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Live, Work and Invest in Cumbria

Your Future, in Cumbria
#HeartOfTheUK

Thank you for finding out a bit more about the opportunities and employment Cumbria has to offer. We think our county is the best place to live and work. But don’t take our work for it. Check out the case studies of people who’ve moved here from all over the UK and why they did it.

You can also find out more about how the county might work for you and your family below.


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Live

The world-famous landscape, the warmth of the people and the strong sense of place, mean this unique, heart of the UK inspires a lasting affection amongst visitors and residents alike. But it’s the unbeatable quality of life that brings people here, keeps them coming back and invites them – and you – to stay. Now, more than ever, is an opportunity to think about a new way of life.

Photograph of Cumbria countryside with trees, hills and a serene lake.

Time and again the county comes top of the league in surveys looking at Britain's best places to live. Other research shows that Cumbrians tend to be proud of where they live and pleased that it is one of the safest, most crime-free parts of Britain. What’s more, its GP practices have the country’s highest levels of patient satisfaction.

With house prices being amongst the most competitive in the UK, Cumbria has homes to suit all needs and budgets. Whether you are looking for a modern home with all the conveniences in a town or the City of Carlisle, or a cosy country cottage in a rural idyll, there is somewhere for you and your loved ones.

We have many Cumbrian estate agents with homes for sale or rent. Visit some of them: HERE.

High-quality schools, colleges and universities, make Cumbria the perfect choice for family life. Lakes, Carlisle, Kendal and Furness College are highly regarded, working closely with local employers to provide specialist vocational programmes, whilst the University of Cumbria has outstanding employability prospects with nine out of ten students in employment or further study six months after graduating.

You can find out more about our selection of public and private schools, colleges and trusts by searching under our two local authority areas (Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council) here: https://www.find-school-performance-data.service.gov.uk/

Cumbrians enjoy a strong of sense of community, they live in a beautiful, vibrant place and enjoy a thriving social and cultural scene that blends the county's rich history with a vibrant and forward-looking attitude. There’s events and festivals all year round, as well as cinemas, Michelin-starred restaurants, cosy pubs and relaxing spas... you could say it’s a bit like a holiday every day.

Find out more about what’s on and activities here: https://www.visitcumbria.com

Photo of lively music festival with music stage and audience

Photo of two white cottages

The Lake District is the UK’s most visited National Park and is now a World Heritage Site. Its status, together with large parts of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site and three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, means Cumbria has the most extensive coverage of protected landscapes in England.

The county has a wealth of habitats and wildlife, and a mosaic of mountains, coastline, wetlands, rivers, lakes and woodlands. Its low population density means there is space and clean air to breathe and dark skies, and Cumbria’s landscape provides the environment for outdoor adventure activities in a natural playground including hill walking, rock and ice climbing, water sports and mountain biking.

But Cumbria is not just rural. Cumbria is a modern, exciting and connected place. It is only a short journey from the major cities – within a couple of hours to most by rail – and is linked to the rest of the country by the M6, to Scotland via the M74/75 and to Newcastle upon Tyne by the A69. So you’re never far away from the other places and people that matter to you.

Plan your journey here: https://www.traveline.info/

Employment & Work Experience

Cumbria is a big county with big opportunities for those who live and work here. Nowhere in Britain is more diverse and beguiling than Cumbria and, in the modern world, nowhere offers a better opportunity to truly achieve the perfect work-life balance.

For some people, flexible hours and remote working using digital technology, has allowed them to continue working and contributing to their business. Working in this way provides greater freedom as to where people can live and work going forward, as they are no longer tied to living close to their business location. It’s therefore understandable that some people are looking for a different way of life post-COVID 19, and where better to do so than Cumbria?

For those looking for a new position, Cumbria has so much to offer. The county’s natural assets and strategic resources play an important national role, providing critical capacity that supports industries, tourism, and helps feed the nation. Cumbria’s economy is generally poly-centric and is at the forefront of the transition to a post-carbon economy, with world-class nuclear expertise and one of the world’s largest operational offshore wind farms, generating 20% of the UK’s offshore output.

Photograph of a busy aerospace construction hanger with aeroplane shell

The region showcases a high concentration of advanced manufacturing (22% of economic output which is well over twice the national share), alongside the second most-visited tourism destination in the country, The Lake District National Park, hosting 47 million visits per annum. The county also plays a crucial role in food supply with its significant land-based and farming activity, including the country’s largest sheep flock.

These industries, as well as other Key Sectors including Health and Social Care, Creative and Cultural, Construction, Logistics and Professional Services, offer an unparalleled opportunity to start or build your career. Interested? .Gov.uk's 'Find a job' service, or explore current vacancies by searching the many online job sites.

The most heavily concentrated Places in terms of population and industry are Carlisle, Kendal, the western coast (Maryport, Workington, Whitehaven) and Barrow-in-Furness, however, opportunities are plentiful county-wide.

Investment Opportunities

Cumbria has a thriving business environment where you can establish or grow your company. A wide range of businesses are based here, including word-leading businesses and household names who sit shoulder-to-shoulder with innovative, smaller enterprises. This entrepreneurial business spirit is reflected in the number of new start-ups each year.

There are great opportunities for new and established companies to succeed in Cumbria, as a well-connected strategic investment location in the North West of England which caters for a wide range of industry sectors and sizes of organisation.

The region offers an unparalleled opportunity to take advantage of Cumbria’s vibrant existing logistics hub as well as growing advanced manufacturing base, and outstanding reputation as a centre for excellence in the energy, nuclear and power generation sector.

Cumbria has excellent road links and motorway access as well as rail connectivity, most notably via the West Coast Mainline, which is a key transport route for Britain’s Energy Coast in Cumbria and other businesses, with a direct route to London in 2 hours 30 minutes. Multiple ports are also located within the county, including Silloth, Workington, Barrow, and Newcastle and Teesside ports are within easy reach outside of the county. There is also direct sea access to Ireland from Stranraer and Liverpool.

Photo of a high-speed train in motion

Aerial photograph of Kingmoor Park Enterprise Zone in Carlisle

Cumbria’s businesses, large and small, continue to invest in growth and to improve their competitiveness, opening up extra supply chain opportunities and allowing further improvements to connectivity to and within Cumbria.These include improvement to road/rail interchanges and ongoing development of plans for a proposed southern relief road around Carlisle.

Furthermore, Carlisle’s Kingmoor Park Enterprise Zone celebrated a 13% rise in employment numbers in 2019 – an increase in jobs from 2,000 to almost 2,300 – as more businesses re-locate to the site whilst others grow their workforce numbers.

This is only a brief glimpse of what Cumbria is all about, of what it's like to live, work and invest here. To get a real taste of this beautiful, interesting and bustling county, you'll really have to come and experience it for yourself.

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Contact Us

If you’re interested in living, working or investing in Cumbria and would like specific guidance and advice, please email info@thecumbrialep.co.uk

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