Luke Massie and Kirsty Henshaw have been there, done that. They have both built successful companies that have had national success, navigated investment and continue to build their businesses and brands.

Preston Partnership is holding an informal discussion at Cotton Court on June 11, hosted by Rob Binns, talking through their success stories and some of the challenges they have faced along the way. Be inspired, ask questions, and take some valuable insights back to the office.

Join us for networking with other entrepreneurs, aspiring and established business owners over pizza and the drink of choice, we’ll have soft drinks, prosecco, beers and tea & coffee!

This is a free event and spaces are limited so book your ticket now on Eventbrite here.

SAVE THE DATE: This session is the first in a series of masterclasses being held at venues around Preston. Our next event will be held at Society1 Wednesday 9 July.The event will be catered, so please let us know if you have any dietary requirements.

About Kirsty Henshaw: Kirsty Henshaw hit the headlines in 2010 when she found success on Dragon’s Den with her dairy-free alternative to ice cream. Fifteen years later, Kirsty’s has its own state-of-the-art food factory in Yorkshire, a new MyProtein Licensed partnership, and continues to be a leading brand in the “free from” space, with new investment backing.

A single mum, originally from Preston, Kirsty has navigated major complications, like receiving the keys to her new factory four weeks before the first lockdown alongside delays and shortages caused by Brexit. However, with 85 employees, Kirsty’s is still growing, innovating and identifying new opportunities.

About Luke Massie: Luke Massie sold his first business when he was 19 years old. In 2017, he was listed as one of the UK’s top 100 young entrepreneurs as he gained national fame and support from high profile businessman, Richard Brandson, for Vibe Tickets.Luke faced some serious challenges along the way, including Vibe Tickets going into administration.

VibePay was later born as he pivoted from tickets to payments during the dramatically-changing landscape of the pandemic.More recently, Luke has made headlines again with Banked’s acquisition of VibePay – already a market leader in its own right.

A Grade II listed former magistrates court is set to become a high-quality flexible workspace in Preston city centre.

Updated plans for the c.£9m transformation of Preston’s historic Amounderness House into modern flexible workspace have been approved.

The amended proposals follow changes to the original design of planned new build elements and facades in the rear courtyard of the Grade II listed property.

With planning consent already granted, the updated plans by FWP Architects and submitted by S&L Planning Consultants on behalf of Preston City Council proposed changes to the rear elevation while still creating 26 offices and studios plus meeting and event space to be operated by Preston-based bespoke office space provider Wrkspace.

The rear elevation changes were designed to be sympathetic with the existing building, with complementary materials and sustainability factors considered while achieving cost efficiencies.

The revised plans incorporate the existing courtyard, which is being improved for public use. The building’s physical and historical architecture will continue to be sensitively preserved as part of the overall refurbishment.

Maple Grove Developments, the development arm of Preston-based Eric Wright Group, is working with Preston City Council to deliver the transformation of Amounderness House, built in 1857 as a police station before becoming a magistrates court.

As no objections to the amended proposals were received, the Council granted consent and work will start on site this summer.

John Chesworth, Preston Partnership chair, said: “The much-anticipated rejuvenation of Amounderness House will transform an outstanding and historic property, further boosting economic activity in central Preston by providing state-of-the-art flexible workspace for ambitious businesses.”

Rizwan Seth, Preston Partnership board member and managing director of Wrkspace, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be part of the newly approved Amounderness House development in the heart of Preston city centre.

“Working alongside Maple Grove Developments and Preston City Council on this landmark project reflects our shared commitment to revitalising city centre spaces.

“The addition of Amounderness House to our successful network of Wrkspace business centres across Lancashire represents an exciting opportunity to support Preston’s growing business community with flexible, high-quality workspace.”

Chris Hayward, Preston City Council’s director of development and housing, added: “Breathing new life into Amounderness House will play a key role in our ongoing drive to support the growth of innovative local businesses by providing them with an inspiring and dynamic city centre hub.”

Nik Puttnam, senior development manager at Maple Grove Developments (MGD), explained: “MGD are delighted to be involved in the Amounderness House project. The restoration and refurbishment of this key part of Preston’s heritage into high quality managed workspace, will complement the wider regeneration of the Harris Quarter. Further, the delivery of this new managed workspace will support the economic growth of the city centre and opportunities for new local businesses.”

