West Cumbria Opportunities & Challenges 2025 8 9 WEST CUMBRIA IN PROFILE: OPPORTUNITIES 96% of primary schools and 92% secondary schools are rated as either Good or Outstanding in their latest Ofsted reports In West Cumbria, monthly earnings stood just above the UK average at 101% or £2,557 11,000 direct jobs at Sellafield Ltd and 40,000 jobs in the associated supply chain Vibrant visitor economy with 10.37 million visitors per year attracted to West Cumbria’s coastal and natural landscapes, which generates £1.1 billion in tourism revenue A 0.9% growth over the previous year in the West Cumbrian economy with 105,345 payrolled employees as of April 2025 Average monthly rents in Cumberland are £614, lower than the Northwest (£896) and Great Britain (£1,343) The VCSE in West Cumbria generates a total value of £163.2m through volunteering, in-kind support and donated goods Over 15,000 volunteers in West Cumbria provide on average of over 1 million hours of volunteering worth an estimated £10.8m Approximately 1,400 social enterprises employing 11,000 people and contributing £475m per annum to the local economy in Cumbria Cumberland has a higher proportion of people qualified up to Level 3 (29.8%) than nationally (20.4%) Through its designation as a Marmot Place, Cumbria is leading the way in addressing health inequalities and improving health A Place of Opportunity Globally recognised as a Centre of Nuclear Excellence with world class expertise in the nuclear sector; an exceptional skills base in specialist manufacturing and innovation; and a strong commitment to workforce wellbeing, development and training. Sellafield Ltd’s decommissioning and waste management programmes generate investment into the supply chain and their longstanding commitment to the VCSE, underpins partnership ambitions to promote entrepreneurship and sustainability. World leading research and development facilities including the National Nuclear Laboratory near Seascale, the £41.6m iSH Enterprise Campus in Cleator Moor and a new £4m Digital Gaming Hub in Whitehaven, are designed to build upon West Cumbria’s nuclear heritage and promote economic innovation and diversification. Deep water port facilities at Workington and a major leisure marina at Whitehaven. West Cumbrian farms contribute to Cumbria being the second largest producer of red meat and dairy of all the English counties, with farming families essential to ensuring the vitality of rural community life. West Cumbria is home to outstanding cultural heritage and landscape celebrated internationally with both the Lake District and Hadrian’s Wall recognised by UNESCO as World Heritage sites. Combined with the UK’s most popular long-distance cycle and walking routes in the C2C and Wainwright’s Coast to Coast, West Cumbria has a national reputation for exhilarating and accessible outdoor pursuits. New investments into public infrastructure and transport, including improved digital connectivity via the rollout of full fibre broadband. West Cumbria offers a good quality of life, with reasonable house prices, lower than average crime levels and outstanding mountain and coastal landscapes. High quality educational provision with 96% of primary schools and 92% secondary schools in West Cumbria rated as either outstanding or good. High quality training and post graduate providers, committed to working in partnership with industry, business, the public sector and the VCSE to provide young people with opportunities for qualifications, employment and personal growth. Strong sense of community, underpinned by committed VCSE organisations and community groups providing opportunities for people to come together, socialise and collectively develop solutions to local challenges. Targeted, multi-agency place-based initiatives designed to regenerate and improve local areas, access and amenities, in conjunction with residents. A network of excellent community facilities including village halls, community and family hubs and sport and leisure facilities, providing opportunities to support physical health and mental wellbeing for the whole community. Committed partnerships, involving respected VCSE organisations, working together to tackle new and entrenched health challenges and inequalities. Older people across West Cumbria dedicate their time and resources to support their families and communities providing care to others and volunteering to support local activities. Significant investment through the Transforming West Cumbria programme has helped promote entrepreneurship and ambition in both people and places across West Cumbria. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
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