Cumbria Chamber of Commerce Podcast
Business & Finance
About
This is the podcast feed for Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, with business news and updates and information that is relevant to all Cumbrian businesses, whatever their size.
Episodes
- Episode 39: Inspira - How Connect to Work is Changing Lives in Cumbria
Laura Wellington of Inspira explains the Connect to Work programme, designed to assist people in Cumbria in finding employment and building careers. The discussion includes how the initiative benefits both job seekers and businesses, the i…
- Cumbria Business Growth Hub podcast episode 38: New Recycling Laws Are Coming – Is Your Business Ready?
New recycling legislation, "Simpler Recycling," is coming and could impact Cumbria businesses. Cumbria Waste Group discusses the changes, compliance requirements, and potential benefits like cost reduction and improved operations.
- Cumbria Business Growth Hub podcast episode 38: New Recycling Laws Are Coming – Is Your Business Ready?
Cumbria businesses are advised on new Simpler Recycling legislation with input from Cumbria Waste Group. The discussion covers what the changes mean, compliance requirements, and potential cost-saving opportunities.
- Cumbria Business Growth Hub podcast episode 37: Leadership Conference 2026: Human-Centred Leadership for a Changing World
Laura Cadman and Ben Hickman discuss the 2026 Leadership Conference on the Growth Hub podcast, covering vulnerability, failure, listening, burnout, and behaviors for stronger leaders and healthier organizations.
- Cumbria Business Growth Hub podcast episode 36: The Finance Advice Gap: What Cumbrian Businesses Need to Know
This episode addresses the finance advice gap affecting Cumbrian businesses, highlighting the risks of rapid online lending. James Todhunter from Enterprise Answers offers insights into finding trusted, in-person financial support.
- Cumbria Business Growth Hub podcast episode 35: Freedom, Pressure and Purpose: Life as Young Entrepreneur
Behind the highlights and beyond the hype. Join a group of young business owners as they talk candidly about the freedom, pressure and purpose that come with building a business early in life. An honest conversation about belief, balance a…
- Cumbria Business Growth Hub podcast episode 34: An interview with Ian Wilson
This month we are joined by one of our advisers Ian Wilson, Managing Director of IW Process Solutions. To celebrate International Manufacturing Day we talk about Ian's Manufacuring experiences and his vision for the future. Ian Wilson is a…
- Cumbria Business Growth Hub podcast episode 33: The University of Cumbria's new campus in Barrow.
This month we are joined by Matt Ryder the Principal Lecturer at the University of Cumbria. The topic of our conversation is the opening of the new university campus in Barrow. We discuss the different courses that the university will be r…
- Cumbria Business Growth Hub podcast episode 32: Build leadership fitness - LEAD iT for founders and family business leaders
This month we are joined by the Directors of Thomas Jardine and Co. Keith and Jaqui Jackson, who are here to talk about their new leadership programme LEAD iT. A 10-month leadership programme built specifically for founders and family busi…
- Cumbria Business Growth Hub podcast episode 31: Discussing plans for a Carlisle BID with Adrian Lochhead and Kevin Beaty
Businesses in Carlisle will have received information in recent weeks about the Great Border City and plans to establish a Carlisle Business Improvement District (BID). We've invited Adrian Lochhead and Kevin Beaty, who are part of the tea…
- Cumbria Business Growth Hub podcast episode 30: How to take your business global with Martyn Staveley
This month on the podcast, we're joined by Martyn Staveley, Director of Three Peaks Consulting, to discuss all things international trade and to breakdown our new Export Consultancy service. We discuss: Challenges and opportunities for Cum…
- Cumbria Business Growth Hub podcast episode 29: Leadership challenges and how to tackle them with Alec Pearson Coaching
This month on the Cumbria Business Growth Hub Podcast, we're joined by leadership coach Alec Pearson to explore our new Leadership Mentoring Programme. We discuss... Current trends within leadership and leadership challenges facing the UK…
- Cumbria Business Growth Hub podcast episode 28: Innovation Support for Cumbrian Businesses with Tracy Eyres of Innovate UK
This month on the Cumbria Business Growth Hub podcast, we welcome Tracy Eyres, Senior Innovation and Growth Specialist at Innovate UK. In this episode, we explore how Innovate UK helps businesses drive innovation, the financial support ava…
- Cumbria Business Growth Hub podcast episode 27: Tackling food waste with Guardians of Grub
This month on the Cumbria Business Growth Hub podcast we're joined by Gemma Procter Sustainable Tourism Officer at Cumbria Tourism. We discuss food waste, its impact on the environment and steps businesses can take to reduce it. Learn abou…
- Cumbria Business Growth Hub podcast episode 26: Social Value - top tips on getting started with Claire Louise Chapman
This month on the Cumbria Business Growth Hub podcast we're joined by Claire Louise Chapman of the Shared Value Business. The topic of our conversation is Social Value. We discuss: definitions and differences between Social Value and Corpo…
- Cumbria Business Growth Hub podcast episode 25: Claire Aindow on education and business at the University of Cumbria
In this episode, we sit down with Claire Aindow, the Pro Vice Chancellor for Growth and Development at the University of Cumbria. Claire discusses her new role and the university's new campus in Barrow-in-Furness opening in 2025. She also…
- Cumbria Business Growth Hub podcast episode 24: Denise Gosney on her appearance on Dragon's Den
As part of our activity for Global Entrepreneurship Week 2024, we're sharing an interview with Denise Gosney - founder of Razzamataz - which was previously shown at our 'How To Slay the Dragons' event held in partnership with North and Wes…
- Growing your brand on social media with Martha Wood Marketing
We're joined on the podcast by Martha Wood, founder of Chamber member Martha Wood Marketing. We discuss the role of social media in the marketing industry and how a marketing strategy can help you take advantage of the platforms available.…
- Cumbria Business Growth Hub podcast episode 23: Financing business transformation with River Capital
We catch up with Head of Debt John Gray and Investment Manager Jonathan Nelson following River Capital's recent expansion into Cumbria after securing the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II Smaller Loans Fund. We discuss investment solu…
- Discussing plastic waste in the health care system with Clare Atkinson of Nu Green
We're joined on the podcast by Clare Atkinson, Founder and Director of R&D at NuGreen, a sustainability consultancy researching the use of plastic in the health care sector and how resources from medical waste can be recovered and recycled…
- Cumbria Business Growth Hub podcast episode 22: Discussing the Brighter Futures programme with Deborah Naylor and Claire Sands
This month on the podcast we discuss the Brighter Futures programme with Deborah Naylor (Inspira) and Claire Sands (Cumbria Youth alliance). Brighter Futures aims to support young people in Cumbria who are leaving care, through a range of…
- How to retain more of the money you earn as a sole trader with Sue Reeve of Windmill BTS
We're joined by Sue Reeve of Chamber member and bookkeeping and training services provider, Windmill BTS. Our conversation centres around self assessment and expenses with lots of useful tips and advice for sole traders when doing self ass…
- Cumbria Business Growth Hub podcast episode 21: "Unlocking confidence and clarity" A conversation with business mentors Jacqui Jackson and Keith Jackson
We discuss Cumbria Business Growth Hub's Mentoring Programme with business mentors, Jacqui Jackson and Keith Jackson. Join us to hear about the mentoring process and the powerful effect it can have, supporting business owners to achieve th…
- Cumbria Business Growth Hub podcast episode 20: Tim Bloomer of Fell Brewery
A conversation with Tim Bloomer, co-founder of Fell Brewery, about the business's project aimed at bringing down carbon emissions at their brewery in Flookburgh. We cover: How the business started from two friends brewing beer into a well-…
- Cumbria Business Growth Hub podcast episode 18: Veronica Waller of the Farmer Network on business support for farmers
Our guest on the podcast is Veronica Waller of the Farmer Network, who joins us to discuss financial business support available to farms and other land-based businesses in the form of £500 vouchers to work with a consultant of their choice…
- Cumbria Business Growth Hub podcast episode 17: Inspira CEO Mark Bowman on supporting people into work
We're joined by Mark Bowman, CEO of careers advice and guidance organisation, Inspira, for a conversation on how the organisation supports people into the workforce and key insights on the current Cumbrian labour market in 2024. We cover..…
- Discussing the benefits of going green with Kate Fraser of Hutton John Estate
We're joined by Kate Fraser of Chamber member Hutton John Estate. The family-owned estate is home to a range of luxury holiday lets which are busy throughout the year. The topic of conversation is on the business's innovative approach to b…
- Using EDI to create a positive workplace culture with HR consultant Mel Kinsella
We're joined on the Cumbria Chamber podcast this month by Mel Kinsella, Director of Chamber member Kinsella HR Solutions. Our conversation is on theme of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), delving into definitions, combatting stereot…
- Discussing the place for plastic packaging with the Plastic Bottles Company
We talk to Chamber members Julie Doherty and Helen Vanroose-Brydon from the Plastic Bottles Company about their work advising small businesses on the packaging they need; some of the unusual requests they've had over the years; the environ…
- Launching our Supply Chain Programme with Martyn Staveley
Launching our Supply Chain Programme with Martyn Staveley This month we're joined by Martyn Staveley of 3 Peaks Consulting. Martyn is leading on our new Supply Chain Pilot Programme, which will offer 1-2-1 support to twelve businesses in C…
- Discussing Team Evie's Peer Support Service with CEO, Greg Johnston
We're joined on the podcast this month by Greg Johnston, Founder and CEO of Chamber member Team Evie. Our conversation delves into Team Evie's new Peer Support Service. A newly-launched service pairing the families of sick children with Pe…
- How businesses can help Cumbria reach net zero by 2037 with Steve Curl of Zero Carbon Cumbria
We're joined this month on the podcast by Steve Curl, Chair of the Strategic Oversight Board for Zero Carbon Cumbria, an initiative which brings together efforts to reduce carbon emissions across Cumbria. We discuss: What is Zero Carbon Cu…
- Directors Forum Podcast Season 2 Episode 2 - A conversation with Danny Sawrij, CEO of Leo group
