Published: 15/03/2022
BUSINESSES across Copeland will come together at the Mayor’s third Open For Business Conference next week.
The event, sponsored by Sellafield Ltd, will see two programmes launched, the Industrial Solutions Hub (iSH) and Reboot, as the scene is set for how the borough moves forward in a post Covid 19 world.
This is the council’s final year, Local Government Reorganisation will see Copeland merge with Allerdale, Carlisle and Cumbria County Council services to form Cumberland Council.
Mayor of Copeland, Mike Starkie, said: “This is about how Copeland ends well, this is the legacy we are leaving behind for businesses and our communities as we merge to become Cumberland Council next year.
“iSH will change the fortunes of those living in Cleator Moor and wider Cumbria. The concept is innovative, exciting and will lift the aspirations of those living and working in the town, with the benefits felt much further. It will also attract world class businesses to the area. Its reach will be global.
“Reboot pushes forward the levelling up agenda which we have seen benefit our communities already. With Reboot social impact schemes will be supported by more companies.
“I’ve been proud to serve the people of Copeland for seven years and we are leaving the borough in a strong position and have put the stepping stones in place for the new council to be just as successful, as long as we step up - together.”
John Maddison, programme director for iSH, said: “We are delighted to be officially launching iSH at the Open For Business Conference.
"iSH is about Making Ideas Work. It's about creating the environment for jobs, employment, skills and training opportunities. It's about entrepreneurs, businesses and industry coming together to collaborate and design, develop and manufacture innovative solutions. And most of all, through that success and business growth, it's about making a positive difference to people's lives and regenerating a community.
“It’s very rare you get this chance to bring new opportunities to a place and to make such a positive difference in that place as iSH will do in Copeland and across west Cumbria.”
During the pandemic the council’s social impact team were instrumental in coordinating the community response. Over the past two years their reach has grown, and Reboot has been conceived.
It will see the public and private sector come together to offer real change and opportunities in our borough. Businesses across Copeland, of whatever size, are invited to come together and grow our ability to make real change.
Pat Graham, chief executive of Copeland Borough Council, said: “It has been an ambition of this council for many years to bring the private and public sector together for the good of our communities. We have seen first hand what difference we can make within the community with commitment, support, time and money.
“We are fortune to have some major national and international companies in Copeland and it is our collective ambition and duty to ensure we can build our community to be the best we know it can be. On March 24 we will show businesses how they can join us, if they haven’t already."
