Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership’s vision is to create one of the fastest growing economies in the UK, in an energised and healthy environment.

The Strategic Economic Plan devised for the county sets out how Cumbria can deliver jobs, business growth, improved skills, new infrastructure, housing and a range of other economic benefits between now and 2024. Its priorities are advanced manufacturing growth, nuclear and energy excellence, a vibrant rural and visitor economy and the strategic connectivity of the M6 corridor.

The LEP has previously secured £47.7m from the first two Growth Deal funding rounds, which is now being invested in key projects to boost the economy across the county.

These Growth Deal programmes overseen by the LEP up to 2021 are set to deliver many benefits for Cumbria, including 7,300 jobs and an additional £29.6m in private sector investment. They will also help the county to refurbish 275,651sq metres of business premises, create over 3,800 learning opportunities and bring superfast broadband access to over 5,900 additional premises.

Cumbria LEP and its partners have delivered some major projects in recent months, including site servicing of Durranhill in Carlisle, early site development work at Barrow Waterfront, a specialist power line engineer training academy at Newton Rigg near Penrith and new STEM labs at the University of Cumbria in Carlisle.

These investments are vital mechanisms for ensuring the county can accelerate business growth, improve key infrastructure and increase employment and skills capacity. Additional superfast broadband capabilities and a range of highways and cycling improvements are also in the process of being delivered.

The launch of the Skills Investment Plan for the county in February 2016 was another key milestone, with the aim of improving skills levels, increasing the county’s workforce and assisting employers.

Drawn up in consultation with employers and local colleges, the plan has set a range of targets to be achieved by 2020, including increasing the number of apprenticeships within the county from 5,000 to 6,000 per year and increasing the number of working age people with HND level qualifications by 9,000 within the next 5 years. Another target is to increase the numbers of people in employment by at least 6,000 by 2020. Carlisle College is now leading a programme of funded training opportunities focusing on workforce development within SMEs. The £8.5m project is being funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) via the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) and Cumbria LEP.

Cumbria LEP also awarded grants worth over £4m to a wide range of different organisations across the county through Regional Growth Funding, allowing more than 40 Cumbrian firms to expand premises and develop their respective businesses.

In June, Cumbria LEP launched a far-reaching plan to improve the area’s transport and communications networks and help accelerate economic growth.

The Cumbria Infrastructure Plan aims to maximise the benefits to the county of the large scale projects planned in Cumbria over the next 15 years, such as the Moorside nuclear new build, the BAE Systems ‘Successor’ programme and the decommissioning activity at Sellafield.

The transport proposals in the plan aim to allow the efficient and sustainable movement of people, goods, materials and plant, improving journey speeds, capacity and reliability.

Proposed improvements to the rail network include a package of measures to enhance the Cumbrian Coastal railway between Carlisle and Carnforth. There are also plans for the county’s ports and Carlisle Airport, which will increase both passenger and freight capabilities. Wider 4G and broadband connectivity will upgrade existing communications networks for greater efficiency and accessibility.

The West of M6 Strategic Connectivity Study was published by Cumbria LEP and Highways England after consultation with a wide range of local businesses, organisations and road users.

It identified 38 priority road improvement schemes which need to be carried out for the county to fulfil its economic potential. It provides the evidence base to support the county in its bids for government funding for road improvements. The study won the 2016 Project of the Year accolade at the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) North East and Cumbria awards.