A co-founder of a trailblazing initiative brings her far-reaching experience and innovative thinking to an organisation aiming to create more than 700 jobs.
Miranda Kirschel, who set up and led the Women in Nuclear UK initiative and received an MBE for service to equal opportunities in the nuclear industry, has joined Industrial Solutions Hub as regional representative.
Earlier this year £20m of Levelling Up Fund investment was awarded by the Government to Copeland Borough Council for the iSH Enterprise Campus, to fund phase two of redevelopment at Leconfield, Cleator Moor.
iSH is also supported in its activity by funding from Cleator Moor Town Deal Board which, working with Copeland Borough Council, secured a provisional offer of £22.5 million from the Government’s £3.6 billion Towns Fund initiative last year.
As well as being supported by Copeland Borough Council, iSH is also backed by Sellafield Ltd, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership.
It aims to enable businesses in the region to collaborate and work with other specialist companies from around the UK and the rest of the world on delivering solutions to industry challenges which can then be exported around the globe, helping organisations expand and create further job opportunities.
Miranda was also head of European business development for Atkins, an executive with EY, and head of business and innovation with Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership.
Miranda, who lives in West Cumbria, said: “I am excited by the opportunity to be part of a regeneration programme which is supported by Government and key stakeholders in Cumbria and to have the opportunity to help put West Cumbria on the map for business, innovation and technology.
“iSH will engender collaboration and innovation, production of technology and manufacturing. We will be creating jobs, helping with training and skills and raising visibility of the capability in the region, nationally and internationally.
“It is my job to join the dots, to bring businesses and stakeholders together to enable programmes to happen which will promote the capability of West Cumbria and attract inward investment. This will lead to more diversity and less dependency on one sector and one client for the long-term benefit of the region.”
iSH aims for opportunities it creates to be open to all so its programme positively impacts on society, from the businesses and organisations who collaborate on opportunities, to the way it improves people’s lives across communities.
Miranda will be a strong advocate for delivering on that mission. “A lot of people out there have a lot to offer. We need to be more open about how we talk about capability and see a person for their strengths and what they can do, not focus on what they can’t do.”
John Maddison, iSH managing director, said: “We are delighted to have attracted a candidate of Miranda’s calibre and are very excited about what she will achieve with the iSH team as our regional representative through collaborating with a broad range of businesses and organisations locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
“Miranda brings skills and expertise which immediately add to iSH’s capability and, equally importantly, she shares the values and ethos which are so important to all the team at iSH in terms of what, why and how we are delivering for the region of West Cumbria, including for the area’s people, communities and the environment.
“We have already identified lots of exciting opportunities to collaborate with businesses, industry, research and development organisations, academia, communities, and stakeholders which will help increase the region’s capability and deliver on iSH’s mission.
“I am delighted that, as Regional Representative, Miranda will be helping to bring those opportunities to fruition.”
