Member Article

Climbing centre bringing new jobs to Keswick

A new climbing wall centre is opening in Cumbria – creating 12 new jobs.

The man behind the venture is Paul Cornforth, who has run a climbing-wall design, manufacture and installation company – King Kong Climbing Walls – for the past 20 years.

Now he has committed to launch the centre in Keswick, which will feature 600sq m of climbing surface including an indoor ice-climbing facility, advanced climbing and caving areas.

The facility, due to open in July, will also offer climbing walls for children and a play area.

Mr Cornforth said: “We are very excited about the new centre, which has been a labour of love.

“I have been climbing for 40 years and have been designing and building walls for the past 20, so I wanted to take all of that experience to build something special, which I believe I have.

“This will be a destination venue for people in the North West and all those that come to the Lakes on holiday.”

He secured a £150,000 loan from HSBC towards the £800,000 project.

HSBC commercial manager Angela Kirkpatrick managed the deal on behalf of the bank, with funding drawn from a £100m pot allocated by HSBC to support small and medium-sized businesses in Cumbria and Lancashire.

Jason Gledhill, HSBC area commercial director, said: “We know Paul well through his main climbing wall business and we know he is passionate about this new project, which we are confident will be a success.

“There is certainly a renewed appetite to invest and grow businesses.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .