Hustle Hive has secured £15,000 of National Lottery Community funding to support the roll-out of entrepreneurship-focused Makers to Market workshops.
The Darlington-based Community Interest Company, founded by teachers Kieron Davis and Gavin Copland, offers hands-on, practical learning for people of all ages with the aim of removing barriers to opportunity and entrepreneurship – particularly for those not in formal education or who left school without qualifications.
The funding, distributed by the National Lottery Community Fund which supports community-led projects across the UK, will underpin Hustle Hive’s expansion of the Makers to Market workshops, helping participants develop practical enterprise skills and gain the confidence to launch and grow their own ventures across the Tees Valley.
“We’ve seen firsthand that talent is everywhere, but opportunities often aren’t,” said Gavin Copland. “Hustle Hive exists to bridge that gap and help people build sustainable futures.”
Hustle Hive was established with the aim of providing alternative provision for young people, creative learning spaces for home-educating families, and tailored mentoring, skills training and business launch support for adults. Its dual-approach combines practical entrepreneurial and STEM education with outdoor skills sessions designed to strengthen resilience, teamwork and wellbeing.
Kieron Davis said: “We started Hustle Hive to give people the tools and confidence they need to embark on life after education.
“Sometimes starting a business, or a side hustle can be a different experience to academic learning. Our mission is to provide equitable access to skills, resources and opportunities, especially for those who have been underserved or overlooked.”
Alongside its enterprise programmes, Hustle Hive is preparing to launch its next planning initiative, Wild Wellbeing workshops, which will run during the school holidays. The sessions aim to give young people and families a supportive space to connect with nature and build confidence through structured outdoor activities.
Gavin added: “Confidence building experiences and structured outdoor activity can lead to improved attitudes and help develop soft skills that are important for success.”
