Why Cumbria?
Business
Home to world-leaders in energy, tourism, food and drink, specialist manufacturing and logistics, the commercial landscape in Cumbria is as magnificent as the natural assets for which it is famed across the globe. Most people know Cumbria for the Lake District and while tourism remains a key sector, the County boasts much more than just a superb place to visit.
Cumbria business mix is diverse and is one of the least expensive areas in Britain to do business, with an affordable, skilled and loyal workforce and low overheads. There is a large portfolio of business parks available and a range of sites ripe for development – whether business, commercial or residential. Improvements have been made to training and education provision in the County over recent years, with providers helping support key sectors.
Browse this site or contact Graham McWilliam on 01768 895350 or email grahamm@investincumbria.co.uk for more information.
Why Cumbria?
Business Diversity & Affordability
From energy, specialist manufacturing and construction to tourism, logistics and the digital and creative sector – Cumbria boasts one of the most diverse businesses mixes in Britain.
In West Cumbria and Furness the Britain’s Energy Coast initiative is seeking to transform an economy so long reliant on traditional industry into a nationally important hub for low carbon and renewable energy generation and expertise. Barrow is at the core of the UK’s submarine building prowess, while Carlisle is the County’s key commercial centre and home to flagship companies including Stobart Group and Pirelli. Tourism, along with agriculture, is firmly at the heart of the Lake District economy, generating more than £1bn into the County’s economy each year.
Surprisingly Cumbria is of the least expensive areas in the country to do business, with affordable labour and low overheads. The county has plenty of low cost sites on more than 30 industrial estates and business parks. The ready availability and cost effectiveness of sites in many parts of Cumbria, compared with other areas of the UK, provides a strong competitive advantage for investors. Operating costs are also amongst the lowest in the European Union.
For more information about Cumbria’s strengths and key sectors click here
Why Cumbria?
The Workforce
Birthplace of the world’s civil nuclear industry, home to the first ever large-scale steel works, and the place where modern tourism was developed – a pioneering spirit and willingness to embrace and advance new ideas is woven into the fabric of Cumbria’s entrepreneurs and workforce.
In fact, Cumbria’s people are one of the area’s most valuable assets, with a first class reputation for productivity, low absenteeism and low staff turnover. People who live in Cumbria want to stay to enjoy an excellent quality of life and an opportunity to work in a wide and diverse range of industry sectors. Evidence suggests these are the reasons why young Cumbrians are returning and why young professionals are being drawn to the County. In turn businesses continue to demonstrate a commitment to their loyal employees, by providing training and education support.
The Cumbrian workforce is also remarkably resilient, in the way it has adapted to the 25-year shift from heavy industry to new technologies and also the spirit and determination shown in remaining open for business during the 2009 floods and the 1991 Foot & Mouth Disease outbreak. So many factors combine to make Cumbria’s workforce one of the strongest in Britain. Around 60 per cent of Cumbria’s 496,000 population are of working age.
Why Cumbria?
Business Parks
Cumbria has a large portfolio of business parks and sites available for development. The type of business in which you are involved, and the needs associated with it, such as access to supply chain companies or a workforce with particular skills, will ultimately determine which business park is best for you and your successful establishment in Cumbria.
Cumbria comprises six districts, each with their own strong offer and shared strengths to businesses. Carlisle in Cumbria’s capital and major commercial centre with a vibrant mix of business sectors, while Eden and South Lakeland offer countless in the tourism and rural industries. Along Cumbria’s coastal fringes known as Britain’s Energy Coast, specialist manufacturing and the energy industries are strong. That is not to say that businesses of any time cannot prosper anywhere in the County. For more information on Cumbria’s business strengths click here, and for a detailed database of available business sites and premises click here.
For the inside track on what business park and premises is best for you contact Graham McWilliam at the Invest in Cumbria team on 01768 895350 or email grahamm@investincumbria.co.uk. Click on the markers opposite to learn more about Cumbria’s major business parks.
Why Cumbria?
Kirkby Stephen Business Park
Kirkby Stephen business park is situated centrally in the north of England ideally placed between the north west and north east with quick access to both the M6 and the A1(M).
Please visit www.kirkbystephenbusinesspark.co.uk for more information and availability of units for lease.
Why Cumbria?
Kingmoor Park
Kingmoor Park is a strategically important employment site for Cumbria.
