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AMAZING ACCRINGTON CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH ON BACK WITH A BANG IN 2022

The Amazing Accrington Christmas Lights Switch On in Accrington Town Centre has been confirmed for the evening of Thursday 24th November, proudly sponsored by amazing local businesses North Lancs Training Group (NLTG), Sundown Solutions and the Nelson and Colne College Group.

Hyndburn Borough Council ran a tender bid for the event, which was awarded to Scott Dawson Advertising to be run through Amazing Accrington. Working in conjunction with Accrington Market and Hyndburn Borough Council, plans are in place for a spectacular family friendly start to Christmas, including a music stage, live acts, interactive entertainment, a firework display and fairground rides.

Amazing Accrington are also looking to engage with all 36 local Primary Schools ahead of the return of the Christmas Light Switch On, and will be inviting them down personally to join in the show led by St Christopher’s Sixth Form choir.

The event will also provide the opportunity to celebrate local independent retailers, while charities have the chance to run a free stall outside Accrington Market Hall as last year and should contact Sameena at the Market Hall to make their application.

Murray Dawson, chair of Amazing Accrington, said: “After the huge success of last year, we are back to give everyone the opportunity to enjoy a spectacular night of fun and entertainment with the whole community. We have lots of plans in the pipeline and lots more to announce!”

Sara Britcliffe, MP for Hyndburn and Haslingden, added: “I encourage the whole of Hyndburn to turn out for this amazing event, and let’s see if we can beat last year’s numbers of over 12,000 and come together to celebrate once again!”

Cllr Miles Parkinson OBE, Leader of Hyndburn Borough Council, commented: “Amazing Accrington are so professional and know how to make events go with a bang, and we are so happy that they start this year’s Christmas events with Accrington’s Christmas Lights Switch On following on from last year’s amazing event.

Once again it encourages everyone to shop local – get some Christmas shopping done while you’re having fun!”

Gareth Lindsay, Managing Director at North Lancs Training Group (NLTG), said: “We love these big events, it gives us a chance to interact with the whole community. The plans sound very exciting, and we’re proud to support them!”

Heath Groves, CEO of Sundown Solutions, added: “Last year’s event was a real spectacular and we’re happy to support it again. We encourage people to come down with all the family and have some fun!”

Morag Davis, Centre Principal for Accrington & Rossendale College, commented: “We’re really looking forward to feeling the Christmas cheer, and seeing the whole of Hyndburn out in force celebrating together. The plans look fantastic!”

Further details will be announced about attractions and performers. You can watch a video of last year’s Amazing Accrington Lights Switch On event here: 

Keep an eye on the Amazing Accrington website https://www.amazingaccrington.co.uk/ and social media channels for further updates.

BUSINESS LEADER FUNDING TAKES PLANS FOR EAST LANCASHIRE FREIGHT RAIL TERMINAL TO THE NEXT LEVEL

A number of business leaders have pledged funds to support the development of a new East Lancashire Freight Rail Terminal on the site of the former Huncoat Power Station.

Plans have now moved up a gear including the appointment of a project consultant and an economic feasibility study which is expected in draft 1 by the end of June. The study will investigate the economic case and the rail case, establishing the facts of the great benefit to the region and the private sector development opportunity.

Businesses pledging money to the project include Just Taps, Coach House, First Tunnels, Cardboard Box Company, Emerson & Renwick, Globe Enterprises, Hyndburn Borough Council, Northwest Logistics, Sundown Solutions, Witch Group, Scott Dawson Advertising, Langtec, HML Recycling and Fagan & Whalley.

The project, which could create 2,825 jobs in the local area, has also received support from MP for Hyndburn and Haslingden, Sara Britcliffe, Chief Executive of East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Miranda Barker and Chair of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Debbie Francis OBE.

#Amazing Accrington, a collaboration of businesses, public sector and 3rd sector organisations from within Accrington and the surrounding towns within the borough of Hyndburn, are committed to bringing positive changes to the area and the development provides a very real opportunity to do so, tying into levelling up plans, giving an economic boost to the region, as well as creating cost, resource and carbon savings for businesses.

