Miranda Kirschel, who set up and led the Women in Nuclear UK initiative and received an MBE for service to equal opportunities in the nuclear industry, has joined iSH (Industrial Solutions Hub) as a regional representative.

Miranda, who was also Head of European Business Development for Atkins, an Executive with EY, and Head of Business and Innovation with Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, says she is excited to be joining iSH, which aims to transform communities across West Cumbria through employment opportunities which increase the region’s capability.

Miranda, who lives in West Cumbria, says: “I am excited by the opportunity to be part of a regeneration programme which is supported by Government and key stakeholders in Cumbria and to have the opportunity to help put West Cumbria on the map for business, innovation and technology.

“iSH will engender collaboration and innovation, production of technology and manufacturing. We will be creating jobs, helping with training and skills and raising visibility of the capability in the region, nationally and internationally.

“It is my job to join the dots, to bring businesses and stakeholders together to enable programmes to happen which will promote the capability of West Cumbria and attract inward investment. This will lead to more diversity and less dependency on one sector and one client for the long-term benefit of the region.”

John Maddison, iSH Managing Director, says: “We are delighted to have attracted a candidate of Miranda’s calibre and are very excited about what she will achieve with the iSH team as our regional representative through collaborating with a broad range of businesses and organisations locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.”

Earlier this year £20m of Levelling Up Fund investment was awarded by government to Copeland Borough Council for the iSH Enterprise Campus, to fund phase two of redevelopment at Leconfield, Cleator Moor.

iSH is also supported in its activity by funding from Cleator Moor Town Deal Board which, working with Copeland Borough Council, secured a provisional offer of £22.5 million from the Government’s £3.6 billion Towns Fund initiative last year.

As well as being supported by Copeland Borough Council, iSH is also backed by Sellafield Ltd, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership.