Burnley success stories take centre stage in new East Lancashire bus campaign
A new campaign celebrating the achievements of local people has hit the road across East Lancashire, shining a spotlight on individuals who have built successful lives in Burnley.
Launched by place brand Burnley.co.uk, the initiative sees two buses wrapped with the faces and stories of inspiring residents, encouraging people to visit a dedicated webpage to learn more about their journeys.
The first bus is already in service and features a diverse range of figures from across the borough, including Justine Bedford, landlady of The Royal Dyche; Ryan Evans, head distiller at Batch Distillery and founder of ZenTrek Supplements; Diana DoGood, the alter ego of Ollie Daley; Ousama Abdallah, founder of Mister Falafel on Burnley Market; and Carrie-Ann Kay, founder of Rene K Couture and Bridal.
A second bus is set to launch in April and will operate on the route between Accrington and Blackburn, extending the campaign’s reach across East Lancashire. This new addition will highlight further success stories, including Ali Insel, founder of Little Barista; teenage sporting talent Jessica Gizon; Jay Rodriguez, the former Burnley FC player now at Wrexham; Navida Naz, a scientist at NASA; and Lauren Saddington, founder of More Than Just a Princess and a popular TikTok creator.
Rachel Bayley, Burnley Place Brand Manager, said the campaign aims to both inspire and challenge perceptions of the area.
She said: “We want this campaign to do two main things: to raise aspirations across Burnley and East Lancashire, and to proudly showcase a handful of the people who make our borough so special. Too often, places like Burnley are underestimated, but the reality is we are home to an incredible community of hardworking, talented and entrepreneurial individuals who are achieving remarkable things.
“The people featured in our campaign represent a cross-section of our community. By putting their stories front and centre, quite literally across East Lancashire, we hope to inspire others to see what’s possible for themselves, regardless of their background or starting point.
“We want people across East Lancashire and further afield to recognise Burnley as a place full of ambition, creativity and opportunity. It’s a welcoming, forward-thinking borough where people from all walks of life can build successful futures, and we’re incredibly proud to celebrate that.”
The campaign is set to continue over the coming weeks.