With more than 100 tenants and 1,500 employees on site, this major business park just north of Carlisle is set for further dramatic expansion through the “Hub” and the “Bruntill” developments. These will not only see an increase of office and warehouse space but also introduce retail and leisure facilities.
Already home to big names such as John Lewis, Princes Soft Drinks and Vodafone, more are expected to settle here once the Carlisle Northern Development Route is completed (due January 2012). The road will provide a second access to the M6 – at the same time opening up improved links with West Cumbria – and kick-start the “Hub” development, which could create a further 1,500 jobs. This will include a flagship 130 bed, four-star hotel with conference facilities and fitness centre, restaurants, bars, 100,000sqft of offices and shops.
Meanwhile Kingmoor Park Properties also plans to develop 90 acres of land for office, light industrial, warehousing and distribution uses at the “Bruntill” section of this vast site near the Scottish border.
For more information contact Graham McWilliam at Invest in Cumbria on 01768 895350 or email grahamm@investincumbria.co.uk.
Why Cumbria?
Waterfront Business Park
Situated on a prime site adjacent to the bustling Port of Barrow, the recently-completed Waterfront Business Park is a strategically important employment site for Cumbria.
Its superb location makes it ideal for businesses seeking opportunities in offshore renewable energy generation, gas storage, oil exploration, and the engineering and manufacturing sectors which continue to support the town’s strong submarine building industry. Barrow is already home to thriving clusters of companies in these sectors supporting green energy developments and helping BAE Systems Submarine Solutions deliver a 25-30 year order book. The port side location may also appeal to businesses involved in bulk goods and aggregates.
Around 60 acres of serviced land has been opened up at the site so far. Property developers or individual firms can develop their own build projects with land costs around £100,000 per acre. The site has improved access to the A590 truck road, and then the M6 and wider motorway network, in addition to rail links to the Cumbria Coast Line and, from there, the West Coast Mainline.
For more information contact Graham McWilliam at Invest in Cumbria on 01768 895350 or email grahamm@investincumbria.co.uk.
Why Cumbria?
Lillyhall Business Park
Lillyhall West Cumbria is a strategically important employment site for Cumbria.
Totalling almost 160 hectares, it is ideally placed to capitalise on West Cumbria’s transformation into Britain’s Energy Coast by becoming a hub for companies involved in the nuclear and low carbon industries as well as the servicing, manufacturing and distribution sectors. The site includes Lillyhall Business Park, with offers prime serviced space to a wide range of businesses spanning fabrication and recycling to car sales, accountancy and education. Meanwhile the Lillyhall East and West industrial estates offer industrial and commercial development plots on long leaseholds that can be configured to suit the individual requirements of developers, investors and occupiers.
The site is well connected to national and international markets through the Port of Workington – located just a few miles away and with links to the Port of Rotterdam – road and rail links connected to the M6 and West Coast Mainline, and there will be a strong link with Carlisle Airport once the Carlisle Northern Development Route is completed (due January 2012).
For more information contact Graham McWilliam at Invest in Cumbria on 01768 895350 or email grahamm@investincumbria.co.uk.
Why Cumbria?
Eden Business Park
Eden Business Park is the culmination of the expansion of the Gilwilly Industrial Estate undertaken by the Eden District Council and a number of private investors with the aim of reinforcing Penrith as a premier business location.
Penrith has superb transport links, situated within a mile of the M6 motorway, the A66 trunk road to West Cumbria and the A1 and north east markets, and also has a stop on the West Coast Mainline.
Food and drink enterprises Gregs, James Fruit & Vegetable Ltd and farm machinery suppliers Rickerby are some of the companies that have made the 40-acre business park home, although there are still competitively priced plots available.
The aim is to provide businesses and investors with relevant development sites and premises, with an emphasis on those involved in manufacturing and high tech industry.
For full details of Eden District Council’s aims and objectives for Eden Business Park visit www.eden.gov.uk/business-and-the-economy/regeneration/eden-business-park
For more information contact Graham McWilliam at Invest in Cumbria on 01768 895350 or email grahamm@investincumbria.co.uk.
Why Cumbria?
Greengarth Business Park
Greengarth is situated around 5 miles from the Sellafield nuclear power station and processing site
For more information on plot availability please visit www.copeland.gov.uk.
Why Cumbria?
Westlakes Science & Technology Park
Westlakes Science & Technology Park is a strategically important employment site.
