Council hosting free forum event for Westmorland and Furness landlords and managing agents
Westmorland and Furness Council is holding a forum for landlords and managing agents in December to support private landlords and managing agents across the area.
Taking place on Monday 1 December from 5pm to 7pm, the FREE event at Barrow Town Hall will help landlords stay up to date with changes in housing law and provide guidance on maintaining good-quality homes.
Recent and upcoming changes in the private rental sector include energy efficiency updates, higher fines for non-compliance, Awaabs Law, and the Renters’ Rights Bill.
Through the forum, the Council will support landlords to understand these changes so they can continue to provide safe, well-managed homes for tenants. Attendees will hear from expert speakers on key issues that matter most right now, with content designed specifically for the Westmorland and Furness area.
The programme includes talks on:
Landlords can submit questions in advance of the event or during registration to ensure the topics that matter the most to them are addressed.
There will also be networking opportunities over refreshments and information available from Council teams including Benefits, Disabled Facilities Grants, Warm Homes Scheme, Housing Standards, Homelessness and external partners who will be on hand to provide advice.
The event is aimed at all landlords and managing agents with property in the Westmorland and Furness area, no matter the size of their portfolio.
There are 85 tickets available for the Westmorland and Furness Landlords Forum therefore advance booking is essential. To register your place, visit the Try Booking website.
It is the Council’s ambition to run the Forum annually, with locations rotating between Penrith, Kendal, and Barrow.
Council announces new grant funding for organisations supporting the voluntary sector
A new grant funding opportunity has launched for infrastructure organisations that support the Voluntary, Community and Faith (VCF) sector across the Westmorland and Furness area.
Infrastructure organisations play a vital role in strengthening and connecting frontline VCF sector groups. They provide leadership, advocacy, capacity building, and support for volunteering, enabling smaller charities and community groups to thrive.
Through the Safe and Strong Communities Community Grant Fund, the Council are encouraging VCF infrastructure organisations to apply for over £379,000 that will offer financial support across a three-year period.
The funding will allow the successful organisation to offer guidance, leadership, and support to frontline VCF groups, while promoting healthy, active lives for all and tackling inequality by directing resources and expertise where they are needed most.
It will also directly contribute to a key Westmorland and Furness Council Plan priorities to build confident, empowered, and resilient communities, strengthen local representation, and ensure a thriving voluntary sector.
Applications will be assessed by a panel who will consider how applicants meet the outcomes of the fund.
Applications opened on Wednesday 1 October and will close on Sunday 30 November 2025. Interested organisations can apply using the application form available on the Council website.
For further information and to access the form, view the Grants and Funding page on the Westmorland and Furness Council website.
Business welcomes Youth Guarantee Ambition
Young people who have been out of a job or education for 18 months will be offered a guaranteed paid work placement, under new government plans.
Reacting to the Chancellor’s plans for a Youth Guarantee, Shevaun Haviland, British Chambers of Commerce Director General said: “Business will welcome the Chancellor’s ambition to get more young people into work. The BCC has been calling for this as a matter of urgency.
A well-delivered Youth Guarantee can help tackle the growing youth jobs crisis, prevent a lost generation and realise the potential in every young person.
The UK’s active workforce is rapidly ageing, so it’s vital for our economy that we plug into this fresh talent pool, who have so much to offer.”
You can read the full report here
New Martyn’s Law Myth Buster available
The Home Office has published a new Martyn’s Law Myth Buster to help organisations understand the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025.
The resource addresses common misconceptions, clarifies what the Act requires, and reinforces that compliance will not be immediate – there is an implementation period of at least 24 months following Royal Assent.
The Myth Buster also discourages unnecessary spending on third-party providers and encourages practical, proportionate security measures.
You can download the Myth Buster here
Take part in Heathrow’s SME Exporter Grants Programme
Heathrow is inviting SMEs from across the UK to apply for its World of Opportunity Programme 2025-26, supporting businesses with ambitions to export their goods and services around the world.
The programme will provide £2,000 grants to 12 SMEs, with one recipient chosen from each UK nation and region. Past winners have used grants to fund trade missions, research, and training to expand their international reach.
