Ten aspiring entrepreneurs, aged between 14 and 21, have been selected to participate in the highly anticipated Positive Enterprise program. The program, run by Cumbria Community Foundation and the Centre for Leadership Performance (CforLP), aims to provide support and resources for young people with innovative business ideas.
The selected individuals, hailing from various areas of West Cumbria, have diverse business ideas ranging from software development to gutter cleaning. They will each receive a grant of £1,000 as well as workshops, expert advice, and mentoring opportunities. Additionally, they will have the chance to shadow local entrepreneurs and learn from their experiences.
Each participant will also be paired with a seasoned businessperson who will serve as a mentor and guide them through the challenges and successes of starting their own business. This year, the program will also be expanding to the Furness area for the first time.
The launch event for the West Cumbria cohort took place at LEVELS in Whitehaven, where participants, their families, mentors, and organizers had the opportunity to get to know each other and hear about previous success stories from the program.
Among this year’s selected participants is Aiden Gill, 15, from Dearham, who has a unique business idea of creating a new fragrance. He shared, “I’m most looking forward to trying new things. I’ve done some research into making a fragrance and this program seems like a really good opportunity to give it a go.”
Chloe Pennington, a previous participant of the program in 2024, also shared her advice for this year’s cohort. She said, “Take every opportunity; you don’t know where it will lead. If it’s not working for you – pivot. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. The experience itself is worth much more than the money.”
The program is made possible through funding from Sellafield Ltd, Thomas Graham & Sons Ltd, the Printers Inc Social Mobility Fund, and a private donor. Stuart McCourt, Social Impact Manager at Sellafield Ltd, expressed his excitement for the program, saying, “The success of previous beneficiaries proves the program’s impact – helping young entrepreneurs get started and giving them the tools to build sustainable, growing businesses.”
The program is delivered by CforLP, with Project Lead Rhianna Smith sharing, “At the very start of this year’s Positive Enterprise program, we’re already seeing a diverse group of young people bringing forward a broad and creative range of business ideas that reflect their different experiences, interests, and ambitions.”
Annalee Holliday, Head of Grants Practice & Programs at Cumbria Community Foundation, also praised the program’s success, stating, “Positive Enterprise has a fantastic track record of delivering practical support and advice to young people starting out in business. There are so many success stories from the first three years of the program – not only in terms of the number of businesses still going from strength to strength, but the confidence and life skills it has given those taking part.”
For more information on the program, please visit www.cumbriafoundation.org/positive-enterprise/.
