hub. Our convenient transport network not only simplifies logistics, but means talent can be attracted across a large part of the North West, including Liverpool, Leeds and Manchester.

CONVENIENTLY LOCATED ON M65 WITH ACCESS TO M6, M62, M66 AND BEYOND...

Aerospace

3 within an hour’s drive

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS

Our central location in the North West means we are at the heart of the wider regional advanced engineering cluster. The North West aerospace cluster is the biggest in Europe, contributing £7 billion to the UK economy - 25% of UK aerospace turnover. Burnley may be at the heart of the North West and therefore its advanced engineering cluster, but we offer a highly competitive cost base. Our industrial rents and labour costs are significantly lower than some of the other clusters in this sector in other parts of the country.

TOP 16 UK Tech Town

Digital and Creative

Our growing status as a university town goes hand in hand with our digital jobs success. In fact, we rank second in the UK for digital jobs growth. During 2014-2015 alone, we saw annual growth of almost 162%, compared to 2% across Great Britain and 30% across the rest of the North West. With UCLan committed to having 4,000 university students in Burnley by 2025, we are excited to see this sector further expand. There are almost 19,000 employees in the digital sector in Lancashire, with the highest proportion working in Burnley and Pendle. Here, some 6,500 digital sector employees can be found. These individuals account for more than 4% of total employment in the travel to work area. Between 2012 and 2017, there was a 20% increase in the number of digital businesses in Burnley and Pendle.

2nd

most successful UK town for digital jobs growth

4,000 University students by 2025

Education & Training

Burnley is a growing university town, with UCLan planning to offer courses to 4,000 students by 2025. That’s on top of the qualifications already offered by Burnley College and University Courses Burnley, as well as the town’s other further education establishments. Burnley College offers a sixth-form centre, university courses, Themis apprenticeships and adult learning. Rated by Oftsed as Outstanding, the college also has the second-largest apprenticeship programme in Lancashire. This is supported by the exciting and thriving sectors that apprentices can gain experience in. Its Sixth Form Centre was also announced as the top in England.

Automotive

The North produces 500,000 passenger cars every year, representing over 40% of the UK’s total . As a whole, the UK is home to six mainstream car manufacturers, 11 engine manufacturers, seven major sports car and premium manufacturers and 20 research and design centres – not to mention more than 2,400 suppliers. Burnley’s prime central position in the UK makes it a convenient location for automotive companies who can benefit from Burnley’s and other manufacturing hubs.

Not just a shop on Standish Street

If you’ve ever shopped on the bustling Standish Street, whether at Cuppa Cake, Joules Designs, Sweet William Florist or any of the other many independents on there, chances are you’ve walked past Financial Affairs.

The financial planning and insurance company has stood proud here since 1972 and is currently undergoing a huge transformation.

Burnley.co.uk met with Managing Director Laurence O’Connor, who took over his father’s business aged just 27, with his brother Gavin. Nine years later, Laurence told us how the company has grown from strength to strength and has big plans.

Laurence O’Connor, MD of Financial Affairs in Burnley

“In 2020, we turned over £1.2 million in commission and fees. Business boomed during the second half of 2020, when things started to reopen. Part of this was businesses needing to secure essential insurance again or fed up with poor customer service from their broker. On the financial planning side of the business, we saw individuals start to review their pensions and investments again. When people needed help from the bigname financial planning and insurance brokers, for many it wasn’t there. So, we saw a trend in people deciding to have all of their ‘financial affairs’ with us instead, a family-run business at the heart of Burnley,” Laurence told us.

Financial Affairs is currently working towards a “£10 million in ten years” strategy. And remaining

in Burnley is firmly in that strategy.

“When lots of businesses in our field expand, they often believe they have to move to Manchester or Leeds to continue that growth. We’ve invested in renovating our huge building, which is spread across four floors and hasn’t been properly updated in 30 years. We enjoy being in Burnley and want to create a centre of excellence here, with the potential to open breakout premises in other market towns like Skipton,” Laurence explained, adding: “We’re not just a shop on Standish Street.”

The plan of action

So how will Financial Affairs strive to meet their £10 million target?

It currently has 20 members of staff, with the advisers split between financial planning and general insurance. Laurence is unique, in that he is qualified to advise across all fields, after working in every department and gaining all the regulated qualifications needed in Insurance and Financial Planning after graduating from university.

He plans for every adviser to be chartered, something which is relatively unheard of for a business of its comparatively smaller size.

Financial Affairs also plans to take on two graduates a year from within Burnley and continue that

process each year. They’ve also hired administrative assistants under the Kickstart Scheme via the job centre and have been impressed with their skills and work ethic and plan to take on more individuals under the scheme.

It’s great to hear that the company is invested in Burnley and its people. Indeed, Laurence is also chair of the Burnley BID, reflecting his passion for the town.

“I want to create a culture where people enjoy working from our office, not just the updated interior, but also take advantage of the social element too. Burnley has a great early evening economy and is perfect for post-work drink or food, as well as grabbing coffees and lunches,” Laurence told us.

It certainly feels as though people will view Financial Affairs as an attractive place to work. As well as the plans to help people gain their chartered status, the company has carved something of a niche for itself. Only five per cent of firms in the industry have permissions or the technical ability to advise defined benefit pensions and Financial Affairs is one of them.

We wish Financial Affairs, who are a Burnley Bondholder, all of the best for their growth plans and we look forward to seeing the complete renovation.

£10 million in ten years strategy

Remaining in Burnley is firmly in that strategy.

Laurence O’Connor, MD of Financial Affairs in Burnley

PANAZ

Why

this renowned big business is a great place to build a career

Based

on Bentley Wood Way at Network 65 business park, Burnley

Bondholder Panaz are known for their high-quality decorative fabrics and wallcoverings for the hospitality, healthcare and corporate sectors. Burnley.co.uk visited them and were in fabric sample heaven, with hundreds of materials and designs on show at their impressive HQ. However, with the majority of their business traditionally providing hospitality and commercial venues with their products, the family business needed to innovate to stay relevant and financially strong.

We spoke to Rollie Attard, chief operating officer at Panaz, who told us:

“We’ve spent the past year innovating, reflecting and creating new products. Of course, the workspace and hospitality sectors were massively hit, but we made the best of the situation. Hopefully, we’ll come out of this better prepared to take advantage of the rebound.”

Panaz holds many NHS contracts, a sector which was busier than ever of course, but the organisation needed to diversify to ensure other revenue lines.

One way in which they innovated was the launch of Shieldplus, an antimicrobial nanotechnology protection that has been tested as 99.99% effective against COVID-19 and other viruses and bacteria for up to 90 days. This is available in both a spray and laundry product, with the spray passing food safety standards. The products are currently being used within the fashion industry, warehouses, healthcare, senior living accommodation and hospitality, with the laundry product being used by every Premier Inn in the UK. Consumers can also purchase Shieldplus directly from Panaz, marking the first time the business has stepped into the B2C market.

An attractive place to work

We were not only impressed with Panaz’s innovation, but also as a Burnley employer.

There are over 90 employees based at its site, with careers from product development and marketing to logistics and finance. In fact, as we were there on a hot and sunny day, an ice-cream van arrived on site.

“I’d promised everyone an ice-cream van for working so hard and so they could enjoy it outside in the sun. We’ve been operating during all of the lockdowns, serving the Nightingale hospitals, and it’s credit to our staff. And of course, demand has surged for our antimicrobial textiles. We are Europe’s leading supplier of antimicrobial textiles, these are typically used in hospitals and senior living establishments, but we’ve seen demand rise in the hospitality sector with everything going on. This technology secured Panaz a Queen’s Award 15 years ago,” Rollie explained.

Free ice-cream aside, Panaz is an attractive place to work. Rollie told us that employees receive “fantastic salaries and benefits” and he’s keen on attracting further talent within the borough and surrounding areas.

“It would be great to also hire people from cities such as Manchester, the reverse commute means you avoid traffic and Burnley is a great place to work, with fantastic countryside on your doorstep to enjoy.”

Panaz is also big on sustainability, something which is important to many employees. They have developed a range of 100 per cent recyclable fabrics. Interestingly, the Silicastone solid surface and tile range is made out of broken preconsumer ceramics such as baths! There is a 30 per cent breakage rate for consumer ceramics and Panaz takes this waste to create fabrics.

They have also created a recyclable flame-retardant back coating. Rollie explained that many materials that could be recyclable are often then treated with flame retardant, which unfortunately then does render the product as not recyclable, so it’s fantastic to see Panaz tackling this issue.

Thank you to Panaz for having us and we look forward to seeing how you innovate and grow over the coming months.

One thing we’re good at in Burnley is not letting a situation keep us down and one business in the borough who have kept going, innovating and growing is Panaz.

Feature : Thrive

There has never been a better time in Burnley to access support for your staff around training and upskilling, or indeed recruiting new staff members, and there are some great programmes available to support you in doing this. Thrive is an impartial, one-stop shop for employment and skills support in Burnley and supports all these schemes and particularly the opportunities that exist for young people in the borough of Burnley.

Samantha Smallridge, Burnley Council’s employment and skills co-ordinator, explains: “Thrive helps to co-ordinate and connect these opportunities directly to the young people in the town and to assist with the creation and retention of skills locally, whilst also raising aspirations and long-term career prospects for our future workforce whilst show-casing Burnley itself.”

Are you currently business planning or looking at your staffing levels as we ease out of the pandemic? Or maybe you are keen to give someone an opportunity and would like some support in the recruitment process, or looking to give your existing staff some additional skills and knowledge

to enhance their existing job role or to lead to possible career progression?

There are so many support schemes available right now, whether you want to recruit someone for the short-term via the Kickstart programme or indeed for the longer term with an apprentice and on top of that there are currently some great incentives to do so too.

If you’re not yet familiar with the government’s Kickstart Scheme, in essence it provides job opportunities for young people aged 16 to 24 to undertake a job role for six months. The focus is on supporting a young person to develop their transferrable skills and ultimately increase their chances of sustained employment. The government has announced an extension to the scheme, which was due to finish in December 2021, to March 2022, which is great news. For employers, the wages of the individual are paid for by the government for a six-month period, capped at 25 hours per week and there is also a grant incentive for taking on a Kickstart placement. There are some great employers in Burnley who have already utilised the Kickstart programme including Calico, Burnley Council, Panaz, Burnley Football

Club and Financial Affairs, to name a few.

Apprenticeships are another great way to add to your workforce and the benefit of an apprenticeship is that the individual is also working towards a recognised qualification, whilst gaining hands on experience in the workplace and learning from your own experienced staff. The range of apprenticeships are so wide and range from traditional engineering to construction trades, hospitality, finance, business, marketing and IT – the opportunities really are endless. The individual and business also have the support of their training provider to ensure everyone gets maximum impact from the apprenticeship. Grant incentives are currently available, and the government have recently extended these to January 2022.

If you take someone on who is aged 16 – 18 you can potentially get £4,000 per apprentice and if they are aged 19+ you can get £3,000 which you can offset against the cost of the apprentice, invest in equipment for them etc. Exertis, BCW Engineering, Birchalls, Fagan & Whalley, VEKA and ESP Play & Quest Electrical are just some of the Burnley businesses who regularly take on apprentices.

If you would like an initial discussion on any of the above and how Thrive can support your business, please contact Samantha Smallridge on ssmallridge@burnley.gov.uk or 07929 858 921

Lisa Moizer, Strategic Coordinator from the Lancashire Skills Hub said:

“This is a really exciting time as there has never before been this much support for Lancashire businesses to find the people they need and upskill their current staff. However, there is a lot going and this can make it difficult to understand and choose.

“The Lancashire Skills Hub is a strategic team working with partners across Lancashire, including Burnley Council, to try and make it as simple as possible for businesses to access the support. That is why we have produced a reference guide for this skills support so that you can decide which projects are best suited to your business.”

LANCASHIRE SKILLS PLEDGE

Several businesses in Burnley have signed up for the Lancashire Skills Pledge, giving them one place to find out about skills and training initiatives, as well as being able to receive impartial advice around local incentives and how to make a pledge and get actively involved by becoming an enterprise adviser, taking on an apprentice and accessing training. Burnley Council itself has signed up to the pledge, as have +24 Marketing, Safran Nacelles, Calico Group, Velocity Composites and Margins Insurance Services.

CASE STUDY

ESP Play in Burnley, who design, manufacture and install outdoor playground equipment for schools/ nurseries, recently took on another apprentice to work within the busy installation department. Jack completed his GCSEs and after leaving school was looking for an apprenticeship post with training and support. He attends Burnley College and is studying an engineering qualification as part of his apprenticeship. His day-to-day job involves producing site drawings, helping to design bespoke products and working to strict quality controls and compliances. ESP Play also have an internal professional development academy and Jack has benefited

from additional training and development to enhance his skills and learning experience.

Anne Nolan, Head of HR at ESP Play, said: “We believe in training and developing talent within our organisation so our employees can progress and succeed in their careers. Apprentices are an important element of our continued succession planning strategy, bringing a fresh and energetic approach to the work environment and there is nothing more satisfying than watching an apprentice grow in skills and confidence and progress in their career.”

WHAT OTHER BUSINESSES REPORT:-

80% of companies who invest in apprentices have reported a significant increase in employee retention;

TRAINING

Training is also a great way for employers to show investment and commitment to their staff and can act as a real motivation and driver for too – have a look at the schemes below which can support you in this area.

Skills Support for the Workforce offers a range of training programmes which are tailored to your business and includes a variety of accredited and non-accredited programmes across a range of sectors, including engineering and manufacturing, management, hospitality, health and social care and creative and digital. These qualifications are to support individuals who would like to develop their skills and knowledge to enable them to progress in their career and they are recognised industry qualifications, mainly at level 2 and 3. Most of the training can be accessed online and typical courses include:Team Leading, Customer Service, Food Safety, Cleaning, Digital Skills, Health and Social Care and Retail skills.

Ultimately, your business will gain from a higher-skilled workforce, fewer skills gaps, increased productivity and enhanced morale. And the good news is that this funding is

77% of employers believe apprenticeships make them more competitive;

83% of employers who employ apprentices rely on their apprenticeships programme to provide the skilled workers that they need for the future.

available to any size business not just those that employ less than 250 people.

UpSkilling Lancashire supports Lancashirebased SMEs to increase the skills and capability of their employees, enabling the business to compete regionally, nationally and internationally. The team can assist businesses to identify, design, develop and implement workforce education and training programmes, linked to the strategic needs of the business. The project also offers advice and guidance regarding networks for business support services and allows the business to upskill a workforce, providing you are an SME with 250 employees or less.

Digital Skills - Boosting Lancashire’s digital skills with the expertise employers need is a key part of Burnley’s economic recovery and future growth. Digital Bootcamps are open to adults aged 19+ who are employed, selfemployed, recently unemployed or returning to work after a break. Some Skills Bootcamps may have additional eligibility criteria. As an employer, this is a great way for you to upskill existing staff with digital skills and topics include:- Digital marketing, Software Engineering and Coding, Data Analytics, Cyber Security and Cloud Engineering.

