On September 5, Preston Partnership will host its fourth #InTheCity event of 2024, open to our members and guests from the private and public sector passionate to discuss and shape the future of Preston.

One of our core strategic aims is to bring together an ambitious community of people determined to help Preston realise its potential.

Our #InTheCity event series allows our members and guests to come together to learn about upcoming projects, have their say on big Preston issues, and build relationships over coffee and a croissant.

The theme for our September event is #CultureInTheCity and coincides with BBC’s Radio 2 in the Park annual live music event, which takes place in Preston on September 7 and 8.

Our event will once again take place at OneCoWork, the impressive new coworking and office space located on Preston’s stunning Winckley Square.

We will be bringing together a specialist panel from Preston’s culture community to discuss the city’s cultural strengths and opportunities.

Full details of our guest speakers will be revealed on social media leading up to the event.

OneCoWork are also kindly offering complimentary day passes to all attendees, allowing you to use its facilities and coworking spaces for the remainder of the day following the event.

Details on booking complementary day pass in confirmation email.

Registration

This is a free event with 100 spaces available, so book your space soon to avoid disappointment.

Please note, there is a maximum of two spaces per company.

Preston City Council has agreed a 15-year lease with the Northern Lights Group (NLG) for a new food hall at Animate, the £45+ million entertainment and leisure complex, which is being delivered by Maple Grove Developments.

Animate has already attracted big names such as Arc Cinema and Hollywood Bowl, several national food retailer brands, forming part of the city’s ongoing regeneration programme.

The Northern Lights Group will create and run a cocktail bar and four bespoke food kiosks to be let to small businesses.

The Northern Lights Group is one of the region’s largest independent hospitality groups. Speaking on behalf of the company Joe Foster said: “This is another incredibly exciting opportunity for us. As part of our growth strategy, we have been identifying new locations across the region, and Animate is the perfect fit. We look forward to opening our doors in early 2025 and serving the people of Preston with delicious food.”

John Chesworth, chairman of Preston Partnership said: “Animate is a major asset in the city’s regeneration as it will help draw more people into Preston, but it’s acting as a catalyst for further growth and as footfall increases, we’ll undoubtedly see businesses want to invest here.

“Preston is really starting to flourish and we’re now seeing the fruits of everyone’s hard work in helping make the city an attractive place to live, work and play. The Northern Lights Group choosing Preston as a place to do business is a testament to what’s being achieved here.”

Andrew Dewhurst, development director at Maple Grove Developments, continued: “The Northern Lights Group is well accustomed with the concept of food halls, successfully operating throughout the North West. Choosing Animate for this latest food hall concept only adds to the draw of Preston as a place to visit.

“In terms of the site development, Eric Wright Construction is continuing to make excellent progress. The brickwork is nearing completion, the tenterhook panels are installed, and the majority of the glass panelling is in place. We’re working towards a completion date this autumn. The tenants can then begin to fit out and furnish their units before Animate launches in early 2025.”

Animate is one of six major projects planned under Preston’s Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme.

Deputy Leader of Preston City Council, Cllr Martyn Rawlinson, said: “Our ambition for Animate has always been to provide independent operators to be part of this Council-owned entertainment and leisure development and trade alongside national brands which will help build a resilient and inclusive economy for all. Having the Northern Lights Group at Animate will help us deliver an attractive offer for the people of Preston and wider Lancashire while contributing to the city’s ongoing social and economic regeneration.”

Northern Lights Group will run the bar unit directly, but will be looking to recruit local operators for the other food outlets. The company has a strong social value ethos and provides ‘back into work’ training and ongoing support to local, start-ups and new food kiosk operators in the Food Halls through its business operation model. Its commitment to social value is supported by the Council, which will work with the Northern Lights Group in line with its ongoing commitment to Community Wealth Building in Preston.

Bosses at Northern Lights Group are also looking to appoint a local ambassador to a Board that will oversee the Preston Food Hall to strengthen and grow local community connections in the city.

Preston was awarded £20.9m from the Government’s national Towns Fund initiative in March 2021, and the Harris Quarter is a unique part of the city centre undergoing a £200m investment programme to transform its historic buildings, sites and public realm into a diverse culture, leisure and employment offering.

