Last updated at 11:23, Tuesday, 22 January 2013

CUMBRIA’S Local Enterprise Partnership has published its business plan for 2013, setting out how it will support growth in the county.

GEORGE BEVERIDGE

The document has been produced following consultation with over 1,000 Cumbrian businesses and outlines an action plan that includes accessing finance and helping businesses to secure investment, supporting roll-out of superfast broadband and improved mobile coverage, establishing a Specialist Manufacturing Task & Finish Group to support businesses in winning contracts in this key sector and lobbying for transport improvements including better rail connections to Barrow.

The LEP also wants to champion work on using the Cumbria and Lake District brands more effectively in selling products such as food, drink and leisure.

It is also planning to develop a Cumbria Opportunities website to promote jobs, investment and supply chain opportunities.

The business plan identifies four sectors of the Cumbrian economy as being a priority: energy; manufacturing; food and drink and tourism.

George Beveridge, interim chair of Cumbria LEP, said: “This is the most focussed and coherent piece of engagement with business that we’ve ever seen in the county, and the first time anything of this scale has been produced for Cumbria and codified in this way.”

First published at 11:19, Tuesday, 22 January 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk