#AmazingAccrington Magazine - Summer Edition 2024

5th October 2023, Wham Stadium, Livingstone Road Over 1,000 Year 11 students from Hyndburn schools attended the Amazing Accrington Futures event, designed to bring students together with employers and educational providers, to help them make choices about their future. The event, supported by North Lancs Training Group (NLTG), Studio/Frasers Group Financial Services, Accrington & Rossendale College and Accrington Stanley Football Club, welcomed exhibitors from local businesses, higher education establishments, training providers, Armed Forces, emergency services, tech sectors and many more. Employers such as the Police and the Army joined local companies such as Sundown Solutions, What More UK, William Blythe and BAE Systems in showcasing their many and varied career paths.

Watch a video of the event here:

8th February 2024, Accrington & Rossendale College, Sandy Lane Accrington and Rossendale College had just completed a £3m investment, to redevelop their site and accommodate a new Business Hub facility, which is also open to employers in the region. #AmazingAccrington business leaders group were invited in as the first official engagement, to tour the brand new business hub facilities, which even include an augmented reality station.

Dr Sam Hill of The Vita Group also spoke about their 150 strong company located just next door, who have a requirement for highly skilled chemists.

Watch a video of the event here:

BUSINESS AND EDUCATION At Amazing Accrington, we don’t just run events, we also support our Business and Education sectors locally. We connect people, to ensure our local economy is growing and our education provides the skills young people need to enter the world of work right here on our doorsteps. Since our last magazine, we have held several private events for businesses and our education partners, which we can share with you.

17th May 2024, Wham Stadium, Livingstone Road

21st September 2023, St James’s Church, Cannon Street This business leaders event was held in the beautiful surroundings of St James’s Church, and featured Ivor Lefton, MD of Taskers of Accrington talking about his generous sponsorship of Accrington Stanley Community Trust, and the importance of giving back to the community around us. Kelly Groves, COO of Sundown Solutions spoke about digital transformation and how it can bring a step change to companies, and finally local actor Julie Hesmondhalgh spoke about the importance of engaging young people with the arts as a career path, plus launched her new project the Winter Writing Trail which is covered elsewhere in this magazine.

#AmazingAccrington business leaders, local schools and education providers all came together for the annual Hyndburn Education Summit. The event discussed digital skills within schools, the availability of apprenticeships, investments in the local area, and the importance of encouraging engineering and STEM subjects. The delegates also heard from Dr Susan Scurlock MBE, Founder & CEO of Primary Engineer, who gave a fascinating talk about their work to embed engineering and creative thinking into students of primary age as well as secondary. As a special prize

sponsored by Scott Dawson Advertising and iMEP International Music Event Production, Headteacher Liam Noon of St Nicholas CE Primary won the draw for a free Primary Engineer programme worth over £1000 for his school. Also speaking at the event was MP for Hyndburn and Haslingden Sara Britcliffe, #AmazingAccrington Chair Murray Dawson, Sundown Solutions CEO Heath Groves, North Lancs Training Group Quality of Education Director Robin Lindsay, Accrington & Rossendale College Centre Principal Morag Davis, Accrington Stanley

Managing Director David Burgess, Emerson & Renwick Managing Director Ben Clements, The Vita Group Innovation Manager Dr Sam Hill, St Christopher’s CE High School Headteacher Richard Jones, Lancashire Business View Chairman Richard Slater, and iMEP International Music Event Production CEO Eddy O’Brien.

Watch a video of the event here:

Watch a video of the event here:

18 #AmazingAccrington Summer 2024

#AmazingAccrington Summer 2024 19