Troubled businesses in Lancashire

With the news this week that Borders, which has a major store in Preston's Deepdale retail park, has gone into administration, it appears to be a worrying time for many Lancashire based businesses.

Although the store is still continuing to trade whilst the financial situation is assessed, the current financial climate and changing shopping patterns are making it difficult for many businesses to stay afloat. Below is a map of just a few Lancashire based businesses that have faced financial worries in recent months, as reported in the Lancashire Evening Post.


View Struggling - troubled businesses in Lancashire in a larger map

The Media Factory at UCLan

Opened in September 2007, The Media Factory is a fine example of modern architecture, providing great facilities for students from the performing arts, media practice and media areas.

It is also the home for the Centre for Employability through the Humanities, and the forth floor is home to the business incubation units. As well as this, it is the location for the new Centre for Digital Industries.

Costing over £15 million, the building has a contemporary design that perfectly reflects the creative culture and spirit which the students and staff foster.

The Original Image

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For more information, click here

Business as usual at Northern Lights

As part of UCLan futures, the Northern Lights Business Incubation unit provides support to students, graduates and businesses throughout the Northwest.

The support programme offers many facilities and services including office space, one-on-one mentoring, and business workshops to help entrepeneurs turn an idea into a new business, or a new business into an established one.

The video is an interview with Julia Stickley, Northern Lights’ Incubation and Mentoring Coordinator. In it, she talks about the inception of Northern Lights, and the changes that have occured in order to maintain the essential support offered.

For more information on how to get involved with Northern Lights, click here

Hard drug use in the North West amongst highest in England

Figures for the Chief Medical Officer have found that the North West of England has the one of the highest number of hard drug users across England. The figures (see chart above), released in mid 2007, found that more than one in 100 people in the North West used heroin, more than any other region in the UK. The North West also placed second behind London in terms of crack cocaine users, with an estimated 7.1 users per 1000 using the deadly substance.

The research conducted by John Moore’s Centre for Public Health stated that more deprived communities face higher levels of problematic drugs than their more affluent neighbours, with those in the poorest areas 17 times more likely to be problem drug users than those living in the wealthiest neighbourhoods.

Figures taken from Guardian datastore: http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2009/jun/10/drugs-drugspolicy

See the original statistics here: http://www.cph.org.uk/showPublication.aspx?pubid=540

Fish and chips still popular despite the 'credit crunch'

With sales of Fish and Chips rising in Britain for the first time in half a decade, many suggestions have been put forward to suggest why in this time of economic recession one industry can not just survive, but thrive amongst it’s competitors.

Speaking to visitors of fish and chip shops in Preston, it becomes clear that there are many different reasons why the traditional meal is proving a popular choice despite the current financial climate.

Tony, 24, an I.T. consultant from Preston, said that takeaway food was an affordable way to treat himself after a working week.

“Whereas before I might have gone to the pub for dinner and a few drinks, now me and my wife tend to get fish and chips on the Friday, and get a bottle of wine from the off licence to go with it. We can still splash out a bit without breaking the bank.”

Jane, 26, a receptionist originally from Brighton thinks that Fish and Chips provide value for money that other takeaways can’t compete with.

“We tend to have at least one takeaway a week, as I don’t get home from work until late. At the chip shop, I can feed the whole family for half the price than if we had a Chinese or Indian meal, and a quarter of the price than if we went out.”

Mike, 46, unemployed, thinks that the atmosphere and service you receive in ‘chippies’ sets them apart from the alternatives.

“I have been coming here [West End Fish Bar] for years now, and I always get a smile from the staff and we’ll have a bit of banter. You just don’t get that elsewhere.”

Andy, 31, a sales advisor thinks that at times such as these, it is important to support British industry as much as possible.

“I’d rather have a takeaway from a good old British chippy than the tasteless stuff you can get elsewhere. Just the smell of fish and chips gets me going, I wouldn’t want to eat anything else."

The idea that fish and chips are a better option for you health-wise was continued. Carl, 19, a student, was adamant that fish and chips could be part of a healthy lifestyle.

“I know fish and chips aren’t good for me, but when you compare it to other food sources like kebabs, it is definitely a better choice. I am a pretty healthy guy, and eating fish and chips is something I do regularly, so it can’t be all bad.”

