Business leaders lend weight to City bid for Blackburn
Businesses large and small across Blackburn have put their weight behind Blackburn’s bid for City status as part of the national competition to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
Business leaders also believe the ‘City’ title will stimulate Blackburn’s future economy by increasing its profile. A report recently produced by the OECD stated that cities, as opposed to towns, were more likely to experience higher income growth.
Blackburn and the wider borough already contributes approximately £3.2bn to the national economy, and the town is reaping the rewards of multimillion-pound investment and regeneration programmes. Business and community leaders believe further success can be achieved with a City title.
Martin Kelly, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s director of growth and development, said: “City status will help Blackburn get the recognition it deserves and will play a key role in helping attract investment and will aid the town’s economic regeneration.”
With the bid for City status now submitted, it received support from more than 100 businesses ranging from market traders and start-up companies to national and international companies.
Ilyas Munshi, commercial director of international business, Euro Garages, said: “As an international business, we regularly entertain senior executives from leading retail brands from various countries around the world. They are always impressed with the quality space, infrastructure and business acumen that Blackburn represents. The area truly reflects the City ambitions, and it is firmly on the global map as an important location from a business perspective.
“City recognition would also facilitate additional opportunities such as developing an effective skills base to meet the needs of local businesses, that will allow individuals to actively pursue professional careers and also establish their businesses.”
Council leaders have also been enthused by the business community’s response to lend support.
Cllr Quesir Mahmood
Cllr Quesir Mahmood, joint deputy council leader, who is leading the application, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the support shown by businesses. They are undoubtedly passionate about Blackburn becoming a City, with many of them detailing how important securing city status will be in helping enhance our already dynamic economy.
“The feedback has been inspiring. We’ve got an amazing cross section of businesses here from market traders to international organisations, all wanting the very best for Blackburn and to showcase how good it is to do business here.”
The town has also witnessed a growth in start-ups and high growth businesses across various sectors, such as technology, creative industries, professional services, food, and drink alongside established manufacturing companies.
According to council records, between 2017 to 2021, Blackburn businesses achieved a higher level of growth of 14%, compared with the rest of Lancashire, which was 3.9 per cent and the national English average of 4.2 per cent.
Industry leaders also believe the City title will see more companies choosing Blackburn as a strategic location. Tony Attard, chief executive of Panaz, which has a manufacturing base in the town, said: “Being a city will make Blackburn a more attractive investment proposition. It will raise the profile. It will show intent and ambition.”
This intent was an attractive proposition that encouraged Rizwan Wadan from Pixeleyed Pictures to relocate his film business from London to Blackburn. He said: “I’m passionate about helping to develop Blackburn’s capabilities as a northern hub for filmmaking, across a variety of disciplines including engineering and technology. Blackburn has so much to offer. It’s got the right infrastructure, and there is so much growth potential. I’m excited for my business’s future here.”
