The Shepley Group

The Shepley Group Fund, managed by Cumbria Community Foundation, has helped more local community groups - supporting Gosforth FC to become more self sufficient by enabling the purchase of equipment to bring key maintenance jobs in-house.

The Fund has awarded more than £160,000 in grants to local small or volunteer-led groups since being created in 2009, with six projects receiving a total of £11,300 in recent months.

Thank you Josh MacAlister OBE, MP for Whitehaven and Workington, for visiting West Cumberland Engineering's Derwent Howe facility last Friday. It was our pleasure to demonstrate the critical high-integrity manufacturing projects being undertaken for companies such as Sellafield Ltd, as well as the investments in innovations that are streamlining our off-site manufacturing capabilities and maintaining our impeccable Right First Time rates.

Josh met some of the senior leadership team at Shepley Group, including Gavin Jakubowski, Callum Woodend and Trudy Harrison, and was impressed to hear of our investment in local skills, creating lasting opportunities across West Cumbria.

Employing hundreds of local people, including 90 apprentices, and boasting 10,000m² of workshop space across Lillyhall and Workington, we are one of the county’s largest local engineering companies. It was positive to discuss our ambition for growth in volume manufacturing and how, together with our wider engineering, mechanical, electrical and commissioning capabilities across Shepley Group, we are working with clients and supply chains to deliver greater value while reinforcing mutual benefits across our community.

Operating successfully in the highly-regulated sectors we work in requires rigorous systems and the highest standards. We are delighted to have been reaccredited to ISO 9001, ISO 3834-2 and BS-EN 1090; without a single finding, non-conformity, or required action.

This remarkable accomplishment means that West Cumberland Engineering have now achieved 32 consecutive years of these accreditations, covering our quality management systems and the standards for fusion welding and assembly of structural steel and aluminium components.

This success demonstrates not only the quality of our systems, but also the consistency and dedication of generations of employees who have contributed to maintaining these standards year after year.

In memory of our much-valued colleague and friend, Danny Kennedy, West Cumberland Engineering will be taking part in a sponsored walk from Ennerdale Bridge to Keswick on 19th September 2026.

We will be raising funds for Andys Man Club, a charity chosen by Danny's family. Any support or donation can be made via our JustGiving page, which would be greatly appreciated.