Business Cornwall Apr 24

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WELCOME

By Editor Nick Eyriey

The colour of spring

It’s springtime! After what has seemed like an eternal and very damp winter, the sun (hopefully) is on the horizon. Here at Business Cornwall, we’ve decided to embrace the spirit and colour of spring with something of a spring clean of the design. We hope you like it.

Meanwhile, getting back to what’s inside this month’s magazine, we focus on Cornwall’s marine sector.

With its 250 miles of coastline, Cornwall clearly has a rich maritime history with many businesses drawn to its waters to make their living. From beach cleans to boat building to the drive to renewable energy, marine, these days, covers a very broad spectrum.

Rachel Koerner talks to some of the businesses and organisations making waves in marine conservation, while on page 18, I discuss more of the mainstream marine sector with Miles Carden, CEO of Falmouth Harbour.

The ocean has a huge part to play in the local economy, but its legacy could be even greater for future generations, a point that is very succinctly raised by this month’s Just a Thought guest contributor, Toby Budd, in his praise for Cornwall’s ‘dot joiners’.

Also in this month’s magazine, Rachel takes a look at the subject of employment and HR and talks to a couple of local experts about employee retention.

And talking of which, a quick heads up to next month’s issue, when we will be presenting the winners of Business Cornwall’s Best Places to Work 2024.

Until then, have a productive and successful month.

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Nick Eyriey nick@businesscornwall.co.uk

PUBLISHER

Toni Eyriey toni@businesscornwall.co.uk

ACCOUNT MANAGER

Caroline Carter caroline@businesscornwall.co.uk

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Rachel Koerner rachel@businesscornwall.co.uk

DESIGN

Ade Taylor design@businesscornwall.co.uk

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Thursday 10th October

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THE BIG QUESTION

What are main recruitment challenges that you are currently facing?

SPRING BUDGET 2024 COMMENT

Matt Harrington, head of Cornwall Innovation Centres, casts his eye over last month’s announcement from the Chancellor.

I welcome the positive strides made for SMEs in the recent Spring Budget. The increase in the VAT registration threshold to £90k from £85k and the extension of the ‘Recovery Loan Scheme’ for an additional two years are particularly noteworthy, and something I’d wished for from the announcement, following conversations with Cornwall Innovation customers.

Cornwall Innovation Centres supporting early-stage innovative businesses...

CLARE TRICE

CTC Solutions

We feel that at CTCC we have been very lucky but also very clear on what we look for in the people that join us; we look for people who share our company values and also want to work in our environment. The sector of credit control can be very challenging but also very rewarding and so we look for the skills that will complement the work we do. Finding people with those customer service and problem-solving skill is always on our radar, and also using technology and telephones, as old school as that sounds, is a challenge, especially the telephone. Another challenge is public transport and being able to provide those links for people who do not drive. We believe that matching people rather than paper is the key, and we all have to start the recruitment process with the right job role and for a growing business this can also be difficult to define as the business changes rapidly over a short period of time.

TOBY PARKINS

Headforwards

The IT recruitment market has always been challenging and as technology develops at pace, so do the skills needed to deliver it. Highly-skilled people are critically important to building high performing engineering teams at Headforwards. As well as making sure we have a culture that is attractive to our people, we also make sure we listen and respond to what people want. For example, last year our People Team completely overhauled our career progression framework in collaboration with our employees so that it’s better aligned to how they want to develop their skills and careers.

ALAN ODGERS

Duchy Difibrillators

At the moment there seems to be a real shortage of qualified trades people for the amount of work

The rebranding of the extended loan scheme as the ‘Growth Guarantee Scheme,’ with 70% of the loan value underwritten by the UK Government, provides an attractive financing option for businesses looking to invest in assets or improve cash flow. However, it’s evident that the overall reaction from SMEs to last months Budget has been lukewarm, with many expressing the sentiment that the Chancellor’s measures fall short of making any substantial impact in the short to medium term.

The 2% reduction in National Insurance payments for the self-employed, while welcome, doesn’t address

around. We have seen a decent growth of the business in the past 12-24 months but are struggling to find the staff to assist us with the growth. Where we have used sub contractors in the past, they too are very busy and demand on trades people seems to be increasing. Now is definitely time to consider pushing apprenticeships to help the industry manage in the near future.

JON HURREL

Sellectronics

The biggest challenge is finding candidates with the right skills, our requirements are hard to find in Cornwall and the pool of potential is limited. This has resulted in us at Sellectronics changing our approach. We now recruit for attitude and fit with our culture and internally train the new recruits. This takes longer but results in better long term results.

The biggest challenge is finding candidates with the right skills, our requirements are hard to find in Cornwall and the pool of potential is limited. This has resulted in us at Sellectronics changing our approach. We now recruit for attitude and fit with our culture and internally train the new recruits. This takes longer but results in better long term results.

JASON KNIGHTS

Knights MPR

Recruitment challenges faced by Knights MPR as a niche B2B PR and communications agency includes attracting and retaining top talent with the required skills and experience, adapting to evolving technology and communication trends, fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce, and efficiently managing the recruitment process for seamless onboarding of new hires. Because of the work we do internationally working with clients located in Singapore, the US and across Europe, staying informed about industry trends and best practices in recruitment is crucial for addressing these challenges effectively.

some of the more pressing challenges faced by SMEs, such as late payments, cash flow issues, wage inflation, and the limited access to affordable finance.

On a broader economic scale, there is a glimmer of hope derived from the Chancellor’s optimistic economic forecast for the UK. The anticipated fall in inflation from 4% to 2.2% and the corresponding cut in interest rates from 5.25% to 4.2% by the end of 2024 may offer SMEs, in particular, a more favourable business landscape with cheaper access to finance and more affordable wage demands in the medium to longer term, assuming these forecasts materialise.

08000 129 500

enquiries@cornwallinnovation.co.uk

www.cornwallinnovation.co.uk

BOARD CHANGES AT CORNISH LITHIUM

Ian Cockerill has stepped down as nonexecutive chairman of Cornish Lithium, following his appointment as CEO at Endeavour Mining.

Founder and CEO, Jeremy Wrathall, will assume the role on an interim basis until a new chair has been appointed.

Meanwhile, former director Keith Liddell has rejoined the board as a nonexecutive director. Alongside his long association with the company, Liddell brings a wealth of knowledge of mineral extraction techniques and management of mineral projects worldwide.

SHARED PROSPERITY FOR FALMOUTH

Falmouth Harbour has been awarded almost £100K from the Government’s Levelling Up Shared Prosperity Fund.

The funding – granted through the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth programme managed by Cornwall Council – will allow

#SBS WINNER

A Cornish businesswoman has been honoured with the Theo Paphitis Small Business Sunday Award (#SBS).

Jane Amanda Gray is the founder and coach of Nettle Revolution, a business dedicated to spreading mindfulness and enhancing personal wellbeing through its range handwoven nettle scarves, artwork and gifts.

“Meeting Theo Paphitis was an incredible experience,” she said, “a pivotal moment. His belief in the power of small businesses and the impact they can have is truly inspiring. This recognition propels me forward in my quest to improve health by taking the ‘sting’ out of nettles!”

the harbour to focus on current and future marine technologies as well as providing better water-front access and facilities for local communities and visitors.

Falmouth Harbour CEO, Miles Carden, said: “It is incredible news to have received this critical national and local support for our Destination Development Feasibility Study - which allows us to create a clear plan for

Falmouth Harbour for the next 10-15 years.

“We need to move forward in a strategic way and this blueprint will put us in a great place where we can capture opportunities for local residents of Falmouth and Cornwall more broadly.”

Miles Carden is the subject of this month’s CEO Interview. Turn to p18 for more.

FULL MARKS FOR BISLEY

Heritage furniture manufacturer Bisley, has made a significant investment in MARK Product, a sustainably-led furniture brand based in Redruth.

MARK, which stands for Made And Realised in Kernow, is led by designers and founders Anna Hart and John Miller, who launched the business in 2008.

Hart said: “It’s always been a driving force for us to design furniture that we can confidently stand by with regards to the ethics and values of our product’s production and lifecycle, therefore partnering with Bisley as a progressive, heritage brand will enable us to build more extensively on this core foundation.”

Richard Costin, Bisley CEO, added: “Bisley is delighted to invest and continue its diversification into new product areas, specifically soft seating and outdoor furniture, which we believe has huge potential both in the UK and overseas. Bisley’s rich heritage combined with our ambition to innovate and diversify means that MARK Product is a fantastic brand to partner with; we both believe in furniture that is ‘Made for Life’.

FIRST FUNDING FOR SPORT HUB

Plans for improved indoor and outdoor sports and leisure facilities in Truro have received their first tranche of Town Deal Funding.

Awarded £5.2 million from the Truro Towns Fund, the Boscawen Sport and Recreation Hub has received its first grant payment of £464,251.

“We are delighted to see this project moving forward thanks to Town Deal funding,” said Alan Stanhope, chair of the Truro Town Deal Board. “Well done to the City Council which has worked extremely hard to develop these plans and I look forward to seeing work start on the new Sport and Recreation Hub in the summer.”

The Boscawen Sport and Recreation Hub project is being led by Truro City Council.

SATELLITE DATA PROJECT

Inyanga Marine Energy Group is taking part in a pioneering project to harvest Earth observation data for offshore renewable energy.

The Penryn-based business is among seven European partners, including offshore renewable energy and Earth observation specialists, to team up for the BLUE-X project.

Together, they will develop a satellitebased ‘decision support tool’ to accelerate offshore renewable energy deployments.

Inyanga MD, Richard Parkinson, explained: “We will be contributing our unique expertise in tidal energy to help in the development of BLUE-X. Europe has

There is very often room for argument. IP owners have been known to exploit this uncertainty to try to spread fear and discourage legitimate competition. Because of this, the law provides a mechanism to prevent “unjustified threats of infringement proceedings”. In particular, the provisions target IP owners who address their complaint not to the originator (the manufacturer or the importer into the jurisdiction) of the said-to-be infringing goods, but to the originator’s customers – retailers, for example. Thus, they seek to attack the manufacturer indirectly by frightening off their customers. The unjustified threats law recognises this as wrong and allows the manufacturer to take action to prevent it and recover damages. Rightly so. But the rules on unjustified threats do have the potential to catch out IP owners who are not necessarily consciously pursuing such a strategy.

access to some of the world’s best tidal resources, but these are currently underutilised. By providing key decisionmaking information for developers, BLUE-X will help to accelerate commercialisation of tidal energy and help unlock the full potential of this valuable energy resource.

“We expect this pioneering tool to have a powerful impact, helping to reduce project timescales and costs.”

Nowadays, a huge volume of online retail sales are made via “platform” sites like ebay and Amazon Marketplace. These sites list goods sold by thousands of different sellers. Inevitably, some of those listings will infringe on intellectual property rights. The platforms need to control this, and they all run “takedown” schemes whereby a report of IP infringement will generally lead to a listing being removed. This can often be a fast, effective, and cheap way for IP owners to get infringing listings removed but, if the right turns out to be invalid or the listing did not actually infringe, then they have made an unjustified threat and are potentially liable.

So, while takedown schemes are a good tool, be aware of the risks and ensure that you take advice before acting on online infringement.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Pirate FM has rebranded as Hits Radio Cornwall and moved over to being available on digital only. Its existing FM slots – 102.2 (Caradon Hill) and 102.8 (Redruth) – have been taken by Greatest Hits Radio Cornwall. “A small number of roles will be put into consultation and freelance contracts reviewed,” Bauer Media Group said in a statement.

A landmark project involving a Cornish company has seen groundbreaking technology used on a Royal Australian Navy ship for the first time. Truro-based Fuel Specialist Services has developed a bespoke mobile fuel filtration system, which reduces emissions. The unit has been integrated into HMAS Choules’ existing systems and will be used for refuelling and defueling helicopters, increasing the quality of the fuel.

Feritech Global has completed a major design and build project for Oceaneering, the world’s largest provider of subsea robotics to the offshore energy industry. The company has designed a next generation ‘auto-drop piston corer’ which is expected to dramatically reduce the amount of time needed for subsea geotechnical surveying.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), which this celebrates its 200th anniversary, has been selected as The Royal Cornwall Show’s charity of the year, alongside Citizens Advice Cornwall.

