Academies report surge in engagement with Blackpool businesses

LBV Jan 2024.jpg.jpg

Angela Kershaw, Blackpool Council’s head of business growth, has expressed the Growth Team’s delight at the early success of the two new business academies which launched in the Autumn of 2023.

Blackpool Growth Business Academy, funded by the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, offers personalised support to businesses that are starting, growing and scaling, whilst the Blackpool Net Zero Business Academy provides personalised support to help businesses decarbonise. Both Academies have seen Blackpool business leaders seeking their tailored expertise and guidance to drive success and sustainability.

The Blackpool Net Zero Business Academy has received significant interest from a multitude of hospitality businesses in the resort. Many have arranged energy audits, particularly focusing on heating their venues during the current season, to ensure accuracy in their bills and receive guidance on implementable actions to enhance energy efficiency. This trend for fully funded energy audits has been duplicated in other sectors where businesses are keen to understand their carbon footprint and how they can reduce it.

A Blackpool-based business with aspirations to elevate its revenue from £1m to £3m has sought the expertise of the Blackpool Growth Business Academy. Recognising the need for a structured growth plan to complement its day-to-day operations, the business owners have engaged a scale-up coach to gain clarity on the next 6-12-24 months, with a focus on setting actionable targets and steps. Collaborating with an experienced scale-up specialist the company is undergoing the development of a comprehensive commercial plan to drive its growth.

Among the success stories emerging from the Blackpool Growth Business Academy is another local company with ambitious plans to scale its operations fivefold, from £1m to £5m. With a keen focus on optimising processes, leadership and team development, as well as a strategic emphasis on increasing ecommerce sales, this company is leveraging the support of the Academy to actualise its growth vision. Through a tailored growth action plan and the guidance of a trusted growth coach, the business is charting a course towards sustained expansion, catering to both B2B and B2C markets.

Commenting on the take-up of the Academies’ offerings, Angela Kershaw said: "We are delighted to see such strong engagement from the Blackpool business community for this fully funded support. The enthusiasm for sustainability and growth is extremely pleasing to witness. We’ve already engaged with a wide selection of businesses, with more planned in the coming months.

"We believe the enthusiasm and proactive engagement of Blackpool businesses with the Academies reflects the community's commitment to driving the sustainable growth and prosperity of Blackpool."

The academies are fully funded, helping qualifying businesses grow sustainably. Talk to Blackpool Unlimited about the support available to grow your business and take your net zero journey. Email [email protected] or call The Business Growth Team on 01253 477147.

Enjoyed this? Read more from Blackpool Unlimited

Latest news

1

Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses get planning approval for state-of-the-art cheesemaking campus Butler Farmhouse Cheeses

Butlers Farmhouse Cheeses get planning approval for state-of-the-art cheesemaking campus

11 Mar 2025

2

Lancashire County Council launches pioneering angel investor network to support early-stage business growth Angels support

Lancashire County Council launches pioneering angel investor network to support early-stage business growth

11 Mar 2025

3

New project chief to oversee Eden’s delivery eden-project-north.jpg

New project chief to oversee Eden’s delivery

07 Mar 2025

4

Warden Construction strengthens community impact with new social value lead Heather Thompson

Warden Construction strengthens community impact with new social value lead

07 Mar 2025

5

LANX expands Lancashire team following period of growth LANX team

LANX expands Lancashire team following period of growth

06 Mar 2025

Pc Prestonmacan Gif980x120 March
Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV121 March/April Launch Event
121 Lancashire Business View Magazine Launch
Networking
20 Mar 2025

LBV121 March/April Launch Event

The Whitakers Museum, Rossendale, BB4 6RE

08:30 - 10:30

Skills Bootcamp in Procurement - Cohort 3
Blue-Modern-Land-Travel-Youtube-Thumbnail-2-1024x576.png.png
LBV Hub Awards
14 Jan 2025 - 18 Mar 2025

Skills Bootcamp in Procurement - Cohort 3

Community & Business Partners CIC, Blackburn, BB2 3UA

09:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Red Rose Awards 2025
Red Rose Awards 2025
Awards
13 Mar 2025

Red Rose Awards 2025

Winter Gardens Blackpool

18:00 - 11:59

March Preston tech Connection: IWD Accelerate Action
PRESTON TECH CONNECTION jan.ai-5.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
13 Mar 2025 - 13 Mar 2025

March Preston tech Connection: IWD Accelerate Action

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Live Work Create: Creative Placemaking.
LiveWorkCreate .png.png
LBV Hub Networking
18 Mar 2025 - 18 Mar 2025

Live Work Create: Creative Placemaking.

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:30

Seasons of Leadership - Spring
jeremy-thomas-FO7bKvgETgQ-unsplash.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Webinar
18 Mar 2025 - 18 Mar 2025

Seasons of Leadership - Spring

Online, Trawden, BB8 8SW

19:00 - 21:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (18).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
20 Mar 2025 - 20 Feb 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

The Marketing MeetUp Lancashire
TMM Lancs 30th Jan.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
25 Mar 2025 - 25 Mar 2025

The Marketing MeetUp Lancashire

The Chubby Duck, Rawtenstall, BB4 6AJ

18:00 - 20:00

Spring Statement 2025 LIVE: Insights with PM+M
Spring Statement 2025 LIVE for website.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Mar 2025 - 26 Mar 2025

Spring Statement 2025 LIVE: Insights with PM+M

Blackburn Rovers, Blackburn, BB2 4JF

12:00 - 15:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: March
Freelancer Meet-Up March.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
27 Mar 2025 - 27 Mar 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: March

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV120 Online Graphic 1
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin