People Encouraging Enterprise in Rossendale (PEER), has been recognised for its invaluable role in turning the economic fortunes of the borough of Rossendale around by encouraging the creation and growth of businesses and social enterprises throughout the area.
Historically farming and cottage woollen industries formed the backbone of Rossendale’s local economy. Like so many other manufacturing areas before it, the borough experienced sharp economic decline.
By 2002 Rossendale had become an economic backwater with one of the lowest average wage levels in the North West. The Borough Council struggled and was rated as one of the worst performing local authorities in England. Rossendale had the weakest results in East Lancashire for business start-ups, well below the national average. With all this to face, perhaps unsurprisingly, perception surveys at the time recorded that local communities had a very poor self-image, and had become dejected and disengaged.
By early 2002 community leaders had had enough and were eager to stimulate change.
Read the story of how PEER worked with the Sirolli Institute to make a real difference in Rossendale here.
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