A scheme to regenerate communities across the west of Cumbria and create more than 700 has secured vital funding.
iSH (the Industrial Solutions Hub) has received funding support from Copeland Borough Council and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.
At a meeting of Copeland Borough Council’s full council on Tuesday. June 21, members voted to accept £2.329m from the Sellafield impact fund, £7m from the NDA’s socio economic fund and to put in a bid to the Government’s Levelling Up Fund Round 2 to support iSH.
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Mayor of Copeland Mike Starkie said: "This is an exciting day for Copeland, West Cumbria and the region.
"iSH will lift the aspirations of those living and working in Copeland and bring opportunities for all.
"Its reach can be global and its positive impact will be felt across Copeland, West Cumbria and beyond. This is the largest investment into Cleator Moor for generations."
iSH is an initiative led by Copeland Borough Council with the support of key stakeholders including the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Sellafield Ltd, Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership and private sector supply chain partners.
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Jamie Reed, NDA director of socio-economics, added: "The NDA and Sellafield Ltd have worked with local partners over recent years to bring these ideas forward and to ensure that the Industrial Solutions Hub has reached this point.
"This is part of a series of socio-economic projects we have collectively helped to fund over recent years including Campus Whitehaven, the Bus Station and more.
"Our socio-economic agenda is an important part of our legacy as we continue to make progress against our decommissioning mission and we’re committed to working with local partners to co-create future projects that help to strengthen and diversify the local economy."
John Maddison, managing director of iSH which will have its base in Cleator Moor, said: "This is an exciting day for iSH and we thank those in Copeland Borough Council, the NDA and Sellafield who have given our programme their support and this vital financial backing.
"We have ambitious plans to bring opportunity and prosperity to the area through industry, business, skills and social programmes which will make a positive difference to people's lives and regenerate communities across West Cumbria.
"iSH is an initiative of regional, national and international significance which will create jobs, opportunities for businesses and organisations to collaborate, enhance skills, provide business support, and bring a range of economic, environmental and social benefits to the community.
"We will build on the industry excellence of Sellafield and its supply chain and through collaboration will turn that into opportunities for businesses and organisations to grow and create more skills, training and employment."