The worlds of business and politics have a deep, intertwined and often very awkward relationship.

Businesses need the Government to maintain – and in some cases create – the environment needed for them to succeed. This includes everything from building roads and other infrastructure to making sure the workforce has the education they need to be employable.

Governments in turn need businesses to create jobs and wealth which can then be spent in the economy and be taxed to raise the funds which pay for public services.

Unsurprisingly, there are often disputes in this relationship and issues like red tape, rules and regulations frequently surface in these.

Governments are often accused of not understanding the needs of business and not taking into account the effect political decisions have on their work.

So what do Cumbria’s business leaders feel the next Government needs to address?

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Brexit, arguably the biggest political event of the last 12 months, dominates the minds of many.

The county voted overwhelmingly in favour of leaving the EU and many employers have concerns about what the UK’s future may hold.

One of these is Nigel Wilkinson, Winander Leisure Ltd, operator of Windermere Lake Cruises and Lakeland Motor Museum. He also chairs the Lake District Business Task Force and works with industry group Cumbria Tourism.

He says: “I think the most significant thing is getting the best possible Brexit deal for business, one that takes into account and is particularly suited to the needs of the Cumbrian economy.”


The biggest issue, Mr Wilkinson says, for Cumbria when it comes to Brexit is the ongoing dispute about immigration and the rights of European Union citizens to remain in the UK.

This is seen as being particularly important in the Lake District, where a combination of very low unemployment and an older population make it extremely hard for tourism businesses to recruit staff locally.

“What we need is a Brexit deal which recognises this sector of the economy,” he adds.

“When I talk to businesses here (in Cumbria) you can be fairly sure that recruitment and staffing issues will be mentioned.”

Mr Wilkinson also pointed out that Cumbria has benefited in the past from EU-based development funds – and will continue to be until Brexit is complete – and he hopes there is some way of replacing these sources of money once the country is no longer part of the union.

He adds: “I would also like to see a business rates system which is relevant for the 21st century.”

Mr Wilkinson believes this would help traditional retailers compete with online counterparts. While the former pay rates for a shop, the latter will pay far less for the warehouse where their stock is kept and he believes this is something that needs to be addressed.


Another person with strong views on where things should be going is Graham Lamont, a partner at accountancy firm Lamont Pridmore, which has offices in Barrow, Carlisle, Keswick, Kendal, Penrith, Workington and Whitehaven.

He says: “I think what businesses want is fair and stable trading conditions. It is bad enough having Brexit going on, which I think people now expect is going to take longer than two years, whether you are importing or exporting, it (Brexit) has an impact.”

Mr Lamont adds that the uncertainty is hindering business when it comes to making plans for the future. He is also worried that any tax increases could encourage people in commerce not to “go out and make more money and take more people on”.

“Just because you put up rates doesn’t mean you make more money,” he says.

He also reiterates concerns about what the future could hold for immigration policies, which he finds reiterated by other people in the accountancy profession.

“There is a real shortage of skills,” he says.

Mr Lamont also wants to make sure that post-Brexit, the UK is a good place to do business so that people are attracted to invest in the country.

Another issue he wants to see tackled is infrastructure, particularly its very mixed picture when it comes to broadband.

“We use the cloud (computer system) in Kendal but we cannot do it in Carlisle because the broadband is so bad,” he claims.


Fellow accountant Paul Hornby, who runs J F Hornby in Ulverston, wants to see more policies specifically targeted to support small businesses.

“HMRC seem to want more and more influence in the day-to-day running of business,” he says.

He also agrees with Mr Lamont that there is a big need for investment in the county’s infrastructure. This is a particular concern in Ulverston, which suffers bottlenecks on the A590.

“We are living in a cul-de-sac, when you look at everything being done at BAE and the big things going on around Cumbria, we need more investment,” he adds.

Amyn Fazal, the chief executive of the Penrith Building Society, has a different issue which he thinks needs to be addressed, which applies directly to the business he runs: housing.

He says: “It is always on our minds because that’s how building societies started.


“In London the average age of a first-time buyer is going steadily upwards. It is lower in Cumbria but the same sort of things apply. A lot of things are down to the supply of houses because a great supply will stabilise prices which will then enable people to buy.”

He suggests that there could be measures to encourage the building of modular houses as a way to create more homes and the development of more property which can be let out to renters in the long-term.

Martin Lewis, commercial director of Forth Engineering, Flimby, a firm which manufactures equipment for the nuclear and offshore industry, also wants Brexit to be successful.

The company has a large number of overseas customers and also employs people from outside the UK.

“We export products and services in Asia and we work across Europe, so Brexit is a key thing for us,” he says.

“Also, from a business point of view, we want to see low interest rates and things which give businesses a boost.”