The 2026 Hyndburn Jobs Fair took place at Accrington Town Hall on Monday, bringing together residents, employers and education providers for a day focused on employment, skills and opportunity.
A wide range of businesses and education providers from across the region attended the event, showcasing live job vacancies, training pathways and career opportunities.
The people of Hyndburn showed strong interest throughout the day, with attendees engaging with exhibitors, asking questions and gaining valuable insight into the roles and support available to them.
Organised by Hyndburn Borough Council, the council team had a stand of their own, actively recruiting for roles in Licensing, Environmental Health and their Customer Contact Centre.
Alongside the main exhibition, two workshops were delivered during the event. The first workshop delivered by “The Work From Home Hub supported job seekers specifically looking for work from home and remote working roles, and the second workshop delivered by “Square Peg Associates Ltd, provided practical support with CV writing and interview preparation.
There was also a special appearance from BBC Dragons’ Den star Kirsty Henshaw, who shared her inspiring journey into business. Her story highlighted the potential for success for people from Lancashire and resonated strongly with those in attendance.
Cllr Scott Brerton, Cabinet Member for Business and Growth at Hyndburn Borough Council said:
“The Hyndburn Jobs Fair was a real success, and it was fantastic to see so many people taking the time to come along and explore the opportunities available to them.
“The enthusiasm shown by residents throughout the day was incredibly encouraging, and it was great to see people engaging with employers, asking questions and thinking positively about their next steps.
“Events like this play an important role in connecting local people with jobs, training and support right here in Hyndburn.”
 New figures from the Office for National Statistics show Hyndburn leading the way in business growth across Lancashire, with the borough recording the strongest net increase in enterprises in 2024.
The latest Business Demography data confirms that Hyndburn’s economic performance continues to strengthen. Business births have risen each year since 2022 and now account for around 5% of all new enterprises across Lancashire. The borough also outperforms the Lancashire, North West and UK averages for business birth rates, underlining the area’s growing reputation as a place where new ideas and ventures can thrive.
Business resilience has also improved. For the first time since 2020, the number of business closures has fallen, returning to levels last seen in 2021. Hyndburn’s business death rate is now lower than the Lancashire average and sits below both regional and national benchmarks, showing comparatively strong stability in the local business base.
This combination of rising business starts and falling closures has resulted in Hyndburn achieving the strongest net business growth of any Lancashire district in 2024.
Hyndburn Council’s Economic Development Team has continued to play an active role in supporting businesses throughout the borough. Over the past year the team has delivered a busy programme of activity including:
- 186 instances of direct business support, including one‑to‑one guidance for established businesses and help for 39 new start‑ups.
- 14 business workshops, covering topics from startup essentials to marketing tools such as Canva and emerging technology including AI.
- £75,000 invested in business grants.
This continued support forms part of the Council’s commitment to helping businesses start, grow and succeed, ensuring Hyndburn remains a strong and competitive place for enterprise.
 2-Work, provide all-inclusive, flexible workspaces across the North of England, with a new Accrington location set to open later in 2026 at Burtons Chambers.
Flexible workspaces offer businesses and entrepreneurs the freedom to adapt, innovate, and grow without being tied to long-term leases or fixed setups.
2-work’s affordable coworking memberships, private offices, and fully equipped meeting rooms create a collaborative space where businesses of all sizes can thrive. Every plan is flexible and tailored to business needs, giving the freedom to scale and adapt as a business grows.
Spaces are designed to promote a sense of community and encourage collaboration between members, with breakout areas, monthly events, and exclusive discounts at local businesses, creating an environment where connections flourish and ideas come to life.
Get in touch with the 2-Work team to find more about our upcoming workspace at Burtons Chambers by emailing burtsonchambers@2-work.co.uk.
 Calling all hair and beauty professionals 💅
Free online training is now available to help you spot the signs of domestic abuse — visit naildomesticabuse.co.uk
Police Commissioner Grunshaw has recently launched the county wide #NailDomesticAbuse campaign together with Lancashire Constabulary.
The campaign aims to provide local hair and nail salons, wellness and beauty establishments with information and materials about the signs of domestic abuse. The dedicated campaign website also offers a free, interactive online training package, designed to help beauty business owners and employees to spot the signs of domestic abuse and know what to do if a client, colleague, friend or family member may need support.
The #NailDomesticAbuse campaign offers:
💅 Salon based training videos
💇♀️ Posters for client and staff areas
🪞 #NailDomesticAbuse Window sticker
🫶 Info on local support services
Take the free training today and request your free campaign pack by clicking the link below.
 Is your business looking for a simple, high‑impact way to support young people and strengthen your future talent pipeline?
Hosting a work‑experience placement is a practical way to help students build confidence, develop essential social and workplace skills, and gain a real understanding of what employers expect.
For businesses, work experience offers clear benefits. It can:
- Provide early access to emerging talent.
- Showcase the skills, behaviours and roles within your organisation.
- Support your corporate social responsibility goals.
- Strengthen your reputation within the local community.
Education Business Partnership (NW) works directly with local high schools across Hyndburn to co‑ordinate high‑quality work‑experience placements. We make the process straightforward and fully supported, offering guidance, advice and answers to any questions you may have.