Bradys and Smith Young are the joint lettings agents for Animate and advised Maple Grove Developments. The letting leaves just two units available at Animate. For details visit Preston City Council – units to let in Animate.

News courtesy of Invest Preston.

(Photographed above, left to right: Preston Partnership chair, John Chesworth; cabinet member for community wealth building at Preston City Council, Valerie Wise; and chief executive of Preston City Council, Adrian Phillips)

The newly formed Preston Regeneration Board (PRB) has unveiled Preston 35, a new regeneration plan for Preston, projected to secure significant further investment across the city by 2035.

Preston 35 was revealed to the Preston Partnership community at our #InTheCity event last Thursday, in an introduction by Adrian Phillips, chief executive at Preston City Council.

This follows in the wake of a successful launch to industry peers at the UK REiiF conference held in Leeds, in May, the UK’s largest real estate, investment and infrastructure forum with a delegation of over 13,000 eager to find the next UK hotspot for unlocking investment, regeneration and development.

The PRB includes senior representatives from Preston City Council, Lancashire County Council, University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) and Preston Partnership.

As the third biggest city in the North West, over £1bn of investment has already been delivered or committed in the city, ranking ‘The Best City for Quality of Life’¹ and the ‘Top UK City 2023 to Raise a Family.’²

Preston 35 is championing the city as an attractive place to do business and highlights six strategic, priority regeneration prospects that the city is driving forward over the next 11 years.

Adrian Phillips, Chief Executive of Preston City Council, outlined the PRB’s vision, priorities and objectives at the Preston Partnership event on July 25, hosted at the recently opened OneCoWork offices on Winckley Square, Preston.

Adrian said: “2035 provides us with a natural and realistic focus, that takes in the next Guild celebrations in 2032, to make some significant progress, take stock of how far we have come, and evaluate what still needs to be done.

“The city’s investment plan is always evolving and this new reiteration – Preston 35 – defines what we have already collectively achieved over the past decade, but more importantly, it focuses on what’s next and how much more we can achieve by working together.

“The key to successful place making and attracting significant inward investment for the city, that’s both meaningful and provides a lasting legacy for the people of Preston, is collaboration across public and private sectors, pooling our resources and working together with shared goals and objectives.”

John Chesworth, chair of Preston Partnership, said: “This exciting plan is partnership in action. The key Preston regeneration stakeholders leading the regeneration of Preston over the next decade have agreed key priorities and identified those projects which will contribute to their delivery.

“Prestonians want to see ambition for our city, and Preston 35 sets out a positive direction of travel. These projects will bring jobs, visitors and residents back into the city, and be a catalyst for further investment. I see this as a foundation from which we can kick on to bigger and better things.”

Some of the key regeneration propositions include:

• Preston Station East Phase 1 – a priority of the Station Quarter Masterplan to provide Grade A office space and deliver a landmark commercial-led, mixed-use development scheme.
• Harris Quarter Phase 2 – An opportunity to develop a thriving cultural, leisure and conference quarter, anchored by the redevelopment of the Guild Hall.
• Stoneygate Phase 2 – A focus on sites that can deliver new city centre residential, business and educational uses. An Urban Village Regeneration Area of 25 hectares.
• Innovate Preston – Positioning Preston at the heart of an innovation eco-system and a natural location for the National Cyber Facility supply chain.
• Preston Community Health Hub – An integrated ‘one-stop-shop’ of customer-facing health and wellbeing services as part of a wider drive to move services and interventions closer to the community.
• Access Preston – Cottam Parkway, a £35m new railway station on the Blackpool to Preston line, providing sustainable transport options to almost 10,000 new homes.

Wider projects in the pipeline include Preston Station Quarter future phases which include a masterplan for County Hill and University Walk, future phases on Stoneygate, Preston Riversway Docklands regeneration and a third River Ribble crossing.

To read the prospectus in full or to download a copy visit https://www.investprestoncity.com/

Lancashire County Council is set to host Convention of the North 2025, it can be revealed.

