Cumbria Chamber of Commerce looks back on another busy year empowering Cumbrian businesses and entrepreneurs, through a range of services, funding, research, events, and training. Here are some of the highlights from 2024…
Membership
Membership continued to deliver significant value, helping local businesses protect their operations, support staff, promote their services, and save money through exclusive offers. Members made huge savings on merchant service charges and a new partnership with Crocodile HR was launched giving access to discounted HR management software. In November, the Chamber launched a new Partnership initiative, which has already been embraced local businesses, TrustFord, Rathbones and Muncaster Castle. In recent months, the Chamber has further developed the member experience by assigning account managers to support members to address challenges and access opportunities available to them through membership.
Cumbria Business Growth Hub
The Chamber’s business support arm, Cumbria Business Growth Hub, delivered an extensive range of support activity in 2024, including training, start-up courses, 1-2-1 advice, mentoring and grant funding support. A key highlight was the £1,845,928 in grant funding distributed to local businesses through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund, administered on behalf of Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness Councils. Other successes include the Help Into Mentoring project, which continues to support 50 individuals in the former Copeland Council area with 20 hours of business mentoring.
Events
In 2024, the Chamber hosted over 65 events countywide, including 38 Business Bites networking events, 6 Directors Forum events, and 3 Power 40 meetings with Cumbria’s leading businesses. Additional events included International Women’s Day and International Men’s Day celebrations, a Sustainability Conference, Food & Drink Network site tours, the annual Westmorland & Furness Dinner and many more. This year was the Chamber’s second year running the highly successful Conference Cumbria; Ugo Monye joined us as keynote speaker, along with twice as many attendees as last year. In December, the Chamber’s inaugural Christmas Charity Auction raised around £5,000 for the Great North Air Ambulance Service.
Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP)
The Chamber continued to drive forward Cumbria’s Local Skills Improvement Plan in 2024, working with a range of stakeholders, with activities aimed at addressing skills challenges. Highlights include launching the Land & Nature Skills Service to improve access to skills in the land and nature-based sector, promoting inclusive recruitment practices through initiatives like the Armed Forces Covenant and Disability Confident, and Cumbria Careers Hub’s Employability Skills Programme Working Group, addressing gaps in workplace behaviours and emotional intelligence and much more besides.
Representing Your Interests
We’ve been active through the year representing business interests through, for example local research and engagement in national research, one-to-one engagement with key stakeholders locally and nationally, responding to local and national consultations and as part of initiatives and groups such as Team Barrow, Economic Growth Board, the Food Cumberland Partnership, Carlisle BID and Brighter Futures. We’ve also supported individual members with challenges such as planning issues. Alongside this we’ve been working actively on a national basis with British Chambers of Commerce and with other Chambers, ensuring that your interests are raised consistently at the highest levels of government.
Made in Cumbria
The Chamber’s Made in Cumbria brand promoting Cumbrian manufacturers continued to grow during 2024, clocking up thousands of website visits, newsletter subscribers, and social media followers. The Made in Cumbria membership grew to over 60 businesses, each with their own page on the website and benefits including blog features, email marketing, and social media promotion.
Training
This year, the Chamber’s commercial training programme was integrated into Cumbria Business Growth Hub, which delivered a busy programme of over 80 courses, webinars and workshops, equipping businesses with a range of skills and qualifications. From leadership and digital skills to marketing workshops and podcasting, training was designed to equip local businesses with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive and stay competitive.
Export Documentation
In 2024, the Chamber’s Export Documentation Service continued supporting businesses across the county to trade internationally. Sustained high demand for export documentation through the year reflects the resilience and adaptability of local exporters. Feedback from businesses highlights the benefits of the service in helping them navigate regulations and ensuring compliance.
Websites
This year saw the successful launch of new websites for both the Chamber and Cumbria Business Growth Hub, improving access to member services and resources, making it easier than ever for businesses to find support and opportunities.
Conclusion
We’d like to thank all of our members, clients and partners for working with us during another busy and fruitful year at the Chamber. Our collective efforts have driven progress on a number of key issues affecting business in the region. We look forward to the new year and continuing to collaborate and develop our services to meet the needs of Cumbria’s business community.