John Berg has been named new CEO at Citizens Advice Cornwall. Jon Berg was formerly Citizen’s Advice Cornwall’s head of operations and has been interim CEO for the past six months since the departure of former CEO, Gill Pipkin. His career has included management, operations and customer service roles with Seasalt, Barclays and Shelterbox.

Funding has been secured to acquire and refurbish the derelict Budgens supermarket in Helston with the aim of creating space for community-based services and activities. South Kerrier Alliance CIC (SKA) has been successful in raising £2.6 million to acquire the building and refurbish the exterior and upper floor.

£2M FUNDING ROUND

ARC Marine, a developer of low-carbon concrete solutions for use in marine environments, has secured £1 million from the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Investment Fund (CIOSIF), as part of a £2 million funding round.

The Truro-based business has developed Marinecrete, a proprietary non-toxic binder, which emits 90% less CO2 than Portland cement. ARC says its innovation has the potential to transform the offshore wind farm sector by improving infrastructure installation while preserving marine biodiversity. This latest funding follows a previous CIOSIF

investment in 2021 and will be used to scale up production and application of ARC’s solutions. It forms part of a wider £2 million funding round, which also includes a Mulago Foundation grant and investment from Mercuria, one of the world’s largest independent energy and commodities groups.

Tom Birbeck, ARC Marine founder and CEO, said: “We are delighted to have secured further CIOSIF funding, via The FSE Group, alongside our new co-investors.

“The first investment helped us grow our team and expand operations and we’re well on our way to proving our innovative solutions can work at scale.”

NEWQUAY REBRAND

Newquay Business Improvement District (BID) has launched its new Love Newquay brand.

As the new consumer face of Newquay BID and sister brand to Newquay’s official tourist information centre, Visit Newquay, Love Newquay will promote the resort’s diverse business landscape year-round to millions of residents and visitors.

In collaboration with a number of key partners including Visit Newquay, Experience Newquay and Cornwall Airport Newquay, the rebranded Love Newquay

organisation is driving out a digital strategy with a new website, ongoing social media work and investment, a new set of brand tools and a strategic communications campaign.

Newquay BID manager, Mark Warren, explained: “There is an ongoing positive evolution of Cornwall’s most ‘grown up’ resort and it feels that the time is right for a complete rebrand of Newquay BID and a reharnessing of the potential of the brand ‘Love Newquay’ across multiple markets.”

MAKING WAVES IN MARINE CONSERVATION

By Rachel Koerner

With sightings from our coasts already this year of pods of dolphins and even humpback whales, marine wildlife has reminded us just how much there is to appreciate and protect in our oceans.

And, in the face of environmental challenges, Cornwall’s businesses and entrepreneurs are emerging as stewards of the sea, prioritising marine and coastal conservation.

While Cornwall can boast over 400 miles of stunning coastline, so to can it celebrate a thriving community of businesses with a shared commitment to safeguarding our oceans.

I am keen to highlight just some of those companies, not directly in the marine sector, making waves in the county with respect to the challenges of marine and coastal conservation - advancing our understanding of marine ecosystems, preserving coastal habitats, and supporting marine biodiversity.

WATERHAUL

waterhaul.co

Since 2018, Newquay-based Waterhaul has been repurposing and transforming discarded fishing nets, known as ‘ghost gear’, to produce a range of durable and desirable eyewear and litter-picking equipment. Waterhaul’s products are extremely durable because they are made from the gear that would otherwise pollute our oceans for decades. Made up of avid conservationists, passionate about ecology, marine biology, and zoology conservation; the impressive Waterhaul team possesses skills and experience beyond those of the standard productbased business. The team boasts a love of the ocean at its core and marine conservation enthusiasts, Harry Dennis and Gavin Parker, at its helm.

Catching up with Kieran, Waterhaul’s head of sales, and talking of their mission and success in tackling the issue of ghost gear polluting our oceans and coasts, one net at a time, he says:

“Our mission here is quite simple really. We want to remove ghost gear and end-of-life fishing gear from our environment and repurpose them into products that will either connect people with, or help them protect, our ocean. Positive impact is engrained into everything we do here and educating people about the issue of ghost gear is a priority for us.

“We have very exciting plans this year to increase our positive impact and remove more fishing gear from the environment than we’ve ever done before. We’re going to launch some new eyewear ranges to freshen up our offering and, in the summer, we’ll be launching a very exciting project-based limited edition, so keep an eye out for all of that.

“A new addition to our litter picking range will be launching this year as well, which we can’t wait to announce – so you’ll have to wait a bit longer to see what we’ve been working on for the last 18 months!”

Continued on page 12

Discover Inyanga Marine Energy Group. Tomorrow’s leader in tidal array technology.

Based in Cornwall, we are hitting the headlines worldwide.

• Awarded largest tidal stream energy project in Wales through UK government’s latest ‘Contracts for Difference’ round.

• Won contract with Energies Ph Inc for the first tidal power plant in Southeast Asia, to be built at Capul in the Philippines.

• Only UK partner in BLUE-X, the first blue energy Horizon Europe project funded by the EU Agency for the Space Programme, to develop a satellite-based decision support tool to accelerate offshore renewable energy deployments.

Find out more about our fast-growing company and find out how you could invest in our success.

www.inyangamarine.com

Annual Marina Berths

Continued from page 10

CLEANER SEAS GROUP

cleaner-seas.com

Tackling microplastic pollution in our oceans is at the heart of Cleaner Seas Group’s mission.

Raising awareness of the impact of microfibres on our environment, marine life and our health, the Cleaner Seas team has innovated to find real solutions from their HQ in Bude since 2017. The message is clear: microplastics, generated from our laundry, is the largest source of primary microplastics in our oceans and we all have the power to prevent this. By plugging one of its microfibre filters onto our washing machines, we can capture the harmful fibre shed from our clothing and prevent up to 700,000 microfibres being released each time we wash our clothes.

These fibres end up in our water systems, oceans, marine life and ultimately our food chain. With the launch of itshome and commercial microfibre filters last year, the Cleaner Seas crew is revolutionising eco-laundry and protecting our oceans worldwide. The group have scooped up a wave of global awards and continue to educate us all on the part we can play in turning the tide on ocean pollution and also rallies the government for legislation on integrated filters.

CORNWALL WILDLIFE TRUST

cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk

Cornwall Wildlife Trust is fervently active both on and off our shores. Its ‘Living Seas’ programme encompasses a vast number of projects set out to monitor and preserve marine wildlife and habitats, while raising funds and awareness. Inland it is also establishing a new nocturnal team of wetland supporters, who are literally ‘beavering’ away, building dams and canals to prevent flooding and improve habitats for other wildlife.

Integral in conducting groundbreaking research on topics ranging from marine biodiversity to climate change resilience, Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s work not only advances our understanding of marine ecosystems, but also informs policy decisions and strategies aimed at preserving our coastal habitats. Cornwall Wildlife Trust harnesses opportunities for collaboration to make real impact to restore marine ecosystems and improve marine wildlife populations.

Cornwall Wildlife Trust also leads the ‘Cornwall Good Seafood Guide’, which is giving the hospitality sector, fishers and fishmongers in Cornwall and beyond, a framework to make more sustainable decisions regarding marine conservation and sustainable seafood - and in turn, encourage their customers to do the same.

Recognising the power of working together with Cornwall’s business community to protect our marine and wetland environments, Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s corporate partnerships officer, Rowan Hartgroves comments: “Nature in Cornwall faces significant challenges, and collaboration with local businesses is essential if we are to address these issues effectively.

Microplastic pollution is a huge threat to our environment, our oceans and our health.

“Microplastic pollution is a huge threat to our environment, our oceans and our health,” says cofounder and CEO, Dave Miller. “We have created a solution, here in Cornwall, that not only tackles the problem in a circular system, but also brings the joy of ocean conservation to every laundry room. Last year we also scaled our technology to tackle pollution on an industrial and global scale, working with launderettes, hotels and cruise liners, as well as plans to build a large recycling plant here in Cornwall. We’re all ocean lovers at Cleaner Seas and we want to protect our oceans and our health for generations to come.”

Fortunately, Cornwall boasts a conscientious business sector known for its innovative and creative solutions to protect the natural world.

“At Cornwall Wildlife Trust, we are working with businesses on a number of projects, from researching innovative seagrass restoration techniques to unlocking the environmental benefits of beavers. Our incredible business supporters not only contribute financially to our work but also assist in our advocacy and awareness efforts.

“Recognising the importance and impact of Cornwall tourism, we also plan to expand our collaboration with the hospitality sector, helping businesses become more wildlife-friendly, whilst also providing information to help their guests explore, appreciate, and help protect the amazing wildlife we are so lucky to have in Cornwall. Together, we can create a Cornwall where nature thrives.”

Continued on page 14

Continued from page 12

FOURTH ELEMENT

fourthelement.com

From its base in Helston, leading sustainable dive brand, Fourth Element, is setting a standard for conscientious marine adventure enthusiasts, worldwide. The health of our oceans, from the bottom of the Antarctic to our more local dive spots, plays in to the development of Fourth Element products and business practices and is the driver for its Ocean Positive Collection and initiatives. Preserving and protecting marine environments is held close to the hearts of the team, who utilise their marine experience and expertise to educate and encourage others to step up to the role of ocean custodian.

Technical diver and Fourth Element sales manager, Rannvá Jørmundsson, says: “As divers, our connection to the oceans run deep, both figuratively and literally. We witness firsthand the incredible marine life and the intricate ecosystems that thrive beneath the waves.

“However, we also see firsthand the harsh realities of environmental degradation, particularly the effects and threats of plastic pollution. And it’s not just the single-use plastics that plaque our seas; it’s also the silent killers like ghost nets -lost or discarded fishing gear that continues to trap and kill marine life long after it’s been abandoned.

“As the leading scuba diving brand within sustainability, we want to be Ocean Positive and we want to do what we can in order to protect and minimise the negative effects on the environment.

“Some of the actions we have taken are; eliminating all single use plastic from our production and using biodegradable packaging or no packaging at all where applicable. We make every effort to incorporate as much recycled material into our products as possible without compromising on quality. Quality is also important to us and is part of our Ocean Positive strategy, as we want to produce product that performs and lasts.

“Finally, we do our best to support global and local conservation initiatives, like the Global Ghost Gear Initiative, Reef-World Foundation, the Olive Ridley Project and many others, and more locally we have supported Fathoms Free and Dive Project Cornwall, which is producing the next generation of ocean ambassadors.

“Some of the products that we have developed are for example the Rec Fin – which is the world’s first recycled dive fin, and we have made recycled line markers that is used for cave diving- and exploration with recycled PPE from Waterhaul.

“At Fourth Element, we know we will not be solving all problems and we are by no means perfect, but we do feel an obligation to try and do better, and to inspire other companies and our customers to be more Ocean Positive.”

As we navigate a time when the health of our marine environments is inextricably linked to the wellbeing of our planet, we must observe Cornwall’s businesses who are leading the way in marine conservation. Their dedication to conservation practices not only preserves the natural beauty and ecosystems of Cornwall’s coastline, but sets an example for businesses and regions worldwide. By recognising the connection between business and the environment, Cornwall’s coastal guardians are clearly forging a path towards a more sustainable and harmonious future for our land and seas.

Generating electricity from fixed-bottom wind farm projects has long been championed in the UK and continues to grow globally. Now, in the next wave of sustainable energy solutions, attention is turning to the future of these offshore giants: floating offshore wind.

Pushing wind farms into deeper sea waters, floating offshore wind taps into the powerful potential of oceanic winds. Creating a window hitherto inaccessible, it places floating wind turbines –installed on floating platforms and stabilised with moorings and anchors – into waters previously considered unfeasible for development.

In April 2022, the Government published its British Energy Security Strategy. Setting ambitious targets for a greener future and accelerating the production of clean energy in the UK, it established plans to deploy up to 50 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2030. As part of this, up to five gigawatts were assigned to floating offshore wind.

In an exciting era in Cornish engineering, the future of floating offshore wind is already being keenly explored with many prospects under investigation within the Celtic and Irish Seas. An innovation hotbed, Cornwall is home to some of the world’s leading engineers, transposing knowledge and industry born from the county’s rich mining and maritime heritage. A passionate advocate for floating offshore wind, Penryn-based MintMech is at the centre of this developing industry. Co-founder and director, Jack Berryman, says: “At MintMech, we are excited to be a part of this next step in offshore wind and believe that many of the solutions to delivering the success of floating wind farms can be found here in Cornwall. There is enormous potential to steer the development of this industry and pioneer technologies and solutions that will significantly improve the viability and efficiency of offshore operations.

“Within the Government’s roadmap to offshore wind, it highlights the need for initiatives to support infrastructure investment, supply chain capabilities and export opportunities. With so much industry already existing within the county, we have always been aware of what we are capable of delivering and achieving with the right backing. These are ambitious targets, but we have the knowledge and expertise here within the county to help meet demands.”

As well as the obvious benefits of reducing the UK’s carbon footprint, Jack says the added advantages of floating offshore are manifold. “Within Cornwall, we expect to see development within the industry support many engineering and fabrication professions for the next generation of engineers. There is also the hope that floating offshore wind farms could support marine recovery initiatives by adventitiously creating protected areas of suspended reefs in which marine life can thrive, too.

“Here at MintMech we see this as just the beginning for offshore wind and we are excited and ready for what’s ahead.”

WINDS OF CHANGE

The floating offshore wind industry has long been the face of renewable energy, yet continues to push the boundaries of technology and provide a viable solution to green energy production.

Earlier this year, we announced a significant chapter in our group’s already proud 104 year history, as we signed contracts to build two new vessels to serve the Penzance to Isles of Scilly sea link.

INWARD INVESTMENT

CEO Stuart Reid explains how the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group is delivering for the region.

Moving people and freight across that short stretch of Atlantic ocean was what our company was set up to do back in 1920, and serving the needs of Scilly is still our sole focus – something that drives us forward every day.

Bringing two new ships into service is a proud time for our company, but it’s also a proud time for our team. We employ more than 200 people, with the huge majority based either on the Isles of Scilly or in West Cornwall. Our headquarters is just a short distance from Penzance Harbour, and we can watch our fleet come and go from our offices.

The Scillonian III, our current passenger vessel, has become synonymous with Penzance. It’s one of the first landmarks visitors will see as they approach the town, It is a welcome sight for the tens of thousands

of passengers we carry annually, as the first step on their holidays on the islands.

Scillonian III has now set sail for the forthcoming season, and our teams have worked as hard and diligently to bring her up to our usual high standards, as they have done every year since she entered service in 1977.

Seeing our team work on her annual schedule of maintenance each winter, which includes painting, repairs, scheduled maintenance, and testing, gives pause for thought about the pride attached to the job. Her replacement will become a similar landmark for Penzance and the islands but will also provide muchneeded upgrades for our customers.

Being based in Cornwall isn’t just necessary for our line of business, but it is an immense source of pride for the company and our employees. 99% of our 208 strong team lives in either Cornwall or the Isles of Scilly, and being based here and using our services, means that they are able to provide the best possible experience for our passengers.

serve makes this even more important, which is why we have invested in our people and their training.

We have many employees who have been with us for decades and who are highly experienced. This accumulated knowledge within our team has been particularly invaluable in recent years as we’ve progressed towards a contractual position with new vessels.

Being one of the region’s largest employers also means that we have a strong focus on what we can provide for our staff. We have an extremely diverse workforce in terms of skills and expertise, ranging from airline pilots to marine engineers. But whatever the position, we are always looking at what training requirements are, and what we can do as a company to support local skills.

Making sure that we are a great place to work is also a big focus for us. Being based in the community we serve makes this even more important.

It means we can be more responsive and get to know our customers, many of whom travel with us year after year. Being a business with such a huge customer focus is not without its challenges, especially on the very rare occasions that we alter our scheduled services due to weather, but knowing that our teams act with empathy, integrity and always go the extra mile, is just part of the day job.

Making sure that we are a great place to work is also a big focus for us. Being based in the community we

In recent years, this has included developing routes into professional training and apprenticeships, and we’re looking to expand the work we do on this front in the near future. We have also set up a network of Mental Health First Aid advisors and have introduced an Employees Assistance Programme, so that our teams have the right support, should they need it.

And finally, we have worked hard to develop an extremely strong local supply-chain, which is supporting the wider Cornish economy.

Cornwall can often feel like it’s more isolated than our counterparts further upcountry, and particularly down here in West Cornwall and the Islands, we feel it’s not only right and proper, but also beneficial, to support local.

From the sky to the ocean, from the airport to the spaceport and now the harbour. We meet Falmouth Harbour chief executive, Miles Carden.

I’m really passionate about the whole future of the ocean. How we can use it to decarbonise, how we can look at transport, how we can look at energy.

CEO feature & cover photographs by Toby Weller

You’ve been at Falmouth Harbour since January 2021. How has it been? What attracted you to this position?

I came from a very different role as director of Spaceport Cornwall. But I’ve always lived by the harbour, sailed in the harbour and always had a passion for the harbour. I had always felt the harbour was a little bit of a missed opportunity in terms of the potential for Falmouth. And I had been working at the airport for almost 12 years and the had got Cornwall Spaceport over the line. So, I came to a position where there was a big line in the sand. I could either decide to stay at the Spaceport and give it another five or seven years, or move on.

I was sat in a holiday cottage on the Isle of Mull, my first family holiday since Covid, and this job came up and I thought I’d give it a go - it looked like an interesting challenge and opportunity. I was brought in quite deliberately by the board to change the dynamic in the harbour, which traditionally had been managed by the harbour master. So now there is a really good split between the organisational, strategic side of the harbour and the operational, safety side. We have got a wide responsibility in terms of looking at growing Falmouth as a location and a harbour, so they wanted something a bit different in terms strategic direction of the organisation, hence they split the roles and brought me in.

What are your views now on Spaceport Cornwall?

You can’t get consumed by short termism. I said to them, you’ve got to look at the figures on launch failure, we will have a failure here, you’ve got to recognise failure. Even some of the really reliable systems have a 10% failure rate.

is keep the long-term view, recognise you may have a challenging five or seven years going forward, recognise that potentially you’re not going to get many launches in the next five to seven years, and build a space industry with Goonhilly. The bright light here is Goonhilly Earth Station. With the synergy between that having the launch site and the physical entity of the airport alongside Goonhilly, Cornwall has got a really credible space sector. Ok, it failed on the first launch, but let’s get beyond that ‘short termism’. We need a bit of patience.

I guess on a day to day basis, there’s a lot more variety for you now?

Actually, managing an airport and a seaport aren’t that different. I’ve said jokingly in the past, the only difference between an airport and a port is you’ve got a 12ft fence around an airport! But yes, the different things, in terms of the variety, are incredible. As such, there’s never what I would call a typical day here.

I’ve got to try and strike that balance between the environmental side and a vibrant commercial activity.

Obviously, it depends on what happens, but we’ve not got what I would call scheduled services. In terms of A&P Falmouth, Falmouth docks, they have a huge variety of vessels that come to visit them for ship repair, a lot of ferry traffic in the winter; we get a whole variety of commercial shipping from some of the biggest cruise vessels down to super yachts and commercial vessels and offshore support vessels. There’s a cable layer in the harbour at the moment which is an interesting ship. The variety is incredible and alongside all the commercial traffic, you’ve got leisure traffic, you’ve got increasing use of the water around wild swimming and kayaking and paddle boards, and you get a lot of wildlifehumpback whales, huge numbers dolphins.

And when I mean failure, I’m not talking about failure to get off the launchpad, but failure to properly deploy into orbit. But what we really don’t want is the first one to fail. Because that might be more difficult to manage.

Virgin Orbit couldn’t get the rocket production scaled up, that was the real crunch. And Covid didn’t help that. And there was that scalability issue, they needed to get scale to get profitability, and they weren’t getting the rocket production up. And I think Covid was the fundamental problem with that rocket production.

But Spaceport Cornwall is a spaceport and has got the licence. It’s done the hard work. Very little of Cornwall Council investment went into Spaceport. What Cornwall Council invested in was the buildings and infrastructure at the airport and I have always found that to be a solid use of public money. We received a significant amount of money from the UK Space Agency to do the licensing part of that project. It would never have come to Cornwall if we hadn’t done that work. So, what I think

And can all this variety make for unhappy bedfellows?

They are all what we call stakeholders. We’re a Trust Port, so we’re owned and overseen by our stakeholders. And that might be a customer like a yacht owner, or it might be the pod of dolphins and I’m not trying to be loose with that. I’ve got to try and strike that balance between the environmental side and a vibrant commercial activity. But no, they’re not always all on the same page. I suppose we are like a council for the sea. We try and make sure those people stay safe and go home at night after they’ve enjoyed themselves on the water. But also, things happen, day in, day out. It might be a sunken vessel, or someone lost in the water. So we are that police and council for the waters. Nobody else that has jurisdiction out there. That diversity is pretty mind blowing on a day to day basis and you can never predict what that might happen.

Continued from page 21

Talking about cruise ships, for as long as I can remember there has been the issue of the need for dredging the harbour against protecting the natural marine environment. Can you sometimes get caught in the middle of such debates?

A little bit maybe. It’s quite a complex port. If you go to cruise vessels and dredging, we don’t operate the port, ie Falmouth Docks. They operate and have responsibility for most of the main dredge channel. They are a separate Port Authority. They’re a bit like a hole in the donut in the middle of our harbour. We get some of the largest cruise vessels - not the mega ones, but we can take 230-odd metres of vessel at berth in the docks. We haven’t got the berths to take anything larger than that, so there is a link between the size of the berths in relation to the depth. But Falmouth doesn’t really silt in terms of dredging. We don’t maintenance dredge here like a lot of ports who have to do it on an annual basis.

In terms of our operation, depth is not a restriction to what we’re planning, because most of our activities involve either smaller vessels or are into the bay with what we call day work – bunkering of vessels in the bay. We’re interested in future fuels and how that develops and we’re not in a position where dredging would change that. Obviously, Falmouth Docks are looking at a fairly significant project to expand both their berthage and do some limited dredging and that’s going through the early stages of consenting through the Marine Management Organisation. So that that will come to fruition in the next two to three years.

A&P Falmouth is part of Cruise Europe so we work jointly to promote the port and pushing Cornwall as a destination, although it’s not a massively hard sell because they really want to come to us. Falmouth and Cornwall is a very positive cruise destination. And the bulk of the visits are early and late season, April into May and June and September, October. So it’s great for the local economy.

Is it mostly passengers in transit?

We have worked really hard through our contacts in Cruise Britain. And now the Ambassador Cruise Line do turnaround cruises out of Falmouth and I think they’ve been incredibly popular locally. Locally, people who maybe wouldn’t have gone on a cruise in the first place if they had to travel to Southampton. Traditionally, Falmouth did have turnaround cruises in the past but in recent years we didn’t have that. So, it’s good to see Ambassador back.

What are the biggest challenges in your job?

We’re a Trust Port, so we’re owned and overseen by our stakeholders.

I don’t mean this as a throw away comment, but in terms of my absolute purpose, apart from paying my people, is keeping my people safe. We do some risky things, we run the pilotage service for commercial shipping. I’ve got a team of nine who run our pilot vessels. We’ve got two pilot vessels and we’re just buying a new one, which I’ll come on to in a minute. And I want them to go home to their families on a Friday night. And therefore, I need to make sure we follow the right procedures, the right training, they are well kitted out in the right stuff, et cetera.

Last year was your busiest cruise season. Is that trend set to continue?

There were 44 visits last year. I think five or six of those were ‘bay visits’, where the bigger vessels have to use tenders to get passengers back and forth. It’s not ideal and cruise operators don’t like to operate on a tender basis. But what we’ve found is that Falmouth is an incredibly popular location so they will often bend that rule a bit. This year there could be as many as 60 visits.

Do you actively have to court the cruise ships or do they approach you?

They plan itineraries two to three years in advance. We’re members of Cruise Britain, which is a national trade association for all the ports. We work together on the UK proposition and a lot of these ports aren’t in competition directly. They all offer a different feel around the destination. Sure, there’s an element of competition between the likes of ourselves and Plymouth, but we’ve got our own clear proposition.

