Allerdale Borough Council’s new Facebook group – Allerdale Business Community – has just been launched and more than 80 local businesspeople have already signed-up to be involved.

The closed group is a safe and secure place for businesses to interact and will be used as a community resource where members find out the latest information from the council and partners, but also share ideas and ask for help. Anyone involved in the business community in Allerdale can request to join the group and a direct link can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/976152166208430.

The group is in addition to range of other pieces of support the council has put in place for businesses recently.

A new business-focused email newsletter has also been launched, with the latest information going out to more than 1,700 subscribers each week. To subscribe go to: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKALLERDALE/signup/19007.

Both initiatives were set up by a new council team specifically aimed at helping businesses. With funding from the European Union’s Regional Development Fund, two new temporary posts have been created to support and develop key working relationships with businesses.

The roles have been filled by Ellie Jones, who has recently joined the council as business services co-ordinator, and Laura Boyle as business communications and engagement officer.

The team has worked on other initiatives, including the creation of an online ‘virtual market’, a new business directory, and assisted the licensing, and food and environmental health teams with their efforts to help retail, hospitality and other businesses understand the frequently changing COVID-19 restrictions and other key information on reopening safely.

Cllr Mike Johnson, deputy leader of the council, said:

“As a business owner myself I know first-hand the added pressures businesses have been put under in the last years and I’m acutely aware that these will likely continue into the new year.

“I urge anyone who runs a business, large or small, to join the group and sign-up to the newsletter, so that they can benefit from this work. But these are just the start of our efforts so do look out for new initiatives in coming months.”

The new business support team can be contacted on help@businessallerdale.co.uk.