Whether you’re new to hosting students or already involved and have a success story to share, we’d love to hear from you.
Ready to make a difference?
Get in touch today to explore how your organisation can support a young person and benefit at the same time.
📞 01254 433390
📧 enquiries@ebpnw.co.uk
🌐 www.ebpnw.co.uk
Whether you’re thinking of starting a business, or you are already an established Hyndburn-based service provider or manufacturer, we have a calendar of events and activities supporting various business sectors on a range topics. Visit our events page to get regular updates: www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/events/
Or to book a place at any of the events listed below email: Business@hyndburnbc.gov.uk
Create Local, Go Global
Tuesday 26th March, 10.00am - 1.00pm, Accrington Stanley FC, 1968 Lounge, Livingstone Road, Accrington, BB5 5BX.
A free half-day business networking event for Hyndburn’s creatives and makers who are ready to grow. Hear directly from successful Lancashire entrepreneurs who started locally and went on to build global recognition.
Our key note speaker will be local comedian Tez Ilyas, one of the most celebrated stars in British comedy, alongside a fantastic list of panellists which include Wayne Hemmingway MBE, Jamie Holman, Zara Saghir and Zara Neild.
We’ll be exploring:
- Getting beyond your postcode and how to take your creative work further
- Why owning your story matters, using your voice, culture and authenticity to stand out
- What works (and what doesn’t) on social media
- How to embrace AI without losing your identity, and what impact will AI have on the creative sector.
It’s happening in the beautifully refurbished 1968 Lounge at Accrington Stanley and isn’t just a “sit-and-watch” event - you’ll leave with a goody bag, designed by students from East Lancashire Learning Group, as well as practical tips, fresh ideas and the chance to chat and network with other like-minded creatives.
Limited spaces, book early by emailing Business@hyndburnbc.gov.uk
Unlocking your Vision & Offer
Tuesday 28th April, 5.30pm - 8.30pm. Dunkenhalgh Hotel & Spa, Blackburn Road, Clayton-le-Moors, BB5 5JP.
Your Vision – This is where your idea takes shape.
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Purpose & Mission: What’s the big idea? What impact do you want to make?
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Core Values: The non-negotiables that define how your business operates.
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Long-term Goals: Where do you see yourself in 3, 5, or 10 years?
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Competitive Advantage: What sets you apart and impossible to ignore?
Your Offer – Time to craft a killer product or service that speaks to your audience.
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Products/Services: Define what you’re bringing to the table and how it solves a problem.
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Unique Selling Proposition (USP): Why should customers pick you over the competition?
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Pricing Strategy: Find the sweet spot where value meets demand.
Marketing & Sales Essentials for your Startup
Tuesday 5th May, 5.30pm - 8.30pm. Dunkenhalgh Hotel & Spa, Blackburn Road, Clayton-le-Moors, BB5 5JP.
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Find Your People: Define your Customer Persona so you know exactly who you’re selling to and what they need.
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Know Your Market: Understand your industry, competitors and trends with smart Market Research.
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Sell Like a Pro: Craft a Marketing & Sales Strategy that keeps customers coming back. Explore the best routes to market and figure out which social media platforms will help your brand shine.
Funding and Financial Planning for your Startup
Tuesday 12th May, 5.30pm - 8.30pm. Dunkenhalgh Hotel & Spa, Blackburn Road, Clayton-le-Moors, BB5 5JP.
Starting a business is exciting, but let’s be real - funding & finances can make or break your success. This final workshop is all about getting your money right so you can launch and thrive.
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Funding Sources: Figure out exactly how much you need to get started and explore the best options to cover your costs. From personal savings to investors, grants and crowdfunding.
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Financial Plan: Learn how to budget like a boss, manage income, control costs, and forecast your revenue so your business stays profitable, not stressful.
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Keeping on Track: Stay organised with record-keeping hacks, business bank accounts, bookkeeping tips, and game-changing software that simplifies the numbers.
Lady Boss Coffee Morning
Wednesday 10th June, 9:30am - 12:30pm. Hyndburn Borough Council, QE Room, Scaitcliffe House, Ormerod Street, Accrington, BB5 0PF.
Do you have a passion for cooking and wondered if it could become more than a hobby?
Hyndburn Borough Council are partnering with Kind Communities to support women with cooking skills turn their passion into a viable enterprise.
This 6 week course includes understanding UK regulations for catering and food safety training, pricing structure and legal requirements, as well as a practical focus on helping to turn culinary abilities into a viable business.
If you would like to find out more, come along to our friendly, relaxed Lady Boss Coffee Morning.
You will have the opportunity to meet the programme delivery team and ask them questions, as well as hear participants who have previously completed this course share their thoughts and experience. To top it all off, there as will be plenty of coffee and cake on offer too.
If you are a Hyndburn resident and would like to book a place please email business@hyndburnbc.gov.uk.
If you would like to book a 1-1 meeting with our Economic Development team, send an Email to:
Business@hyndburnbc.gov.uk
Please email business@hyndburnbc.gov.uk to book a place on any of the above workshops.
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