Soaring inflation, online competition and spiking energy bills have hit small bricks-and-mortar businesses across the region, and the difficulties faced by the town have led one local businessman to declare of Whitehaven's high street: 'use it or lose it'.

But new plans aim to turn the tide.

The town centre is now set to benefit from a regeneration project with the help of Cumberland Council and 'The Entrepreneurs Group' (TEG).

TEG is a business, a community interest company (CIC) and a collection of divisions with 'a mission to support sustainable business, delivering learning and development, training and mentorship'.

It's now working to inject life back into the town, providing support to new and struggling businesses, while promoting Whitehaven's local traders, in the hope of 'creating a more vibrant and busy high street in Whitehaven'.

Meanwhile, Cumberland Council has been working with the Government’s High Streets Task Force.

Jenny Brumby, who is project manager at TEG said of the group's mentoring: "Some businesses need a few hours' help, other that are progressing into their own commercial space need more.

"Our overall plan for Whitehaven is collaboration. Working with like-minded people who strive to deliver projects in the town and put people at the forefront of the vision.

"We encourage the public to support local businesses first before shopping online. It's not too late to turn the prosperity of Whitehaven around... but the public have to make the effort.

"We are hoping over the next six months to see another ten new businesses opening in Whitehaven that have accessed our support.

"There are already so many great positives being delivered in Whitehaven with the events on the harbour, markets in the town, and great work from Lara Schwab and the tidy town committee to name a few."

How do we get businesses into Whitehaven, and then keep them there?

Ms Brumby said: "It is very important to spend our hard-earned cash in the existing shops and eateries in Whitehaven... businesses close if there is no footfall."

TEG are hoping to seek grants through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to provide grants and mentorship to new retailers in Cumberland, whilst supporting the existing businesses.

Ms Brumby said: "We are very lucky to have support from Whitehaven resident and deputy leader Emma Williamson and leader Mark Fryer on our vision to regenerate Whitehaven town centre.

"There has been much talk over the years and now its time to get things done."

What part is Cumberland Council playing in the regeneration? 

Last week, the Government’s High Streets Task Force delivered a workshop for senior council, business and community leaders at Whitehaven Civic Hall.

Sonia Cubrilo, who has decades of experience in town centre regeneration, spearheaded discussions.

In the workshop, she listened to key town centre stakeholders about their aspirations as part of the support Whitehaven receives having being selected by the Government to work with the High Streets Task Force (HSTF) in 2022.

Ms Cubrilo explored local problems, provided insights into potential solutions and met with figures including the leader of Cumberland Council, Cllr Mark Fryer.

Ms Cubrilo said: “Developing collaborative partnerships can make a real difference to the town centre. The key message that I always leave participants with is a quote from Bernard Shaw: 'Don’t wait for the right opportunity... create it'.

"Lots of places have started to do just that up and down the country, and those opportunities await Whitehaven too.” 

Cllr Mark Fryer said: “This is the beginning of a new collaborative process of working together, building wider ownership, to attract more resources into the area and help the town centre reach its full potential, ensuring that the offer of the town remains vibrant.”

Other regeneration plans for Whitehaven

The 'Ship Shapers' and Whitehaven Tidy Town Committee is a community organised project which aims to tidy up the town and make it more aesthetically pleasing. It is a group of volunteers who help improve Whitehaven.

Led by Lara Schwab, who previously owned Little Whims, who previously said: "I know how much potential the town has and things that are easy like the weeds don't take long with volunteers."

"I like helping out with thing that I can see. It can make a big different."

Lara hopes her work will help improve Whitehaven as a destination people will want to visit.

She said: "There are a lot of fantastic things in our town but there are little ways it can be improved."