02 December 2009
NWDA to invest in temporary business units in Cockermouth
The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), today
confirmed that it will invest £100,000 into temporary trading units
for SME’s affected by the flooding in Cockermouth.
The NWDA has offered the support funding to Mitchells Auction
Company in Cockermouth to provide 14 new temporary units in their
warehouse on Lorton Street. The company has already provided 12
units to local businesses and the support from the NWDA will go
directly to funding the fit-out and development work required to
make the premises fit for up to a further 14 businesses.
The need for more temporary units and the solution came about
following the visit to Cumbria by Ian Haythornthwaite, Director of
Resources for the NWDA on 24th November. The visit organised by the
Cumbria Chamber of Commerce & Industry, included a visit to
James Walker Ltd in Cockermouth, followed by a visit to Jennings
Brewery and then on to a local small business. The need for the
units and suitable locations was discussed and a solution
identified immediately.
The funding forms part of the £1m response package of support
announced by the NWDA on 23rd November. The NWDA has set aside up
to £1m which will be invested in the areas most affected by the
flood damage, and includes: £50k Cumbria Community Foundation;
£100k Cockermouth temporary trading units; with the remainder set
aside for Flood Recovery Grants.
In addition the NWDA will invest some of its existing core
funding into further complementary marketing which will push the
message that ‘Cumbria is open for business’, later this
week.
Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of the NWDA said: “In addition
to our funding support, we are helping to develop creative
solutions to support businesses in badly affected areas to get back
on their feet and trading again.
“What is equally important now is to make sure people realise it
is business as usual in many parts of Cumbria. Tourism, in
particular, has been badly hit by media coverage of the recent
flooding. We need to address the concerns of many small
businesses and make sure people realise it is business as usual in
Cumbria, and the majority of Cumbrian business are open and trading
as normal as we approach the busy festive period.”
Businesses affected by the recent flooding in Cumbria should
contact Business Link Northwest on 0845 00 66 888.