Social Impact

Inspired thinking

We took inspiration from the approach taken by EDF when embarking on the huge Hinkley Point C nuclear power station development in Somerset.

Working in partnership with the business community and academia, they actively sought out local SMEs and helped them to scale up, form alliances and ultimately secure long-term contracts, in the process creating jobs, training opportunities and countless social impact initiatives.

Taking the ethos North, we created the TeesSMEs alliance. Initially targeting opportunities relating to the Teesworks development – the UK’s largest industrial zone and Freeport – we have joined forces with nine other locally-based like-minded SMEs to collaborate on a whole host of developments taking place in a region bursting at the seams with opportunities. Learn more about TeesSMEs by visiting the dedicated website and read more about the story behind the alliance by clicking here.

To the west in Cumbria, we formed the Power 8 partnership to share opportunities and collaborate on projects, primarily relating to Sellafield and the wider nuclear sector, but also including other major employers and anchor institutions in the county. And we are working closely with Sellafield Ltd on major frameworks with the aim of ensuring SMEs – both individually and collectively – are given a hand up, not a hand-out, when it comes to securing the long-term work at the site – allowing them to recruit, invest locally and support social impact initiatives that make a real difference to people’s lives and career prospects.

We believe SMEs are already “small giants”. But collectively they can generate huge power and deliver positive outcomes that make a real difference to people’s lives and the communities in which they live.

Fun and fitness for all

Made possible by the overwhelming kindness and generosity of fitness instructors, coaches and SMEs from around Cumbria and beyond - who enthusiastically agreed to give their time to this first-of-a-kind event - participants enjoyed wild swimming, stand up paddleboarding, pilates, Piloxing, active yoga and lots more.

Alongside our event partners, Emma and Laura from Fit District, were Libby Dixon Pilates, Sarah Brook Fitness, Amy Johnson from Lifecycol, and award-winning luxury retreat coaches, James and Claire Davis from 38 Degrees North, who shared their expertise on stage.

Offstage, Claire and Jon from Whitehaven-based Better Bodies UK set up and ran a "challenge area" that pushed brave participants to their limits.

Attendees also had the chance to learn new skills like aerial dance from Georgi Thorns, mindfulness from Martin Summerfield of Anchorpoint, and paediatric First Aid from Natalie Groggins of Little Lifers First Aid.

Carlisle band, Hardwicke Circus, brought the weekend to a close with sensational live music. Finding a whole new legion of fans on the night, they gave everything they'd got to wind up the event in true festival fashion!