Simon Dalley is a local business owner and resident with a long-standing commitment to Bacup and its future. He is actively involved in community life across the town, working with local organisations, businesses and partners to support regeneration, skills development and sustainable economic activity. He regularly attends – and often helps organise – local events, forums and community initiatives.

Simon is the founder of GrowTraffic, an award-winning UK digital marketing and growth agency headquartered in Bacup, with a growing national and international client base. His work in the digital economy has given him first-hand experience of how work, skills and technology are changing, and how smaller towns can benefit from these shifts when given the right conditions.

Additionally, he chairs a number of businesses in diverse industries ranging from marketing to software development to property development. He also co-founded a Bacup-based Community Interest Company called The Let’s Talk Project, which is an emotional support and listening service to help those with mental health issues in the local area.

Simon is passionate about the role the built environment can have in the lives of people in the community. He is also a passionate advocate for digital equity and men’s mental health.

Of the Bacup 2040 Masterplan, Simon commented: “We know the world is changing – how people work, how they shop, and how town centres function. Bacup 2040 is about responding to that reality honestly. It’s not just about improving individual sites, but about reconnecting living, working and spending locally, so Bacup remains a place where everyday life happens, not just somewhere people return to at the end of the day.”

“The market and town centre play an important role in that, but they are part of a much wider picture. Bacup 2040 is about building a town that works – for residents, businesses and future generations – by making better use of what we already have and adapting it for what comes next.”