The high quality and capability of West Cumbria’s businesses was on display as the Government’s impressive export hub came to Copeland.
Business leaders and advisers from the Department of International Trade (DIT) discussed the importance of exporting, how to do it, areas to target and the opportunities on offer.
Yesterday’s event was organised by Copeland MP Trudy Harrison and was part of the Government’s ‘Exporting is GREAT’ campaign to encourage local businesses to take advantage of the global appetite for West Cumbria’s products, skills and expertise.
Mrs Harrison said: “This was about connecting our huge capability with worldwide customers. Having the Government’s Department for International Trade here on Westlakes Science and Technology Park meeting with businesses has been brilliant.
“With an estimated £250billion decommissioning market and the £1.2trillion new build market it’s fair to say there’s a world of opportunities that we need to, and can, tap into.”
Speakers included DIT advisers, export champion Peter Thompson, finance representatives, DIT nuclear specialist Michael Lindsay and Rob Johnson, of Cumbria Chamber of Commerce.
A wide number of businesses attended from across West Cumbria and further meetings will now follow on from this event.
Ivan Baldwin, chairman of Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster, was at the meeting. He said: “West Cumbria has world leading expertise in nuclear decommissioning and environmental remediation and the global market is vast. Working together and leveraging the world renowned brand of our very own Sellafield we have a head start on most communities in the world when it comes to exporting and winning business.
“This was a timely reminder that we need to make full use of the network and expertise of our Department for International Trade and find ways to maximise the commercial value of our nuclear legacy.”
