A LEADING Cumbria business organisation has expanded its support for members as they get on to the road to recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster has organised extra online events and workshops after its board and shadow board of young professionals spoke to business leaders to talk about the issues their industries were facing.

John Grainger, executive director of Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster, said: “From the get-go we have actually increased our member contact via a number of e-events utilising the Zoom platform.

“This has been very well received as we provided a mixture of events with professionals sharing their expertise and experience on a pro bono basis.

“We continue to do this and offer appropriate topic areas, provide space for members to share their own experience through online meetings and social chat sessions.

“This has allowed us also to cater for lone workers, helping these not to become ‘lonely workers’.

“This fits well into our ethos of ‘nobody left behind’, something that we are determined to promote and sustain as we move towards a more general return to work within the new normal regime.”

Member Joanne Chambers, of Lakeland Capabilities, said: “I have found the business cluster’s response to the Covid-19 crisis to be really valuable for my business.

“The support that has been offered for cluster members and the range of events offered to include members has been really valuable during a difficult time.”

Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster said it was continuing to work with councils, business organisations and representatives from other sectors to ensure that the views of its members and their experiences are shared and elevated as much as possible to decision makers in Government.

Mr Grainger added: “It is important that this collegiate response, led by Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, focuses on not just the lives of people in our community, which of course is paramount, but also the effect on their livelihoods as we progress out of the pandemic.”