THE new managing director of a major industrial hub for West Cumbria is set on bringing prosperity to the region by focusing on the area’s strengths in AI, robotics, engineering and manufacturing.

Gary McKeating was appointed as managing director for the Industrial Solutions Hub (iSH), in Cleator Moor, earlier this year on a two-year secondment from Sellafield Ltd, where he was head of community and development.

Throughout his career Gary has worked in inward investment and stakeholder relations for Sellafield Ltd on projects such as the Bus Station business hub and The Edge Coastal Activities Centre, in Whitehaven, and plans to transform the former Whittle's furniture store in the town into a digital and gaming hub.

The iSH Enterprise Campus will be developed at Leconfield Industrial Park with funding from the government’s Towns Fund (£22.5m) and Levelling Up Fund (£20m), alongside support from Sellafield, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Cumberland Council.

Work on the iSH Hub - which will combine work and office space, workshop space and meeting areas - is due to begin at the end of the year, with work on phase two - the construction of workshop space for SMEs of varying sizes - following soon after.

Whitehaven News: Gary out and about in Whitehaven while working for Sellafield Ltd
The Sellafield Centre of Engineering Excellence, which develops robotics, RoVs and other technologies to solve problems at the nuclear site, is already located at the industrial park alongside SMEs such as Forth Engineering.

Gary says his focus is on supporting the growth of business on the site alongside developing its “cluster capability” specialising in robotics and AI, engineering and manufacturing. It will aim to bring together businesses in these sectors, not just from West Cumbria but other parts of the county, to solve technical problems, including on the Sellafield site.

Consultation is under way with businesses to assess the demand for space at the site. Any companies which are potentially interested are being asked to get in touch. This is part of a wider mission to work with local businesses to push the project forward.

“We want to help businesses grow and flourish,” said Gary. “There is a 100-year programme for businesses to go at at Sellafield - if we can help them achieve their goals, then that’s a success for iSH."