At the forefront of primary education

This unassuming street is home to ESP Play, a playground design manufacturer and installer with a difference.

In fact, it’s the UK’s leading provider of school playground equipment and was ahead of its time, when almost 20 years ago it went on a mission to promote the health, wellbeing and educational benefits of outdoor play.

Burnley.co.uk met with managing director Andrew Wood, who told us their impressive story.

“ESP Play started in 2003 and we were, and still are, passionate about connecting outdoor activities to the school curriculum. A school playground should be an extension

of the classroom, and this was a relatively new concept 20 years ago. Studies have shown that mental and physical health massively improves for children, as well as boosting their communication, socialising and problem-solving skills,” Andrew told us.

It’s incredible that this concept flourished right here in Burnley, and it even saw Andrew travel across the USA to share the benefits.

“Children are more attentive in the classroom once they’ve had a proper break outside. Some years ago, we were awarded an NHS contract to help them deal with the issue of childhood obesity. The studies found that if we capture children at five

Flying the flag for Burnley

The findings of the study were so impressive that Andrew was invited to travel around the USA to discuss them in schools – and he was surprised by what he found.

“A lot of schools are built on large grounds, but they didn’t have playgrounds or outdoor breaktimes and PE wasn’t on the curriculum. We introduced ‘Brain Breaks’ so children could take a rest from learning and come back feeling refreshed. Thankfully,

outdoor health and wellbeing is firmly on the agenda in schools in the UK and the increase in multi-academy trusts means there is more joint funding for schools to benefit from,” Andrew explained.

Burnley Bondholder ESP Play transformed the outdoor space for Heasandford Primary School and were due to have an official celebration with MP Anthony Higginbotham in October 2020, but sadly the pandemic meant the plans were cancelled. However,

years old and encourage them to take part in outdoor activities, they are more likely to take these good habits and attitude towards fitness into their adult life.”

The £5 million NHS childhood obesity programme asked ESP Play to prove that quality school playground equipment would not have a so-called novelty factor with the children and stand the test of time. Indeed, it was shown that this method of play was sustainable. Furthermore, coaches were connected to teachers in schools to align outdoors with the classroom and activities were non-sports specific to make it as inclusive and non-threatening as possible.

we’re sure the children thoroughly enjoy their new outdoor space, especially with plenty of fresh air being of even more importance during this current time. ESP Play told us they have seen an increase in demand over the past year and they are hopeful to progress into the playparks sector too.

It’s always great to find out more about the innovative businesses we have in our borough and a big thank you to ESP Play for sharing their story with us.

When you’re driving to Turf Moor, have you ever spotted Eastham Place on the left-hand side as you’re coming from town?

CO-WORKING SPACE FOR HIRE

COMING SOON SEVEN FIXED OFFICE SUITES WITH CO-WORKING SPACE

• Sympathetically restored office suites within a Grade II listed iconic building in the heart of Padiham Town Centre

• Town centre amenities include a range of independent retailers and cafe’s alongside Tesco and Lidl supermarkets

• Use of two meeting rooms with 65” touch screen included

For anyone interested in the new co-working space, please get in touch direct with Martyn

• Access to office space 24/7, 365 days a year

• Free onsite parking

• Rentals inclusive of electricity, heating and internet (private wireless and wired networks included)

• Two newly renovated kitchens on site

• Secure site with fob access, CCTV and individually alarmed office suites

Email: MHardacre@burnley.gov.uk Call: 07813 401 531

Feature : Padiham Town Hall

Room & Power: THE TRANSFORMATION of Padiham Town Hall

The refurbishment work to Padiham Town Hall has seen the complete renovation of the first-floor offices, which have been vacant since 2013. The project, which was supported with £300,000 of Growth Deal Funding from the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, has enabled 2,800 sq ft of office space to be refurbished within the Grade II-listed building. This has provided seven fixed offices, two high-specification meeting rooms and an area of flexible co-working space; all equipped with modern furnishings to create a vibrant working environment in an historically significant building.

The works have also seen the full renovation of two kitchens, upgrading of lighting, new CCTV and alarms and a full IT and telecoms overhaul. The offices have been sympathetically decorated, with a number of them benefitting from restored parquet flooring. Externally, the building has also undergone extension repair works to the roof and guttering, as well as a full refurbishment of the iconic clock tower by specialists.

The offices have been branded as Room & Power. This is a nod to nearby Jubilee Mill and the Padiham Room and Power Company Ltd, where previously 1,200 looms were situated as the area thrived in the textile industry. Areas of the factory were let out to local individuals and businesses, who received “room and power”. The project aims to provide this once more, albeit with a more modern twist.

Martyn Hardacre, Senior Business Support Officer at Burnley Council, takes us through the transformation of Padiham Town Hall.

Feature : Padiham Town Hall

The aim of the project was to fill a gap in the market to offer a range of highquality office space in the centre of Padiham. This will provide an opportunity for new and existing businesses to locate and grow whilst working in a landmark building. The town is seeing a significant amount of investment with public realm improvements including new paving, street furniture and road improvements, alongside a Heritage Action Zone, which will see historic buildings in Padiham brought back to life creating a thriving destination.

Debbie Francis OBE, Chair of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, said:

‘’I’m really pleased that the LEP’s Growth Deal funding has enabled the refurbishment of this fantastic building to create modern office space for businesses. The town

has a fantastic heritage and vibrancy, and I hope both the town hall and public realm investments will provide the impetus to stimulate economic growth for the area.’’

Chris, from Chris Root Chartered Accountants: “I’m very happy with my decision to rent an office at the Town Hall. The location and facilities are excellent and I like the way the heating, Wi-Fi etc is all included in the price. Many clients visit for meetings in the meeting room and are impressed by the building and the value for money.”

For anyone interested in the new co-working space, please get in touch with myself on MHardacre@burnley.gov.uk or 07813 401 531.

Andy Platt from Simply Corporate said:

recently moved from a business centre on the outskirts of Padiham into the newly refurbished Padiham Town Hall and its been one of the best decisions we have made!”

“The building and office space has been sympathetically restored with a modern twist and is great for our expanding business. We have been warmly welcomed into the community and all enjoy the access to local businesses on our doorstep.”

In the new year, the co-working space will be finalised. Room & Power offers tenants a flexible option, with the conversion of the town hall’s

committee rooms into shared office space. The space offers a range of options including 24/7 access, use of the two meeting rooms, printing, free onsite parking, utilities costs and high-speed Wi-Fi all for one simple monthly fee. The space has a mixture of bench seating and individual desks alongside more informal and comfortable space.

“We

The Burnley bakery that’s keeping a BIG secret

If you enjoy a cake when in a coffee shop, dessert at a restaurant or like to pick up treats in the supermarket bakery aisle, chances are you may have unknowingly eaten a product baked right here in Burnley

Cherrytree Bakery is located at Billington Road in Burnley and makes an impressive 50 million sweet treats every year. Burnley. co.uk were kindly invited to take a tour and we couldn’t believe the scale and efficiency of the operation hidden away inside.

And the business is growing at such a rate, that it now employs 120 staff and has taken space in the neighbouring unit which became vacant.

Founder and Executive Chair Gary Entwistle told us: “I founded Cherrytree Bakery in 1984 and I’m proud of our roots in Burnley. What started as one product has ballooned into an array of others, including Chorley Cakes, parkin, muffins and brownies.

