Businesses from across Cumbria have responded to proposals for a new industrial strategy put forward by the government.

Cumbria Chamber of Commerce surveyed the 16,000 businesses on its database looking for responses about how the policies could affect the county.

While billions in investment in advanced manufacturing and nuclear were reasons to be optimistic, Cumbria’s road and rail links, patchy broadband and mobile phone coverage, as well as a shortage of skilled workers were concerns for business owners.

Rob Johnston, chief executive of the chamber, said: “Having an industrial strategy marks a sea change in policy, Theresa May and her business secretary have indicated they will be more interventionist than any government since the 1970s.

“The Industrial Strategy Green Paper covers investment, skills, infrastructure, business support, procurement, exports, energy and other areas of vital interest.

“This is a hugely important document and we were very keen to hear what businesses in Cumbria think.”

The chamber also held three consultation meetings around the county, attended by businesses of all sizes and from different sectors.

Mr Johnston, added: “Business people pulled no punches when it came to criticisms of the banks, our education system, and failings in Cumbria’s transport and broadband.

“But don’t get the idea that this document is a list of complaints, at heart it is constructive.

“There are solutions to problems, including ideas on how we can help businesses innovate and bring products to market, seize opportunities presented by Brexit, and how we can make the LEP and the Northern Powerhouse work better for business.”

The Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership also responded to the proposed industrial strategy, welcoming plans for further developments in nuclear and advanced manufacturing.

Chairman George Beveridge said: “Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership warmly welcomes and strongly supports the industrial strategy proposals and sees them as a strong basis for delivering the Cumbria Strategic Economic Plan, which already prioritises the UK and World leading sectors in Cumbria; nuclear and energy, advanced manufacturing, plus rural and visitor.

“The Local Enterprise Partnership and its partners have already prepared clear strategies and growth plans, which are well advanced, for each of these sectors and will help deliver economic growth and improved productivity and benefits to the people of Cumbria, as well as the Northern Powerhouse and the UK.

“The Local Enterprise Partnership is also working on key drivers for growth that every sector in Cumbria will benefit from: infrastructure, skills and business support.”

However, the chamber’s response included veiled criticism of the LEP.

It said: “There is a lack of consistency of LEP governance models which is a real concern and continues to leave a number of LEPs open to criticism from the business community.

“If the LEP model is to continue and to be effective therefore there is a need for alignment of governance and structures, ensuring LEPs openly and transparently reflect the membership of the board and constituencies they represent.

“As part of this LEPs should be aligned to some sort of regional construct.”

Graham Haywood, the LEP's director, said: "We are looking forward to working with whichever government is formed after the general election.

"We will continue to work on our priorities, in which we are UK and world leaders, nuclear and energy, advanced manufacturing and the rural and visitor sectors.

“The Local Enterprise Partnership and its partners have already prepared clear strategies and growth plans, which are well advanced, for each of these sectors and will help deliver economic growth and improved productivity and benefits to the people of Cumbria, as well as the Northern Powerhouse and the UK.

“The Local Enterprise Partnership will also confine to work on key drivers for growth that every sector in Cumbria will benefit from: infrastructure, skills and business support.”