InBusinessBurnley_1

Sector Special

Film and Music Industry

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In Focus

Chat with MD of Burnley Aerospace Giant pg15

Join Us

Burnley Bondholder scheme grows pg14

InBusinessBurnley Issue 1

The Art of Sound

Burnley company developed the world’s most powerful digital sound engine for top grossing film Avatar

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The place to be for innovative companies with bright ideas.

Quality Offices and Business Suites Fully serviced from 150sq ft to 5,000sq ft 24hr access and staffed reception If you’re a business looking for hi-spec business and office space in a modern environment, or conference and meeting rooms to hire, then take at look the Lancashire Digital Technology Centre in Burnley.

of-the-art reception area; benefit from 24 hour access and security, hi-speed connections, free parking, all at a competitive price with flexible lease terms, then this modern business centre is for you.

If you want to work alongside several award winning businesses; your clients to be welcomed by a state-

Just two miles from Junctions 10 & 11 of the M65, this state of the art facility now has space available.

For more details contact Alan, the Centre Manager, on 01282

www.lancsdtc.co.uk 2

872502

News

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Welcome from the Editor

pring is on the way and with it comes colour, growth and change. This new magazine for Burnley has been designed to reflect the towns growth, colour and change and to embrace Burnley’s new brand.

A new optimism about Burnley is spreading through the town, and the phrase on everyone’s lips is “It’s our time”.

Many changes are underway transforming Burnley: the town’s first university and college campus; the development of the regions largest business park ‘Burnley Bridge’; an educational improvement programme on a scale not seen anywhere else in the country; and a proud premiership football club raising the profile of Burnley across the UK. Ingnited by these changes comes a new energy which is surging through the town, enthusing and engaging support for Burnley like never before.

So, the phrase for 2010 is “It’s our Time” but what’s the word? The word for 2010 is “Bondholder” and you’ll be hearing more about Bondholder and it’s power to deliver real change for Burnley throughout this edition of ‘InBusinessBurnley’.

Burnley, like everywhere else in the country, is emerging from an

economic downturn, but many local businesses are showing a steady upturn. You’ll see inside these pages, Burnley is home to some world class businesses, who, through hard work and innovation are growing and investing right here in the town, creating jobs and skilling employees for the future.

Also in this edition we talk to Andrew White, the MD of Aircelle, one of the North West’s largest aerospace companies, and winners of the 2009 Burnley Business of the Year Award, who tells us why local businesses need to back Burnley.

This new magazine will bring you success stories and information on support for growing your business, throughout the year. We want to hear from you about your business, and any thoughts or issues you think we should know about.

We’re looking ahead with great optimism and we invite you to get involved in backing Burnley in whatever way you can.

4 Workplace MOT

10 Art of Sound

18 Business Award 09/10

Joanne Etherington Editor 01282 477315 jetherington@burnley.gov.uk

Our Team 15 Interview with: AIRCELLE

Alex Hooley Principal Business Support Officer

Martyn Hardacre Assistant Business Support Officer

MJ Hindman Graphic Designer

ahooley@burnley.gov.uk

mhardacre@burnley.gov.uk

mhindman@burnley.gov.uk

Produced by Communications and Graphics, © Burnley Council 2010. [t] 01282 425011. Job_4474.

Printed by Peter Scotts Printers [t] 01282 452221

21 Burnley’s new direction 3

News Tendering Support

our Boss

cares about

us!

Does yours?

We offer: • FREE health check • Healthy lifestyle advice • 10-week weight management programme in the workplace

Other services include • Exercise classes • Stress management • Fitness testing • Smoking cessation • Alcohol advice • Healthy eating advice

Burnley Council... helping you change for life

Contact Healthy Lifestyles Team on 01282 664 420

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Business Link North West now offers a new web section dedicated to providing access to procurement opportunities in the North West, nationally and abroad.

The site also offers guidance and support around the tendering process giving businesses the best possible chance of success.

Visit www.businesslinknw. co.uk/tendering for more information.

Burnley bed manufacturer having Sweet Dreams Family run bed manufacturer, Sweet Dreams of Burnley, are seeing a significant increase in sales and production in the early months of 2010, after new ranges were launched at a January trade show.

The successful business which started in 1988 now boasts a 142 strong work workforce and are set to take on 9 new employees to help them with their new orders.

Healthy Workplace MOT – Healthy Workplace Award It is estimated that individuals spend up to 60% of their waking hours in their place of work. Therefore for the majority of individuals, the workplace offers a significant potential setting for physical activity.

Physically active employees take 27% fewer days of sick leave, which equates to 2 days improved attendance and a saving of £135 per employee.

Employees engaged in physical activity have reported greater enjoyment of work, increased concentration and improved co-operation and rapport with colleagues.

So why not sign up for a

company health check. Burnley Council in partnership with East Lancs PCT are offering FREE business Health Checks, a full report on the overall health of your workforce, and an outline of ways to improve your workforce health.

Each employee would receive a blood pressure, height and weight check, access to weight management and smoking cessation programmes,exercise classes.

Experts will work in partnership with your workplace to undertake health promotion events.

A healthy workforce is a more productive workforce, and the bottom line is the cost absence has on your business.

Healthy Workplace Awards will be presented to businesses when they have completed the MOT and implemented improvement for their workforce and this would add to your companies profile when looking to secure new contracts.

To find out more and to book and Health MOT for your workforce, contact Burnley Council’s Healthy Lifestyle Team on 01282 664420.

Calico awarded fantastic 15th in the UK On its tenth anniversary, Burnley-based Calico has been nationally recognised as the 15th best UK company to work for, as part of the Sunday Times’ annual awards.

Having entered the chart at an amazing 28th place last year, this year’s results reflect the continued efforts of Calico’s staff to provide quality services across the whole region.

The award recognises Calico’s continued investment in developing its local workforce, providing training and recruitment opportunities and the company’s impact on society.

High tech boost for business Burnley businesses will benefit from the new NorthernNET network which links high speed fibre optics from the Burnley UCLan university campus to a network of digital and creative industrial clusters across the north.

