CORNWALL'S PREMIER BUSINESS RESOURCE FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS AND OPINION businesscornwall.co.uk
MAY 2017 / ISSUE 110 / £4.25
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WE TALK TO PENDENNIS MD MIKE CARR
BUSINESS WEEK
MAY 15-19
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ISSUE 110
MAY 2017
WELCOME EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Nick Eyriey nick@businesscornwall.co.uk PUBLISHER Toni Eyriey toni@businesscornwall.co.uk BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Morveth Ward morveth@businesscornwall.co.uk ACCOUNT MANAGER Caroline Hill caroline@businesscornwall.co.uk CONTRIBUTORS PFA Research and Ann Vandermeulen DESIGN Hutch Agency - hutchagency.co.uk BUSINESS CORNWALL is published 10 times a year by: Tonick Business Publishing Pool Innovation Centre Trevenson Road Redruth TR15 3PL Tel: 01209 718688
ON THE COVER Mike Carr, Pendennis CORNWALL'S PREMIER BUSINESS RESOURCE FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS AND OPINION businesscornwall.co.uk
MAY 2017 / ISSUE 110 / £4.25
THIS
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BUSINESS WEEK
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Business Cornwall magazine is proud to be a business partner of the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce
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Politics and business I can’t believe it’s that time again when Cornwall Business Week is upon us. In this issue we preview the main events that make up this year’s Business Week, showcasing the Cornish business scene, including the Cornwall Business Fair at the iconic Eden Project, and culminating in the annual celebration that is the Cornwall Business Awards. While Cornwall is home to many shining businesses, one of the most impressive, if only for the projects it is involved with, must be Pendennis. Walking around its Falmouth shipyard and seeing some of the superyachts it is working on for private clients from across the globe, it really is another world. In the first of a new series of CEO Interviews, we meet one of the main drivers behind business - joint MD Mike Carr, and discover how Pendennis truly is a fantastic ambassador for Cornwall. I also can’t believe it’s that time again when we are returning to the polls for another General Election. When the Conservatives formed their coalition with the Lib Dems back in 2010, I assumed they would all be back on the hustings a few months later. But no, it lasted the full five years, which is more than can be said for this time around. But I guess you can’t blame Mrs May for returning to the country – the opportunities are obvious. In this issue, PFA Research takes a closer look at political scene in Cornwall and it makes for a fascinating read.
I also can’t believe it’s that time again
when we are returning to the
polls for another General Election
Business Cornwall magazine is proud to be media partner of the FSB
EDITOR BUSINESS CORNWALL
Registered under the Data Protection Act All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, stored in an electronic retrieval system or transmitted without the written permission of the publisher. Stringent efforts have been made by Business Cornwall magazine to ensure accuracy. However, due principally to the fact that data cannot always be verified, it is possible that some errors or omissions may occur. Business Cornwall magazine can not accept responsibility for such errors or omissions. Business Cornwall magazine accepts no responsibility for comments made by interviewees that may offend.
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INCOMING
THE CONVERSATION
The big question According to recent research, almost half (48%) of employees are unhappy at work. What do you do to ensure this isn’t the case at your business? How important is it to keep staff happy? Join the conversation @biz_cornwall
/businesscornwall
businesscornwall.co.uk ADVERTORIAL
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Cornwall Business Week is a time for showcasing the fantastic work being done by businesses across the Duchy. And there is much to celebrate, according to the region’s leading law firm
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THE CONVERSATION
INCOMING
We encourage flexible working and are always open to ideas to help make working life suitable for everybody TOM SOBEY
Origin Coffee
GEORGIE UPTON
Wild West PR & Communications
Nurturing brilliance and playing to people’s strengths is key. We spot talent in the team and we help them be even better. We are also dedicated to happy, motivated staff. Keeping people involved and working as part of a caring team provides a happy work place where combined effort creates great results. It needs to come from the top. My door is always open. In 2016 we introduced the ‘People Project’ – as a way of committing to putting our people at the centre of everything – this sits as our strategic human resource platform. From this stems a number of staff-focused programmes. Time management / work life balance can be a real challenge in all businesses; we introduced ‘Winning Day’ run by an external life coach, who spends time with every individual in the company to assess how they get the best out of their working day. This takes every part of a person’s life into account.
tephens Scown LLP – which is holder of the UK Law Firm of the Year title – saw its deals related activity grow by 107% to 174 deals last year. The deals relate to business sales, acquisitions, refinancing, equity investment, and management buy-outs. Christian Wilson, head of Stephens Scown’s corporate team in Cornwall, said: “Uncertainty is always challenging for businesses, and there has been a lot of that around in the last 18 months. However, it is really encouraging to see the resilience of the business community in Cornwall, which is demonstrated in the growth of our corporate activity last year.” Deals handled by Stephens Scown include Canadian mining company Strongbow’s acquisition, from administration, of the South
SARA PUGH
Eight Wire
It’s the people that shape our business – that keep it fresh and evolving. We’re incredibly lucky to employ such a strong team of creative and skilled individuals. From our baristas to our roasters, education team to engineers. In order to recruit and retain them it’s critical that we make working with us compelling. We do this through offering competitive salaries and, all importantly, careers in coffee; training, support in coffee competitions and opportunities to grow and carve out their own roles. We know that it we want the best people we need to invest in them.
It is extremely important to me to ensure staff satisfaction is high, not only for a good working environment but also for increased productivity and staff loyalty. At Eight Wire we are a firm believer in an open door policy, with honest feedback and mutual respect for opinions and experience. We encourage flexible working and are always open to ideas to help make working life suitable for everybody. Our team is very close knit, and we work together frequently on projects – we encourage team building exercises and social activities to build strong relationships and trust, resulting in healthy working lifestyles.
TOBY PARKINS
SARAH TRETHOWAN
Headforwards
TRAC Services
We do a monthly happiness survey which reveals how happy members of staff are with work. It allows feedback which we can respond to with improvements if needed. I think every company should do this as it allows for continual improvement and as a result we have only had one negative response in several months which we have now addressed, of course.
Any business is only as good as the people who work there. This means ensuring our team are happy and therefore productive is a key priority for us. We do this by focusing on their wellbeing and striving to provide a great place to work. This means listening to the team and acting on their ideas and suggestions as well as addressing any concerns.
Crofty mining project in Cornwall. The firm also advised Strongbow on its deal with Cornish Lithium, which could lead to the creation of a
Uncertainty is always challenging for businesses, and there has been a lot of that around in the last 18 months
major new industry in Cornwall. The firm has also acted on the sale of Indian Queens based water quality and treatment business Hydra Holdings, the acquisition of Fairhaven Shipping Company and the purchase of the historic Falcon Hotel in North Cornwall. Stephens Scown is sponsoring the Cornwall Business Fair breakfast on May 17. To contact Christian, please call 01872 265100, email corporate.cornwall@stephens-scown.co.uk or visit www.stephens-scown.co.uk
BUSINESS CORNWALL
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CORNWALL
BUSINESS NEWS
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BUILDING FOR GROWTH A planning-led architectural practice on the outskirts of Truro is looking to expand following the successful acquisition of a Liskeard-based planning consultancy. Threemilestone-based Laurence Associates has bought Urban & Rural Planning Associates, to extend its reach in south east Cornwall and across the border into Devon. MD, Richard Marsden, said: “Generally
FROM LEFT: LAURENCE ASSOCIATES’ JASON PLEDGER AND RICHARD MARSDEN
speaking, people look for consultants in their own patch because they know the local planning issues and how the local authorities work. “South east Cornwall and Plymouth is
a huge opportunity for Laurence Associates and we’re very excited about attracting commissions from further afield.” Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
South east Cornwall and Plymouth is a huge opportunity for Laurence Associates and we’re very excited about attracting commissions from further afield
TEDX TRURO DATE CONFIRMED The eagerly-anticipated second TEDxTruro event will take place on Friday, October 27 at Truro & Penwith College’s Truro campus. Building on the success of last year’s inaugural event, the theme for 2017 is ‘Beyond Barriers’.TEDxTruro 2017 will
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focus on “inclusion, optimism and connection” and its speakers will challenge the audience to think about difference and what connects us, examining ways we can transcend our restrictions and go beyond barriers.TED began in the USA in
1984 and is devoted to ideas worth spreading, usually in the form of short, powerful talks of 18 minutes or less. Today TED covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages.
BUSINESS CORNWALL
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BUSINESS NEWS
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NEWS IN BRIEF Two Cornish companies triumphed at this year’s Microentrepreneurship awards in Cardiff. Adam Weisman of St Keverne-based natural plaster company, Clayworks, won the Microentrepreneur for Sustainability award, while Ben Treleaven of bespoke shipping container conversion business ISO Spaces won the Microentrepreneur for Growth.
Helston-based childrenswear brand, Frugi, took Gold in the Children’s Clothing category and Bronze for the Newborn and Baby Fashion category at the Made for Mums Awards.
Gill Pipkin has announced the rebranding of her corporate social responsibility consultancy. Originally known as Fabric Business Services, Pipkin felt the branding did not fit with the direction her business was taking, so is now known simply Gill Pipkin Consulting, offering a range of options for organisations to review their business conscience and increase profitability.
Local Vauxhall retailer, Dales Cornwall, is investing in an all-new purpose-built Vauxhall showroom in Scorrier. The new site will be on the opposite side of the A30 to Dales’ current Renault, Dacia and SEAT sites, and is expected to open in early 2018.
South west insurer Cornish Mutual has reported a growth in turnover and profit for 2016, despite challenging trading conditions for its core farming membership. Turnover (or gross written premiums) saw modest growth to £20.8 million (2015 £20.6 million). The net insurance side of the business reported a small loss but this was more than covered by returns on investments held by the group, resulting in overall profit before tax for the year of £1.587 million (£0.788 million).
£20.8m TURNOVER FOR 2016
OVERALL PROFIT BEFORE TAX FOR THE YEAR
SAVED TO WRITE ANOTHER DAY
The Sunday Independent newspaper has been granted a reprieve, after being acquired by Truro businessman, Peter Masters The West Country sports-dominated paper got into financial difficulties last month, forcing the 207 year-old title to close. Writer and photojournalist Colin Bradbury has become the new MD and 17 Liskeard-based jobs have been saved. Stephen Hobson, business recovery partner at PKF Francis Clark, said: “We were convinced that the Sunday Independent could have a viable future with the right investment and we were confident that the strength of the brand and the loyalty of its sports-loving readership would attract a suitable buyer. “Peter Masters is the ideal owner and he has put a strong team together to carry on the unique place that ‘the Indy’ has in UK journalism.”
Peter Masters is the ideal owner and he has put a strong team together to carry on the unique place that ‘the Indy’ has in UK journalism
MISH ON POWER LIST Rising Cornish entrepreneur, Michele Poynter, has been crowned as one of the Lingerie Insight Power List 2017 Retail Stars. The Lingerie Insight Power List shines a light on the industry’s leading and innovative stars, influencers and champions. This year, Poynter proudly sits by the likes of Jenni Burt, head of
buying at Figleaves, and Sharon Webb, head of lingerie buying at Debenhams. “When I saw my name on their list I was thrilled,” she said. “It’s such a privilege to be alongside all the other women that have also been recognised for their contributions to the lingerie market.”
BUSINESS CORNWALL
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CORNWALL
BUSINESS NEWS
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SPACEPORT PLANS PROGRESS
The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has confirmed talks with four potential spaceport partners as it prepares to capture a share of the £25 billion global spaceflight launch market. The UK Government has invited joint bids from potential Spaceport launch sites and space vehicle system operators to establish the UK’s first commercial Spaceport by 2020. Up to £10 million is available to make the UK the first place in Europe where commercial space operators can launch small satellites into orbit and offer spaceplane flights for science and tourism.
The LEP is leading Cornwall’s bid to establish Spaceport Cornwall across two sites at Cornwall Airport Newquay and Goonhilly Earth Station. Together, the LEP says, they offer an unrivalled combination of horizontal launch, monitoring and tracking facilities. The bid outlines why Cornwall is “perfectly placed” to maximise the potential from the fast growing global small satellite launch market, and spaceplane development. Sandra Rothwell, chief executive of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LEP, said: “Our aim is to create a high-value space cluster around our Aerohub Enterprise Zone sites at Cornwall
Airport Newquay and Goonhilly Earth Station. “We are the only site able to offer low cost access to space by horizontal launched systems in the UK by 2020, with a complete end-to-end launch and tracking capability that will be internationally competitive. “With the right support, working with industry and other LEPs, we are offering an operational spaceport to the UK Space Agency in the next three years, delivering a key part of the Government’s national space policy and Industrial Strategy ambitions.” An announcement of successful bids is expected in the summer.
IS IT CORNISH? SURVEY RESULTS eople from across the world have responded to Cornwall Council Trading Standard’s ‘Is it Cornish?’ survey about their expectations when they buy food described as being Cornish. Cornwall Council’s Trading Standards team carried out the online survey asking residents, businesses and visitors what they understand when a product is described as being Cornish and what this actually means.
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Responses from Ireland, Europe, the United States and New Zealand as well as from Cornwall itself indicated that 94% of those who took part in the survey thought Cornish foods should be made in Cornwall. Fewer people thought it acceptable that the food should only be packed or processed here. 57% thought having a head office in Cornwall rather than products made here, made the product Cornish; while 64% thought the last significant product change should take place here to make it Cornish. When asked about buying local food in Cornwall, only 61% thought that local meant
the food would be wholly produced in Cornwall with an additional 20% thinking that local meant within 50 miles of its place of sale. This is important for businesses operating near the Cornwall/Devon border. When it comes to Cornish meat, 100% of respondents thought that meant the animal would have been in Cornwall its whole life. The use of marketing imagery was asked about too. 82% thought the image of a Cornish engine house on a label would make them think the food was Cornish and 98% thought the Cornish flag denotes the food is Cornish.
BUSINESS CORNWALL
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BUSINESS NEWS
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THREE DECADES OF SERVICE Cornwall Air Ambulance celebrated 30 years of saving lives with a special event at its operational and fundraising headquarters near Cornwall Airport Newquay. Volunteers, crew, staff, supporters and patients who have been airlifted gathered in the aircraft hangar for the celebration, along with air ambulance’s first pilot, Geoff Newman, and first paramedic, Paul Westaway, who shared their story. As well as a look back at the birth of the service, the celebration was a chance for Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust to unveil its vision for the future – which includes plans to bring next generation aircraft to Cornwall. Paula Martin, CEO at Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust, said: “With the foundations laid thanks to two inspirational men who literally got the air ambulance
off the ground, we are now looking forward to how we can continue to build an outstanding emergency service. “This involves investing in next generation aircraft, as well as bringing excellent emergency
care to our patients during the critical first hour of their incident. All our fundraising and operational objectives are now geared around bringing A&E to the scene of an incident.”
STADIUM GROUND SHARE AGREEMENT
The Cornish Pirates and Truro and Penwith College are joining forces with Truro City Football Club and the club’s developer partner, to deliver the Stadium for Cornwall project together. The deal, which is subject to a number of legal agreements, would see both clubs and the college jointly occupy a single stadium at Langarth Farm. Truro City FC had wanted to build their own new ground at Silver Bow, but were recently told by developers that it was “no longer financially viable”. The parties will now work together to secure the £10 million required to fund the 6,000 capacity
facility. A spokesperson said: “Following extensive discussions between the parties, it has now been mutually agreed that it is in the best interests of Truro City Football Club, the Cornish Pirates and Truro and Penwith College that they join together in occupation of a single Stadium for Cornwall at Langarth Farm. “The joint agreement will enable the strong prospect of a stadium in Cornwall to finally be built, along with high grade community facilities and sports pitches. The community stadium will rival other similar venues currently found throughout the country, whilst at the same time
protecting the long-term future of both clubs and providing a first class education and training facility for the college. “There is still a lot of work to be done and more information will be made available once further discussions have taken place.” It is hoped the Stadium for Cornwall will be ready in time for the start of the 2019-20 season. In the meantime, the Pirates will continue to play at their Mennaye Field in Penzance while Truro will start next season at their existing Treyew Road ground, before potentially ground sharing with Bodmin Town FC.
BUSINESS CORNWALL
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CASE
STUDY
JUMPING FOR THE STARS
Successfully trading in the security of his dayjob to be his own boss and bring an exciting product to new markets, Rhys Heavens, founder and MD of iBounce Trampoline Parks has quite the spring in his step. And with help from the Breakthrough start-up programme, your new business could soon reach similar heights
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ewind to December 2015 and running a pub, Rhys harboured ambitions to have his own business and to carve out a worklife balance where he could spend weekends with his young family. The iBounce story started if not on the back of a pub coaster, not far off. A weekend away with his business partner, experiencing a trampoline park in action, a few Long Island Iced Teas and a long old night round a cocktail bar and Rhys had seen his opportunity. “We were talking about a business model and the numbers just worked,” he recalls. “We thought, there isn’t one in Cornwall, there isn’t one in Devon. We’ve got 12p and a lot of drive. How do we get one open? And what does a trampoline park look like?” Fast forward to spring 2017 and iBounce now has three sites open and flourishing across the south west, including Cornwall’s first trampoline park in Bodmin and just a few weeks ago Exeter’s first, too. Later this month they’ll also have a new HQ, as well as a central reservations office and are employing around 60 staff. Not bad 16 months on from what Rhys openly calls “a tipsy conversation which got out of hand”. But with such rapid growth and expansion comes risk – something Rhys has been quite candid about (his goal for next year is to consolidate and clear some of their borrowing). Here, he says, is where support from Breakthrough has been crucial. The ERDFfunded programme of coaching specifically for new businesses (those in their first 12 months trading) helped them keep level-headed and for iBounce’s latest park, meant they were more planned and cautious in their costings. He says: “Before meeting Oxford
Innovation and Breakthrough Coach, Heather Coupland, to talk finance, I’d done basically wet finger in the wind but this was more structured with a lot more thought going into it. When we opened our third site we used the same tools Heather had shown us so we didn’t over-borrow and with this greater understanding of cashflow we’ve ensured our growth is more secure.” Rhys is also quick to credit the team around him, including Cornwall assistant manager, Hannah. “She’s phenomenal,” Rhys adds. “A real asset to the business and it was the Breakthrough job support which helped us find her - not just in terms of the Unlocking Potential Jobs website but also the help from our business development manager on job descriptions, advertising, interviewing and selecting.” Breakthrough and Oxford Innovation coach, Lloyd Brina, has also been there to support iBounce as its success snowballed and gathered momentum. He explains: “We’ve enabled and empowered him to make things happen to the timescales he wanted to do things but all credit to Rhys, he’s delivered what they said they were going to do to self-imposed deadlines. They made it happen. Goals fulfilled and ambitions realised, Rhys is already eager to jump into his next challenge. He plans to invest in and upgrade the parks with more smart technology as it emerges, while there are plans for franchising as well as industry consulting because, as he says, he hopes others can learn from his journey and that you can’t take on the world by yourself. Not quite, but with iBounce he’s having a pretty good jump for it. www.breakthroughcornwall.co.uk E: info@breakthroughcornwall.co.uk T: 01872 300116
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MAKE NEW CONTACTS • MEET SUPPLIERS • GROW YOUR BUSINESS
USE MATCH FUNDING TO ACCELERATE YOUR GROWTH
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THE PLACE TO B2B
Superfast Business Cornwall, which aims to boost business competiveness through an increased understanding and exploitation of digital technology, has announced funding for digital projects that develop new products/services and create jobs.
