Keep your Christmas market stall safe for customers
The festive rush brings new menus, seasonal staff, and more customers than ever, which means food safety has never been more important.
Whether you’re serving Christmas specials, catering office parties, or running a festive market stall, the Food Standards Agency is here to help. Their free training, checklists and guidance make it simple to stay compliant and protect your customers.
From allergen management to hygiene checks, every good food business knows that safety and reputation go hand in hand.
To get your free resources and make this festive season a safe one for your business, visit https://www.food.gov.uk/here-to-help
Because safer food is better for business.
Cumbria Employer Skills Survey 2025
Cumbria Chamber of Commerce are working with Skills England and local authorities to improve our understanding of how skills, training and recruitment is affecting employers.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8GPF7W6
It would be greatly appreciated if you could take a short amount of time to complete the survey above to contribute your views on these important issues. There is also the opportunity to participate in a focus group to discuss further. Responses will also feed into the forthcoming refresh of the Cumbria Local Skills Improvement Plan, for which the Chamber is the designated Employer Representative Body.
The survey will take between 10 and 15 minutes to complete.
New fund inspired by gingerbread creator
A new fund has been set up with Cumbria Community Foundation, inspired by the creator of the iconic Cumbrian treat, Grasmere Gingerbread. The Sarah Nelson Fund will give out grants of up to £5,000.
The fund will prioritise projects that help people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness; improve education for children and adults; encourage creative and sustainable business ideas; or tackle food poverty. These four themes reflect the life of Sarah Nelson, who overcame poverty through resilience, creativity, and community spirit.
Read more about the fund here
BCC's Flagship Trade Conference 2026
British Chambers of Commerce are inviting Chamber members to their Driving International Trade Conference on the 26th March 2026!
DITC is a marketplace for trade and investment – a high-impact, purpose-driven event where deals are made, partnerships forged, and insights shared. From practical workshops and market clinics to investor showcases, every session is designed to deliver actionable intelligence and real-world results.
Your business should meet two or more of the following criteria:
The conference takes place on Thursday 26th March, at QEII Centre, Central London and is free to attend.
How does a simple idea become a global success?
Join DBT 'In Conversation' hot seat with Sanjay Aggarwal, Co-Founder and CEO of Spice Kitchen. They'll be discussing how a Christmas Day conversation sparked an international brand now stocked in over 600 UK retailers and exporting to the US.
What you’ll learn:
✅ Practical tips for entering new markets – trade shows, branding, digital platforms
✅ How Spice Kitchen leveraged DBT support to expand internationally
✅ Actionable insights to help UK businesses grow with confidence
📅 Date: Wednesday 3 December
🕒 Duration: 1 hour
📍 Online - Free to attend
Don’t miss this chance to hear Sanjay’s journey from local market stalls to global shelves, and learn how you could follow in his footsteps.
