Cumbria Careers Hub 

Who are we? 

Cumbria Careers Hub is a Community of Practice, linking schools, colleges and employers together with the aim of delivering outstanding and relevant careers education to all young people throughout their time at school and college. The Hub has been working together for two years already and continues to enhance Careers Education for young people across Cumbria with the support of Cumbria’s employers and a wide range of partners.  But we aren’t there yet, and we need more employers to have their input into careers education.

Over the next year we are looking to enhance the role of employers in inspiring and motivating young people – ensuring employers drive forward improvements to the content of careers education. 

Employers have always played a significant role in the success of Cumbria Careers Hub.

Why volunteer your time?

As an employer, you should never underestimate the positive influence you can have on young people. Sharing your experience and workplace with young people allows them to meet role models and see examples of jobs they might like to do in the future. However much time you can offer, you can make a real difference.

At Cumbria Careers Hub, we offer a number of ways to get involved, from sharing your career journey and insights with young people in schools and colleges or offering experiences of your workplace, to using your strategic skills to support school leaders with their careers programme.

Your unique industry knowledge and experience can bring the world of work to life and make a difference to the options a young person considers for their career.

What are the benefits to you of volunteering?

You will build links with young people in your community, raising aspirations and inspiring them to get involved in your particular industry.  You won’t necessarily recruit someone tomorrow, but you will start raising awareness of your industry and building a network of young people who may support your business in a part time or full time basis in the future.

It is also an opportunity to develop your team and possibly help with staff retention by encouraging them to get involved too.

Please contact Cath.Dutton@thecumbrialep.co.uk if this is something you would like to find out more about.

Apply for The Queen's Awards for Enterprise

A message from GOV.UK

Do you work with innovative and exciting businesses? They could be eligible for a Queen’s Award for Enterprise! 

These awards are the most prestigious awards for UK businesses of all sizes and sectors. Now more than ever is the time for businesses to be recognised for their success on a global scale. Businesses can apply in the categories of International Trade, Innovation, Sustainable Development and Promoting Opportunity (through social mobility). If you work with a business who is eligible to apply in one or more of these categories, why not encourage them to apply?

 The Awards can provide:

• Excellent marketing opportunities and press coverage;
• Worldwide recognition as an outstanding British company;
• Increased turnover and international trade;
• A boost to staff morale, and also to partners and stakeholders .

The Awards scheme has four categories:

• International Trade;
• Innovation;
• Sustainable Development;
• Promoting Opportunity (through social mobility).

Each Award category has its own additional eligibility criteria. A full list of the eligibility criteria can be found here.

This year, over 90% of winners were SMEs, with 44 businesses having 10 employees or less. We are keen to increase the number of applications this year across all regions and sectors of the UK.

If you would like to work with us, or would be happy to circulate information to your business networks, get in touch at chloe.palser@beis.gov.uk or queensawards@beis.gov.uk.

The application period is currently open, and will close on the 8 September, so we encourage applicants to begin as soon as possible!

Learn more

Take your business to the next level with Help to Grow

Two government-backed programmes have launched designed to help you learn new skills, reach new customers and boost profits. The Help to Grow: Management programme is a 12-week practical curriculum including financial management, growth and innovation as well as digital adoption. It includes 1:1 business mentor support throughout.   Help to Grow: Digital, launching this autumn, will offer free impartial advice on how technology can boost your business, delivered through a new online platform launching this Autumn. You can also claim a discount of up to 50% on the costs of approved software, worth up to £5,000. Vouchers are initially expected to be available for software that helps businesses: build customer relationships and increase sales make the most of selling online manage accounts and finances digitally Help to Grow

Join our Allerdale Business Community Facebook Group

Keep up to date with the latest news, join a network of local business people and share your own posts Click the image to join.

Get your Recycling thinking caps on

Ørsted, the renewable energy company, are always aiming to create a world which runs on entirely on green energy. The company are currently running a project to ignite ideas on how to upcycle plastic waste from Offshore Wind Farms into valuable, sustainable products.

The PVC covers from wind turbine foundations are currently just going into landfill and Ørsted want to quickly change this!