Pre-registration Now Open
The service which uses a tailored programme of high quality information, advice and digital development, is currently advertising for applicants for projects of over £20k enabled by superfast broadband. Intensive support and investment is available for new digital projects that enable or accelerate the development of a new product or service, give access to new markets, and create jobs. Grants can fund revenue elements of the project but not capital items or websites. Applications can be progressed quickly and support to complete applications and implement projects is available from specialist Digital Business Enablers. Applications for this round of funding must be received by June Thursday 16th1.March 2017 | Showground Wadebridge Businesses will need to be able to match fund 50% of the project and provide clear evidence of how thePartners investment will lead to business Media growth and new jobs based in Cornwall or the Isles of Scilly. The funding is available through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) therefore both the business and the project will have to meet eligibility criteria.
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Examples of potential projects include:
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for our pop-up • App development venues across Businesses are encouraged to contact Superfast Business Cornwall to the town discuss potential projects as soon as possible on 0345 600 3936. Further information on how to exploit digital technologies and eligibility critieria for receiving support from the project can be found by visiting: www.sfbcornwall.co.uk, email enquiries@sfbcornwall.co.uk or call 0345 6003936.
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For more info cornwallbusinessshow.co.uk
FOLLOWING TEN YEARS OF THE AGATHA CHRISTIE THEATRE A NEW THRILLER FROM Broadway smash COMPANY. hit musical comedy comes to Truro! ‘THE BEST WOMAN CRIME WRITER SINCE CHRISTIE’ SAMANTHA WOMACK
THE SUNDAY TIMES Starring
CAMERON BLAKELY
as Morticia
as Gomez
CARRIE HOPE FLETCHER
LES DENNIS
as Wednesday
as Uncle Fester
NEED INVESTMENT SUPPORT? PLANNING TO EXPAND YOUR BUSINESS ACTIVITY?
Grants available to businesses & social enterprises for capital projects which will: • Create jobs • Develop businesses to improve productivity & increase sales • Support the local economy
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Tue 20 MON 6 - Sat SAT2411June MARCH 01872 262466 01872 262466 hallforcornwall.co.uk hallforcornwall.co.uk
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Mike Along with fellow joint MD, Henk Wiekens, Mike Carr has developed Pendennis into one of the foremost custom-build and refit superyacht businesses in the world. We meet Mike down at Pendennis’ state-of-the-art facilities in Falmouth. PHOTO BY: TOBY WELLER BUSINESS CORNWALL
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MIKE CARR
INTERVIEW
Mike Carr: I came down to Falmouth in 1989 and joined about 40 people including Henk Wiekens, of course, and we have been partners in the business ever since. We did an MBO from the founder in 1993 with two other colleagues at the time. Just before I joined the business it had just acquired Western Yachts, which built smaller 60ft boats. But that bought a knowledge of boat building, then the engineering skills and aluminium blended together. The first contract was to build a boat called Taramber, which was a 125ft Ed Dubois designed Ketch (sailing craft with two mast). Ed had introduced Henk to the business through working with him in New Zealand and I came ostensibly to set up the refit side of the business having learned a little bit about the yachting industry and shipyard management and naval architecture at Vosper Thorneycroft, where I was prior to coming here. I joined Vosper Thorneycroft as a graduate trainee after studying naval architecture in Southampton and worked there for about eight years, but always leant towards the project management side of putting things together. Back then it was minehunters. I did three minehunters, where you almost started with a bucket of resin and then handed the flag over to the navy two years later! It was a great opportunity for a fairly young guy at the time to have the responsibility to help coordinate building these things. A totally different part of the market. Vospers was actually interested at the time of diversifying into different streams and looked at yacht building and that’s how I got introduced to it. I got attached a small team that then marketed our capabilities to that sector and that was very interesting and caused me to think about moving. When that project came to an end I went back to being project manager on what was called a single role minehunter back then and Pendennis was advertising and I thought, let’s give it a go. So I went from somewhere at the time had pretty much everything you would want in a shipyard. There were 5,000 when I started, all the facilities, and to come here at the time where there was 40 or 50. But the difference was there was a real passion here, while at Vospers it was kind of just a job. Here, it is a way of life.
PHOTO BY: TOBY WELLER
Mike explains how he came to work in the superyacht business, how Pendennis operates in the world of the super-rich and the vital importance of apprentices to the business.
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INTERVIEW
HEMISPHERE YACHT (PHOTO BY: JEFF BROWN)
Dealing at the super luxury end, it’s another world isn’t it? It is. You’re dealing with products here that no one really needs. It’s all about want. Yes, it is another world, but I think most people can probably relate it to something they do. Most people have something they don’t need in life but do it because they want to do it, whatever that is. And if they want it, enjoy the process and continue to want it, they will compromise in other areas to ensure they get what they want. Because it is so high-end and the owners have so much wealth, is the superyacht industry fairly recession proof? No. The new build market follows the economy. At times when the world economy is struggling, the orders for new boats lag behind. If you look back over the years, you will see peaks and troughs. If you look at the stats the year before the recession there might have been 500 large motor boats in construction and the year after that there might have been 250. And even if they can afford it, they might not think it’s the right time for many reasons. They are big investments. It can be two, three, even four years to build the very big boats. And a lot of people may be in a position where they don’t want to be seen as spending frivolously. But the boats still need to be maintained? That’s the thing. As long as one boat or more is built every year, there are more boats in the refit pool.
MIKE CARR
AERIAL VIEW OF PENDENNIS SHIPYARD
I assume the market must be quite small. There can’t be that many of these sort of vessels out there in the world? Our info leads us to believe there are about 5,000 superyachts. Which isn’t that many. How many boatyards like this exist in the word? (laughs) Well, I think we’re unique! But seriously, for building new boats there are a couple of dozen, if that. There’s no one else really in the UK. Of course you have Sunseeker and Princess Yachts, but they’re building production boats, whereas here everything is bespoke. Typically, would the client come to you with the design already? For a new boat, typically yes. But again, there aren’t hundreds of designers in the world. In the naval architectural field, there are maybe half a dozen for larger sailing boats and in the motor boat fields they tend to go to the stylist-type designer for the look of the boat and then the yard does the naval architecture. Again there are probably only couple of dozen of those. And with the Internet now, it’s a very different process to what it was 20 or 30 years ago. Clients, even new clients, come much better informed, they have done their homework. At a click of a button they can see who your competitors are. And there are brokerage networks as well, which act as intermediaries if they can and there are also direct relationships with designers.
But everything here is built to order? Look at Amels in Holland for example, who have a range of boats. They’ve worked out they can build the chassis the same each time and change the lay out on top. The Princess and Sunseeker model is there’s the design of the completed boat and they sell that. You may be able to change the aspects of the finish, but generally the structure and design dictates, simply because that’s how they drive the cost down. If you start something brand new each time, you have the whole design cost. When I built minehunters, we built ten in the series, all exactly the same. And the hours for number four or five were halve that of the initial hours. And that’s how a production boat builder does his sums. He works out I’ll sell three or four of these, I can’t sell them at the bespoke price, but I can sell them at this price. Then if you have a production boat and you have a very strong brand, your margins are based on your brand. Take trainers as a simple example. You could spend hundreds of pounds on a pair of designer trainers or £10 on a supermarket pair, but they’re selling on brand name, because there are people who want them. They don’t need them, they want them, which comes back earlier to what I was saying about superyachts.
