A SUSTAINABILITY consultancy has expanded into Cumbria and created two new jobs in the county.

Gaiacene has employed two Cumbrian associates to help offer specialist consultancy services to the nuclear sector and other businesses in the county.

The firm, the headquarters of which are in Whitley Bay, provides sustainability and corporate social responsibility strategies and projects combined with evaluation, communications and engagement approaches.

Graeme McKenzie-Netherwood, based in Ulverston, will operate as a sustainability associate.

Mr McKenzie-Netherwood said: “I’m Cumbrian born and bred and sustainability has always been a big part of my life.

“I welcome the opportunity to work with Gaiacene and look forward to helping the company grow and to continue to deliver innovative solutions tailored to the needs of our clients and the communities they operate in.”

Nicola Lynch, based in Cockermouth, joined the firm as a social impact associate and said: “I’ve lived and worked in Cumbria for many years and have delivered a lot of successful projects that have provided social impact.

“Joining Gaiacene enables us to pool our expertise and knowledge to ensure that together we can achieve bigger and better things for our clients and our communities.”

Gaiacene helps clients to achieve economic, social and environmental benefits for their organisation, stakeholders and communities as a whole.

The firm was set up in 2012 by managing director, Craig White, and the workforce has grown by 50 per cent following the recruitment of Cumbrian associates.

It has already worked with Sellafield, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Nuclear Management Partners in Cumbria.

Mr White said: “I am immensely proud that two talented Cumbrian consultants have brought their skills into Gaiacene.

“They are an ideal fit, they share my ethics and desire to ensure the nuclear renaissance provides long lasting benefits for the communities and economy of Cumbria and the UK.

“Together, we provide a comprehensive service to all organisations and businesses seeking to deliver real and innovative social impact in the communities they live and work in. My ambition is to make Gaiacene the UK’s leading social impact consultancy for the nuclear sector."

The firm aims to win UK-wide contracts.