BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Blackpool Unlimited - ECPv6.17.2//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Blackpool Unlimited X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://blackpoolunlimited.com X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Blackpool Unlimited REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Europe/London BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:BST DTSTART:20250330T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:GMT DTSTART:20251026T010000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:BST DTSTART:20260329T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:GMT DTSTART:20261025T010000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:BST DTSTART:20270328T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:GMT DTSTART:20271031T010000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260522 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260912 DTSTAMP:20260522T144308Z CREATED:20260522T144308Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260522T144308Z UID:12983-1779408000-1789171199@blackpoolunlimited.com SUMMARY:Social Media Skills Bootcamp - Selnet DESCRIPTION:Covering topics including digital marketing techniques\, developing a business brand and professional profile across social media streams\, building a website and creating a marketing strategy to elevate your business… \nDuration: 16 weeks \nDelivery: Online via Zoom \nSchedule Commitment: 4 hours per week completes a total of 64 guided learning hours. \nTutor: Lucie Higham – a digital marketing specialist and ex-journalist with over 30 years’ experience. \nDirect networking: Meet the Entrepreneur sessions based on experience of independent business leaders. \nApply here URL:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/event/social-media-skills-bootcamp-selnet/ LOCATION:Online Event\, United Kingdom ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Selnet-Logo-Strapline-scaled-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260526 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260812 DTSTAMP:20260522T143529Z CREATED:20260522T143119Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260522T143529Z UID:12975-1779753600-1786492799@blackpoolunlimited.com SUMMARY:Sales & Marketing Skills Bootcamp - Selnet DESCRIPTION:Covering topics including customer profiling\, sales psychology\, face-to-face negotiation\, customer retention\, value propositions\, tech-enabled marketing\, and developing a winning mindset… \nDuration: 12 weeks \nDelivery: Online via Zoom \nAbout the Programme \nThese Skills Bootcamps are designed for enterprising individuals\, self-employed\, business leaders and their staff across Lancashire who are looking to develop their skills and to grow personally and professionally. \nThe programmes are intensive but flexible\, delivered online\, and focused on practical\, real-world skills\, including: \n\nDeveloping a clear value proposition and winning new business\nBuilding and executing effective marketing strategies\nUsing social media to increase visibility and engagement\nCreating actionable plans to support business growth\n\nEach programme also offers opportunities to connect with like-minded people and access ongoing support beyond the training. \nSchedule Commitment: 2 x 3-hour sessions per week completes a total of 72 guided learning hours. \nTutor: Led by Thomas Jardine & Co – experienced leadership\, sales and marketing specialists helping independent businesses turn strategy into action. \nDirect networking: Meet the Entrepreneur sessions based on experience of independent business leaders. \napply here. URL:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/event/sales-and-marketing-skills-bootcamp-selnet/ LOCATION:Online Event\, United Kingdom ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Selnet-Logo-Strapline-scaled-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T093000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260702T113000 DTSTAMP:20260514T080050Z CREATED:20260323T152100Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260514T080050Z UID:12853-1782984600-1782991800@blackpoolunlimited.com SUMMARY:How Hackers Target SMEs — and How to Protect Your Business - University of Lancashire DESCRIPTION:Join the University of Lancashire for this interactive session to get a clearer understanding of cyber risks and what steps to take. \n\n\nThis spring\, the Centre for SME & Enterprise Development at the University of Lancashire is hosting a series of practical workshops\, expert sessions and networking events designed to support entrepreneurs and SMEs at different stages of their business journey. \nWhether you are launching a new venture\, strengthening your business foundations or preparing for growth\, the SME Growth Series offers opportunities to develop new skills\, gain expert insight and connect with other business leaders across the region. \nThe series is organised around three themes: \nBuild – Strengthen the foundations of your business\nGrow – Develop strategies and leadership for growth\nConnect – Build relationships and learn from other entrepreneurs \nAll events are open to SMEs\, start-ups\, founders and professionals interested in business growth and innovation. \nGROW: How Hackers Target SMEs – and How to Protect Your Business \nCyber attacks increasingly target small and medium-sized businesses. In this interactive session delivered in partnership with Seriun\, participants will explore real examples of cyber breaches affecting SMEs and understand how these attacks occur. \nThe event will include a live ethical hacking demonstration\, practical security guidance and an interactive workshop to help businesses prioritise the most important cyber security actions for their organisation. \nParticipants will leave with a clearer understanding of cyber risks and practical steps they can take to strengthen their organisation’s resilience. \nBook here URL:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/event/how-hackers-target-smes-and-how-to-protect-your-business-uclan/ LOCATION:Engineering Innovation Centre\, University of Lancashire\, Fylde Road\, Preston\, PR1 2HE ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/university_of_lancashire_logo_rgb.