Useful Business Links

• ACAS
  Offers support to improve employment relations for employers and employees.
• Business Volunteer Mentoring Service
  A free service for Cumbria's fledging businesses providing access to experienced business people.
• Centre for Regional Economic Development (CRED)
  Academic and commercial research relating to economic development.
• Citizens Advice in Cumbria
  Helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free information and advice.
• Comet
  Support established and emergent Outdoor Learning and Tourism based operations in Cumbria.
• Connexions Cumbria
  Help and advice for 13-19 year olds plus jobs, training and more.
• Cumbria Business Environment Network
  Free environmental advice, audits and awards to help businesses.
• Cumbria CBEC
  Helps link schools and businesses together for mutual benefit.
• Cumbria Community Foundation
  Provides grants to local charities and manage grant-making funds on behalf of individuals and organisations.
• Cumbria Cultural Skills Partnership
  Developing and promoting continuous professional development, skills and training for Cumbria's cultural sector and creative industries.
• Cumbria Fells and Dales Programme
  Provide help and financial support to farmers and local producers to regenerate rural areas of Cumbria.
• Cumbria Learning Links
  Serve all organisations in order that they can meet their training and learning needs.
• Cumbrian Web Directory
  A listing of community based websites.
• Cumbria on the Internet
  Provides a variety of information on businesses in Cumbria.
• Cumbria Social Enterprise Partnership
  Provide training grants to build skills and knowledge within social enterprises.
• Cumbria Strategic Partnership
  Instrumental role in bring together partners in developing the Local Area Agreement for Cumbria.
• Cumbria Vision
  An organisation coordinating regeneration in Cumbria.
• Cumbria Youth Alliance
  A key sign-posting organisation for young people, workers, organisations, parents and carers.
• Cybermoor
  A community enterprise project based in Alston.
• Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR)
  BERR helps ensure business success in an increasingly competitive world.
• Direct-Gov
  On-line access to public services.
• Cumbria Action for Sustainability (CAfS)
  Promote sustainable development across Cumbria.
• Environment Agency
  The leading public body for protecting and improving the environment.
• Environment 4 Business
  A one-stop shop for Cumbrian businesses looking to improve environmental performance.
• HM Revenues and Customs
  Help with tax for individuals and businesses.
• Insurance4Business
  Provides information for small businesses wishing to learn more about business insurance and provides udeful inforamtion about the types of cover available.
• Invest In Cumbria
  Provides an introduction to Cumbria as a great location for expanding or relocating to the area.
• Learn Direct
  Provides access to a wide variety of training courses.
• Learning and Skills Council
  Responsible for planning and funding high-quality vocational education and training for young people and adults.
• Made in Cumbria
  Provides practical business services and sales opportunities for Cumbrian craft, giftware and food producers.
• Manufacturing Institute
  Provide free diagnostic visits and subsidised project support to help advance manufacture performance.
• National Federation of Enterprise Agencies
  Offer free professional advice for small businesses.
• Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA)
  Leads the economic development and regeneration of England's Northwest.
• Penrith Chamber of Trade
  Commercial and professional members representing combined interests in the community.
• Project Access
  Support the uptake of broadband in Cumbria by offering free free impartial advice.
• Resource Cumbria
  Advice and information about recycling in Cumbria.
• Rural Women's Network
  Help women in Cumbria realise their full potential through business support and the development of personal and workplace skills.
• Voluntary Action Cumbria
  Works with people and communities to improve the quality of life in rural Cumbria.
• Young Cumbria
  Support the role of young people in the voluntary sector.
• Young Enterprise
  Provide young people with the opportunity to gain personal experience of how business works.