Also, a lot of shipping and leisure yachting has been quite traditional for many, many years and you’re now seeing quite a shift. For example, the shipping industry in terms of decarbonisation around fuels and propulsion. What’s interesting is how we’re going to really look at decarbonisation and the technologies required in quite traditional industries. We’ve seen some big shifts in some elements of the industry, but then you have the more traditional side of the industry that’s going to take a longer time to shift away from traditional fuel use or traditional materials.

And where is ship fuel going in the future? Why is that interesting? Well, we bunker ships in the bay, we’re a petrol station for ships, so how do we adapt? Do we need to change regulations or change how we go about business to attract those vessels in the future around hydrogen or ethanol or ammonia, biofuels? Traditionally, it was black oil that went in ships. That was quite simple. It’s not going to be that simple over the next 10 or 20 years, as different operators take different approaches.

Is decarbonisation one of the biggest issues now? Going back to cruise ships, they don’t have the greatest reputation do they?

And maybe unfairly so. Cruises are never going to be for everyone and some might say they’re not necessary, because it’s not an essential service. But actually, some of the cruise vessels are the most modern vessels on the ocean and are looking at some of the most interesting technologies. A lot of the progression in propulsion technology in large ships happens first in the cruise industry, so I don’t think they’re the ones to knock. Shipping has a long way to go but we’re all very dependent on shipping. We can’t say that shipping is a bad thing. Everything we buy is transported by ship.

You’ve got some very exciting stuff happening with some of the big providers like Maersk. They’re going their own way with methanol, so they can create their own supply chain. Many seem to be going down the hydrogen route or hydrogen derivatives. But I don’t think we’re there on hydrogen yet, in terms of using it as a fuel. So that’s an interesting space, but it’s probably a ten-year journey.

So the pace of change is happening faster now?

To be fair, the Government has put a lot of money on the table for marine technology innovation. We’ve been a beneficiary with a couple of Innovate UK grants. We’ve got an electric rib project, so we’re getting a small 5.5 metre small patrol vessel, which we’re getting funded. We’ll be testing that in a real world situation. We’re putting electric charging stations around the marina, again as part of a Government-funded project. And we’re buying a brand new pilot boat this year, that will be very efficient. It will cost about £1.6 million, but it’s a very specific piece of kit. We run a 24/7 pilot service in Falmouth. Any ship that comes into the bay legally requires a pilot to be safe.

Do you still get many big ships mooring up down the Fal? That was a common sight in lockdown.

That is the Port of Truro, so Cornwall Council owned. Historically that was in high demand, but today there are no ships there. The market has changed a lot and ships on don’t tend to be laid up as they used to be.

But in the future, we’re maybe looking at other things that might be laid up, things like floating offshore wind, offshore renewables. As that ramps up in the Celtic Sea in the coming years, what is the demand going to be for things for wet storage? We’ve got all of Falmouth Bay. Of course, it will need to go through consenting and that sort of thing, but clearly there is potential to use that for wet storage devices prior to deployment. If there’s 2,500 devices in the Celtic Sea, there’s going to be a swap in and swap out change, you will need to store spares. And they will probably be whole devices. So that’s quite an interesting market

for us in the future. These devices are huge, and even storing one or two or three of them in the outer harbour is quite a lot, so they’ve got to go somewhere.

Has the job been what you expected?

Yes and no. No one expected the economic turmoil of the last few years and that has been a huge issue - Covid, cost of living, the fuel crisis. It has been a massive, challenging time financially, so we’re not anywhere near where I thought we’d be. But at the back of that, I’m pretty confident we’re in a really good place, we’ve had to make some challenging decisions around prices, but I think we’re well placed going forward. We’re a small business and we’re not out of the woods, but it’s good to see some of the power prices coming down now.

Away from all of this, how do you like to relax?

I sail! I love it! I live in St Mawes and I go to the local sailing club and I sail in St Mawes, so I don’t bump into my customers that much. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, but sometimes you need a break!

I’m actually a really good user of the port - I’m more leisure than I am commercial. I have some great people in the organisation that run my commercial activity. But I sail, I kayak, my kids water ski and wakeboard. I’ve got a rib, I have a sailboat I race. I’ve got all that stuff going on.

But I’m really passionate about the whole future of the ocean. How we can use it to decarbonise, how we can look at transport, how we can look at energy. And I think Falmouth has got a massive role for Cornwall to play. I’m massively excited about what potential is there, but I think there is a real need for an ocean planning policy in terms of what happens on the ocean, but also an economic policy for the oceans. That would be a huge step.

9%

ZEITGEIST Investigating the broader mood and opinions across the UK.

IT’S NOT WHAT YOU SAY…

A new piece of research has analysed how regional accents are perceived in the workplace.

The Moneypenny website surveyed 1,000 UK office workers to gauge their reactions towards various accents, including British accents and the Republic of Ireland.

WHAT’S NEXT?

New research by accountancy firm Azets has revealed that fewer than one in ten UK businesses have succession planning fully integrated into their strategy, despite 30% of companies demonstrating a widespread recognition of its importance.

The Azets Barometer survey shows that 58% of businesses have considered succession in their strategic planning, with 30% scoring 8 or above out of 10 when asked how much thought their organisation gave to succession planning.

However, just 9% of businesses have succession plans fully integrated, while 6% have given it no thought at all.

71%

Research revealed that 71% of UK adults agree that accents affect the delivery of what somebody is trying to say. Of those surveyed, 17% believed that southern Irish (Republic of Ireland) accents to be the most calming with Welsh a close second with 12%.

A huge 37% believed that none of the accents included were the best at motivating employees. That left the Geordie accent topping the charts, with 9% of the survey voting it as the most motivating.

Yorkshire and Geordie accents were also voted as the most encouraging accents in the workplace (9%). The least encouraging accent was the Norfolk accent.

If you have some bad news to share with your team, maybe ask someone from the Republic to impart it, with 17% saying it sounded the most sympathetic.

THE MOST STRESSFUL JOBS

New research has revealed the most stressful industries in the UK, with the human health and social work industry taking the top spot.

The study from Claims.co.uk found that 3,530 people per 100,000 workers in the health and social work industry have been impacted by stress at work, ahead of the public defence and education sectors.

3,530 PER 100K OF HEALTH WORKERS IMPACTED BY STRESS

Ranking fourth on the list is the professional, scientific, and technical industry, which includes jobs such as solicitors and barristers. The study revealed that for every 100,000 workers, 2,310 have suffered from work-related stress. The finance industry ranks fifth on the list, with 2,140 workers reporting a stress-related illness per 100,000 people.

UK’S GREENEST CITY

New research claims that those living in Truro are more interested in green energy than any other city in the UK.

100Green studied over 30 green energy search terms and uncovered the number of searches coming from each UK city to determine which British city is the ‘keenest for green’, with those living in Truro having a higher average interest than people living in the rest of the UK’s cities.

The research found that Truro has the highest average online searches per 100,000 people across terms like “green energy tariffs”, “renewable energy suppliers”, “why is green energy important” and “solar panels”. However, this might not be surprising considering Cornwall is the region in the UK producing the most renewable energy, around 40% of all electricity in Cornwall is now generated through renewables.

UNEMPLOYMENT GROWTH

Britain’s unemployment rate has risen for the first time since July, as wage growth eased.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said average regular pay growth, excluding bonuses, fell to 6.1% in the quarter to January, down from 6.2% in the three months to December and marking the slowest growth for more than a year.

The ONS said the UK rate of unemployment lifted unexpectedly to 3.9% in the three months to January from 3.8% in the previous three months, while vacancies fell by 43,000 quarter on quarter in the three months to February to 908,000 – the 20th drop in a row.

NEVER TOO OLD

£140m

According to Start Up Loans, which is part of the British Business Bank, the south west is a “start-up business hot spot” for entrepreneurs aged over 50.

Since its inception in 2012. The programme has delivered more than £140 million of loans to UK entrepreneurs aged 50+. Of these loans, more than £14.78 million have gone to business owners over the age of 50 in the south west.

By UK region, the south west had the second highest number of loans by value outside London and the south east, with Devon, Somerset and Cornwall weighing in as the top three counties for 50+ entrepreneurship in the region, by number of loans.

HYBRID WORKING HERE TO STAY

According to latest findings, 53% of UK professionals would look for a new job if their employer asked them to work more days in the office.

The poll found that the main factors deterring professionals from spending more days in office were: associated costs (46%), disruption to their work-life balance (28%), long commutes (16%) and too many distractions at work (10%).

Recruitment company, Robert Walters, discovered that hybrid working remains in the top three most desired benefits across every professional field.

OF LOANS TO UK ENTREPRENEURES AGED OVER 50 3.9%

53% UK PROFESSIONALS

EMPLOYEE RETENTION: THE ROLE OF ENGAGEMENT

By Rachel Koerner

With its people-centric business community and burgeoning B Corp community, Cornwall knows the importance of employee engagement and staff retention. When it comes to employment, as businesses strive to navigate through economic uncertainties, seasonality, post-pandemic patterns, changes in working trends and rising living costs, any potential for employment disputes will also remain a pressing concern. However, amidst such challenges, there lies opportunity for businesses and employees alike to foster better engagement and communication to mitigate issues.

I delve into the insights of two professionals; Joe Nicholls, an employment lawyer specialising in workplace disputes, and Kate Fonseca Williams, an occupational therapist and career coach, to understand the importance of proactive employment engagement in Cornwall’s workplaces. Joe and Kate, with their unique perspectives, shed light on the importance of staying ahead of employment challenges through legal diligence and a commitment to employee wellbeing.

Joe Nicholls is an employment lawyer and partner at Stephens Scown LLP and is no stranger to the complexities of workplace disputes. With more than ten years’ experience dealing with employment litigation and conflicts, he sheds light on the employment issues that businesses face. Joe emphasises the significance of a robust legal framework but underscores the power of preventative measures.

How would you describe the current legal landscape regarding employment issues in Cornwall, and have you noticed any unique regional challenges?

We’ve seen such turbulence over the last few years with the economy and recovery after covid that everything feels more stable and cautiously optimistic. The market has settled into more consistency with working patterns and flexibility having become more common and less contentious. Beyond that, the regional challenges are a familiar tale of recruitment shortages for seasonal workers.

From your experience, what are some common employment disputes businesses encounter in Cornwall, and how do these compare to national trends?

We advise on such a variety of disputes across all sectors both within our region and nationally. We tend to become involved in more complex disputes, which require more specialist advice and representation.

Common examples include discrimination or other breaches of the Equality Act 2010, usually related to the protected characteristics of disability or sex. Regrettably, sexual harassment in the workplace is something we advise upon regularly, either for employees seeking to understand and enforce their rights, or for businesses who have received a complaint about someone in their workforce. Disability discrimination is often more complex and more nuanced and so we regularly represent parties in cases involving an employer’s duty to make adjustments, with mental health being a consistent factor in so many disputes. I regularly advise on whistleblowing disputes, particularly in public sector organisations including the NHS, or more broadly in the care or charity sector. Those disputes reflect what we see outside of the region, with perhaps more challenges around flexible working being more specific to Cornwall business than tends to be the case in more urban centres.

parachuting in experienced, HR advisers to act as an extension of an organisation to conduct investigations, hear grievances, disciplinaries and appeals. Getting support and advice at an early stage can be the difference between costly litigation and a rescued employment relationship.

Considering the current economic climate, are there emerging trends in employment law that businesses in Cornwall should be aware of to proactively address potential issues?

We help businesses understand the options and risks involved in any dispute, but we also help them to understand the value in reaching a positive resolution.

From your experience in mitigating disputes, what role do you see proactive employee engagement strategies playing in preventing conflicts from escalating to legal battles?

Engaging employees is highly significant in reducing the risk of conflict. So many employees who pursue legal action do so because they felt that there was no other option; because they weren’t being heard. There are outliers of course, those whose only genuine chance of resolution is to enforce their rights, or those who enjoy the conflict of a dispute, but the reason mediation in litigated disputes is so successful is because it provides an opportunity for an agreed compromise. If employers can ensure that their employees feel heard, valued and understood during their employment, employees are far less likely to feel forced into taking legal action.

What legal considerations should businesses bear in mind when navigating employment disputes and are there specific legal resources or support mechanisms available to businesses in Cornwall to navigate employment disputes effectively?

The starting point for any business has to be having the right policies, contracts and training in place, with the support of an HR function or external advisers.

Beyond that, ACAS (The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) provide really useful guidance for employers, some of which has statutory, financial implications for employers if they aren’t followed. We can provide such a range of support, including

Employment legislation changes regularly, with changes to pay taking effect on April 6 each year. A General Election year is always one to watch with interest, but one example of a change which is due to take effect in October 2024 relates to a duty being imposed on employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment in the course of their employment.

How do you advocate for fair and equitable outcomes for both employers and employees in your practice?

We know from speaking to our clients that they want advice on how to ensure they are satisfying their own desire to be a purposeful business, conscious of the impact of their decisions on their local community. Although we believe that we help to avoid disputes by matching the values of their current and future employees through advising them on the global benefits of greener travel and flexible working, a dispute with an employee does not need to be the catalyst to ditch the principles a business has worked so hard to implement. We help businesses understand the options and risks involved in any dispute, but we also help them to understand the value in reaching a positive resolution, or learning from the experiences which triggered the dispute. I don’t conduct litigation with an aggressive or hostile tone and I advocate for achieving a fair resolution, allowing the other party to recover and move on, free from unnecessary barriers which settlements can sometimes impose. I encourage an unrepresented party to seek legal advice, conscious of the benefit to both parties in understanding the legal issues in any dispute. I caution my clients on the impact that a departure has on their reputation both internally by their employees, and externally by the market or business community. It is always more challenging to stand by your values during difficult and acrimonious disputes, but a business who knows they have supported an exiting employee in difficult circumstances is when it really counts.

Continued from page 27

Kate Fonseca Williams is an occupational psychologist (MSc) and career coach who has recently moved back to Cornwall following a career in London working as an employee engagement and change management consultant supporting organisations such as GSK, Novartis, Saudi Aramco, Mars and Siemens Energy. Kate’s holistic approach has made her a trusted resource for individuals and organisations navigating employment challenges. As the founder of Karibu Coaching Limited, she specialises in supporting organisations to put their employees at the heart of their decisions to enhance productivity, job satisfaction and fostering resilience.

How can the principles of occupational psychology be applied in the workplace to create environments that promote employee retention and prevent occupational disputes?

Some of the more typical challenges I see Cornish businesses struggling with include effective leadership and management, job security, flexible working policies, fair compensation and workplace culture. If managed badly, these can all lead to staff turnover or disputes. By incorporating occupational psychology principles, such as effective onboarding processes, professional development opportunities, open channels of communication and ensuring tasks are meaningful, organisations can foster environments where both employees and organisations can thrive. In doing so, not only can they proactively address the root cause of potential disputes but decrease turnover and increase productivity.

Please tell us why our business community should care about employee engagement and occupational psychology

Employee engagement and occupational psychology (the study of human behaviour in the workplace) is crucial for any organisation aiming to improve productivity, retain talent, and foster a positive workplace culture. Engaged employees are more motivated, perform better, and are deeply committed to their work, significantly contributing to the achievement of business goals. Prioritising employee engagement not only attracts top talent but also enhances customer satisfaction, drives innovation, and leads to better financial performance. In essence, focusing on employee engagement is fundamental for the sustained success and growth of any business.

As an employee engagement specialist and occupational psychologist, what have been your initial impressions of the specific challenges or opportunities individuals face in Cornwall when it comes to finding and maintaining employment?

One of the primary challenges individuals face when navigating the Cornish job-market is the seasonality of much of the work, the salaries and the limited job prospects. This leads to issues with job security and development opportunities. Many staff are looking further afield to find roles that are better financially renumerated and with more reliable hours. On the positive side, Cornwall’s growing tech, mining and marine sectors, as well as the boom in B Corp organisations focusing on sustainability and wellbeing, provide unique employment opportunities.

How do you assess the overall state of employee wellbeing, and what factors contribute to a positive work environment?

There is no one-size fits all here and the best way to assess how employees are is by asking them directly. One thing that I often come up against when discussing this with my clients is the belief that their people will tell them when they are unhappy. This is very rarely the case!

Ensuring employees have a formal channel to communicate the things that they’d like to change - or the things that they wouldn’t - is an imperative to having a happy workforce. Annual, anonymised employee engagement surveys are a great start, but for a more regular temperature check I’d recommend introducing small ‘pulse surveys’ where you can ask your employees how things are going and make changes in real-time.

Exit interviews are also hugely important in understanding why people are leaving and what could have been done differently, but I’d also look at ‘stay interviews’. These are proactive, focused conversations that can give you a wealth of information about why people like working for you as well as how you can enhance their experience. Finally, before introducing any of the above, I take the time to talk to the business about what they will do with the results. Hosting a meeting or sending out a recap email, as well as what will change as a result is a great start. See the impact that making your team feeling heard has on their engagement.

From your perspective, how can businesses in Cornwall integrate career development initiatives to enhance employee engagement and reduce the likelihood of disputes?

In a time when pay rises and promotions might be challenging, investing in employee development is an excellent way to make your employees feel valued.

Continued on page 30

When setting up your new business venture, choosing the right business structure or setting up a recruitment process may not be your top priority, but making sure you establish these, and other, important business decisions and policies early on is crucial to starting your business on sound footing, ensuring you are ready for success.

1.

Choosing the right business structure: If you operate as a sole trader, or general partnership, personal liability is a constant threat, and one of the main questions is whether to incorporate or not. Whereas if you structure your business within a formal entity (limited company or partnership) liability is generally, but not always, retained to the assets of that entity.

2.

Setting up your accountancy system and understanding your tax obligations: This will generally depend on your setup type and what you are looking for, whether it’s a steady income, or quick growth and an exit. A good accountant should be consulted at this initial stage, particularly if the project is expecting quick growth or exit.

3.

Party protection: If multiple parties are investing in one project, think about how all interests can be protected at an initial stage. It is pivotal that guidance and boundaries are put in place early on, and certainly before any issues arise. Shareholder agreements and partnership agreements should not be ignored!

4. The recruitment process: When looking to grow a workforce, care should be taken to comply with all relevant law, especially the Equality Act 2010. You cannot discriminate against applicants based on a protected characteristic, whether that’s age, race, sex etc at any point, including during the recruitment process.

5.

Accurate and detailed contracts: Ensuring you have the correct type of contract for your workforce is vital. Employees and workers have different rights, so making sure you recruit and issue contracts on the right basis will be extremely important.

6.

Employment policies: Employers have an obligation to provide staff with certain information, such as their disciplinary procedure and how to raise a grievance. You should have a suite of policies and procedures to ensure that employees are clear on their responsibilities.

7. Paying your staff: Depending on the type of employment relationship, pay (especially holiday pay) can be a complex area. Falling foul of National Minimum Wage or paying staff the incorrect amounts could result in a claim, so it’s vital you keep an eye on legislation updates.

TOP TIPS FOR SETTING UP YOUR BUSINESS

Jack Peart and Steph Marsh from Coodes Solicitors offer their 7 top tips to consider when starting out, including structuring your business and looking at employing a workforce.

If you are looking at setting up your new business and need a helping hand, get in touch with Jack Peart, Associate at Coodes, by emailing jack.peart@coodes.co.uk or calling 01872 246 215 or Steph Marsh, Associate at Coodes, by emailing steph.marsh@coodes.co.uk or calling 01579 324 017

Again, this isn’t a one-size fits all. Different workforces and different teams have different needs and the approach shouldn’t be top-down. Using the channels suggested is a good starting point to ask your employees what they would like and cross reference this with the business need. Bringing on board a career coach is an excellent way to help employees feel that their growth and development is valued whilst simultaneously benefitting the business by improving the skills pipeline, setting clear goals and improving productivity.

With the rise of remote work, what challenges and opportunities do businesses face in retaining and looking after staff and preventing disputes?

Remote work has come with a wealth of pros and cons. On the one hand it has provided organisations the opportunity to recruit from further afield, attracting new talent and skills. It has also enabled employees and especially working parents to have more flexibility and better work life balance, ultimately improving job satisfaction and retention. The savings of not commuting is a consideration too

FAMILY RIGHTS: WHAT’S NEW?

There are several legal changes due to take effect in April 2024 relating to family rights for employees. Ellie Hibberd, head of Stephen Scown’s Employment and Immigration team, highlights the key updates for employers to be aware of.

REDUNDANCY PROTECTION: From 6 April 2024 protection from redundancy will be extended to pregnant women and for 18 months after birth or placement of a child for those on maternity, adoption or shared parental leave. These employees will have prioritised rights to be offered suitable, alternative employment vacancies.

PATERNITY LEAVE: For births or adoptions on or after 6 April, eligible employees can take one whole week or two consecutive weeks or two non-consecutive periods of one week each, to be taken within 52 weeks of birth or adoption. 28 days’ notice is required prior to each period of leave (seven days for adoption).

To contact Stephens Scown’s specialist Employment and HR advisors, call Tel: 01872 265100, email enquiries@stephens-scown.co.uk or visit www.stephens-scown.co.uk

– especially given the current economic climate.

However, on the flip-side it has also led to communication challenges and isolation. It also requires a lot more trust from management which can need a mindset shift. Managing a distributed workforce requires new approaches to ensure productivity, engagement and team cohesion.

Supporting management to navigate these challenges, providing extra touch points for employees and company-wide get togethers are great ways to provide employee engagement for remote staff. But the most important factor is giving your team the autonomy to choose for themselves, where possible, where they should work – even if it’s just for a day or two a week. Or if working remotely isn’t possible, communicating why and inspiring confidence in your employees can make a big difference in their commitment to working in the office.

FLEXIBLE WORKING: Flexible working will become a ‘day one’ right from 6 April 2024. Employees can make two requests in a 12-month period. Employers cannot reject a request until they have consulted with the employee, and they must deal with a request within two months of receiving it unless an extension is agreed with the employee.

CARERS’ LEAVE: Also taking effect in April, employees with a dependant requiring long-term care will be entitled to a week of unpaid leave each year as a day one right to provide or arrange care for a dependant. Employers cannot decline a request for leave but can postpone it for up to a month.

STATUTORY PAY: Statutory maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental and parental bereavement all increase to £184.03 per week from 7 April 2024. The year ahead in 2024 is set to be eventful with key changes to employment law.

If you’re looking for the right space to host your next conference, workshop or business event, here are seven venues for you to consider...

ST AUSTELL CONFERENCE CENTRE

AN INSPIRING SPACE TO BUILD LASTING, MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS

At the heart of every conference is connection, collaboration and inspiration. With 44% of people now reporting home or hybrid working (ONS, 2023) these factors are more important than ever for building relationships and supporting company culture. St Austell Conference Centre is focused on the power of bringing people together, providing a modern, fresh, sustainable space in the heart of Cornwall.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE

• Largest Suite: 80 delegates

• Number of event suites: 7

• Spacious and light flooded suites

• Exceptional views and wraparound balconies

• Free parking

• Friendly, dedicated events team

In an era of environmental consciousness, hosting a sustainable conference is not just a trend but a responsibility. Every element of St Austell Business Park embraces the highest level of environmental sustainability, including indoor and outdoor design which utilise sustainable materials, grass top roofs, natural ventilation, renewable energy regeneration and rainwater harvesting. Alongside this, EV charging is available on-site, as well as the recent addition of Beryl Bikes available outside the Conference Centre.

There’s nothing quite like collaborating with your colleagues face-to-face.

Delicious, locally sourced, homemade cateringexcellent vegan options

With seven conference suites available, St Austell Conference Centre really does offer something for everyone. Each suite offers a different style, size and layout, but all provide inspiring spaces for conferences, training and meetings. With purpose-built modern facilities showcasing the very best technology, you can rest easy in the knowledge that your event will run seamlessly with every small detail taken care of, making the day one to remember.

• AV Support Superfast wifi

• EV Charging & Beryl Bikes on site

“There’s nothing quite like collaborating with your colleagues face-to-face,” says Kelly Tait, conference centre manager at St Austell Conference Centre. “It’s so important for leaders to create opportunities for teams of all varieties to connect, especially in a post-Covid world. We’re privileged to witness how businesses across the south west and beyond are utilising the power of a shared space, collaboration and connection, and we can’t wait to welcome more professionals to our conference centre this year. Ultimately, it’s about providing the perfect venue to bring people together to be inspired.”

