‘Exciting to see what this could mean for the future of businesses across Hyndburn and Lancashire’
Kirsty Henshaw shared what she learned with the gathered business leaders at Accrington Stanley’s Wham Stadium(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)
The leader of Hyndburn Council has praised a business funding event convened in Accrington, which could help firms to drive future economic growth across the borough.
More than 100 business owners, support organisations and even a Dragons’ Den winner gathered at Accrington Stanley’s Wham Stadium on Wednesday for “Funding Unlocked”, an event organised by the authority with the aim of connecting firms with investment opportunities.
Speaking after the event, Cllr Munsif Dad, leader of Hyndburn Borough Council, said bringing businesses and funding providers together was key to helping local firms expand.
He said: “What a fantastic event, bringing businesses and experts together to share knowledge, advice and opportunities. The collaboration was brilliant, the discussions were incredibly informative, and it’s exciting to see what this could mean for the future of businesses across Hyndburn and Lancashire.”
The event reflects the council’s wider economic ambitions at a time when local authorities are under pressure to stimulate growth, support entrepreneurship and attract investment into town centres and employment sites.
Held in the stadium’s 1968 Lounge, the free event gave businesses the chance to hear from funders, lenders and business support organisations about grants, loans and private investment opportunities.
Entrepreneur Kirsty Henshaw, best known for her success on Dragons’ Den, delivered the keynote address, while an expert panel discussed the challenges businesses face when trying to secure funding.
The discussion was chaired by Richard Slater of Lancashire Business View and featured Rory Southworth of Fhunded Angels, Mark Gibbons of Befund, Leon Carroll of The King’s Trust, Martin Emmott of Rosebud Finance and Salma Chaudhry, the council’s economic development manager.
Among the key themes discussed was what makes a business “fundable”, with panellists offering practical advice on preparing applications and approaching potential investors.
The event also showcased businesses that had previously benefited from support. David Williams, of Accrin Mortgages, spoke about receiving a start-up grant after launching his own firm following redundancy from a high street bank, while Manor House Farm outlined how grant funding had helped diversify the business through the development of an on-site ice cream shop.
Organisers said the event was designed not only to raise awareness of available funding but also to strengthen links between Lancashire businesses, investors and support organisations as they look to unlock future growth opportunities.
Businesses gathered to learn from each other and discuss ideas to boost growth(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)
The event reflects East Lancashire’s wider economic ambitions at a time when local authorities are under pressure to stimulate growth, support entrepreneurship and attract investment into town centres and employment sites.
It comes just days after almost 1,500 people attended a major jobs fair in neighbouring Burnley, where employers were advertising around 1,500 vacancies.
While the Burnley event focused on matching residents with employment opportunities, Hyndburn’s event targeted the other side of the equation, helping businesses access the funding, advice and investment needed to grow and create jobs.
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