Steering Group Members
BOB CLARK – Independent
Bob is the former CEO of the Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency, with wide-ranging experience managing multi-million-pound projects. He served in a national capacity as Regional Director of the NFEA, a Director of the Rural Service Network and as a member of CRC Rural Business Finance Forum, in addition to many local roles, including Director of the University of Cumbria, Cumbria Renewables Panel, CART, Appleby Heritage Training Centre and a trustee of a number of charitable organisations. An agriculturalist by training, he continues to farm in partnership with his wife and son on a small upland farm in the northern fells.
BRIDGET JOHNS -Cumbria CVS
Bridget has worked within the voluntary, community faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector for 20 years in various roles. Many of these have supported the start-up and development of community groups, charities and social enterprises. She works for Cumbria CVS and is the District Manager for Cumberland. Bridget regularly refers people/groups to Cumbria Social Enterprise Partnership’s business support programmes to access the specialist and free advice available.
CATH HOWARD- Balfour Beatty
Cath Howard is an Environmental Sustainability Manager at Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick, based in West Cumbria, with a primary focus on Social Impact initiatives. She brings a wealth of experience to her role, having previously worked on nuclear-related projects. However, the majority of her professional journey has been dedicated to the Not-for-Profit & Philanthropy sector, with a stint in Local Government Regeneration as well.
Throughout her career, Cath has been actively involved in various West Cumbrian and Cumbria-wide charities, including CVS, Age UK, and Mirehouse Community Centre, and has been instrumental in driving award-winning partnerships. Remarkably, she played a pivotal role in establishing West Cumbria Carers, a local charity, over 25 years ago.
DANIEL HEERY – Charge my Street Ltd
Daniel, who is the Vice Chair of that Partnership, is the founder and CEO of Cybermoor, a community broadband co-operative based in Alston. Daniel has provided support, advice and mentoring to rural social enterprises for the last 20 years and has worked with a wide range of social enterprises. He was a Cabinet Office Social Enterprise Ambassador from 2008 to 2010, raising the profile of the sector across the UK and Cumbrian representative on the Board of Social Enterprise NW. He is also a founder member of INCA and the Community Broadband Network, both co-ops operating in the field of broadband provision.
Daniel is the steering group member elected to represent Alston Moor on the SEUK Social Enterprise Places Group.
Daniel is also the steering group member elected to represent the Partnership on the Business Strategy Group of the Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership.
JANET CARTER – Light up Lives CIC
Janet lives and works in Cumbria where she heads up Light Up Lives, a Community Interest Company passionate about people, tackling social isolation and enhancing communication and conversation for everyone in our communities. Janet believes that acting locally to enable and inspire kinder and more collaborative communities, who share their knowledge and expertise to support each other is the way that we can maximise our social impact and build a better kinder and more sustainable world.
JOANNA COLEMAN
As an eager advocate for the third sector, Joanna Coleman is a graduate of the Aspiring Leaders Programme (ALP) provided by the Brathay Trust and University of Cumbria, where she was awarded a first-class honours BSc in Social Enterprise Leadership. In addition, Joanna holds a BA in Business Management and has gone on to gain an MSC in Leadership Practice. Joanna has held several Board positions within Cumbria, including with Cumbria CVS, Cumbria Youth Alliance and her current role as a Trustee for Brathay, and has been a Councillor for Carlisle City Council. Her career however consists largely of being in the Public Sector working both within the NHS and Local Authority in roles working with the third sector.
JOSH DUNCAN- Horizon Studios
Josh Duncan (Right of Picture), AKA JD, one half of Cumbria’s award-winning rap duo SWERVE & JD and director of award-winning social enterprise Horizon Studios. JD has over 10 years of experience in youth development and facilitation in extraordinary environments – he brings a new, innovative outlook to the partnership.
LORRAINNE SMYTH – Action for Communities in Cumbria
Lorrainne has been Chief Executive of ACT since 2012. Prior to this she worked as Strategic Policy Advisor/Community Programmes & Performance Manager for Cumbria County Council. Lorrainne previously worked for ACT from 1993 to 2007 as Development Team Manager. She has worked extensively with parish councils, village halls, graduate apprentices, and undertaken project development and delivery with communities throughout Cumbria. Lorrainne has also held management positions in private sector training and development companies, local authorities, and third sector organisations.
Lorrianne was jointly appointed by the Partnership and the Cumbria Third Sector Network Executive to represent Social Enterprise and the wider Third Sector as a Board Member of Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership.
MARTIN ALLMAN – Cumberland Council
Martin is the Social Enterprise Manager with Cumberland Council and provides a service for both Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness councils. Martin has worked with CSEP since 2014 and prior to this held various economy, environmental, education and training roles in Cumbria, Manchester, Cheshire and Norfolk for public, private and third-sector organisations. He gained a BSc (Hons) in Applied Environmental & Resource Sciences from the University of Salford and a Post Graduate Certificate of Education from the University of Manchester. He is a member of the Institute of Leadership & Management.
Martin is the steering group member elected to represent the county of Cumbria on the SEUK Social Enterprise Places Group.
PHIL DAVIES – Community Energy Cumbria
Phil Davies is a founder and director of Community Energy Cumbria Ltd and Burneside Community Energy Ltd, established in 2015 for the benefit of the communities. Phil has previously served as the Social Enterprise Manager for Impact Housing Association and currently works part time as the Low Carbon Manager for Cumbria Action for Sustainability. In 2013, Phil’s work on combining European Social Fund and European Regional Development Fund programmes in west Cumbria was recognised by EU ministers as an exemplar of best practice.
PIPPA SMITH- Sir John Fisher Foundation
Pippa Smith is the Executive Officer of the Sir John Fisher Foundation, a private foundation based in Barrow which gives grants to social causes across South Cumbria. She was previously the Chief Executive of a national charity working with students and led a programme providing free legal advice for social entrepreneurs taking on investment. She started her career managing European social innovation programmes for Nesta and Climate-KIC. She lives in Ulverston and outside of work runs a co-working space for small businesses in Lancaster and volunteers as a tutor for The Access Project.
Pippa is the steering group member elected to represent the Partnership on the Cumbria Third Sector Network Executive.
ROB RANDELL – Independant Chair
Rob Randell is the Chair of the Partnership. Rob previously held a number of senior management positions within the Cumbrian private sector, in addition to holding voluntary Director, Chair and Executive Committee roles in local Social Enterprises. He came out of a very short spell of early retirement to become the Manager of the Partnership in 2009 and held that position until 2014 when he retired again, only to be elected the Partnership’s Chair shortly afterwards.
SYLVIA GRAINGER – University of Cumbria
Sylvia worked in enterprise support for over 26 years, initially in Northumberland where she was a Business Adviser, using knowledge and skills developed working in industry. Sylvia went on to manage 6 business advice centres in her role as Director of Enterprise Services before leaving Northumberland to join the University of Cumbria in 2012. Living in Cumbria, Sylvia has a positive ‘can do’ approach and in her role as Professional Development Manager at the university works with employers as they look to develop the skills of their employees.
