SOME of East Lancashire's leading business minds are being urged to forge the county's industrial future.

Productivity, earning power and growth should be the driving forces for the new red rose strategy, covering the next 10 to 20 years.

That's why East Lancashire Chamber and Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has staged a seminar at Brockholes Nature Reserve, near Samlesbury, inviting along top business representatives, education leaders and health and charity sector delegates, to discuss the county's industrial vision, circa 2030 and 2040.

One of the cradles of the Industrial Revolution, LEP affiliates are being asked to contribute to an official response to the government's own national strategy.

David Taylor, LEP chairman, said: "We are working on a long-term strategy for Lancashire which will set out our priorities and describe the activity needed to increase productivity and earning power, as well as ensuring inclusive growth.

"The LEP wants to ensure that a wide range of stakeholders – especially the business community – have the chance to have their say on the development of this crucial document, so we have begun an extensive consultation programme.

"We want to hear where they think Lancashire's economy is strongest and their thoughts about what is holding businesses back from achieving their full commercial potential.

"We've already done a lot of initial work on the LIS (Lancashire Industrial Strategy) and the workshop provided local organisations and businesses a chance to see and discuss that.

"There will be further opportunities to comment in the coming months."

County and city enterprise partnerships are expected to produce their own tailored responses to the national consultation.

The government is expected to sign off on Lancashire's sown trategy by March 2020.

Another consultation event has been listed by East Lancs Chamber for June 3.

For the full attendance details, those interested can go online to www.chamberelancs.co.uk