This is a key role within our Carers & Self Directed Support department. The post focuses on helping people achieve their goals, develop their skills and confidence, and build independence through social enterprise. Based in Cumberland, the role has four main areas of focus: Provide direct practical support to microenterprise owners and people with enterprise ideas across Cumberland, guide people through our support pathway, including the Badge of Excellence standards, help grow and maintain an active, engaged network of microenterprises across Cumberland and contribute to high-quality service delivery through accurate records, feedback, communication and continuous improvement. Success in this role means building trusted relationships with microenterprise owners, helping people progress confidently through the Cumberland Collective support pathway, maintaining high-quality records, and contributing to the continued growth and reputation of the Collective across Cumberland.

Who we are

People First is an independent charitable organisation with a proud 35-year history of supporting people across Cumbria, Lancashire and the North East. We provide a wide range of support and information services, all aimed at helping people to live informed, respected, healthy and fulfilled lives.

People First began as a self-advocacy organisation supporting people with learning disabilities, and our roots remain firmly within the self-advocacy movement. We believe people are the experts in their own lives and can achieve their goals with the right support. Over time, our services have grown to include education, advocacy, support for unpaid carers, public engagement and addiction recovery.

Purpose of job

The Microenterprise Coach is a key role within our Carers & Self Directed Support department. The post focuses on helping people achieve their goals, develop their skills and confidence, and build independence through social enterprise.

Based in Cumberland, the role has four main areas of focus:

• To provide direct practical support to microenterprise owners and people with enterprise ideas across Cumberland.
• To guide people through the Cumberland Collective support pathway, including the Badge of Excellence standards.
• To help grow and maintain an active, engaged network of microenterprises across Cumberland.
• To contribute to high-quality service delivery through accurate records, feedback, communication and continuous improvement.

Success in this role means building trusted relationships with microenterprise owners, helping people progress confidently through the Cumberland Collective support pathway, maintaining high-quality records, and contributing to the continued growth and reputation of the Collective across Cumberland.

About The Cumberland Collective:

People First’s Microenterprise Support Service, The Cumberland Collective, is a structured programme of microenterprise support. It helps people across Cumberland who have ideas that could positively impact the health and wellbeing of people in their community to establish and run their own enterprise.

Funded by Cumberland Council, the Collective is based on a simple idea: local people know their communities and their neighbours, and they understand what support is needed locally to help people live great lives. The Cumberland Collective works with local people to turn their ideas into successful microenterprises that contribute to their customers’ health and wellbeing.

From helping someone consider the viability of their idea through to compliance with HMRC, the Care Quality Commission, and insurance requirements; from marketing their enterprise to setting fair and transparent prices, the Cumberland Collective offers holistic support designed to help people manage the often complex steps involved in setting up their own enterprise.

The Cumberland Collective:

• Currently has over 80 members.
• Is well established in West Cumbria, with a need to expand across Cumberland.
• Has a strong reputation with stakeholders across the health and care system.
• Will soon have a live online directory of members.
• Has a growing social media and web presence.

The Person

The successful candidate must believe in People First’s core values and be driven by our mission.

We are looking for someone who believes in People First’s values and is motivated by helping people take practical steps towards independence, confidence and community connection.

You will be supportive, organised and able to build trusting relationships with people who may be at different stages of developing an idea. You will be confident working with people, keeping accurate records, communicating clearly and helping people move from ideas into action.

This role would suit someone who enjoys coaching, problem solving, community development, social enterprise, self-employment support or person-centred work. You will be flexible, practical and comfortable helping people navigate processes without taking over from them.

Qualifications

• Good all-round level of education.
• Training, qualifications or equivalent experience in supported employment or person-centred approaches would be desirable, but not essential.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Strong communication skills and the ability to adapt your style to suit people’s needs.
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Understanding of microenterprise compliance requirements, including HMRC, insurance, ICO and, where relevant, CQC considerations.
• Confident and skilled in using social media and web content to promote services and build communities of customers.
• Creative problem-solving skills, with the ability to adapt and learn.
• High standards of written and verbal communication, including the ability to record outcomes and document progress.
• Excellent prioritisation skills.
• A nurturing approach that reflects the abilities and strengths of the people you are working with.
• Commitment to providing a high-quality service centred on individual needs.
• Experience of, or willingness to adapt to, a variety of working environments.
• Confident using Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams) and customer databases/CRM systems.
• Ability to build positive, trusting relationships with people from a wide range of backgrounds.

Duties will include:

1. Deliver microenterprise support

• Provide direct support to microenterprise owners and people with enterprise ideas, helping them understand the steps involved in developing a safe, sustainable and ethical microenterprise.
• Support people to work through the Cumberland Collective support pathway and Badge of Excellence standards.
• Meet with people online, by phone and in person across Cumberland as required, including onboarding new members to the programme.
• Help people consider the viability of their idea, their potential customers, pricing, marketing, boundaries, risk and basic operational arrangements.
• Provide practical encouragement that builds confidence and independence while ensuring people remain in control of their own decisions.
• Identify when someone may need specialist advice or escalation and raise this with the Microenterprise Manager.

2. Support quality, compliance and safe practice

• Help microenterprise owners understand relevant compliance areas such as HMRC, insurance, ICO, safeguarding and, where relevant, CQC considerations.
• Use agreed tools, guides, checklists and resources to support consistent delivery across the programme.
• Maintain clear, accurate and timely records of support activity, progress, outcomes and any concerns.
• Follow People First policies and procedures, including safeguarding, lone working, confidentiality, data protection and health and safety.
• Report safeguarding concerns promptly through People First’s agreed safeguarding process.
• Proactively maintain contact with people accessing support, encouraging continued progress and re-engaging people where appropriate.

3. Develop networks and communication

• Support the growth of the Cumberland Collective by helping people understand the programme and encouraging suitable enterprises to engage.
• Maintain positive relationships with members of the Collective, helping them feel connected, informed and supported.
• Contribute to member communications, events, peer learning activity, WhatsApp/community updates or other agreed communication channels.
• Work with colleagues to collect stories, updates and information that can help promote the Collective, subject to consent and agreed communication processes.
• Represent the service positively in community settings and with stakeholders when required, escalating strategic or commissioner conversations to the Microenterprise Manager.

4. Support service improvement and reporting

• Contribute information for performance reports, quality monitoring and commissioner updates as requested.
• Gather feedback from microenterprise owners and people accessing support, and share themes with the Microenterprise Manager.
• Identify practical improvements to resources, tools and ways of working based on the experience of people using the service.
• Support the maintenance of the online directory of microenterprises by helping to keep information accurate and up to date.
• Participate in team meetings, supervision, training and reflective practice to support high-quality delivery.

5. Other duties

• Work flexibly to meet the needs of the project, including occasional evening or weekend activity where required.
• Undertake other duties appropriate to the role as the organisation and project develop.

Driving

A full driving license and access to a vehicle are essential due to the need to travel throughout Cumberland.

To apply

If you’re interested in the role and think you’d be a good fit, we’d like to hear from you.

To apply for this position, please email a copy of your CV including details of two references, to [email protected] or alternatively, you can post for the attention of Barry to People First Conference Centre, Milbourne Street, Carlisle, CA2 5XB

All applications should be clearly marked: Confidential – Microenterprise Coach

To arrive no later than 5pm, Friday 14th August 2026 (this date may change depending on volume of applications).