The historic Huncoat site has disused freight rail sidings, with the surrounding land already designated for future rail freight development. It is ideally located in the centre of East Lancashire’s industry, engineering and aerospace, in between the existing rail and road network. The site covers 22 acres, with an estimated £200 million to develop, which would involve private sector investment.

Debbie Francis OBE, commented: “This is a business project which I have been staying very close to, providing advice from the rail sector and the feasibility study will provide an extremely interesting read.

“I am keen to build and improve corridors of transport in the north, and the LEP fully supports this project and its exciting plans.”

Miranda Barker, said: “Regionally this is an unbelievable opportunity for everyone, especially our local businesses and we are doing everything we can to help push on these plans, which will have a hugely significant impact on the North West for decades to come.

“It gives our businesses the opportunity to move their goods in a more cost effective, competitive and less environmentally damaging way, but also be part of the supply chain to build the infrastructure, and that is unlocking the potential of East Lancashire and its industry, not just for the North West, but for the UK as a whole.”

Sara Britcliffe MP, added: “The employment opportunities which would come from this project would be unbelievable for our borough and it could transform so many people’s lives, from businesses to our children.”

Murray Dawson, Chair of Amazing Accrington and MD of Scott Dawson Advertising, commented: “Freight rail is estimated to treble by 2050 and with our amazing businesses needing room and the opportunity to grow, we need to facilitate that. We can’t thank everyone enough who has pledged financial support for the feasibility study.

“It’s also extremely important to remember that it’s not just core businesses who use freight who would be affected – all businesses benefit from the future economic success of our region.”

You can learn more about the project and its plans here: 

SUNDOWN SOLUTIONS AND SCOTT DAWSON ADVERTISING TEAM UP FOR CAREERS TALK AT STONYHURST ST MARY’S HALL

Hyndburn-based tech company, Sundown Solutions, and Burnley-based advertising and marketing agency, Scott Dawson Advertising, recently presented to over 240 children, aged from 4 to 13 years, at Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall in Clitheroe about the opportunities available to them in the marketing and cyber industries.

The career’s talk, which took place on Monday 16th May at one of the UK’s leading co-educational Catholic boarding and day schools, included discussions on the origins of the internet and how to get into the cyber industry, as well as the important role that marketing will play.

Both Sundown Solutions and Scott Dawson Advertising were invited to the school after a member of staff at Stonyhurst, Louise Chambers, came across a Facebook video of Sundown Solutions and fellow Hyndburn business, What More UK, attending All Saints’ CE Primary located in Clayton le Moors, organised by Scott Dawson Advertising and #AmazingAccrington.

Set in a magnificent Grade I listed building with a 1,000 acre estate right in the heart of Lancashire’s Ribble Valley, Sundown CEO Heath Groves and Scott Dawson MD Murray Dawson, fielded some fantastic questions from the onlooking pupils including what qualifications they would require to work in cyber or marketing.

Mr Groves said: “It’s not just about the children getting the qualifications that they need, but it’s about businesses like us coming into these schools and telling the children who we are, what we do and that we are available.

“The response from these children has been amazing. They asked some extremely intellectual and insightful questions and the future of cyber and marketing looks very bright in Lancashire.”

Mr Dawson commented: “It has been a real honour to be invited into such a wonderful establishment to raise awareness of what we do and the opportunities which will be available to our young people when they leave school including roles in videography and social media.

“The engagement from the children was outstanding, with a good response to the interactive questions and challenges from all age groups.”

Michael Gibson, Deputy Headmaster at Stonyhurst St Mary’s Hall, added: “We would like to say a massive thank you to Murray and to Heath for coming in and speaking to the school all about the world of marketing and tech.

“It was a really interesting assembly and we can’t thank Sundown Solutions and Scott Dawson Advertising enough for coming in.”

Sundown Solutions have been based in Hyndburn since 2003 and provide IT consultancy and management solutions around the world. You can learn more about them and what they do here: https://www.sundownsolutions.com/

Scott Dawson Advertising is a full service marketing and advertising agency based in Burnley, offering a wide range of services including social media, PR, creative design, artwork, direct mail, exhibitions and conferences, copywriting, photography, videography and much more. Head to their website to learn more: https://www.scottdawson.co.uk/