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260709T073000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260709T090000 DTSTAMP:20260616T113553Z CREATED:20260616T113553Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260616T113553Z UID:13057-1783582200-1783587600@blackpoolunlimited.com SUMMARY:Lancashire Economic Breakfast - NW Lancs CoC DESCRIPTION:Get the insights you need to make confident business decisions for the next quarter\, and beyond\, at Lancashire’s premier economic breakfast event. \nSponsored by Brabners\, we’ll help you understand what’s coming next for the Lancashire economy\, and how the county performed the last quarter\, as we exclusively reveal the latest results of the Chamber’s powerful Quarterly Economic Survey (QES). \nAs an attendee\, you’ll be joined by fellow MDs\, directors\, finance professionals and decision makers from across the county. \nWith innovation and change high on the boardroom agenda and market conditions shifting rapidly\, businesses are under growing pressure to respond strategically\, strengthen resilience\, improve performance and unlock new opportunities for growth. \nExclusively\, our host\, the BBC’s Mike Stevens\, will conduct a fireside chat with Iain Minton\, Technology Capability Delivery Director at BAE Systems. \nTaking place in the equisite ‘Garden Room’ at Ribby Hall Village\, itself a leading innovator in the leisure industry\, the event promises to unmissable in your summer calendar. \nOur guest panel for the July event includes: \n\nA representative from sponsors Brabners\nIan Minton – BAE Systems\nA representative from hosts Ribby Hall Village\nJane Dalton – Groundswell Innovation\n\nWe’ll be serving a light breakfast and be providing guests with an opportunity to strategically network with professionals from all corners of the county. \nAs always\, places are limited\, so we encourage you to secure your place early\, to avoid disappointment. \n\nBook your place \nVenue:\nRibby Hall\nRibby Road\nKirkham\, Lancashire PR4 2PR URL:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/event/lancashire-economic-breakfast-nw-lancs-coc/ LOCATION:Ribby Hall Ribby Road Kirkham\, Lancashire PR4 2PR ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/NWL-CoC.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260716T083000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260716T103000 DTSTAMP:20260629T143119Z CREATED:20260616T142613Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260629T143119Z UID:13061-1784190600-1784197800@blackpoolunlimited.com SUMMARY:Fylde Coast Responsible Business Network Event - Business in the Community DESCRIPTION:Join our next RBN Network Meeting\n\nDate: 16th July 2026\nTimings: 8.30am arrival\, for a 9.00am start\nVenue: Stanley Matthews Suite\, Blackpool Football Club\, FY1 6JJ\n\nEnergy efficiency\, cost and running a resilient business. \nFor many businesses\, sustainability is no longer just about climate targets. It’s about rising energy costs\, efficiency\, and how to run a tighter\, more resilient operation. Across the Fylde Coast\, we’re seeing more organisations look at how they use energy\, where they can reduce waste\, and how small changes can deliver real commercial benefits. \nAt the next Fylde Coast Responsible Business Network event\, we’ll focus on what that looks like in practice\, and hear real examples from local organisations. \nYou’ll hear from: \n\nSteve Williams\, MD of Force Technology\, who are identifying opportunities to significantly reduce energy use and costs by improving efficiency\nMichael Dugdale\, MD\, Trident Utilities. Michael will share practical energy efficiency insights from across a range of businesses\, highlighting simple opportunities to reduce costs and improve performance\nGeorgia Thomas and Helen Spinks-Dear from Blackpool Council’s sustainability team\, sharing how support for businesses is evolving locally\, and how organisations can help shape what comes next\nJohn Robb (Keynote Speaker)\, bringing a different perspective on how behaviour\, culture and skills all play a role in driving change\n\nJohn is a Blackpool born musician\, author and journalist\, best known as frontman of post-punk band The Membranes and punk band Goldblade\, as well as founder of the influential music and culture platform Louder Than War. Over a 40+ year career\, he has written extensively on music and culture and was the first journalist to interview Nirvana. \nAlongside his cultural work\, John is also co‑founder of the Green Britain Academy\, helping develop skills and opportunities for the UK’s low‑carbon future\, bringing a unique perspective on how creativity\, culture and behaviour can drive sustainable change. \nWhether you’re already taking action or just starting to explore this space\, you’ll leave with a clearer understanding of how sustainability and commercial performance increasingly go hand in hand. \nWe look forward to seeing you there! \nBook here \n\n\nLocation\nStanley Matthews Suite\, Blackpool Football Club\, FY1 6JJ URL:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/event/fylde-coast-responsible-business-network-event-07/ LOCATION:Blackpool Football Club\, Bloomfield Rd\, Seasiders Way\,\, Blackpool\, FY1 1JJ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/FCRBN.