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.
DANIEL HEERY – Cybermoor Services 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.
JOANNA COLEMAN– Cumberland Council
Joanna Coleman is Social Enterprise Manager at Cumberland Council, leading strategic work to grow the local social economy and strengthen community-led regeneration. A passionate advocate for the third sector, Joanna has over 20 years’ experience spanning Public Health, Community Development, and the Voluntary and Community Sector, including roles within both the NHS and Local Government with a brief spell in self-employment running a family business in photography and film.
A graduate of the University of Cumbria’s and Brathay Trust’s Aspiring Leaders Programme, Joanna achieved a first-class BSc (Hons) in Social Enterprise Leadership, a BA in Business Management, and an MSc in Leadership in Practice. She is a Chartered Manager and public health professional and has held several trustee and non-executive roles across Cumbria, including with Cumbria CVS, Cumbria Youth Alliance, and Brathay Trust.
Joanna is passionate about building fairer, more inclusive communities through social enterprise, community wealth building, and anchor collaboration—creating the environment that enables people and places to thrive.
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 – Westmorland & Furness 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.
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.
Jenny Brumby – Duddon Villa Leisure Ltd.
With over 40 years of experience running my her businesses, Jenny brings a wealth of practical knowledge in enterprise development, leadership, and strategic planning. Over the past decade, she has worked as a business consultant and project manager supporting not-for-profit organisations to grow sustainably and achieve measurable impact. In the last three years, her focus has been on helping social enterprises across Cumbria to develop robust business plans, secure funding, and deliver community-focused projects that drive positive social and economic change. Jenny is passionate about empowering organisations to thrive and create lasting benefits for their communities.
Mary Smith – Growing Well CIC
Mary has worked across the North West of England in food, farming and development project management and consultancy for 20 years. Her experience spans private, public and voluntary sectors. She has been Chief Executive of Growing Well since 2018. Growing Well is a mental health charity with sites in Kendal, at Tebay Services, and in Egremont. It supports people experiencing mental ill health to recover within unique, commercial horticultural settings, with a focus on structured, goal-based activity. Mary has led the replication of Growing Well from one to three sites. She is also Chair of Cumbria’s Mental Health Provider Forum.
Phil Salmon – Cumbria Health
Phil has built his career working in both VCFSE and NHS services and has experience in mental health, employment support and supporting people in their communities. Phil joined Cumbria Health, a social enterprise primary care and health provider in 2024 as Business Manager and has already supported the organisation to diversify into new areas of work. The WorkWell service in Barrow and South Cumbria and more recently the new Work Well service in North Cumbria represent a new direction for Cumbria Health but both services are very much in line with the values of providing the right support at the right time in the right place. Phil recognises the importance of Social Enterprises in Cumbria and is excited to support this sector through the steering group.
