New direction for Regional Supply Chain Network
We’re really pleased to announce that Cumbria Chamber of Commerce will be taking over facilitation of the Regional Supply Chain Network.
Led by Lesley Robinson, the Chamber will be working closely with a strengthened business-led Steering Group to review and refresh focus and activities prior to a formal relaunch. We are also keen to hear from network members on how the network should move forward and deliver real benefit to its members. We’ll be opening the network up to membership covering the whole of the county whilst being mindful of other networks and avoiding duplication and differentiating our activity and purpose. There will be no requirement for members of the network to also be members of the Chamber.
The network moving forward will be supported by Team Barrow, and will be seeking additional sponsorship and support. We thank Jeanette and Louise for their previous leadership.
We look forward to working with both current and new members to build an even stronger, engaging and beneficial network.
Anyone wishing to share their views or comments please email Lesley Robinson – lesleyr@cumbriachamber.co.uk
Free Webinar for SMEs: Supporting Employee Mental Health
20th October – 11am to 11.30am
This is your chance to find out more about Able Futures, a DWP-funded mental health support service available to employees, apprentices and self-employed people. The service provides up to nine months of confidential support at no cost, helping individuals manage challenges such as stress, anxiety and depression while remaining in work.
The webinar will explain:
• What Able Futures offers
• Who can access support
• How employees can access the service directly
• How SMEs can signpost staff to the support available
Register to attend here
Lancaster University launches new hub for North West cyber leaders to tackle major emerging challenges
Key figures in the future of cyber technology across the North West of England have united in a new hub to tackle major issues facing the business world.
Lancaster University Management School’s (LUMS) Cyber Leadership Forum (CLF) will explore what responsible leadership looks like in an increasingly complex digital world.
The CLF frames cyber leadership as a broad organisational challenge beyond technology, shaped by the interplay of governance, institutional culture, accountability, ethics, communication and trust.
For more information about the Cyber Leadership Forum, to discuss opportunities to collaborate, or to make an enquiry, email clf@lancaster.ac.uk
New Chief Executive appointed for Cumberland Council
A new Chief Executive has been appointed to lead Cumberland Council.
Jo Atkinson, currently Cumberland Council's Director of Corporate and Transformation Services and Deputy Chief Executive, will officially take up the role of Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service from 1 January 2027.
Jo's appointment follows an extensive recruitment process set in place following the announcement that Andrew Seekings, the council’s current Chief Executive, was retiring at the end of December 2026.
From late payments to lasting partnerships: The future of freelancing
Late payments and unpaid work remain major challenges for freelancers across the UK. However, understanding how these issues impact the independent workforce is essential for businesses looking to build stronger partnerships and support sustainable growth.
The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade has recorded a free on-demand Business Academy video: Freelancing, fair payment and the future of the independent workforce, Matt Dowling (founder of Freelancer Club) shares how a single unpaid invoice sparked a mission to improve conditions for freelancers across the UK. You can discover practical advice on tackling late payments, building stronger freelancer relationships and creating a fairer, more sustainable future for the independent workforce.
In under 25 minutes, you’ll learn about:
Whether you regularly work with freelancers or are interested in building stronger business relationships, this session offers valuable insights and practical takeaways you can put into action straight away.
Pilot to entice overseas firms to buy British
A new UK Export Finance pilot product has been announced to incentivise overseas buyers to buy goods and services from British companies. Flexible Finance will provide buyers who operate in fast-growing economies such as Brazil, Morocco and Mexico with access to loans on more flexible terms to entice buying British.
Read more about the pilot here
Could a grant help with your education costs?
Applications are now open for the Carlisle Educational Charity grant, which supports some young people under 25 from Carlisle to continue their education.
The grant may help with costs linked to university, further education, postgraduate study, professional qualifications, or travel that is required as part of a course.
To apply, young people must be under 25 on 1 October 2026 and live in Carlisle, or have parents who live in Carlisle. Priority is given to students from low-income families, but all eligible students are encouraged to apply.
Applications must be returned by 30 October 2026.
Stop Guessing: find the Best social media platform for your audience
Many UK businesses spend valuable time creating content for channels their customers simply aren’t using. The key to social media success isn’t being everywhere, it’s being where your audience is.
Rule number one: you don't need to be active on every platform. Instead, focus your time and resources on the channels that are most likely to connect you with potential customers.
The Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade has recorded a free on-demand Business Academy webinar, "Choosing the right social media platform for your audience," cuts through the noise and helps you identify the platforms that can have the biggest impact on your business. Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your existing strategy, this practical session will give you the insights you need to make smarter marketing decisions and get better results from your social media efforts.
In this 20 minute webinar, you'll discover:
• Which social media platforms are most likely to help you reach your target audience.
• How to prioritise your marketing efforts and avoid spreading yourself too thin.
• How to build a content strategy that supports your business goals.
• Which metrics are worth tracking to measure growth and success.
🚀 Don't leave your social media success to chance. Start building a smarter strategy today. Watch the webinar now
New Game Changers - Smart inline analysis for future plutonium processing
Sellafield Ltd is seeking innovative approaches to support smart inline or in-situ analysis within a future plutonium processing plant. The solution should enable safety, quality and compliance checks to be carried out closer to key production stages, reducing reliance on laboratory analysis, manual intervention and sample removal while improving traceability. Technologies that can support integrated digital quality assurance records across the production and storage lifecycle are also welcomed.
A live webinar with the challenge owners will be held at 11am (GMT+1) on Tuesday 20th October 2026. Deadline for applications: 3pm (GMT) on Tuesday 3rd November 2026.
Find out more and register for the webinar here.
New Game Changers - Automated deployment device
Sellafield Ltd is seeking an in-situ solution to measure or monitor the integrity of filters in Self Shielded Boxes (SSBs) containing fuel-bearing radioactive waste. The solution should provide confidence that the primary filters are functioning as a suitable barrier to prevent the escape of radioactive particles, ideally without removing the filters, moving SSBs or breaking containment. Solutions that address either the deployment or analysis aspects of the challenge are welcomed.
Deadline for applications: 3pm (GMT) on Thursday 29th October 2026. Find out more and register here.
Have your say on the future of Cumberland
Residents, businesses, community groups and stakeholders are being encouraged to help shape the future of Cumberland by taking part in a new scoping consultation for the Cumberland Local Plan.
The six-week consultation, which runs from 14 September to 23 October 2026, marks the first stage of preparing the Local Plan under the new planning system. It builds on work already undertaken, including the Issues and Options Consultation held in 2025, which helped identify some of the key challenges, opportunities and priorities facing Cumberland.
The council is now seeking feedback to ensure that all important issues and opportunities have been identified and to help determine the most effective ways to engage with communities throughout the plan-making process.
Read more here
Improved self-assessment registration service
HMRC has launched an improved registration service, making it easier for people to register for tax self-assessment. Improvements to the service include forms pre-populated with customer information, signposting to online support, save and return functions and confirmation email or text once registration is complete.
Read more about the improvements here
Regional innovators invited to enter the 20th Bright Ideas in Health Awards
Businesses and regional innovators working in health and care are being encouraged to enter the 20th Bright Ideas in Health Awards, celebrating over two decades of innovation across the North East and North Cumbria.
Organised by Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria (HI NENC), the awards recognise the businesses, entrepreneurs, teams and partners developing new ideas, technologies and ways of working that can help the NHS tackle challenges, improve services and support better outcomes for patients.
This year’s programme includes 14 categories, with opportunities to showcase innovation across digital and artificial intelligence (AI), industry collaboration, patient safety, prevention, workforce development, health inequalities and more.
Whether your idea is already being used in practice or ready to be developed further with health and care partners, BIHA20 is an opportunity to raise its profile and celebrate the strength of regional innovation.
Entries close at 11:59pm on Friday, 27 November 2026.
Finalists will be announced in early 2027 and winners will be revealed at the awards ceremony on Thursday, 18 March 2027 at the Hilton Newcastle Tyne Bridge.
Find out more and enter here
A free Santander X session for the start-ups and growing businesses
On Wednesday 21 October, 12noon to 1.30pm, Santander are running a free online session, Scale with Santander X: How to win customers, attract investment and grow your start-up.
This will be a useful session for those looking to win more customers, understand their funding options or prepare for investment.
Santander will be joined by:
It’s completely free and online, Register here.
Sole traders urged to prepare for MTD
HMRC is urging sole traders and landlords to check if they need to register for Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax. From 7 April 2027, more than 1 million sole traders and landlords with a turnover of more than £30,000 per year will be required to comply with MTD for Income Tax reporting rules. Under the rules, sole traders and landlords will need to use recognised software to keep digital records and send quarterly updates of their income and expenses to HMRC.
Read more about the warning here
New start-up programme for young people
eBay and The King's Trust have launched a new programme to support the UK's next generation of entrepreneurs. eBay Self Made: Get Ready to Build Your Own E-commerce Business is a six-month practical entrepreneurship programme that will develop skills such as live selling, content creation, building online communities and the fundamentals of running a business.
Read more about the programme here
Ready to take your business global?
Expanding into international markets can feel like a big step, but the opportunities for UK businesses have never been greater.
In the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade’s free on-demand Business Academy video, Building a global marketplace and supporting seller growth, hear from Cas Paton, CEO of OnBuy, as he shares how the business grew from an ecommerce startup into a global marketplace serving customers across multiple countries and currencies.
3 insights you'll take away:
✅ How global marketplaces help sellers reach international customers
✅ Why cross-border trade presents a major growth opportunity for UK businesses
✅ Key lessons from scaling a business across multiple countries, currencies and markets
Have your say on the future of construction skills in Cumbria
Cumbria Chamber of Commerce is undertaking our biggest-ever survey of construction and construction-related businesses to understand the current picture around skills, training and provision across the county.
Your feedback will help us:
• Develop better, more relevant and tailored training provision through colleges and training providers
• Identify the skills and training challenges facing businesses
• Help shape future support for the sector
We’d really appreciate it if you could take ten minutes to complete the survey and share with your network.
There will also be opportunities to take part on focus groups and roundtable discussions to explore the issues raised in more detail.
Business Boost 4.0
This year, Business Boost 4.0 is all about growth. Growth for entrepreneurs, growth for start-ups, growth for local businesses and growth for West Cumbria.
Business Boost 4.0 has been designed to support ambitious people and businesses offering free expert guidance, mentoring, workshops, business support and valuable connections.
If you’ve got an idea, a business or ambitions and want to take the next step, now is the perfect time to discover what Boost 4.0 could mean for you.
Find out more and register here – you could win up to £50,000
Applications still open for Greening Businesses Scheme
Local businesses across Westmorland and Furness are being reminded that applications remain open for the third round of Westmorland and Furness Council’s Greening Businesses Scheme.
The initiative once again offers businesses the opportunity to work with the Cumbria Business Environment Network (CBEN) Partnership to help them to understand how to reduce their carbon footprint and cut costs, promoting a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future for their business and the area.
Through this partnership, businesses can access a free carbon footprint assessment of their operations and activities from which they can develop strategies or implement measures to reduce carbon emissions and save costs.
Applications for this round of the Greening Businesses Scheme are open until Sunday 25th October, and small and medium businesses of any sector located in Westmorland and Furness are eligible to apply.
More information including guidance and an application form can be found here
Entries open! - North West Residential Property Awards 2027
The North West Residential Property Awards return for 2027 bringing together the developers, investors and professionals driving transformation across the region.
These awards celebrate the remarkable achievements of the region’s residential sector. They recognise the effort of the people, businesses and organisations which have designed, developed, funded, built and managed homes and communities across the North West.
Taking place each year since 2016, the North West Residential Property Awards is the perfect opportunity to promote your successes and a great chance to network among friends, colleagues and potential new clients.
Entries are open until 6th November 2026 in 16 categories:
🏠 Apartment Development of the Year
🏠 Build-to-Rent Development of the Year
🏠 Deal of the Year
🏠 Development Funder of the Year
🏠 Housebuilder of the Year
🏠 Small Housing Development of the Year
🏠 Large Housing Development of the Year
🏠 Law Firm of the Year
🏠 Planning Team of the Year
🏠 Property Consultancy of the Year
🏠 Residential Agency Team of the Year
🏠 Residential Operator of the Year
🏠 Social Housing Development of the Year
🏠 Social Impact Award
🏠 Urban Living Developer of the Year
🏠 Outstanding Achievement Award
British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS)
The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) was announced as part of the Industrial Strategy to cut electricity costs for British manufacturers, strengthening competitiveness and protecting skilled jobs.
Eligible businesses will be exempted from the indirect costs of the Renewables Obligation, Feed-in Tariffs and the Capacity Market, worth up to £40 per MWh, with exemptions reaching bills from April 2027. They will also receive an additional payment in 2027 to reflect the support businesses would have received had the scheme been in operation earlier.
To qualify, a business must be registered at Companies House, operate in an eligible sector, manufacture eligible products at a site in Great Britain, and use at least 33 MWh of grid-supplied electricity a year at that site.
Applications are open now and close at 23:59 on 30 November 2026. There is only one application round a year and applications cannot be amended once submitted, so businesses are encouraged to start early and apply in good time.
Getting started is straightforward. Start with the eligibility checker on GOV.UK to see whether your business is likely to be eligible, read the business guidance to understand evidence requirements and apply today - applications close at 23:59 on 30 November.
BIST is also hosting a webinar on 17 November if you want to find out more.
