2 years ago we set about to change a county.  We knew there was a better way, if only we could all have a common goal to work more collaboratively to.  We started a revolution, we called it Lancashare, a central place were everyone in the county could share their products, services, funding, tenders, knowledge, events, awards and so much more.

I wasn't sure if we could convince people to buy into a new concept, one that's not only a great value service but encourages companies to willingly 'share' and pool their resources for all to see.  2 years on we celebrated our 2nd birthday, hundreds are part of our 'share' platforms, we're live in Manchester, we've been up for 10 awards and awarded Northern Powerhouse Partnership status, incredible and testament to the business communities of Lancashire and Manchester who now have a shared goal to be collaborative with each other too.

Our 2nd birthday celebrations for Lancashare Day saw us joined by some incredible Manchester businesses too, and working together as 2 counties brings about even greater rewards. 

Around 150 businesses joined us to celebrate for a very different day of business.  The morning saw businesses of Lancashire and Manchester come together for the very first 'buyer event' where entry to the event was only granted to those organisations who were actually 'buying' something.  After years of networking and being surrounded by people selling, we wanted to encourage a room full of buyers, carefully matched to local suppliers, who also had to be buying.  It was an incredible concept, it changed mindsets on how to engage with other businesses and it resulted in buying locally, increasing our local supply chains, reducing carbon footprint and keeping more money here on our doorstep to help our economy prosper.

The afternoon saw an incredible celebration of businesses and what their collaborative nature has achieved. Words of encouragement were sent from Jonathan Warburton and Jake Berry, Minister for the Northern Powerhouse who announced our Northern Powerhouse Partnership status for Lancashare and Mancheshare and any future northern counties we roll out in.  Nationally recognised, Lancashire comedian Tez Ilyas entertained the crowds during an afternoon of entertainment, celebration, locally sourced produce and a celebration of the two counties.  A female Town Crier called the guests to lunch to read out the traditional Lancashire Cry as well as penning a specially written Lancashare Cry.  

Lisa Edge, Founder of GB Shared Ltd, said; 'I am in awe of the incredibly collaborative nature of these two wonderful counties, I cannot believe the progress we've made in just 2 short years.  Hundreds of businesses are benefiting whilst their actions benefit others.  It has been a delight to watch my vision become a reality, humbled is an understatement.  I was born in Bolton, which has been both Lancashire and Manchester in my lifetime so I'm overwhelmed to be able to stand here and watch this incredible revolution unfold before me.  Our children will be left with a legacy where they'll never struggle to find a job, advice on starting a business, an education, funding and so much more to help there personal and professional lives excel.'

The photo gallery from the day can be found here: 

https://www.lancashare.co.uk/gallery/lancashare-2018