We are backing independent and family-run businesses in Cumbria.

That is the message from Newsquest Cumbria’s sales director Lee Taylor-Craddock and regional group editor Vanessa Sims.

In an extremely challenging and unprecedented time, Newsquest Cumbria the publisher of the News and Star, The Mail, The Cumberland News, The Westmorland Gazette, The Whitehaven News, The Times and Star and the Hexham Courant, wants to show its support to the communities it serves by launching a new campaign – ‘Backing independent and family businesses’.

Whitehaven News:

As part of the campaign all independently owned businesses are being offered the opportunity to have a free advert in our titles next week to help them spread their ‘shop local’ message to as many customers as possible.

Vanessa Sims, regional group editor said: “In unprecedented times such as these we must all do our best to support our independent businesses.

“Shopping local has never been so important.

“It is no secret our local traders are facing a difficult time and as a champion of our communities, Newsquest Cumbria wants to help in any way it can.

“In all of our titles we will be featuring the efforts of local businesses which have been going the extra mile to support their customers.

“If you have any examples of a business going above and beyond please get in touch.”

The campaign will be officially launched in next week’s papers with continuous coverage across our print products and websites.

Whitehaven News:

Lee Taylor-Craddock, sales director, said: “Newsquest Cumbria and LOCALiQ are best placed to lead on this campaign as we reach a huge percentage of the local population through our brands.

“As this crisis develops the local communities, we serve will rely on us to keep them informed. We have already seen a significant increase in traffic to all our news sites over the last week in response to what is going on.

“We will ensure amongst this important communication that we are really banging the drum for independent and family owned businesses from all sectors including retail, hospitality and leisure and encouraging our loyal readership to show their support by shopping local.

“Any business which wants to be featured in our launch campaign next week should get in touch and we will be more than happy to provide a free standard sized advert, providing they are an independent or family business which trades in any area of Cumbria.

“I have also instructed my team to reach out to these businesses over the coming days and make them aware of this offer, many of these businesses have supported us for several years by advertising their products and services within our titles and at this time it is appropriate we show our support.

“We have spoken with a number of business leaders across the county today and many are keen to show their support by partnering with us on this campaign.

“If any other businesses would like to come onboard as a partner I urge them to reach out to me directly.”

Whitehaven News:

Steve McCullough, from campaign partner Armstrong Watson, said: “The Covid-19 outbreak is not just a world health emergency, it is an economic one too.

“The business impacts are clear to see and it’s important that we as a firm are at the forefront, supporting and advising fellow Cumbrian businesses during this incredibly challenging time. “There’s no doubt, business owners will need to adapt, and potentially diversify, and we want to be with them all the way, so supporting an initiative such as this, providing a much needed platform to promote local and independent family firms, is essential.

“There has never been such an important time for business to have sound, trusted advice, Armstrong Watson understands business and the pressures people face we’re with you!”

South Lakes MP Tim Farron, a fellow supporter of the campaign, said: “Coronavirus is a triple threat: health, economic and a challenge to the community as to whether we will rise to it and all the signs are we will.

Whitehaven News:

“This campaign is a way of promoting small and independent businesses and to help one another.

“We do not want to break the rules of self-isolation, but we need to support the economy to keep it going.”

Sellafield have also declared their support as a partner.

Whitehaven News:

For more information or to get your free advert email: Wes Davis on wes.davis@localiq.co.uk