Cumbria hosts a dynamic and diverse economy, home to some major employers with global reach, from
GSK in pharmaceuticals to Pirelli in the automotive industry.
The presence of businesses playing a leading role in high-tech fields like energy, nuclear and advanced
manufacturing not only ensures job creation and safeguarding, but also offers a range of business
opportunities to SMEs in the county.
There are also numerous sectors which capitalise on the county’s geography, like logistics, food production,
farming and forestry, plus our globally recognised tourism offer.
These strengths attract major industries and investment, from large household names to dynamic small and
medium-sized businesses, many of which form our manufacturing supply chain and drive innovation.
Supply chain development is a major contributor towards achieving greater and faster advanced
manufacturing growth, an identified priority in the strategic economic plan for Cumbria.
Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership is aiming to deliver a cross-sector supply chain management
programme to ensure that local businesses win more contracts and are supported to diversify and grow.
In doing so, we need to provide appropriate support and infrastructure to encourage innovation, align the
needs of our SMEs with sectors of growth, and work with partners and major businesses to encourage
investment.
In the engineering field, for example, delivering schemes like Barrow Waterfront maximises supply chain
opportunities. Adjacent to the site, BAE Systems supports a highly technical supply chain which is
contributing to its submarine design and build programme.
Securing development funding for priority employment sites like Lillyhall, Whitehaven Commercial Park,
Leconfield and West Lakes Science Park directly supports the nuclear and energy sector and assists supply
chain businesses.
The low carbon energy sector is another area which has enormous potential. Cumbria is already leading the
way in off-shore wind energy production with the DONG Energy Walney Wind Farm.
The proposals for a new nuclear power plant at Moorside present an opportunity to deliver both high-value
jobs and supply chains.
These schemes have considerable investment value and can support high skill supply chains linked to
component manufacture or facilities servicing and maintenance.
We are also taking measures to develop the skills of local workforces and supply chains to help both major
business and SMEs increase their productivity. The Skills Investment Plan published by Cumbria LEP
includes proposals to strengthen links between industry and training providers to ensure young people
acquire relevant skills.
Measures will be taken to raise awareness of the opportunities in Cumbria for ambitious graduates,
especially those with the skills to develop careers in science, technology engineering and mathematics. A
successful national college for nuclear skills can put us at the forefront of nuclear and energy excellence.
By 2024, we want to achieve a number of aims. We want existing manufacturers to have continued to
expand, thereby facilitating local supply chain growth and Cumbria’s international reputation.
We want more component parts to be made in Cumbria, with established clusters of supply chain businesses.
And more collaboration between sector based supply chains will ensure that new products and services can
be developed here.
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