The park is already a thriving global hub for the nuclear industry, with the majority of the 70 businesses and their 1,450 staff involved in nuclear decommissioning, environmental remediation and associated engineering and technology. It boasts over 50,000sqm of serviced development plots available for immediate occupation, all with outline planning permission for offices, laboratories or manufacturing use. With nuclear and renewable energy developments on the horizon, the site has been identified for its potential for high growth companies.
Current residents include Nu Generation, Nuclear Management Partners, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Carillion, Sir Robert McAlpine and recent inward investors Par Systems and PacTec EPS Limited, as well as academic research institutions Dalton Institute (Manchester University) and the University of Central Lancashire – which also offers courses in business leadership and management, governance, policy and decision making and for allied health professionals.
For more information contact Graham McWilliam at Invest in Cumbria on 01768 895350 or email grahamm@investincumbria.co.uk.
Why Cumbria?
Harraby Business Park
Harraby Business Park is situated 1.5 miles south west of the city centre and has an area of 15.5 hectares. Access is obtained from the outer ring road, which provides easy access to the A6, A69, M6 and the City itself.
Why Cumbria?
Furness Business Park
Furness has some really outstanding, cost effective business sites available for growing and expanding firms. Barrow, is identified in NW of England Regional Planning Guidance as a centre earmarked for growth.
For more information about Furness Business park on pricing and availability please visit www.furnessenterprise.co.uk.
Why Cumbria?
Maryport Business Centre
The business centre is on Maryport's southern gateway (A596) and just half a mile from the town centre. Maryport harbour and marina are nearby and the breathtaking Lake District is only a short drive away.
For information on accommodation, facilities, and availability please visit www.maryportbusinesscentre.co.uk.
Why Cumbria?
Lakeland Business Park
Lakeland business park is situated just off the A66 on Lamplugh road in Cockermouth and has easy access to the surrounding towns of Workington, Whitehaven, Maryport, Egremont, Sellefield, and Carlisle.
Why Cumbria?
Riverside Business Park
Riverside Business Park in Kendal offers flexible accommodation, with units ranging in size from 1,000 to 10,700 square feet to suit manufacturing, storage, distribution and trade outlets.
The park situated next to the River Kent not only boasts an idyllic position but also buildings constructed in a traditional Lakeland style, with highly prized on-site parking and convenient access to Kendal town centre and local amenities.
Kendal itself boasts easy access to the national transport network being in close proximity to the M6 and with links to the West Coast Mainline at Oxenholme – The Lake District train station.
The park is home to a dazzling array of businesses involved in anything from veterinary care, motor vehicle repair, website development and printing to plumbing event management and even the British Red Cross.
More information about the park and current vacancies are available at www.riverside-business-park.co.uk.
For more information contact Graham McWilliam at Invest in Cumbria on 01768 895350 or email grahamm@investincumbria.co.uk.
Why Cumbria?
Lake District Business Park
The Lake District Business park is located to the north of Kendal with easy access to the A6 and the Motorway.
Why Cumbria?
Kingstown Industrial Estate
More information coming soon
Why Cumbria?
Durranhill Industrial Estate
More information coming soon
Why Cumbria?
Parkhouse Industrial Estate
More information coming soon
Why Cumbria?
Rosehill Industrial Estate
More information coming soon
Why Cumbria?
St Nicholas Industrial Estate
More information coming soon
Why Cumbria?
Willowholme Industrial Estate
More information coming soon
Why Cumbria?
Townfoot Industrial Estate
More information coming soon
Why Cumbria?
Longtown Industrial Estate
More information coming soon
Why Cumbria?
Development Opportunities
Significant investment from the private and public sector across Cumbria in recent years, and a rich industrial legacy, has resulted in a strong portfolio of brownfield and other development sites, encompassing business, commercial, leisure and residential.
For businesses looking to locate in Cumbria, The Waterfront Barrow-in-Furness offers great scope, while Westlakes Science & Technology Park, Whitehaven, and Lillyhall Business Park, Workington, have plans to expand in light of the opportunities presented by the Britain’s Energy Coast initiative. In Carlisle Kingmoor Business Park has recently secured planning permission to expand significantly. These are in addition to medium and smaller scale development opportunities in and around Cumbria’s urban centres.
For the inside track on development opportunities and for information on key contacts to make them happen, contact Graham McWilliam on 01768 895350 or email grahamm@investincumbria.co.uk.
Why Cumbria?
Conference
Cumbria’s position as a major tourism destination has resulted in the emergence of conference venues suitable for all requirements.
Low Wood Hotel on the edge of Lake Winderemere has played host to major conferences in recent years for the likes of the Society of Editors and the Confederation of Business & Industry after investing heavily to improve its facilities. Rheged, at Penrith, also has a busy calendar, capitalising on its central position and superb access to road and rail links. Carlisle Racecourse is one of the many venues in and around the city and more information can be found at the Carlisle Conference Group website.
West Cumbria has seen the emergence of a number of conference venues in recent year including Energus at Lillyhall Business Park, which has staged several major awards ceremonies and countless energy and training related conferences since it opened its doors in 2009. Further north The Wave Centre, Maryport is an impressive venue which has staged everything from awards and AGMs to a special edition of the BBC’s Politics Show.
For further advice on conference venues, contact Graham McWilliam at the Invest in Cumbria team on 01768 895350 or email grahamm@investincumbria.co.uk.
Why Cumbria?
Training and Education
Improving the standard and breadth of training and education has been one of Cumbria’s major success stories, and has been hailed as one of the main reasons why young people are staying in the County to complete their education and pursue careers.
The University of Cumbria is Britain’s newest university, specialising in subjects close to the county's economic heart such as energy, radiology, logistics and outdoor studies. Supporting key industry sectors is also central to Cumbria’s colleges, marked on the map opposite.
West Cumbria has a thriving hub of education, training, research and development facilities focused on the energy sector, in particular nuclear, including Energus, the National Nuclear Laboratory and UCLAN@Westlakes. It will soon to be joined by Manchester University’s £20m Cumbria Dalton Facility. Training providers such as Nucleus (Gen II) also help to support the industry in addition to the long-running apprentice scheme at Sellafield. Cumbria has a large number of individual training providers supporting businesses in and outside the County.
For further advice and information on training and education, contact Graham McWilliam at the Invest in Cumbria team on 01768 895350 or email grahamm@investincumbria.co.uk.
University of Cumbria
The University of Cumbria is the UK's youngest, with real world aims to provide its students with the skills required not only for work but for life.
For more information about the university, its courses, history, and life at the establishments that make up the university, visit www.cumbria.ac.uk.
Lancaster University
Lancaster university is world renowned as a centre of excellence in teaching, scholarship and research. Currently ranked as one of the top 10 universities in the UK the university strives to improve its reputation both in the UK and Internationally through providing its students with an excellent start in their career.
For more information about courses and university life visit www.lancs.ac.uk.
Barrow Sixth Form College
Barrow Sixth Form College specialises in providing an A level education to students between the ages of 16 - 18 from the Furness area.
For more information on the college and the education it provides please visit www.barrow6fc.org.uk.
Furness College
Furness College provides first class education and training which transforms lives through improved employability and supports the regeneration of its local community.
For more information on the college and the education it provides please visit www.furness.ac.uk.
Kendal College
Kendal College is a further education college situated in Kendal on the edge of the Lake District National Park. It specialises in further and higher education, as well as training for business. Kendal College is also a partner college of the University of Cumbria and the University of Central Lancashire.
For more information on the college and the education it provides please visit www.kendal.ac.uk.
Carlisle College
Carlisle College is a further and higher education establishment based in the city centre of Carlisle.
For more information on the college and the education it provides please visit www.carlisle.ac.uk.
Lakes College West Cumbria
At Lakes College West Cumbria students are taught everything from basic skills through to post graduate level subjects on a full or part-time basis, either in college, at centres near to where they live, in their workplace or even at home.
For more information on the college and the education it provides please visit www.lcwc.ac.uk.
Workington Sixth Form Centre
Workington Sixth Form Centre provides 16 - 18 year olds with A level courses and education preparing students for life at university or in employment.
Ullswater Community College
Ullswater Community College provides 30 Advanced Level courses as well as level 2 courses which prepare their students for life in work or at university.
For more information on the college and the education it provides please visit www.ullswater.cumbria.sch.uk.
News
– see all news- Rejected plan for 150 homes is resurrected
- Nuclear skills 'under-exploited'
- Bypass cuts congestion by a fifth
- Workington is ready to party
- NMP’s donations pass £1.5million milestone
- 'Help us keep Viking treasure in Furness'
- Plans to bury N-waste at Keekle Head set to be turned down
- Hydro power company nominated for green energy award
- Mitie Group Sellafield jobs under threat
- 3,000 start apprenticeships in Cumbria
