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| Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency | |
|---|---|
| Name | Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency |
| Type | Charity |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Location | Cumbria, England |
| Area served | Cumbria |
| Services | Business support, grants, training, mentoring |
Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency is a charitable organisation supporting rural small and medium-sized enterprises in Cumbria and the Lake District region. Founded in the mid-1980s amid regional development initiatives tied to the European Regional Development Fund and local development schemes, the agency provides advisory services, funding brokerage, and project delivery for agricultural, tourism, and micro-enterprise sectors. It operates at the intersection of local development actors such as Cumbria County Council, Allerdale District Council, and sector bodies including National Farmers Union and VisitBritain.
The agency was established in 1986 during a wave of regional development activity influenced by the European Social Fund and the Enterprise Allowance Scheme, responding to structural change in Westmorland and Cumberland post-industrial communities. Early programmes aligned with initiatives from Rural Development Programme for England and collaborated with the Development Trusts Association and the Prince's Trust to tackle rural depopulation and business closure. Through the 1990s it expanded services in partnership with DEFRA initiatives, English Partnerships, and local regeneration projects such as those led by Copeland Borough Council and Barrow-in-Furness. The 2000s saw project-based funding from Big Lottery Fund and engagement with European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development schemes, while the 2010s emphasised resilience and diversification alongside stakeholders like Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership and Nesta.
The agency's mission aligns with objectives promoted by Rural Development Programme for England and LEADER networks: to sustain rural livelihoods across Allerdale, Eden, and South Lakeland. Core services include business planning assistance linked to frameworks used by British Business Bank, grant brokerage in collaboration with Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England for creative rural enterprise, and tailored mentoring akin to Prince's Trust models. Practical offerings include start-up workshops echoing Federation of Small Businesses curricula, farm diversification advice connected with National Farmers Union guidance, and tourism product development coordinated with VisitEngland and Lake District National Park Authority.
The agency operates as a registered charity governed by a board of trustees drawn from regional stakeholders including representatives from Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, Cumbria CVS, and local parish councils in Kendal and Carlisle. Operational delivery is managed by a chief executive officer supported by programme managers with experience in initiatives like Rural Payments Agency and Natural England stewardship schemes. Governance follows compliance standards set by the Charity Commission for England and Wales and reporting practices used by organisations such as Co-operatives UK and Social Enterprise UK. Voluntary advisory panels include sector experts from Tourism Society, Royal Agricultural Society, and higher education partners like University of Cumbria.
Funding streams combine grant awards from bodies including the European Regional Development Fund, Big Lottery Fund, and discretionary funds from Cumbria County Council. The agency secures project finance through partnerships with development organisations such as Groundwork UK, Federation of Small Businesses, and regional intermediaries like Cumbria LEP. Strategic partnerships extend to conservation and heritage organisations including National Trust and Historic England for rural heritage enterprise projects, as well as supply-chain collaborations with Food Standards Agency-aligned producers and local branding initiatives tied to Cumbria Tourism and Made in Cumbria retail networks.
Notable projects mirror national rural development exemplars: microfinance pilots inspired by Big Society Capital models, community enterprise hubs similar to those promoted by Locality (charity), and farm diversification schemes drawing on Countryside Stewardship principles. The agency has supported start-ups in sectors ranging from artisan food linked to Taste Cumbria initiatives, green energy projects informed by Energy Saving Trust guidance, to visitor economy enterprises aligned with Lake District World Heritage Site objectives. Measured outcomes include business survival rates comparable to evaluations by UK Commission for Employment and Skills and job creation metrics reported alongside Office for National Statistics rural labour reports. Collaborative projects with University of Cumbria have produced case studies adopted by Nesta and regional policy briefs used by Cumbria County Council.
The agency has been recognised in regional development circles with nominations and awards similar to those given by Local Government Chronicle and commendations from Cumbria Community Foundation. Its project delivery has been cited in evaluations commissioned by DEFRA and featured in conference programmes for Rural Services Network and Rural Housing Week. Partnerships with heritage and tourism bodies have earned acknowledgements from VisitEngland and sector press such as The Guardian features on rural enterprise innovation.
Category:Charities based in Cumbria Category:Rural development in England