In this episode of the Directors Forum podcast we're joined by Danny Sawrij, Owner of Leo Group, one of our Cumbria Chamber Patrons. We discuss Danny's career from selling chocolate bars in the playground as a boy and then leaving school a…
- The benefits of volunteering with Judith Smale of Cumbria CVS
We talk to Judith Smale of Chamber member Cumbria CVS about the benefits of volunteering for individuals and businesses. Our talk also covers CVS's new volunteering database where individuals can register and search for opportunities ( vol…
- Discussing investment opportunities for Cumbrian businesses with Regionally and RfM Accountants
In the latest episode of the Cumbria Chamber podcast we discuss investment opportunities for Cumbrian businesses through Regionally , an investment service designed to connect private investors with established businesses based in the UK o…
- Staying competitive in a disruptive world (part 2): discussing the findings of the Cumbria LSIP final report
Cumbria's Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) is an employer-led and locally owned initiative which aims to set out the key priorities needed to make technical education and skills provision more responsive to the changing needs of employ…
- Staying competitive in a disruptive world (part 1): discussing the findings of the Cumbria LSIP final report
Cumbria's Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) is an employer-led and locally owned initiative which aims to set out the key priorities needed to make technical education and skills provision more responsive to the changing needs of employ…
- Directors Forum Podcast Season 2 Episode 1 - 'I just wanted a pint' with Barrie Roberts of Ennerdale Brewery
Welcome back for season 2 of the Directors Forum Podcast, we've had a break, a little bit of a brand refresh but we're back. In this episode Eve talks to Barrie Roberts of Ennerdale Brewery about beer, socialising, the passion that keeps d…
- Cybercrime update July 2023 with DC Jon Hill
We're joined by DC Jon Hill of Cumbria Police's Cyber and Digital Crime Unit to discuss recent updates in cybercrime which businesses need to be on the lookout for. Our conversation also covers the range of current free resources available…
- The Importance of Personal Brand with Lindsay Gray
On this episode of the Cumbria Chamber podcast we discuss personal brand with CEO and founder of Chamber member Natterjack Marketing, Lindsay Gray. Our conversion covers: The importance of personal brand How to create your own personal bra…
- Discussing disability inclusion with Steven Jones, founder of Disability Connect
Disability Connect's mission is: "to enable organisations to harness and maximise the powerful use of disability awareness to create and sustain an inclusive and supportive working environment." They do this by pairing business leaders wit…
- Earth Day 2023: discussing green technology with Eco Group
With this Saturday 22nd April being Earth Day, we invited member Eco Group onto the podcast to discuss their work on LOOP technology, which decarbonises methane-rich gas into hydrogen and graphene on site. The technology is soon to be depl…
- The Directors Club Episode 10 - Following the path of knowledge with Caroline Langham
Join Eve Halliday, Head of Commercial and Business Growth at Cumbria Chamber of Commerce as she speaks to Business owners, leaders and characters of Cumbria and beyond. In this Episode Eve speaks to Caroline Langham, owner at Cote How Lake…
- Giving back with Cumbria Community Foundation and Herdy
In this episode of the Cumbria Chamber podcast, Joe is joined by Caroline Adams from Cumbria Community Foundation and Spencer Hannah director and co-founder of Herdy . The conversation centres on the many ways that local businesses can don…
- The Directors Club Episode 9 - Do a little bit of everything with James Stephens mixdown
Join Eve Halliday, Head of Commercial and Business Growth at Cumbria Chamber of Commerce as she speaks to Business owners, leaders and characters of Cumbria and beyond. In this Episode Eve speaks to James Stephens, Managing Director of Eng…
- National Apprenticeship Week with Sinéad Kay
Joe interviews Head of Business Engagement & Professional Studies at Kendal College, Sinéad Kay, about apprenticeships. Their conversation covers: The definition of an apprenticeship How apprenticeships are funded The benefits of employing…
- The Directors Club Episode 8 - Hands on Learning with Johanne Miller
Join Eve Halliday, Head of Commercial and Business Growth at Cumbria Chamber of Commerce as she speaks to Business owners, leaders and characters of Cumbria and beyond. In this Episode Eve speaks to Johanne Miller, Managing Director of Two…
- Employing Army Reservists with Lt Col Ed Fraser
Lieutenant Colonel Edward Fraser is the Commanding Officer of the 4th Battalion, the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, in the British Army. In our talk we cover: Ed's career so far; the Army Reserve; employing army reservists; and the professi…
- Directors Club Episode 7 - All for the love of Cheese with Denise Gosney
Join Eve Halliday, Head of Commercial and Business Growth at Cumbria Chamber of Commerce as she speaks to Business owners, leaders and characters of Cumbria and beyond. In this Episode Eve speaks to Denise Gosney, owner and founder of Razz…
- Directors Club episode 6 - The liberation of realisation with Laura Cadman
Join Eve Halliday, Head of Commercial and Business Growth at Cumbria Chamber of Commerce as she speaks to Business owners, leaders and characters of Cumbria and beyond. In this Episode Eve speaks to Laura Cadman, owner and founder or Laura…