Amounderness House is one of six major projects under Preston’s Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme, for which the City was awarded £20.9m from the Government’s Towns Fund in March 2021.

Harris Quarter is a unique area of Preston undergoing a £200m investment programme to transform its historic buildings, sites and public realm into a diverse culture, leisure and employment offering, with Amounderness House located beside the recently opened £45m+ Animate cinema and leisure destination.

Preston-based S&L Planning Consultants submitted the updated application on behalf of Preston City Council, with the wider project team on Amounderness House being Cowburn-Watson Box, SCP Transport, Eden Heritage, E3P, TRP Consulting, and Graham Schofield Associates.

News courtesy of Preston City Council.

Preston has been announced as the host city for LIFT, the inaugural Lancashire Innovation, Funding and Tech festival, marking another major event secured for the city.

Produced by Innovate Lancashire – a Lancashire County Council economic growth programme – LIFT will bring together founders, business leaders and key influencers for a half-day event at Chew’s Yard, Market Street, on June 12.

With a focus on actionable takeaways, LIFT will feature a four-hour programme of keynote talks, fireside chats and panel discussions featuring entrepreneurs, investors, finance experts and tech sector specialists.

Preston Partnership, the private sector-led business group with over 200 members, has been announced as the host sponsor for LIFT.

The announcement of LIFT follows Preston’s success hosting February’s Convention of the North (CoN), which saw over 800 political and business leaders, including government ministers, attend events at Lancashire County Council and the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan). Preston Partnership also played a key role, hosting a fringe event for 200 guests.

Rob Binns, a board member at Preston Partnership, said: “Preston Partnership exists to tell Preston’s story, shape its future and bring together an ambitious community. By sponsoring LIFT, we’re helping spotlight Preston’s pivotal role in Lancashire’s growing tech and innovation eco-system. Events such as LIFT help create the conditions for investment, collaboration and long-term economic growth.

“Following the Convention of the North and the February opening of the new Animate leisure scheme, the arrival of LIFT in Preston is yet another sign of the growing momentum in the city.”

Innovate Lancashire’s programme lead, Hannah Churchman, said: “LIFT is a new innovation, tech and early-stage finance event aimed at dynamic entrepreneurs and progressive industry leaders across the whole of the county. For its inaugural event, Preston, which is home to an expanding tech and digital economy and a growing community of ambitious founders, was seen as an obvious location.

“Being able to work with a business-led organisation like Preston Partnership was another reason to bring LIFT to the city. The partnership understands the value of bringing the private and public sectors together to drive business growth and create new investment opportunities, and it supports the initiatives like Preston Innovates.

“The synergies between Innovate Lancashire’s countywide objectives and what’s happening in Preston – especially in the tech, digital and innovation space – are clearly very strong, and we greatly value the support and involvement of Preston Partnership in LIFT as its host city sponsor.”

Christina Cort, partner at Chew’s Yard, said: “It’s incredibly rewarding to see so many companies and individuals choosing Chew’s Yard as an event venue. High profile events like LIFT and the Convention of the North coming to Preston help people see the city in a new light, inspiring confidence in what this place has to offer. Success breeds success. Preston should aim high and over deliver every time.”

In 2024, Preston Partnership commissioned the Nurturing Preston’s Innovation Ecosystem report, which was conducted by Plexal. The report recommended enhancing collaboration among stakeholders, improving digital infrastructure and developing innovation hubs to capitalise on opportunities like the National Cyber Force’s relocation to Samlesbury.

The report led to the creation of Preston Innovates, an initiative powered by Preston Partnership to grow the city’s innovation ecosystem. Focusing on tech, cyber, advanced manufacturing and green sectors, it is led by innovation ambassador, Shirah Bamber, and hosts events and collaborates across sectors to position Preston as an innovation hub.

LIFT takes place on Thursday June 12 and will begin with arrival and networking from 12pm to 1pm, followed by the main programme from 1pm to 4:30pm. It will conclude with a drinks reception and DJ from 4.30pm to 6.30pm.

To book tickets, visit here.

Encounter Festival will return on Saturday, 20 September 2025, marking its tenth anniversary with its most ambitious programme yet.

Following a year of record engagement, plans are in place to create a Festival Village across the Harris Quarter, providing new opportunities for community involvement, and expanding Preston’s Torchlight Procession.

Since its pilot in 2015, Encounter Festival has grown significantly; attracting 47,000 visitors in 2024 and continuing its ambition to provide a platform for high-quality arts, performances, and community engagement. An application for Arts Council England funding has been submitted, with a decision expected in April, supporting plans to grow the festival’s scale and impact for audiences.

Record Engagement and a Growing Audience

Encounter Festival continues to reach new audiences, with nearly one in five visitors experiencing arts and culture for the first time and a growing number attending from outside of the city. The latest evaluation report highlights that the festival is diversifying its audience, with visitors in 2024 representing 16 of the 17 recognised ethnic identities, up from 11 the previous year.

Visitors described the festival as a ‘welcoming and inclusive space’ that brings communities together through shared experiences.

One attendee commented: “Amazing that a festival of that scale is in Preston; to be part of it was an amazing opportunity.”

The festival continues to create opportunities for artists, performers, and organisations, supporting local talent and attracting nationally recognised acts. Over 2,000 artists and performers participated in 2024, crediting Encounter Festival as an important platform for their development. Supporting young people is a core strand of the Encounter Festival programme. Last year, the festival collaborated with youth-centred organisation Blaze Arts.

An individual at Blaze commented on the success of the collaboration, stating that it gave “young people the chance to develop their production skills, event organising skills and project management”.

Exciting Plans for 2025

Encounter Festival’s tenth anniversary will provide an opportunity to build on its success and further strengthen its role as a key link between Preston’s cultural events, including the city’s historic Preston Guild celebrations.

The 2025 festival will take a major step forward, creating a Festival Village across The Harris Quarter, designed to encourage visitors to stay all day and into the evening. This will connect key locations across the city centre, providing spaces for live performances and interactive activities.

The Torchlight Procession will also expand, with more groups set to take part, making it the largest procession in the festival’s history. A dedicated programme will support new community groups and cultural organisations to get involved, reinforcing the festival’s commitment to inclusivity and participation.

Sarah Threlfall, Deputy Chief Executive & Director of Community & Wellbeing at Preston City Council said: “Encounter Festival continues to grow in impact and significance, bringing thousands of people into Preston’s city centre each year. As we approach the festival’s tenth anniversary, we look forward to developing an even stronger programme that reflects the city’s creativity, ambition, and diversity. We encourage local businesses, artists, and communities to get involved and help shape what promises to be a landmark event in 2025.”

The 2025 event programme will see Preston host a range of large-scale cultural events throughout the year, including, Preston Caribbean Carnival, Preston City Mela, and Preston Pride. Encounter Festival will continue to develop its programme in collaboration with local and national artists, providing even more opportunities for community participation and engagement.

Encounter Festival’s mission is to celebrate and nurture creativity, ambition, and community spirit in Preston and beyond. With its diverse programming and strong focus on local engagement, the festival is poised to continue its growth and success.

News courtesy of Preston City Council.

On February 27, to coincide with the Convention of the North taking place in Preston, we hosted a special Preston Party event that brought together nearly 200 Preston Partnership members and regional leaders from across the North of England.

Held at Preston’s Chew’s Yard, the evening opened with a welcome from Preston Partnership chair John Chesworth, who spoke about the significance of the Convention arriving in the city for the first time.

The event was filled with positive conversations, valuable connections and a celebration of Preston’s growing confidence.

Our video team also spoke with several attendees, capturing their views on Preston and their hopes for the city’s future. These Preston Point of View (POV) conversations will be shared on our LinkedIn over the coming weeks.

Join Preston Partnership

If you would like to join the community of over 200 members working together to help Preston realise its potential, head over to our join page and choose your membership package. Membership is £100 per year or £2,000 if you want to become a strategic partner.

Our event image gallery can be found below.

The Harris Museum, Art Gallery and Library has announced successful awards totalling £25,000 from The Pilgrim Trust, The Henry Moore Foundation and Friends of the Harris to support conservation and redisplay of the Alexander Frieze.