For more information, to check room availability or to arrange a tour please contact the dedicated conference team on 01726 624200, or email:

info@staustellbusinesspark.co.uk

www.staustellconferencecentre.co.uk

Conveniently located in St Austell, easily accessible from the A30, a few minutes away from St Austell Train Station and around 30 minutes from Newquay Airport - St Austell Conference Centre is the perfect choice for bringing your team together. With a large car park just a few minutes walk from the main entrance, and panoramic views across St Austell Bay, it’s easy to see why St Austell Conference Centre is a leading venue servicing businesses across Cornwall and beyond.

While there are conversations from big businesses about a return to the office, experts believe that companies will be adopting the hybrid work model for years to come. Kelly added, “We’re very proud to be supporting businesses in their efforts to build a strong company culture, sparking innovation and connection in-person as well as virtually. At St Austell Conference Centre, we have an in-depth understanding of the importance of collaboration and provide the very best venue for uniting teams of all types and sizes.”

TREGENNA CASTLE RESORT

Come together at the Castle in St Ives

Experience unforgettable gatherings at Tregenna Castle in St Ives. Our versatile venue caters to everything from corporate meetings to elegant banquets. With capacities ranging from 12 to 250 guests in the Trelawney room, and options for exclusive use of our 72-acre estate, we tailor experiences to your needs.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE

• Plentiful and free parking (a rarity in St Ives)

• 72 Acre Resort with stunning sea and garden views

• A dedicated events team available throughout

ROYAL CORNWALL

PAVILION CENTRE

The Pavilion Centre is the jewel at the heart of the Royal Cornwall Events Centre, known best for hosting the Royal Cornwall Show, the county’s largest annual event, yet this venue also provides a professional and versatile event location for businesses of all shapes and sizes.

• Hotel, apartment and self catering accommodation available

• Versatile spaces –allowing for a very large numbered event

• Helicopter landing areas

The Trelawney Room, spanning 270m², offers AV equipment, natural light, and garden vistas, perfect for conferences, banquets, and more. Need something different? We offer flexible spaces for personalised setups. Plus, access to a private bar and exclusive use-outdoor area. Our subtropical gardens and indoor and outdoor leisure facilities, will be all yours to roam too.

From prestigious award nights to intimate ceremonies, we’ve hosted it all, including world leaders. With unparalleled views and a dedicated team, your event at the Castle will be the perfect venue. Contact us to book your event in this stunning setting.

www.tregenna-castle.co.uk

/meetings-events/spaces/

events@tregenna-castle.co.uk |

01736 795254

With room to cater for 6, all the way up to 300 people, and multiple meeting and event rooms to suit all needs and budgets, there is no venue more perfect for your next corporate event.

A dedicated events team will help you through every aspect of your event, and on-site commercial kitchen and licensed bar, means every event can be fully catered for.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE

• Easily accessible from A39

Unlimited free parking

• Fully accessible

• Spacious modern building

• Multiple breakout rooms

• Professional event support

www.pavilioncentre.co.uk

ST MICHAELS RESORT

Set within sub-tropical gardens with views over Falmouth Bay, St Michaels Resort is Cornwall’s award-winning wellness destination.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE

At its heart lies its Workplace Wellness offering, with a variety of meeting spaces perfect for holding away days and focused team sessions, as well as a choice of luxury accommodation to make a night of it.

• A choice of various sizes of venue spaces

• Catering options from our AA rosette restaurant

• Overnight packages

Each event is uniquely tailored to your needs, with options to include energising brain-food or to spend team-building time in the spa, gardens and health club.

HOTEL VARA TRURO

Hotel VARA is a new meeting and events venue in Truro with flexible spaces for private hire – ideal whether you are working solo or as part of a team.

Find a quiet corner or settle into our cosy lounge to get on with some work. Enjoy great coffee & filtered water on tap with free WiFi throughout.

Take a seat at the bar after a busy day working. How about a freshly baked pizza with a local beer or wine?

Travelling for work? Have colleagues visiting? We’re a great base for you & your colleagues to stay in the city when you need one, close to the station & major routes through the county.

LOVED BY BUSINESSES

• Creative & flexible meeting spaces with natural daylight

Spaces for large groups with breakout areas

• Canvas Room (for 10-12 boardroom style with smart screen)

Scandi Room (for up to 60 with food & drink area)

• NEW creative meeting room with magic white wall due to open Spring 2024

Peaceful residential location close to Truro city centre

• 30 affordable bedrooms

Free parking with EV charging facilities

• Bar serving artisan pizza & light bites

Start planning your event today and speak to one of our Workplace Wellness event organisers. 01326

We focus on doing the simple things well – natural & warm hospitality, delivered by a small & friendly team that will work with you to ensure that everything runs smoothly. hotelvara.co.uk

VENTON CONFERENCE CENTRE

Where innovation meets prime location, look no further than Venton Conference Centre. Based in the heart of Cornwall, between the hubs of Newquay and Truro, this dynamic space has everything you need for your next memorable business event.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE

• 4 configurable rooms

• Capacity for up to 120 delegates

Bright, modern with high-tech facilities

Video presentation and conferencing

• Situated on the A30

• Local Cornish catering packages available

• Daytime, evening & weekend bookings

• Free onsite parking

• Disabled access

With four flexible meeting and conference spaces, catering for anything from 10 to 120 people, this state-ofthe-art venue is modern and welcoming, with cutting-edge facilities that inspire motivation. When visiting, your delegates will be met with a warm welcome and professional atmosphere. Our light and spacious conference centre, now into its fourth year, boasts dynamic event spaces, state of the art technology, free parking and easy access to the A30. Our friendly team are on hand throughout your visit to ensure that your event runs smoothly and leaves a lasting impression on you and your guests.

BEDRUTHAN HOTEL & SPA

Bedruthan Hotel & Spa, a Scandi-inspired hotel beloved for creative hospitality on the cliffs of Mawgan Porth.

Bedruthan Hotel has venues for meetings & events of up to 120 people, accommodating anything from department specific brainstorms to companywide conferences. The coastal outpost is uniquely equipped to offer space for meetings, presentations and away days. The team at Bedruthan believe in a holistic approach to productivity and are pleased to offer businesses use of the hotel to bring out the best in their team.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE

• Flexible meeting spaces

• Catering & private dining options

• Overnight room packages

• Free Parking

• EV Car charging

• Craft workshops

Yoga Studio

• Sensory Spa Garden

Clifftop sauna

Attendees can take part in a restorative team building activities, from yoga classes in our sea view wellbeing studio to crafting sessions with the Create Cornwall team, offering a vast choice of crafting activities such as clay coiled pot making, embroidery, and lino printing.

Quote GETCRAFTY to redeem a free team building craft for your next meeting. Terms and conditions apply. Please speak to a member of the team.

RAMON JOINS WAVE PROJECT

Ramon Van de Velde has been named as the new CEO of The Wave Project.

Van de Velde joins the mental health charity following four years as MD of the Lost Gardens of Heligan. He has extensive leadership experience having also held the CEO role with St Aubyn Estates and leadership roles with the Eden Project and Theatre Royal in Plymouth.

Brett Simpson, acting chair of The Wave Project, said: “The trustees are thrilled to welcome Ramon. At The Wave Project we are driven by our mission to improve children’s mental health and wellbeing through our award winning Surf Therapy programme.

“Ramon is a truly values based leader who will take a strong foundation and bring new energy and leadership to an impressive and dedicated group of employees and volunteers all focused on impacting an increasing number of young people’s lives across the broader UK.”

GIVE ME SHELTER

Lisa McCormack has been appointed new director of fundraising and communications at Truro-based international disaster relief charity ShelterBox.

McCormack has worked in the UK charity sector for the past 20 years, starting at Help the Aged (now AgeUK) where she worked in fundraising events before holding several different posts, including director of communications and fundraising at Creative Youth Network.

Sanj Srikanthan, chief executive of ShelterBox, said: “Lisa’s experience and belief in our mission to leave no one without shelter after disaster will bring a much-valued leader to ShelterBox as we seek to do more in the face of disasters around the world.”

CIC CEO

Community interest company, Newquay Orchard, has appointed a new CEO.

During a career spanning 30 years working within district and unitary councils, Charlotte Hill has been a champion for social causes including improving employment, health inequalities and overall community well-being.

Her track record includes co-founding the School for Social Entrepreneurs

Cornwall CIC and holding director roles for organisations such as Cornwall Rural Housing Association and Active Plus CIC.

Transitioning from founders Luke and Amelia Berkeley, Hill is poised to lead Newquay Orchard into an exciting new chapter.

She said: “It’s a huge privilege to step into this role, following in the giant footsteps of Luke and Amelia Berkeley who’ve realised their dream of a community orchard here in Newquay.”

NEW HELIGAN MD

The Lost Gardens of Heligan has appointed Laura Chesterfield as its new MD.

Previously head of garden experience at Heligan since 2017, Chesterfield has a long-standing affinity with the attraction and her family were part of the group of people in the early 90’s who rediscovered and restored the gardens

“I am very much looking forward to taking Heligan onto the next stage of its journey and beyond,” she said.

NEW SHOW SECRETARY

The Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association (RCAA) has appointed a new secretary.

Mark Stoddart, currently society manager at the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, will assume the position from Christopher Riddle, whose retirement after 35 years at the helm was announced in the autumn.

Stoddart joins with over 18 years of experience delivering the Great Yorkshire Show, as well as previously holding the position of National Chairman of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations (ASAO) and a number of other related roles.

Stoddart will experience the 2024 Royal Cornwall Show by shadowing the current secretary, before joining permanently in August and officially taking over the secretary’s role from Chris Riddle when he retires at the end of September.

HAND BREWED BY ROBOTS

A brewer in Cornwall has developed a beer with the help of artificial intelligence.

Assistant brewing manager, Barnaby Skerrett, used AI to kick off St Austell Brewery’s annual Cask Club series.

The recipe for Hand Brewed by Robots, a 4.2% American ‘AI-PA’, was created by an online generator, with Skerrett feeding it instructions based on ingredients he wanted to use and the beer flavours required.

Skerrett said: “The idea for the beer came from me working with AI tools in my general job with brewhouse automation. As I was talking to the AI one day, I thought I’d ask it a question about brewing to catch it out as I was interested to see the results.

ALL CHANGE AT DRIFTWOOD

Mike Mason (above right), has left the Driftwood Spars Brewery in St Agnes to start his own microbrewery.

Mason had been head brewer at Driftwood Spars for the past four years, but is now set to open his own brewery and taproom –Mason Brewing Co – on the Threemilestone Industrial Estate.

He recently launched a crowdfunding appeal to help finance the new venture and he can’t wait to get going.

“I’m looking forward to unleashing the whirlwind of ideas I have in my head and providing a unique and memorable experience for our customers,” he said. “I have loads of plans I’m itching to get started on, from renewing traditional brewing techniques to developing cutting

“I told it to write me a recipe on some broad parameters of colours and flavours and it sent me some ideas, so I decided to turn them into a recipe. There were a couple of tweaks to make it cask appropriate, as it didn’t seem to know what cask was, which was quite interesting.”

Skerrett doesn’t think, however, there’s any threat to brewing from AI in the future.

“On the beer side, too much requires human input whether that’s checking the ingredients and other quality checks that can’t be done by AI,” he added.

“It’s the same when the beer comes out the other side and we do tasting checks. An AI can never properly tell you whether that beer tastes fantastic or if it’s not up to scratch.”

edge recipes, there will be something for everyone.”

Meanwhile, his shoes at Driftwood Spars have been filled by his former assistant, Tim Lawrence (above left)

Louise Treseder, owner of the brewery and The Driftwood Spars brewpub, said: “Mike has been a fantastic head brewer, and we wish him all the very best in his own pursuits – we’re hoping to collaborate on some ground-breaking brews in the future.

“Tim has worked alongside Mike for almost the whole of his tenure, so he’s the perfect person to take charge for this next phase of the brewery’s life. Before that he also worked closely with our founding brewer, Pete Martin, and it’s brilliant to know that Pete’s craftsmanship and inventiveness has been passed along.”

