Renowned for its industrial heritage and advanced manufacturing capabilities, Lancashire’s £40bn economy is being re-energised by ‘growing’ cyber clusters, tech entrepreneurs, and a thriving community of creative and digital businesses that’s drawing attention well beyond the region.
The pace of change is evident across the county, which is now home to ambitious university spinouts like CCI Photonics and scaling tech firms such as Kirkham-based Audiebant operating alongside established digital agencies and global employers, including EDF Energy and BAE Systems.
With a surge of activity across the region’s digital and tech sectors, Prolific North is partnering with national law firm Forbes Solicitors for a dedicated Lancashire Focus Week. The initiative forms part of Prolific North’s wider tech-focused GRAFT series, which explores the triumphs, tensions, and untapped opportunities within the North’s tech ecosystem.
Across the week, we’ll be lifting the lid on the businesses and sectors driving change while examining what needs to happen next to grow Lancashire’s digital and tech industries.
“We’re proud to support GRAFT Week because it shines a light on the talent, innovation and determination that defines Lancashire’s tech community. We believe in championing businesses that push boundaries and make a difference. This sponsorship is more than support; it’s about collaboration, connection and helping innovation thrive across our region,” said Daniel Fletcher, Commercial Senior Associate at Forbes Solicitors.
A snapshot of Lancashire’s growth
As a snapshot of what’s happening in Lancashire, from aerospace to AI, and from advanced engineering to manufacturing, the county is accelerating its ‘blueprint for growth’ by building on its core strengths while also tapping into emerging sectors, such as cyber, and the wider digital economy.
Cybersecurity is increasingly emerging as a key focus for the region, with the Lancashire Cyber Partnership bringing together local authorities, universities and private-sector leaders to position the county as a ‘world-leading’ destination for cyber firms.
That momentum is only set to build as the National Cyber Force establishes its new headquarters in Samlesbury, where work is already underway on a £13.2m Innovation Hub designed to bring together businesses across cyber, advanced manufacturing, energy and digital technologies.
More widely across Lancashire, investment in infrastructure and talent is also ramping up. The Blackburn Cyber Skills and Education Campus, part of a £250m regeneration programme, is expected to unlock £1bn in economic activity by strengthening the region’s digital and cyber workforce.
Over in Blackpool, ambitions for the Silicon Sands digital infrastructure project continue to gather pace, with plans for a major data centre and 20,000 sq ft of office and R&D space expected to move forward with a planning application before Christmas.
And, according to Invest Lancashire, more than 36,000 people now work across the county’s creative and digital industries, supported by a growing network of coworking spaces and tech hubs, from Fraser House in Lancaster to emerging clusters in Blackpool and Blackburn.
What to expect this week
At the heart of this focus week are the key insights emerging from a roundtable, held on 12 November at Forbes’ central Lancashire office, where leaders across the digital and tech sectors came together, from the likes of Innovate Lancashire, early-stage investment initiative Fhunded, AI-driven customer intelligence platform Relative Insight, and agencies from ICG, 21 Digital, Workhouse Marketing, 3manfactory, Fifty2M and EXP, to discuss the county’s opportunities, challenges and long-term ambitions.
Across the first two days of coverage, Prolific North will unpack the key themes from the roundtable, starting with how Lancashire defines its identity, the strengths of its diverse clusters, and whether a stronger collective voice is needed to amplify the county’s place on the national stage.
The conversation then turns to people and skills: Lancashire’s high-quality workforce and strong graduate output, the ongoing challenge of retention, and how closer collaboration between employers and educators could secure the next generation of talent.
Later in the week, Forbes will share why strong legal foundations are essential for digital and tech businesses at every stage of their growth, followed by a summary of the standout insights, themes and calls to action emerging from across the week’s discussions: what’s working, where there are gaps, and how Lancashire can fully tap into its growing digital and tech potential in the years ahead.