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260721T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260721T130000 DTSTAMP:20260706T144345Z CREATED:20260706T142607Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260706T144345Z UID:13084-1784628000-1784638800@blackpoolunlimited.com SUMMARY:Startup Workshop DESCRIPTION:Suitable for: Pre-Starts and Early Stage businesses (less than 12 months trading)\nThis workshop will cover all the essentials of starting a business – whether you’re planning to start a business\, or have already done so\, but now feel you skipped past some of the important stuff such as: \n\n\n\nBusiness structures (sole trader\, limited company\, CIC etc)\nLegalities (insurance\, licencing\, etc)\nFinancial compliance (tax returns\, self-assessment\, bookkeeping)\nBusiness and budget planning\nPersonal survival – how will you afford to live before it makes money?\nFunding – do you need to borrow money?\nHow will you reach your market (sales / marketing etc)\n\n\n\nLight lunch and refreshments are included. \n\nPlease Book Here\n\n  URL:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/event/startup-workshop/ LOCATION:The Robinson ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/BBGA-EVENT-scaled.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260729T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260729T130000 DTSTAMP:20260706T145206Z CREATED:20260706T145133Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260706T145206Z UID:13110-1785319200-1785330000@blackpoolunlimited.com SUMMARY:Meta Ads with Nikki Hesford DESCRIPTION:Pre Requisites for attendance:\n\n\n\nyou must either be running Facebook Ads or have a plausible intention of running them within the next 3 months\nYou must have an ads budget to run ads with (minimum £100 per month)\n\n\n\nThis session with Nikki is a practical and hands on\, immersive session that will show you how to run effective ads by yourself – even if you use an agency or a third party\, you will be better equipped to understand what you are outsourcing. \nWe will be covering: \n\n\n\nNavigating Business Suite\, including Ad account creation and onboarding clients if you are an agency\nCompliance and best practices to stay safe\nThe principles of ads and types of ads\nAudience types and retargeting (including Pixel use)\nCopywriting and why some ads perform badly\nLive step by step set up of a simple Lead Gen ad campaign\n\n\n\n\nBook your place now URL:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/event/meta-ads-with-nikki-hesford/ LOCATION:Peel House ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/BBGA-EVENT-scaled.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260804T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260804T130000 DTSTAMP:20260706T154905Z CREATED:20260706T154905Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260706T154905Z UID:13114-1785837600-1785848400@blackpoolunlimited.com SUMMARY:Digital Marketing Workshop DESCRIPTION:Suitable for: Early-stage businesses or businesses with basic digital knowledge\nThis workshop will cover all the essentials of Digital Marketing\, it is assumed that you have only basic knowledge of how to manage these: \n\n\n\nWebsites – how to go about creating one\, the costs of a website\, ongoing costs\, what you need to know to have a good website\nSocial media – an overview of the different platforms and whether you need a presence  as well as a run down of pages\, profiles\, groups\nSEO: how do people find your website once you have built it?\nPad Ads\, email\, and content – a brief introduction to other areas of marketing you may want to consider\n\n\n\nThis session includes a light lunch and refreshments. \n\nBook your place now URL:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/event/digital-marketing-workshop/ LOCATION:The Robinson ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/BBGA-EVENT-scaled.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260806T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260806T120000 DTSTAMP:20260706T155105Z CREATED:20260706T155105Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260706T155105Z UID:13117-1786010400-1786017600@blackpoolunlimited.com SUMMARY:How to use AI for productivity gains – Part 1 DESCRIPTION:Suitable for: Growth or scale up businesses\nThis online session is part of a 2-part series\, where the first session is designed to help you identify processes in your business that could use AI to be more productive. It will be covering a handful of the most common labour-intensive tasks you have in your business every day\, while they won’t all apply to each business\, it has been designed that each business should be able to identify at least 1-2 opportunities to save time\, and money. \nThis session will be followed by the practical\, in-person session on implementation and training Ai agents to execute the time savings you’ve identified. \n\nBook your place now URL:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/event/how-to-use-ai-for-productivity-gains-part-1/ LOCATION:Online Event\, United Kingdom ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/BBGA-EVENT-scaled.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260811T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260811T120000 DTSTAMP:20260805T145401Z CREATED:20260706T155326Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260805T145401Z UID:13119-1786442400-1786449600@blackpoolunlimited.com SUMMARY:Financial Workshop DESCRIPTION:Suitable for: Pre-start or early-stage businesses\nThis workshop will cover all the financial management of your new business \n\n\n\nWhat accounts you need to file and when\nWhat taxes you need to pay and when\nHow you manage your basic bookkeeping\nCashflow planning and forecasting\nHow to pay yourself (legally)\nHow to make sure you don’t run out of money\n\n\n\nBook your place here URL:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/event/financial-workshop/ LOCATION:The Robinson ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/BBGA-EVENT-scaled.