“The popularity of coffee shops really was a game changer for us. We have worked with Costa Coffee for the past twelve years, so if you’ve tucked into a muffin or traybake with your Costa Coffee, there is a strong possibility it has been proudly baked here in Burnley,” he said.

Gary also told us that Cherrytree Bakery produce a number of own-brand ranges for supermarkets and restaurants across the UK.

< Gary Entwistle Founder and Executive Chair at Cherrytree Bakery

An efficient operation with people at the centre

Cherrytree is certainly a slick operation. To go down to the production area, we had to thoroughly wash our hands, remove all jewellery and don the uniform of two hair nets, a white coat and rubber safety shoes.

Needless to say, the production area smelt delicious as we stepped inside. The operation is efficient, but what really caught our interest (amazing cakes aside), was the atmosphere of the workforce, with Gary greeting everyone by name.

“We have around 120 staff and some of our people have incredibly long service, in some cases 20 years or more. We pride ourselves on our team and how we are more like a family. We also really encourage people to reach out to us for career opportunities. We have all sorts of roles based here, from production and product development to marketing and logistics.

“Every single member of staff is valued, and we strive to promote from within. I’m proud of the team we’ve built,” Gary stated.

We think the amazing sweet treats alone would encourage us to work here! However, we can see how passionate Gary is about his team and also the investment into the site and modern machinery. The 30,000 sq ft site is a purpose-built BRC Grade AA manufacturing site and conveniently located.

It also prides itself on being an ethical and responsible business, donating to local schools and foodbanks and encouraging investment into the borough as a member of the Burnley Bondholders. Pre-pandemic, Cherrytree also funded the construction of two schools in rural Ethiopia, for remote coffee growing communities supported by the Costa Foundation.

Feature : esports

When ALK Capital acquired a majority shareholding in Burnley FC at the end of 2020, they were clear they wanted to build on the strong foundations of the club and take it to the next level, with some innovative business decisions made.

One such decision is a further significant investment into esports, which in a nutshell, is a form of competition using video games. However, esports has developed into something much more than the perhaps typical perception of ‘people playing video games’, and the genre truly means business.

Over the past ten years, its popularity has surged, with arenas being built across the world to meet this demand. Indeed, it is on track to become a $2 billion industry and the Clarets owners have been quick to capitalise on esports’ growing importance.

Last year, Burnley FC’s esports team competed at the highest level in the FIFA eClub World Cup and FIFA eWorld Cup with Brad Colston, who is Burnley born and bred. Colston has many accolades to his name in the world of esports. He first came to the attention of Burnley FC when he entered to compete in the 2018/19 ePremier League on FIFA 19 and went on to win the XBOX Club Playoff for the Clarets in both the 18/19 and 19/20 seasons.

This coming season, Burnley FC has eight FIFA 22 Players who will compete in the FIFA Global Series, with team members wearing a dedicated esports Clarets shirt when competing in tournaments. The shirts can be purchased from the club shop and online.

Steve Hawthorn, Head of Esports at Burnley FC, said: “The new board are really invested in esports and to give the esports team their own bespoke shirt is a show of commitment and one we are truly embracing. We are planning on having the best esports season yet with lots of exciting things to announce over the next few months”.

WHEN TWO BURNLEY GIANTS COLLIDE

One such announcement was the ground-breaking partnership between the football club and Burnley College, who have become Burnley FC’s first Esports Academy. In addition, the Clarets are the first Premier League club to partner with an education establishment to promote the business of esports through a BTEC qualification in Esports developed by the college.

The BTEC covers business marketing, video game design, event planning, production, broadcasting and journalism to highlight the various pathways students can enter into the rapidly growing industry.

Alongside providing students with a wide-

ranging education in esports, the course will also act as a pathway into Burnley FC’s Pro Esports teams, as well as additional learning and business opportunities with the club.

Alan Pace, Chairman of Burnley FC, said: “We wanted to develop the club’s esports offering when we first came in, as we feel it caters to a rapidly growing, inclusive audience who we want to appeal to as a club – this is the next step in that process.

“The fact that Burnley College run this amazing BTEC and are right on our doorstep made this partnership a no brainer for us. As a Premier League football club, we hope we

can bring some additional expertise and opportunities to the table for the students in the local area to forge closer links with us. That’s whether they join our Esports Academy or if we can help them develop their education or business opportunities.”

Burnley College is as equally as enthusiastic about the partnership.

Karen Buchanan, Principal of Burnley College Sixth Form Centre, added: “As always, Burnley College is leading the way nationally and we’re excited to be at the vanguard of the development

and delivery of esports courses.

“This course is so much more than simply playing computer games. Students acquire a raft of valuable, transferable skills valued by employers in a range of industries, such as focus, innovation, communication skills, mental and manual agility and teamwork.

“We are sure that, in the years to come, Alumni of Burnley College will be recognised as leaders in the world of Esports, whether that’s as competitive players, securing top salaries, or in the realms of

high-level management and coaching.”

The college’s new facility is called the Burnley FC Esports Academy and its players, the “Bees”, who will compete on new titles Rocket League, Valorant and Overwatch. It’ll no doubt prove to be a popular move to make, with BAE, Emirates and the Royal Airforce actively recruiting esports experts due to their problem solving and analytical skills, focus and dexterity.

And it’s certainly exciting that Burnley is leading the way with this innovative partnership.

“This course is SO MUCH MORE THAN simply playing computer games.”

In Focus : Not just claret and blue…we’re green too

From the lounge table to Wimbledon - the story of FloControl

FloControl supplies hydronic valves and pipeline products, something that not many of us will know much, if anything, about. But it’s a Burnley business that’s making a huge impact. In a nutshell, its products are used in buildings’ heating and cooling systems, bringing down capital investment, running and installation costs, as well as the building’s carbon footprint.

Burnley’s FloControl’s valves can be found in some of Barnfield’s projects, and across the UK’s most prestigious new builds and refurbishments, Merseyside Police HQ, many of the new high rises on Bishopsgate in London, the Barclays Campus in Glasgow and Manchester City’s stadium, to name just a few

The business started from the lounge table of Dennis Taylor, a

Burnley-based mechanical engineer and former managing director of some of the largest UK valve companies, who realised that the UK was slow in the uptake of new, energysaving valve technology. He started off selling Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICV) from the Danish manufacturer and inventor of the PICV, FlowCon and realised that there was an opportunity for prefabricated systems, reducing the installation time onsite. That was in 2009 and now the company is on track to overachieve its business plan once again.

Burnley.co.uk took a look around the premises at Vision Park, where FloControl have several units and are looking to expand even further.

Marketing manager Anke Taylor told us: “We’re the market leader for pre-assembled valve sets. It’s quite

an achievement for a small Burnley business. Around 75 per cent of energy is used in buildings, so it’s important to make them as efficient as possible, especially now when climate change is hugely on the agenda. Many buildings still have old manual technology, replacing these with pressure independent control valve systems could deliver energy savings up to 35%.”

And it looks like the industry has noticed them. Mechanical engineering consultants often specify FloControl’s products in builds.

In 2020, FloControl enjoyed five per cent growth despite of Covid and this significantly rose to a projected 30 per cent growth for 2021. It’s certainly impressive growth from an idea that started from a lounge table.

There’s a highly specialised and very successful business located on Vision Park, next to Burnley College.

The team at FloControl

< Dennis Taylor, the FloControl founder

We’re proud of how we’ve grown in Burnley and place huge importance on using systems and technology to support further growth and apprentices too Anke explained.”

“

In Focus : Not just claret and blue…we’re green too

The importance of apprentices

FloControl are passionate about working with apprentices, who can enjoy bespoke training and are quickly given specific responsibilities whilst building up technical and general business knowledge.

Cleo and Aaron for example, have progressed from being business admin apprentices to quoting and winning six figure contracts at the age of 20, whilst Francesca, who just completed her AAT level 3 qualification has taken on procurement and orders all components for customer projects.

As a member of a small team the apprentices not only learn the entire business process but also directly impact on the performance as a company.

“Having Burnley College on our doorstep is a huge advantage, enabling us to easily find talented young people. The fact the M65 is right next to us also is extremely convenient, for both people coming to and from work, but also the logistics of receiving and shipping out our products,” Anke added.

FloControl has embraced

technology and is a great example of an innovative company, which we are fortunate to have many of in Burnley. It has automated the entire quotation to delivery process, enabling all staff to quote customers within minutes where competitors need days.

“Our software can read the technical drawings and create lists of valves required, automatically populate our selection tools and ERP system to cost of the parts”. This enables FloControl to do huge volumes of work with a relatively small team.

FloControl- Cleo Jackson

FloControl- Aaron Lundi

“Having Burnley College on our doorstep is a huge advantage, enabling us to easily find talented young people...”

Spotlight on Wimbledon - a FloControl flagship project

Since its formation in 2009 FloControl has maintained a strong relationship with building services consultant ME Engineers limited, a global ME Consultancy, who has completed several major projects for the All England Lawn Tennis Club.

Back in 2013, ME Engineers involved FloControl at an early feasibility design stage to review plans and to suggest innovative solutions for the development of No. 1 court. FloControl subsequently designed and supplied project specific, energy-efficient and costeffective solutions based on PICV distribution manifolds to control the temperature in the hospitality suites.

FloControl suggested the deployment of the innovative and state-of-the art FlowCon PICV range for the Air Handling Units (AHUs) to serve the new retractable roof over No. 1 Court and the compact valve set range for the remainder of the Fan Coil Units and secondary air handling systems. ME Engineers specified these solutions and FloControl supplied the building services contractor Skanska, with the solutions specified, liaised with the Fan Coil Unit supplier Dunham Bush and worked with various other Wimbledon supply chain partners to deliver multiple projects.

At present, FloControl is working with ME Engineers limited and Willmott Dixon on the design of the new covered courts project within the Wimbledon estate.

What’s more, there are plans to review the heating & and cooling technology for Centre Court.

FloControl has put forward its new FlowCon FIT product line, an all-in-one pressure and temperature independent system including PICV, Intelligent Interface and Sensor Kit, that delivers cost savings through optimised energy consumption, improved efficiency and temperature differential control in HVAC applications.

Paul Hillier CEng, Director at ME | Engineers comments:

“Dennis Taylor and the FloControl team have provided the highest standards of engineering support throughout the last ten years, whilst working with ourselves on some the world’s most challenging and prestigious projects, they are always extremely professional, responsive and diligent, and have become a go to supplier.”

We love a local success story, and we look forward to seeing this Burnley Bondholder grow even further, as well as help lead the charge in a greener economy.

In Focus : Not just claret and blue…we’re green too

The carbon net zero revolution happening in Lancashire

CARBON NET ZERO – WHY SHOULD I CARE?

That’s the question one local business has been both asking and answering.

Businesswise Solutions, based at The Energy Centre on the Lomeshaye Industrial Estate in Brierfield, started life 11 years ago on the dining table of its CEO Frazer Burris, alongside Director Dean Cockett. It began as an energy broker, but needed a longerterm, unique and sustainable growth path. It soon evolved into a complete energy management service, including making sure businesses meet their commercial energy requirements – such as carbon net zero.

So what is carbon net zero? The UK wants to ensure its total greenhouse gas emissions are equal to or less than the emissions removed from the environment and it expects business to play its part.

Peter Catlow, Director of Sustainability at Businesswise Solutions, explained to Burnley.co.uk: “Carbon-net zero will be a revolution in every way. It’ll impact how we move around, what we eat, what we dress ourselves in. It’ll be unbelievable.

“I also think there will be a big drive back to British made, especially with the need to reduce our carbon footprint. And Businesswise is helping to lead this revolution, all here from Nelson.”

Mr Catlow said how the last 12 months has seen three dramatic events that have flagged risks to business performance:

Environmental, such as the fires in the US and the floods in Australia; COVID, and

the ensuing economic damage; Social issues, with numerous protests occurring.

but notice the ceiling, filled with swirling colourful LEDs and interactive displays. All the energy used at their offices is from certified renewable sources and they have installed electric vehicle charging points on their car park.

Their CEO Frazer drives an electric car and Businesswise offers attractive financing packages to their employees to enable them to purchase similar vehicles and use the charging points for free.

Businesswise Solutions is also a Burnley Bondholder, helping to raise the profile of this part of the world and why we are a business force to be reckoned with. They’re currently working with fellow bondholder The Low Carbon Energy Company to assess the feasibility of installing solar panels at their offices.

“The investment community has realised that these risks are now real and they expect companies to factor such risks into their plans.”

Businesswise Solutions are leading by example, not only be assisting companies with their energy management, but also in its very modern offices in Lancashire.

As soon as you walk in, you can’t help

“We haven’t had to make any redundancies during the last 12 months and we continue to grow. From energy auditing and carbon management to energy buying and project feasibility, via our Energy Management as a Service (EMaaS) offer, we can help businesses both in Lancashire and further afield get ahead of the game now,” Mr Catlow stated.

It’s great to see the impressive growth of a local business and we wish them all the best in putting the area on the map when it comes to sustainability.

If you have a great Burnley business story you’d like to be featured in the next edition of InBusinessBurnley or you’d like to take an advert in the magazine drop us a line.

A SOLID INVESTMENT

If you’re looking for a town in which to invest, we believe Burnley can tick all of your boxes.

We have a wide range of business parks, premises and offices located throughout the borough with development opportunities for industrial and logistics at Burnley Bridge and Burnley Bridge South, and for research and office use at Burnley Vision Park. We support our investors as much as we can, to say thank you for choosing Burnley and our skilled workforce. Burnley Council’s Business Growth Programme has been in operation since 2013 and compliments other inward investment support programmes being delivered in Burnley.

The specific types of support potentially available include:

– Grants –Supporting capital expenditure

– Specialist Business Advice –Bespoke consultancy support tailored to meet individual company needs

– Discretionary Business Rate Relief –Extremely beneficial to some companies and has provided a better value for money option than a grant in some cases

– Support for town centre businesses –Bringing vacant premises back into use

– Start-up Support –For those start-ups failing to meet the criteria for BOOST Lancashire

burnley.co.uk

WE HAVE A BUSINESS SUPPORT TEAM TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES FROM START-UPS TO GLOBAL GIANTS Drop them a message at info@burnley.co.uk

Low Carbon Energy secures £2 million contract to deliver solar PV for Boohoo PLC

The Low Carbon Energy Company won the contract to design, install and maintain a 2.7MW commercial solar PV system for online retail giant Boohoo PLC, which has been installed at its distribution centre in Burnley.

The installation is the largest single SolarEdge project ever carried out in the UK and consists of 5,933 Hanwha Qcells Modules and SolarEdge inverters and optimisers.

