News and Views

Businesses in Cumbria are being offered the opportunity to benefit from three free, bespoke advice and support schemes, which are designed to support recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and to help businesses navigate the changes that have happened as a result of leaving the EU.

Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (CLEP) has been running these programmes to support local businesses, with all three of these programmes scheduled to end by March 31.

CLEP is therefore encouraging businesses to take up these opportunities whilst they are still available.

The offer of dedicated, free one-to-one support, funded by either Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) or the Department of International Trade (DIT), provides the following options to businesses:

• Up to three hours expert accountancy and legal support to the county’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), alongside more general advice on how businesses can prepare to survive and thrive during 2021. CLEP provides this service hand-in-hand with local professional service businesses and other business advisory organisations to ensure that the package meets the need of business.
• Guidance on doing business following the end of the EU Transition period, so that businesses can continue to effectively trade. Advice provided will help keep business moving and avoid any unnecessary interruptions. CLEP’s Transition Team is able to provide guidance, answer questions and address any issues following EU exit.
• Assistance from a DIT Advisor to help businesses export and grow into global markets. Guidance can be offered on helping businesses create an export plan, find an export market, choose a route to market, get export finance, manage payment for export orders, prepare businesses to do business in a foreign country and help with procedures and logistics to sell services overseas, amongst other issues.

CLEP Chief Executive, Jo Lappin, said: “Last year was a year unlike any other. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was felt locally, nationally and globally, and as 2021 unfolds, we want all of our businesses to know that we are here for them, whatever type of support they need.

“Despite unprecedented challenges, we have seen businesses, communities and Cumbria as a whole pull together to support each other. We recognise that there is still a way to go to see the economy return to pre-pandemic levels, but for many of our businesses that journey has already started.

“CLEP and its partners are already delivering ‘Restart, Reboot, Rethink – A Plan for Cumbria’s Economic Recovery’, which is designed to make sure our economy moves beyond the pandemic in 2021.

“We are therefore focusing our support and help specifically on SME businesses with 250 employees or less, which account for a large percentage of Cumbrian businesses.

“We can help guide businesses to the appropriate agencies to access funding. In addition, our experts can provide businesses with bespoke advice on any issues that they might be facing.

“This support is available until March 31 2021, and as such it provides an excellent opportunity for our businesses to prepare for the 2021/22 financial year.”

If one, two or all three of these support services are of interest to you and your business, please email info@thecumbrialep.co.uk to discuss how we can support you with one of our expert advisers in absolute confidence.