Companies from across Cumbria and beyond gathered together at Carlisle Racecourse for a new networking event.

The Cumbria Business Expo, inaugurated on September 22, saw a robust turnout with around 75 exhibitors and over 800 visitors in attendance.

Shout Expo, an organiser renowned for arranging business events across the North West, made its debut in Cumbria.

The event drew backing from Cumberland Council and media partner, Newsquest Cumbria, the publisher of the News and Star and the monthly business publication, in-Cumbria.

Ian Coupe, director of the Shout Network, said he was happy with the mix of businesses which attended the event.

“There’s a really good mix of businesses and there aren’t too many of any one type which is important,” he said.

“It’s about building brand awareness for the businesses that are here and building relationships with all the delegates as well.”

Attendees included Cumbria Health on Call, an organisation trying to widen people's knowledge of what it does.

As well as providing out-of-hours primary care to Cumbrians, it also operates rural practices in locations such as Millom, Alston, Kirkby Stephen, Ambleside, and Glenridding.

Cumbria Health on Call also offers a service that remotely checks on individuals' vital signs via a digital wearable patch synced with the user's smartphone.

This technology enables hospitals to safely discharge patients while still keeping an eye on them remotely, facilitating a freeing up of bed spaces.

Sarah Taylor-Howe, head of business management, says the organisation is moving its head office to Rosehill, Carlisle, complete with clinical spaces which will be available to rent out to partners.

“It’s about who we can connect with and partner with for the future,” she said.

“It’s a really good opportunity to be in a room and talk to like-minded people and educate them about what we do.”

Another participant, The Bid Writing Service from Euxton, was also present.

Specialising in assisting businesses across an array of sectors with various types of tenders, the event served as an excellent opportunity for branching out into new territories, remarked bid writer, Gabrielle Aspinall.

She said: “There is a really mixed bag of businesses here and it’s a really good way for us to branch out into a new area.

“We have a lot of North West clients which we don’t always get to meet face to face because we work remotely. There are a few of our clients here, so it’s nice to put a face to a name.”