Have your say on Carlisle’s future
The opportunity to have a say on Carlisle’s long-term future is available following the launch of a consultation.
Public engagement on the draft Carlisle Masterplan is now live. Residents and businesses have until 31 July 2026 to get involved.
The Carlisle Masterplan is an ambitious plan that sets out the future of the city over the next 25 years and beyond.
The plan sets out a vision, strategy and a wide range of potential projects that respond to earlier phases of consultation. The projects vary in scale and complexity.
Find out more and have your say here
Engagement events will also be held at the Assembly Rooms in the Old Town Hall Carlisle on:
Cumberland Council will take a leading role in delivering the masterplan, working with partners, key stakeholders and the wider community and businesses to help shape a positive future for Carlisle.
Burnham’s long-term plan must work for business
"Businesses need consistency, clarity, and stability from policymakers to unlock investment, productivity, and trade-led growth."
Responding to a recent speech by Labour leadership candidate Andy Burnham, British Chambers of Commerce Director General, Shevaun Haviland CBE, emphasised that business confidence depends on policies that deliver tangible results. She highlighted the need for a clear 'growth delivery test' to ensure plans drive investment, productivity and trade.
Shevaun also stressed the importance of devolution that genuinely benefits local economies, with decisions on skills, transport and infrastructure made closer to communities. Chamber-led Local Skills Improvement Plans were cited as proof of how local approaches can address economic challenges.
While welcoming commitments to improve procurement, these reforms must support SME supply chains without adding further costs. With government-imposed costs on SMEs rising significantly, new local taxes could hinder growth.
Ultimately, the response reinforced that delivering sustainable growth remains the UK’s central challenge and businesses should stand ready to partner with government to achieve it.
You can read the full response here
Defence spending vital to economy – British Chambers of Commerce response
The Defence Investment Plan provides long-awaited clarity for businesses, reinforcing the critical link between national security and economic growth.
Strengthening defence manufacturing and exports, alongside resilient supply chains, must be central to the UK’s long-term strategy.
With UK defence exports rising sharply and significant trade with key partners, the sector presents a major economic opportunity. However, challenges remain. Policies on steel quotas and tariffs risk increasing costs for downstream industries. Increased defence spending must not come at the expense of investment in energy, infrastructure, and regional growth. Ensuring SMEs can access defence contracts is also vital to maximising economic impact.
Government must maintain a balanced approach, supporting defence growth while safeguarding wider economic priorities. This includes simplifying procurement, strengthening supply chain access for SMEs, reviewing trade measures, and pursuing deeper collaboration with international allies to unlock further opportunities for UK businesses.
You can read the full response here
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax – next steps
If you get income from self-employment and/or property, you’ll legally need to use Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax from the following dates:
The following webinar from HMRC will help you understand the necessary steps that businesses will need to take to prepare for MTD.
During the session, HMRC will cover:
Plans to support fair competition between high street and online retailers
The Government has accelerated plans to scrap the duty relief on cheap imports and will introduce new tax reforms to support fair competition between high street and online retailers. There will also be a review into how VAT is collected for businesses trading through online marketplaces. The additional revenue raised from this will go towards improvements to business rates for pubs, restaurants, hotels and other high street businesses.
Read more about the plans here
New roadmap to make English farming profitable and resilient
Defra has published a 25-year Farming Roadmap, which sets out how farmers in England can adapt through nature-based solutions such as improved soil health and water management. As part of the roadmap, farmers will have better access to the tools, technology, skills and supply chains they need to invest, innovate and grow. The Government will also review how the economic value of agriculture is measured. Seasonal worker visas will continue until at least 2030.
Read more about the roadmap here
Help with your tax return as a self-employed business
Have you considered sending your 2025 to 2026 online tax return early? It can give you peace of mind and more time to plan and budget before the 31 January 2027 deadline.
You can register for the following live webinars from HMRC designed to guide you through every step of completing your return.
Pubs, shops and local assets protected, with communities in charge
The Government has announced a new £61 million Community Right to Buy Fund to enable local communities in England to take over community assets at risk of closure. Examples of community assets include pubs, shops and community centres. The funding is part of the £301 million announced by the Government to support high streets and community spaces.
Read more about the fund here
Applications open for SFI26
From 30 June 2026, farmers in England will be able to apply for the new Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI26), which is a simpler and fairer scheme designed to support family farms and meet the challenges of modern farming. SFI26 aims to cut red tape and pays farmers for taking practical steps that benefit their land, such as improving soil health and creating space for wildlife.
Read more about SFI26 here
Funding for debt advice
The Government has announced a £4 million funding boost for business debt advice services through the Money and Pensions Service. The funding will go towards expanding access to expert support to help small businesses and the self-employed regain control of their finances and plan for the future. The funding will enable Business Debtline to offer additional support to over 16,000 small business owners, sole traders and the self-employed.
Read more about the funding here
Funding to provide additional tax support
HMRC will provide more than £11 million to support customers who need extra help, as it launches the latest round of the Voluntary and Community Sector Grant Funding Scheme. Under the scheme, voluntary and community sector organisations can bid for funding to provide specialist advice and support to those who may need extra help with their tax affairs, interacting with its digital services, or claiming entitlements. Successful organisations will receive three-year funding grants from April 2027.
Read more about the funding here
Kick Start Fund now live
Do you have an idea that will benefit local communities?
Do you need to get your project off the ground?
BEC consulted with local residents to understand what they think should be made a priority in the community.
This fund is now open to anyone who has a project that aligns itself with the below priorities:
Interested? You can find out more and apply here
EU steel quotas: The final jigsaw piece – British Chambers of Commerce response
New EU steel quotas provide greater certainty for UK exporters, with around two-thirds of exports remaining tariff-free for the next five years.
This is a significant outcome given the £3bn annual trade and deeply integrated UK–EU supply chains.
However, this marks a shift to a more challenging trading environment overall.
While the revised quotas ease some pressure, UK steel producers and downstream sectors such as manufacturing, construction, and engineering will still face higher costs and reduced tariff-free access. Even with recent improvements, many businesses will feel the impact, highlighting the delicate balance between protecting domestic industry and maintaining competitiveness.
You can read the full statement here