We are looking for designers and innovators who would use this material for creative ideas such as materials for fashion, accessories, jewellery, footwear, coats, bags; the list is endless. It may be you know a textile company that can turn the PVC into another product or craft such as covers, marquee/tent/outdoor product covers. Or a charity that wants to make sustainable products from PVC? Additional examples of use could include;

• Bike panniers
• Construction plastics – piping/drainage, roofing, window frames, flooring
• Plastic processing or manufacturing
• Non-food packaging (NB: this grade of PVC cannot be used in food packaging)
• Stationary supplies
• Cable and wire insulation

All ideas are welcome. Submit your sustainable ideas here today!

A message from the Carnegie Theatre 

We’re developing our plans for the future and we want to hear your views and ideas. We want to be at the heart of the West Cumbrian community, to support Cumbria's recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, and make a positive and real difference to local people's lives. But we need to hear what you want. If you can spare the time please take a few minutes to complete this survey. You can also tell us if you'd like to be involved further as we further develop our plans. Finally, please share the survey link below with this post, with your friends, family and colleagues if they would be interested. The more views we get the better the outcome. Please also visit our Facebook page here: Carnegie Thank you for your time, please click below to take the survey.   Carnegie survey

A message from Cumbria Chamber of Commerce

Make sure your business is shining in Summer – a personal message from the Chamber MD, Suzanne Caldwell. Summer is generally a time for a chance of reflection, pausing and re-setting ready for “start of term” in September. While the continuing challenges are impacting on the opportunities for a break (not least covering for staff shortages) that doesn’t take away from the need to get our pencil cases restocked and for teachers to get their lesson plans ready. Showing my age here – do people still use pencil cases?! This August we’re seeing the economy and society increasingly turning to the ‘new normal’, 18 months after the Coronavirus pandemic first hit. And between Covid-19 and the impact of Brexit being felt fully this year, it’s certainly been a challenging time, with many of those challenges continuing to impact. The latest ONS Labour Market statistics for August 2021 published this week confirm that the UK jobs market is recovering strongly as the boost to demand from the easing of restrictions helped drive higher payroll employment in July. See Suzanne's full message here. You can also access a great range of other support from Cumbria Chamber and others by clicking here.

A message from our Environmental Health Team

Risk Assessment

Businesses still have a legal duty to manage risks to those affected by their business. The way to do this is to carry out a health and safety risk assessment, including the risk of COVID-19, and to take reasonable steps to mitigate the risks you identify. Many control measures that have been in place previously were there due to health and safety legislation rather than the specific coronavirus legislation. It remains very important to implement suitable control measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 between employees and members of the public. Read more: Risk Assesment

Ventilation and Air Conditioning in the business

To reduce the risk of the virus spreading through aerosols, businesses are required to provide adequate ventilation, this is because fresh air helps to dilute the virus in occupied spaces. To maximise the supply of fresh air in a premises business should ensure all windows and doors are open to improve natural ventilation.  If you have mechanical ventilation, you should maximise the fresh air your system draws in and avoid systems that only recirculate air and do not draw in a supply of fresh air.

Businesses should identify any poorly ventilated spaces and taking steps to improve fresh air flow in these areas. A CO2 monitor could help you assess whether a space is poorly ventilated. If you can’t improve ventilation in poorly ventilated spaces, minimise use of these spaces. Some staff and customers may want to use face coverings in enclosed or crowded areas, this should be encouraged but not mandatory, unless your risk assessment states otherwise. HSE Guidance: Ventilation

Cleaning and Hygiene

Hands touch many surfaces and can become contaminated with viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer viruses to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, viruses can enter your body and infect you.Washing or sanitising your hands removes viruses and other germs, so you are less likely to become infected if you touch your face. Using soap and warm water is the most effective way to clean your hands, especially if they are visibly dirty. Hand sanitiser can be used when soap and water is not available. Advising customers and workers to wash their hands or use hand sanitiser frequently. This is particularly important before and after touching shared objects or surfaces that other people touch regularly.

