Business Toolbox Cumbria

26/03/2026

I was so pleased to be asked to mentor Charlotte as part of the Positive Enterprise programme.

Charlotte has a fantastic vision for a Cumbrian craft marketplace, and her creativity is inspiring! I’m looking forward to helping her move forward from idea to launch over the next few months.

We had our first session yesterday, and broke steps down into manageable chunks as she has mocks coming up. I could offer a bit of advice on where not to go down creative rabbit holes before getting financial and business plan ducks in a row……… because I have been there and got the t-shirt in the past!

That's part of the joy of mentoring - you can feel you make a really tangible contribution, and also gain so much from seeing a business through fresh eyes. Charlotte will go far, and I am thrilled to be involved in supporting her on this programme. And I am benefiting from reviewing my own business as we go along! Win-win!!

Now writing up notes, juggling laptop and crazy Springer, and thinking that this is going to be a great project to be a part of. Always love anything that Centre for Leadership Performance are involved in.

Positive Enterprise was created by Cumbria Community Foundation in partnership with the Centre for Leadership Performance Cumbria, and is funded by Sellafield Ltd, Thomas Graham & Sons Ltd, the Printers Inc Social Mobility Fund and a private donor.

Centre for Leadership Performance Cumbria Community Foundation

30/01/2026

What a joy to be asked back to St Benedict's Catholic High School today to speak at the World of Work end-of-day assembly.

The icing on the cake was sharing the stage with Gerard Richardson of Richardsons - my friend and unwitting mentor! I often go into his shop to "buy things," but really, I’m just there to steal his advice 😂 He gave a cracking chat about his varied career, and despite knowing him for over a decade, I still learned something new.

I had to laugh at this photo - you may recognise Fraser on the screen in the background. It looks like he's watching over Gerard but I suspect he’s actually just scouting the room for his bestie Chester (Dianne's dog).

I hope we both did a bit to inspire the next generation, and remind them that career paths can be wiggly.

Thank you to the pupils who listened so well to us both. Sincere gratitude to the many business friends who shared wisdom for my talk, and thank you to the school for having us.

09/12/2025

Outrageously late to the party, but still smiling about the incredible Awards!

It was inspiring to see a room full of people genuinely celebrating each other. What a special BECBC family. Huge congratulations to Zoe Billings (shortlisted for Business Person of the Year) and to the awesome Vicky Brown on her win!

John Grainger’s award to Emma-Jayne brought a tear to my eye, and the sheer joy when Forth announced they surpassed their £25K target was tangible in the room - wonderful!

I'm incredibly proud to have created the chocolate-themed branding in honour of John, and I thoroughly enjoyed bringing Dianne's ideas to life. Congratulations to all - too many to mention, but what an amazing bucket load of talent we have here in Cumbria! Sohere's to next year!

09/08/2025

Not all heroes wear capes as the saying goes. Today Dianne Richardson and Connor Fish of Britain's Energy Coast Business Cluster are leaping out of a plane (aka skydiving) to raise vital funds for Great North Air Ambulance Service . Just wanted to wish them the very best of luck AND hope that they come away having had the most amazing experience. I've heard it's a fabulous adventure, and you are both braver than I am.
Fundraising links in case anyone has any ££ to spare for an incredible cause:
Dianne: https://bit.ly/41tH4PG
Connor: https://bit.ly/47sJXnA

😍

Help Dianne Richardson raise money to support Great North Air Ambulance Service

08/08/2025

Loved being a small part of the amazing “Turncoat” fundraiser for the charity of the year at Muncaster Castle. A real privilege to create the designs for promotion.