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MIKE CARR
INTERVIEW
What’s the split here between building and refitting? Right now it’s probably 80% refit. And going back to your question about the economy, that’s what’s made us more resilient. Being in the refit market, we are seen as the go-to place for the more significant refits that involve remodelling and engineering. And as I’ve said, as long as there’s one more boat than there was last year, there is a bigger refit market. Is your market global or from Europe? Global. We have clients from all over the world. If you look at the demographic, most of the clients come from the northern hemisphere, America, but we have built boats for people in Australia, in New Zealand. Have you had many clients from Russia or the Arab countries. I assume they are big buyers of superyachts? They are, but we haven’t had much exposure in those markets yet. And that may be because we’re in the refit market, we tend to see products in the Caribbean and Mediterranean. But we have had a couple of Russian clients over the years. How do you win new business? Has the Pendennis name become so established over the years that it comes to you? We work very hard building our own brand name and we get a lot of business by word of mouth. So if we get the opportunity and do a good job then the client of the boat would
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probably know others. We work hard with brokerages and management houses that are managing these boats, at tracking when they are likely to need work doing and promoting our facilities to them. We work hard on the dock and promote ourselves quite heavily to the captains and the crews who are running the boats. And we work very hard at when we get them here, they have an enjoyable experience. Yes, I didn’t realise. The crews stay here while you’re working on the boats. We can have up to 50 crew on site. The alternatives for them are Barcelona, or Italy, which have certain attractions! You can’t compete with the obvious attractions of those places, so what’s… No, we can and we do actually. Barcelona may have the Bernabeu and razzmatazz, but Cornwall has one hell of a lot to offer as well. So in many ways, we are selling Cornwall as well. For example, one of the things we have started doing in the summer, is we run a classic car rally. You may ask what is a shipyard doing running a classic car rally. The truth is that many of the designers are classic car nuts and many of them have trained in automobile design. There is a lot of synergy between shape designing super structures for boats and designing shapes for cars. So they have a natural affinity with cars, and owners of boats often have a collection of cars and this year we’ve got something like 20 cars coming
and are doing a tour of Cornwall over three days. What could be better than that? So we’re selling ourselves, socialising, but we’re also selling Cornwall, heavily. And you also have facilities in Palma, Majorca. Yes, we have a service centre in Palma. If we do a job here, the boat is probably going to spend half of its life in the Med and half in the Caribbean, so aftersales, early warranty work, we can do the work there rather than it having to come back up here. It’s also a way to pick up new business and a way to stay in touch with the boats between their bigger service intervals. The service intervals for any larger boat over 30 metres are dictated by their class and flag. It’s akin to an MOT, and every five years there’s a big one. So that’s another thing we do, we track boats. Out of those 5,000 boats, we know dimensionally which ones will fit here and we have a scoring system – do we know the captain? Have we got to know the owner? When are the surveys coming up, when was she repainted? So we can drill down through it and come up with a 100 targets in a year. We then just need to know where will they be, so we track them using AIS (Automatic Identification System) software, so we know where they are in the world at any one time. It’s pretty neat compared to what we used to do. We used to go down on the dock and pray there was a boat needing a refit!
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INTERVIEW
How many people do you employ now? 380, which had grown steadily. It has been fed by the apprenticeship schemes we run which are crucial. It’s a people business. It’s about skilled people working well together in teams. And through the apprenticeship scheme we have really been able to pull that off. Last year we took on our 200th apprentice and we’ve been running that scheme for 18 years. The retention rate is great, 80 to 100 are still working in the business right now.
MIKE CARR
So roughly a quarter of your staff are former apprentices?
There must be a huge amount of skills involved.
I can’t really think of too many we haven’t taken on. What they may do is work for two or three years and then go off and try something else for a while or more likely get seduced to go with the boat, and spend a few years working on boats at sea. But then they might come back. What we are seeing at the moment is ‘returners’ and they come back as very valued staff because not only do they know what goes into building a boat, but they’ve also seen it working out there.
Yes. It starts with design and a lot of these people have gone into design as well as management that have come through this scheme. When I say design, that’s not just how the plates come together, but how the electrical systems work, how the air con works, the sewage. The boats are basically five star villas that have to be self-sufficient. You don’t just hook up to a mains supply. There’s the sailing systems on deck, or the hydraulic systems. All this has to be figured out and drawn up to level of detail that can be passed on to the next stage of making it. And then making it you need fabricators skilled in working in aluminium and steel, welding specialists, then painting and coating not just outside but inside, then engineering into the boat and electrics, interiors et cetera et cetera. There are something like 12 different trades involved.
It’s a people business. It’s about skilled people working well together in teams. And through the apprenticeship scheme we have really been able to pull that off
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24/04/2017 12:43
MIKE CARR
INTERVIEW
It must be fantastically complicated when pricing a job up! It is, but although it’s a bespoke job, there is an element of repeatability in the pricing. You know it’s going to cost you so much to put a quantity of aluminium together. But then there are finer details on the interior, what systems, what electrics, av systems, navigation systems. You have to be tuned into understanding what’s required from the owner or telling him what he’s going to get. If there are areas where there’s risk in the pricing you generally pick those out as ‘prime sums’ as we call them, and they get defined as the design fleshes out. The design is never mature enough when you make the quotation to be able to give a completely fixed price without including a lot of margin for contingency. Over the years we have learned what not to do and what to do and where to focus. How many jobs can you take at any moment? Right now we have seven jobs on, which is more than we’ve done previously but the facilities are lending themselves to that. We’ve had two boats go through the basin this winter. Smaller jobs but a revenue stream we’ve expected. You have to plan your resources and when you’re going to need them as best you can. Are there busy periods? The winter period is generally busier than the summer for refits, but wouldn’t be quite the same in the new build market although most people would order something with the hope of getting it for the summer. We’ve developed a fantastic workforce that is prepared to work in a flexible way and we’re up front as much we can be where the future
demands are coming from. Some of the staff are on what we call a winter hours contract. So they plan from the beginning to do most of their hours through the winter and then literally have most of the summer off. So they go off for three months, but effectively get a salary guaranteed through that period although they work harder in the winter. We also do what’s called ‘banking’, if they’re working overtime they can bank an element of their hours for time off in lieu. Both schemes are slightly incentivised. If you bank four days, you may get a fifth day thrown in. Everyone in the company has embraced this which helps us steer through the quieter periods while maintain full employment. Where does Pendennis stand on the global stage? I would say we are among the top three sailboat builders in the world. If someone was building a motor boat, there is more choice, but we have built several motor boats and do have that knowledge, but most would see us as a sail boat builder. Is that where your passion lies? I like sailing, I have a small boat of my own. But for me it’s a passion for things in the sea and a passion for getting things organised and built. This is a very ‘sexy’ business. Do you appreciate that fact? We’ve been very lucky in the jobs we’ve had, the support we’ve been given, the people that work with us, and the way we have managed to develop the facility. Just driving in here and looking at the buildings, you think ‘wow’. I think it’s easy to get complacent about it, but it is a hell of a business.
What does a typical work day’s work involve for you? I don’t have one. I might not be here if I had a typical day! But I try to be quite hands on. But no painting! No, not to that extent, they won’t let me do that! We have quite a flat management structure and still like to have the feel of a family firm, staying on top of the projects. Obviously there are people tasked with spending all their time on top of the projects - a production director, projects director, sales & marketing director, finance and HR directors. I work a lot with them individually. We probably have about four client visits a month and he might be here two or three days, so you tend to support them. The owners regularly come down. A refit is relatively short, a 6-8 month process, and some have to make design considerations and decisions. They come to see progress and because they like it here. And coming back to ‘want’, it’s not just paying for it and picking it up at the end, it’s the whole process and experience. And when you build something, do you anticipate that you will maintaining it down the years? We try very hard to do that. One of the projects we’ve just finished, we first worked on 23 years ago, then ten years ago. We follow the boats and consider them part of the family. We are very disappointed if we lose out and it goes somewhere else so we work very hard to maintain it. And that may involve the second or third different owners, of course, because boats do sell.
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CORNWALL (MAY 15-19) Final preparations are busily being put into place for the annual showcase of the Cornish business scene.
his year’s calendar is dominated by four main events with something for everyone, including networking, a B2B trade show, a finance and funding conference and a glittering awards evening. On Tuesday, May 16, the focus will turn to the Lighthouse Cinema in Newquay for PKF Francis Clark’s popular Finance in Cornwall event, followed by a special event hosted by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) celebrating women in business. The Finance in Cornwall event is now in its tenth year and features presentations from sources of grant, debt and equity funding, as well as business support agencies operating in the region.
The presentations will be short and sharp, giving the delegate a basis for an assessment of which funding stream/funder matches their requirements. Francis Clark will also be running targeted sessions depending on your business needs – aimed at start-ups/businesses who are less than two years old and those that are more than two years old. Then in the afternoon at the same venue, the FSB will be Celebrating Women in Business. Bini Ludlow of the FSB Women in Business Taskforce will be MCing proceedings which will also include presentations Alexis Bowater (Bowater Communications), Jo Downs (Jo Downs Glass), Michele Poynter (Mish), Linsey Hall (Real Ideas Organisation), and Karen OldhamWaring (Sunflower Training). The event is free to attend and open to everyone, not just ladies! For more details of
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BUSINESS WEEK
this event, turn to the FSB news page. Then the following day, it is all eyes on Cornwall’s largest annual business event – the Cornwall Business Fair, which is again being held at the iconic Eden Project. A centrepiece of Cornwall Business Week, the event offers a host of networking opportunities. Find suppliers, potential customers and get your brand in front of decision makers from both Cornwall and across the UK. There will be plenty of opportunities to set up ad hoc meetings or you can join 180 business people for the Big Breakfast or lunch events in the Eden Gallery.