It will save Boohoo 592 tonnes of carbon in the first year of its operation – the equivalent of 27,231 trees being planted. Furthermore, part of the contract will see £10,000 be donated in collaboration by both companies to local charities and causes. Boohoo has commissioned

the new solar PV installation as part of its wider sustainability goals. Over the past two years, the company has been undertaking more detailed reviews of its facilities and processes, with a view to finding new and more innovative ways to improve its sustainability and make bigger cuts to its carbon footprint.

David James, Supply Chain Director at boohoo group, said: “We all have a role to play in protecting our environment for future generations. This installation will help us to make our operations more sustainable, with the double benefit of reducing our impact on the environment and generating a significant cost saving at the same time.”

Benedict Ennis, Business Development

Manager of Low Carbon, stated “It’s a great project for us to win considering its on our doorstep. These sort of projects are key for the company to grow and we hope it will further solidify our position as one of the UK and Ireland’s leading providers of commercial solar.”

The Low Carbon Energy Company has over 30 years of combined experience, with a long history of helping SMEs and large corporations alike to transform their energy supply, enjoying considerable savings while cutting their carbon footprint. Both Low Carbon and Boohoo are Burnley Bondholders and it’s great to see two companies in our borough joining forces.

HAVE YOU VISITED

burnley.co.uk

In Focus : Not just claret and blue…we’re green too

The partnership

Crow Wood into a wildlife sanctuary

What you may not know is that a huge area of it is being transformed into a wildlife sanctuary, full of ponds, flora and fauna and bird nesting boxes.

Back in 2001, 25,000 trees were planted in partnership with the Forest of Burnley. Managing director of the Crow Wood Group Andrew Brown organised a huge clean-up of the River Calder with groups of volunteers, who sadly found everything from laptops to bicycles.

And when the Crow Wood Hotel was built, 1,000 trees were planted to make up for the land that was cleared for the construction, with a further 3,750 native English trees planted this spring by the resort and an additional 4,000 planted by the Ribble Rivers Trust.

Andrew Brown told Burnley.co.uk: “Thousands of wildlife species depend on trees for food and shelter. Of course, planting trees is also one of the best ways of mitigating climate change too. We also wanted to provide an opportunity for not only our guests, but also our neighbours over the bridge off Pendle Way to be able to enjoy the walks we have created around the perimeter of the hotel in their leisure time. The town of Burnley has been good to me. I want to give back as much as I can.”

The efforts will now continue after Crow Wood has joined forces with local business and fellow Burnley Bondholder Recycle IT in a long-term and impressive project. Recycle IT have pledged to donate and plant a tree at Crow Wood for every ton of e-waste they collect and recycle.

Burnley.co.uk had the pleasure of catching up with Andrew Brown and Robert Doherty, managing director of Recycle IT, who showed us around the impressive grounds of the resort. Rob told us: “Initially we donated 100 trees to the amazing efforts that Andrew and the rest of his team have carried out. However, this project has really taken off and we predict the number of trees Recycle IT will donate will reach into the thousands.

When you think of the Crow Wood Resort, it might conjure up images of the luxury hotel and global award-winning spa.

that’s transforming

“We will support the Crow Wood forest project for years to come and in August, Recycle IT will adopt a section of Crow Wood’s land to plant our trees and contribute towards our and our clients’ circular economy.”

Recycle IT currently refurbish and recycle around 3,000 pieces of end-of-life IT equipment each month, diverting it from landfill. On top of every tree planted for each ton of e-waste recycled, they have pledged to plant a tree for every laptop that is donated to their refurbishment project.

People and businesses who are interested in taking part can contact Carl Greenwood, business development manager at Recycle IT, on c.greenwood@recycleit.co.uk

It certainly looks like the efforts at Crow Wood will grow at a pace, especially after Recycle IT collected around 100,000KG of e-waste last year and expects to double this over the next 12 months. We look forward to seeing how the wildlife sanctuary developers and congratulations to everyone involved.

Andrew Brown, MD of the Crow Wood Group and Robert Doherty, MD of Recycle IT, look at the tree planting scheme in the resort grounds

“The town of Burnley has been good to me. I want to give back as much as I can.”

PURPOSE BEFORE PROFIT: the Padiham family business that’s on a green mission

Last year, Burnley.co.uk spoke to founder and MD of Rapid IT Jack Bannister, who told us his plans to transform the 8,500 sq ft building on Wyre Street in Padiham into a slice of Google.

And he has done just that. We were invited to his renovated premises on International E-Waste Day on 14th October for the grand opening and the transformation is incredible. The modern facility boasts traditional arcade games machines, a bright and airy social and kitchen area, not to mention a very well organised and secure working space.

Equipment is cleverly zoned on to storage racks on wheels so the space can be reconfigured as the company grows.

“When you’re a growing business, it can be hard to predict future layout and requirements. So we got the storage custom built on to wheels that can simply be unlocked and moved, so we can ensure our premises works best for us,” Jack explained.

And even though this renovation has only just finished, Burnley Bondholder Rapid IT has plans to extend even further.

It certainly is impressive – Jack’s mum admits that when she first saw the facility when it was purchased, she couldn’t see the potential that Jack and his dad could.

“I just nodded and said ‘mmmm’ when they told me their grand plans – now look at it!”

So what exactly does Rapid IT do?

Rapid IT provides refurbished computer hardware, recycled IT, communications solutions and audiovisual equipment and works closely with businesses and schools to promote the cost and environmental benefits of using refurbished equipment.

This is especially important during the current focus on carbon net zero. The UK wants to ensure its total greenhouse gas emissions are equal to or less than the emissions removed from the environment and it expects business to play its part.

Jack explained: “We are passionate about speaking to schools about the cost and environmental savings you can make by using refurbished equipment, rather than going out and buying new. One recent fun project was with nearby Shuttleworth College. We gave the pupils a tour then held a competition to see what they

could build out of an old computer – it was really interesting to see what they came up with.”

We were shown the journey of a piece of equipment coming through the doors and the end product and it’s fantastic to see Rapid IT trying to eliminate waste as much of possible. Of course, some equipment cannot be saved and this goes through stringent security and destruction processes before being responsibly disposed of.

Such is the demand for their services as the green agenda intensifies that Rapid IT have recently taken on three apprentices. Jack is also pleased to see the growth of Burnley as a university town, with a wide range of roles available, from data wiping and production to sales and logistics.

“Whilst we’ve had the grand opening, we welcome any schools or businesses who want to come and visit us, find out what we do and whether we can help them with more sustainable and affordable equipment to help with their own carbon net zero goals.

“A lot of the younger generations

these days are much more sustainably savvy and expect the businesses their work at and purchase from the have a green agenda and often to have a purpose before profit. We in fact have those three words blown up on the wall in our customer service and marketing office and it’s central to what we do. I think it makes business sense for companies to take carbon net zero seriously, both in terms of saving money but also recruitment.”

A big thank you to Rapid IT for giving us a tour – we were also treated to an mouth-watering grazing table by new Padiham business Rawes Grazing Co. Whilst visiting Rapid IT, we highly recommend you stop by the new deli and shop to try their delicious produce!

“I just nodded and said ‘mmmm’ when they told me their grand plans – NOW LOOK AT IT!”

A GREEN JOURNEY FOR AEROSPACE

By

TW

We all have a role to play in the fight against climate change. I hope that sounds like an obvious statement to everybody who reads it, but when you look at the stunning landscape in and around Burnley, it can feel separate to the realities of climate change we see in the news and on social media. The truth is that we are all responsible for our environment, and we are all affected by any changes to it, regardless of how serene the views of Pendle Hill may be from our homes or businesses in the borough.

