So how can it by May already? Maybe it’s the poor weather we’ve been suffering, but it does feel as if we’re still in the early months of the year when in fact we’re well on our way to halfway through! And how’s it going for your business so far?
It feels like a bit of a cop out, but so often in recent years when I’ve been asked how things are going for businesses I say something like “it’s a mixed bag” or “it’s really weird, a mix of significant problems but with great success stories.”
So I stopped recently to think about whether that was genuinely still the case. And I really think it is.
One example is international trade. Given the Chamber’s role in export documentation, as well as in business support, we engage with lots of exporters regularly.
While undoubtedly Brexit brought new challenges for many and the current focus of the Department for Business and Trade away from smaller exporters doesn’t help, there are businesses all around the county exporting really successfully, and among them a number showing really significant growth.
Cumbria’s certainly making a great range of products that people all around the world are keen to buy, with scope for us to sell even more.
Most businesses we speak with highlight issues around recruitment and retention. Although businesses and others are working hard to address this, it’s a real challenge across the range of sectors. Although it appears we’ve had some boost to our working age population, probably as an outcome of Covid, we still as a county have a significant issue with the size of our workforce.
One of the ways businesses are addressing this is to look at how they can use AI/automation to contribute the bits that don’t really need people and focus staff on the bits that do. This doesn’t always need significant investment.
Looking forward, given the challenges of public finances and with a general election on the horizon, there’s uncertainty about government policy and public spending.
At a local level, our two local authorities are building for the future, and looking to work constructively with each other and other stakeholders moving forward. This bodes really well.
I was delighted recently to meet with Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness Councils and a group of other key stakeholders to explore new and collaborative ways of working together for the benefit of Cumbria. We’re all clear this is a great opportunity to work in partnership to make a real difference.
This is just one example of positive partnership working. It’s clear from our work, with stakeholders, on the Local Skills Improvement Plan that Cumbrian businesses and wider stakeholders can have real impact working together. So while there are challenges and uncertainty the future looks positive.