NWDA grant helps expansion BCW Engineering has been awarded a £75,000 Grant for Business Investment from North West Development Agency, which it said will help towards building a new warehouse in Burnley or expanding to another unit in the area.

Paul Biggs, co-founder and technical director at BCW Engineering, said: “We are using the NWDA grant as investment for equipment and with that comes a need for somewhere to put the equipment so we’re looking at a

UCLan will play a central role in helping kick-start the region’s economic recovery by hosting two state-of-the-art Media Access Bureaus (MABs).

The MABs will provide businesses within the digital and creative industries sector with access to a high speed telecommunications network

that will enable them to create and transport digital content at high speed.

The site offers pay as you go connections to the network for the first time ever, allowing large files to be sent at high speed via a direct connection.

Martin Brown, Director of Burnley College said “This

technology allows digital and creative businesses to interact and collaborate at very high speed, enabling them to compete and grow.

NorthernNET is live and happening now, get involved.

To find out more information follow the project on twitter www.twitter.com/northernnet

number of sites in Burnley.

“We’ve had an offer on a brownfield site, which the NWDA owns, but are still in discussions with them over it. We’re looking at a greenfield site as well and are in negotiations about leasing an existing unit belonging to one of our customers. I can’t say more than that really.

“The provision of this grant will be the springboard for us to realise our strategy for the next phase of our development. It is essential that BCW invest in new equipment to enable us to meet our customers’ needs which will

not only secure the position of our existing employees but also bring further employment to the Burnley area.”

The firm, which has 80 employees over two existing sites at Phoenix Way and Bancroft Road, provides aerospace, automotive and marine components.

Investment will assist BCW Engineering in creating 15 new jobs over two years. The firm was established in 2002 and in 2008 became suppliers to Jaguar Cars and received approvals from BAE Systems

and Aircelle.

Following the Grant for Business Investment, BCW Engineering will invest a further £861,000 into the business to ensure it can meet growing customer demand. The new equipment will increase the company’s production capacity and ensure work is more efficient.

The NWDA grant is part of ‘solutions for business’, the Government’s package of publicly funded business support designed to help companies start and grow.

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News Opening Doors to a better future Apprenticeships can help businesses across all sectors by offering a route to harness fresh new talent. UK businesses consider skills shortages and recruitment difficulties a bigger threat to performance than soaring oil prices and declining consumer spending, and more than a quarter of these rate this form of vocational training higher than any other qualification.

Apprenticeships ensure that your workforce has the practical skills and qualifications your organisation needs now and in the future. The mixture of on

New A to Z of business support A new comprehensive A to Z quick reference guide of business support available to Burnley businesses is now available at the click of a button at www.burnley.gov.uk/ business.

Businesses looking for advice and support on any aspect of their business will easily and quickly be able to find the best support contacts both locally or nationally through the new A-Z Guide produced by the Council’s Economic Regeneration & Business Support Unit (ERBS).

If businesses want contact details for land and property; advice on employment law; environmental sustainability; sources of funding; exporting; marketing; R&D; purchasing and supply, then they need look no further.

An electronic copy of the Guide has been emailed to approximately 250 Burnley businesses who have signed up to receive business support news electronically from Burnley Council. The guide can also be accessed via the Council’s website and hard copies are available on request.

Councillor Martin Smith, Executive Member for

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and off job learning ensures they learn skills that work best for your business. Over 130,000 companies offer apprentice places because they understand the benefits that apprentices bring to their business.

Apprenticeships are workbased training programmes designed around the needs of employers, which lead to national recognised qualifications. You can use apprenticeships to train both new and existing employers.

Funding is available to train apprentices for further information visit www. apprentiships.org.uk/employers.

Business Sup

port in Burnl

A-Z Guide

ey

A Quick Refe rence Guid e of support and finance age available to help business ncies in Burnley

Burnley Cou

ncil... supportin

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Regeneration & Economic Development said: “The Council’s ERBS unit is always looking at ways it can make sourcing advice and funding easier for its local business.

Giving businesses access to an electronic A to Z ensures they are always accessing up to date information.

“Around two hundred and fifty businesses have signed up to receive up-to-date business support information from the council, and I would encourage others who haven’t already signed up to get in touch with us.”

For further information on the A to Z guide, or to sign up for email updates contact Martyn Hardacre, Assistant Business Support Officer, on 01282 477213.

Veka become 18th Bondholder VEKA is the 18th company to join the Burnley Bondholder project, which was launched at end of last year.

The bondholders, including other major local firms such as Moorhouses and Aircelle, will work together to raise the profile of the town.

Rebecca Mayhew, VEKA’s brand manager, said: “As a major local employer, VEKA plc has always shown its commitment to the community.

“The bondholder scheme offers us another way to demonstrate our pride in the area and its amenities, hopefully encouraging more businesses to follow our lead and establish themselves in and around Burnley.”

Kevin Keith, Burnley Place Brand Manager, said the majority of local firms are keen to get involved, saying : “When

we speak to local organisations they are all interested and want to sign up,” “They want to help where they can and make the town successful. They know if the town is successful then there is a good chance the company will be as well.”

The scheme is bringing together local businesses to support the growth and development of Burnley as a sophisticated cultural centre, and membership is made up of informed, influential people who understand the link between success for Burnley and success for business.

The bondholders’ aim is tell more of the ‘right people’ about Burnley’s assets, including heritage, countryside, football team, huge regeneration and fantastic people, to try and attract more investment and support to the town, and change outdated stereotypes of Burnley.

Alan’s success at the helm of Burnley’s premier business venue At the helm of Burnley’s £4 million state of the art business venue, the Lancashire Digital Technology Centre, is Alan Williams, centre manager.

Alan has been the dedicated centre manager at the Lancashire Digital Technology Centre for just over two years, and is the linchpin at the heart of this flagship business facility.

Providing a range of support services to tenants in the centre, and ensuring the businesses have a well maintained, comfortable and secure

environment in which to do business is his responsibility. His personal touch is highly regarded by the tenants and is influential in securing new tenants looking for that extra level of support from managed business space.