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260812T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260812T130000 DTSTAMP:20260805T145449Z CREATED:20260706T160028Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260805T145449Z UID:13121-1786528800-1786539600@blackpoolunlimited.com SUMMARY:Advanced Social Media & Content Workshop DESCRIPTION:Suitable for: Growth and Scale Up businesses who are already managing social media pages competently\nThis workshop is for business owners and marketers wanting to take their skills to the next level beyond simply posting content to their pages: \n\nUnderstanding what the algorithm wants from you\nGrowing your audience and measuring impact\nMonetisation of your pages and audiences\nCreating scroll-stopping content and Reels\nWhat’s new in 2026\n\nThis session includes a light lunch and refreshments. \nBook your place here URL:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/event/advanced-social-media-content-workshop/ LOCATION:Wyre Civic Centre\, Poulton-le-Fylde\,\, FY6 7UP ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/BBGA-EVENT-scaled.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260813T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260813T130000 DTSTAMP:20260805T145541Z CREATED:20260717T103615Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260805T145541Z UID:13145-1786615200-1786626000@blackpoolunlimited.com SUMMARY:Training AI Agents and Creating Automations - Part 2 DESCRIPTION:Suitable for: Growth or Scale up businesses\nThis is the second session in the two-part series\, with the first identifying Ai opportunities and this one in how to implement these changes: \n\nHow to train Ai agents\nHow to create automations and workflows\n\nThis is a practical session\, and you should have attended Part 1 as we need to know ahead of this session which processes / opportunities you want to work on. \nLunch is provided. \nPlease note: This session is limited to 10 people\, sorry we can only allow one person per business for this session to enable Nicola to be able to help everyone \nBook your place here URL:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/event/training-ai-agents-and-creating-automations/ LOCATION:The Robinson ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/BBGA-EVENT-scaled.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260818T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260818T130000 DTSTAMP:20260805T145638Z CREATED:20260706T160254Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260805T145638Z UID:13124-1787047200-1787058000@blackpoolunlimited.com SUMMARY:Systems for scaling masterclass with Nikki Hesford DESCRIPTION:Suitable for: Growth or Scale up businesses\nThis session is designed for growing businesses\, who want to scale\, are demonstrating growth but feel that they are either: \n\n\n\nBusy fools: always busy but this isn’t reflecting in the profits / personal earnings\nAlways ‘in’ the business: you fear taking a holiday\, and when you do\, your phone is glued to your fingertips\nExhausted from firefighting: one problem after another\, unhappy clients\, projects derailed\, staff member issues\n\n\n\nIf one or more of the above applies to you\, this session is a must. It’s a practical\, no-nonsense attack on the biggest areas in your business relating to sales\, people and money. You will leave with a better grasp\, an understanding of how to create systems\, and a clear vision of how to get more personal benefit from your business. \nThis is not a ‘motivational’ session\, it’s about attacking common problems with real systems. \nBook your place here URL:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/event/systems-for-scaling-masterclass-with-nikki-hesford/ LOCATION:Peel House ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/BBGA-EVENT-scaled.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260903T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260903T140000 DTSTAMP:20260818T074505Z CREATED:20260814T133432Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260818T074505Z UID:13232-1788429600-1788444000@blackpoolunlimited.com SUMMARY:Leadership and People Management with Blackpool Growth Business Academy DESCRIPTION:Most training of this sort is several days / week / months – it’s not easy to find free\, 1 day\, interactive leadership training for growth and scale up businesses. \nIf you found yourself being a leader… managing people\, purely because its your own business and not because you qualified and then someone gave you the job – then this is for you. This session will understand the personality types within your organisation\, and look at how you communicate effectively\, avoid and resolve conflict and have difficult conversations with ease. \nThis session is in person at Peel House 10am until 2pm and is for scaling businesses with AT LEAST 2 employees.  \nDuring this session you will learn: \n\nThe different between a leader and a manager\nDifferent management styles and understanding what your own is (and how you can adapt it in different situations or for different personalities to get the best out of people)\nGetting the best performance out of your team and what attributes are important / less important\nHandling difficult conversations\, conflict and dispute resolution with employees and stakeholders\n\nThis is a collaborative\, hand on\, high level leadership coaching session delivered by John Woodruffe of Turnkey Solutions\, a highly sought after specialist in leadership\, lean and Six Sigma Blackbelt \nBook your place here URL:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/event/leadership-and-people-management-with-blackpool-growth-business-academy-2/ LOCATION:Peel House ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/BBGA-EVENT-scaled.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260909T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260909T120000 DTSTAMP:20260814T133925Z CREATED:20260814T133925Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260814T133925Z UID:13234-1788948000-1788955200@blackpoolunlimited.com SUMMARY:Tender Writing with Blackpool Growth Business Academy DESCRIPTION:Suitable for: Growth and Scale Up Businesses \n10am til 12pm held on Zoom \nThis workshop will cover: \n\nUnderstanding which organisations procure by tender and why\nWhat does a tender process look like\nHow are tenders evaluated / awarded\nNeed to knows around compliance and governance\nWhy your bids may have scored poorly\nWhy you should not use Ai to write your bid!\n\nThis session is ideal for any businesses thinking about tendering for work\, or have previously done so and want to understand how to improve their bid next time. \nThis is relatively entry level and designed for bid of up to £200k not millions \nBook your place here URL:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/event/tender-writing-with-blackpool-growth-business-academy/ LOCATION:Zoom ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/BBGA-EVENT-scaled.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260910T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260910T130000 DTSTAMP:20260818T074711Z CREATED:20260814T134317Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260818T074711Z UID:13236-1789034400-1789045200@blackpoolunlimited.com SUMMARY:Customer Insight\, Value & Growth with Blackpool Growth Business Academy DESCRIPTION:Suitable for: All trading businesses  \n10am until 1pm at Wyre Civic Centre \nThis workshop is for small business owners wanting to get a better grip of understanding their customer’s behaviour and how to leverage that knowledge into more sales. \nYou will learn to use a model that will show you which customers are worth focusing on\, what else those customers may be buying elsewhere\, and what simple changes could help win more of that work. \nYou will have a clear process for deciding which customers to grow\, retain\, service lightly or ignore\, plus practical actions to increase sales without spending more on marketing. \nBook your place here URL:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/event/customer-insight-value-and-growth-with-blackpool-growth-business-academy/ LOCATION:Wyre Civic Centre\, Poulton-le-Fylde\,\, FY6 7UP ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/BBGA-EVENT-scaled.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260914T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260914T120000 DTSTAMP:20260814T134852Z CREATED:20260814T134852Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260814T134852Z UID:13238-1789380000-1789387200@blackpoolunlimited.com SUMMARY:Understanding SEO – From Keywords to AI-Driven Search with Blackpool Growth Business Academy DESCRIPTION:Search is changing faster than ever and the rules that worked two years ago won’t get you found today. In this focused\, 2-hour online session\, you’ll get a clear\, practical roadmap for ranking in a landscape now shaped as much by AI as by traditional search engines. \nWhat we’ll cover: \n\nKeyword research that works today: how to uncover the terms your audience actually searches for\, focusing on intent over raw volume\, and the tools that make the job easier\nOn-site SEO best practice: optimising your content\, page structure\, headings\, metadata\, and internal linking so search engines understand and reward your pages\nTechnical foundations: the behind-the-scenes signals that affect ranking\, from site speed and mobile-friendliness to crawlability and indexing\nOff-site SEO and authority building: how backlinks\, reputation\, and external signals boost your credibility and rankings\, plus practical ways to earn them\nAI-driven search methodology: how AI Overviews\, answer engines\, and chat-based search are changing the game\, and what it means for how you’re found\nOptimising to be cited\, not just clicked: practical tactics for staying visible when AI summarises answers directly in the results\nFuture-proofing your strategy: how to adapt as search continues to evolve\, so your approach stays effective beyond today’s trends\n\nYou’ll leave with actionable tactics you can apply immediately and a clearer understanding of where search is heading next. \nPerfect for: You will already be implementing SEO\, but want a clear\, up-to-date framework that aligns with AI advances. \nBook your place here URL:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/event/understanding-seo-with-blackpool-growth-business-academy/ LOCATION:Zoom ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/BBGA-EVENT-scaled.