It is clear that fish and chips are still very much at the forefront of the nations takeaway habits, despite the alternatives and a shortage of expendable cash. While other industries are forced into wholesale changes to compete, fish and chip shops continue to offer the same service as ever. And it’s working.

Fish and Chips in Preston and the surrounding area

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Fish and Chips on the increase

Sales in Fish and Chip restaurants are up for the first time in over five years, according to a recent survey.

In the first quarter of 2008, the number of people going to fast-food restaurants rose by 3.2 per cent, with Fish and Chips becoming a popular way for people to treat themselves without breaking the bank.

Amongst all the doom and gloom of today’s financial climate, the popular British industry is thriving by using new innovative ways to turn a profit.

With many alternative fast food restaurants in the area offering cheaper food often late into the night, traditional ‘chippies’ such as ‘Fish & Chips’ in Preston have introduced new ideas to remain competitive.

"It is important that all businesses are looking at ways to make money without compromising the quality of service. We all have to work a bit harder and smarter to keep afloat.”

Chris Simpson, the owner of the City centre outlet, now opens the shop between 2 and 4am in an attempt to catch the people heading home after a night out. And so far it’s working, with the manager claiming an increase in custom and profits since the move was brought in.

“Without doubt the early hours of the morning are one of our busiest times. Around 200 people leave the pub directly opposite, and they are coming here for chips rather than the new fast-food restaurants which are open at these hours.”

And the owner also predicted that without changing, many similar businesses will struggle to compete in what is a competitive industry.

“At the moment I think it is important that all businesses are looking at ways to make money without compromising the quality of the service offered. With rising costs and plenty of competition, we all have to work a bit harder and smarter to keep afloat.”

Upmarket restaurant John Kay’s ‘Fish ‘n’ Chips’ has faced a different problem. With prices starting at £5.95 for the traditional meal, competing with conventional fish and chip restaurants has been a challenge.

With people having less to spend on nights out and luxury items, restaurants such as Kay’s which offer premium quality produce at higher prices might have been expected to suffer.

"The credit crunch is affecting what people can spend, but people still want to treat themselves"

However, floor manager Erphelia Chambers feels that there is still a distinct market for the restaurant, and by taking a few steps they have ensured the business continues to offer a unique service to customers.

“We have had to start extra advertising, leaflets and billboards for example, but I don’t think it is a major problem. People see that we are different to the average ‘chippy’ on the street, offering not just fresh, quality food, but the atmosphere of a restaurant.

“We haven’t had to lower prices. Obviously the credit crunch is affecting what people can spend, but people still want to treat themselves, and in terms of going out, we offer an experience as well as a nutritional, affordable meal.”

The Fish and Chip industry has been a big part of the British economy for years, and against all the odds, the nation’s favourite takeaway has managed to pull through what is a difficult time for all companies. Where many businesses have failed, shop owners are adapting their businesses not massively, but enough to keep themselves not just afloat, but in the best shape for years.

Who's afraid of the housing market crash? Not I

One thing has struck me about the housing market at the moment. Everyone knows the housing market is in dire straights, in Manchester, house prices are falling at the fastest rate for 18 years, and in Liverpool the average cost of a property is 12.7% lower than a year ago, and still falling. It is clear that anyone who owns a house is going to be poorer.

I don't own one, and frankly, if in 3 years time house prices have plummeted, then so be it. I imagine that this is the way the majority of non home-owners feel, in particular undergraduates, who will almost certainly be going into a much more affordable market. House prices have been getting out of hand for years now, and this is clearly the result of the over-inflated cost of buying a home. Around a year ago, house prices in Britain were said to be overvalued by 65%, a terrifying figure for first-time buyers. It is surely about time that the market returned to a sensible, affordable level.

I think it is a bit rich of banks to expect the government to bail out the market, as has been proposed. Fortunately for people who don't own homes, it appears that both Alistair Darling and Mervyn King have indicated their unwillingness to support any such plans. It seems unfair to me that a business should be bailed out with the taxpayers money when it seems it is almost certainly there fault that this has happened.

There is no doubt in my mind that the housing market had gotten out of hand. Although few saw it coming, in hindsight, it had clearly become unsustainable. How long this goes on for can only be guessed at, with many experts suggesting that house prices may continue to fall until 2010 before improving. I think that in reality, for every winner in this whole affair, there will be a loser. The good news for me is, it doesn't seem to be going too badly on the student side at the moment.

With thanks to the Fleet Street Invest daily