Month: November 2025

Over the past year, Cumbria’s farming community has continued to navigate a complex and evolving landscape. Since I last wrote in August 2025, the sector has faced intensified financial pressures, regulatory shifts, and climate-related challenges — yet has also demonstrated remarkable resilience and innovation.

One of the most pressing issues remains the accelerated phase-out of delinked payments, which replaced the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). In 2025, payments exceeding £30,000 were eliminated, and those below that threshold were slashed by 76%, capping support at just £7,200. This dramatic reduction has forced farmers to reassess their cash flow strategies and explore alternative income sources, such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI). However, delays and uncertainty around the rollout of environmental schemes have left many farmers in limbo.

Compounding these financial strains are impending changes to Inheritance Tax reliefs, set to take effect in April 2026. These reforms could significantly impact succession planning, with many family-run farms facing increased tax liabilities. A recent survey revealed that while 55% of Cumbrian farms intend to pass their business to the next generation, a concerning number have yet to formalize their plans.

Climate change has also made its mark. The unusually dry summer of 2025 led to poor harvests and reduced crop yields, particularly affecting arable farmers. With limited irrigation infrastructure, Cumbria’s farmers are increasingly vulnerable to weather extremes, underscoring the need for adaptive strategies and diversified income streams.

Yet amid these challenges, there are reasons for optimism. Cumbria has emerged as a national leader in rural digital transformation, with 99% of premises now enjoying superfast broadband and gigabit access thanks to strategic investment and public-private partnerships. This connectivity is enabling farmers to adopt precision agriculture technologies, streamline operations, and access new markets.

The region is also positioning itself as a hub for AgriTech innovation, with Cumbria’s Economic Strategy 2025–2045 highlighting opportunities in plant sciences, robotics, and clean energy. These developments promise to create new jobs, attract investment, and enhance the sustainability of the farming sector.

In this dynamic environment, Enterprise Answers continues to play a pivotal role in supporting Cumbria’s farmers. As a local, not-for-profit lender based in Penrith, Enterprise Answers offers flexible finance solutions tailored to the unique needs of rural businesses. Their face-to-face approach and understanding of the sector have made them a trusted partner, especially for tenant farmers who often struggle to access traditional funding due to limited security.

Recent case studies highlight their impact: one tenant farmer secured funding to relocate from South Yorkshire to Eden, while another used a loan to purchase in-going stock for a new tenancy in Northumberland. Enterprise Answers is also an accredited lender under the British Business Bank’s Growth Guarantee Scheme, allowing them to support marginal propositions and unlock opportunities for farmers lacking conventional collateral.

Their commitment to Cumbria’s agricultural community was further demonstrated through their sponsorship of the 2025 Cumbria Farmer Awards, where they joined other key stakeholders in celebrating farming excellence. The event showcased the sector’s resilience, innovation, and community spirit — from young farmers and trailblazing women in agriculture to sustainable enterprises and local food producers.

As Cumbria’s farmers look ahead to 2026, the road remains uncertain. But with strategic support, local investment, and a growing recognition of the sector’s importance to food security and environmental stewardship, there is hope. Enterprise Answers stands ready to help farmers not only weather the storm but build a future rooted in resilience, innovation, and pride.

A food-loving couple who poured everything they had into their dream of opening a sourdough pizzeria are celebrating their most successful period yet. 

Partners Lucas Hogg and Caroline Davis have long been famed for their freshly baked produce through their business, Peace and Loaf. 

But more recently, it’s their sourdough pizzas that have had crowds flocking to their Barrow base – particularly since the February re-opening of their dedicated dine-in pizzeria. 

With sales rocketing by 450 per cent since the early days – when Enterprise Answers was a key part of their growth – it is now a case of grab a slice while you can for eager fans of the couple’s creations.

Caroline said: “We had pennies left by the time we’d invested in the work needed to bring our dream to life – but we were prepared to take a risk for something we passionately believed in. 

“We’ve always worked with real bread and good ingredients – no chemicals – and we’re lucky now to have some brilliant Italian suppliers. A lot of our pizza ingredients come directly from Italian markets: mozzarella and beautiful fresh burrata arrive every week. 

“We’ve been blown away by the level of support we’ve had from both the local community and people coming from much further afield. As proud Barrovians, it feels great to have created something like this in the town we love.” 

Peace and Loaf has been in business for more than ten years, starting as a bread stall on Barrow Market. 

Six years ago, they moved to a unit at the Trinity Enterprise Centre in Ironworks Road, Barrow, and – aided by a loan from not-for-profit business lender Enterprise Answers – bought their first wood-fired pizza oven. 

Covid-19 hit the business hard, but takeaway pizzas and that trusty oven kept them afloat – and helped spread the word. 

After the pandemic, momentum grew to the point that in 2023 they made a bold move – leaving their famous breads behind to focus solely on pizza. 

In their early collection days, with a Saturday-only dine-in option, the couple and their small team would make around 60 pizzas a week. 

Now, following a full revamp of the pizzeria, they’re making around 330 pizzas every week across three days – Thursday, Friday and Saturday. 

Given their opening hours of 4.30pm to 8pm (with an extra half-hour on Fridays), that’s roughly one pizza every two minutes. 

For the couple, it’s been a journey of passion, graft and belief – helped by the right support along the way. 

Lucas said: “When we moved to this unit, we were chasing a dream that at times we weren’t sure we’d ever reach. But we really feel like we’re well on the way now. 

“Enterprise Answers supported us from the moment we moved here, helping us secure our first pizza oven and always being honest with us. 

“What could have been an overwhelming and stressful experience was made smooth and pain-free thanks to their guidance. We can’t thank them enough.” 

Their success hasn’t gone unnoticed. Grahame Latus, Chief Executive of Enterprise Answers, said: “Lucas and Caroline’s story is a perfect example of what determination and passion can achieve. They had a clear vision, and despite the challenges, they never lost sight of it. 

“At Enterprise Answers, we exist to support businesses like Peace and Loaf – those that bring something special to their communities. Seeing them thrive and create such a vibrant destination for Barrow is exactly why we do what we do.” 

If your business needs support, call 01768 867118 or email [email protected] for an initial chat.