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260916T160000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260916T183000 DTSTAMP:20260728T110833Z CREATED:20260728T110833Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T110833Z UID:13159-1789574400-1789583400@blackpoolunlimited.com SUMMARY:Centre for SME & Enterprise Development Business Twilight Networking Event DESCRIPTION:Join the University of Lancashire for an inspiring twilight event designed to empower SMEs with practical tools\, insights\, and opportunities to grow and innovate. \n\nLinkedIn: Making It Work for Your Business \nMost people have a LinkedIn profile. Though far fewer are using it in a way that actually generates results. This session cuts through the noise to focus on what genuinely helps small businesses and sole traders – from profile changes that take minutes but make a real difference\, to content approaches that build visibility without demanding hours of your week. You’ll leave with a clearer sense of where your time is best spent and a handful of practical steps you can act on straight away. \nKey takeaways: \n\nHow to position your profile so the right people take notice\nContent habits that build consistent visibility without overcomplicating your week\nHow to engage your existing network to open up new conversations and opportunities\nWhat’s worth your time on LinkedIn (and what isn’t)\n\nAs always\, you will also hear about the latest business support available from the University. Centre members will also have the opportunity to deliver a 60 second pitch\, giving you a chance to showcase your business to fellow members. \nContact us: sme@lancashire.ac.uk \nBook here URL:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/event/centre-for-sme-and-enterprise-business-development-business-twilight-networking-event/ LOCATION:University of Lancashire\, Media Factory\, Preston\, PR1 2HE ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/university_of_lancashire_logo_rgb.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260917T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260917T130000 DTSTAMP:20260814T135214Z CREATED:20260814T135214Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260814T135214Z UID:13240-1789639200-1789650000@blackpoolunlimited.com SUMMARY:Training Ai Agents and Creating Automations part 2 with Blackpool Growth Business Academy DESCRIPTION:Suitable for: Growth or Scale up businesses \n10am til 1pm – in person at The Robinson\, Blackpool \nThis is the second session in the two-part series\, with the first identifying Ai opportunities and this one in how to implement these changes: \n\nHow to train Ai agents\nHow to create automations and workflows\n\nThis is a practical session\, and you should have attended Part 1 as we need to know ahead of this session which processes / opportunities you want to work on \nLunch is provided. This session is limited to 10 people – sorry we can only allow one person per business for this session to enable Nicola to be able to help everyone \nBook your place here URL:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/event/training-ai-agents-with-blackpool-growth-business-academy/ LOCATION:The Robinson ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/BBGA-EVENT-scaled.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260923T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260923T120000 DTSTAMP:20260818T075406Z CREATED:20260818T075225Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260818T075406Z UID:13247-1790157600-1790164800@blackpoolunlimited.com SUMMARY:Employing People 101 with the Blackpool Growth Business Academy DESCRIPTION:This 2 hour Zoom session with Nikki is designed for businesses who are either approaching the time to hire their first employee\, or perhaps they’ve already got one or two employees and may now realise they haven’t got a good understanding of payroll\, contracts\, holiday entitlement\, sick pay etc and need to quickly get up to speed. \nThis session will cover: \n\nPlanning the role and advertising it\nEffective interviewing process\nLegal requirements – insurance\, holiday pay\, sick pay\, pension etc\nEmployment contracts and employee handbooks – how to\nProcessing payroll / payslips\nConcerns over ‘what if’… what if they aren’t very good\, what if I find I don’t have enough work after I’ve hired them…\nQ&A\n\nThis is a crash course on everything you need to know – starting with the job description in the job ad\, contracts\, employee handbooks\, legals\, Employer NI\, pensions\, sick pay\, dismissal… Don’t miss this if you’re employing someone or plan to! \nBook your place here URL:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/event/employing-people-101-with-the-blackpool-growth-business-academy-2/ LOCATION:Zoom ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/BBGA-EVENT-scaled.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260929T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260929T130000 DTSTAMP:20260814T140225Z CREATED:20260814T140155Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260814T140225Z UID:13242-1790676000-1790686800@blackpoolunlimited.com SUMMARY:Start-up Workshop with Blackpool Growth Business Academy DESCRIPTION:Suitable for: Pre Starts and Early Stage businesses (less than 12 months trading) \n10am until 1pm at Blackpool Enterprise Centre\, Lytham Rd\, Blackpool \nThis workshop will cover all the essentials of starting a business – whether you’re planning to start a business\, or have already done so\, but now feel you skipped past some of the important stuff such as: \n\nBusiness structures (sole trader\, limited company\, CIC etc)\nLegalities (insurance\, licencing\, etc)\nFinancial compliance (tax returns\, self assessment\, book keeping)\nBusiness and budget planning\nPersonal survival – how will you afford to live before it makes money?\nFunding – do you need to borrow money?\nHow will you reach your market (sales / marketing etc)\n\nThis session includes a light lunch and refreshments. \nBook your place here URL:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/event/startup-workshop-with-blackpool-growth-business-academy-09/ LOCATION:Blackpool Enterprise Centre ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/BBGA-EVENT-scaled.