BUSINESSES across the county can benefit from free support delivered by Cumbria Tourism, the county’s official Destination Management Organisation.

Whilst lockdown restrictions continue to ease, so has much of the available support, and with business owners looking to recover from months of lost income

Peer Networks is a free national programme designed to support small business owners as they grow and succeed together. Funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the programme offers the opportunity to build a trusted network of like-minded business leaders and work together to overcome challenges, recognise new opportunities and improve long term performance.

Eligible businesses will receive 18 hours of guided peer-to-peer support facilitated by Cumbria Tourism – a fantastic opportunity not only to receive expert advice but also listen to and learn from a wide range of local businesses through collaborative working.

This popular initiative has only a few spaces remaining, and businesses are encouraged to act quickly to secure their space.

The free business support doesn’t end there however, with Cumbria Tourism members invited to two exclusive webinars designed to highlight the myriad opportunities experiential tourism offers.

A growing trend, experiential tourism encourages visitors to fully immerse themselves in the history, landscape and culture of their holiday destination, delving deep through authentic experiences and create lifelong memories.

Visitors are eager to connect with the Lake District, Cumbria and there are many opportunities for the visitor economy to provide truly unique experiences.

Hosted by Unmissable England’s Chris Brant, Cumbria Tourism’s webinars (taking place on the 3rd November and 6th December) will introduce the subject alongside helping attendees discover new opportunities and how to make the most of these to reach new audiences and increase bookings.

With both international and domestic tourists looking to book their 2022 trips now, this is the perfect opportunity to discover how to stand out from the crowd.

This fabulous opportunity is also open to non-members of the DMO for a small fee.

Sue Clarke, Cumbria Tourism Marketing Manager says “We’ve worked hard throughout the pandemic to support businesses at every step, and now is the time to look ahead and start planning to make the most of 2022 and beyond.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how important it is that we work together as a county to share experiences and Peer Networks offers a unique opportunity to form strong connections as we learn together.

“We know that visitor motivations and expectations have changed, and as destinations across the UK welcome back visitors it’s vital that Cumbria continues to remain at the cutting edge. Experiential tourism doesn’t just offer the chance to truly experience and understand Cumbria and its people, it’s also a fantastic opportunity for businesses to easily add new revenue streams to their existing services.” Businesses can learn more and register for Peer Networks at www.cumbriatourism.org/peer-networks and reserve their space on upcoming webinars at www.cumbriatourism.org/events.