This significant funding will play a crucial role in displaying the frieze for future visitors to The Harris following the current Harris Your Place project; aimed at reimagining The Harris for future generations.

The plaster frieze depicts Alexander the Great, leading his army into the city of Babylon in 331 BC after defeating the Persian king.

The original version of the frieze was made in 1812 by Danish neoclassical sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen, with several copies created in his lifetime. The Harris’ version was brought to England in 1862 and was gifted to the Harris by the V&A in 1987. It has become a visitor favourite over the years and fits perfectly with the neo-classical design scheme of the building.

The sheer scale and intricate details of this masterpiece present a substantial challenge for the conservator and specialist installation team involved in its preservation.

The conservation project beginning in March 2025, will involve meticulous work to ensure the frieze is preserved for future visitors to enjoy.

The funding will enable The Harris to address the complex needs of this significant piece, ensuring its structural stability and visual integrity.

Councillor Hindle, Cabinet Member for Culture and Arts at Preston City Council said: “We are delighted to receive this generous grant from the Pilgrim Trust, Henry Moore Foundation and Friends of the Harris. The Alexander Frieze is an important part of our collection, and this funding allows us to undertake vital conservation work to ensure it can be enjoyed by visitors for years to come.

“The Harris Your Place project is all about protecting our historic collections while making them more accessible, and this support is a significant step towards that goal.”

Pilgrim Trust Director Sue Bowers added: “We are delighted to support the conservation and redisplay of the Alexander Frieze with a £20,000 grant. It is a visitor favourite but now requires work form a specialist conservator to help stabilise and safeguard it for future generations to enjoy.”

Prof. Peter Lloyd ARE, Chair of Trustees for the Friends of The Harris said: “The Friends of the Harris are proud to support the conservation of the Alexander Frieze, ensuring that people in Preston and beyond can continue to enjoy and be inspired by this remarkable piece of our shared heritage.”

Visit The Harris website – Alexander Frieze conservation project and the Harris Your Place project for more information.

News courtesy of Preston City Council.

Two Preston city parks have been given the green light for a multi-million pound revamp by the city’s Planning Committee this week.

The plans, submitted by Preston-based S&L Planning Consultants, have been approved and the work will be carried out by Eric Wright Civil Engineering, which is due to start in the summer.

Councillor Amber Afzal, Cabinet Member at Preston City Council for Planning Regulation and Chair of the Planning Committee said: “We are delighted that these plans have been passed and we can get started on the much needed improvements to our city’s treasured green spaces.

“Given the special listed status that Moor Park enjoys, due respect has been given to the conservation areas and preserving and enhancing the historic park. Any new additions will make a positive contribution to the local character and distinctiveness of our parks.

Councillor Freddie Bailey, Cabinet Member for Environment and Community Safety said: “We are looking forward to the improvements that will enhance our greenspaces that will also help to increase outdoor activity and greater leisure time, improving the health and wellbeing of our communities by delivering new, higher quality and more accessible sports and play facilities, better footpaths and landscaping to enjoy, in a safer environment.”

Gavin Hulme, Operations Director at Eric Wright Civil Engineering commented: “It’s great news that the planning applications have been passed for Waverley and Moor Parks. We have been working with Preston City Council, relevant stakeholders and our design teams over the last 12 months to ensure the works will bring lasting improvements to these two important parks. We are looking forward to starting works on site later this year and bringing benefits to the local communities.”

Deborah Smith, Co-Founder of Smith & Love Planning Consultants said: “Preston is proud of its parks and we’re thrilled to have played a part in their improvement, providing important spaces for local residents and visitors to enjoy. The rejuvenated parks will also add to the ongoing regeneration of the city.”

Moor Park, which is the city’s oldest park and Grade II* listed, will undergo a £4m programme of improvements which include:

• Extension and de-silting of Serpentine Lake and a new bridge across the lake
• Improvements to the Loggia and surrounding area (the Loggia is an outdoor corridor with a fully covered roof and outer wall that is open to the elements)
• Playground improvements
• Additional tree and shrub planting
• Improvements to the changing pavilion
• Groundworks to create wildflower meadows
• Improvements to the south-east entrance and car park

Waverley Park, nearly £3.5m of improvements were approved at the previous February Planning Committee and include:
• New Play area
• Refurbishment of 3 football pitches
• 1 x pump track
• skate park improvements
• Remodelling of car park with 27 x new car park spaces, creating 34 spaces in total
• Widening footpaths and new landscaping
• Demolition and rebuild of the football pavilion which already has planning permission

Both proposals will be funded by UK Government and are part of a £20m Levelling Up bid made to the previous government’s administration.