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261001 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261002 DTSTAMP:20260619T134128Z CREATED:20260619T134128Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260619T134128Z UID:12911-1790812800-1790899199@blackpoolunlimited.com SUMMARY:Putting women at the Centre of the Supply Chain - SheChain Live DESCRIPTION:Karen Millen OBE to Join SheChain Live for Exclusive Fireside Chat  \nOne of Britain’s most successful entrepreneurs\, Karen Millen OBE\, will join SheChain Live for an exclusive fireside chat\, sharing insights from the journey that transformed a £100 investment into one of the world’s most recognisable fashion brands. \nTaking place on Thursday 1 October at the Winter Gardens Blackpool\, SheChain Live brings together business owners\, buyers\, procurement specialists and industry leaders to help women-led businesses access new routes to market\, valuable connections and opportunities for growth. \nStarting with a £100 loan and a determination to create beautifully made clothing for women\, Karen built the Karen Millen brand into an international fashion business with stores across the world. Her career has also included significant challenges\, setbacks and reinvention\, making her one of the UK’s most respected voices on resilience\, leadership and entrepreneurship. \nDuring the fireside chat\, Karen will share lessons from building a global brand\, navigating business challenges and creating success on her own terms. The conversation will explore the realities of entrepreneurship\, the decisions that shaped her career and the resilience required to build and sustain a successful business. \nKaren Millen said “I’m delighted to be joining SheChain Live and the Enterprise Vision Awards. Throughout my career I’ve learned that success is rarely a straight line\, and I’m looking forward to sharing the lessons\, challenges and opportunities that have shaped my journey in business. I hope attendees leave feeling inspired to take the next step towards building something meaningful of their own.” \nCoral Horn\, Founder of SheChain Live and the Enterprise Vision Awards\, said “Karen’s journey proves what’s possible when ambition is matched with opportunity. Too many women have the ideas\, capability and determination to grow but still struggle to access the networks\, relationships and commercial opportunities that help businesses scale. That’s exactly why we created SheChain Live. We’re delighted that Karen is joining us for what promises to be an honest and inspiring conversation. Her story isn’t just about success; it’s about resilience\, reinvention and continuing to move forward when challenges arise. Those are lessons that resonate with entrepreneurs at every stage of business. SheChain Live is about more than inspiration. It’s about creating practical opportunities for women-led businesses to connect with buyers\, procurement professionals\, partners and decision makers who can help unlock growth.” \nSheChain Live forms part of a wider movement to help increase opportunities for women-led businesses and support greater participation in supply chains\, procurement and business growth. \nThe Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship found that up to £250 billion could be added to the UK economy if women started and scaled businesses at the same rate as men. Yet many women still report barriers to accessing investment\, procurement opportunities\, strategic networks and routes to growth. \nMore than an event\, SheChain Live is a platform for opportunity. Bringing together buyers\, procurement professionals\, partners and industry leaders\, attendees will gain practical knowledge\, valuable connections and expert insight to help grow their businesses. The programme includes expert speakers\, practical workshops and opportunities to connect\, with sessions from organisations including WEConnect International and ITV’s Confidence on Camera programme. Designed to inspire action as well as ambition\, SheChain Live aims to help women-led businesses discover new routes to market\, unlock opportunities and take their next step with confidence. \nThe event takes place the day before the Enterprise Vision Awards\, the UK’s largest celebration of women in business\, creating two days dedicated to inspiration\, opportunity\, growth and recognition. \nFor more information and tickets URL:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/event/putting-women-at-the-centre-of-the-supply-chain-shechain-live/ LOCATION:Winter Gardens\, Winter Gardens\,\, Blackpool\, FY1 1AA ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KAREN-MILLEN_THE-POTTERY-SheChain-event.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261001T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261001T130000 DTSTAMP:20260805T145733Z CREATED:20260805T142954Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260805T145733Z UID:13175-1790848800-1790859600@blackpoolunlimited.com SUMMARY:Advanced Social Media & Content Workshop DESCRIPTION:Suitable for: Growth and Scale Up businesses who are already managing social media pages competently\nThis workshop is for business owners and marketers wanting to take their skills to the next level beyond simply posting content to their pages: \n\nUnderstanding what the algorithm wants from you\nGrowing your audience and measuring impact\nMonetisation of your pages and audiences\nCreating scroll-stopping content and Reels\nWhat’s new in 2026\n\nThis session includes a light lunch and refreshments. \nBook your place here URL:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/event/advanced-social-media-content-workshop-10/ LOCATION:Wyre Civic Centre\, Poulton-le-Fylde\,\, FY6 7UP ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/BBGA-EVENT-scaled.