20th November 2025
The hunt is on for the best young business brains in Furness and West Cumbria – with £1,000 in funding awarded to those selected.
Positive Enterprise is a programme run by Cumbria Community Foundation and the Centre for Leadership Performance (CforLP) to help people aged 14 to 25 go into business.
Successful applicants will be mentored by an experienced businessperson for six months, alongside workshops and coaching in business skills such as communication and leadership. They will also each receive £1,000 to spend on equipment, marketing or other business start-up costs.
The programme has run successfully for three years in West Cumbria and is now being extended to Furness for the first time. It is open to anyone aged between 14 and 25 living in the former districts of Allerdale, Copeland and Barrow, and in the wards of Broughton & Coniston, Furness Peninsula, Ulverston East and Ulverston West. Up to 20 places are available for the next intake, which will launch in January 2026.
The scheme is funded by Sellafield Ltd as part of its Transforming West Cumbria programme, Thomas Graham & Sons Ltd, the Printers Inc Social Mobility Fund and individual donors including Jan Ambler.
Businesses which have been developed under the scheme so far include sustainable clothing brands, a football coaching company, art and craft producers, and self-care packages for people undergoing chemotherapy.
Thomas Henderson, 18, of Cockermouth took part this year with his garden maintenance business. He said: “The best thing about Positive Enterprise has been the opportunity to take an idea I care about and turn it into something real. Being surrounded by other ambitious young people and getting the chance to pitch my project made it feel like my ideas actually mattered. It gave me a huge confidence boost.
“Before this, I saw business mostly as a way to make money. Now I realise how powerful it can be as a tool for solving real problems and helping people. It’s shown me that business and social impact don’t have to be separate – they can actually work hand in hand.”
Rhianna Smith, Project Lead at the Centre for Leadership Performance, said: “We are thrilled to celebrate the fourth year of Positive Enterprise, and especially proud to be extending the programme for the first time into both West Cumbria and Furness.
“At the Centre for Leadership Performance, supporting young entrepreneurs is a core part of our wider strategy to build enterprise skills, leadership and confidence at every age. Seeing these young people turn their ideas into real ventures is inspiring, and we’re delighted to be part of the next generation’s entrepreneurial journey.”
Fantastic track record
Key to the success of the programme is the recruitment of local businesspeople to act as mentors to the young entrepreneurs.
Georgina Goulding, owner of Bakes by Gina and Beach Road Bakehouse in St Bees, was a mentor this year, and has also taken on a Positive Enterprise participant from a previous year as a business administration apprentice.
She said she would highly recommend applying, both to young people and potential mentors. “It has been absolutely amazing taking part in this scheme and I really hope to be involved again in the future.”
Annalee Holliday, Head of Grants Practice & Programmes at Cumbria Community Foundation, encouraged both young people and potential mentors to consider applying.
She said: “The programme has a fantastic track record of helping young people fulfil their dreams and turn their business ideas into a reality. We’re so grateful for the support of our funders and mentors giving up their time to share their skills and experience.”
Two online information sessions will be held for anyone wanting to find out more about Positive Enterprise, on Wednesday 26 November and Wednesday 10 December, both 5.30pm to 6:30pm.
For more information, and to apply for a place or to be a mentor, go to https://www.cumbriafoundation.org/positive-enterprise/. Applications close at 5pm on Friday 9 January 2025.