Tag: Entrepreneurs

Norman & Joe Gledhill Start Making Domestic Cylinders

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Two brothers, Norman and Joe Gledhill, founded a business manufacturing domestic copper cylinders in 1926, starting in small premises in Blackpool. Norman, who was married to Louise Ainsworth, had three children: Keith, Houghton, and Norma. As their cylinder business expanded, they moved to larger premises, but with the outbreak of World War II, copper supplies were severely restricted, halting production. After the war, Norman and Louise established Norman Gledhill & Co Ltd, focusing on manufacturing cylinders for plumbers’ merchants. During this time, their sons became involved in the business, with Keith delivering cylinders on a hand cart and Houghton working… Read more »

Ray Ingleby Launches the Ingleby Group

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Raymond “Ray” Ingleby, born in February 1963 in Lytham St Annes, is a British entrepreneur who served as vice-chairman of Burnley Football Club until 27 August 2013. His family owned a soft furnishings business, and despite being dismissed from his first job in a magazine-printing firm, Ingleby became a millionaire by the age of 21. He founded Ingleby Communications, which in 1992 acquired the American company Caribiner. Under Ingleby’s leadership, Caribiner grew to become the largest audio-visual rental business in the world, with a turnover of $750 million. In February 1999, Ingleby purchased £1 million worth of shares in Burnley… Read more »

Ian Levine Co-produces Take That’s Brit Award Winner

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Ian Geoffrey Levine was born 22 June 1953 in Blackpool and went to Arnold School. He is a songwriter, producer, and DJ. A moderniser of Northern soul music in the UK, and a developer of the style of hi-NRG, he has written and produced records with sales totalling over 40 million. He is openly gay and known as a fan of the long-running television show Doctor Who. His parents owned and ran the “Lemon Tree” complex in Blackpool, including its casino and nightclub. He suffered a major stroke in July 2014, leaving him with severely limited movement on the left side of… Read more »

Sir John Sunderland Becomes Cadbury Schweppes Chief Exec

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Sir John Michael Sunderland, CBE FRSA, was born on 24 August 1945 and raised in Lytham St Annes. His early years were shaped by his family—father Harry Sunderland, mother Joyce Farnish, and sister Ann Marie. He attended King Edward VII School in Lytham St Annes before furthering his education at the University of St Andrews, where he earned a Master of Arts degree. A respected figure in British business, Sunderland made a name for himself in the corporate world, eventually serving as President of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) from 2004 to 2006. His tenure at the CBI focused… Read more »

David Brown Buys Aston Martin

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Sir David Brown was born in Park Cottage in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, to Caroline and Frank Brown in 1904. Park Cottage was demolished in the Second World War to make way for a new factory, on their 17-acre Park Works site. Brown attended King James’s School in Almondbury and Rossall School in Cleveleys. While at Rossall, he was known to have loved the glamour and excitement of cars and motor sports, yet he was also a shrewd business man. He even bought shares out of his pocket money in his school days at Rossall. David Brown’s connection to Blackpool is significant because it… Read more »

The Rise of TISS and its Rebranding to TankSafe

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In 2001, Brian and Ryan Wholey, former hauliers, founded TISS Security Systems in Blackpool with the vision of providing innovative security solutions for the transport and haulage industry. Specialising in fuel security products, TISS quickly made a name for itself by developing cutting-edge technology to address rising concerns over theft and illegal immigration within the sector. In 2002, TISS was located on Lytham Road in South Shore, Blackpool. In that same year the company was recognised for it’s rapid growth and entrepreneural success and honoured as the Fylde’s Entrepreneur of the Year at the Guardian Angel Entrepreneurs Network awards, held… Read more »

Outpost – Steve Barker’s Debut Feature Film

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Steve Barker, born on 4 April 1971 in Blackpool, is an English film director and screenwriter renowned for his contributions to the horror and thriller genres. Barker’s storytelling often blends genre elements, creating narratives marked by tension and stylistic innovation. His work reflects a strong commitment to genre filmmaking, solidifying his reputation within British cinema, particularly in the horror landscape. Barker’s early career highlights include Magic Hour (2002), a short film starring John Simm. He made his feature film directorial debut with Outpost (2008), a supernatural thriller set against a World War II backdrop, featuring Ray Stevenson and Richard Brake…. Read more »

Curtis Jobling Designs Bob the Builder

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Curtis Jobling, born on 14 February 1972 in Blackpool and now residing in Warrington, is a British illustrator, animator, and author best known as the original production designer for the stop-motion series Bob the Builder. He conceptualised the program’s characters, props, and sets, contributing to its BAFTA-winning success. His early career included work on Wallace & Gromit and Mars Attacks!, leading to his pivotal role in Bob the Builder in 1997. Jobling has also excelled in children’s literature and animation. His book Frankenstein’s Cat, a humorous tale of a misfit feline, was adapted into an animated series aired on CBBC,… Read more »

The Federation of Small Businesses

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The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), originally founded as the National Federation of the Self-Employed (NFSE) in 1974, has its roots in Blackpool and a response to government tax changes. The organisation was created by Norman Small in Lytham St Annes as a direct reaction to the introduction of the Class 4 National Insurance contributions, which added extra taxes on the self-employed and small business owners. Small invited affected individuals to a meeting in his hometown, where he proposed the creation of an organisation to represent self-employed workers and sole traders. This meeting was the beginning of a movement that… Read more »

Chadwicks Timber Since 1896

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Chadwicks Timber has a rich history that is deeply intertwined with the development of Blackpool and the wider Fylde Coast. Established in 1896, Chadwicks built its reputation over more than a century by providing high-quality materials and exceptional service to builders, tradespeople, and the local community. By 1956, the company had relocated to its iconic site on Mowbray Drive, where it became a cornerstone of Blackpool’s construction industry. Initially focused on timber, Chadwicks expanded over the decades into a multifaceted builders’ merchant with seven distinct departments. These included not only timber and sheet materials but also hardware, ironmongery, kitchens, bathrooms,… Read more »