With a long career in customer service Alan knows what it takes to help businesses thrive, and his dedication to the centre has helped secure 3 new tenants in the last 6 months.

Alan says: “We currently have 14 tenants, with some of our businesses recently expanding into more space, which is a sign

that businesses are thriving here. The centre has a good atmosphere and companies don’t work in isolation, they support one another wherever they can. We offer businesses flexible, competitive lease terms and introductory packages for businesses moving into the centre.”

Adding: “This purpose built business centre offers fully serviced, managed office and business space ranging from150 sq.ft. to 5,000 sq.ft over two floors, an impressive reception area, and superb conference

and meeting facilities. The centre is owned by the North West Development Agency, and the role of managing agents is provided by partner in the site Burnley Council.

“We are currently investing to upgrade phone and broadband connections with even faster dedicated broadband connectivity, offering businesses increased capacity.”

If you would like to take a closer look at the Lancashire Digital Technology Centre and the facilities on offer give Alan a call on 01282 872502.

Regenerate Pennine Lancashire

Pennine Lancashire and to attract others to work, live or visit.

Regenerate is owned by the seven Pennine Lancashire local authorities: Lancashire County Council and the borough councils of Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Ribble Valley and Rossendale.

It will be led by a governing body made up of the leaders of the seven councils, and by

a board mostly made up of the councils’ chief executives and representatives from the private sector. The Chair of the board, Dennis Mendoros, has been appointed from the private sector.

The company was formed to help seven councils deliver projects in ways they could not do before, by pooling expertise and resources, achieving

greater value for money and attracting more private sector investment.

Regenerate will deliver major developments on behalf of local authorities, and continue the Housing Market Renewal (HMR) work initiated by Elevate.

It will also have responsibility for delivering the No Limits LEGI scheme which supports new and existing businesses.

A new economic development company will drive the economic prosperity of Pennine Lancashire.

Regenerate Pennine Lancashire is a new kind of organisation. It is an economic development company, designed to help increase prosperity and life choices for people living and working in

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News Good things come in small packages Despite the current economic climate, businesses are thriving at Northbridge House, privately owned by Burnley based Anvic Developments.

“Anvic have been working hard to create a real hub for small, new and start up businesses at Northbridge House”, says Steve James of Burnley Commercial Agents, Trevor Dawson Chartered Surveyors.

“Anvic recognises that not all businesses need or want extensive space with a large financial outlay and have set themselves apart from other developments by offering economic but high quality office space from 90 sq.ft. (suitable for 1 person) which only costs around £25 per week.”

Northbridge House has been operating as a business centre for over 24 years and the team

have a wealth of experience in helping young businesses. Some of their tenants who started in a £25 per week office have now expanded to a 2,500 sq.ft space.

Paul Dawson, Managing Director of Anvic said “We are really proud to be part of the economic development of Burnley through providing support for small businesses”, adding “We are also very excited to have recently introduced a networking group within the building called the Business Circle, where tenants can exchange ideas, discuss issues affecting them, which is a fantastic asset for the building and shows that the people of Burnley are working together to create a positive and productive working environment.

For more information, go to www.anvic.co.uk, or contact Sara Williams on 0800 043 4500 to see how Anvic can help and support your business.

Anvic’s latest development Anvic’s latest development and investment in Burnley was launched with a champagne breakfast at their New Hall House development, the transformation of the 3000sq. ft Elm Street Nursery to a contemporary self contained office block.

New Hall House benefits from its own dedicated car parking facilities, design features and air conditioning which is both heating and cooling. Also, by acquiring the surrounding land around the

old nursery site it has enabled Paul Dawson to extend car parking facilities at Northbridge House Conference and Business Centre.

Paul Dawson, Anvic’s Managing Director says ‘we are proud of this new development which not only provides additional parking space for our tenants and conference delegates at Northbridge but also provides cost effective office space ideal for a call centre or organisation within the local area and contributes to the continued regeneration of the area’.

Guests at the launch included local commercial agents, Steve James from Trevor Dawson and Jonathan Pickles from Pettys along with Lancashire Business View Magazine, and members of Burnley Borough Councils Economic Development Unit, Alex Hooley and Martyn Hardacre.

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Employer Survey shows steady upturn During February and October 2009 Burnley Council carried out two employer surveys to monitor how Burnley businesses were being affected by the downturn in the economy and to offer support where possible.

The second survey in October highlighted a positive improvement for many businesses in comparison to the February survey, and reported businesses were much more optimistic than the same time last year.

Key findings of the October survey showed an increase in the proportion of businesses operating at full capacity; a lower proportion of businesses reporting concerns (with only ‘interest rates set by the banks causing concern to a higher proportion of businesses); and a positive 30% of businesses planning to invest in the training and development of their workforce.

Looking at business expectations for the future, the survey reflected confidence levels

improving in terms of profitability, turnover and sales, although there are businesses who still have some concerns.

Councillor Martin Smith, Executive Member for Regeneration & Economic Development said: “The October survey does indicate positive early signs of improvement for some businesses and does give cause for optimism, however, we aren’t being too complacent and will continue to keep close to businesses and monitor their progress.

“The council is doing all it can to provide the right infrastructure and environment in which to attract new business, support existing businesses and encourage new business start ups. We are working closely with several local businesses to provide business support and funding where possible.”

“Burnley has a number of businesses who have continued to develop during this difficult period of economic downturn, which include Aircelle, BCW Engineering, AMS Neve, MB Aerospace, Moorhouses Brewery and Crown Cabinets”.

Local survey findings seem to reflect national manufacturing trend The UK manufacturing sector continued to expand last month, according to the latest figures, boosting hopes that the economic recovery is proceeding at a faster pace than previously anticipated.

The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply said that February was the ninth consecutive month of growth in the manufacturing industry.

The score on the CIPS’ monthly headline activity index for last month was 56.6, the same as in January. That month represented a 15-year-high.

A score over 50 on CIPS’s monthly headline activity index demonstrates growth in the sector. Greater demand from the United States and Asia - as

well as a weakened pound - also prompted the fastest monthly growth of new export orders since January 1996. The score for the growth in export orders in February was 60.5, compared to 57.5 in January.

