Cumbria Community Foundation - Furness: Opportunities and Challenges 2021

F U R N E S S – O P P O R T U N I T I E S & C H A L L E N G E S 8 OPPORTUNITIES Ulverston is an eclectic and vibrant town with internationally recognised festivals People in Furness are substantially happier with their area than the national average Barrow is the second most affordable place to live in Britain 5 secondary schools are rated ‘good’ by Ofsted BAE Systems is the largest employer The work at the yard sustains a large workforce and a strong supply chain Furness has strong sporting and cultural traditions with higher-than-average participation rates Barrow contributes £1.7 billion in Gross Value Added to the economy Barrow will continue to improve its heritage potential thanks to major investment Business start-ups are well below average but 51.5% are still trading after five years, compared to 43.2% nationally The levels of all types of crimes are lower than the national average The area of Furness encompasses a world-class natural environment including Morecambe Bay and a sizeable portion of the Lake District National Park The RSA (Royal Society for the Arts) lists South Lakeland in the top 10 for heritage assets in the UK and Barrow as an area developing its heritage potential The number of charities is higher than the national average The charity and community sector work well together