Cumbrian businesses are being encouraged to apply for next year’s instalment of the Queen’s Award after the success of a firm in the county this time around. Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership is encouraging local firms to apply for the 2022 Queen’s Award for Enterprise after it was announced last week.
Restart Grants Scheme
The £5 billion New Restart Grants Scheme offers businesses in the non-essential retail sector in England, one-off grants of up to £6,000.
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Businesses in the hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym sectors will be eligible for one-off grants of up to £18,000 on reopening. The £5 billion of government funding available through Restart Grants will be delivered by local authorities.
Additional Restrictions Grant
This is coupled with £425 million of top-up funding for the ongoing Additional Restrictions Grant scheme for businesses in urgent need of additional support.
This is delivered by local councils but is also available to businesses, which don’t necessarily pay business rates like tour operators, B&Bs, caterers, freelancers and wedding service providers.
Advice for firms wanting to boost international trade
Sarah Peak
Cumbrian businesses which want to export their products and services internationally can access free advice and training.
Available support includes The Export Academy â a free training programme across 10 one-hour sessions to help small and micro businesses understand all they need to know about selling internationally.
Sarah Peak, Cumbriaâs export manager who works for the Department for International Trade with Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, said small and medium-sized enterprises could take advantage of the resources.
She said: âIâm delighted to see that this innovative partnership between Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership and the Department of International Trade North West continues to flourish.
RESIDENTS are running out of time to have their say on Cumbria s Covid recovery plan. The county s Strategic Recovery Coordination Group (SRCG) is reminding people that the consultation to gather feedback on the draft recovery strategy closes on Sunday.] With organisations across the county decimated by Covid, it is belueved a plan is essential for a succesful recovery. The SRCG is a partnership of organisations and authorities including the county council, district councils, Cumbria Police, NHS, Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, Cumbria Council for Voluntary Service, Cumbria Community Foundation, and others. The group is seeking the views of local people on their strategy to inform the final version of the document, which will be published in Summer.
Maryport caravan park triples pitches in time for staycation boom
Pauline Gorley
A West Cumbrian caravan park has invested in new accommodation after it was deluged with requests from holidaymakers.
Harbour Side Caravan Site, in Maryport, has introduced three new camping pods and almost tripled its number of pitches for the 2021 season.
Pauline Gorley, general manager of Maryport Harbour and Marina, which owns and operates the caravan park, said: âWe realised there was potential for more caravan and motorhome pitches, as well as the new camping pods, because we had so many enquiries from visitors who wanted to stay here.”