Introducing Innovate + Influence Preston – a new magazine focused on telling the stories of interesting things people, organisations and what businesses are doing in tech, digital, and cyber in and around Preston.

Produced for Invest Preston, this magazine is part of the work being undertaken by Shirah Bamber, the Innovation Ambassador appointed by Preston City Council.

The pilot issue, published this week, contains Q&As with local entrepreneurs and stories from local businesses and educational institutes, including Moor Park High School & Sixth Form, Cardinal Newman Sixth Form and the University of Central Lancashire. Alongside these, there is insight and reflection on what else is going on in the area.

The magazine’s home is on the Invest Preston website, but has been shared with partners to reach a much wider audience. It will also be used on social media to promote the city and the sector.

Valerie Wise, Cabinet Member for Community Wealth Building at Preston City Council said: “We are thrilled to be able to unveil this magazine, which has been a work in progress for the last few months.

“We have the fortunate problem of having too many stories to choose from to include in a single issue, and look forward to continuing to work with local businesses, organisations, and partners to raise the profile of innovation taking place across Preston.”

Innovation Ambassador, Shirah Bamber, said: “Preston is a powerhouse of innovation – it’s in our blood, and makes up a large part of our heritage.

It’s been really exciting to speak to the various individuals, businesses, and teams who are doing really interesting things across tech, digital, and cyber throughout the city. Innovation comes out in so many different shapes and sizes, and is not just for “pure tech” type companies – it has been great to see how even the most traditional businesses are evolving.”

Any individuals or businesses who are interested in sharing their stories about interesting things they are doing in tech, digital or cyber in Preston should email innovation@preston.gov.uk.

News courtesy of Invest Preston.

Nick Park CBE, four-time Academy Award-winner and Preston-born creator of Wallace & Gromit, has officially opened the city’s £45m+ Animate entertainment and leisure destination.

The Honorary Freeman of Preston and multi award-winning filmmaker, unveiled a four-foot-high bronze statue of Feathers McGraw, the villainous penguin character in the Wallace & Gromit animated films, to mark the opening, close by to the existing famous Wallace & Gromit bench at Preston Markets.

Joining Nick at the unveiling were the Mayor of Preston Councillor Philip Crowe, Chris Butler and Chris Jones, owners and directors of Castle Fine Arts Foundry, which created the statue, and Merlin Crossingham, Bafta@ award-winning creative co-director of Wallace and Gromit at Aardman Animations.

Nick and Merlin are executive directors and creative directors, respectively, at Bristol-based independent studio Aardman, makers of the Wallace & Gromit films and other beloved brands, including Shaun the Sheep, Creature Comforts, Chicken Run, and Morph.

Nick Park CBE said: “As a proud Prestonian, I couldn’t be more ‘egg-cited’ to see our infamous Feathers McGraw joining Wallace and Gromit in my hometown.”I’m not sure how happy Wallace and Gromit will be, though, to have their arch nemesis clutching the limelight.”

Councillor Matthew Brown, Leader at Preston City Council said: “To have Nick Park officially opening our flagship regeneration scheme, Animate, is a genuine honour and landmark moment for the Council and the city. In addition, the new Feathers McGraw statue is a fantastic complement to the Wallace and Gromit bench, which has drawn so many visitors to Preston – its popularity has blown us away.

Today heralds a new era for Preston, providing an unrivalled multi-tenanted entertainment and leisure complex for residents and visitors from the wider regionin the ownership of our city.”

Chris Jones, Director at Castle Fine Arts Foundry added: “It was such an honour for us all at the Foundry to be given the opportunity to depict the deliciously malign Feathers McGraw in bronze, having enjoyed creating Wallace & Gromit a couple of years ago.”We had felt Feathers ‘wee beady eyes’ upon us in the workshop for a good few months since we completed him, so it was both a relief and a joy to put him where he truly belongs, alongside his arch nemeses in Preston.”

