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WELCOME TO THE HIVE

BACKGROUND

The Hive Business Leaders’ Network was first launched in 2012 with the aim of transforming Blackburn with Darwen into a “world-class business area.” Since then, 250 local organisations from micro to multinational have joined Hive; we have had recognition of Hive’s role in improving the local business environment (Enterprising Britain Awards, 2014); we have hosted leading figures from within industry and we have celebrated the very best of business via the inaugural Hive Business Awards. Most recently, we have incorporated Hive as a not-for-profit Community Interest Company in order to further the reach and impact of what has quickly become a powerful network of local business leaders.

VISION

For Blackburn with Darwen to be prosperous, vibrant and successful, we need businesses in Blackburn with Darwen to be prosperous, vibrant and successful. Prosperous communities are made up of confident, successful, well-adjusted people who feel they belong and are wanted – and who want to contribute to making their own community and the wider community even stronger. There are challenges to address, but Hive believes that this can only happen by bringing business to the forefront and empowering them to drive the changes needed to build a prosperous borough. Underpinned by the town’s famous motto of arte et labore (by skill and hard work), Hive members are businesses who have significant pride in their towns, and who want to ensure that they have a stake in the borough’s prosperity helping it to create wealth and opportunities for all.

Working together, Hive is the platform where businesses of any size and sector can share knowledge and experience. We will promote collaboration and local trading. We will harness the borough’s talent and invest in future skills to support local business and investment, and we will continue to promote the area as a great place to live, work, visit and invest. We hope that you will join and support us.

Hive launch event at

Blackburn Youth Zone, 2012

The inaugural Hive

Business Awards, 2015

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TOP 10 in the UK for the highest private sector jobs growth ( 7TH OUT OF 63 )

94% said their business was doing well

Annual GVA output up

5.2% - higher than regional (3.6%) and national (3.3%) increases

BUSINESS IS BUZZING IN BLACKBURN WITH DARWEN

TOP 10 in the UK for patents granted per 100,000 population ( 5TH OUT OF 64 )

More than ¾ of businesses had taken on additional staff in the last year

Number of new businesses greater than the number of closures for the

3rd consecutive year

Up an impressive

9 PLACES for number of new business starts ( 29TH OUT OF 64 )

Centre for Cities: Cities Outlook 2015

79% of businesses expect to grow sales in the year ahead

Unemployment rate at its

LOWEST since 2009

LATEST BLACKBURN AND DARWEN BUSINESS SURVEY

BLACKBURN WITH DARWEN ECONOMIC MONITOR: 2015

WEC Group Ltd, Darwen

Precision Polymer

Engineering, Blackburn

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HIVE: THE STORY SO FAR

SEPLaunch event at Blackburn Youth Zone

FEBA visit by the Government’s Minister for Trade and Investment, hosted by Graham & Brown

JAN‘Connectivity in business’ with 6G Internet at Ewood Park

SEP‘Creativity in business’ with Wayne Hemingway MBE, hosted by Crown Paints

JULHive young people-employer engagement event at King George’s Hall

DECHive finance workshop hosted by Accrol Papers

2012 2013 2014

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MARBusiness growth summit with the Local Strategic Partnership at Blackburn Youth Zone

JULEnterprising Britain Award commendation for improving the business environment

MAR‘Doing Business in Blackburn’ with NW Business Insider at Blackburn Cathedral

OCTHive event with creative director and fashion designer Patrick Grant

MARInaugural Hive Blackburn and Darwen Business Awards Dinner at Blackburn Cathedral

JULMade in the UK exhibition at Liverpool as part of the International Festival for Business 2014

MARLaunch of the ‘Creative Hive’ network at Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery

MAR‘Investing in Blackburn’ with NW Business Insider at Ewood Park

OCT‘Arte et Labore’: By skill and hard work – Hive event hosted by Blackburn Rovers F.C

NOVLaunch of the Borough’s ‘Plan for Prosperity 2014-2020’, hosted by Accrol Papers

2015

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MEET THE HIVE STEERING GROUP