Since the start of the Covid pandemic, I am sure many people have taken more time to appreciate the beauty of the natural world around us. With the various travel restrictions in place, I believe the importance of mobility to people has also been highlighted – either for economic, social or cultural purposes. As one of the largest businesses in the aerospace sector, Safran has a role to play in both of these areas of life. We facilitate travel and mobility whilst also being

conscious of the transport industry’s role in greenhouse gas emissions. Tackling climate change is a top priority for Safran. Before I focus on Safran Nacelles and our site in Burnley, I want to look at the sector as a whole, and at Safran’s commitments. The aviation sector accounts for two to three per cent of emissions from human activity, and through the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG), the sector has pledged to achieve a long-term climate goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Safran is playing a leading role in this, through a multipronged approach that looks at technological innovation and aircraft replacement, the introduction of new fuels, and optimising our operations and infrastructure. This journey isn’t new, but the pace is accelerating. From generation to generation, airplanes in service worldwide have continued to improve their energy efficiency and, as a consequence, have reduced their greenhouse gas emissions. For example, every 1kg reduction in the

weight of a nacelle saves around 7,200 tonnes of CO2 over its lifetime. Therefore, the years of work that Safran has done to make its products lighter, stronger and more durable are supporting environmental improvements.

For the industrial footprint of Safran Nacelles, which covers ten sites across the globe, there is a commitment to reduce CO2 emissions by 35 per cent by 2025 (from 2018 levels). Some of the key activities are:

• A bio synergy project that will produce heat through wood waste recycling at our company headquarters in Le Havre (France);

• The installation of 3,000 photovoltaic (solar) panels at the site in Casablanca (Morocco);

• Increased efficiency in our industrial transport logistics involving the Burnley site as well as sites in France, Germany and the United States of America.

Tom Wormleighton (Managing Director) & Brian Windle (Facilities and Capital Assets Manager) Safran Nacelles Ltd.

Tom Wormleighton (TW)

Brian Windle (BW)

I am extremely proud of the proactive steps we have taken to improve our environmental performance. This is clear when you drive into the site and see one of our key messages – buy green, install green, behave green. Brian Windle, our Facilities and Capital Assets Manager, describes these three messages in more detail.

However, what about the steps we are taking that focus solely on our Burnley site, on the corner of Eastern Avenue and Bancroft Road?

BW

First, buy green. Since October 2020, all our electricity on site has been renewable. We could have taken a cheaper contract that used fossil fuels, but that would not have been the right thing to do. Colleagues from Burnley also played a significant role in securing this deal for a number of the other Safran businesses in the country. All of our onsite vehicles are powered by this renewable electricity, so they produce zero emissions as they quietly support our operational activity. Across Safran, a financial value has been assigned to any CO2 the company generates, which means that buying green is always included in our capital expenditure. Last year, we purchased a new laser-trimming machine for our sheet metal centre of excellence and we reviewed the business case to make sure the asset we invested in was not just technically excellent, but that it was environmentally excellent too.

Secondly, install green. Over the past four years we have converted over 80 per cent of our lights to energy efficient LED lighting, and we have also installed sensors so the lights are only turned on when people are working in that area. In our composites facility, we have installed a network of pipes to redirect the waste heat from the compressors to subsidise

factory heating and save on gas usage, and variable motors have been installed to our clean rooms to reduce the energy use whilst keeping the carbon fibre products in a stable environment.

Finally, behave green. The most important assets at Safran Nacelles are the 450 colleagues who play an essential daily role in our safety, quality, delivery, and environmental standards. Their positive and proactive behaviour is critical to our success. We encourage everyone to treat the workplace as if it is their home – simple things like ensuring our machines are not turned on when they are not being used, that laptops and PCs are turned off at the end of the day, and that we turn meeting room lights off when the last person leaves. Our colleagues segregate our industrial and office waste, just as people do at home with their glass, plastic and cardboard, which means that none of the waste from our 48,000m2 site goes to landfill. Last year around 500 tonnes of our waste was recycled or recovered through a waste and energy recovery scheme. And there are changes we have made to our operational processes too, such as maximising the use of our Autoclaves so that when we heat carbon fibre products to 190 degrees Celsius to cure them, we have as many

products in there as possible.

Our approach of buying green, installing green and behaving green is having a tangible difference to our environmental performance. We are well on target to reduce our CO2 by 35 per cent by 2025, and this year the reduction in our electricity use is equivalent to the electricity required to power 490 homes for one year.

We have achieved a lot in terms of environmental responsibility, but we must achieve more. Before the end of the year, we will be contributing to a piece of artwork that will be made from some of the waste materials and consumable items from each of the Safran Nacelles’ sites in Europe and North Africa. It will vividly demonstrate that there is always room to be more environmentally responsible. In early 2022, our site will start a major improvement project to offset the impacts of automation in our growing sheet metal centre of excellence.

We will also be looking at further improving our waste streams, reducing our packaging and that of our suppliers, making our site logistics even leaner and greener, and exploring the opportunities for hybrid homeworking to reduce emissions during commuting.

In Focus : Not just claret and blue…we’re green too

TWI am proud of what we have achieved. The “lean and green” mind-set amongst our colleagues is powering our business forward, as we recover from the impact of the pandemic, which was one of the biggest challenges our business has faced. The past 18 months has been incredibly tough for our business, for people in Burnley, and people across the world. During the various lockdowns, one of the silver linings was the opportunity to appreciate the beautiful natural environment around us. Personally, I found it strange not seeing aeroplanes in the sky, taking people on their holidays or connecting people to their friends and family who live abroad. With the significant steps that Safran is taking, both in Burnley and across its sites all over the globe, I know that we will be able to enjoy both of these pleasures in the future, without one being at the cost of the other.

The “lean and green” mind-set amongst our colleagues is powering our business forward...

Are YOU the future of print?

At the start of the pandemic last year, Burnley.co.uk reported that Peter Scott Printers had invested £200,000 in a new £1million factory, after moving from Billington Road to be neighbours with boohoo at Widdow Hill on the Heasandford Industrial Estate.

Whilst many businesses had to wind down, which may have signalled a rapid decline for print services, Peter Scott

Printers saw the reverse occur. With many people at home spending their time baking and decorating, the demand for labels for such products soared. Demand also increased in the manufacturing sector, as well as from the NHS and local authorities.

Burnley.co.uk visited managing director Joanne Hindley at the new premises to see how business was going and to check out the new set up.

“We may have been around for over 60 years, but we constantly look at ways to improve. The new premises means we’ve been able to start again with layout and ensure it is as efficient as possible to account for continued growth.

“We reached out to AMRC North West [The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre] in Preston to get their advice on streamlining production layout to create lean time management. We strive to stay ahead of our competitors,” Joanne told us.

And with more efficient production, Peter Scott Printers can further progress their green ways of working. They are accredited by the FSC, a stringent process. They carbon offset, use vegetable-based inks and waste products are recycled.

There is a huge focus on zero net carbon at the moment, with an expectation of businesses to help the UK ensure its total greenhouse gas emissions are equal to or less than the emissions removed from the environment. Consumers are also increasingly moving away from companies who cannot prove their green credentials.

Using an FSC-accredited printers such as Peter Scott could help companies achieve their zero net carbon goals and even better if they’re local and can reduce travel miles at the same time.

THE FUTURE

-OF PRINT-

So, what’s next for Peter Scott Printers?

Joanne is keen to find the next generation of printers, particularly printing apprentices. She acknowledges herself that many young people may not consider traditional printing as a career, even though it offers a wealth of opportunities and new skills.