The opening of the feather mcgraw statue by the Mayor and Nick Park.

Animate features The Arc Cinema with eight screens, 16-lane Hollywood Bowl bowling alley with gaming zone, public realm, a socialising unit and 164-space basement car park, alongside leading family restaurant brands Ask Italian, Cosmo, Taco Bell, Argento Lounge and a variety of street food outlets and a cocktail bar in Mad Giant Food Hall, run by Northern Lights Group.

The scheme was delivered by Maple Grove Developments (MGD), part of Preston-based contractor Eric Wright Group, on behalf of Preston City Council. Commercial property agents Sanderson Weatherall are the estate managers.

Built on the former indoor market and car park site, Animate is fully owned by Preston City Council and is one of six major projects in Preston’s Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme, a £200m programme including £20.9m of funding by UK Government to support several regeneration projects.

The leisure scheme supports the Council’s commitment to Community Wealth Building – a fair, inclusive and ethical approach to fostering sustainable economic development and prosperity for all in Preston – via measures including using locally based businesses and the creation of approximately 300 full and part-time jobs when fully open and 105 apprenticeship weeks worked throughout the construction period to date.

Opening dates at Animate

• Argento Lounge – Open
• Taco Bell – Open
• The Arc Cinema – Open
• Hollywood Bowl – opening March
• Ask Italian – opening early April
• Mad Giant Food Hall – coming soon
• Cosmo – coming soon

News courtesy of Preston City Council.

Preston’s nine Grade two-listed red telephone boxes are set for an historic face-lift as the project to restore them dials up.

On Thursday 12 December, telephone box restoration specialists L Carr Contractors have removed the iconic kiosks for sandblasting and restoration to their original condition.

Once the restoration is complete, the boxes will be returned to their location outside the former post office on Market Street for the spring of 2025.

After the kiosks are removed, work will take place beneath the pavement to install new digital infrastructure that will home the new enhanced telephone boxes.

Originally designed by British architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott to mark the Silver Jubilee of King George V’s Coronation in 1935, the cast iron kiosks with timber doors form the longest line of historic red telephone boxes in the UK.

Preston City Council acquired the telephone boxes in 2021 and obtained Listed Building Consent (LBC) for their restoration.

Potential future uses of the kiosks include creative installations in partnership with artists to add to the vibrancy of the Harris Quarter in Preston.

The restoration project forms a key part of the wider Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme, awarded £20.9m from the government’s then-national Towns Fund initiative in March 2021.

Liam Carr, director of East Yorkshire-based L Carr Contractors, said: “The award of this prestigious contract allows us to revitalise these historic telephone boxes and enhance community pride and local tourism, ensuring that the charm and nostalgia associated with such iconic traditional red boxes endure in an increasingly digital age.”

Councillor Valerie Wise, Cabinet Member for Community Wealth Building on Preston City Council, said: “Preston celebrates being the home of the UK’s longest line of iconic red telephone boxes, a landmark in the centre of our city that we’ll bring back to life for current and future generations to enjoy.

“Once the restoration is complete and the kiosks are returned to their home on Market Street, we will work with artists to commission light, audio visual or graphic work to bring them alive, adding to the vibrancy of the Harris Quarter.”

Preston Partnership chairman and Chair of Preston’s Towns Fund Strategic Board, John Chesworth, added: “The long-awaited and much-anticipated restoration of these historic telephone boxes would be an outstanding addition to the Harris Quarter. They represent an invaluable and unique city asset, and bringing them back into use will provide a popular focal point for many people.”

As the designer of the kiosks, Sir Giles has a strong historical connection with Preston. He also designed the War Memorial Cenotaph in Market Place, and his father, George Gilbert Scott, designed the Town Hall.

Harris Quarter is a unique area of Preston undergoing a £200m investment programme to transform its historic buildings, sites, and public realm into a diverse culture, leisure, and employment offering. Schemes include the £45m Animate cinema and leisure complex and the refurbishment of the Grade I-listed Harris Museum, art gallery, and library.

News courtesy of Invest Preston.