Khalid Saifullah

Khalid Saifullah is Director of Star Tissue UK and Chair of the Hive Network. Established in 2003, Star Tissue manufactures away from home hygiene paper products, providing private label products to major suppliers and distributors in the personal hygiene, catering and medical markets in the UK and Ireland. Khalid has previously been awarded the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion and has featured in the Guardian’s annual poll of the 50 ‘most influential people in the North’.

khalid@startissueuk.co.uk

Ian Brown

Ian Brown represents the third generation in the family business of Graham and Brown. Formed in 1946 the company supplies wall decorative products to consumers worldwide. Having entered the business in 1984, Ian’s current role as CSR Director has seen the company develop a strong environmental strategy. More recently Ian has managed the company’s logistical operations at Shuttleworth Mead which services the distribution of goods from the UK to retailers and consumers worldwide.

Ian.Brown @grahambrown.com

Nicola Clayton

Nicola Clayton is Director of Business Development & External Engagement at Blackburn College. Founded more than 127 years’ ago, Blackburn College is a unique Educational Institution in that it has Sixth Form provision, extensive Further Education provision and a top rated University Centre; it is a ‘one stop shop’ supporting student progression, attainment and employability, serving the whole community with a full and relevant academic offer in the heartland of Pennine Lancashire.

n.clayton@blackburn.ac.uk

Mark Lomas

Mark Lomas is Director at Lomas Office Furniture and Stationery Ltd – a Blackburn family firm for over 30 years. Mark has worked in the company since leaving school, helping to transform the business from a second hand furniture retailer to the designing and delivery of innovative workspaces. Services offered nationwide include fit out and furniture supply, along with a dedicated stationery team supplying all of the north west from the company’s Blackburn showroom on King Street.

mark@lomasoffice.co.uk

Mike Damms

Mike Damms is Chief Executive at the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber lobbies for its members and the wider business community, engages in public-private partnerships for economic regeneration, and provides support services specialising in international trade, purchase & supply, internet services, training and business mentors. Among other positions, Mike sits on the boards of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership and the Regional Leaders’ Board and is chair of the N.W. Manufacturing Forum.

m.damms @chamberelancs.co.uk

Michael Hill

Michael Hill is Managing Director of Optima Control Solutions Ltd. Located on Capricorn Park in Blackburn, Optima boasts a team of professional engineers providing expert industrial control solutions worldwide. After serving his apprenticeship at Cobble Blackburn Ltd, and subsequently graduating from Manchester University, Michael held positions at Kennedy and Donkin Consulting Engineers (Manchester) and Eurotherm Drives Ltd. (West Sussex) before he and a colleague formed Optima CS and set up in Blackburn in 1995.

michael.hill @optimacs.com

David Sharpe

David Sharpe is a Director of Pierce Group. He is also president of the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce. Pierce are specialist providers of business advice and accountancy services to predominantly family run and owner managed business. Established in 1929 and based centrally in Blackburn, Pierce provides a wide variety of services including Corporate Finance, Forensic Accountancy, Business consultancy, tax planning and audit and tax compliance.

d.sharpe@pierce.co.uk

Matthew Sidgreaves

Matthew Sidgreaves is part of the Council’s Growth and Prosperity Department with responsibility for improving the prospects of businesses within the Borough along with greater opportunities for residents, underpinned by Blackburn with Darwen’s Plan for Prosperity. Matthew joined the Council in 2003 and has more than 10 years’ experience of working in economic regeneration. Matthew is committed to ensuring a positive Council-business relationship and has provided support to Hive since forming in 2012.

matthew.sidgreaves @blackburn.gov.uk

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SUPPORTING OUR FUTURE WORKFORCE

OUR AIM

Hive has been, and always will be committed to encouraging the future workforce of the borough to stay, work and innovate in the area. We want to support greater collaboration between business and the borough’s education providers. In the latest survey of the borough’s companies, almost 9 in 10 businesses which had experienced recruitment difficulties cited a shortage of people with the right skills or attitudes.

Hive members have a diverse range of opportunities and requirements, and our education providers play a vital role in developing the skills and attitudes of our future workforce. Hive will engage with partners to provide a framework for businesses to support our young people, firstly engaging with secondary schools in our borough. It will replace the current Business Class programme.

In doing so, it will allow more businesses to get involved and thereby provide a greater range of support to the schools, whilst also developing the right skills, aspiration and motivation to take our businesses forward.