Run in partnership with the Federation of Small Businesses and supported by the Export Support Service, successful applicants will also gain access to expert advice and networks to help grow their exports.
Applications are open from 22nd September to 31st December 2025.
To apply, download and complete the short two-page application form and send it to policy@heathrow.com – download the application form here
Webinar: Support for SMEs on the Road to Net Zero
The UK Business Climate Hub and BCC are co-hosting a free webinar for SMEs on how to cut energy costs, reduce carbon emissions and take advantage of the UK’s transition to a net zero economy.
The session will highlight the support available from industry bodies, financial institutions and the public sector, as well as practical case studies from SMEs already making progress.
Speakers include Miranda Barker OBE, CEO of East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Chris Taylor, Net Zero Programme
Director at UK Business Climate Hub, as well as business leaders from Grantham Manufacturing and Nosy Crow.
Register your interest here
Funding for communities to revitalise local areas
The Government has announced that new powers will be given to communities across the UK to revitalise their local area. The Pride in Place Programme will provide funding to over 330 communities to help them revitalise high streets, seize boarded-up shops, save local pubs or libraries, and clean up eyesores in their area.
Read more about the programme here
Support to help businesses avoid fraud
The Fraud Advisory Panel, in partnership with Barclays, has launched the Business Fraud Alliance. The Alliance provides businesses with access to practical resources to help strengthen their resilience against fraud. Topics covered include preventing cybercrime and managing fraud risks, including invoice fraud and procurement fraud.
Read more about the Alliance here
eBay launches AI programme for UK SMEs
eBay has launched a new initiative to help small businesses in the UK harness the power of AI and compete with larger enterprises. The AI activate initiative will provide up to 10,000 small businesses selling on eBay with fully funded access to OpenAI-powered tools and tailored training to boost productivity and drive growth.
Read more about the initiative here
Curry’s unveils new business hub at Carlisle retail park
Curry’s Business has unveiled a new hub in Carlisle that aims to provide support to Cumbria's small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The Business Hub launched at the Curry’s Carlisle store at Kingstown Retail Park, officially opened on Monday 29th September. The Hub will provide businesses across Carlisle and the wider Cumbria region with tech, expert advice, and ongoing support with the aim of improving growth.
Carlisle’s economy has a mix of businesses, from hospitality and retail along English Street to agricultural and logistics companies serving the wider county.
Curry’s says the new Business Hub is designed to help all of these business types by offering one-to-one consultations, where personal business advisors will help businesses find the best solutions for their unique needs.
They also offer exclusive SME pricing, giving access to 'competitive pricing' across Curry’s Business full range, helping businesses in the area to get more value per pound spent.
New guidance for umbrella companies
The Government has published updated guidance on umbrella companies. The guidance includes new rules on joint and several liability within labour supply chains, which will apply from 6 April 2026. Under the new rules, where an umbrella company fails to meet its Pay As You Earn obligations, responsibility for unpaid tax and National Insurance contributions will be shared.
You can read more about the guidance here
Steps to reduce cyber risks
The Information Commissioner's Office has published some practical steps that small businesses can take to make sure they have appropriate security measures in place to protect personal information. The steps include regularly backing up data, using multi-factor authentication and installing anti-virus and malware protection.
Read more about the steps here
Game Changers Challenge Opportunity
Remote deployment method for sensors in nuclear store structures
The Sellafield Product and Residue Store (SPRS) houses special nuclear materials (SNM) that have resulted from nuclear fuel reprocessing activities. The SPRS is ventilated by the natural convection of unfiltered air, and it is known that the moisture and salt in the air are causing corrosion of steel and aluminium structures (extrusions) within the SPRS.
Sellafield Ltd needs to understand whether the observed corrosion is going to be limiting to the forecast 100-year lifetime of the SPRS store and needs a method of deploying corrosion-sensing equipment to the sites of the corrosion.
Sellafield Ltd is seeking a method to remotely deploy corrosion-sensing and inspection equipment via the ceiling ports or ground-level ventilation ducts of cells within SPRS. The deployment solution should be able to reach all required parts of the cell to place corrosion-sensing equipment at all required sites of corrosion, including those on the extrusions and on the welds.