The event will be held at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in Preston next year on the 27 and 28 of February 2025, with more details to be announced later this year.

Convention of the North 2025 will bring together business, community, academic, and political leaders to discuss how they can address the pressing challenges and opportunities facing the North of England.

This year, the discussions will be crucial in the post-election period, where it is essential for the North to present a clear, coordinated, cross-party agenda to the new government.

Phillippa Williamson, Leader of Lancashire County Council, said: “It’s a privilege to host the Convention of the North in Lancashire in 2025.

“This event provides a fantastic opportunity to unite our leaders across the North to respond collectively to the new government agenda and deliver on our ambitious regional plans.

“A successful North is a prerequisite for a successful UK economy. The scale, nature, and importance of the North means it has a vital role in driving national growth and the event provides an opportunity for Lancashire to showcase and align its exciting plans with neighbouring regions for advanced engineering and manufacturing, future aerospace, cyber security, and clean growth.”

Since its inception in 2018, Convention of the North has been a pivotal forum for fostering collaboration across sectors. Previous conventions have been held in Leeds, Gateshead, Rotherham, Liverpool, and Manchester, each building on the momentum to create a “powerful, unifying voice of the North.”

Professor Graham Baldwin, University of Central Lancashire Vice-Chancellor, said: “Convention of the North 2025 will continue the meaningful collaboration between Government, academia, and business for the good of the northern economy and we are delighted to be able to facilitate this.

“It’s wonderful news for the University of Central Lancashire, the city of Preston and the wider region that we are hosting this prestigious event.

“Fostering regional growth, innovation and collaboration across the North is essential to achieving the national aspirations for growth and development. Universities across the North are instrumental in this process so it is fitting that through hosting we can show what we and others have to offer.”

Clare Hayward MBE DL, Co-Chair of the Convention, said: “The Convention of the North is a remarkable opportunity to elevate the profile of the North on an international stage. As co-chair, I’m looking forward to taking part in some thought-provoking discussions about the future of our region.

“Each Convention presents a new opportunity to collaborate and build a thriving, well-connected North, unlocking the region’s full potential.”

Keynote speakers and the full programme will be announced later this year, promising an exciting and impactful agenda.

News courtesy of Convention of the North.

On July 25, Preston Partnership will host its third #InTheCity event of 2024, open to our members and guests from the private and public sector, passionate about discussing and shaping the future of Preston.

One of our strategic aims is to bring together an ambitious community of people determined to help Preston realise its potential.

Our #InTheCity event series allows our members to learn about upcoming projects, have their say on big Preston issues, and build relationships over coffee and a croissant.

Our July #WorkingInTheCity event will take place at OneCoWork, the stunning new coworking offices located on Winckley Square.

We will be bringing together a specialist panel to discuss what can make cities stand out as locations of choice for employers and their workforce.

We will also be joined by the new Preston Regeneration Board and hear more details of Preston’s new regeneration plan.

Full details of our guest speakers will be revealed on social media leading up to the event, make sure you’re following us to keep up to date.

Registration

This is a free event, but there are only 100 spaces available. Book your space now to avoid disappointment.

Our second #InTheCity event was held on Thursday April 24, 2024 at Cotton Court Business Centre, where a busy room made up of our members and guests gathered to learn more about the future of innovation in Preston and the opportunities that projects like the National Cyber Force (NCF) will create.

Positive Preston

The morning began with an update from Preston Partnership board member, Ginette Unsworth, who spoke about her upbringing in Preston and how, after living away from the city, she returned because of the ‘sense of community’ and the exciting opportunities in the city.

Ginette told how the partnership recently helped form a new Preston Regeneration Board (PRB), consisting of senior leaders from UCLan, Lancashire County Council, Preston City Council and the partnership.

The PRB is still in its infancy and would not act as a decision-making board but would focus on creating a single unified voice for future regeneration projects that can feed directly into the Partnership.

Ginette said: “We want to represent your views on this board, feeding up through the partnership and getting the collective view of Preston and what the community want to see.”

There was also an update on membership uptake following the relaunch of the partnership, which has seen 165 new members join since October 2023, as well as nine strategic partners who will form part of a new strategic advisory panel, advising on future policy.