HOW WILL IT WORK?

Hive and its partners will work to understand the needs of our schools. Similarly, we will work with Hive members to gauge the skill and capacity a business can offer the scheme. By co-ordinating the two, a clear engagement process can then be agreed matching the skills of the business to a school’s needs, while being mindful of the company’s availability to provide.

IS MY BUSINESS NOT TOO SMALL?

No. Future job creation is likely to come from today’s smaller businesses, so your participation is vital to close a potential skills gap and ensure there are suitably skilled recruits in the future. All businesses have a role to play, and this is a great opportunity to determine the level of support you can offer as part of a much larger provision.

HOW MIGHT MY BUSINESS CONTRIBUTE?

Any one of the following would be a useful contribution in supporting our future workforce:

Enterprise and employment Hosting a visit to your place of work Pupil mentoring and career information

and advice Work experience opportunities Attending jobs and careers fairs Helping with interview practice Running a competition or challenge

Curriculum support Bringing subjects such as mathematics,

language and science to life by using real life business situations

School leadership and governance Practical advice on areas such as HR, IT,

change and project management Becoming a school governor Providing teacher work placements

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YOUR HIVE

Since its creation in 2012, Hive has benefitted from tremendous support within the Blackburn and Darwen business community, with enterprises of all sizes subscribing to Hive’s ethos of “it’s what I can do for the borough, not what the borough can do for me”.

A powerful network has been formed which is committed to: Inspiring prosperity and encouraging

businesses to grow and succeed Creating platforms where businesses of all

sizes and sector can share knowledge, share experience, collaborate and trade locally

Promoting the borough, locally and across the wider UK, as a great place to do business and invest

Improving opportunities for the borough’s residents, especially our young people – by raising aspirations and improving skills, ensuring that businesses’ needs are met

Become a member of the Hive network at www.business-hive.co.uk

WINNERS OF THE INAUGURAL HIVE BUSINESS AWARDS 2015

The Bright Spark AwardBlackburn Alarms, Daniel DevittChase Templeton, Lynsey DoranTwist Event Catering, Megan GallacherWEC Group, James Pickles – WINNER

The Eureka AwardPrefix SystemsScancaptureTwist Event CateringWEC Group – WINNER

The Enterprise in Education AwardBlackburn CollegeDarwen Aldridge Community Academy – WINNERTraining 2000Westholme School

The Creative Agency AwardContrado DigitalGregory Audio VisualSource CreativeTPW Design Consultants – WINNER

The High Growth AwardAccess Ability CICAMT LawyersLance Mason Solicitors – WINNERNorthern Industrial

The International Achievement AwardContrado DigitalNorthern IndustrialPrecision Polymer Engineering – WINNERSovereign Beverage Company

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SUPPORT HIVE

We believe all businesses play an equally important part in the future prosperity of the borough, and should be allowed to decide if they would like to contribute.

To become a supporter of Hive, the minimum annual donation is £100.00

However, there is no maximum so we would encourage businesses to give generously so that together we can make a real difference in the borough.

Funds generated on an annual basis will be re-invested in projects and initiatives which support the objectives of Hive, as directed by its members and under the stewardship of the Hive steering group.

To make a donation, visit Hive online at www.business-hive.co.uk

The Investing in the Future AwardLance MasonNorthern IndustrialTwin Valley Homes – WINNERWEC Group

The Manufacturing Excellence AwardPrecision Polymer EngineeringPrefix SystemsWEC Group – WINNNERWoodscape

The Newcomer AwardAccess Ability CICPraetura Asset FinancePrefix Systems – WINNERPure Star Cleaning

The Young Entrepreneur AwardBlackburn AlarmsChocolat By Daniel Coletta – WINNERContrado DigitalDuffin’s Estate Agents

The Arte et Labore AwardAndrew Graham MBE – WINNER

The Hive Chairman’s AwardAccrol Papers – WINNER

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INVESTING IN OUR TOWNS

BLACKBURN CATHEDRAL QUARTER

£30m development in the heart of Blackburn Town Centre featuring a 60 bed Premier Inn hotel, 30,000 sq ft of Grade A office space with retail/restaurant space, a new public square and Blackburn Cathedral’s Clergy Court.

PENNINE REACH

A £40m major transport scheme aimed at improving the local bus network along the Accrington-Blackburn-Darwen corridor and linking in with the east-west and north-south railway lines. Includes the construction of Blackburn’s new bus station.

THE MAKING ROOMS

A new state of the art technology and manufacturing hub in Blackburn Town Centre, incorporating Lancashire’s first Fab Lab to be equipped with cutting edge equipment and small scale manufacturing machinery such as 3D printers.

THE MALL

FRECKLETON STREET LINK ROAD

The Mall’s £66m redevelop-ment provided 250,000 sq ft of retail space and facilitated the £8m development and relocation of Blackburn Market. The Mall’s investment continues in the form of a £3.5m redevelopment of the Ainsworth Street side of the site.

Construction of the final phase of Blackburn Town Centre’s link road connecting Montague Street and the Wainwright Bridge, creating a gateway into the centre of Blackburn and opening up employment land for development.

BLACKBURN BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT

A 5 year business-led and funded initiative aimed at attracting & supporting business in Blackburn Town Centre through creating a more attractive and safer town centre environment and increasing promotion of the town.

BLACKBURN SPORTS & LEISURE CENTRE

A £13.5m project between Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and Blackburn College to improve the health and wellbeing of residents, students and visitors. The new facility includes a six-lane swimming pool, fitness gym, two sports halls and a health suite.

BLACKBURN COLLEGE

A new £65m Student Village including a £5.5m state of the art Regional Automotive Hub, and £7m Sir Bill Taylor Futures Centre which houses a variety of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths based subjects.

DARWEN ALDRIDGE ENTERPRISE STUDIO

A new Studio School for students aged 14-19 offering an alternative environment to the traditional school setting. Part of the Aldridge Foundation’s family of schools including Darwen Aldridge Community Academy, Darwen Vale High School and Sudell Primary School.

BLACKBURN YOUTH ZONE

The Zone is a state of the art facility offering cutting-edge equipment, resources, tailor made sports and arts programmes, along with extensive mentoring and personal support to turn around the opportunities and options available to young people within the borough.

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PLAYING OUR PART IN THE BOROUGH’S PLAN FOR PROSPERITY

PRIORITY: BUSINESS INVESTMENT & INNOVATION

PRIORITY: HOUSING

PRIORITY: EMPLOYABILITY

PRIORITY: INFRASTRUCTURE

PRIORITY: IMAGE & MARKETING

PRIORITY: QUALITY OF LIFE

“To grow and diversify the economy, ensuring that Blackburn with Darwen is open for business”

Outcomes by 2020 – more private sector investment, more patents granted, more exporting

“To widen housing choice by building more quality housing for sale, including family and affordable housing”

Outcomes by 2020 – more than 3,000 new homes built

“To improve the employment prospects of residents and ensure that businesses’ skills needs are met”

Outcomes by 2020 – 2,700 new jobs from key private and public investments. More residents in work. More residents qualified to NVQ level 4 and above. More apprenticeship opportunities. More students obtaining 5 GCSEs grade A*- C in core subjects

“To provide good quality employment sites, serviced by a well-connected and effective transport system”

Outcomes by 2020 – 100,000 sqm of new commercial floor space across key regeneration sites. Delivery of the £40m Pennine Reach sustainable transport scheme

“To improve the internal and external perception of Blackburn with Darwen as a place to live, work, visit and invest”

Outcomes by 2020 – improved perceptions, increased levels of inward investment, a growth in visitor numbers

“To improve the quality of life for all who live in Blackburn with Darwen”

Outcomes by 2020 – better resident health and a longer life expectancy

Blackburn with Darwen’s Plan for Prosperity sets out the Local Strategic Partnership’s key priorities to 2020. The priorities are underpinned by the need to create the environment for a thriving and competitive business base, leading to improved prospects for the borough’s residents. The Hive is an important contributor to many of the outcomes detailed.

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E : info@business-hive.co.ukW : www.business-hive.co.uk

: @HiveBwD

BLACKBURN AND DARWEN BUSINESS LEADERS NETWORK

Company no. 09626952

DESIGN BY: sourcecreative.co.uk

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