A FREE business start-up programme to point you in the right direction to achieving business success.

If you’re thinking of starting your own business or in the first three years of trading, then Cumbria Chamber of Commerce is here to help with our free business start-up programme (BSUS).

Supported by Barrow Borough Council FEDF Coastal Communities, Carlisle City Council, Eden District Council and South Lakeland District Council our comprehensive package of support includes:

FREE meetings with a business adviser to review and develop your business idea

A FREE three day business course running in Barrow, Carlisle, Kendal, Penrith, and Workington covering:

• Introduction to business planning & self employment
• Introduction to marketing / market research & sales forecasts, promotion & sales, social media and pricing
• Introduction to planning & managing finance, taxation & bookkeeping, credit control
• Help to develop your business plan
• Enterprise events and other free training/workshops
• A subsidy for specialist consultancy support (40% up to a maximum of £1,000)
• FREE membership of Cumbria Chamber of Commerce for all pre-start businesses (worth up to £400)

Our offering has never been as good and we’re constantly developing our programme of support to match our client needs and offer a flexible service.

“Glad I came as before my business knowledge was very limited, I feel much more confident with starting my business”

So if you’re starting your own business or looking for support to help you through the early stages of trading call us today on 0845 226 0040 for a range of free business support services to suit you no matter what type of business or area of the county.

If you think that somebody from outside the United Kingdom might buy through your website, please check out our further information here.

The project is receiving £1,112,686 of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020, with a £2,225,372 project total. The Department for Communities and Local Government (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund. Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding