PROGRAMME
Delivered in partnership with
When:
£££:
5:30pm – 7:30pm, Thursday 29 May
Where:
The Backlot Cinema
Who:
Businesses in Blackpool Town Centre
FREE
REGISTER NOW
Keep on Keepin’ On: Exploring Solutions for Blackpool’s Town Centre Businesses
Co-led by Iain Nicholson, founder of The Vacant Shops Academy, alongside Mick Martin, the writer and director of Keep On Keepin’ On – coming to Blackpool Central Library from 28–31 May. It’s about one man trying to keep his home improvement shop alive as the town centre around him changes – something that might just strike a chord.
The session is grounded in practical ideas and experience – not blue-sky theory – and will explore what can be done (and is being done elsewhere) to pivot challenges into opportunities so that you can rewrite your own story in partnership with the vibrant future of Blackpool town centre.
As a local town centre business, you're also invited to take advantage of an exclusive 50% discount on tickets to see Keep On Keepin' On – a soulful, heartfelt and hilariously chaotic tale of love, family, and survival, all set to a blistering Northern Soul soundtrack. You’ll receive your 50% discount code when you register to attend the workshop.
We’d love you to join us for the workshop, even if you’re not sure theatre’s your thing. It’s a chance to share ideas, hear fresh thinking, and connect with others who are in the same boat.
Image by Zoe Campbell Photography
About The Vacant Shops Academy
Iain Nicholson is a placemaking specialist focused on tackling high street empty shops challenges where that’s a significant issue.
Much of his 12 years in town and city centres roles has been working with agents, landlords, businesses, communities, cultural organisations, councils, chambers, BIDs and others using the ‘audit, engage, encourage, promote’ approach to reducing the number of vacant units, including extensive experience of running popup shop projects.
The Vacant Shops Academy was founded in 2022 to make this innovative but proven approach to reducing the number of high street vacant units available to places needing to drive down this key metric.