This month on the Cumbria Business Growth Hub podcast we're joined by Claire Louise Chapman of the Shared Value Business. The topic of our conversation is Social Value. We discuss: definitions and differences between Social Value and Corporate Social Responsibility; the benefits of embedding social value into a business strategy; top tips for small businesses getting started; and how Social Value looks to evolve in the coming years. 

Keep an eye on our website for upcoming Social Value training: https://cumbriagrowthhub.co.uk/grow-your-business/train-your-team?st=trainYourTeam

Learn more about the Shared Value Business here: https://tsvb.co.uk/

In this episode, we sit down with Claire Aindow, the Pro Vice Chancellor for Growth and Development at the University of Cumbria. Claire discusses her new role and the university's new campus in Barrow-in-Furness opening in 2025. She also shares how the university is working closely with local businesses to create educational opportunities that meet the needs of the community and economy.  

Click here to learn more about the Barrow Campus - https://www.cumbria.ac.uk/student-life/locations/barrow-in-furness/.

As part of our activity for Global Entrepreneurship Week 2024, we're sharing an interview with Denise Gosney - founder of Razzamataz - which was previously shown at our 'How To Slay the Dragons' event held in partnership with North and West Lancs Chamber of Commerce in November 2024. 

Hear Denise's inspiring story all about how she started her Razzamataz and what happened after she appeared on Dragons' Den. For the first time in the Den, a Dragon offered all the money without haggling!

We're joined on the podcast by Martha Wood, founder of Chamber member Martha Wood Marketing. We discuss the role of social media in the marketing industry and how a marketing strategy can help you take advantage of the platforms available. 

To learn more about Martha's freelance marketing services visit her website: 

 https://marthawoodmarketing.com/

We catch up with Head of Debt John Gray and Investment Manager Jonathan Nelson following River Capital's recent expansion into Cumbria after securing the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II Smaller Loans Fund. We discuss investment solutions currently available to Cumbrian businesses; getting investment ready; common challenges and how River Capital can support; sectors in Cumbria with growth potential over the next five years and some of the transformative work businesses have done with funding from River Capital. 

Cumbrian businesses looking to learn more should do so via River Capital's website here: https://rivercapitaluk.com/

We're joined on the podcast by Clare Atkinson, Founder and Director of R&D at NuGreen, a sustainability consultancy researching the use of plastic in the health care sector and how resources from medical waste can be recovered and recycled. We discuss NuGreen's work to date, the challenges and opportunities when it comes to using plastic in the health care sector, and a new project funded through the Cumbria Action for Sustainability's W&F Green Enterprise hub looking at reducing plastic waste from medical equipment. 

Links:

Home - NuGreen (nu-green.co.uk)

Westmorland and Furness Green Enterprise Hub (cafs.org.uk)

This month on the podcast we discuss the Brighter Futures programme with Deborah Naylor (Inspira) and Claire Sands (Cumbria Youth alliance).

Brighter Futures aims to support young people in Cumbria who are leaving care, through a range of activity inlcluding mentoring, work experience placements and life skills development.

Click below to learn more about the different ways employers can get involved...

Cumbria Community Foundation - Connecting People Who Care With Causes That Matter (cumbriafoundation.org)

We're joined by Sue Reeve of Chamber member and bookkeeping and training services provider,  Windmill BTS. Our conversation centres around self assessment and expenses with lots of useful tips and advice for sole traders when doing self assessment and other ways to save money!

Chamber members can access a 10% discount on Windmill BTS's Business Finance Academy. Learn more here: https://windmillbookkeepingandtrainingservices.com/business-finance-academy/

Click here to download Windmill BTS's free guide on how to retain more of your earnings:  https://my.windmillbts.co.uk/landing/how-to-retain-more-of-your-earnings

We discuss Cumbria Business Growth Hub’s Mentoring Programme with business mentors, Jacqui Jackson and Keith Jackson.

Join us to hear about the mentoring process and the powerful effect it can have, supporting business owners to achieve their goals and deliver the business they want.

We also discuss some of the success stories of mentoring clients who took part in the pilot mentoring programme last year, the challenges they faced and the progress they made.  

We’re currently recruiting mentees for this year’s programme, starting in September. To find out more and get involved click below…

https://cumbriagrowthhub.co.uk/business-support/pilot-mentoring-programme

A conversation with Tim Bloomer, co-founder of Fell Brewery, about the business's project aimed at bringing down carbon emissions at their brewery in Flookburgh. We cover:

• How the business started from two friends brewing beer into a well-known brand with over 40 employees
• Tim's thoughts on carbon offsetting 
• Carbon accounting - identifying which parts of the business produce the most carbon
• Steps to reduce emissions including solar PV
• Support from Cumbria Action for Sustainability's Westmorland & Furness Green Enterprise Hub 
• Electric vans 
• Donating to South Cumbria Rivers Trust 
• Tim's advice to other small businesses looking to become more environmentally sustainable

Find out more about Fell Brewing here: https://fellbrewery.co.uk/about-2/