TWO SHIPS IN A HARBOUR

Two Cornish breweries are collaborating to open a new venue in Charlestown this summer.

The Harbour Beer House is a joint venture between Harbour Brewing Co and St Austell Brewery.

The two companies have a long history of working together with St Austell Brewery taking a minority share in Harbour Brewing Co in 2022.

The new Charlestown site - owned by St Austell Brewery - was previously known as the Harbourside Inn and is currently undergoing refurbishment. The building suffered extensive damage last January, because of a fire which broke out at the Pier House next door.

Harbour Beer House will feature regular new and exclusive beers from Harbour, alongside much-loved favourites and limited-edition cask specials from St Austell Brewery.

Harbour Brewing founder, Eddie Lofthouse, said: “We’re looking forward to bringing the Harbour brand to life in this new venue, and what better location than Charlestown?”

STAFF WELLBEING

Lanner School has become the first school in Cornwall to invest in its staff through a new wellbeing programme designed especially for those working with children.

SHARE YOUR SKILLS

Truro & Penwith College has launched a campaign to attract the next generation of Further Fducation tutors.

Share Your Skills is a national drive from the Department for Education, encouraging those with real-world work experience to join Further Education establishments to change or supplement their careers - without the need for the usual teaching qualifications - and impart their practical skills and knowledge to the next generation of workers.

Truro & Penwith is particularly calling on experts from the engineering, manufacturing, digital, IT, construction, and health & social care disciplines to attend one of their events and learn more about joining the College team.

Tom Moran, future skills and business partnership manager at Truro & Penwith College, said: “Creating a teaching community of experts is the best way to guarantee that our students are prepared for the real world, but of course there are so many benefits for the teachers themselves too. Working in state-of-the-art facilities, you’ll deliver your unique expertise to the next generation of industry leaders.”

Curated by AC Simply Wellbeing and delivered by a range of holistic health experts, the programme was launched in direct response to teaching being revealed as one of the most stressful professions, with a third of newly-qualified teachers switching careers in the last decade.

The first-of-its-kind programme for Cornwall boosts the mental and physical health of teachers and in turn, aims to positively impact the classroom and learning experience.

Leading the way with the training, Lanner School teachers were the first to benefit

from a specially formulated sound bath proven to reduce pain, remove toxins and improve sleep.

Headteacher, Kieran Walsh, commented: “The children in our school are our priority. Their physical and mental health is always at the forefront of our minds so to help us to do this properly it is important to spend time reflecting and looking after ourselves.

“Protecting our own immunity to ensure we are fit and healthy is an investment in their wellbeing as well as ours.”

HOOKED ON EDUCATION

Truro-based digital marketing agency HookedOnMedia partnered with Truro and Penwith College to deliver a digital marketing masterclass for its creative media students recently.

The masterclass included three minilessons covering SEO, Pay-Per-Click and social media marketing, taught by Hooked MD Stewart Roode, Andrew Thomas (technical director), Shaun Nunn

A HEALTHY FUTURE IN FARMING

A student from Duchy College won this year’s Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) Farm Health Management Award together with £500 prize money.

Clara Woodhead, BSc (Hons) Agriculture student, emerged victorious among numerous entries and was declared the winner at Dairy-Tech 2024.

The national award tested the students’ proactive farm health management and their ability to overcome industry barriers, testing their knowledge of essential components of the Agriculture Act.

Woodhead said: “Studying on the undergraduate agriculture course at

(social media manager) and marketing manager Xavia Smith.

Roode said: “The day was absolutely fantastic. Witnessing the students’ enthusiasm and engagement throughout the session was inspiring. One memorable moment was when the students had an ‘aha’ moment, realising the synergy of keyword research on website ranking and paid ad visibility. It’s these moments that reaffirm our commitment to fostering digital talent in Cornwall.”

Duchy College has offered me a great opportunity to develop an in-depth knowledge of agriculture, whilst gaining valuable experience of working in the dairy sector alongside my studies.

“The research that I carried out increased my awareness of the importance and consequences of taking a proactive and prevention-focused approach to farm health management. I am delighted and surprised to be this year’s winner.”

I’ll start on a high; this week, I had the privilege of seeing brothers Will and Sam Boex of Flexi-Hex, receive their Kings Award for Innovation from the Lord Lieutenant.

This award follows last year’s accolade of Winner of Winners in the British Chambers of Commerce Awards 2023.

Amid all the doom and gloom, it’s brilliant to see a Cornish business that’s got an amazing story to tell, and an amazing product to sell!

If you don’t know them, look them up – you may have even received a product in their unique packaging and not realised its origin. Perhaps a nice bottle of wine?

You may have needed it to digest the lacklustre Spring Budget…

I personally thought the Budget would have had a bit more oomph, given the looming General Election. There were a few positives; the National Insurance cut seems to be a big hit with the self-employed and it will provide some momentum.

It’s predicted the impact of NICs cuts in this budget and the Autumn 2023 budget means total hours worked will increase by the equivalent of around 200,000 full-time workers by 2028-29. This, combined with an increased child benefit threshold will hopefully help businesses find staff and deliver a much-needed boost to economic growth.

Increasing the VAT threshold to £90k from April will help SMEs to grow – but I personally don’t think we need one at all. The British Chambers of Commerce says a more fundamental review is required, and it is continuing to engage with Government to push for this.

The Recovery Loan Scheme is to be extended and will now be called the Growth Guarantee Scheme. It’s great the Government is recognising that the hardship of the pandemic is far from over and businesses need its support to get through these difficult times.

And I’m sure many of us were pleased that tax relief on holiday homes is being scrapped.

I was surprised there was no mention of the tax-free shopping scheme. The BCC was disappointed by this, given the boost such a scheme would give to the UK economy. According to the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), we could currently be losing £10.7 billion in lost GDP a year, plus two million extra tourists (who would all be spending money).

There was no mention of Cornwall at all in the budget – disappointing but not surprising. I’m intrigued to know why we weren’t mentioned in relation to a Devolution

PERFECTLY PACKAGED

Cornwall Chamber CEO, Kim Conchie, spies a shining light through the gloom

deal; was it because we already have a Tier 2, or has our lukewarm response to a mayor proposal last year ruled us out of any further attention? I’m going to do some more digging, but if you have any insight on this, I’d love to hear it.

It wasn’t a bad Budget, but I suppose I just feel everything is a bit flat at a time when the Government should be ploughing resource into business to get the UK economy back on its feet.

Post pandemic, businesses still need help to be able to survive, and even more to be able to thrive. We need to be made the priority in terms of investment and support.

Keep doing what you’re doing and do remember we’re here if you need us.

PLANET C SPRING CONFERENCE

Don’t miss our first Spring Planet C Conference, held at the University of Exeter Penryn Campus on Tuesday 30th April, 9am-4pm.

Building on the success of our previous Planet C events, this conference is focused on giving all businesses - from sole traders, to SMEs, through to our large enterprises in Cornwall, the tools to be able to start shifting their culture to create positive change.

Planet C is about providing Cornwall’s businesses with tangible ways to help reduce the global average temperature, without compromising the stability of their organisation. It’s all about broadening the mindset and making everyone realise just how much impact they can have.

The conference includes presentations from fantastic speakers, and there will be a variety of different workshops to choose from.

HEADFORWARDS APP FOR JOHN LEWIS

Pool-based software company

Headforwards has created a new app for the John Lewis Partnership (JLP).

JLP wanted to create an app which would complement its existing wellbeing

website, used internally by employees to access discounts and benefits.

Phase one of the app’s development was a map-based platform offering JLP partners access to local benefits and discounts. The app is now in phase three with an added biometric log in.

WILD AND FIERY

Wild Card has been selected by a Mexican snack brand to lead comms and make a bold impact as it enters the UK market.

Takis’ rolled corn tortilla chip snacks are set to turn up the heat in the UK through a new nationwide retail distribution. Wild Card will provide a strategic steer, ensuring alignment with UK culture while “maxing out Takis’ unique take on bold fun”.

Wild Card MD, Georgie Upton, said: “Takis is a disruptive brand that is taking the world by storm. We will be pairing their fieriness with our strategic thinking and market insight to make a big impact - and having lots of fun along the way. Our team is fully charged and raring to dial up the energy to deliver global messages to UK audiences in a way that only Takis can.”

Headforwards worked with JLP to help the organisation better understand exactly what they needed from the new app.

Ruby Harris, scrum master and product owner at Headforwards, said: “It’s great to see a client’s enthusiasm when they come to us with a really big idea - it helps us to know what the vision is for the end product. But what we like to do is really scale it back and find the biggest pain points in what they’re trying to achieve.”

B CORP ON A TUESDAY

Cornish company Once Upon a Tuesday has been certified as the UK’s first B Corp stationery brand.

The company’s range of recycled calendars are now gracing the home and office walls of people in 38 countries - all from a small studio just outside Truro.

GROWTH IN 3D

A Cornish tech start-up has secured equity investment from GameTech Ventures and the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Investment Fund (CIOSIF).

Amutri, founded in 2021 as part of the Falmouth Launchpad entrepreneur accelerator programme, has developed a technology that enables stakeholders of architectural and engineering projects to create and share 3D content.

The £500k funding will promote the growth of the business, supporting further product development, marketing, and sales.

Founder Michael Calver said: “This investment will propel us forward in further developing our innovative products to lower the entry point to 3D Visualisation technology for many industries.”

Michele Ferron, founder of the colourful stationery brand, started designing calendars during lockdown and now employs seven people within the local community.

Ferron said: “We deeply feel that If we can’t do business in a transparent, caring, respectful and purposeful way, we’d rather not do it at all.”

ALL CHANGE AT GEMS

A leading Cornwall holiday lettings company has announced a new MD and revamped leadership team.

Following two years as commercial director, Michelle Baillie has stepped up to assume the role of MD at Cornish Gems.

Baillie, who has over 20 years’ experience in leadership roles within the holiday industry said: “It’s a very exciting time for the business, which in the last year has undergone everything from a management buyout and winning numerous awards, to becoming one of only 11 travel companies in the UK to achieve B Corp status.

“We’re delighted to be retaining our 100-strong team, and providing exciting

career and growth opportunities after what’s been a challenging year for the south west hospitality industry. I’m very much looking forward to working with the team to further accelerate the business’ growth, as it becomes a true force for good in the UK travel industry.“

The new structure includes the creation of two new departments. A new guest experience department, led by former head of sales and marketing Philippa Snell and the owner experience department, led by Sarah Hemsley.

Working alongside Baillie, Snell and Hemsley is newly promoted Tara Donovan-Soltys, now director of interior design and Jane Simpole, now director of business services & ICT.

FALMOUTH HOTEL FOR SALE

The Falmouth Hotel has gone on the market with a guide price of £7.5 million.

The property is being sold by Savills on behalf of Richardson Hotels, along with the Abbey Sands Hotel in Torquay.

Richardson Hotels’ owner, Keith Richardson has taken the decision to divest of these hotels as part of a retirement strategy.

HOTEL PLANS SUBMITTED

Plans have been submitted to Cornwall Council for the regeneration of the former Pendower Beach House Hotel on the Rosleand.

Scaled back from those submitted in the original 2020 planning application, the new plans put forward by site owner PBHH Ltd are 25% smaller in size and reflect local feedback.

Consisting of a two-storey scheme, the regeneration encompasses 23 two and three bed family self-catering holiday-let suites, a public café and restaurant with 40 internal and up to 40 external covers, a shop for use by self-catering visitors and beachgoers, and on-site accommodation for staff.

The hotels are available separately or as a portfolio of two assets. Offers in excess of £7.5 million are being sought for the Falmouth Hotel and £1.95 million for the Abbey Sands.

The Grade II Listed Falmouth Hotel on Falmouth sea front comprises 71 ensuite bedrooms. There is also a spa providing a fully equipped gym, indoor heated swimming pool, hot tub and sauna, and a variety of treatment rooms.

Johnny Goldsmith, local businessman and founder of PBHH Ltd, said: “Over the past 17 years we have listened carefully to the views of the local community, revising and reducing our plans to take account of feedback, while ensuring that the future of the hotel remains viable in a way that enhances the Roseland Peninsula.

