Drive to get workers to move to Lake District

SOME of the biggest names in British business have launched a campaign to attract talented workers to live in one of the most beautiful regions of the UK.

BAE Systems, Siemens, GSK and Kimberly-Clark have come together to run an online initiative to promote the advantages of relocating to South Cumbria.

Although it is best known for its natural beauty and the tourist hotspots of the Lake District, South Cumbria is also an important hub for manufacturing and industry, with the companies all having large operations in the area.

BAE Systems Maritime employs almost 7,000 people at its submarines division in Barrow-in-Furness, while GSK is investing £350m in building a new biopharm facility at its site in Ulverston.

Siemens Subsea, which has major expansion plans, already employs almost 500 people at its manufacturing HQ in Ulverston and Kimberly-Clark employs almost 400 at its paper mill in Barrow-in-Furness.

The NHS in South Cumbria and Furness College – which runs a variety of apprenticeship schemes in collaboration with the companies – are also supporting the scheme. Work will start on a new advanced manufacturing and engineering centre at Furness College this summer.

From Monday, May 11 to Sunday, May 17 Choose South Cumbria will host a virtual careers fair, in which people interested in finding out more about working in the area can interact with employers in real time online.

According to the Furness Economic Delivery Plan 2014 to 2017, the travel to work area of South Cumbria – which includes the UK’s nuclear industrial heartland in West Cumbria – is set to witness a potential £20bn or more of investment in the next 15 years or so in everything from defence and offshore wind, to infrastructure and nuclear.

It is estimated that these investments, and their long-term impacts, could create in the region of 25,000 jobs spanning engineering, project management and IT through to healthcare, education and the entire spectrum of support services.

GSK, BAE, Siemens, the NHS in South Cumbria, Furness College and Kimberly-Clark will all be present at the virtual careers fair, a relatively new platform for the UK.

They will be joined by smaller companies and organisations who are also keen to attract employees including Athena PTS, Story Homes, Ulverston Victoria High School, Inspira, North Associates and Progression Solicitors.

Visitors will be able to login online to interact with employers via video or type chat. They will also have the chance to submit their CV and network with other job hunters.

Phil Wilson, site director of GSK in Ulverston, said: “This is an exciting time for us. We are investing in developing the existing cephalosporins factory and the new biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility will be the first new GSK factory in the UK for almost 40 years.

“The Choose South Cumbria initiative therefore comes at a very good time for us. We hope to recruit many of the people we will need in the coming years from our local communities. However, we also need to attract people with specialist skills from across the UK and overseas.

“This is a great area to live and work. The Lake District helps to ensure an unrivalled quality of life. We also have thriving communities and fantastic schools.  Choose South Cumbria will help us to get that message over and to promote the career opportunities at GSK.”

John Collins, chief financial officer at Siemens Subsea, said: “Our workforce has grown by 65% since 2011 and our future expansion plans allow us the opportunity to grow even further, bringing with it many career development opportunities in advanced engineering and manufacturing.

“Without doubt, South Cumbria is a fantastic location for many reasons: its proximity to the Lake District, its rural setting, great transport links, excellent primary and secondary schools, to name but a few.

“The area offers a great balance as a location to live and work.  For example, my commute into work every day takes in the scenic coastal route overlooking Morecambe Bay. And at the end of the working day, it is very easy to take advantage of the beautiful countryside close by.”

The companies have joined with local media company CN Media Group to develop the Choose South Cumbria website www.choosesouthcumbria.co.uk, which is a hub of information about career prospects in the area, the lifestyle and leisure opportunities.