THE man in charge of Cumbria’s Local Enterprise Partnership thinks the county is set to benefit from Britain’s new industrial strategy.

Graham Haywood, the organisation’s director, believes the government’s new focus on specific sectors of the economy such as energy and advanced manufacturing bodes well for Cumbria.

He also admitted the snub to the LEP last week, when it was awarded less than 10 per cent of the £165m it bid for to invest in local projects, was a “disappointment”.

Mr Haywood has also defended the fact that none of cash which the organisation has received going to south Cumbria.

The new industrial strategy was launched by prime minister Theresa May in a green paper last week. It is designed to indicate the direction a post-Brexit UK would take.

It includes a £556m boost for the so-called Northern Powerhouse, an overhaul of technical education and £170m cash for a new emphasis on science, technology, engineering and innovation.

Mr Haywood said: “The green paper will play more strongly to our strengths.

“We have got new nuclear and advanced manufacturing with BAE Systems at Barrow and other notable businesses like James Cropper, Innovia and Pirelli.

“It looks like there will be more emphasis on developing growth in areas where we are already at the leading edge.”

Also last week, the LEP was awarded £12.7m to invest in projects around the county as part of the government’s Growth Deal 3.

This was far less than the £165m which was bid for. The money received will be spent on a plans for Carlisle Station Gateway and Citadels project, Whitehaven town centre and Lillyhall North in Workington as well the countywide Skills Capital and Growing Our Potential projects.

None, though, is being spent in south Cumbria.

Mr Haywood said: "If you look at Growth Plans 1 and 2 (previous allocations of government money) the Barrow and Ulverston area received sizeable amounts."

He added: "The only area where where there hasn't been anything significant is Eden, because of the nature of the area I suppose."

Mr Haywood said: “It is a bit of a disappointment but, having looked at allocations within the Northern Powerhouse, across the 11 LEPs we are the seventh out of 11 per capita."