Over the past six months, Lancashire has seen the development of a locally-rooted, collaborative startup pilot, with a new initiative called Hatch Blackburn. This 16 week programme, run by Northern Reach, in collaboration with Blackburn College, has helped early-stage founders work from an initial idea through to a full concept.
The initiative is part of the UKTCG’s Regional Tech Booster programme, which was funded by the UK Government and supported by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
Lancashire is now at a pivotal moment in the evolution of its tech ecosystem. While there are strong foundations in place, including the Lancashire Digital Hub launched in 2022 by Northern Reach and growing anticipation around the upcoming National Cyber Force headquarters at Samlesbury, the region continues to face deep-rooted structural challenges that hinder startup formation.
However, the biggest barrier to growth is Lancashire’s geography. As a polycentric region made up of 14 districts and spanning over 3,000 sq km, there is no natural centre of gravity. Research from Dealroom and Beauhurst data found that since 2022, only 23 digital tech startups have been founded across the entire county.
On top of that, fewer than 20% have received any funding and overall founder diversity is limited. 75% are all-male founded, and just three are either all or majority female-led. This sparse early-stage pipeline presents a serious challenge to long-term regional competitiveness.
Dan Knowles, Founder at Northern Reach, explained the initiative, “The geographical challenge in Lancashire actually revealed a huge opportunity – the Further Education college network in Lancashire. These colleges exist in every part of the county and have invested heavily in facilities aligned to the digital economy – AI, gaming, cyber, and immersive tech.
“By working closely with this existing network, we have engaged local communities directly, embedding innovation activity close to where people live and study, not just in urban centres.
“We’re not just filling a gap – we’re laying the foundations for a distributed network of innovation hubs embedded in the heart of local communities and building startup momentum from the ground up. Building a connected, inclusive ecosystem across Lancashire is possible – but only if we continue to grow it from every corner, not just the centre.”
The Hatch Blackburn startup catalyst was designed to support aspiring founders, students, side hustlers and early-stage entrepreneurs to move from entrepreneurial curiosity into structured business development and launch readiness. The programme created a progressive and accessible founder journey focused on building confidence, practical skills and real-world entrepreneurial experience.
Structured across three core phases; Inspire, Build and Launch, Hatch Blackburn guided participants through the process of:
- identifying real-world problems and opportunities
- shaping and validating business ideas
- developing MVPs using low-code and no-code tools
- understanding digital enablement
- refining business models and customer journeys
- building confidence in communicating and presenting ideas.
Sessions were delivered in a supportive, IP-safe and psychologically safe environment, enabling participants to explore entrepreneurial thinking without pressure to publicly disclose business ideas at an early stage.
Accessibility and inclusion were embedded throughout delivery. Flexible approaches, including blended online and in-person workshops, dual-cohort models and catch-up pathways, ensured participants balancing studies, childcare or other commitments could continue progressing through the programme.
The programme combined structured workshops with practical, hands-on delivery. Key sessions included:
- Founder Curious
- Idea Jam
- Side Hustle to Business
- MVP in a Minute
- Start-Up Bootcamp
- Pitch & Play
- Final Showcase & Celebration
A major focus of the programme was helping participants translate ideas into tangible outputs. Through Bootcamp and MVP sessions, participants developed prototypes, customer journeys, business blueprints and launch plans using accessible digital tools and mentor support.
The programme also integrated real-world founder insight through engagement with mentors, startup founders and members of the Lancashire Digital Hub community. This provided participants with practical feedback, exposure to entrepreneurship pathways and a stronger understanding of how digital tools and innovation can support business growth.
Results from this initiative included:
By the conclusion of the programme:
- 30+ participants had engaged across delivery
- multiple business ideas had been generated
- several participants progressed to MVP or prototype stage
- a number of businesses reached launch or launch-ready status
Participant ideas and ventures emerging from the programme included:
- construction innovation products
- digital marketplace concepts
- personalised gifting platforms
- sustainability and regeneration initiatives
- creative and copywriting businesses
- community interest companies focused on environmental and social impact
The Final Showcase event brought together participants, mentors, local businesses and stakeholders to celebrate progress and provide a platform for participants to present their ideas and reflect on their entrepreneurial journey.
Hatch Blackburn has demonstrated the value of FE-led innovation and accessible entrepreneurship support, helping create a stronger pipeline of future founders, digital entrepreneurs and startup activity across Blackburn and Lancashire.
By fostering a locally-rooted, inclusive innovation culture, this initiative sparked a new wave of tech startup activity within Lancashire. The goal was to build an ecosystem that taps into the full potential of the region’s talented young people, and community ambition, by utilising the existing education infrastructure. On top of that, the pilot was designed so that it could be replicated right across the region with other FE colleges.
