Mitchells celebrates opening of new Cockermouth development to bolster other aspects of business

A diverse Cumbrian firm has expanded its reach even further with a new business park development.

Mitchells, based in Cockermouth, has multiple strands to its business, operating across livestock sales, land sales, professional agricultural services and antiques and fine art auctions.

It officially opened the new development in May, which is near its Lakeland Livestock Centre, just off the Lamplugh roundabout on the A66.

The available units were already filled with a wide range of businesses ahead of the opening, with firms including gym Lake District Barbell, Cumberland Stove Services, Cockermouth Kitchens, Cumbrian Baker, Derwent Groundworks, Carrs Billington Agriculture and Fulton Ltd trailer repairs.

Mitchells’ board of directors began looking into the feasibility of the project in June 2020.

Chair Ian Powley says the new development - which cost in the region of £900,000 - will provide a year round income to complement the more seasonal aspects of the business.

"The livestock side of our business is flying and the furniture and fine arts are doing really well and the land agency is growing," he says.

"But they are all cyclical businesses. If we have rented property hopefully we'll always get an income from it.”

Ian says livestock sales continued throughout the pandemic, albeit with some changes due to restrictions, and have remained strong with prices rising.

As well as acting as an agent for land sales, Mitchells also provides advice on claiming a variety of agricultural grants, a part of the business which Ian says is also going strong.

The antiques and fine art auctions have been bolstered by the drive for home improvement during the pandemic while online sales have also grown.

Construction of the development began in October 2020 with the help of Government funding from the Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership and support from HSBC bank. The development was completed last October and has been fully occupied with tenants since January.

“We recognised the need for new business premises in the Cockermouth area and knew we could make better use of the resources and space available next to our livestock mart,” says Ian.

“Mitchells have had a very good year but we can’t afford to be complacent. Diversifying our business model by expanding the business park makes us more resilient to downturns in the economy and helps protect and strengthen Mitchells for the future.”