By Alan Irving

Published at 11:05, Thursday, 02 August 2012

WEST Cumbrian businesses are set to throw their weight behind the Economic Blueprint designed to transform the area’s fortunes.

Some 200 companies are in Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster (BECBC) and at a meeting tomorrow many of them will be present to hear how they can best support – and benefit – from the Blueprint’s predicted business growth opportunities.

Business Cluster chairman Sean Balmer said: “We’ve been considering what it means for our members, how best to access all of the intellectual property associated with the region’s nuclear expertise and we want to participate in providing and investing in solutions to the challenges facing the industry.”

Welcoming the proactive approach, Britain’s Energy Coast interim chief executive Tom Gilroy pointed out: “If we can harness the energy and ideas of the Cluster’s membership and work in partnership with them in the months and years ahead then we will be superbly positioned to realise the full economic potential of West Cumbria.”

Catherine Eve, of Core Training and Development, will facilitate Friday’s workshop at Energus, Lillyhall, which will also develop BECBC’s response to the wide-ranging Blueprint.

Phil Jardine, the Cluster’s business development director, said: “Catherine will help us to look at everything from future jobs and opportunities, education and skills for young people through to new infrastructure, inward investment and innovation.”

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk