Allerdale Borough Council is working to establish new chamber of trade-style business forums across the area, with the initial focus being on setting up groups in Workington, Wigton and the northern part of the Solway Coast. 

Following an initial call for businesses to come forward, the council has received sufficient interest to take the idea forward. 

The first meeting of the Workington group will take place on February 11 at 2pm and the Wigton group will host an initial meeting on February 12 at 2pm. Any businesses who’ve not already got in touch with the council about the groups should contact toni.magean@allerdale.gov.uk to register to be part of the meetings.   

Once established, the new groups will be independent of the council, will be chaired from someone within that local business community and focus on representing the concerns of firms, providing a networking forum, developing joint initiatives, supporting recovery from Covid-19 and working with other organisations such as the council.

A total of £1,000 will be available for each group to help it get established, for example to develop a website and deliver promotional initiatives.

Cllr Mike Johnson, the council’s Deputy Leader and Executive member for economic growth, community development and placemaking, said:

“We’d like to thank all those businesses who’ve already come forward to express an interest in joining these news groups. We hope that once they are established they will be great voices for our local businesses and help support recovery from the pandemic and growth going forward.”

A first meeting of the northern Solway Coast group took place last month. Those in the area (north of Allonby) should contact Joe Broomfield, the council’s tourism development manager, on joe.broomfield@allerdale.gov.uk to find out more. 

The council has already worked to help establish a similar group in Maryport in recent times.