David Noble, chief executive of CIPS, said: “We’re really seeing signs that seem to point towards a full sector recovery.

Most notably, companies that reported higher demand from export markets said it wasn’t just on the back of a softer sterling but also improving global market conditions.”

However, he cautioned that the recovery could be curtailed if inflation - particularly of energy prices - grew and fiscal measures were tightened.

FREE EVENT INVITATION Pennine Lancashire Business Net

Online Marketing 2010 From Social Media Marketing to SEO Thursday May 27th 2010 - 8:30am to 11:30am Lancashire Digital Technology Centre, Bancroft Road, Burnley BB10 2TP

Online marketing continues to grow in importance and diversity – new ranking factors from Google, new methods of engagement through social media, even new phrases in our lexicon like DAO (Digital Assets Optimisation) to get to grips with.

This seminar will keep you ahead of the game. It will share with you the latest approaches and methods to drive your online success throughout the year. In this 90 minute seminar we’ll show you case studies to inspire your efforts and equip you with the latest tools and techniques for success.

We will cover:Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) best practice.

- Our approach to SEO – a process that works - New ranking factors for Google in 2010 Pay Per Click Advertising - Our best practice process, some useful techniques for success - Integration with SEO Link Building Strategies - For increased web visibility and for SEO differentiation - 7 key areas to get links from Social Media Marketing - YouTube and video optimisation - How to use social media to drive enquiries – the FaceBook and Twitter mix Digital Assets Optimisation - Harnessing Google Universal Search to rank all your important digital assets - Video, image, websites, blogs…

Register Now Book early as places are limited. You can book online at www.penninelancashirebusiness.net or email innovate@regeneratepl.co.uk.

For information contact Jill Hetherington on 01254 582426

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Sector Special : Film and Music Industry

The Art of Sound Burnley company AMS Neve developed the world’s most powerful digital sound engine for top grossing film Avatar

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ames Cameron, Oscar winning film director of record breaking blockbuster Avatar, knew exactly where to go to commission the very best in digital sound technology, to generate the ultimate sonic sound experience to match the groundbreaking cinematography and unique visual effects for the most successful box office film of all time.

Mark Crabtree, Managing Director of AMS Neve, said “James was working on one of our consoles at Fox Studios in Los Angeles and he wanted even more sound

“…he turned to us and we supplied him with the most powerful audio editor on the planet.”

That place was right here, in Burnley, Pennine Lancashire, where you’ll find a company called AMS Neve, with its team of leading global designers and manufacturers of the world’s most powerful audio machines.

Cameron who had previously used AMS Neve to develop the latest sound technology on his 1997 hit film Titanic, knew he could rely on the expertise of Burnley based AMS Neve to deliver the very best sound experience for his new film blockbuster.

That decision has already reaped professional dividends with the film’s mixing team being nominated for ‘best sound’ in the Broadcast Film Critics Awards in the US, and nominated for best sound and special visual effects at the BAFTA’s

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renowned sound technology. Since the success with this film we have received new orders from across the globe.

“Away from the glamour part, and a little more closer to home, we have invested £400,000 in state of the art manufacturing machinery to enable all this to be made in Burnley.

And, he added “We currently export over 80% of what we make here in Burnley, exporting products, but not the jobs. AMS are committed to their facility here in Burnley and to securing and creating new advanced technology jobs right here in the town.”

impact, and he’d heard we’d got a new sound engine.

“So in order to add realism to the movie’s jaw dropping visual effects he turned to us and we supplied him with the most powerful audio editor on the planet. The success of the film relies heavily on the Managing Director, AMS Neve skill of the sound department and the best audio engines to Mark is a former Burnley devise the extraordinary sound Grammar School boy, now effects. Fox realised that to 57, and living in Read. Mark meet those demands, Avatar’s formed AMS Neve in 1976 in soundtrack needed the world’s Worsthorne and later merged most powerful audio engine with Cambridge based Neve – in comes AMS Neve’s Ultra in 1992 to strengthen the Scale Processor (USP) engine. business. The company is now based in a state “The success of Avatar of the art facility on Burnley’s Rossendale Road has helped add even more Business Park. awareness of our world

Mark Crabtree

“…we have invested £400,000 in state of the art manufacturing machinery to enable all this to be made in Burnley.”

AMS: a history For more than 40 years AMS Neve has represented the pinnacle of professional audio design and engineering.

Around a hundred world class analogue and digital designers, software specialists and audio purists spend their days dedicated to the advancement and evolution of professional audio products and workflows.

AMS Neve has built a leading presence in the ultra high-end feature film scoring and mixing environments, the post-production and broadcast industries as well as in professional and project music studios worldwide.

The company’s achievements have been recognised over the years by the industry’s most prestigious awards including an Emmy, a Grammy and two Academy Awards.

Prime Minister Putin of Russia with one of their film consoles which was recently delivered to Moscow

AMS supplies consoles to leading film and music studios across the globe • 20th Century Fox Studio (where James Cameron worked on Avatar) are now working on the final mixing for Iron Man 2 on the equipment AMS delivered • AMS are adding their new USP digital engine to three consoles at George Lucas’s Skywalker Ranch Studios following our success with Fox Studios and Avatar • Toho Films in Japan have just ordered £400k DFC film consoles similar to Fox.

Toho Films are famous for the Godzilla film production • De Lane Le in London are taking delivery of three upgraded consoles with the AMS ‘Avatar’ digital technology built in • The commission and delivery of a twoton orchestral scoring mixing console to Warner Brothers. The console was over 1 million dollars

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Feature

£3.5 million brewery development will create new jobs and showcase the regeneration of South West Burnley

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onstruction work is underway on Moorhouse’s impressive new £3.5 million state of the art brewery development adjacent to its existing site on Accrington Road.

This new development will include a much larger brew-house to meet their business growth, new offices and a specialist training and visitor centre, and

funding from the North West Development Agency and the No Limits programme, to get this new development off the ground.

“The brewery has a proud history in Burnley since it started in1865. 144 years on and worldwide acclaim for their unique ales, they are investing in a superb new brewing facility to meet their expansion plans.

