BUSINESSES in Furness and the South Lakes are being invited to take advantage of a new service to help them land contracts with some of the county's biggest companies.

Cumbria Chamber of Commerce launched the Supply Chain Gateway in May.

Key businesses such as BAE Systems, Booths, Morgan Sindall, Innovia Films and Pirelli are already taking part.

The latest to join the Gateway is the Box Encapsulation Plant Project, a joint venture of Amec Foster Wheeler, Balfour Beatty and Jacobs operating at Sellafield.

Eva Foran, policy and engagement manager at the chamber, said: "The Gateway draws together information on supply chain needs and opportunities from larger organisations, plus a great choice of resources to help smaller businesses develop their capabilities."

It is hosted within Cumbria Business Growth Hub and developed with support from Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership.

Businesses can register an interest when they sign up with the Growth Hub at www.cumbriagrowthhub.co.uk/user-register.

As well as offering access to contract opportunities, the service offers links to business support including subsidies for consultancy to help businesses gain relevant accreditations, and free access to the Growth Hub's team of expert business advisers.

The scheme has proved so successful that the chamber is looking to recruit a supply chain gateway development manager to take the initiative forward.