Cumbria Chamber Of Commerce Podcast

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 stereotypes, creating positive work environments for all employees, and the benefits to decision making of diverse thinking. Find out more and contact Kinsella HR here: https://www.kinsellahr.co.uk/  

We talk to Chamber members Julie Doherty and Helen Venroose-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 environmental impact of plastic packaging and how the industry is working to become more sustainable.  Check out their website here: www.theplasticbottlescompany.com

Launching our Supply Chain Programme with Martyn Staveley This month on the Cumbria Business Growth Hub podcast 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 Cumbria who are looking to enter new supply chains. In our conversation we discuss… Martyn’s background working in national and international supply chains and supporting businesses to access new opportunities; what businesses on the programme can expect (including a meet the buyer event); the need for a supply chain programme in Cumbria; demystifying procurement processes; and the importance of having strong presentation skills to progress through interviews with potential clients.   Anyone looking to get involved in the programme and work with Martyn should get in touch by emailing lesleyr@cumbriachamber.co.uk More information on the programme can be found here: https://cumbriagrowthhub.co.uk/business-support/supply-chain-pilot-pr

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 Peer Supporters, trained volunteers who have also experienced time in hospital with their baby or child. Team Evie are currently looking to recruit Peer Supporters and are asking businesses to spread the word among employees should anyone be interested in getting involved.   For more information businesses should get in touch with Greg by emailing - info@teamevie.org In our conversation on the podcast, we also discuss opportunities for businesses to participate in Team Evie's One Million Steps challenge. Businesses can get involved and raise money by employees walking 10,000 steps per day for 100 days, totalling a million steps. For more information contact Greg on - info@teamevie.org Find out more about Team Evie here.

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 Cumbria and what are its aims? How are we going to reach net zero by 2037? What does this mean for businesses in Cumbria? How can they get involved? So why should businesses and industry decarbonise, what’s in it for them? How big a challenge is this? Do we really think we can achieve net zero in Cumbria by 2037?  Find out more about Zero Carbon Cumbria here: https://zerocarboncumbria.co.uk/

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 at 14 to buy and sell cattle, to owning and operating one of the UK’s leading specialists and animal by-products and renewable energy. We cover the twists and turns of Danny’s career; his outlook on hard work and working relationships; his thoughts on farming and the UK food industry and some amusing anecdotes and lessons learned along they way. Enjoy listening! Find out more about Leo Group - https://leogroupltd.co.uk/ Find out more about Directors Forum - https://www.cumbriachamber.co.uk/member-services/directors-forum Our Directors Forum is sponsored by Muckle LLP

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 (volunteering.cumbriacvs.org.uk); employer supported volunteering (ESV); support for businesses; and the ESV subgroup.

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 outside of London. In part two of the podcast we talk to Chamber members RfM Accountants who work with Regionally to provide their service, ‘the Regionally Way’,  which helps businesses get investment ready. Guests: Jim Odell (CEO of Regionally), Paul Newsham (Senior Director of RfM) and Tony Backhouse (MD of RfM Transform) If you’re interested in learning more then get in touch with either: Paul Newsham - pnewsham@rfm-more.co.uk Tony Backhouse - tbackhouse@rfm-more.co.uk

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 employers and the local economy. August 2023 saw the release of this year's LSIP report for Cumbria. Find out more. To discuss the findings of the report we're joined by Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) Engagement Manager, Kevin Warman, and Chamber member and Certified Career & Leadership Executive Coach Alec Pearson. Our conversation is spilt into two parts: Part 1 looks at employability skills, emotional intelligence, and recruitment and retainment. Part 2 looks at challenges surrounding leadership and management, coaching, skills of the future and AI, and what’s next for the LSIP. Get involved  To take part in a focus group to discuss skills challenges in your business contact Kevin on kevin@cumbriachamber.co.uk Follow our  LSIP LinkedIn page Follow Kev on LinkedIn

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 employers and the local economy. August 2023 saw the release of this year's LSIP report for Cumbria. Find out more. To discuss the findings of the report we're joined by Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) Engagement Manager, Kevin Warman, and Chamber member and Certified Career & Leadership Executive Coach Alec Pearson. Our conversation is spilt into two parts: Part 1 looks at employability skills, emotional intelligence, and recruitment and retainment. Part 2 looks at challenges surrounding leadership and management, coaching, skills of the future and AI, and what’s next for the LSIP. Get involved  To take part in a focus group to discuss skills challenges in your business contact Kevin on kevin@cumbriachamber.co.uk Follow our  LSIP LinkedIn page Follow Kev on LinkedIn

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 driving him and how he did it all because 'he only wanted a pint' If you do want to look at any of the beers we talk about they can be found here: https://www.ennerdalebrewery.co.uk/  Or if you would like to visit the Made in Cumbria site click here: https://madeincumbria.co.uk/

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 for businesses to protect against cybercrime. Useful links discussed in the episode can be found below: Police Cyber Alarm: https://www.cyberalarm.police.uk/ North West Cyber Resilience Centre: https://www.nwcrc.co.uk/ NCSC Early Warning system: https://www.earlywarning.service.ncsc.gov.uk/ Cumbria Chamber of Commerce cybercrime advice page: https://www.cumbriachamber.co.uk/business-support/cybercrime-protecting-your-business-and-staff

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 brand How Lindsday's own personal brand has helped shape her career LinkedIn and the personal brand pros

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 with talented disabled mentors, as well as offering diversity mentoring training and speaking events.  In our talk with Stevn Jones we cover: Steven's background and how he founded Disability Connect, stigma surrounding disabled people at work, common barriers to work for disabled people, and how businesses can work to become more inclusive.  Checkout Disability Connect's website: https://disabilityconnect.org.uk/

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 deployed by Eco for the first time in UK. Find out more here.

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 District Weddings -  https://www.cotehow.co.uk/ . 'Following the path of knowledge'  'takes us through Caroline's career and how she ended up in Cumbria hosting elopement weddings at the beautiful Cote How on Rydal water in the lake district.

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 donate through Cumbria Community Foundation and how Herdy does this as a fund holder, supporting rural communities and upland fell farmers through the herdy fund. 

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 English Lakes Ice cream lakesicecream.com/. 'Do a little bit of everything' follows James' life from ice cream wholesale, through rebranding and the importance of doing a bit of everything in the business.

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 apprentices Top tips for businesses looking to employ apprentices  The growing role of apprenticeships in the UK and the future of education and training Find out more about apprenticeships through Kendal College here.

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 Twoey Toys. 'Hands on Learning' follows Johannes life from cooking Sunday dinner for 60 people to how she treats her staff like family and the importance of getting stuck in.