Get your hands on a free £500
Businesses in the Westmorland & Furness Council area (except what was Barrow Borough Council) can still apply for £500 to help towards the cost of working with a consultant of their choice – funds however are going fast with a significant number of applications being received and approved.
Businesses can apply for £500 to use towards a whole range of consultancy support for work including:
- Accountancy – operating more cost effectively and/or adapting to the changes in agricultural funding
- Legal – Farm & property sales & purchase, partnership matters & disputes, Landlord & tenant law, Basic Payment Scheme & other grant schemes, agricultural wills & succession planning
- Insurance – reviews, risk assessments, valuations
- Planning – planning advice, preparing planning applications and helping farming businesses use Agricultural Permitted Development Rights to support farm growth and diversification
- Architectural planning and design service
- Marketing – plans, campaigns, website development, PR
- Agricultural consultancy – specialised advice, support and guidance
You can also use the voucher scheme to fund the majority of our six month’s mentoring programme (£395 +VAT would remain). Having previously supported food & drink businesses under the pilot programme you’d be mad not to consider applying while funds still remain.
No match funding is needed but businesses can choose to add more. We can however only fund work that has yet to start. It’s a really simple application process with only one quote needed (two if applying for over £2,000) and the voucher is paid directly to the business.
Anyone interested in applying should call 0844 2478450 or email info@cumbriagrowthhub.co.uk
More Taste Cumbria events
More Taste Cumbria events are planned this autumn and winter.
A Taste Carlisle event will be held in the Cathedral grounds on Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 November, followed by a Taste Christmas event in Cockermouth on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 December.
More information is available here
The Low Carbon Food Programme
Inspiration, tips & resources for reducing food related carbon emissions.
Whether you’re a farmer, producer, business, chef or home cook this hub is for you!
The aim of the Low Carbon Food Programme is to create a wider awareness of the carbon impact of producing and serving food, and to subsequently encourage people to create, source and enjoy more carbon friendly meals.
Find lots of case studies, external resources, inspiration and tips for food related carbon reduction actions and cost efficiency, including alternative recipes, ingredients and supportive networks.
You can read more here
Inspiring Itineraries
Cumbria Tourism has been working with Cumberland Council to produce a series of almost 35 itineraries to help inspire three key audiences to explore Carlisle, The Western Lake District and Coast.
Aimed at consumer markets, the travel trade (group travel) and the media, the project has been developed with support from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF).
With accessibility and sustainable transport options in mind, the itineraries have been shaped using first-hand research from local businesses across the area to help enhance people’s understanding of what’s available and ultimately, to create a better visitor experience.
They include a variety of themes and range from one day trips to longer, multi-day visits which encourage target audiences to explore hidden gems, dwell longer, stay overnight and visit at different times of year – helping to extend the traditional holiday season.
All the itineraries are available for businesses to download here. Whether you would like to print them, add to your own website or simply use for reference, you are welcome to share with your guests/customers.
Future Trenda & Innovation Conference
Thursday 21st November, Low Wood Bay Resort
Cumbria Tourism are holding an extra special Autumn Member’s Meeting, a showpiece event for their 50th Anniversary year all about the future of tourism, equipping your business with the must have knowledge and skills you need to embrace new ideas and technologies – and enter 2025 with renewed confidence for the future.
Join them for an inspirational and insightful day where you’ll hear from expert speakers exploring the future trends and innovations set to transform tourism and hospitality in the coming months and years.
A fantastic line-up of inspirational speakers now confirmed includes:
- CEO of UKHospitality, Kate Nicholls OBE – Responding to a changing workforce
- President of the NFU, Tom Bradshaw – Sustainable food futures
- Director of Content at the Foresight Factory, Dominic Harrison – Future visitor trends
- Head of Policy at Bitcoin Policy UK, Freddie New – Innovation in the workplace
- CEO of Digital Tourism Think Tank, Nick Hall – Future visitor trends
- CEO of ‘You Smart Thing’, Chris Thompson – Rethinking travel & transport
- Director of Hampton Manor, James Hill – Sustainable food futures
Plus, specialist facilitators supporting debate and panel discussions throughout the day will include England Director at VisitBritain, Andrew Stokes OBE.
You’ll also see first hand demonstrations of the technology being developed to help tomorrow’s visitors to experience and interact with leading destinations like the Lake District, Cumbria in creative new ways.
Importantly, hear from the next generation of tourism talent who will share their predictions about the future of the industry at this unique event too, with all proceeds going towards Cumbria Tourism’s 50th Anniversary Charitable Fund – set up in conjunction with Cumbria Community Foundation. It’s all about kickstarting training and careers in tourism and hospitality, and helping tackle the recruitment and retention challenges facing the industry.
There will also be plenty of time for networking with other members, suppliers, speakers and panellists, plus refreshments throughout the day including a two course lunch.
To book your place click here
Last 10 tickets remaining
We only have 10 tickets remaining for our Sustainability Conference on 13th November at Rheged.
Join us for a day of inspiration, listening and learning. We’ve a jam packed programme of speakers sharing their net zero/sustainability journey including Pirelli, The Rebuild Site, Cumberland Building Society, Shed 1 Distillery and The Yan. Both councils will give an update on their sustainability progress and plans, the conference also includes networking opportunities, lunch and refreshments, and ends with a panel discussion. You’ll also hear from event sponsors Barclays and Go Low Carbon.
This event is held in collaboration with ICAEW.
Greening Businesses Scheme
Funded by Westmorland & Furness Council and delivered by the CBEN Partnership, the Greening Business Scheme is now open to applications. Businesses have until 29th November to apply, and must be an SME, located within the W&F area and looking for ways to make their business more environmentally friendly. Successful applicants will receive a free energy audit and carbon footprint report which can be used to implement energy saving opportunities, cut costs and reduce the carbon footprint of the business.
Anyone interested in finding out more and applying need to click here