The University of Cumbria plans drive small businesses forward in the new year after supporting almost 1,000 enterprises over the past two years.

Its School of Business and Enterprise claims to have increased local business' sales by almost £11 million since 2006 and created about 300 new jobs, reported the North West Evening Mail.

Support included help for new start-ups to assisting manufacturers who wanted to move forward by providing skills, ideas and talent.

Head of the university department Dr Steve Kempster said: "Our projects are benefiting hundreds of businesses, helping them improve their key business skills and develop their business potential. This is just the beginning - we plan much more."

The new university plans to support small businesses via graduate training schemes, knowledge-sharing initiatives and business placement programmes.

More than 15,000 students attend the University of Cumbria at campuses in Carlisle, Penrith, Ambleside, Lancaster, Whitehaven, Barrow and London.

One of the undergraduates, Maria Whitehead, received a £1,000 entrepreneurial prize last year for her work at a pickles and relishes company in the county.