Ten teenagers from across West Cumbria are embarking on an exciting journey of entrepreneurship, thanks to a joint programme run by Cumbria Community Foundation and the Centre for Leadership Performance (CforLP). The young entrepreneurs have been carefully selected to participate in the Positive Enterprise programme, which will provide them with a £1,000 grant, workshops, expert guidance, mentoring, and the opportunity to shadow local business owners.
The programme aims to support and nurture the entrepreneurial spirit of young people in the region, by providing them with the necessary tools and resources to launch and grow their own businesses. Each participant will also be paired with an experienced businessperson who will act as a mentor, providing guidance and support through the highs and lows of entrepreneurship.
The 2025 edition of the programme was recently launched at The Rum Story in Whitehaven, where participants and their families, mentors, and organisers had the opportunity to get to know each other and hear about previous success stories.
Chloe Pennington, who was a part of the Positive Enterprise programme in 2024, shared her success story with this year’s participants. Her business, Chloe’s Chateau, which sells original art and gifts, has been thriving ever since. She transforms her own brightly coloured, hand-drawn artwork depicting scenes from West Cumbria and beyond into prints, mugs, and other giftware. Speaking to the new participants, Chloe said, “It has been amazing. Through this scheme, I’ve met so many people who have helped me. My advice would be to network as much as you can and take every opportunity that you get from this process. You’ll get out of it what you put in.”
Another success story from the Positive Enterprise programme is Aaron Groggins, who launched his events business, Lakeland Life, last year. In November, Aaron organised the first Eat Street Cumbria event in Whitehaven, a street food market that attracted 5,000 visitors and brought £74,000 into the local economy. Aaron credited the programme for his success, saying, “If I hadn’t signed up for Positive Enterprise, it wouldn’t have happened. A great number of people have helped me along the way. Positive Enterprise is the perfect place to try out your ideas.”
This year’s participants have a diverse range of business ideas, including selling crochet starter kits, gym wear, and wellness boxes, as well as offering services such as property maintenance and tech services for older people.
Isabelle Walker, 15, from Whitehaven, who makes hand-sewn fashion accessories, has already experienced some success selling online. She hopes that Positive Enterprise will help her take her business to the next level. Isabelle said, “I need help learning to budget and organise my business, gain visibility on the internet, develop my brand, and how to sell locally. I also really need a new sewing machine, so the £1,000 grant will cover that.”
Glenn Anderson, of Proud and Diverse Cumbria, is a Positive Enterprise mentor for the first time this year. He expressed his gratitude for being chosen as a mentor, saying, “It’s a real privilege to be asked to be a mentor, to pass on a bit of my experience, and to help mould the minds of our future leaders and workforce. Having someone who has already been there is sure to be helpful when setting up your own business.”
This year marks the third edition of the programme, which is funded by property developer Brian Scowcroft, with match funding from Sellafield Ltd under its Transforming West Cumbria programme, and the Beverley Trust Fund.
Stuart McCourt, Social Impact Manager at Sellafield Ltd, expressed his delight in supporting Positive Enterprise once again this year. He said, “We are delighted to support Positive Enterprise again this year, and it was great to meet the participants and see the enthusiasm they have for their business ideas. Hearing the success stories from the previous beneficiaries shows how valuable the programme is, not only supporting young entrepreneurs to get started but also giving them the tools that they need for their business to become sustainable and grow.”
The programme is delivered by the Centre for Leadership Performance, with Jemma Groves, Project Lead for CforLP, saying, “Positive Enterprise is an absolutely fantastic opportunity for our young people to make their mark in the business world, and coaching them through this is an honour. This year, we have a group of super-intelligent, charismatic, and creative individuals, and I am excited to support them over the next six months. Some, if not all, of the young people that go through this programme are our future leaders in business, and Positive Enterprise gives us the opportunity to nourish their growth.”
Annalee Holliday, Head of Grants Practice & Programmes at Cumbria Community Foundation, also expressed her excitement for the programme, saying, “Positive Enterprise has had a truly transformational effect on the lives of
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.