Keeping your workplace clean reduces the potential for coronavirus to spread and is a critical part of making and keeping your business working safely. Your usual cleaning products should be effective. If you change your usual regime then check that products are suitable for the surface and environment. Clean cloths and other reusable cleaning products in soap and water after use.
You should determine what cleaning regime is suitable for your business based on your risk assessment. Your risk assessment will help you to identify what your cleaning regime will look like. Cleaning and Hygiene 

Further food hygiene and health & safety information is available on our website, where you can also contact our knowlegable and helpful team. Food Hygiene, Health & Safety

Messages from Cumbria Tourism

With the country preparing to enjoy the first Bank Holiday weekend since COVID-19 restrictions eased Cumbria Tourism is working hard to highlight all corners of the county as the perfect place to visit responsibly. As Cumbria’s official Destination Management Organisation (DMO), Cumbria Tourism is encouraging visitors to plan ahead and make the most of the area’s lesser-known gems this summer. Of course, the fells, waters and meres of the Lake District will attract many looking to enjoy the great outdoors, and the DMO is working with partners including the county’s Tactical Visitor Management Group (TVMG) to help manage travel around key areas and provide the best possible experience for visitors and locals. New car-free options include shuttle buses at Wasdale and Buttermere, a park and sail service on Derwentwater and reduced family tickets around Ullswater. The Lake District National Park’s Safer Lakes website also provides a clear indication of where best to park on a given day. Make your voice heard with our Business Tracker Survey As we all adapt to stage four of the Government's roadmap we are continuing to monitor business impact through our tracker survey. This piece of research provides vital information which informs our lobbying activity on your behalf and has helped achieve real results. Please do continue to complete the survey regularly as your situation changes. Rest assured all responses are anonymous. Click HERE to share your views. Inspire your guests As well as emailing our highly engaged visitor database with car-free inspiration (click HERE to view and share) we have collated information on our Resource Hub for you to share with your guests. This page also includes information on available grants, handy downloads and more - click HERE to view. Partnership opportunity We are also attending the Westmorland County Show on the 8th and 9th September and are looking to partner with members to provide dual branded merchandise to promote both your business and visitlakedistrict.com. If you provide the perfect items to draw in visitors and help them remember our county when it comes to booking their visit we want to hear from you - contact the team at campaigns@cumbriatourism.org to learn more. Get involved in Cumbria Dark Skies Festival As we approach the end of the summer we are preparing our campaign promoting our county throughout autumn and winter, with a particular focus on Dark Sky tourism. This growing market has the capacity to extend the traditional tourist season and encourage longer stays, increasing spend. Alongside year-round activity we're pleased to be organising the return of Cumbria's Dark Skies Festival between the 6th and 14th November - click on the image for more information.

Allerdale Business Website - advertise your vacancies

Did you know you can advertise your vacancies or apprenticeship opportunities on our Business Website? Click on the image for details.

Geological Disposal

Organisers will be hosting the first of our 'We need to talk about Geological Disposal' online events. You’ll be introduced to the subject of Geological Disposal and the Allerdale GDF Working Group. You will also find out what geology may be suitable, and explore ways a GDF might benefit the community. There will be an opportunity to discuss concerns around safety and wellbeing.

About the Allerdale GDF Working Group

The Working Group, who are neither for nor against building a GDF in Allerdale, is independently Chaired by Jocelyn Manners-Armstrong, and members include local representatives from Allerdale Borough Council, Radioactive Waste Management Ltd (RWM), Cumbria Association of Local Councils (CALC), and Genr8North Ltd – the Interested Party that came forward and asked for Allerdale to be considered as a potential location.

The Allerdale GDF Working Group was formed in January 2021 and has three primary tasks: -

• Begin the conversation with the people of Allerdale about a GDF potentially being in the area
• Identify a search area(s) for consideration for the location of a GDF within Allerdale
• Identify/recruit members for a potential Community Partnership

About the events

The events will be held on Zoom and will start with some information about what a GDF is and an introduction to the process that the Working Group is part of. We will then host a series of breakout rooms where participants can go to find out more information, or meet others and discuss their thoughts.

Meeting date and time: Thu, 26 August 2021 12:30 – 13:30 BST. To register your interest please click here.

An important message from Wigton Market 

"We know how important markets are for our communities in creating additional vibrancy and offering a place a range of businesses to trade, that's why we're sorry to hear about the closure of the Wigton Country Market which has been held in the Methodist Church Rooms.

