Northern Lights: Listen to our new podcast

Get your business news on the go with our new podcast.

Northern Lights has been launched by our sister site Business Crack, and is produced and presented by Nigel Thompson.

Nigel is at the helm of Business Crack and said: “From brewers to hoteliers, bed makers to perfumery manufacturers, I’ve been able to meet those working in all kinds of sectors at first hand.

“People are often surprised to hear that world-leading technology and innovation is happening in Cumbria alongside traditional crafts and top quality service.

“It’s a privilege to hear from those involved and Northern Lights will mean more people than ever will get a sense of the drive, commitment and passion that makes businesses here some of the best in the world.”

Business Crack is proud to host news stories alongside our original journalism, which includes video and audio as standard.

And with the popularity of podcasts rising, we have decided to invest in the creation of a podcast exclusively for Cumbria which not only highlights some of our stories but also includes a guest presenter from Cumbria’s business community.

Northern Lights will be a regular, pacey summary of some of the stories that have featured in Business Crack as well as offering an insight from experts in their field.

Dianne Richardson, chief executive of Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster, joins us for the first edition with other leaders already lined up for future episodes.

Nigel and Dianne talk about Cumbria’s place on the national and international stage and focus on three Cumbrian business stories:

Cumbria tailor Tom Mahon’s expertise recognised

On the main street in Wigton is a business that is quietly making a name for Cumberland all over the world.

In suits worn to work, weddings and even coronations, a little piece of the county can be seen discretely sewn inside.

Redmayne 1860 is a well established name in the world of high class tailoring.

For Tom Mahon, head cutter, the brand is a way of life.

The nothing to waste ambition of Lake District fat washed whisky pioneers

To the purist, whisky should only be served with more whisky; even water is viewed with suspicion by some.

So the developers of a new take on the traditional dram are keen to see what reaction there is to their version of ‘the water of life.’

The Yan at Broadrayne near Grasmere is an award-winning bistro based in a converted sheep farm in buildings dating from the 17^th century.

It’s run by a family who believe strongly in sourcing products as locally as possible and working as sustainably as practicable.

The business employs biomass and hydro schemes as well as growing vegetables, recycling and composting.

Now the restaurant hope to taste success in a new area using fat from some of the dozen or so shoulders of Herdwick lamb cooked each week.

Sir Keir Starmer’s visit to Barrow

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s recent visit to Barrow for the keel laying of the first of the UK’s new Dreadnought submarines at the BAE Systems’ Barrow shipyard.

Sir Keir said: “It’s an honour to be in Barrow to lay the keel for the next generation of nuclear-armed submarines. These boats will protect our people and Allies from the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life for future generations.”