“The Lake District being awarded World Heritage Site status is an opportunity for business and prosperity.”
This is the message from Andy Jackson, Managing Director of H&H Reeds Printers, who maintains that this will give inspiration to countless local businesses to grow and develop, and he sees it as a great opportunity.
“This will be of benefit to us all,” says Andy, whose Penrith-based firm serves customers across the area.
The announcement from UNESCO that the Lake District is awarded World Heritage Site status, along with the Taj Mahal and the Grand Canyon, sets an international seal of recognition. This reflects its inspirational landscapes, its history and traditions. The area has fought for over 30 years to gain this recognition, and now achieved Andy believes this sets new goals for local businesses of all kinds.
H&H Reeds Printers is one of Penrith’s leading businesses and is part of the H&H Group PLC, one of Cumbria’s leading organisations. Established in 1878, it employs over 40 people and is the foremost provider of print to the tourism industry within Cumbria.
Andy adds: “We are seeing business going from strength to strength and, like so many others across Cumbria, tourism is the largest sector of our business. This recognition really is an enormous boost for visitors to the area.
“For us as a company this gives us further confidence to grow and build on our foundations, and additionally gives greater assurance for our staff in terms of job security.”
He describes how tourism providers at all levels across Cumbria, from activity providers to bed and breakfasts, hotels, teashops and attractions, have all been given not only a boost, but should also see their future cemented.
Andy believes that to ensure we benefit from this status, and protect the area in terms of sustainability, he hopes to see commitment for improved infrastructure across the board, whether it be bus routes, cycle routes or the roads themselves.
“There is so much more to do in this World Heritage Site area than just visiting one of the major towns or walking the nearest fell, so we all need to work together to ensure that the Lake District becomes recognised and used as an all-encompassing year-round tourism destination.
“We want visitors to enjoy not just the key attractions, but the people and the places, really getting under the skin of the Lake District.”
Andy is keen to highlight that this involves special recognition, and a key role, for the farmers whose work creates and maintains the landscape.
He adds: “From an H&H Group perspective, agriculture and rural farm and land management is a very important part of our business. This status recognises the role of our Lakeland farmers who strive to maintain the countryside, its way of life and traditions for people to learn from and enjoy.
“Here at H&H Reeds Printers, along with all of our staff, we feel we are at the heart of this new and exciting achievement for the Lake District. We work closely in our local communities, support charitable organisations such as the Calvert Trust and sponsor the Cumbria Tourism Awards. Looking forward I do very much hope that across Cumbria everyone will embrace this new recognition, work together to grow and grasp the opportunities to ensure that the Lake District becomes a year round sustainable destination at all levels.”