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261002T180000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261002T180000 DTSTAMP:20260324T150529Z CREATED:20260324T150358Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260324T150529Z UID:12856-1790964000-1790964000@blackpoolunlimited.com SUMMARY:Enterprising Vision Awards 2026 - Celebrating Women in Business Awards DESCRIPTION:If you’re looking for women in business awards in the UK\, the Enterprise Vision Awards are the UK’s largest and most established platform celebrating female entrepreneurship\, leadership and impact. \nCelebrating Women in Business Across the UK \nChampioning women building and growing businesses across the UK’s high-growth sectors\, from tech and finance to creative industries and clean energy. \nThe UK’s largest celebration of women in business \nThe Enterprise Vision Awards (EVAS) recognise\, connect and champion women building outstanding businesses across the UK. \nThe EVAS champion women who are building\, growing and leading businesses across every sector of the UK economy. Business awards with credibility\, community and real-world impact. \nEnter the 2026 Awards \nNominate A Woman \nMore than an awards ceremony \nThe EVAS is a national platform for visibility\, confidence and opportunity. \nEach year\, we recognise women whose businesses demonstrate growth\, leadership and impact\, whether that’s through scale\, innovation\, influence or purpose. \nFrom early-stage founders to high-growth enterprises\, from social ventures to businesses turning over millions\, the EVAS celebrates success in all its forms. \nLearn more about the EVAS \nWho the EVAS is for \nThe EVAS celebrate women driving growth and innovation across industries throughout the UK\, including key sectors such as digital\, life sciences\, creative industries and professional services. \nThe EVAS is for women who are building and growing businesses\, leading with purpose and driving change in their sectors and communities. \nIt’s for women entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey\, from first steps to scale\, and for Not-For-Profit organisations using enterprise to create lasting impact. \nIt’s also for the supporters\, partners and champions who believe in the power of women in business and want to see them recognised properly. \nIf you’re building something meaningful\, the EVAS is for you. URL:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/event/enterprising-vision-awards-2026-celebrating-women-in-business/ LOCATION:Winter Gardens\, Winter Gardens\,\, Blackpool\, FY1 1AA ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/logo.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261007T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261007T130000 DTSTAMP:20260805T150159Z CREATED:20260805T143734Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260805T150159Z UID:13177-1791367200-1791378000@blackpoolunlimited.com SUMMARY:WTH's my P & L with Nikki Hesford DESCRIPTION:Suitable for: Growth businesses with £75k+ turnover \n10am til 1pm at Peel House\, FY4 5JX with Nikki Hesford \nBook your place here URL:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/event/wths-my-p-and-l-with-nikki-hesford-2/ LOCATION:Peel House ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/BBGA-EVENT-scaled.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261013T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261013T120000 DTSTAMP:20260805T145238Z CREATED:20260805T145006Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260805T145238Z UID:13179-1791885600-1791892800@blackpoolunlimited.com SUMMARY:Financial Workshop with the Blackpool Growth Business Academy DESCRIPTION:Suitable for: Pre-start or early-stage businesses\nThis workshop will cover all the financial management of your new business \n\n\n\nWhat accounts you need to file and when\nWhat taxes you need to pay and when\nHow you manage your basic bookkeeping\nCashflow planning and forecasting\nHow to pay yourself (legally)\nHow to make sure you don’t run out of money\n\n\n\nBook your place here URL:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/event/financial-workshop-10/ LOCATION:The Robinson ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/BBGA-EVENT-scaled.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261021T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261021T120000 DTSTAMP:20260805T152058Z CREATED:20260805T152058Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260805T152058Z UID:13188-1792576800-1792584000@blackpoolunlimited.com SUMMARY:Using Quickbooks for the first time with the Blackpool Growth Business Academy DESCRIPTION:Suitable for: Pre Start or early stage businesses  \nWed 21st Oct | 10am til 12pm held on Zoom with Nikki Hesford \nThis workshop is designed for businesses who are moving to a cloud based book keeping system such as Quickbooks for the first time. Leave this session having a good understanding of: \n\nHow to set it up for the first time (linking to the Gov Gateway)\nUnderstanding what it can/cannot do and how it will save you time and money in the long run\nCreating Invoices and getting paid\nReconciling daily transactions\nRunning basic reports and understanding what those reports mean\n\nBook your place here URL:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/event/using-quickbooks-for-the-first-time-with-the-blackpool-growth-business-academy/ LOCATION:Zoom ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://blackpoolunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/BBGA-EVENT-scaled.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR