Welcome to 'Invest in Furness'

We can help your business to grow. We offer techical support and bespoke advice on the business case for investing in SW Cumbria.Our track record is impressive.Some of the recent projects we have been involved with include:

• working with wind farm developers to attract onshore support bases to Barrow port
• developing the regional and local business case for biopharmaceutical investment in Furness
• attracting a oil and gas service company to the area and supporting a subsequent reinvestment
• supporting companies and trade unions in lobbying for new defence oders
• assessing the business case for extending travel customer services investment

We can also help you examine either the business case for investing in Furness or if you are an established local firm, opportunities to exploit new markets at home or overseas.

We also through our Job Acess service link you into the area's skills base by helping local individuals to find work and employers to source the skilled people they need using jobsfairs and other means.

The area is also one of the most important in Cumbria for new business formation -our assitance programmes contribute to high survival rates in a new businesses first three years.

We always aim to help you to access and use all the relevant information you need to help you to deliver growth for your business in the West Cumbria and Furness Assisted Area, a location that is one of the best places in UK to invest in and one of the top twenty places to live in and be happy.

we can also help you with Exports innovation and responding to market changes - When looking at global trends and markets your business may wish to examine the 2010 edition of the Joint Operating Environment at http://www.fas.org/man/eprint/joe2010.pdf. It sets out some of the challenges and oportunities that will emerge over the next 30 years.

The business case for investing in Furness is compelling. It is a hub for wealth creating businesses.

Furness is home to many advanced manufacturing firms with around 28% of all jobs in Barrow within the sector. Companies such as Kimberly-Clark, BAE Systems, GlaxoSmithKline, Centrica Energy, Blyth Inc, Gyrodata, Liberata, Expro, Ametek, Freedom Agrilek, Dong Energy, Vattenfall and REpower UK Ltd and many others have invested here to take advantage of

• the area's infrastructure,
• natural resources,
• highly motivated, skilled workforce,
• College and university training links 
• supply chain networks
• export market opportunities

Furness is an Assisted Area, centrally located in the UK, giving relatively good access to most population centres, market sectors and global business opportunities. It could be the hub of your business serving the UK, Europe and further afield. Assisted area means that there are discretionary grants available for capital investment projects which are valued at needing assistance of £2m or more.

In Furness, an expanding service sector complements manufacturing, which includes several successful tourism venues and, in Barrow, exciting new Waterfront developments are underway including the large Waterfront Business Park. A 450 berth marina and marina village are also planned.

"Discover Barrow and Furness" on our sister website - www.barrow.furness.co.uk . It enables you to identify places to live,schools, health services and discover a great variety of places to visit. Furness offers you an opportunity to live and work in market towns, the centre of Barrow, attractive coast and countryside all adjacent to one of England's most spectacular National Parks, the English Lake District. You could also study at one of the newest universities in England, the University of Cumbria.