Tourism chiefs team up with Federation of Small Businesses

Cumbria Tourism is forging increasingly stronger links with The Federation of Small Businesses in the run-up to Brexit.

The two organisations are pledging to work closer together over the coming months to support businesses who are striving to meet the key business challenges of 2019, including the uncertainty around the UK’s imminent departure from the European Union. 

The working partnership between Cumbria Tourism and the FSB Lancashire & Cumbria Area aims to help further strengthen a co-ordinated approach to business support, events and topical issues affecting businesses on a day-to-day level. 

That includes giving Cumbria Tourism member businesses full access to the FSB’s Brexit Guide, to help them better understand the different scenarios they may encounter and to help plan their business continuity during – and after – the withdrawal process.

A new reciprocal arrangement also means Cumbria Tourism members can benefit from a discount on FSB membership, and vice versa.

Gill Haigh says, “Small businesses are the lifeblood of Cumbria’s £2.9billion tourism sector and it is vital that we build meaningful relationships with similar organisations to ourselves who understand the commitment, innovation and sheer hard work it takes for small businesses to succeed.  

“With the full implications of Brexit due to unfold over the next few months, it’s more important than ever for us to identify areas of synergy and to work together to provide the best possible support for the county’s business community.”

Suzanne Edgley, Area Leader for Cumbria at FSB says, “A co-ordinated approach to assisting our small businesses across Cumbria makes perfect sense and we are delighted to be working with Cumbria Tourism to support all our members to access the very best support they can to protect and boost their businesses.  

“With the uncertainty our economy faces in the coming months and beyond it is important that businesses do get the range of support which can really help them to get through any difficult periods and progress into the future.”