“The council have worked closely with us to help make our expansion plans a reality, and I would encourage other local businesses to get in touch with the council.”

David Grant, Managing Director of Moorhouse’s will double the existing brewery workforce.

Council Leader Gordon Birtwistle and Burnley Council Chief Executive, Steve Rumbelow, were on site to witness the early stages of this exciting new development. Leader, Gordon Birtwistle said: “The council worked closely with Moorhouse’s to help them secure grant

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“Burnley’s landscape is undergoing a major transformation, with new investment and buildings springing up across the Borough and this will be another development landmark reflecting Burnley’s rising business barometer.

“The modern brewery buidling will also be a highly visible indicator of South West

Burnley’s regeneration, alongside new homes being constructed along Accrington Road as part of the Regenerate Pennine Lancashire housing scheme.”

Steve Rumbelow, Burnley Council’s Chief Executive said: “One of the council’s top priorities is creating a prosperous local economy and to offer business support to encourage business growth wherever we can.

“Moorhouses success story in these difficult times is down to their hard work and determination and award winning marketing techniques to promote their product.

“David Grant is committed to growing his business here in Burnley, and is a proud ambassador for the town. David is one of the first local businessmen to sign up to Burnley’s Bondholder Scheme, which is a new scheme to encourage influential business leaders to take a bigger stake in promoting the borough to help attract new investment and bring new jobs to the borough.”

Burnley’s Bright Light for Local Business

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here’s an unmistakable energy surrounding Burnley at the moment. Capitalising on the promotion of the local football team, local businesses are keen to follow suit and emulate their success.

In recognition of this, Burnley Borough Council, Burnley Enterprise (trading as Pennine Lancashire Enterprise Trust), Prince’s Charity Business in the Community and the University of Central Lancashire have joined forces to create a super league for local business – The Burnley Enterprise Development Programme (BEDP).

Twenty five businesses have been hand picked for BEDP on the basis of their initial impact and success in the local community, and their potential to become leading contributors to the region’s economy. Their selection signals a genuine shift in business attitudes and a commitment to ensuring that Burnley entrepreneurs emerge successfully from

the challenge of recession.

The vision was initiated by Allan Leighton, former CEO of Asda and former Chair of Royal Mail. Allan was involved in the Burnley project on behalf of HRH the Prince of Wales, Allan Leighton addresses Burnley Business Masterclass Audience. and saw the Cherry Tree Bakery, Discover Laser and potential of sharing business knowledge Unique Exhibitions, who are all excited to and expertise over a local platform. be ambassadors of the programme.

BEDP has a dual focus here in Rob Scott, Managing Director of Burnley, delivering motivational master Denwa Communications explains “It’s a class sessions, with high profile business real honour to be chosen to represent leaders and offering specific support Burnley business at this pioneering from programme partners and key programme and recognition of the business support agencies. enterprise and business development Some of the businesses selected that’s underway within the town. to be involved include Denwa Communications, Sweet Dreams, Lanway,

Computer giant puts its trust in Burnley firm ONE of the North West’s leading IT specialists is celebrating a major coup after becoming an authorised repair centre for Hewlett Packard.

Lanway Computers, which is based at the Network 65 Business Park in Burnley, has just been granted official repairer status by the IT giant, which could generate thousands of pounds worth of new business.

Steve Ackers, Managing Director of Lanway, said: “This is a great start to 2010.

“Hewlett Packard are one of the world’s leading manufacturers of computer and IT equipment and to become one of their approved repairers is a massive feather in our cap.

“Five years ago we made a conscious decision to focus more on the service and support side of the business, and that move is starting to pay handsome dividends.

“We are now authorised repairers

for Hewlett Packard, Sony, Toshiba and Samsung – four of the biggest players in the computer and IT market.

“The fact these major international companies are eager to work with us also speaks volumes for the excellent standards of service we provide.”

Lanway began operating in Burnley 23 years ago, initially focussing on the retail and small business side of the computer industry and quickly moving onto providing business solutions for their larger corporate customers.

However, in recent years, the company has also focused very heavily on the service and support sector, which is proving to be increasingly profitable.

Mr Ackers added: “We have invested a lot of time and money in this side of the

business over the last couple of years to ensure our processes and procedures meet with the top manufacturers’ stringent standards.

“Because we are an authorised repair centre, it makes no difference where you purchased the original product from. As long as it’s covered under the manufacturer’s warranty, we can fix it.

“All of the leading manufacturers insist on a maximum turnaround of five days or better.

“And unlike many of the third party repairers out there, we also offer a full back-up service, which gives you an extra level of protection for your data.”

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Feature

THIS IS OUR TIME Burnley’s New Direction

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group of the most influential people in Burnley are asking you, our local businesses, to take a stake in promoting the borough by joining them in becoming members of the ‘Burnley Bondholders’ network.

Events will be taking place across Burnley throughout 2010 for businesses to find out how joining the network could help raise their profile and the profile of Burnley.

Businesses already signed up as Bondholders include Moorhouses Brewery, Burnley Football Club, Aircelle, Whitehead & Wood, and Veka and to name but a few.

Paul Fletcher, Chief Executive of Burnley football Club, said: “It is easy

Date of future breakfast meetings •

Wednesday April 14th 2010

•

Wednesday 9th June 2010

•

Wednesday 11th August 2010

•

Wednesday October 13th 2010

•

Wednesday 9th February 2011

•

Wednesday 13th April 2011

All meetings are held between 8.00 - 9.30 am.

For more information contact 01282 477205.

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to talk a place down, to be cynical, take cheap shots, to question ‘who are you to call yourselves magnificent?’ People did that just before we picked up the biggest financial prize in world sport.

Such is Burnley’s progress, that it is equally easy to answer those cynics: new schools, college, university, premier

across that the new Burnley is bold and dynamic, is proud of our past yet forward-looking and is a great place to do business. To those who say we have done this before; we haven’t, not together, not united, and to all those who say it is not possible to change Burnley, I say that’s what people said to the Clarets, just

“Burnley is changing. At the heart of this change are businesses and organisations, who fuel the local economy, who strengthen our communities, and whose success is inextricably linked to the success of Burnley.” league football, world-class heritage, outstanding countryside and people.”