The day will begin with a Business Fair breakfast, sponsored by Stephens Scown, with keynote speaker, Cornwall Council CEO Kate Kennally. Booking in advance is required for this one, details of which can be found on the chamber website - cornwallchamber. co.uk. If you can’t make that, then there’s the lunch event at the Eden Galley, which will feature the launch of The Business Plan for Cornwall 2017/18. The keynote speaker for the Business Fair Lunch will be director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, Adam Marshall. The British Chambers of Commerce represent
the interests of 53 accredited Chambers of Commerce and their thousands of business members. Again, book in advance on the chamber website. This year will also see the return of the ‘Lightning’ Stage which is being moved into a dedicated area with seating available. The stage will host quick ten-minute presentations throughout the day, allowing a variety of businesses the chance to pitch their products and services, or simply offer some words of wisdom. Last year the presentations were well attended, and it is expected that the additional space provided this year will see even bigger audiences and a greatly enhanced experience.
MESSAGE FROM CORNWALL CHAMBER CEO ornwall Business Fair really is the centrepiece of Cornwall Business Week and includes a range of opportunities for Cornwall’s businesses to connect, support and share knowledge with one another. This is the largest business event in Cornwall if not the south west, and provides the platform to meet potential new suppliers and customers, as well as to share knowledge and experience of doing
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business in the Duchy. We were inundated with positive messages about the 2106 Business Fair from both attendees and exhibitors. Thousands of people attended and spent several hours at Eden, resulting in excellent footfall for exhibitors and a positive networking experience for visitors. Almost every exhibitor gained new business or at least valuable new contacts from exhibiting at the Fair. It isn’t just on the day and the immediate aftermath either. We have heard from exhibitors and delegates who have done business with one another several months after the Fair. As the biggest event in the Cornwall Chamber
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Thousands of people attended and spent several hours at Eden, resulting in excellent footfall for exhibitors and a positive networking experience for visitors of Commerce calendar, we put everything into making sure our visitors really do gain valuable connections and knowledge from attending. This year we have the addition of the Tech Zone, where a number of technology companies will be showing how their innovative products and services can help to improve the productivity and capability of your own business. I would encourage those attending to make the most of it, think about moving meetings to Eden for the day, use the Whova networking app, and engage in conversation with everyone that you meet. You never know where a conversation might lead and connectivity really does breed success in business. The Cornwall Chamber of Commerce team will be around all day, so come and have a chat with any one of us. I look forward to seeing you there.
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BUSINESS WEEK
FLOOR
EDEN FIRST FLOOR
EDEN GROUND FLOOR
EDEN SECOND FLOOR
STAND 105
STAND 53 54
CORNWALL BUSINESS FAIR SCHEDULE 8 am 10 am 12 pm 4 pm 4 pm
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Cornwall Business Fair Breakfast – Eden Gallery Exhibition Opens Cornwall Business Fair Lunch – Eden Gallery Pasty and Pint with Johnny Cowling Exhibition Closes
Please pre-book FREE Entry Please pre-book FREE Entry
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EXHIBTIORS LIST STAND NUMBER University of Exeter Pirate FM PSP Insurance DC Media Jobline Staffing The Federation of Small Businesses Trans-It-Delivery The Focus Training Group Coodes SWIG Glylly Computer Services Portakabin Falmouth University Business School Cornwall Air Ambulance IUEnergy Stockdale Accountants Rotary International Dash Group Zamu PFA Research CF Systems Bishop Fleming The VoIP People Truro High School CCB Training St Austell Print St Austell Conference Centre Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth Programme LWC Drinks Piran Technologies
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1 2&3 6&7 8 9 10 11 12 & 14 15 & 16 17 18 19 20 21 28 29 34 35 36 37 38 & 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48
Penventon Hotel Export for Growth Microtest Truro and Penwith College Phoneta Headforwards Software Cornwall Eden Pluss Education Business Partnership & Careers Enterprise Company Vanarama Rick Stein’s Cookery School SeadogIT Gloweasy Promotions Beyond Limits St Petroc’s Society Cornwall Airport Newquay & Aerohub Focus Technology Cornwall Chamber of Commerce Purecomms Growth Hub Oxford Innovation Unlocking Potential Outset LEADER RIO Truro and Penwith College Cornwall Marine Network Superfast Business Cornwall BIG 2
49 50 51 & 52 53 & 54 55 & 56 65 72 85 & 86 87 88 95 96 97 98 99 100 105 106 107 109 Business Support Zone Business Support Zone Business Support Zone Business Support Zone Business Support Zone Business Support Zone Business Support Zone Business Support Zone Business Support Zone Business Support Zone
24/04/2017 12:24
CORNWALL
BUSINESS WEEK
BUSINESS Then on Thursday, Business Week celebrations are rounded off in style for the Cornwall Business Awards 2017 ome 350 leaders from Cornwall’s top businesses are expected to attend the event at St Mellion International, which are organised and presented by Cornwall Development Company in association with Business Cornwall magazine and the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce. England World Cup rugby hero and TV personality, Matt Dawson MBE, will be the celebrity speaker at the event, and will present the awards across 14 categories. Dawson was as a member of the England rugby union squad that won the World Cup in 2003. With 77 appearances for his country, he is England’s most-capped scrum half. He is now a regular radio presenter on BBC 5 Live and a well-known TV personality in his role as team captain on the popular BBC show, A Question of Sport. He said: “It’s a great honour to be invited to speak at such an important awards ceremony. There seems to be an amazing range of exciting and creative business ideas coming out of Cornwall right now, so I am really keen to find out more about the local business people who are driving all this success.” Now in their twelfth year, the Cornwall Business Awards have become established as the most high-profile business awards scheme in the county. The final shortlist for the 14 award categories includes businesses from Launceston to Penzance and products as diverse as ethically sourced diamonds, medical technology and spiral staircases. The awards highlight that Cornwall is a place where young talent can flourish. The finalists for Young Business Person of the Year are Lyssa-Fee Crump of Headforwards, a software company in Redruth; Sam Karkeek
of WAX Watergate, a new food and drink venue overlooking Watergate Bay, and Victoria Kierkegaard of Vixystrawberry Aerial Arts. The finalists in the Best New Business category are the Great Cornish Food Store, which promotes the finest local food and drink; Smile Together, a community interest company providing dental services; and PR agency Wild West Comms. The Best Third Sector Business category shows the many ways in which local organisations are helping their community, with finalists Active Plus, Bosence Farm Community, and The Dreadnought Centre, which gives support to young people with emotional or behavioural problems. Wadebridge-based Perfect Stays is up for the Customer Focus Award, along with Spiral UK of Helston, a leading supplier of spiral staircases, and currency exchange company TorFX - last year’s Winner of Winners - which is a finalist in four categories. Exceptional Cornish companies to work for have been shortlisted for the Employer of the Year award. These are dental CIC Smile Together, Headforwards and TorFX. Battling it out for Manufacturer of the Year are KCS Print, which produces high quality integrated label forms; Rugged Interactive, which recently featured on Dragons’ Den; and Spiral UK. Cornwall has long had a reputation for outstanding design and this is shown once again in the finalists for Most Creative Use of Design. Golden Tree Productions devises projects that celebrate Cornish culture, while Peboryon in Penzance creates unique, highquality cakes. They face competition from Rugged Interactive. Three completely contrasting companies make up the shortlist for the Sustainable
Business of the Year. Clear-flow offers a full range of drainage services; Hendra Holiday Park has its own solar farm, while Bodminbased KinetIQue Jewellery creates high quality jewellery from ethically-sourced diamonds. West Cornwall dominates the Excellence in Digital Marketing category, with social media marketing company, Oh So Social; copywriting agency, Radix Communications; and TorFX all in the running. Companies with their sights set firmly on ambitious growth comprise the shortlist for the Most Dynamic Growth Business. Headforwards, Spiral UK, and TorFX will battle it out for this one. Family businesses have always played a vital role in the local economy. Three leading examples have been selected as finalists for Best Family Business - Ann’s Cottage, Microtest and South West Laundry. Best International Business is always a keenly-contested category. BJ Sherriff of Falmouth sells beekeeping clothing around the globe, while Celtic and Co is famous internationally for its contemporary clothing using natural, sustainable fibres. They will be hoping to pip KCS Print. The sheer inventiveness of Cornish businesses is on display in the Business Innovation of the Year category. Data analysis specialist, Hertzian, faces strong competition from KinetIQue Jewellery and Microtest. Finally, the Entrepreneur of the Year award will be given to either Spiral UK CEO, Andrew Holland; Wayne Retallack of South West Laundry, or Cornwall Solar Panels’ Tony Sampson.
