A successful business growth programme which has helped over 180 SMEs and created 98 new jobs in Cumbria will end on 30 September 2022 when current European Regional Development Funding (ERDF) ends.

Run by Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) as part of the Cumbria Business Growth Hub offer, Cumbria Forum is a fully-funded programme providing eligible business leaders with the time and space to step back from day-to-day operations and focus on building their business for the future. Since its launch in 2016, it has supported 185 Cumbrian firms to create 98 new jobs and launch 39 new products or services.

Ewan Pullan, Project Manager at Lancaster University Management School, said: “It is fantastic what the Cumbria Forum has achieved, especially having been able to continue providing much needed business support to SMEs during the pandemic and more recently focussing on the current challenges facing businesses today.”

Lesley Robinson, Head of Business Support with Cumbria Chamber of Commerce has been proud to work with LUMS as a project partner. “Working with LUMS and the team has been a real privilege, they have really helped raise the profile of Cumbria Business Growth Hub not only through direct delivery but wider support of the programme and myself as Project Manager. The support they have provided has been first-class and of real value to the Cumbrian business community, I personally look forward to other partnership working in the future.”

Other business support opportunities offered by Lancaster University can be found at: SME Programmes | Lancaster University