Available opportunities

We were then joined by Holly Smith, innovation consultant at Plexal, who updated us on the work she has been commissioned to complete by the partnership that will help us better understand what innovation is currently happening in Preston and what resources need to be available.

Focussing on three key areas – identifying SMEs, recommending growth areas and identifying innovation space demand – the aim of Holly’s research is to ‘unlock technological progress and cause economic growth’ in our city, allowing our ecosystem to grow and capitalise on the innovation investment in our region.

She identified 162 SMEs currently operating in Preston, 18 of which were tech focussed, and revealed that Preston has received 0.4% of project funds awarded to Lancashire by Innovate UK (roughly £7.2million).

Holly gathered feedback from our members on the current innovation support in Preston. The results showed that there are a number of facilities (Shout Connect, Society1) and programmes (Boost, Edge Hill) in place, but that uptake was relatively low, and that the majority felt that access to innovation funding or grants could be improved.

Her work is ongoing, but she provided some early recommendations which included using groups like Preston Partnership to help deliver the city’s innovation story, creating a home for innovation in the city that includes Grade A office space, and forming innovation clusters made up of likeminded businesses that can be used to attract and retain talent.

She also mentioned further opportunities to increase support for innovation led SMEs by identifying an ecosystem leader who can join up the available support avenues and create connections within the industry.

The future of innovation in Preston

Next up was our innovation panel, which included Dave Carter, honorary knowledge exchange fellow at the University of Manchester; Maya Ellis, innovation lead at Lancashire County Council; and Victoria Millsop, business development manager of cyber solutions at UCLan.

The main topic of discussion was the arrival of the National Cyber Force in early 2025, and the wave of specialist talent that will provide positive social, cultural and educational benefits to the region.

Established in 2020, the NCF is a partnership between defence and intelligence comprising GCHQ, the Ministry of Defence, MI6, and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl).

Victoria detailed the university’s involvement in securing the NCF which was put forward at a Lancashire Cyber Partnership Event last November.

This was followed by another event where the NCF spoke openly about their plans in the region and met with members of the public to get a sense of what Lancashire needs – the response was positive, with plans to do another in the near future.

Maya was asked about the upcoming devolution deal and what the council are doing to progress innovation in the region.

She said: “The council has invested “£6million to create a physical space that will enhance what the NCF are doing and attract and retain world class talent.”

She also stated that the bigger role the council plays is by facilitating organisations like the Preston Partnership to ensure everyone’s voice is heard when making decisions about the future of innovation in the city.

Dave then spoke on the arrival of the Government Communication Headquarters (GCHQ) in Manchester and how his city handled a similar situation that Preston is in right now.

He said: “The focus needed to be on facilitating GCHQ’s plans to attract local talent from business clusters and graduate schemes in order to best nurture the local economy. This can be done by forging strong relationships with universities and SMEs in the region.”

He advised that Preston should do the same by following the recommendations outlined by Holly, highlighting that a strong relationship with UCLan and local innovation centres is critical, as well a strong arts and culture scene and nighttime economy that employees and visitors can enjoy outside of working hours.

Maya moved on to discuss the connectivity between Preston and Salmesbury, and while there are no plans currently to connect the two by rail or tram network, Lancashire County Council are pushing for a membership-based hub near the train station that would provide its employees and visitors with an alternative and more accessible place to visit, work and hold meetings.

Dates for your diary

Ginette closed off the event by reminding our guests about the benefits of joining the partnership, encouraging them to become part of a growing movement to drive Preston forward.

She also shared details of the next #InTheCity event, which will focus on working in Preston, taking place on Thursday July 11 at OneCoWork, in Winckley Square, Preston.

Ginette reminded guests that members of the Preston Partnership board will be attending the UK’s Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF), from 21 to 23 May in Leeds.

As well as having a stand, our chair John Chesworth be taking part in the ‘Fuelling Lancashire’s Future’ panel debate, which promises insights into the collaborative potential among the private sector, public sector, and universities in Lancashire to foster more opportunities and drive sustainable growth.