The deployment solution should be able to carry and deliver the sensor payload to where it is required and hold the sensing equipment in place at all times. It should be able to tolerate the radioactivity levels within the cell. It should also be able to record the locations of analysis/data or sample collection and should be robust so that it can be repeated across other cells within SPRS.
Sellafield Ltd is seeking any solutions to this challenge to be operational/business as usual by 2029. This means that an active demonstration of a solution would be required by early 2028 at the latest. However, if an earlier solution is presented, this would be desirable.
The deadline for applications for this challenge is 3pm on Thursday 30th October 2025.
You can apply and find out more here
HSBC webinar - Fraud & Cyber Awareness - Purchase Scams
Check out the presentation slides from a recent HSBC webinar focusing on purchase scams. Attended by the Chamber’s Head of Business Support, Lesley Robinson, the webinar provided real food for thought with relatable examples provided for consideration.
Details of upcoming webinars and recordings to previous sessions can also be found on the HSBC website.
Grizebeck scheme offers helping hand for local community projects
Westmorland and Furness Council and Story Contracting are searching for Furness-based community projects that would benefit from a helping hand.
As part of the A595 improvement project, up to 100 hours of volunteer labour including some machinery use is available to support local initiatives.
Led by Westmorland and Furness Council and constructed by Story Contracting, the £23.3 million investment from the Department for Transport will see the creation of a new single carriageway between Chapels and Grizebeck Village along the A595, one of Cumbria’s most vital transport routes.
Beyond improving road safety, reducing journey times, and enhancing connectivity across the area, the project team is committed to giving back to local communities through a ringfenced volunteer hours.
These hours, supported by the skills and machinery of Story Contracting, are available to assist with local initiatives, helping to make a meaningful and lasting difference across the area.
Community groups, charities, schools, voluntary organisations and local residents in Grizebeck and Chapels, Askham, Dalton, Ulverston and Barrow are all encouraged to get in touch with the team if have an environmentally focused project or idea that would benefit volunteer support.
This time can be used to support a wide range of activities - from clean-ups, gardening and painting community space improvements and more – and must meet the following criteria:
Priority will be given to projects located in or near the Grizebeck and Chapels area and will be selected by the sub-group responsible for community engagement on the project.
If you have a project you would like to put forward, please email A595Grizebeck@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk with up to 200 words explaining your project and stating the amount of hours of support you require.
Stop Loan Sharks
Sadly, when businesses need money, illegal lenders are never far away.
If you’re a business owner and you’ve taken a loan from someone you think is unauthorised, you can get help from Stop Loan Sharks, or the England Illegal Money Lending Team.
If the loan is under £25,000, used for business purposes and your business is a sole trader, a partnership with fewer than four partners, or an unincorporated association then Stop Loan Sharks may be able to investigate and even prosecute your lender.
Please note: loans over £25,000 or those made to limited companies are outside their jurisdiction.
For confidential advice and support: Visit the website here: https://bit.ly/340igkj or call the 24/7 Helpline: 0300 555 2222.
Turning point as more SMEs unlock AI
Over a third of SMEs (35%) say they are actively using AI technology, up from 25% in 2024 – according to research by the British Chambers of Commerce, in partnership with Intuit, the global financial technology platform.
The research, featured in a new report, also shows appetite for more progress among SMEs, with 24% of responding firms saying they plan to adopt AI in the future. Only 33% no report having no plans to use AI, down from 43% last year.
You can read the full report here
Google Digital Garage - free digital skills training event in West Cumbria and Carlisle
Interested in growing your business? Are you available on the 14th November in Whitehaven and Workington? Join us for a day of free training workshops, networking sessions & 1-to-1 mentoring from Google Digital trainers.
The event is free and Digital Coaches from Google will be on hand to answer any questions related to growing your business - anything from how to get your business visible to boosting your productivity with AI. It will be a day of workshops, peer networking sessions & 1-to-1 mentoring from Google.
Date: 14th November 2025
Time: 10:00 - 15:00