"The team behind Wigton Market would like to reassure people that the market is continuing to operate as normal on Fridays in Water Street car park and we'd love to see people come down to support the traders and the other shops in town."

Anyone interested in trading should contact Allerdale Borough Council's Markets Manager, Phil Byers on 07753934540 or phil.byers@allerdale.gov.uk for more information, or you can submit details via our website here: Allerdale Markets.

Electric Bicycle Ice Cream Company

We were delighted to see the story of Neil Bewley and his mobile ice cream bike in the Times & Star. He bought himself an electric bike and battery-powered chiller and is selling ice cream the old-fashioned way. Neil made an appearance during the recent heatwave and his first visit to the home of Margaret Poland, who had owned and run the first ice cream shop in the Maryport. His Electric Bicycle Ice Cream Company is certainly a big hit there and also Keswick. Still keeping his day job as a builder but takes the bike out when the fancy suits him and is (obviously) greeted with delight. Bring on the Bank Holiday, we say... Story and image by the Times & Star here.

Good news stories from this week

Luke is supporting local again... Olympic Medallist Luke Greenbank dropped in to meet the Swimmers from his home Club, Cockermouth Amateur Swim Club. Luke brought his Bronze 200m Backstroke medal and Silver 4X100m team Medley medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Luke took the time to speak to the club swimmers about his experiences at the Olympic games, as well as a picture with our staff. Well done Luke on your achievements Better (Cockermouth Leisure Centre)

Last week saw the The Estrella Damm National Restaurant Awards  The Lake District, Cumbria had a great showing,  with the following restaurants being placed within the Top 100 restaurants in the UK for 2021: 5th -   L'Enclume, Cartmel 24th - Cottage in the Wood, Whinlatter 39th - Hrishi, Windermere 78th - Lake Road Kitchen, Ambleside A huge congratulations to all involved. National Restaurant Awards (Image: Cottage in the Wood Facebook )

Robinson + Co accountancy is celebrating following the success of two employees who have achieved leading industry qualifications. We were delighted to read in Cumbria Crack that local company Robinson+co employees Charlotte Todhunter and Joanne Hagreen have passed their exams with flying colours. Charlotte has been studying chartered accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants and Joanne now holds the prestigious qualification of chartered tax adviser. Story: Cumbria Crack

Upcoming events 

Procurement at Allerdale Borough Council – Monday 27th September – 1pm to 2.30pm delivered by Cumbria Business Growth Hub via Zoom. To book your place at this online supply chain event please email:  info@cumbriagrowthhub.co.uk – only one place per business. If you want to open doors and do more business with Allerdale Borough Council, join us to learn more about: The vision for Allerdale – Impact of Council contracts Understanding of procurement What things does the Council buy? Guidance on key activities registering and using the Chest Confidence to be able to apply for Council Contracts We’ve also been updating our supply chain section adding new resources and an open tender page where we’ll promote tender opportunities. You can also see the helpful video from our Allerdale Procurement team:  Procurement Q&A in a friendly way

Cumbria Chamber of Commerce This is a roundup of training sessions the Chamber have booked in from October and are constantly adding to this list. They are also now offering in-person training and will continue to introduce this across the county where possible. In-person Training: Introduction to Excel training – Wednesday, 6th October, 9am-4pm, Carlisle Racecourse. Intermediate Excel training – Wednesday, 3rd November, 9am-4pm, Carlisle Racecourse. Find out more. Advanced Excel training – Wednesday, 1st December, 9am-4pm, Carlisle Racecourse. The above sessions can also be booked as a package at a discounted rate. For further online events throughout September and October, click here.

Lancashire and Cumbria Members' Meeting  Thursday, 7 October 2021 FROM 15:00 The event will be hosted by FSB Development Manager for Lancashire & Cumbria, Paul Foster, and we will facilitate a discussion on the current challenges and experiences you are having running small businesses. Attendees will also hear the latest updates on the support streams available for businesses, and help deliver change by feeding your experiences into our policy campaigns. There will also be time for Q&As. Open to all businesses, both FSB members and non-members are welcome to attend, so feel free to share with your networks. Book here - Members meet