Now in their twelfth year, the
Cornwall Business Awards have become established as the most high-profile business awards scheme in the county
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DAYS LATER… With Cornwall Business Week 2017 around the corner, the Growth Hub is preparing to celebrate its first anniversary helping businesses in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to find the right support to grow ince its launch during Business Week last year, the Growth Hub has welcomed over 2,000 businesses through its virtual doors and is working directly with over 600 on their plans to grow. One of the main aims was for the service to be shaped by local businesses so, taking an agile approach, the project launched with a minimum viable product and has continued to develop their systems and processes in response to client feedback. Nolan Dale of Kernow Kampers in Grampound Road was really pleased with the service he received, tweeting “Thanks for all the support and advice, what a brilliant free service for businesses in #Cornwall.” After he met with Connector, Matt Borne, he was signposted to support to help him with a new CRM strategy and implementation. Not only do businesses meet with a Connector, who offers an independent and impartial review and help to identify the right support from a wide variety of opportunities, but Growth Hub members also have access to a range of tools and promotional opportunities
through the ever-evolving website. This business led approach has proven successful, with a 5 out of 5 client satisfaction rating for the service and a website that welcomes thousands of visitors a month. However, the Growth Hub team haven’t waited for businesses to come to them. They have taken the service On The Road, ‘taking over’ towns up down the county to ensure as many businesses as possible can access the support on offer. Neil Cox from Neil Cox Hypnotherapy came across the Growth Hub at one of the Town Takeovers. “Since the Town Takeover in Bude I’ve had a chat with my local Connector. Seeing my business from a different angle provides new ideas and suggestions to investigate and take forward.” Since his meeting with Richard Scutt, Cox has been referred to several support opportunities including a review of his digital offer and advice on how to use technology to grow his business. The next Town Takeovers will be in Helston on May 23 and Hayle on June 6. Part of the Growth Hub’s ethos is about
bringing businesses together to help and support each other. Karen Nicholas of 3D Raptor Design in Penzance took part in the debate held in honour of International Women’s Day, to discuss the opportunities and challenges faced by women in business. She had already met with Connector Chris Phillips and, as she has completed a start-up programme, was referred to support to further develop her marketing proposition. She said: “It was great to speak openly to the Connector and it soon became clear where my energies should be focused. It is reassuring as a new business owner to know that there is accessible, local, professional support to help businesses reach their full potential.” The Growth Hub is one element of the Strategic Economic Plan, which sets out a vision for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to be the place where businesses thrive and people enjoy an outstanding quality of life. If you would like to book your free business review then sign up at www.ciosgrowthhub.com and call the Growth Hub team on 01209 708660.
The Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Growth Hub is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and is match funded by Cornwall Council, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership.
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POLITICS
Politically In the wakes of the snap General Election call, the latest of our articles in collaboration with PFA Research, asks what does the changing political environment means for businesses in Cornwall
T
here have been vast changes to the global political environment within the last 24 months. The Conservative Party won their first overall majority since 1992; UKIP had a sizeable impact upon UK politics despite having only one MP; the UK electorate made the decision to leave the EU and Donald Trump was famously elected President of the USA. There have also been developments much closer to home, including a revived campaign against the establishment of a ‘Devonwall’ parliamentary constituency; a General Election that resulted in the election of six Conservative MPs and no Liberal Democrat representation in Cornwall for the first time in decades. Politics certainly isn’t boring or predictable at the moment! It is likely that we will be faced with even more local level changes due to the ongoing Brexit negotiations; Devonwall proposals; upcoming Cornwall Council elections and also, the snap General Election. But how will these changes affect businesses in Cornwall? Each of Cornwall’s Conservative MPs increased the party’s vote-share within the last General Election. However, the New Statesman recently reported that a poll by Conservative Party strategist, Lynton Crosby, suggested that it would lose all six seats to the Liberal Democrats if a General Election were to be called now.
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Cornwall is often regarded as one of the key battlegrounds within a General Election campaign. Therefore, it is highly likely that Liberal Democrat gains in the county would impact upon Theresa May’s perceived desire to implement a ‘hard Brexit’, thus affecting whether the UK will compromise on key business issues, such as freedom of movement, leaving the single market and continued trade with the EU. Are people in Cornwall happy with their MP? PFA Research’s What Cornwall Thinks’ survey asked participants whether they feel that their MP does a good job for their constituency. The results showed that 31% feel that their MP does a good job, but 49% do not feel that this is the case! An additional 19% are not sure. We must remember that this may be the result of the first-past-the-post electoral system, whereby an MP can be elected with under 50% of the vote. It will be interesting to explore levels of satisfaction with MPs in the next Parliament to see whether this is the case! Are people happy with the Government’s latest business announcements? Cornwall has a very high number of selfemployed people, including freelancers and business owners. In fact, the Telegraph recently identified that St Ives is one of the 11 Conservative constituencies most at risk from a self-employed backlash against the government. Office of National Statistics figures suggest that 38.3% of the electorate in the area depend upon some form of self-employment. The reduction in the tax-free dividend allowance available to limited company shareholders from £5k to £2k has not been popular amongst the business community.
Similarly, the business rate revaluation is likely to impact upon many Cornish businesses. PFA Research runs the Quarterly Economic Survey for Cornwall Chamber. A third of businesses remain concerned about business rates (2017, Q1 survey). This is unsurprising given the business rates revaluation that came into effect on 1st April 2017. It is likely that the business community will perceive the General Election as an opportunity to encourage the government to promise some more business friendly policies. Local business leaders have already commented that they plan to push the current government to explain exactly what ‘an economy that works for everyone’ would entail in terms of support for Cornish businesses. This would certainly help to alleviate some of the uncertainty facing businesses in the run-up to Brexit. Brexit in Cornwall PFA Research’s What Cornwall Thinks survey recently asked respondents whether they voted for Brexit and also, whether they wish that the outcome was different now. Of those that were pleased with the referendum outcome, 22% feel that the impact of Brexit upon Cornwall will be even better than expected, 73% feel that it will be around the same as they expected and just 2% feel that the impact will be worse than they originally thought. In terms of those that were not pleased with the referendum result, 41% feel that the referendum outcome will have an even worse impact upon Cornwall that they originally thought, 55% feel that the referendum impact upon Cornwall will be around the same as they originally thought and just 3% feel that the referendum impact upon Cornwall will be better than they originally thought.
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POLITICS
CORNWALL
Was not pleased with result
Was pleased with result 0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
PREFER NOT TO SAY
NO CHANGE
YES - IT WILL BE BETTER THAN I FIRST THOUGHT
YES - IT WILL BE WORSE THAN I FIRST THOUGHT
FIGURE 1 – OPINION OF BREXIT NOW (MARCH 2017), BY VIEW OF THE RESULT Commonly cited reasons for perceiving that the impact of Brexit will be worse than expected include a belief that the UK will struggle to negotiate a good Brexit deal with the EU; fears of a Europe-wide recession; concerns relating to house prices and mortgage rates; and more. Reasons for perceiving that Brexit will have a better than anticipated impact include the perception that the currency markets have recovered relatively quickly from an uncertain referendum outcome; the belief that the Government is already seeking to reduce the impact of bureaucracy or ‘red tape’ upon business activity; and also, a feeling that businesses within the UK will be able to continue to trade at current levels following the UK’s eventual departure from the EU. Devonwall is Not Popular The Cornwall Quarterly Economic Survey for the fourth quarter of 2016 showed that the majority
of businesses feel that a Devonwall constituency will have a negative impact upon Cornwall as-a-whole. Overall, 58% feel that it will be bad for Cornwall, 24% perceive that it will make no difference, 6% perceive that it will be good for Cornwall and 12% do not know whether it will be good or bad. The survey also asked respondents to consider whether they would prefer to have a reduced number of MPs in order to prevent the need for a constituency that crosses the borders of the two counties. This would mean that the county had 5 MPs, instead of the 5.5 MPs proposed by the Boundary Commission. Overall, 70% of respondents reported that they would prefer to have fewer MPs if it meant that it was possible to ‘keep Cornwall whole’, whereas only 15% of respondents reported that they would not prefer this option and an additional 15% reported that they did not know.
BAD FOR CORNWALL
58%
MAKES NO DIFFERENCE
24% 6%
GOOD FOR CORNWALL
12%
DON'T KNOW 0%
20%
40%
60%
FIGURE 2 – OPINION OF DEVONWALL (CORNWALL BUSINESSES, DECEMBER 2016)
80%
A number of participants noted that Devonwall could be bad for business in Cornwall, as it would impact upon ‘Brand Cornwall’, which celebrates the county’s distinctive heritage and culture. However, others said that they ‘do not care’ whether their local MP represents Devon and Cornwall, as long as they do their job properly! Cornwall Council Elections Cornwall Council’s recent plans to spend £336k on the bid for Truro to become the 2023 European Capital of Culture has been particularly controversial and received significant media attention. A recent PFA Research survey indicates that only 35% of respondents support the bid whereas 54% oppose it. The remainder of respondents said that they have no real preference either way. Support for Truro’s bid to become 2023 European Capital of Culture is highest amongst the young. The survey showed that 59% of younger people support the bid compared to just 28% of those aged over 55 years. It will be interesting to see whether this and other local issues, such as council tax increases, will impact upon the local election results. To conclude on a positive note, one might argue that the upcoming General Election provides a renewed opportunity for Cornwall to push its interests to the fore whilst reducing the uncertainty surrounding post-Brexit funding and support. What Cornwall Thinks is an exciting new way to gain insight from Cornish residents at a fraction of the cost of bespoke research. To find out more call PFA Research on 01326 375705 or email participate@whatcornwallthinks.com
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24/04/2017 09:48
THE WISH
LIST
FROM LEFT: DANIEL SLADEN, JASON MITCHELL AND JULIE TOWERS
MORE THAN
A NUMBER
Why building close business relationships is key for PKF Francis Clark
T
he role of a good accountancy firm extends far beyond just ensuring that clients comply with their statutory obligations. According to Scott Bentley, a partner at the Truro office of PKF Francis Clark, “it is more about providing a complete business advisory service that helps clients to meet all the challenges they face and to make the most of all the opportunities that may arise”. He says: “Our aim is to help our clients manage, plan and grow their businesses through expert accountancy and taxation advice. This includes specialist sector expertise and a very broad skill set which enables us to support clients of all sizes with a partner-led and bespoke advisory service.” The award-winning firm is proud to act for a wide spectrum of business clients maintaining a strong focus on owner managed businesses, start-ups and family enterprises which remain the bedrock of the Cornish economy. Its strength in depth means that it can also offer services to businesses throughout Cornwall at every level, from the largest corporate enterprise
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to dealing with simple tax returns. Today PKF Francis Clark is the largest independent firm of chartered accountants in the south west with 59 partners and 600 staff across eight offices. The prominent Truro office has a full service offering for clients with nine partners and 106 staff, the majority of which have or are working towards well respected-professional qualifications. Last year, Francis Clark joined PKF, a highlyrespected international network of chartered accountants enabling it to provide better support to clients locally, regionally, nationally and around the world. PKF Francis Clark’s clients include family businesses, corporate entities, professional firms, not-for-profit organisations and private clients. The firm has specific expertise in the agriculture, education, food & drink, renewables, healthcare, leisure & tourism, charities, manufacturing & engineering, property & construction and marine sectors. There are also specialists advising on international taxation, corporate finance, VAT and Customs Duty, financial planning, business recovery, forensic and valuation services.
Andrew Allen, Truro partner and member of the firm’s management board, says: “The success of the Truro office has been based on the combination of detailed understanding of the local economy in which we operate, personal relationships with in-depth specialist expertise; the highest standard of client service and an added value approach that involves strategic and financial guidance, taxation advice, wealth management and succession issues over and above simply regulatory compliance.” Fellow partner, Tom Roach, adds: “Another important factor in shaping the quality and consistency of the services we offer is our ability to build very strong teams. “This is largely due to developing an enlightened recruitment and training programme based on a combination of thought-provoking and challenging work with rewarding and structured career opportunities. Our continued success is a direct result of the quality of people we employ and the training, support and career opportunities we provide.” Recent changes at the firm’s Truro office have included the appointment of Daniel Sladen, a corporate and business tax director who
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PKF FRANCIS CLARK has enjoyed a career in London working for Barclays and KPMG. Sladen, a chartered tax adviser, joins what was already the largest team of chartered tax advisers in the county. In addition, Jason Mitchell, a key member of the firm’s corporate team for the last 15 years, is to be promoted to partner on August 1. He provides accountancy and advisory services to a wide range of law firms and family businesses, and is the latest in a long line of partners in the Truro office who have progressed having originally joined the firm as a trainee. Another notable addition to the Truro office is Julie Towers, who became the firm’s first VAT partner in 2006 and is acknowledged as a leader in her field covering all aspects of VAT but specialising in land and property, charities, not-for-profit, international issues as well as healthcare. Being proactive and keeping ahead of the game at every step is important, according to business service partner, Brian Harvey. “Recent examples of this,” he says, “include identifying the need for a dedicated audit partner in the Truro office, resulting in the appointment of Duncan Leslie who has made great steps in improving our offering in this area. “We also recognise that the forthcoming introduction of Making Tax Digital will have a wide ranging impact on our business as well as our clients and we have put in place a dedicated team working on this and offering practical solutions for our clients.” Another key service PKF Francis Clark provides for the Cornwall business community is its annual Finance in Cornwall presentation. Now in its tenth year, the event has become
CompanyProfile.indd 3
an integral part of Cornwall Business Week. The seminar features presentations from sources of grant, debt and equity funding as well as business support agencies operating in the region. The presentations are short and sharp giving delegates a basis for an assessment of which funding stream/funder matches their requirements. There are also separate sessions dedicated to start-ups/ businesses who have been trading for less than two years and businesses who have been trading for more than two years. This popular, influential and free-of-charge half day event takes place on the morning of Tuesday, May 16 at Newquay Cinema. Summing up the firm’s success, Bentley adds: “Our underlying aim is to understand our
market place, our clients and the personal and business issues that they are faced with, and to act as one of their team and not just as an external adviser. “This ‘relationship’ approach, coupled with the ability to draw on a broad pool of resources and to develop key areas of expertise, has enabled the firm to win and retain clients in Cornwall of all sizes over long periods of time. We build client relationships based on mutual respect, trust and loyalty – relationships which last. “We also have one other invaluable asset. We live and work in the same place as our clients and we know and appreciate that Cornwall is a special place. Local knowledge goes a long, long way.” Tel: 01872 276477 www.pkf-francisclark.co.uk
24/04/2017 09:50
VENUE
GUIDE
Venue Guide
Heartlands
With 19 acres of stunning parkland, botanical gardens and magnificent heritage buildings, Heartlands is a world-class venue for conferences, workshops and team building events. 30
BUSINESS CORNWALL
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GUIDE
VENUE
COMPRISING A RANGE OF CONFERENCING SPACES, HEARTLANDS CAN CATER TO ANYTHING FROM 2 TO 200 DELEGATES, WITH A HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL, DEDICATED TEAM ON SITE TO ASSIST IN DELIVERING YOUR SUCCESSFUL EVENT. CONFERENCING AND FACILITIES The Chi an Bobel (Cornish for ‘house of the people’) is a flexible, dynamic conference facility for corporate hire, comprising the Main Hall, two meeting rooms and the magnificent Glass Atrium, with stunning views of the beautiful Carn Brea. The Main Hall can cater for up to 200 delegates, making it one of the largest conference centres in the area. The two meeting rooms, Tin and Copper, provide smaller meeting spaces, catering for up to 60 and 30 occupants respectively, with a range of layout options available, including Classroom, Theatre, Boardroom and U-shaped. Ceiling mounted projectors, free superfast Wi-Fi and white boards are all included in the room hire price, while flip charts and other accessories are available for hire. Additionally, free parking is offered to all delegates. “As a World Heritage Gateway, Heartlands is a truly inspirational setting for conferencing and events. Located just off the A30, it’s also easy to travel to from anywhere in Cornwall,” says Sean O’Neill, chief operating officer at Heartlands. “We’re highly experienced in delivering successful conferences and events, from relatively informal two person meetings to more substantial conferences across multiple meeting spaces. Added to that, the abundance of green space on site for breakout sessions is unrivalled in the area.” Louise Dandy, events and lettings manager at Heartlands: “From beginning to end, my team and I are committed to working with you to make your event a resounding success. We start by looking to fully understand the customer’s requirements and expectations of the event. We then set out to exceed that.
To discuss your conference or meeting requirement further, please contact:
“The flexibility of our conference spaces is a definite drawcard. From team meetings to business networking events and multi-day, multiroom conferences, our dedicated onsite events team are on hand to help guide your event to success. I would say that the regularity of our repeat business bears testimony to the exemplary levels of performance that we constantly seek to achieve.”
Louise Dandy Events & lettings manager
CATERING
T: 01209 722321 E: louise.dandy@heartlandscornwall.com Heartlands Robinson's Shaft, Dudnance Lane, Pool, Redruth, Cornwall TR15 3QY T: 01209 722320 | E: info@heartlandscornwall.com heartlandscornwall.com
“We’re proud of the high-quality catering options we’re able to provide, inclusive of all budgets,” says Tim Treseder, hospitality and catering manager at Heartlands. “We fully appreciate how important catering is to the success of a conference or event, and we go the extra mile to create food that looks good, and tastes great! We’re also happy to cater to groups with varying dietary restrictions, and can provide menu options to suit all possible scenarios.”
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BUSINESS
GROWTH
Making your business
SUPERFAST CASE STUDY EIGHT WIRE EXPLOITS DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY FOR GROWTH
A
Cornish design and marketing agency is forecasting growth in turnover, new business and an expanded workforce after using Superfast Business Cornwall’s support to completely transform its management systems. Eight Wire provides graphic design, copywriting and marketing to help companies promote themselves in print, the web and other media from its office in Falmouth. The business has an extensive client base with 30% of its work coming from outside Cornwall, including 5% from international clients. And now, thanks to support from ERDF funded Superfast Business Cornwall, the 15-strong team is hoping to harness the latest in digital technology to increase turnover, improve customer service and create two new jobs. By rebuilding the agency’s digital production system from scratch, a new office-wide programme will focus on project and customer relations management (CRM), and integrate into finance and knowledge management. Sara Pugh, director of Eight Wire, said: “This project will allow us to develop and scale up, by integrating and improving all our management information processes, which should be completely transformed. “Wanting to upgrade our production system has been a huge project on my to-do list for a long time. It runs the entire studio. I built the system we currently use and it was fine when there were only two members of staff but now that we have grown so much we need a system that can support our growing team.”
