As a Chamber of Commerce, one of our main priorities is to give businesses opportunities to increase their networks through our wide range of events – all of which have some element of networking.

For the last few years we’ve celebrated International Women’s Day each March, bringing together business women and leaders to celebrate successes, share challenges and learn from each other. Last year saw our first male attendee who really embraced the day and joins us as a panelist this year. We also have a record number of men already booked to join us on Friday 7^th March at The Villa, Levens.

We’ve a great programme covering the full day:

• Kelly Cornwell, Jim Cox Prize winner – Keynote speaker - Read more about Kelly here

• Macarena Vergara, Coach, Leader-Connect - Freeing our capacities to lead

• Lina Mookerjee, Director, Praxis PPD - Re-framing Menopause In The Workplace: From Challenge To Opportunity

• Caroline Rayner, Knights - Respect in the Workplace

And you’ll hear from panelists:

• Julie Clayton, Chief Executive Officer, Eden Valley Hospice
• Sue Howorth, Co-Director, The Family Business Community
• Gina Pennington, Owner and Director, Penningtons Tea & Coffee Ltd
• Mark Ebdon, Factory General Manager, Pladis

• Julie Mennell, Vice Chancellor, University of Cumbria

Find out more and book here – thanks to sponsors Knights and The Villa, Levens.

Then on Friday 21^st March at the Castle Green Hotel in Kendal the Chamber hosts its Annual Network Dinner. This black tie event starts with a drinks reception in the Kendal suite, before heading into the main function suite for a three course dinner and guest speakers. 

We are excited to announce Jennifer Cormack, Sales and Marketing Director of Windermere Lake Cruises, as our guest speaker for the evening. Additionally, there will be speeches from Cumbria Chamber, Westmorland & Furness Council and guests.

Bookings are now open for individual tickets and table sponsorship. Sponsorship includes company branding on the table plans, table settings and screens in the main function room.

• Table sponsorship (10 people): £650 + VAT

• Individual bookings: £70 + VAT

Join us for an evening of making new connections and celebrating local business!

For individual bookings click here 

For table sponsorship bookings and for more information please contact Derek Armstrong at derek@cumbriachamber.co.uk or call 07841 743066.

Finally don’t miss your opportunity to hear from Dragon’s Den star Sara Davies who comes to Cumbria on Thursday 2^nd October as our keynote speaker for this year’s Conference Cumbria with the theme ‘Make it Happen’.

This year our panel discussion will be made up of young entrepreneurs ready and waiting to share their motivations, challenges, successes and generally inspire those who attend.

We’re hoping to have two other speakers yet to be confirmed but it promises to be the Chamber’s biggest event of 2025 with capacity for just over 350 attendees.

Thanks to sponsors so far confirmed Dodd & Co and GO Low Carbon -anyone wishing to join them please get in touch with Lesley Robinson – lesleyr@cumbriachamber.co.uk 

We’re also delighted to announce Platinum Live as media partners for this year’s event -thanks to Oliver Hodgson and his team for their support.

You can book tickets and exhibition space here 

The Chamber really is where business belongs! View our full events schedule here