Make UK National Manufacturing Conference 2024 

27 February, QEII Centre London.

The National Manufacturing conference provides a platform for delegates to:

• Hear from inspirational speakers and share best practice.
• Challenge political decision-makers to create a business environment that helps manufacturers to grow and offers solutions for the current economic climate.
• Join interactive breakout sessions focusing on skills, AI and sustainability.

Speakers includes:

• Stephen Phipson CBE, Make UK Chief Executive
• Alastair Campbell & Rory Stewart OBE – from “The Rest Is Politics” podcast, sharing their insight into current affairs and the political landscape
• Jonathan Reynolds MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
• Marc Priestley – former F1 pit crew race mechanic, TV pundit for Formula E and host of the Discovery Channel’s Driving Wild programme
• Steph McGovern – event compere

Early bird pricing is available – Book your Tickets today.

Would you like to take part in Cumbria Resident’s Week?

Cumbria Residents’ Week will take place on Saturday 10 February to Saturday 17 February 2024, and businesses are now able to sign up! The event aims to encourage residents to support local business as well as helping businesses through the quiet period following Christmas.

The week sees participating Cumbrian businesses that operate within the visitor economy – such as attractions, cafes, accommodation providers – offering residents a chance to win prizes in a draw.

To find out more and sign up click here. You will just need to complete an online form and your business will show on the Cumbria Residents’ Week Website. Following this, Cumberland Council will contact you with a toolkit and arrange collecting the prize your business is donating.

Apply now to improve high streets and town centres in Cumberland

Grants of up to £35,000 are available for landlords and businesses in Cumberland as part of a new High Street Building Grant Scheme.

The scheme forms part of a package of projects which aim to support businesses within the Cumberland area.

Grants are all funded through annual allocation from the Government for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (this also includes the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF)).

The High Street Building Grant Scheme has two priorities:

• Priority A will focus on supporting landlords and new or existing businesses taking up an empty property. Giving grants of up to 50% of the costs (max £35,000) of eligible works to improve the property.
• Priority B will focus on support to landlords and new or existing businesses requiring funding to do facelift works to their properties. Grants of 50% of the costs (max £5,000) can be applied for.

Funding is available to landlords and businesses within the centre boundaries of Aspatria, Brampton, Carlisle, Cleator Moor, Cockermouth, Egremont, Keswick, Longtown, Maryport, Millom, Silloth, Whitehaven, Wigton and Workington.

This is a discretionary grant for businesses that can demonstrate that they contribute to the vitality of the high street.

Additional grant schemes are available and will be delivered by external partners, working on the council’s behalf.

Information on all available grants and how to apply, including submission deadlines, is available here

New family-friendly employment regulations

From 6 April 2024, several new family-friendly employment regulations will come into effect in England, Scotland and Wales. The regulations will give employees the right to request flexible working from day one of employment, carer’s leave and will provide extended redundancy protections for new parents.

Read more about the new regulations here

Bidding for Sellafield – It’s easier than ever to work with us!

Sellafield are pleased to be bringing back the ‘Bidding for Sellafield’ events and would love to see you at Carlisle Racecourse on Tuesday 30^th January from 8.30am to 4.30pm.

Those of you who attended previously will know that these events are a chance to hear from subject matter experts on a variety of tender themes. There is an opportunity as well for networking and interesting discussion with colleagues from the Supply Chain Directorate, Quality, Group Business Services, Environment, AI & Robotics, among others. Also in attendance this year will be the Engineering team.

Last year’s event covered discussions including, but not limited to, Market Engagement and Procurement Process, Social Value, Tender Safety assessment and Supplier Relationship Management.

Who should attend?

Businesses of all sizes who are new to Sellafield Ltd are welcome, or indeed those already within the supply chain. To get the most value from the day, it’s recommended companies send representatives responsible for bid writing within your company.

What are the benefits of attending?

Suppliers who attend these events will be able to learn more about each stage of the tender process and put any specific questions to subject matter experts. There will also be a breakout area with stands from the category teams who will be able to advise you with more specific queries.

For more details and to book your place click here

Opportunity: RAICo Fellows – Deadline: 31^st January 2024

The Robotics and AI Collaboration (RAICo) is offering Innovation Awards through the RAICo Fellow and Junior Fellow Scheme:

• RAICo Fellow Scheme: An opportunity for women and early career researchers working in the field of nuclear robotics. Successful applicants will receive a grant of up to £20,000 and a bespoke package of mentoring, coaching and business support.
• RAICo Junior Fellow Scheme:An opportunity for PhD students to develop their work in the field of nuclear robotics. Successful applicants will receive a £5,000 grant and a bespoke package of mentoring, coaching and business support.

Creative Catalyst 2024
UK registered micro or small businesses in the creative industries sector can apply for funding of up to £50,000 with a package of tailored support to grow their business. This fully funded grant programme is from Innovate UK.

• Competition opens: Tuesday 23 January 2024
• Competition closes: Wednesday 6 March 2024 11:00am

For further information click here

Free webinars on T Level support

The Department for Education (DfE) is hosting free webinars on T Level support for both SMEs and large employers.

Attendees will hear from employers who have hosted industry placements in their business, the kind of challenges they faced, how they overcame them, and how they have created progression routes into apprenticeships.

• SME Employers = Monday 5 February, 2pm to 3pm. Book your place

• Large Employers = Wednesday 21 February, 9am to 10am. Book your place

Functional Skills level 1 & level 2 Maths

Delivered by Adult Learning, these courses are open to anyone in Cumbria.

Functional Skills is an equivalent to GCSE.  Level 1 is a low level GCSE equivalent pass and level 2 a high level pass.  Both are recognised by employers.

The process is to contact Adult Learning to express your interest, Adult Learning then carry out an  online initial assessment (which could also be done remotely online) to find out a starting point and then signpost to whichever level of course fits.  Anyone below the Level 1 course level, can be offered 121 support (this can also be delivered online).

To find out more about level 1 click here

To find out more about level 2 click here

Tender Opportunities: LANSS website and branding

Cumbria Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Cumbria Wildlife Trust, University of Cumbria and the Farmer Network to establish a Land and Nature Skills Service (LANSS) for Cumbria.

The Chamber is now commissioning the design of the LANSS website and branding with tender documents now live. Two tenders have been released, one for design of branding and another for the website.

To access further details and the tender response documents click here