“Bringing income into the wider economy, creating jobs, and both protecting and enhancing the environment, we hope that the new and significantly scaled back plans will be widely welcomed.”

A decision on the plans by Cornwall Council is anticipated in early summer.

BLOOMING MARVELOUS FOR MINACK

The Minack Theatre Garden is the latest member to join the ranks of the prestigious Great Gardens of Cornwall group, 14 of the most horticulturally spectacular gardens in the county.

The name Minack conjures up associations with Shakespeare and open-air theatre, however, The Minack’s garden has transformed the cliff edge to which it clings onto.

Head gardener, Jeff Rowe, said: “There is nowhere like the Minack in the UK, the planting is very different with lots of succulents that are left in the ground all year round. We’re thrilled to have this iconic landmark join the Great Gardens group.”

The Minack’s garden is a more recent addition to the headland than the theatre, with development only starting in earnest during the 1990s once the visitor centre was constructed.

HOTEL FLYING HIGH FOR CHARITY

The Carbis Bay Hotel & Estate in St Ives raised almost £84k for the Cornwall Air Ambulance last year.

Through a series of events and initiatives right across 2023, Carbis Bay Estate and its guests raised £83,606 for the charity, which provides emergency medical assistance to those in need of critical care across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

“We are immensely proud of the generosity and enthusiasm shown by our community, guests, and team members in rallying behind Cornwall Air Ambulance,” said Stephen Baker, owner of Carbis Bay Hotel & Estate.

“The amount raised is a testament to the power of coming together for a shared cause, and we are delighted to support such a vital service that plays a critical role in our local emergency response.”

THE SALTY DOT JOINERS

Toby Budd, founder and MD of ScaffFloat, discusses the unrealised potential of our marine innovators and problem solvers.

Cornwall is a powerhouse when it comes to marine problem-solving. We punch well above our weight in markets and technologies like offshore wind, geotechnical, drilling and unmanned survey.

While Cornwall makes up around 1% of the UK population, I suspect that well over 25% of the UK talent in some of these markets lives this side of the Tamar. And what many share in common is not a product or an idea. It can’t be patented or captured on a spreadsheet. The thing they share is a type of person, it’s a ‘dot joiner’.

The rare and rather odd breed of dot joiners I have met see the world differently. They are not just problem solvers. Finding a fix to a problem is easy, it’s finding that sweet spot which is the art - a delicate balance of factors that are combined to find a solution that will be adopted globally. Sweet spots that turn a solution into a legacy.

My fear though is that this rich resource of marine problem solving talent is too disconnected, operating in silos and not able to recognise the sum of its parts. Part of the problem perhaps is their personality; these problem solvers are often softly-spoken thinkers not into empire building, and as such their very valid opinion gets lost in the white noise. It feels like we have the potential to be a tier 1 county, but we’re often perceived as a tier 3.

We have lost the innovation funding provided by the Marine-I project, with no marine technology replacement in the current Good Growth programme. Cornwall Council recognise the value but do they have either the resource and energy with all their other challenges to give it the strategic leadership it needs?

There is a very real danger that when these marine opportunities knock, we are not ready to grab them. Opportunities that at a very real level will make Cornwall better for everyone.

To give you an example. Three floating offshore wind farms are about to be built in the Celtic Sea. Initially, this will deliver 4.5GW by 2035, with the potential to increase to 24GW by 2045. Just a fraction (I guess under 20%) of this capacity could power our whole county with surplus for decades.

All of our energy in Cornwall could be sustainableevery heater in our homes, the power to charge cars and boats, the juice to light up our schools and power our hospitals. All of this power could come from offshore wind.

Cornwall is a powerhouse when it comes to marine problem-solving.

Between them they have thousands of hours of hardearned experience. They overcame many challenges and through compromise, grit and determination got the job done. They have delivered.

Henry Trengrouse, Richard Trevithick, Arthur Woolf, John Arnold, William Cookworthy and Jonathan Hornblower - just a few of the Cornish dot joiners who have changed the mining and maritime world forever.

Today they would be called disruptors but I suspect they just liked solving problems. Cornwall has so, so much potential. In the next few decades with aquaculture, offshore wind and a general shift into the ocean for energy, food and resource; there is a great future if we leverage these very real opportunities ahead of us.

Imagine empowering our industry with discounted, sustainable power. Just try and grasp what that could do for Cornwall. But it’s a delicate dream, you daren’t whisper about its possibility. Currently we don’t have the capacity in the electrical grid in Cornwall for what we need, today. Projects and infrastructure are held back as there is simply not the capacity needed to power them.

We would need to land a cable here, connect it to the grid and find a developer to do a deal with. To do this we need dot joiners, laser focused on this ‘once in a thousand year’ opportunity.

This is a perfect example of a problem that can’t be solved in silos. It needs a tier 1 approach with the sum of our best parts. I am not an expert on this topic, but think I have the bones of the problem and what the solution could look like. And just imagine if we dreamt big enough and got the job done for Cornwall.

What a sweet spot that would put us and our children in, and what an inspiration Cornwall could be to the world. But talk is easy. In a world diluted with shorttermism and ‘life hacks’, let’s not lose focus on the fact that if we want to make things like this happen, we need do-ers.

EXPOWEST CORNWALL

The Royal Cornwall Showground was the venue for this popular two-day trade show for the hospitality industry.

CTRL ALT DEL

Some 200 people attended a pioneering one-day summit at Hall for Cornwall designed to make the tech industry more inclusive for traditionally excluded communities, including people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, the LGBTQ+ community, people living in poverty, and women.

COLLEGE VISIT

The Shadow Minister for Skills, Seema Malhotra, visited Cornwall College and Falmouth Marine School during a visit to Cornwall last month.

MEET THE PRODUCER

West Country A Passion for Food hosted its fourth bi-annual Meet the Producer event at the Royal Cornwall Showground.

For further details of these and more networking events visit businesscornwall.co.uk

To publicise your event for free, email news@businesscornwall.co.uk

EVENTS

April 2024

05

CORNISH PIRATES V EALING TRAILFINDERS

Mennaye Field, Penzance

Top of the table Championship rugby action as the Cornish Pirates take on Ealing Trailfinders. For the full match day experience why not try a hospitality package – a great way to entertain clients and colleagues alike. cornish-pirates.com

07 WEDDING FAIR

Caerhays Castle, Gorran Churchtown

Caerhays will be hosting an extravagant wedding fair on Sunday April 7, which will celebrate the estate’s third licensed wedding site which is just a stone’s throw from the sea. visit.caerhays.co.uk

10 KING NETWORKING

Mennaye Field, Penzance

The Kernow Independent Networking Group gathers fortnightly for breakfast every other Wednesday morning at the Victoria Inn, Threemilestone, near Truro. king-networking.co.uk

10 IP WORKSHOP

Lanhydrock Hotel

Businesses are invited to register for the Intellectual Property Workshop with David Mozley, specialist Aadvisor at the University of Plymouth. ciosgrowthhub.com

10 CORNWALL CHAMBER LUNCH

Trenderway Farm, Looe

This month’s Chamber networking lunch comes from Trenderway Farm, nestled in the scenic countryside near Looe. cornwallchamber.co.uk

11 WOMEN IN BUSINESS LUNCH

Penventon Hotel, Redruth

All are welcome to Your Partnerships’ Women in Business Lunch on the second Thursday of each month. yourpartnerships.co.uk

14 SPRING WEDDING FAIR

The Barn at Pengelly, Trispen

Discover what one of Cornwall’s newest wedding venues has to offer and connect with local wedding suppliers at the Spring Wedding Fair, regardless of where you are in your wedding preparations. eventbrite.co.uk

17 NEW MEMBER SPEED NETWORKING

Hotel Vara, Truro

Speed networking for new and existing members of the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce. cornwallchamber.co.uk

17 GOLF WANG

Truro Golf Club

Women’s networking event for a morning of connecting and fun! eventbrite.co.uk

17 -18

ENTREPRENEURS WORKOUT

University of Exeter, Penryn Campus

A fully funded two-day workshop for early stage business founders to explore and evaluate their business proposition and planning. eventbrite.co.uk

18 THE PIG DIPPERS

The Pig at Harlyn Bay

Cornwall Chamber and Brooks Financial Planning Limited have teamed up with The Pig at Harlyn Bay to create The Pig Dippers - a monthly net-swimming and breakfast club for those who want to start the day fresh! cornwallchamber.co.uk

18

YOUR PARTNERSHIPS OPEN HOUSE

Victoria Inn, Roche

This is the original home of Your Partnerships and always a great meeting. If you have never experienced an Open House with Your Partnerships at the birth place of Your Partnerships you are missing out. yourpartnerships.co.uk

24 CORNWALL CHAMBER BIG BREAKFAST

Cornish Pirates RFC, Penzance

Cornwall Chamber of Commerce would like to invite you to the Mennaye for its April BIG breakfast event.

corwnallchamber.co.uk

25 NETWORK HFC

Hall for Cornwall, Truro

Network HfC gathers a free-range collective of individuals from business, creative, tech and media, for an informal monthly get-together. It’s off-the-cuff stuff, free of the usual networking stereotypes. Each session culminates with a Q&A with a Cornwall-based leader of their field. hallforcornwall.co.uk

30 FEATURED EVENT PLANET C

Mennaye Field, Penzance Championship rugby action as the Cornish Pirates entertain Cambridge. For the full match day experience why not try a hospitality package – a great way to entertain clients and colleagues alike. Give me a P!... cornish-pirates.com

This year, Cornwall Chamber is holding its first Spring Planet C Conference at the University of Exeter Penryn Campus. Cornwall Chamber’s Planet C conference is focused on giving all businesses - from sole traders, to SMEs, through to our large enterprises in Cornwall, the tools to be able to start shifting their culture to create positive change. It’s all about broadening the mindset and making everyone realise just how much impact they can have.

cornwallchamber.co.uk

Your Partnerships is Cornwall’s largest networking group, with meetings throughout the Duchy.

Growing a business can be challenging. You want your business to be visible to the right people, so it’s important to know how and where to meet them.

Your Partnerships is Cornwall’s largest networking group and its events enable you to connect with other members, gain referrals and build trusting relationships with customers and suppliers.

YOUR PARTNERSHIPS, CAN HELP YOUR BUSINESS GROW!

For meeting dates (online and in-person), visit our website at yourpartnerships.co.uk

SHELLEY SAMPSON Naked Solar director

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG?

I wanted to be a midwife, which is a million miles away from where I have ended up! I hope one day to become a foster mum.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST FULL TIME JOB?

After leaving university I went home to Plymouth and took a job with Royal Mail in a data entry centre whilst I decided what my future held. Fast forward a year and I was undertaking management training with the company.

HOW DO YOU LIKE TO RELAX?

Wow, I feel like I have forgotten! In between running a business and a recent house move, there hasn’t been much time to relax but with summer coming I am looking forward to lots of time outside and on the beach.

IF YOU COULD BUILD A HOUSE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD WHERE WOULD IT BE?

Somewhere warm and sunny were we could live off grid. Powered by solar, of course.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER?

Writing the winning entry that lead to us winning the National Solar Installer Award. Meeting my husband (he’s helping me with my answers)!

WHAT HAS BEEN THE WORST MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER?

Meeting my husband (I’m doing the writing now).

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT CORNWALL?

It’s next to Devon! (I’m a Janner).

IF YOU COULD INVITE ANY TWO PEOPLE FOR DINNER, WHO WOULD THEY BE AND WHY WOULD YOU INVITE THEM?

England Rugby player Joe Marler, he just seems like a very funny down to earth guy, and I love rugby! And maybe Paul Ainsworth to do the cooking.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION?

The Maldives – we went there on our Honeymoon and it was just heaven on Earth. Fingers crossed the results of climate change don’t impact the region too much as it’s such a beautiful and diverse country.

With summer coming I am looking forward to lots of time outside and on the beach.

PAPER REVOLUTION

71% of paper and 82% of paper-based packaging is recycled into new products; one of the highest recycling rates of any material in Europe!

Sources: Cepi Key Statistics, 2022 and Eurostat, 2020. Europe: EU27 + Norway, Switzerland and the UK.

Discover the story of paper www.lovepaper.org

Scan for paper facts, activities, blogs and much more! ®

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