Despite a challenging economic year, recent figures from Kingmoor Park Enterprise Zone in Carlisle indicate a 10% rise in the number of businesses starting up and relocating on the zone.
Kingmoor Park is one of Cumbria’s largest business park’s and only Enterprise Zone. It is a designated employment zone with a target to create 3,000 jobs and outline planning consent for 140 acres of further development.
The new businesses are a mix of start-ups and expansions from a variety of different companies, many of which chose the Enterprise Zone to benefit from government set financial incentives including up to five years rates relief and enhanced capital allowances.
Speaking on this, Kingmoor Park Properties Managing Director, Neil McIntyre said: “Whilst we recognise that this has been an incredibly challenging year for many Cumbrian businesses, we are very encouraged to see an increase in the number of businesses choosing Kingmoor Park.
This is especially the case for those companies who began trading on the site in 2020 and is exactly why having Enterprise Zone status is crucial for continued growth.”
Two such businesses that began trading on the Enterprise Zone this year are P&B Motors and B-Spoke Automotive when they moved in to the newly built Unit R on Kingmoor Park Central. Unit R forms part of a development of 19 brand new units that completed in 2019 and was part funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
P&B Motors is a vehicle repair centre which also carries out services and MOTs. The business is owned and Managed by Paul Neaves who said: “I began my business in June this year. I had been thinking about starting up my own motor repairs company for a long time and when I saw the unit on Kingmoor Park, I felt like it was now or never. It hasn’t been easy but I do feel like I made the right decision to do this now. Business is slowly starting to pick up as a lot of my customers have come to me via word of mouth.”
B-Spoke Automotive began trading in January 2020, the business specialises in the installation of bespoke seating, flooring and more in to vans and other vehicles.
Jonny Welden owns and manages the business and when asked about his experience said: “After we got the keys for the unit we couldn’t wait to get going. Then came lockdown and we weren’t certain what the future looked like, we worked throughout and did what we could including building our new offices but the business was noticeably quiet.
“It has been a struggle but I’m pleased that business is picking up again now. Most of our business comes from word of mouth and the location definitely plays a big part. I’m busy most days now which I didn’t think I’d have been saying a few months ago!”
