RECESSION OR RECOVERY?
On Thursday 2nd July, Huntley’s of Samlesbury played host to a gathering of leading Lancashire business figures who assembled to take part in the latest Senior Executive’s Working Lunch, a forum organised on a quarterly basis by the Blackburn-based business support organisation, Enterprise4All.
The purpose of the event was to consider the impact of the current economic climate and the actions that businesses and local authorities can take to ensure that Lancashire moves quickly into economic recovery.
Speakers - Sir Bill Taylor, Steve broomhead, Eddie Cowpe, Ilyas MunshiThe key speakers were Steve Broomhead – CEO of the Northwest Regional Development Agency – and Huntley’s founder, Eddie Cowpe. They were joined by public service modernisation specialist Sir Bill Taylor and Enterprise4All’s Chief Executive, Ilyas Munshi. Amongst the guests was the Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Councillor James Hirst.
Posed the question whether Lancashire was facing recovery or continued recession, Steve Broomhead said that he was inherently a ‘realistic optimist’ and reported that the NWDA and many other organisations were working hard to ensure a rapid re-emergence into prosperity. He noted that the scarcity of business credit was a serious problem but while some banks and regulators could be accused of recklessness in recent times, the NWDA was maintaining weekly dialogue with the region’s financial institutions and that they were coming to terms with the new economic conditions. The result, he said, was that the North West was beginning to see a return to fairer lending, although it would inevitably take time to come through.
He pointed out that there were still important challenges to be faced – not least of which were high levels of unemployment and the skills agenda – but business confidence was returning; it varied from sector to sector and across different sub-regions, but the underlying signs were good. It was impossible to predict exactly when the recession would end, he said, but determination and collective effort would see it end much more quickly.
Guests in discussion over lunchEddie Cowpe then gave a short summary of his own business fortunes, provided living testimony of the importance of determination. Noting that his family had been farming on the site since the 13th Century, he recounted the trials he had endured in attempting to diversify the business by establishing a farm shop and other retail facilities. Despite repeated setbacks, he finally prevailed and since 2001 he has built up the business to the point where it now employs 94 people. Now in his fifties, he said he was still always ready to try new things and still had many plans to grow the company. This year would see the launch of new on-site maze and the next phase of construction would see, amongst other facilities, a new educational building designed to provide young people with a better idea of the true origins of food.Enterprise4All Chief Executive, Ilyas Munshi concluded the presentations by outlining the purpose of the Working Lunches.
“These events are an opportunity for senior policy makers and business leaders to talk about what’s happening in Lancashire,” he explained. “There are lots of people in the county with energy and vision and, collectively, we have a responsibility to support, encourage and empower them. As Eddie (Cowpe) has shown, the efforts of ordinary business people can have a direct and enormously positive impact at the community level. This provides an excellent example for all of us: whatever the conditions, we need to stay focused, remain hopeful and work together.”
Acting as MC for the meeting, Sir Bill Taylor echoed Ilyas’s conclusions. “Times certainly aren’t easy,” he said “but that is no cause for despair. We need to focus on what we can do, individually and as a community, and work together to make Lancashire the best it can be.”