The debate will take place at The Cinema Stage Royal Armouries on Wednesday 22 May at 2:15pm.

For further information on our events programme, visit www.prestonpartnership.org/news-and-events/.

Fancy becoming a member?

If you would like to join a community of over 175 members that is helping Preston realise its potential, head over to our join page and choose your membership package.

On April 18, Preston Partnership will host its second #InTheCity event of 2024, open to our members and guests from the private and public sector passionate to discuss and shape the future of Preston.

One of our strategic aims is to bring together an ambitious community of people determined to help Preston realise its potential. Our #InTheCity event series allows our members to learn about upcoming projects, have their say on big Preston issues, and build relationships over coffee and a croissant.

Our April Innovation In the City event shine the spotlight on innovation and how Preston can step up to take advantage of transformational projects like National Cyber Force located at Samlesbury.

Preston Partnership is working with Plexal to understand how the Preston’s innovation community can be nurtured and grown. The event will feature an introduction and update from the Preston Partnership board, followed by a presentation by Plexal, an expert panel discussion and audience Q&A.

Registration

Tickets go on sale on March 18 and Preston Partnership members have priority access until March 25, after which tickets will go on general sale. This is a free event with 100 spaces available, so book your space soon to avoid disappointment.

A topping out ceremony has been held to mark the highest point of the build at Preston’s Animate leisure complex, the latest milestone in the £45 million+ scheme, one of six major projects planned under Preston’s Harris Quarter Towns Fund Investment Programme.

Preston was awarded £20.9m from the Government’s national Towns Fund initiative in March 2021, and the Harris Quarter is a unique part of the city centre undergoing a £200m investment programme to transform its historic buildings, sites and public realm into a diverse culture, leisure and employment offering.

Animate is being brought forward by Maple Grove Developments, part of Preston-based contractor Eric Wright Group, in partnership with Preston City Council.

The leisure complex is being built on the site of the former indoor market and car park and due to open to the public in early 2025.

Almost fully pre-let, Animate will feature an eight-screen cinema, 16-lane bowling alley with gaming zone, five family restaurant units, a food hall, public realm, a competitive socialising unit and 164-space basement car park, with national leisure brands including

Hollywood Bowl, ARC Cinemas, Zizzi, Cosmo, Las Iguanas and Loungers already signed up as tenants.

Those attending the topping out included Cllr Yakub Patel, mayor of Preston City Council, Adrian Phillips, chief executive of the city council and Karen Hirst, managing director of Maple Grove Developments.

Councillor Matthew Brown, leader of Preston City Council, added: “Animate is the flagship project of the Harris Quarter regeneration programme, heralding a new era for Preston and its residents. Owned by the city council to benefit local people, the construction of Animate has involved local contractors and enhanced the skills and learning of young people with essential on-the-job experience.

“Crucially, such development and regeneration forms a key part of the council’s commitment to Community Wealth Building, designed to create a resilient and inclusive economy to benefit the whole area by offering an opportunity for local people to take back control while working with local institutions.”

John Chesworth, Chair of Preston Towns Fund Strategic Board and Preston Partnership, said: “The topping out represents another key moment in the delivery of Animate and in the ongoing renaissance of Preston as we progress our wider plans to create places for people.

“Having secured high-profile and established national leisure brands, Animate will provide an unrivalled offering of activities to drive footfall and wider economic benefits for Preston and surrounding areas.”

Karen Hirst, managing director of Maple Grove Developments, development partner of Preston City Council, concluded: “This milestone in the delivery of Animate marks the highest point of the build and the successful culmination of the collaborative efforts of the client, design, and construction teams.

“Animate is an exemplar of what can be achieved when the public and private sectors work together in partnership to great effect for the wider community and economy of Preston.”

Development updates, devolution and our branded badges were the hot topics covered at Preston Partnership’s first #InTheCity event of 2024.

The much-anticipated event was held on Thursday February 22, 2024, where over 80 members from the private and public sector gathered at Cotton Court Business Centre to hear about Preston Partnership and Preston’s role in Lancashire’s new devolution deal.

Positive Preston

Kicking proceedings off, our chair John Chesworth talked about the journey of the partnership and welcomed our new board members.

