AN initiative which recently won £40million backing to help create more than 700 jobs across West Cumbria has made its second appointment to its own team.

Hannah Pears has joined iSH (the Industrial Solutions Hub) as Education Liaison Officer.

Hannah, from Whitehaven, has spent the last 11 years working to give young people opportunities in education and employment, having worked with multiple education institutes.

“I am really excited to start with iSH,” said Hannah. “iSH is such an important programme for the people of West Cumbria. It’s great to be involved from the beginning.

“I think in many ways life is getting harder for young people wherever they live.

“Social media comes with its negatives. Youth clubs and youth experiences have been cut to almost non-existent over the last ten years.

"Young people have also had to experience education turbulence and social disruption during the pandemic."

Whitehaven News: John Maddison, Managing Director of iSH, which recently won £20m of Levelling Up Funding John Maddison, Managing Director of iSH, which recently won £20m of Levelling Up Funding (Image: Newsquest)

“Then when you look at West Cumbria where young people can be so isolated because of the infrastructure, you realise that it can be even harder here.

READ MORE: John Maddison, Managing Director of iSH, which recently won £20m of Levelling Up Funding

“That’s why I am so determined that young people here should be able to access opportunities and cultural experiences to benefit themselves and the communities around them for the future."

John Maddison, iSH managing director said: “We are delighted to welcome Hannah to the team.

"She has lots of expertise and experience of helping young people, who might otherwise get overlooked, access opportunities, which is such a vital part of our programme."