An incredible night for a great cause! Thank you to everyone who made it happen. And huge appreciation to Emma-Jayne and Mary who came up with the idea - and ensured the evening sparkled from beginning to end The detail and love that you put in was extraordinary. There have been a lot of superlatives uttered - and all I can say to the team I was in is Strawberry Shields Forever 😂
Here’s to 2026 🤭 Please may it happen 💕

06/08/2025

Just a little reminder that there are still a few hours before the 5pm deadline to get your nominations in for the fabulous Awards 2025.
I loved creating the design for the awards templates and get a wee buzz every time I see them. Got even more of a buzz nominating fabulous people for their contributions.... A great chance to spread a little positivity.

https://bit.ly/3UgJAov

01/07/2025

I was lucky enough to be at The Music Farm Recording Studio when this podcast with Dianne Richardson was recorded. It is a wonderful conversation between two remarkable women, and it hit the mark on many different levels with me - personal and professional. I think you may find the same.

It was hearing Catherine's podcasts that connected us together - I "fangirled" her when I heard the Gobsmacked podcasts, and then worked my way through listening to Assa Marra - "a love letter to West Cumbria". Every single episode is a belter.

Following on from a wonderful rollercoaster of a conversation between Catherine and Gerard Richardson a few weeks ago, this one with Dianne is equally impactful.

Have a listen via the link here https://bit.ly/3ZZQG41
It's packed with lots of the usual Dianne intelligent thought, common-sense, positivity, authenticity, laughter, love and light.
P.S. She'll not be sitting easy with all these compliments 🤣🥰

27/06/2025

Thank you to Nicole at Cumbria Crack for highlighting this fabulous fundraiser for Great North Air Ambulance Service, Britain's Energy Coast Business Cluster Charity of the Year 2025. Emma-Jayne Gooch & Mary Moscrop have been plotting to create an amazing evening of interactive fun, food, deception & detection! I have loved supporting with designing the marketing material. Bring yourselves, your friends, family or colleagues (epic team-building opportunity!!) and enjoy a night to remember.
If you can't join, then a share or the offer of a donation for the silent auction will also be HUGELY appreciated. Thank you and happy Friday!

It will be held on Thursday July 10 at Muncaster Castle and guests will take part in challenges attempting to thwart and identify Turncoats, secretly working to undermine the group and eliminate players.

20/06/2025

I've spent some of the last couple of Thursday mornings with the talented students from West Coast Sixth Form (last week) and Energy Coast UTC (this week). Every time I spend time with students who take part in these programmes It makes me feel Tigger levels of positivity and hope for the future!

They tackled the ProjX Regeneration challenge with energy, creating some fantastic marketing initiatives for the new Workington Innovation Centre. What I loved was that they asked great questions, had prepared really well, and clearly wanted to get the most out of their week. Their confidence, creativity, and teamwork were so positive, and in some cases outstanding!

It’s inspiring to see the impact of programmes like ProjX, powered by the Sellafield Social Impact SiX Programme in partnership with CforLP, investing in future leaders.

Whether you spoke out or were doing the work in the background, you all impressed us. It was so lovely to be alongside Lucy Teasdale, Christine from Lakes College and Ashton Hoban

30/05/2025

What a great hour I had this morning. I met Catherine Williamson with whom I had connected (she might even say stalked 😂) after listening to her fabulous Gobsmacked and Assa Marra podcasts. . Such a good craic & fair to say I think we managed to pack quite a lot in to our time at The Peddler. Look forward to catching up again. In the meantime, I've got to mention the extraordinarily candid chat Catherine has with Gerard Richardson - I know I am biased, but it is not to be missed. It had me crying & laughing! Look it out if not heard it... & I gather there's some great guests in the pipeline too 😉

30/05/2025

Designing the brand has been such a joy. Oh and yes, it's been inspired by a very important chocolate-loving director who has been such a huge part of for the last decade.
🍫 So much fun to work with Dianne & team on this design from the first hints of a theme to the final sign-off! Here is the core template I created, from which I adapted different formats for flexible usage.
Can't wait to see which amazing companies and individuals are shortlisted for these prestigious & meaningful awards 🤎
Always grateful for the faith people put in me and my thinking in and outside the box…