Northern Lights

A three-day speed dating session for investors anddevelopers is one way an annual event which brings councils and collaboratorstogether. 16,000 delegates and 1,750 investors attended UKREiiF – the RealEstate investment and infrastructure Forum in Leeds – at the city’s Royal Armouries. With regions battling for attention, Business Crack’s NigelThompson was there to see how Cumbria fared.

A lot has happened in the decade since the Northern Powerhouse Partnership was formed and this year Cumbria is very much in the organisation’s sights. The business-led think tank for the north of England has commissioned a wide-ranging study to chart the county’s economy which it is hoped will provide the evidence needed to kick start a debate about the future of Cumbria. From transport to tourism...

It’s all hands on deck as the county’s most popular paid for attraction gears up what is hoped to be a strong main season. With Easter falling early this year and seasonal staff now in place Windermere Lake Cruises is preparing the 16 strong fleet that last year carried 1.2m people on Windermere. But with global issues already leading to cancellations what will the 2026 season bring? Business Crac...

From rising costs and recruitment issues to changing guest expectations and business uncertainty, Cumbria’s hospitality sector certainly has a lot on its plate. For two days a year there is an opportunity for people from across the business of entertaining and looking after guests to come together and connect as a community. The Lakes Hospitality Show has been held for 49 years and is an event whi...

The geese are making their presence felt on the shores of Derwentwater as watery sunshine and the odd crisp clump of snowdrops hint at warmer days to come. The National Trust is the biggest conservation charity in Europe. The breadth and depth of the charity’s role is varied and maybe nowhere more so than in Cumbria. Yet news that the charity had to cut around 500 jobs nationally to save £26 milli...

No it wasn’t a dream, Cumbria really is set to host theworld’s biggest cycle race! The  Tour de France comes to the county in 2027. Not only is it set to be a major attraction but footagewill be beamed all over the world. In this special edition of Northern Lights we’ll hear fromsomeone who knows more than most about the draw of the event and what it could mean in the longer term for Cumbria. Prof...

“The time for talking is definitely over and 2026 is definitely the first year of delivery,” according to the man behind the unique three-way partnership that forms Team Barrow. Simon Case is the chair of the organisation made up of central government, Westmorland and Furness Council and BAE Systems responsible for ‘mobilising the national effort’ to support every aspect of life in Barrow. In this...

Passengers idly glancing from their train window as they pass Lazonby may wonder what goes on in the warehouses that run parallel to the Settle Carlisle line. Maybe the occasional whiff of fresh baking may offer some clue. The products emerging from the family-owned Bells bakery has led to the village becoming synonymous with tasty treats all over the UK and beyond. Next year the firm will mark th...

The Lake District; 912 square miles, home to England’s deepest lake and highest mountain and on the ‘must-see’ list of millions of tourists every year. It’s also the home to a small and declining number of people who live there all year around. Less than half of the land is owned by members who make up the Lake District National Park Partnership. The majority - 63% - is in private ownership. The p...

So what reaction is there to the 2025 Budget in Cumbria? We've been  asking a variety of people from sectors all over Cumbria for their views on the Budget and how they see it making a difference - good or bad - to all of us. We'll bring you an overview from The Work Foundation and hear from the world of manufacturing, and two businesses involved in very different products. We’ll hear from...

The BECBC annual awards are a chance for companies, individuals and charities to get together and celebrate success in West Cumbria. Held at Energus on 20th November, a dozen awards were made in highly competitive categories. In the hour before the event began we went backstage to meet a variety of nominees and hear from Chief Executive Dianne Richardson and Head Judge John Grainger about what mak...

Between 2009 and 2019 Rory Stewart’s regular column for the Cumberland and Westmorland Herald was as varied as it was informative. From Eden to the Middle East, Roman history to super fast broadband (or lack of), his diverse observations and comments were unlike anything politicians normally write. Middleland is not just a compilation of these articles; it’s an insight into all forms of life at a...

The Lake District National Park is the biggest in England. Home to the country's highest mountain and deepest lake, it's also not without its challenges. This summer has seen a spate of anti-social behaviour in beauty spots, budget cuts along with challenges to keep services running at a time when the area's five year plan is being drawn up. The chief executive of the national park authority is Ga...

The first of a new breed of doctors who could make a major difference to the lives of people across Cumbria have begun their studies at the country’s newest medical school. The  Pears Cumbria School of Medicine  (PCSM) is the first graduate-entry medical school in Cumbria and the result of a collaboration between Imperial College in London and the University of Cumbria. Business Crack’s Nigel Thom...

 Tourism is a major part of Cumbria's economy supporting almost 75,000 jobs and worth £4.6 billion. And yet there are challenges. Cumbria Tourism , the organisation which represents over 4,500 tourism businesses, says visitor numbers are still below those recorded before the pandemic. While initial soundings from the sector this summer show the fine weather has helped attract visitors back to Cumb...

The children’s book ‘Little Coffee Cup and the Big Surprise’ is the debut story from Cumbrian author and sustainability advocate Hayley Slack and follows the tale of Little Coffee Cup. Not only is the book written to spark conversations about waste and reuse but it’s made from recycled coffee cups by Burneside-based paper and packaging manufacturer, James Cropper. Each physical book is made from 1...

Is it possible to thrive in the world of animation when you're base is in Cumbria? For Lou Kneath, the co-founder and animator of Carlisle-based Plus 3K , the answer is a resounding 'yes.' The former University of Cumbria student and her team are flying high when it comes to commissions with previous work recognised with an international award .But with Artificial Intelligence and the need to rema...

As the weather finally heats up welcome to June's Northern Lights podcast! Once again we've travelled across Cumbria to bring you stories directly from some of the county's business community. In this edition we've visited Westlakes Science Park to meet Kurt Canfield, the Chief Executive Officer of defence and nuclear specialists Delkia . Hear how, in just a few years, the company has grown, his h...

In a special edition of Northern Lights, Business Crack's Nigel Thompson is joined by a host of experts from all corners of Cumbria to assess what the government's Spending Review means for Cumbria. From new nuclear power stations and investment in defence to the impact on tourism and transport, we gain an insight from four people in the know: Dianne Richardson, the chief executive of Britain's En...

In this edition we're joined by Suzanne Caldwell, the Managing Director of Cumbria Chamber of Commerce. Hear her take on Trumps tariffs, why collaboration is key in an area like Cumbria and how the chamber is working to bring the county's business community together. We'll also take you to Workington to hear how the port is undergoing big changes. And how cutting edge laboratory facili...

Quality news and interviews from Cumbria’s business community. We’re out across the county to bring you a true taste of what’s happening and gather opinions from those in the know. In our first edition Dianne Richardson, the  CEO of Britain's Energy Coast Business Cluster (BECBC), joins Business Crack's Nigel Thompson. We discuss the Chancellor's Spring Statement, consider Barrow port's new Royal...

Think you know Cumbria's business community? Think again! It's been months in the making but in spring 2025 we're ready to share a new podcast that will shine a light on Cumbria's businesses, big and small. Business Crack already brings you stories from across the county and now you can hear directly from those making the news. With a guest joining us on each edition too, it's...