Companies with staff who are also carers are being given a boost by a Cumbrian charity.

Free help is being provided by West Cumbria Carers to help firms manage carers within their workforce.

The Business to Business support gives companies new services and management tools to improve their current practice.

The charity is already working with Workington's Iggesund Paperboard through its human resources officer Val Warren.

She said: "We are working with West Cumbria Carers because we want to support our workforce and be known as a responsible and supportive employer.

"It makes good business sense, possibly reducing staff turnover, lowering recruitment costs and attracting and retaining mature skilled and experienced staff.

"In addition we hope that by supporting working carers in our workforce we can reduce absence rates and improve our productivity."

A spokesman for West Cumbria Carers added: "At any one time 10% of a workforce will be caring for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction, cannot cope without their support.

"We know that caring for a sick, disabled or frail loved one is not a 9 – 5 role and that many of the carers will really struggle to juggle their job with growing caring responsibilities.

For more information call Andrea Carlton or Clare Edwards on 01900 821976. Email workingandcaring@westcumbriacarers.co.uk or clareedwards@westcumbriacarers.co.uk