Eden Council and Cumbria Chamber of Commerce set out to understand local firms’ biggest challenges and opportunities at their inaugural Inspiring Eden Business Breakfast. 

The roundtable event provided an opportunity for the Council and the Chamber to introduce the Inspiring Eden initiative and associated business support programmes, whilst also hearing the views of local businesses on the key challenges and opportunities facing the local economy.

Key themes served up by participants included difficulties with recruitment; the challenges of increased energy costs; the rising expectations of visitors; opportunities for new business networks to support local businesses; and the changing face of town centres and shopfront usage now and into the future.

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Councillor Mary Robinson, Portfolio Holder for Economy and Enterprise at Eden District Council, said: "This was an excellent event and it is important that we at the Council and Chamber of Commerce have the opportunity to hear what businesses have to say about the current economic climate: in particular, the specific hopes and fears currently being faced on a day to day basis.

"I am very keen we build on this event over the coming months. We want to make sure we keep our fingers on the pulse of the ever changing economic conditions and the associated impacts on our local businesses."