SOUTH Lakeland is to host a major event next month celebrating the importance of manufacturing to Cumbria's economy.

The Cumbria can make it' manufacturing conference, believed to be the first-ever event of its kind in the county, will be staged at the Castle Green Hotel, Kendal, on Friday, June 4.

The event aims to help to sustain the manufacturing sector, which employs a total of 42,000 people across Cumbria, making it the county's largest single private sector employer and wealth generator.

South Lakeland has its fair share of manufacturers, despite the demise of Kendal's shoemaking heritage, with water turbine, carpet, food and papermaking firms all employing substantial numbers of staff.

In addition, there is the so-called silicone valley of high-tech electronic companies in Ulverston such as Oxley Developments, Tronic and Marl International, as well as the GlaxoSmithKline production plant.

Other manufacturers competing in national and international markets include Playdale Playgrounds of Haverthwaite, packaging specialist Kentmere Ltd of Staveley, and glassmaker Heron Glass from Ulverston.

Organisers see next month's event as a rare chance for manufacturing companies in Cumbria to identify common challenges and issues facing the sector, and to consider ways of tackling them.

More than 400 companies have been invited to attend the get-together, which will include speakers representing a cross-section of the diverse mix of the county's manufacturers.

Cumbria Local Enterprise Agency Network is organising the conference, which is being sponsored by the North West Development Agency, Cumbria Inward Investment Agency, West Lakes Renaissance and the Rural Regeneration Company for Cumbria.

The CBI and Business Link for Cumbria have both endorsed the event, which is free of charge for everyone attending.

Les Shore of Furness Enterprise said the breadth of variety in products made in Cumbria was considerable.

"Mass produced consumables teem off production lines. Technically sophisticated, high value, low volume goods are made to meet specialised customers' needs.

"Cumbria's manufacturers daily face up to the insistent challenge presented by the global economy. Their responses have been shown in product and process development, changes in management systems and human resource management.

"The knowledge and skill of 42,000 Cumbrians employed in manufacturing have made their strategies and plans tenable."

To book a place at this free-of-charge event, contact Les Shore or Christine Hodgson at Furness Enterprise, Trinity Enterprise Centre, Furness Business Park, Barrow, LA14 2PN, tel 01229- 820611, or email: chodgson@furness enterprise.co.uk.

l IN THE MAKING: Staff at Gilbert, Gilkes and Gordon in Kendal working on a water turbine.

(Gazette file photo)