The Bondholder scheme is part of a new direction for Burnley that will, for the first time in the borough’s history, seek to unite all organisations, develop a collective opinion, and influence how Burnley is portrayed locally, regionally and nationally.

David Grant, Managing Director of Moorhouses Brewery, said: “The Bondholder scheme does not seek followers, we seek more leaders; people to join with us in getting the message

before they got into the Premiership.”

The Bondholder Scheme seeks to address research that showed potential investors, house buyers and local residents, had poor or no perceptions of the town, with few references to the Pennine countryside, rural villages, canals, award-winning parks, global aerospace industries or world-class heritage.

There has also been a £500 million investment in the town through the development of a new university and college campus, all new secondary schools, housing and business parks.

Interview with: AIRCELLE

Burnley is our Business Burnley’s Biggest Employer’s Call to Action

T

he MD of one of the northwest’s top aerospace employers has called for business to take more responsibility for the area in which they are based and to take a stake in the town’s future.

Andrew White, Managing Director of international aerospace company Aircelle, is calling on businesses and organisations to help drive the town forward, saying: “If businesses are serious about attracting and retaining skilled employees and are serious about raising the profile of their comany, then they have to take an active role in the development of the place in which they operate. Organisations that stick only to corporate objectives and ignore the wider context are ignoring many of the needs of their existing staff and requirements of future staff.”

Andrew added: “Burnley is our business. Research showed investors and potential house-buyers had negative, false or no perceptions of Burnley. This is not good for Burnley and it is not good for our business. Clients ask: ‘Why is Aircelle in Burnley?’ I talk up the town, tell them of our many assets, but more needs to be done to ensure Burnley is viewed as a place that is modern, professional and highly skilled. That is why the Bondholders Scheme is important as action is necessary.”

“Young people need to be inspired to choose Burnley and choose engineering to maintain a healthy local pipeline of skills. It is clear the council alone is not big enough to drive through real change. Businesses must play their part and support a clear, consistent message, an agreed path forward, with

collective determination. We have that in Burnley, but more businesses should get involved.”

Aircelle, a subsidiary of SAFRAN, is one of the leading players in the global nacelle market with a turnover of €720M and a workforce of over 3,000 with 780 staff in Burnley, making it the town’s largest private sector employer. For the past 10 months the company has been involved in developing a new direction for the town in partnership with the area’s leading employers and public sector bodies including Burnley Football Club, Burnley Council, the University of Central Lancashire and the Northwest Regional Development Agency.

For more information about the Burnley Bondholder Scheme contact Kevin Keith on 01282 477205

The second aspect is bringing people in from outside Burnley particularly in high skill areas, and having the support to help attract them to Burnley. So the image of Burnley both perceived and in reality is very important to us, and the branding/bondholder programme will very much assist us in raising the profile of our business and the town of Burnley.

We were on this path before this programme started, and have been

working hard to raise the profile of Aircelle and the career opportunities within the company locally, so we are delighted to give our perspective as an employer and as a business in the area to this new initiative. It gives us the opportunity to talk frankly with Steve Rumbelow, the Chief Executive at Burnley Council and his team, about what we think we need in Burnley and how we should be promoting the town.

We talk to Andrew White further about his commitment to the Bondholder scheme…

Q

Aircelle was the first company to sign up to the Bondholder programme. Could you give me your thoughts on why you felt it so important to become a bondholder, and how important do you think the programme is for Burnley?

Our main reason for getting involved in the new branding Burnley and Bondholder initiative, is because we are a big employer here in Burnley and we have a vested interest in Burnley being recognised as a good place to be. Not just for the local people who are already here, because we do want to keep them and reduce the migration of skills out of the area, but also to attract new people in.

Aircelle experienced problems from two aspects in the past, that we feel the Branding & Bondholder programme can greatly assist with. The first aspect is attracting local people into the business and saying to local people there are successful businesses and exciting working careers right here in Burnley.

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Interview with: AIRCELLE A great place to work

83%

of staff said “I'm proud to tell others I work here” and “When I look at what I accomplish I feel a sense of pride”

70% 81%

feel they make a difference want to work here for a long time

Figures from a survey by the Great Place to Work Institute 2009 It started from a perspective of us attracting people to the business. No one knew who Aircelle was. We had changed name a couple of times over the years and everyone knew us as Lucas. We wanted to get our name out there in the community so people knew who we were.

We work closely with local schools to raise aspiration levels, and to give our future generation a real understanding of local industry, and get them involved in industry. There are a lot of great things out there that you can do, so it’s worth having a good education to allow you to do them. We got involved with several secondary schools to get that message across. It snowballed from there, and we then got involved in community groups to get children improving their confidence and ability to be successful in the workplace.

Q

The Bondholder programme is very much in its infancy, more and more businesses are signing up each week and we are starting to bring businesses together in discussion to drive the programme forward. How would you like to see these meetings evolve, what would you like to see on the agenda and how do you think businesses can own it?

The problem is from my experience, most businesses when they are invited to join something like this, is they think “why am I here”, because they see improvements in the town as a local council issue, a government issue not a business issue.

I would like to see and encourage more of an ownership with the local businesses. A few years ago I would have felt the same “why should I spend time on it and where is the value”. But having been involved in this new initiative from the early stages of its development, I feel that if businesses are serious about attracting and retaining skilled employees and are serious about raising the profile of their

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company, then they have to take an active role in the development of the place in which they operate.

This new initiative will be more action driven by the businesses. With all due respect to the Council, they do have a big agenda and a lot of issues to worry about.

This is one element of what they are trying to manage. They totally support it and believe in it, but they get dragged onto other things. Where the business leaders come in to this is to keep it focussed and to make sure it’s driven in the right way and we get action plans out of it, and to contribute where we can.

I am sure there will be elements that come out of this where businesses say we can help with that, we can assist. That’s what Steve Rumbelow and his team are looking for, other ideas and people that can help turn those ideas in to reality.

