LEADERS from a host of sectors have gathered to explore and debate Copeland’s future opportunities.
Mike Starkie, Mayor of Copeland, chaired the latest gathering of the Copeland Future Opportunities Group this week, with mining, education and the Northern Powerhouse on the agenda.
Mr Starkie said: “I was delighted to welcome colleagues from around Copeland and beyond to the latest Future Opportunities Group meeting this week.
“I established this group when I became Mayor to get all the key voices from all the major players in our local industry together in one room every two months to share updates and ideas, and to collectively guide the strategic direction of the borough.
“I’m pleased that the feedback from colleagues from all the key players, including our MP and leaders in nuclear, industry, education, health and transport, is that the group is achieving every success.
“I believe that organisations previously worked in silos, doing good work individually, but I firmly believe that we are stronger collectively.
“I was particularly pleased to welcome Henri Murison, from the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, this week, and to hear how the NPP is driving development forward.
“It’s clear to me that Copeland speaking up collectively – with one voice – is the only way we can achieve results.”
Joining Mr Starkie around the table, from his left, are: Dr Jim Gardner, Deputy Head of School of Medicine at UCLan; David Moore, Deputy Mayor of Copeland Council; Steve Smith, Nuclear Projects Manager at Copeland Council; Professor Andy Gale, Director of Industrial Strategy, Professional Development & Skills at the University of Cumbria; John Grainger, Stakeholder Relations Director at Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster; Michael Pemberton, Chief Executive at BEC; Paul Storey, Chief Executive of Gen2; Paul Vallance, Director of Communications and Stakeholder Relations at the NDA; Henri Murison, Director of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership; Trudy Harrison, MP for Copeland; Jamie Reed, Head of Development and Community Relations at Sellafield Ltd; Professor John Fyfe; Steve Morgan, Chair of Calderwood House; Mark Kirkbride; Chief Executive of West Cumbria Mining; Derek Waugh, Operations Director of Jacobs; David Peattie, Chief Executive of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority; Martin Walkingshaw, Executive Director at LLW Repository Ltd; Steve Topping, Executive Director of Orano Projects Ltd; Hazel Blears, Well Whitehaven; Chris Nattress, Principal of Lakes College; Ivan Baldwin, Vice President, Government and New Business for NNL; Pat Graham, Chief Executive of Copeland Council.
Members of the group but not pictured include Andy Crowder (Morgan Sindall), Jo Lappin (Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership), Debbie Francis (Direct Rail Services), Craig Harrop (Northern Rail), Cathy Jackson (UCLan), Paul Foster (Sellafield Ltd) and Andy White (Wood Plc).
