The 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.
Rory Stewart MP is signposting constituency businesses to a package of measures to assist rural entrepreneurs in the county, following Cumbria Rural Growth Network’s recent launch of a free planning advisory service. The new service forms just part of a comprehensive range of new business support initiatives targeted at boosting economic performance in the county. […]
RORY CELEBRATES SUCCESS OF VISTA VEG COOPERATIVE Local MP, Rory Stewart, met with Vista Veg, a co-operative of local producers who grow high-quality vegetables just outside of Crosby Ravensworth, to celebrate Cooperatives Fortnight 2014. Rory was led around Vista Veg’s poly-tunnels and packing facilities by Lynne Barnes, who runs the co-operative, and who explained the […]
Rory Stewart on Friday spent time with Wigton’s Nelson Thomlinson School’s award-winning DigiPi computer software team. The Young Enterprise group of ten Year 12 students had identified a gap in the market for computer programming training materials for primary-age students. They have developed a unique program to train students as young as six in computer programming. Rory […]
Rory Stewart, MP for Penrith and The Border will be co-hosting a Google ‘juice-bar’ event in Penrith in May to provide local businesses with a masterclass in using the internet to boost growth. Rory is encouraging all local business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs to take part in the free event, which will take place at […]
At a specialist small business finance meeting in Penrith in March, Rory Stewart MP launched a new programme aimed at facilitating financial support for local businesses from local investors. Rory arranged the meeting, which brought together representatives of business, the financial sector, the voluntary sector and local government, to highlight the continuing financing difficulties faced […]
Rory has launched a new cross-party initiative to help small local businesses attract support and investment. Rory launched an enquiry into the problems small businesses and start-ups face attracting finance at the end of last year. He has now completed the first stage of the enquiry, and last week presented two proposals to a cross-party group of Cumbrians from business, […]
Rory was invited to open Brampton’s new Rural Growth Network Hub, set up by Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, as a focal point for local businesses looking for free support and advice. At a launch which also served as a networking opportunity for Brampton businesses, the Penrith and the Border MP welcomed the additional business support […]
Rory has today welcomed the news that the Department for Transport has approved a £2.3 million package of improvements to the access points into the Eden Business Park and Gilwilly Industrial Estate in Penrith, with work on the four-month project likely to begin in October 2014. The decision follows Rory’s lobbying of the Department on […]
Rory is urging Cumbrian businesses to attend regional events during the UK Trade & Investments Export Week during the week of November 11-15, which aim to get businesses to either start exporting or expand their export activity. 130 UKTI Trade Specialists from over 70 markets will hold pre-booked 1-2-1 meetings for any company that signs […]
Rory is urging Cumbrian businesses to attend regional events during the UK Trade & Investments Export Week during the week of November 11-15, which aim to get businesses to either start exporting or expand their export activity. 130 UKTI Trade Specialists from over 70 markets will hold pre-booked 1-2-1 meetings for any company that signs […]