Peter Stafford

A LEADING legal firm has proved its commitment to the high street by opening a new town centre office. Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors will move into a new office in Cockermouth later this month as part of the firm’s continued expansion. Staff based at its current West Cumbrian office in Dovenby will transfer to the new base, which is in an historic building on Main Street, close to Cocker Bridge and…

A LEADING legal firm is maximising its expertise by branching out to offer a specialist wills dispute service nationwide. Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors, the only legal firm in Cumbria to be a member of the innovative UK200Group, has launched a wills dispute resolution website. Peter Stafford, Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors’ managing director, explained why the firm, which has traditionally concentrated on mainly serving communities across Cumbria and Northumberland, has made the move…

CUMBRIA has a brilliant business community full of inspiring business people achieving amazing results across a whole range of sectors. Whether it’s in advanced manufacturing or energy, hospitality and tourism, professional services and agriculture, right across the board in a broad range of industries including new and emerging technologies, we have businesses who are always looking to innovate. From young entrepreneurs to established business leaders there’s also a real willingness…

UK200Group Poll: How has your business been affected by #Covid-19? We are now 5 months on from the ‘start’ of the Covid-19 triggered lockdown. The impact of the various measures introduced in this time have affected us all and vary from business to business and across sectors.  We would like to better understand the impact on SMEs. It is in this respect that I am inviting you to participate in a…

UK200 Group Poll: What does the future look like for your business? Over the coming weeks, subject to the COVID-19 virus being under control, we are seeing a re-opening of the economy, sectors and SMEs, owner operated and family businesses. But we also know many remain closed due to ongoing lockdown restrictions. This will have implications for SMEs who form the backbone of the UK economy. As members of the…

TRIATHLETES from all over the world will be able to take part in a triathlon usually held in the English Lake District – by doing the virtual event from their own homes. Organisers of the hugely popular annual Lakesman Triathlons cancelled this year’s event because of COVID-19. But to help people keep their motivation and benefit their mental and physical well-being during lockdown – organisers have launched the virtual Lakesman…

Are you self-employed or running a small limited company? Have you applied for a grant from the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme? One of the government support schemes is the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) which is a scheme to provide financial assistance in the form of a grant to those that are self-employed or members of partnerships that have been adversely affected by Covid-19. If you are self-employed, in a…

Cartmells Shepherd’s Managing Director Peter Stafford provides some good advice and a helpful checklist for SMEs. A useful reminder of the key things that need to be in place to get your business running efficiently and effectively; look after your people and your customers; and move your business forward. Structured around the four pillars of: Operations & technology Finance & resourcing People Marketing & communications View checklist here UK200GroupEmergenceChecklist -…

UK200 Group Poll: What are your biggest challenges as we see an easing of lockdown? There remains quite some confusion following the Prime Ministers broadcast last night but it is likely we will start to see an easing of the lockdown restrictions in the coming weeks, so long as the virus is kept under control. This will have implications for SME businesses (and particularly those in Cumbria and Northumberland that…

A LEADING Cumbria legal firm is backing calls for the government to do more to help small and medium sized businesses with more than 30 per cent at risk of going out of business if the COVID-19 lockdown continues. New research conducted by the UK200Group an organisation which represents the country’s leading law and accountancy firms, shows that more than 500,000 people in the North West are at risk of…