Facts And Figures | Distinctly Cumbrian has approved grants of more than 3 million pound since it was established and has helped over 300 Cumbrian businesses to expand and develop.
The team is based near Penrith and consists of the Programme Manager, four Development Officers and a team of specialist administrative and ICT staff. Distinctly Cumbrian website developments have included brokering partnerships between about 80 client businesses and over 20 different Cumbrian web designers. | | The first ever Distinctly Cumbrian grant went to Cranston's as a contribution towards the development of the Food Hall in Penrith. | | | The most recent grants have included support for projects such as a vegetable preparation machine, a mobile catering kitchen, a website for a perfumery business and support for a group of artists collaborating on exports overseas. | | | One of the more unusual businesses to be awarded a grant is Grace Mary Miniatures. Angela Singleton creates 1/12th scale oil paintings for dolls houses and has used grant support for a website and equipment to help her extend into porcelain dolls house dolls. | | | The biggest single grants, at the maximum of Euro 100 000 or nearly 70 000 pounds, have included support for Cartmel Sticky Toffee Puddings in 2004 when they expanded into new production facilities as well as grants to Tirril Brewery, Cumbrian Fellbred meats, English Lakes Ice Cream, Millstones Barn in Bootle on the west coast of Cumbria, Orton Grange Ice Cream Parlour near Carlisle and Lucy Cooks, a cookery school in Staveley near Kendal. | | | One of the youngest entrepreneurs supported by a grant was James Hake of James Hake Ceramics whose business needed help for a kiln and web site. | | | As part of CREA, Distinctly Cumbrian has also worked with Cumbria Organics, Farm Connect and Fells and Dales LEADER+, ensuring that rural businesses have access to advice, practical support and funding from a range of sources. |
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