“Some of our print equipment is more traditional whilst others are modern. We’re looking for people eager to get covered in ink, get inside a machine to see how it works, keen to touch the final product, which often isn’t the case with digital. There’s that emotional connection. There is, of course, also the need for computer skills when operating the digital press,” Joanne explained.

Joanne herself “fell” into the print world after starting as a temp office assistant at 19. Fast forward 26 years and she’s still there, albeit now managing director.

“I’d love to show young people that this in an industry you can progress in.”

If you’re interested in finding out more, why not get in touch with Joanne to see if it’s the career for you?

THE GREEN SPOTLIGHT IS ON BURNLEY

The Conference of Parties or COP is a collective union of 196 countries and the EU who signed the 1994 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to work together to fight climate change. 2021 marked the 26th meeting of the UNFCCC which was held in Glasgow UK. United Nations climate change conferences are among the largest international meetings in the world. The negotiations between governments are complex and involve officials from every country in the world as well as representatives from civil society and the global news media.

It was great to see that Towneley Hall was chosen as one of the venues to take part in the green agenda. As part of COP26, a Planet Mark Zero Carbon Bus Tour made its way up to Glasgow. The Zero Carbon Tour aims to share the net zero carbon message in support of the UN-backed Race to Zero campaign, who are committed to the same overarching goal: reducing carbon emissions across all scopes swiftly and fairly in line with the 2015 Paris Agreement, with transparent action plans and robust near-term targets.

Attendees heard stories from like-minded local people, organisations and community groups and the impactful projects they are undertaking to reduce their carbon emissions. Although not everyone will be comfortable attending the event, Planet Mark will also host a live stream and online workshops via their website.

COP 26: BURNLEY COLLEGE STUDENTS GRILL OUR BUSINESSES

COP 26 in Glasgow has been one of the most talked about events and students at Burnley College have used it as an opportunity to grill East Lancashire businesses about what they’re doing to reduce their impact on the environment.

Several students spanning courses such as humanities, economics and accounting came together and asked hard-hitting questions about carbon net zero commitments and why they should work at a company that didn’t take climate change and the environment seriously.

Burnley.co.uk listened into the conversations at the Burnley College COP 26 event and below is a concise round up of some of the discussions that were had.

We joined Jacob Wheeldon, 17, studying Geography, Economics and History A-Levels

and Abdullah Sarwar,16, studying Geography, Economics and Accounting A-Levels to see what they had to ask the businesses.

Jacob: So, what are the biggest challenges your businesses face when it comes to the commitment to carbon net zero?

Gareth Metcalfe, Schofield & Associates Financial Planning: For us its educational and where our clients choose to invest money. Ethical investments are still misunderstood but the more money that gets ploughed into ethical funds, the better. You can make a 27 times bigger impact on your carbon footprint by investing ethically, the share prices of companies that are doing the right thing are rising.

Chris R/K, Green Shield Group: Green

energy is cheaper, so the financial business case is there, we now just need pressure from shareholders for businesses to make that move. People are looking into companies and where they invest so they cannot ignore this issue.

Brian Windle, Safran Nacelles: For us and many in the aerospace sector, it’s about making a product that people want at a high quality but at the right price. It comes down to competitiveness. If some of the big players in the industry make their move, then all will follow. One huge challenge is that making an aircraft lighter and therefore more energy efficient, via carbon fibre, is a very energy-intensive manufacturing process.

Paul McShane, Pipeline Induction Heat: Quite simply, the biggest challenge is the risk of extinction for companies such as ourselves

that supply the fossil fuel industry. In the future, it could be said that fossil fuels will become worthless and so there is an essential need to diversify. By 2050, Europe could be supplied by a hydrogen pipeline.

Mark Williams, Greenbank Technology: There needs to be a move away from burning fossil fuels to make coatings. The price of fossil fuels is the highest it’s ever been. A major hurdle is that changing operations at such a scale could see investment required at each plant of around £10 million.

Neil Welsh, PM&M Solutions: From our perspective, we need to ensure clients are working efficiently. Offsetting is better than nothing, but if all we do is plant trees we’ll soon run out of space. True improvements need to be made.

Frazer Durris, Businesswise Solutions: It’s our job to lessen the burden for businesses who need to transition. We run a lot of green and sustainability teams for businesses and it’s huge progress as in 2018 sustainability wasn’t on boardroom agendas. The peer pressure wasn’t there.

Paul McShane, Pipeline Induction Heat: But are the economics there at the minute? If not, the cost just lands on to the customer. We need to ensure the capacity is there to build the new infrastructure that is required.

Mark Williams, Greenbank Technology: Greener machines are more expensive. When it comes to creating packaging for fizzy drinks, for example, this could be a significant increase in the price that customers would have to pay for the end product.

Chris R/K, Green Shield Group: That’s where we can help, we can tell businesses exactly what the cost will be every year which gives them that business security.

John Marsden, VEKA: But is solar power the right choice for a Northern power solution?

Chris R/K, Green Shield Group: When

businesses switch energy, you can demand green energy. You could split that 100 per cent into 70 per cent of offshore wind farm and 30 per cent solar panels on your roof. COP 26 has been fantastic free advertising for green businesses like ourselves.

Leon Calverley, Door 4: I also think tenants at business premises need to all come together and put that pressure on landlords to switch to a more sustainable energy source.

Abdullah: What can young people like ourselves do to help businesses be where they need to be?

Mark Williams, Greenbank Technology: Colleges and students such as yourself have an important role to play in developing the new skills and technology required to help bring costs down.

John Marsden, VEKA: It’s so important that students are taking part in conversations and events like this. Events like this wouldn’t have been happening 12 months ago to the scale they are now, the agenda just wasn’t there. At the end of the day, it’s young people like yourselves that will be running green projects and shaping the future of them.

The attendees heard from Lianne Smith from The Senator Group and Nick Butcher from E&R Group, who both presented on the challenges faced by their businesses and what they’re doing to make inroads into their carbon net zero commitment.

The Burnley College students then had a chance to delve further into what Lianne and Nick had to say.

Jacob: Can you please expand on what you’ve just spoken to us about?

Nick Butcher, E&R Group: It’s consumers that will make COP 26 successful. For our group, the business model has to adapt if we are to become a 90 per cent exporter. Brexit, COVID and sustainability is a triple whammy. The UK has a huge reliance

on abroad and this presents us with a great opportunity to take back control and create the skills and jobs here. For example, at E&R, we could make solar power technology into rolls that you can plug in rather than have it on your roof.

Lianne Smith, The Senator Group: Now, if you’re bidding for a government contract that’s over £5 million, they ask for your carbon net zero plan. There are 15 very indepth categories that have to be responded to. Scope 3 will always be a moving target as it’s about engaging your supply chain. But quite simply, businesses that aren’t willing to change won’t be around in ten years.

Burnley.social was also at the event, and they interviewed some of the students about their thoughts.

“I wouldn’t expect them to be at net-zero right away,” one student said. “That would be unrealistic. With that in mind, they have to show that they are at least making the effort and that they are implementing some kind of a strategy.”

Another student explained how she would “simply not work for a company if they didn’t have a sustainability policy. It’s that simple”.

Ruby Whittaker, a geography student aged 16, said: “I was surprised at how the businesses were not just focussed on the money. Before going into this, I assumed that sustainability issues were an after-thought, but I was actually impressed at how much they cared.

“I also appreciated how much these businesses work together and use collaboration as a means of improving. I’ve definitely taken away some important lessons today.”

A big congratulations to both the students for not holding back when questioning businesses, and also the business leaders for being so open and honest with their answers.

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