He said: “The partnership’s aim is to build closer ties between the public and private sector and to work with local authorities and partners to shape ideas and support investment opportunities.”

John highlighted Preston Partnership’s role in the creation of the Towns Fund board which secured £20.9m to kickstart the £200m Harris Quarter Investment Programme, and the partnership’s work in securing £80,000 through the UK’s Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to help relaunch Preston Partnership.

He also provided development updates on a number of key Preston projects such as Animate, Amounderness House, Preston Youth Zone and the Harris Your Place Project.

Speaking on the future, John said: “We want to build an ambitious community, one that will get Preston to where it should be; a city that is world renowned for its industry, a trailblazer in many ways, that can stand on its own nationally and internationally.”

He added: “While ambition is a good start, there is still plenty of work to be done. We’re looking to reengage with our members to help tell Preston’s story and build a relentlessly positive profile for our city.”

Preston Partnership has a role to play in devolution

Next up, Andy Walker, head of business growth and innovation, and Pete Thomas, program manager at Lancashire County Council, provided an update on Lancashire’s devolution deal and how Preston can play a key role in the wider plans.

The proposal focuses on an improved adult education budget, having a strategic role in delivering services, supporting local businesses, control of sustainable transport and investment spending, all of which would drive regeneration and provide a boost to businesses and people across the region.

Describing the plans as a ‘collective opportunity’, Pete said: “Following approval, a new Combined County Authority (CCA) would be established that would create a new, democratically led body to speak for Lancashire, that has a focussed set of priorities.”

He reiterated the importance of local organisations like Preston Partnership and how it can feed into the CCA with input from its members and local authorities, stating that the voice of the business community needs to be heard, not just the politicians.

Andy revealed the timeline for a new Lancashire Economic Strategy, which would be created in the new six months. The strategy would need to be endorsed by a new Combined Authority Business Board, made up of 15 representatives from private, public and third sector organisations, as well as the sub-groups that sit underneath, which would include over 200 companies.

Andy added: “Once completed, our new economic strategy could lead to Lancashire having one of the most successful economies in the North of England. We want to shift the competing mindset in Lancashire. Competition should be with other UK regions, not the towns and cities within Lancashire.”

The session ended with a Q&A with the speakers, covering topics such as improvements to local transport, how our most vulnerable residents will be represented in the future and how the community play a part in Preston’s journey.

Preston dates for your diary

Our business development manager, Beckie Joyce, closed the event by discussing the benefits of joining the partnership, encouraging guests to become part of a growing movement to drive Preston forward.

She said that in order to have a meaningful impact and influence on future policies, the partnership needs to be made up of members from all corners of Preston’s business community.

Beckie explained that the partnership is still very much in its infant stage, essentially acting as a start-up. Beckie said: “We want to retain our own independence, while working closely with the City’s anchor institutions to help shape future development.”

She also shared details of the next Preston Quarter Club event, which Preston Partnership is sponsoring alongside BEK Geo-Environmental Consultants on Thursday 7 March, 2024 at Bar Pintxos, and the date for next event #InnovationInTheCity, taking place on Thursday 18 April, 2024 at Cotton Court Business Centre.

For further information on our events programme, visit our events page.

Fancy becoming a member?

If you would like to join a community of over 100 members that is helping Preston realise its potential, head over to our join page and choose your membership package.

Preston Partnership is proud to be sponsoring the first Preston Quarter Club event of 2024, alongside BEK Geo-Environmental Consultants.

You can expect the same winning format, no speeches, pressurised networking, or hard sell. The Preston Quarter Club is simply for businesses to get together, catch-up, build relationships, and enjoy some quality professional social time.

There’ll even be a drink or two with your name on, and a bite to eat.

When: Thursday 7 March, 5:00pm – 7:00pm
Where: Bar Pintxos, PR1 2AR

Click here to secure your free place (maximum of two per company).

The Preston Quarter Club is brought to you by the North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, and PR and marketing communications consultancy, Freshfield.

Please only secure a place if you are able to make the date, and you can no longer attend the event, please cancel your place.