Hunt on for Lights backers

BES Utilities – owned by Fleetwood Town chief Andy Pilley and sister Michelle Davidson – is now in the second year of a sponsorship deal with Blackpool Council worth in excess of £100,000, and is proud to be ‘The Power Behind The Lights’.

The company is offering special discounted rates to new electricity, gas andtelecom customers during the Illuminations season.

Mr Pilley said: “The financial pressures on the private and public sector, and indeed Blackpool’s historic and world famous Illuminations, have been widely reported over the last few years.

“And so BES Utilities is delighted to have put together a two-year sponsorship package for this iconic and wonderful spectacle.

“In addition, to mark our second year as proud sponsors of Blackpool Illuminations, we are delighted to offer special discounted rates for new electricity, gas and telecoms customers.

“We urge other businesses to get involved as together we can make a real difference.”

Coun Gillian Campbell, Deputy Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “We are delighted BES Utilities is supporting the Illuminations for a second year.

“Their generous support is vital for Blackpool’s world famous Illuminations and we are thrilled they are leading the way with this. I hope this marks the start of more local businesses following their lead.”

Blackpool Illuminations cost around £2.4m a year to stage.

Shirley Hunt, of Friends of Blackpool Illuminations, said: “The support of BES Utilities is just fantastic. It is extremely generous and that kind of contribution makes a big difference. The Illuminations are so important to every business in Blackpool, be that a hotel, attraction, taxi driver or corner shop owner, so we want everyone to get involved and support the Lights. I totally agree with Andy Pilley in that together we can make a real difference.”

This year’s Illuminations will be launched with an all-star Switch-On weekend on Blackpool’s Tower Festival Headland, starting with Switch-On itself on Friday, September 4.