Kimberley Mills is confident about giving helpful advice to others because of the way she was helped.

Kimberley branched out into business on here own when she was just 25.

"I had been in te floristry trade since 2009 but running your own business was quite different."

Kimberley, who runs Oopsie Daisy Flowers in Carlisle, said she had gone to various places for help until she discovered Cumbrian Women in Enterprise.

"Maybe it was because they were all women but I felt confident to ask questions that might have seemed silly . The group really grew my confidence."

CWE was started by Helen Render of Candy Print and was run successfully until Covid hit and, with it, the lockdown that followed.

Kimberley was one of those who have now restarted the organisation "and Helen is still here working as hard as ever."

It was from her own experiences that Kimberley saw the need to resurrect the group.

"As I said, I was young when I started my own business and you do make mistakes.This group was so supportive - helping without judging.""

She said there are many new businesses being opened by women who might have problems with childcare or are maybe working part-time still until their business is established."

Although it is a business networking the CWE is also support and advice orientated, especially for new start ups.

"Some of the ladies have been in business for over 20 years so there's a wealth of knowledge and experience.there.

"We have guest speakers who focus on different topics that will benefit the members. For example in January we had a presentation on public speaking and building the confidence to do that.

"It's especially beneficial for businesses like myself who work alone, from home, to be able to connect with others in business, especially after Covid when we've all felting lt pretty isolated.

"Getting all of us together for CWE is great as there's so many different business across a lot of difference, some corporate, financial, creative, events etc.

"We meet at Beefeater, Bordergate at junction 42, Carlisle on the second Wednesday of the month in the function room. The next meeting is the Feb.ruary 8. Membership is from £5 per month for a yearly subscription which is worth its weight in gold for what the members can get out of cwe.