Allerdale Borough Council recently helped to establish a business forum for Maryport and is now considering helping to establish similar groups in Wigton, Workington and the Solway Coast area north of Allonby.  

The council will take forward this idea if there is enough interest from local businesses and are asking those interested to get in touch.

The new groups would 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 Allerdale Borough 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:

“Groups such as Cockermouth Chamber of Trade and Keswick Tourism Association are well established business organisations that help articulate the views of local businesses and coordinate promotional activity on a local basis. 

“We have worked closely with these groups on a number of projects and initiatives in the past and we are looking to help replicate this in other areas of Allerdale.  

“We appreciate that there are other business member organisations out there, for example Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Small Businesses and Cumbria Tourism, and these groups play an important role in supporting businesses however, this initiative is about local issues and improving joint working.” 

Anyone interested businesses in Wigton and Workington should contact Toni Magean, the council’s Business Engagement Manager, on toni.magean@allerdale.gov.uk.

Those in the northern Solway Coast area should contact Joe Broomfield, Tourism Development Manager, on joe.broomfield@allerdale.gov.uk.

Businesses in other areas of Allerdale, where local business forums are already established, are also welcome to get in touch with the council to obtain the relevant contact details