After taking advice I have had to cancel my planned two day visit to Cumbria this week, the most disappointing news I’ve had for a long time.
Cumbria is a fantastic county. It’s rightly famous for its lakes and fells, fells brought dramatically to life by Alfred Wainwright in his various walking guides many of which were first published by the Westmorland Gazette. I love the Westmorland Gazette with its Gothic script. It’s been going since 1818 and long may it continue; a real Cumbrian institution. When I think of Cumbria now, however, it’s for its businesses.
For a real low carbon solution we have to turn to nuclear and Cumbria will be leading the way with the National Skills Academy for Nuclear, the National Nuclear Laboratory, Nuclear Decommissioning, Energus and a whole lot more to ensure the supply chain maximises its potential in nuclear development. In renewables, there are ambitious plans to create an energy coast with offshore wind and tide. But I’m really impressed by its specialised manufacturing. Not, as some people may think, based on agriculture but on state of the art knowledge driven manufacturing. I think of the growing cluster of photonics companies all doing their bit for a low carbon future, the specialist chemicals producers, advanced specialist engineering companies.
Cumbria has been dealt a serious blow with the floods this week, but the people and businesses are absolutely resilient and it’s those businesses that continue to invest, continue to seek new markets overseas, continue to develop their people and continue to do all that even in difficult times that will drive their economic recovery.
I will be back in January, I will be visiting many of the businesses that are pushing forward into global markets and will be saluting them as they are in the vanguard of getting Cumbria back on track. I can’t wait.