Blackburn’s City Bid explained & how YOU can get involved!

As part of the celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee next year, a competition has been launched to grant city status to towns in the UK.

We are incredibly excited to be submitting a bid on behalf of Blackburn.

This competition is about reflecting on all that is brilliant about a place. The Council are supporting by submitting the bid on behalf of the town.

A wise person once said life is like a camera, focus on what’s important, capture the good times, develop from the negatives and if things don’t turn out, take another shot.

And that’s exactly the mantra we are adopting as part of this ambitious and prestigious process.

We aim to be one of the few towns to receive this honour and we are appealing to everyone in Blackburn and the wider area to get behind the bid. #BackingBlackburn

We are asking our main public sector organisations, education providers and businesses right across the borough to back the bid to collectively showcase how proud we are of Blackburn. We want to focus on Blackburn’s achievements, our future aspirations and to outline why we think our wonderfully diverse and growing borough should be given this accolade.

Taking learning from previous bids and expertise from place and business leaders, we believe it is our time to be crowned ‘Blackburn City’.

 Your questions answered

What does city status mean and what are the benefits?

• It would be an incredible honour be awarded the prestigious status by the Queen who is not only Britain’s longest reigning monarch but the longest reigning living monarch in the world.
• City status is an honorary title and whilst it doesn’t bring extra funding or powers, it does present many advantages and creates an infectious buzz.
• Benefits include international exposure, attracting new and growing business, benefiting both business and employee confidence, highlighting us as a tourist destination to upping our role on the national stage and giving us a stronger voice both regionally and nationally.
• There is also an element of pride about becoming a city and helps to attract and retain talent.
• Research has also shown that the economic advantages are demonstrable with those newest appointed cities outperforming their regional counterparts in terms of increasing investment and reducing unemployment.

How do we get City Status?

The competition asks you to demonstrate the below criteria:

• A distinct identity
• Civic pride
• Culture, heritage, history and tradition
• Vibrant and welcoming community
• Record of innovation
• Good governance and administration across agencies
• Royal associations
• Significant other contributions from residents and communities that make Blackburn stand out

Blackburn more than meets the criteria. It is collectively believed we can put in a really strong entry. Many people assume that Blackburn is already a city, and is often reported as such in the national media. We are the perfect example of a small city. We are thinking big for Blackburn. The final decision will be made by Her Majesty, on ministerial advice.

Why wasn’t Darwen included in the bid?

• The application criteria is for either an entire area or a distinct area within our boundary. We recognise we have two very distinct and unique towns within one borough which both have very different offers.
• A city status for Blackburn will have benefits for both towns in terms of potential for increased investment, tourism, media, economic impact, skills, jobs and to highlight the array of cultural assets and projects the town delivers.
• How amazing would it be to have Blackburn crowned a city to accompany the forthcoming massive £25m investment in Darwen – which was recently awarded significantly more than anywhere else in Lancashire? A fantastic coup for the place!

Is this just a waste of time?

• This is a prestigious and precious once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The Government have made sure the process is simple and uncostly.
• The intention is that the bid isn’t a one-hit-wonder. There will be longevity from taking part in the competition, using the application as a catalysis to celebrate our place and bring out the stories from the people and the businesses that make this town and area great.
• The local economy is already bouncing back strongly from the impact of the pandemic and it is believed the honorary ‘City’ title will provide a further stimulus to Blackburn’s recovery.
• Our people, the strong voluntary and business communities along with the place itself create the unique blend we know and love. That’s why home-grown entrepreneurial start-ups to international businesses such as Euro Garages choose to invest and be located here.
• It’s also timely as King George’s Hall celebrates its 100^th anniversary this year, which of course had its foundation stone laid by King George V which was interrupted by the First World War before it finally opened in 1921.

You’ve had failed bids previously why are you doing this again now?

• We have significant experience now and know where we have fallen short previously. It will also act as a blueprint for the town’s vision both in the short and longer term.
• This honour would really help to put us on the map regionally, nationally and internationally and everyone is encouraged to get behind our town’s bid.
• See what others are saying about it here: Queen’s Platinum Jubilee: Blackburn to bid for city status – BBC News

Why is becoming a city a selling point?

Stephen Parkinson led Preston’s £30,000 bid in 2002 and he told the BBC it put Preston “on the map”. He said Preston became one of the top five areas in the country for private sector growth. He said a range of factors such as good transport links, a skilled workforce and becoming a city were unique selling points when talking to developers and investors. Preston were the 50th city in England to have joined an elite club being recognised internationally and nationally as a place that ‘means business’.

How can you get involved?

We all know positivity inspires positivity. Businesses, partners and residents are already backing the bid and we are taking on-board all feedback.

The competition requires us to submit 50 photographs of key landmarks, buildings or other structures to showcase Blackburn.

You too can help by letting us know:

1. What you think we should highlight in the application.
2. Share any photographs you are particularly proud of that you feel helps to tell Blackburn’s story by tagging them #BackingBlackburnPhotography

You can also email us at: prandcommunucations@blackburn.gov.uk

You can also really help by simply being proud to talk about Blackburn – to your friends, family, neighbours, colleagues or wider community. We want to reach for the stars and let everyone know that we are a not just a great place, made up of incredible people. We already a City in everything but name.

Please help by sharing your support on social media #BackingBlackburn

The deadline for submitting our bid is December 8 2021 with an announcement expected in 2022.

 #exciting!