Business in Westmorland and Furness, Cumbria

Westmorland and Furness is a place where business can thrive; the area’s tradition of manufacturing, engineering and locally inspired food and drink continues to see its famous goods and products exported and used all around the world. Here, you can find a truly diverse landscape, where agriculture and rural enterprises neighbour a prospering tourism and hospitality industry. We’re sure you’ll enjoy learning more about our hi-tech and creative businesses too, who are always at the forefront of innovation.

Westmorland and Furness has a positive and prosperous future given the scale of investment in two nationally significant sectors both essential to security and resilience:

The National Defence Programme

The BAE Systems site in Barrow supports a portfolio of major defence programmes and expects to grow its workforce by more than 6000 in the next 15 years.

Green Growth

Barrow’s proximity to the Irish Sea positions it well to sustain energy production assets for offshore wind (Orsted), gas, low carbon generation, and storage opportunities.

Carlton Power, one of the UK’s most experienced renewable energy infrastructure development companies, has secured Government support to build a green hydrogen hub for Kimberly-Clark’s manufacturing facility by 2025.

Spirit Energy Limited will create a one-gigaton carbon capture facility by repurposing its Morecambe Bay gas fields. The Morecambe Net Zero (MNZ) project successfully secured a seismic survey vessel to undertake a scope of work in the East Irish Sea as the company continues its journey to net zero.

There is a great diversity of companies, with well-known household names sitting alongside small and medium sized businesses, each providing their own unique contribution to the economy. But please don’t just take our word for it, have a look for yourself!