Q

How do you feel about the brand, and how do you plan to use it within the business?

We were involved in the initial discussions with other representatives from across Burnley about a new brand animation for Burnley, and as you can imagine it was an interesting process.

When the animation was presented to the working group there was a lot of people who initially wondered what it was. But I think it is really effective and has done exactly what they set out to achieve, to get people to say what’s that.

It makes people look at it, which is what they set out to do. The story behind it in terms of how you can use it is really good and what I would like to think is that when we are recruiting people, they will visit our website and we’ll have a link to the brand website giving a continuity between the whole area being brought together by the brand.

Q

Do you think you need any tools to help you promote Burnley in your everyday activities?

Talks have taken place with businesses who would like to have a pack to help promote the area. Its important to have key positive facts and figures about Burnley to hand. When we are recruiting we need some basic facts. We use recruitment consultants and we need to get the recruiters on our side promoting the town for us, so a positive promotional pack would be great to give to them too.

There are other aspects I have worked on in previous roles, taking people on a tour of the area, and showing them the lovely areas in and around Burnley. Families who come to work here, want to know what its like to live here, and a tour around the area and its beautiful countryside will go a long way to challenging there perceptions.

Delve further than what you perceive is the image. I talk from experience I came to work and live here 20 years ago and had negative perceptions but my perception changed whilst living here. The people and the environment is great, it is a good place to live - you have to look beyond the initial impression.

Q

What would you say to other businesses who aren’t familiar with Burnley, about operating a business here?

I think a lot of businesses looking at Burnley don’t always recognise the skills that are available here in Burnley. So many skills are available here, because of the industry that’s now here, and previously been here, skills are in abundance in Burnley. There is, however, a problem with the gap that’s evolved between trained

people from 15 years ago, when the training schemes seemed to stop, but this is now being addressed and we are bringing in new skills through new apprenticeship schemes, and thats what we want other businesses to buy into a lot more. Investment in training new and existing staff for the future - that is something we need to promote.

We do have a good skills base and need to promote this and encourage more businesses to train more through apprenticeship schemes. So I’d say to businesses there is a big body of skills available in the area, and skills in high technology. There is a lot to be gained from doing business here.

Q

Do you think the major new developments which are changing the landscape of Burnley will impact on your business?

The new university and college campus is fantastic. Before they broke soil on the new university, they asked me what I thought the benefits would be for the town.

I think it allows people to get a good education without leaving the area.

Because one of the problems I have perceived is that good candidates coming out of our schools nearly always have to go outside of the area, usually quite far afield to continue their education and they quite often don’t come back.

It allows them to study in the area and hopefully stay here so local businesses can benefit from their skills. The other element, that is probably just as important, is that it allows a good education for people who can’t afford to go away from home and wouldn’t generally aspire to getting a degree. That’s the real opportunity that UCLAN offers. The university campus on site here in Burnley is fantastic.

Q

What effect do you think the football club promotion has had on the town?

The football club recently asked me the same question. They said do you really think it’s had any effect.

I think its had a tremendous effect, I just hope they can stay up there now!

When they were going through the process for the play offs the atmosphere in the factory was unbelievable. The day after they won the trophy the business felt rejuvenated and that has stayed because of this great pride of the team being in the premiership. The other good thing about it is the publicity. We’ve been on sky as we have a deal with the club, so we’ve have some great PR as a result.

Burnley itself has great PR from it, it’s been a great asset for Burnley, and long may it continue.

Q

What support to you feel you need to continue to grow in Burnley?

The main thing is the skills issue. If we are going to continue to grow and even to be stable we have to rejuvenate the skills we have.

We are bringing new skills in through apprenticeships and adult apprenticeships, to replace the older workforce that we naturally lose. This is working quite well.

We are getting assistance with this through working with schools and colleges, who are more open to talking to us about what we need and are now manipulating courses they run to meet our needs, which has resulted in the recent addition of new management development courses to their curriculum, which has come about as a

result of our discussions.

That’s very useful to have in the area, as in the past we’ve sent people as far as the Midlands for management courses. To have something here in Burnley is a great asset to us.

The other thing, from the Burnley Council point of view, is really about generating an interest in the industry in the area, for the local people as much as anything and then it gets into the schools.

We’ve got a part to play in that,we need to get kids interested in Burnley’s successful industries and aspire them to get the skills to work for us in the future. The view of manufacturing with many children is old dirty mills so we need to be much more positive about the successful businesses here in their town, so they can see the host of opportunities. This is where the council can help by selling the town and its businesses.

Darren Mitcheson, Operations Director accepts the Business of the Year Award at this years Burnley Business & Innovations Awards

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Feature

Burnley Business & Innovations Awards The best of Burnley’s business world was recognised at the fourth biennial Burnley Business and Innovation Awards 2009/2010.

A

glittering ceremony at Towneley Hall provided the perfect backdrop as the achievements and efforts of local businesses big and small were highlighted.

As the award ceremony is held every other year it means the winners hold the coveted award titles for two years.

The sponsorship funded event which is organised by Burnley Council, was hosted by Granada TV's funnyman Paul Crone.

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The event is to reward, acknowledge and celebrate the success of Burnley businesses, and to remind ourselves that Burnley the place, has a lot to be proud of and a lot to offer - and to encourage everyone to spread the positive message about Burnley.

Burnley has a great story to tell and should be proud to share it. This town was leading the world at the forefront of industry in the late 19th Century. Things have changed a little since then, but the town’s ambition hasn’t. It is now carving out a new role for itself, with new businesses and innovation, and offers a great place to live, work and visit, amidst the stunning landscape of Pennine Lancashire.

Burnley is excited about its future.

There is no boundary to the ambition for the town but we have to work together to achieve our goals.

The array of successful businesses and entrepreneurs at the business awards is an indication that they are proud of their business achievements and proud to have their business here in Burnley .

and the winners are‌

Aircelle Ltd

Moorhouses Brewery

Process Instruments UK Ltd

H W Petty & Co

Burnley Business of the Year

The Innovation Award

Marketing Award

Staff Training & Development Award

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Feature

BCW Engineering Ltd

Homeloan Management Limited

Learoyd Packaging

Reedley Marina

Pipeline Induction Heat Ltd

Marc Hardisty - Denwa Communications

Social Inclusion For Employment Award

Environmental Sustainability Award

The Export Achievement Award

Business Commitment to the Community Award

The Visitor Economy Award

Outstanding Young Person Award

Unique Exhibitions Limited & Crown Cabinets New Start Business of the Year - Joint Winners

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We’ve helped hundreds of people start and grow their own businesses in Pennine Lancashire...

What’s stopping you?

To find out how No Limits can help you start or grow your business, call today FREE on 0800 612 2029 or visit www.no-limits.org.uk 21

News

Courtesy of Lancashire Telegraph

Groomed for success

NYC loves Lancashire brewer Burnley-based Moorhouse’s Brewery looks set to quadruple its overseas sales following advice from the UKTI on how best to tackle the New York market The Burnley company’s ales, such as Pendle Witches’ Brew and Black Cat, have cast a spell over the city’s drinkers since it called on UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) to help expand sales there.

Moorhouse’s most recent total turnover was £3.5m and US sales contributed 1% to that figure. But, thanks to its renewed US efforts, sales there are now

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expected to rise to 4% on an increasing turnover.

David Grant, the brewery’s Managing Director, said: “Without UKTI support our current sales in the USA wouldn’t be anywhere near where we wanted them.”

Moorhouse’s has been exporting for around 15 years, mainly to the US, but hadn’t been doing it aggressively. David said: “I am a great believer in the idea that if you do something, you do it properly, and it seemed to me that we were not giving the American market the attention that it needed.

“For example, we had never had any face-to-face contact with our importer there. So I spoke to him and discovered that we knew nothing about him or his business and, more importantly, nothing about his customers or their spending.”

David contacted UKTI through Businesslink and was put in touch with the UK consulates in San Francisco and New York to gather information about his potential customers in both those markets: “When we did that, our importer started to take us more seriously,” he said.

Soon after, Moorhouse’s

Mucky pups in Burnley are cleaning up, thanks to a new business, set up with the help of No Limits.

Cheryl Etherington founded Mucky Pups after she decided she wanted to combine her love of animals with the great prospects of running her own business.

She said: “I had been a dog walker for about three years, whilst also working as a behaviourist and as a vet receptionist. I then qualified as a groomer and so decided I wanted to set up a business where I could work with animals and work in a more structured role while generating a steady income.”

Mucky Pups opened its doors on Hall Street in May 2009 and provides dog grooming and as

many dog accessories you can think of, including collars and beds.

Although Cheryl had the funds to set up, she enlisted the help of No Limits Get Set and Burnley Enterprise.

She said: ”No Limits were great helping me with both advice and grants. This helped me buy uniforms, equipment and the sign for the premises. My adviser is really useful and supportive. Any questions I had he never failed to answer. Along with No Limits they continue to provide me with on going support.”

You could even say No Limits has been grooming Cheryl for success!

For more information about No Limits and how it can help you set up a business in Burnley, call them on 0800 612 2029 or click on www.no-limits.org.uk

signed up for Passport to Export, UKTI’s flagship scheme for new and inexperienced exporters, which provides companies with training, advice and ongoing support to allow them to compete in new markets.

Through his continued international business development, David also won a place on UKTI’s North America Scholarship Programme and took part in one of the world’s most prestigious business courses at the J L Kellogg School of Management, Chicago, Illinois. He said the experience changed the way he thought about exporting: “Following that, I rewrote my business plan for the US market overnight, changing my entire strategy and we stopped looking at the US as one country.

“Now we have gone as far as to employ someone over there, in fact we share the cost of that employee, he is out there selling a small number of UK brewery products along the east coast.

“UKTI has pointed me in the right direction, it has given me the routes to information that I needed and assisted with market visits to the US. We could have

established Moorhouse’s as a brand in the USA by ourselves, but it would have taken a lot longer than it has.”

Karen Holden, International Trade Adviser for UKTI North West, said: “David has really embraced the challenges posed by operating in the USA and his willingness to reassess the brewery’s export strategy is now paying dividends.

“A single export strategy for such a vast market rarely works, a much more successful method is to tackle key states individually. UKTI research teams in the US were ideally placed to help and gave David a more clear picture of the kind of people who are interested in buying Moorhouse’s products.

“I would urge anyone who is considering taking their products or services overseas to get in touch, no matter the market or the sector, UKTI has a wealth of expertise and will be able to speed up your global growth.”

For further information on UK Trade & Investment services, contact the North West International Trade Team T: 0845 603 7053 E: info@uktinorthwest.co.uk.

Burnley College Training has a number of high quality Apprenticeship vacancies for 16-17 year olds who are not currently in employment or education.

These vacancies MUST be filled by the end of March.

The Level 2 and 3 vacancies cover Business and Administration, Childcare, Learning and Development, Care, IT and Engineering and employers include Petty Estate Agents, Burnley Borough Council, Chez Nanny, Pendle Vale College, DAC Limited, Blossoms Day Nursery and Oasis Micro Technology.

These vacancies offer full time employment with high quality training, guidance and support from Burnley College staff throughout the Apprenticeship If you know a 16-17 year old who would be interested in starting an Apprenticeship by the end of this month, contact Joyce Clarke or Keeley Seamans in Burnley College Training on 01282 733013 or 733012 “Burnley College is Outstanding”

Supporting Business Growth Expert support and advice from Burnley Council

• Property and land availability • Financial Assistance for growth • Local businesses and sources of supply • Liaison with agencies on behalf of our businesses • Workforce availability and training • Relocation support 01282 664758

www.burnley.gov.uk/business 23

Burnley Bondholder To bring ‘plc’ and ‘place’ together, to promote business and Burnley, to achieve economic growth: a new, innovative and powerful network has been developed.

Join us To become a bondholder, or to arrange a visit from a representative of the bondholder team, please contact: Kevin Keith, 01282 477205 / 07973 432 445 email Kevin@burnley.co.uk

www.burnley.co.uk