Business

rory_thehutThe economic profile of Penrith and The Border is unique. It has very low unemployment (with many people holding down multiple jobs) and more self-employed people than almost any other constituency in Britain. Approximately 23 per cent of the population work from home, and 93 per cent work for businesses employing less than ten. A large proportion of my time is spent working with and understanding these small and medium-sized enterprises; understanding where government can do more to help, and where it needs to step back.

I am concerned about the way in which out-of-town supermarkets are affecting our traditional high streets, the difficulty many businesses are still having getting access to loans and funding, and what I see as the dangers of trying to artificially pump prime into industries and economies which simply do not exist in most parts of Cumbria.

Show more

RORY MEETS WITH INNOVIA FILMS IN WIGTON FOR ENVIRONMENTAL TALKS

Rory made his fifth visit to Innovia Films manufacturing site in Wigton. Innovia has long been one of the largest employers in Penrith and the Border, a key part of the Wigton economy and a national leader in research and development. Rory has in the past successfully campaigned for Innovia to produce the new five pound note […]

RORY URGES COMMUNITIES TO BACK THEIR LOCAL HIGH STREETS

Rory is encouraging communities to nominate their local high streets for the Great British High Street Awards 2018. These awards, sponsored by Visa, celebrate local achievements on the nation’s high streets and will encourage communities to share suggestions to improve them in the face of new challenges. Community teams, councils and trading associations can register […]

RORY BACKS PENRITH AND THE BORDER BUSINESSES IN THE BEST SHOPS COMPETITION

Rory Stewart MP is calling on Penrith and The Border’s small shopkeepers to enter themselves in the Best Small Shops Competition. The competition seeks to celebrate the creativity of independent businesses and recognise their vital role in local communities. Penrith and The Border has a huge variety of small shops in its towns and villages and Rory […]

RORY APPLAUDS BROADBAND PROGRESS ON BUSINESS VISIT

Rory visited Rutter Falls Self Catering Holiday Cottages on Saturday to discuss the business’ successful use of ultrafast broadband. Since his election in 2010, Rory has made increased broadband coverage a central priority and, to that end, he has consistently lobbied the government, councils and providers. One of the results of these efforts has been […]

RORY PRAISES LOCAL FORESTRY INDUSTRY FOR SUPPORTING MAJOR GROWTH DEAL

Rory recently attended a meeting of the Borderlands Forest Sector Group hosted by BSW Timber and Tilhill Forestry at the Carlisle Sawmills in Cargo. The Borderlands Forest Sector Group is a joint private and public sector initiative which is providing industry support for the Borderlands Growth Deal. Ideas include setting up the first Forestry Investment Zone in the UK, […]

RORY HOLDS MEETING TO DISCUSS IMPACT OF BORDERLANDS ON BEWCASTLE

Rory has chaired an informal meeting at Netherby Hall to discuss the Borderlands Growth Deal and the Forgotten Lands initiative with key stakeholders from in and around the Bewcastle Parish. The meeting – hosted by Gerald and Margo Smith – was an opportunity to provide an update on recent Growth Deal developments and share ideas about ways in which the growth […]

RORY PRAISES JOBCENTRE STAFF

Rory has praised the staff of Penrith Jobcentre during a visit to discuss the rollout of Universal Credit. Rory was welcomed to the Jobcentre by Shane Byrne and Amanda Bucannan who briefed him on the rollout of the new system of benefit distribution, its workings and its likely effects upon claimants. Rory was also shown a […]

RORY PRAISES LOCAL PENRITH HERO TATTIE TIM 

Rory made a special trip to one of Penrith’s most popular eateries last week to visit the famous ‘Tattie Tim’ AKA Tim Lorton, who was one of the first people to the scene of a horrific car accident in the centre of Penrith on the 14th May. Tim was working on his jacket potato stall when […]

RORY WELCOMES LATEST EMPLOYMENT FIGURES

Rory has welcomed the latest increase in the number of people in employment, which illustrates the strength of the local and national economy. Across the North West some 3,701,197 people are in work, an increase of 296,946 since 2010. Nationally, unemployment has fallen to its lowest rate since records began in 1971, with some 3.3 […]