Pride of Place: Blackpool
Pride of Place: Blackpool
In communities across the UK that have long endured hardship, BITC’s Pride of Place programme unites people from all walks of life around a vision for a better future, nurturing collaboration, sustained investment and self-belief to drive action so that millions can thrive in a place they call home.
By thinking differently and challenging the status quo, we have successfully started to regenerate Blackpool and restore a sense of pride in the town. We continue to develop the economy and tackle deprivation.
Business in the Community’s Place Programme brings together business, civic leadership and communities to create long-term, transformational change in communities. We work with places to build and deliver a vision for their future that serves everyone. We provide sustained resource, advice and support to motivate and empower local stakeholders so that each place can identify its own challenges & innovate its own solutions.
Why Blackpool?
The Fylde Coast has a population of around 350,000 residents, with each distinct community area playing its specific part in making this a desirable location to live, work and play. At its heart is Blackpool, one of the most densely developed boroughs in Britain, with around 140,000 residents.
Blackpool’s past and present are inextricably linked with the tourist industry, with the seasonal variation in visitor numbers and spend resulting in challenging economic conditions for local people. The statistics are stark. Low wages, low employment rates, high levels of benefit claimants, poor health and high exclusion rates from school mean that child poverty is unacceptably prevalent in the town.
Strategic Priorities
Creating & safeguarding 10,000 jobs & securing £1bn economic growth.
Creating 3,000 new quality homes, underpinning essential regeneration in some of Blackpool’s (and the UK’s) most deprived neighbourhoods.
Increasing employment rates for 16-24-year-olds, supporting them to build essential skills for their futures.
Our impact to date
Established in 2017, the Blackpool Pride of Place Board has broken down long-standing barriers between communities, businesses and the council.
The board agreed a single vision – the Blackpool Prospectus – and subsequently launched a 2030 Digital Vision.
In 2019 the board supported the town to secure a £39.5 million Town Deal, the largest single town deal awarded, and, in 2022, Blackpool was announced as one of the Government’s Levelling Up priority areas, with further transformational developments promised.
“The local economy is so important for all Blackpool residents and BITC provides a pathway for local organisations to all pull in the same direction, using the abundance resource, knowledge and skills that sit within Blackpool.”
James Cox
Director Marketing Sales & PR – Pleasure Beach Resort“The Pride of Place vision is ambitious but achievable because of its unique collaborative approach between the public, private and voluntary sectors.”
Andy Anderson
Head of R&D – Victrex plc“I am proud to be involved in Blackpool Pride of Place and be part of delivering programmes that improve opportunities and the sustainability of businesses, people and place within Blackpool.”
Iain Pilling
Area Engagement Lead – United UtilitiesCase studies from Blackpool
Fylde Coast Town Wide Careers Fair
Nearly 1,500 Year 9 students from 13 Blackpool secondary schools explored their futures at a careers fair hosted by the Fylde Coast Responsible Business Network at Blackpool Conference and Exhibition Centre. Featuring almost 50 employers, including BAE Systems, Beaverbrooks, and DES Energy, the event aimed to showcase the wide array of career opportunities in and around Blackpool, support high aspirations among young people, and encourage them to think about possible routes into work.
Europa Halo Blackpool Esports Event
As part of Blackpool’s Digital Vision, the Digital Steering Group, supported by Blackpool Pride of Place, formed a working group to explore the potential of Esports as an opportunity for the town. The aim was to host a test event, and The Europa Halo event was a significant milestone, showcasing the town’s potential as an emerging Esports destination.
Blackpool Leadership Board
Our work is led by our local Pride of Place Partnerships – a cross-sector senior leadership board which sets the strategic direction for our work, mobilises their workforce to support with delivery of activities and acts as an advocate for the programme both regionally and locally. The Blackpool Leadership Board is chaired by John Fallon.
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