THE iSH ENTERPRISE CAMPUS WILL:

Capitalise on existing world leading capability

Utilise existing expertise to develop grow and export

Encourage and enable diversification and innovation in new markets, sectors and industries

Grow capability to make the region a Centre of Excellence beyond nuclear

Provide breadth of opportunities in a variety of organisations doing different things in different ways

Hold regular engagement sessions with the region’s SMEs and business community to ensure clear paths to opportunities created

Provide employment and training opportunities across the wider community

Background

Enterprising Town is an exciting project which kickstarts a major investment programme at Leconfield.

The project will lead to huge investment in the area, creating jobs and opportunities whilst promoting entrepreneurial spirit for many years to come.

Leconfield will become a globally significant site through the investment linked to Enterprising Town and the wider community-led iSH project.

The iSH Enterprise Campus is part of Enterprising Town - one of four projects that make up the Cleator Moor Town Deal.

Millions in funding will be allocated to the transformative project, with money from the Town Deal kickstarting the whole process.

The Cleator Moor Town Deal secured £40.9m in funding – £22.5m coming from the Government’s Towns Fund and a further £18.4m from match funders.

iSH is supported in its activity by funding from Cleator Moor Town Deal Board which, working with Copeland Borough Council, secured a provisional offer of £22.5 million from the Government’s £3.6 billion Towns Fund initiative in 2022.

Significant match funding sums have since been pledged by the NDA, Sellafield, and the Copeland Community Fund.

Further contributions have been made by Copeland Borough Council, Cleator Moor Town Council and Regen North East Copeland.

In January 2023 £20m of investment from government was awarded to Copeland Borough Council for the iSH Enterprise Campus, phase two of the redevelopment at Leconfield through a successful bid to the Levelling Up Fund.

Part of the latest funding will create an attractive ‘Spine’ development: an active travel route providing improved connectivity between the Campus and the town centre through landscaped footpaths and cycleways. This will ensure the development of Leconfield helps regeneration of Cleator Moor and surrounding communities.

Regenerating the Town Centre will drive footfall, leading to increased expenditure, increased dwell time, increased business turnover and increased employment opportunities.

Better active infrastructure connections have the potential to deliver a wide range of socio-economic impacts for the community, including improvements to physical and mental health.

Growing the business ecosystem requires access to a local talent pool who are attracted by the quality of infrastructure, services, opportunities to grow and prosper and enjoy healthy and high-quality lifestyles.