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Realistically we are looking at saving everybody in the company at least 10% of their time, which is currently taken up by an antiquated administration tool The Eight Wire team began working with Superfast Business Cornwall in September 2016. The bespoke system is nearing completion and will enable total visibility across multiple projects and business streams, and cater for multi-user access. Pugh said she expects to see the benefits of the new streamlined system quickly. “We’re hoping for time saving efficiencies straight away,” she said. “Realistically we are looking at saving everybody in the company at least 10% of their time, which is currently taken up by an
antiquated administration tool.” Service summary Superfast Business Cornwall offers a tailored programme of high quality information, advice and digital development to help businesses understand, adopt and exploit digital technology. Superfast Business Cornwall offers a tailored programme of high quality information, advice and digital development to help businesses understand, adopt and exploit digital technology.
BUSINESS CORNWALL
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FREE SERVICES TO BUSINESS ENHANCED LOCAL MANUFACTURING ADVISORY SERVICE
The project, delivered by the South West Manufacturing Advisory Service, offers information, diagnostic and brokerage support to identify growth needs, grant funding for small capital and revenue projects and, workshops to provide businesses with tools to improve their processes. info@swmas.co.uk
EXPORT FOR GROWTH
Export for Growth is focused on enhancing businesses’ international trade performance. “Export Essentials” will enable more small and medium sized businesses to export for the first time and “Extend Your Global Reach” will help enterprises to compete in new markets. 01275 774 456
FINANCIAL READINESS PROJECT
Delivered by Oxford Innovation, this is aimed at SMEs that need support to secure finance. Businesses can access workshops and one to one support on how to make appropriate financial choices and will benefit from the development of a financial support network. 01872 300116 or cornwall@oxin.co.uk The support includes the opportunity to learn about the benefits of exploiting the latest digital technology in small group workshops, followed by one-to-one bespoke support from an adviser to develop a digital action plan in line with their business strategy. For new digital projects which develop new products, services, access new markets and create new jobs, grant investment is available for up to 50% of the project value. Grant applications are turned around quickly and funds are paid as soon as the project is implemented.
FUTURE FIRST
Future First will help businesses to grow through innovation. Businesses will develop a tailored plan and will have access to experts and resources. The project will host events to inspire businesses to get involved in research and, development and innovation. hello@unlocking-potential.co.uk
HIGH VALUE MANUFACTURING Run by South West Manufacturing Advisory Service, businesses are supported to develop a high growth manufacturing plan. This could involve developing a new product or process or recruiting and training staff. Grants will be provided for expertise that the company cannot otherwise fund. info@swmas.co.uk ISLES OF SCILLY VOUCHER SCHEME
This scheme, managed by the Council of the Isles of Scilly, will make investments of between £1,000 and £100,000 in small and medium sized enterprises on the islands. It aims to generate long term, sustainable business growth and to create higher value jobs. voucherscheme@scilly.gov.uk
OUTSET CORNWALL
Outset Cornwall provides tailored support for individuals who want to start their own business or who have recently started up. The project aims to increase the number of business start-ups and help new enterprises survive and grow. 01209 311063 or info@outsetcornwall.co.uk
PROPEL CORNWALL The project, run by Cornwall Marine Network, will improve efficiency, resource management, productivity and customer focus, supporting progression into further innovation. Mentors will work with businesses, alongside a grant scheme for procuring specialist services. hello@propelcornwall.co.uk SUPERFAST BUSINESS
Superfast Business enables businesses to better understand and exploit the opportunities offered by superfast broadband to develop new products or services, reach new markets and improve performance. Support will be provided by experienced advisers. 0345 600 3936 or sfbcornwall.co.uk
APPLY NOW The service is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and delivered by Serco, national market leaders in the provision of superfast broadband focused business support. To find out more or to see if your business is eligible call 0345 600 3936 or visit sfbcornwall.co.uk
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PEOPLE
ON THE MOVE
SPONSORED BY www.sapiencehr.co.uk
FROM ABERDEEN TO PENZANCE The Isles of Scilly Steamship Group has named Graeme Alexander as its new general manager of marine operations. Alexander, who has spent more than 25 years of his career in the marine industry, will have management responsibility for all the company’s vessels, Penzance Dry Dock and Nike Engineering. Previously based in Aberdeen, Alexander has worked for marine companies including Fugro, Helix ESG, C-Mar Services UK and BP Tanker Company. He has worked around the world, most recently in India and Holland. He said: “Joining the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group was too good an opportunity to miss.”
ACCOUNTANT EXPANDS A west Cornwall accountancy firm has welcomed a new member to its team. Bickerstaff & Co Charted Accountants has appointed Laura Rogers as a new accountancy assistant at its Hayle office. Rogers brings a wealth of experience to the team from her previous role at St Austell
Brewery, including her AAT status. Director, Jenny Opie, said: “We are delighted to have Laura on board. Her wealth of experience and enthusiasm for getting to know our clients will be instrumental in moving the business forward.”
Rachel Plunkett has joined the corporate team at Truro-based commercial law practice, Murrell Associates, after completing her training with the firm. Plunkett has qualified as a solicitor in the firm’s corporate and commercial team. Hugh Murrell, MD at Murrell Associates, which also has offices in Bristol, said: “Rachel has already worked with us on a wide range of corporate, commercial contract and renewable energy matters, as well as commercial property transactions acting for both landlords and tenants. She originally came to us for work experience in 2013 so I’m delighted that, having successfully completed her training, Rachel will continue as a permanent member of our growing corporate team.”
FROM LEFT: JENNY OPIE AND LAURA ROGERS
LOGAN’S DASH Experienced commercial vehicle sales professional, Martin Logan, has joined Dash Vehicle Sales as vehicle sales manager. Logan, who joins from Vospers, brings more
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PLUNKETT COMPLETES TRAINING
than 25 years’ experience to the newlycreated role based at Dash’s logistics centre in Redruth. Operations director, Paul Dash, said: “We are delighted to have Martin on board. His accumulated wealth of experience in vehicle sales will be instrumental in moving the business forward.”
BUSINESS CORNWALL
OnTheMove_May17.indd 1
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Apprenticeships have changed.
#wearehutch
Now is the time to: Train existing staff n ● Recruit and trai new employees ● Understand the Apprenticeship Levy ● Access new Apprenticeships
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WORKSHOP FACILITATOR DESIGN AND DELIVERY
REMUNERATION: £28-33,000 + Pension OFFICE: Pool Innovation Centre / Extensive travel in Cornwall & Isles of Scilly EMPLOYER: Serco Employment Skills and Enterprise
Superfast Business Cornwall (SFBC) provides independent information, advice and guidance and grant investment to help SMEs across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly boost competitiveness through increased understanding and exploitation of digital technology. Funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and delivered by Serco. We have an opportunity for an individual with experience in delivering ICT subject matter in an engaging and accessible manner for small business audiences to join our small experienced team. A key part of the service is delivering workshops and presentations to inspire businesses to exploit technology. We have materials prepared and a rolling programme of events, but you will be able to design and deliver your own content and
SuperFastAd.indd 1
input into the future programme to reflect developments in tech and the needs of our clients. The successful candidate will: Design and develop events including; format, size, content/subject matter, target audience. Keep up to date with the latest ICT thinking and ensure this is reflected in event delivery techniques and content. Work as part of the Marketing Team to ensure event numbers are sufficient to
achieve contractual outputs. The successful candidate will: Be able to develop interactive communication and build rapport with small groups. We would consider applications from people wishing to work part time hours. Find out how to apply for this role at: https:// sfbcornwall.co.uk/vacancies/job-vacancyworkshop-facilitator/
24/04/2017 13:12
OUT OF COUNTY
BUSINESS NEWS
SPONSORED BY
cornwallairportnewquay.com
NATIONAL GROWTH IN SIGHT Redruth-based AGAME Sports is targeting national expansion after securing a business growth loan from SWIG Finance. Now in its fourth year, AGAME Sports was launched by Adrian Noott with the goal of supplying high-quality sportswear to schools and clubs. And business growth has been so strong that investment was needed in new machinery to keep up with demand. “We have invested £30k in machinery which means we can now do embroidery in-house which gives us far more flexibility and faster turn- around times,” Noott explained.
“We have worked hard to become one of the main sportswear suppliers in the south west and we would now like to focus our efforts on expanding outside of the region and into new markets.”
ISO HELPING HOUSING CRISIS FROM PENZANCE TO GLASGOW Penzance-based web and software development agency, Altcom, has opened a new office in Scotland. The company employs 17 full time staff and has been expanding steadily from its Cornish HQ since relocating to Penzance in 2004. Most of the team are based in Penzance, but Altcom also has staff in in London and now, Glasgow. Director, John Cowles, said: "We have great clients in Scotland and a senior member of staff is already permanently based in Glasgow, plus we can see excellent business opportunities there. We look forward to our continued expansion both in Glasgow and Penzance.”
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An innovative emergency accommodation development manufactured from old shipping containers in Cornwall was officially opened in west London last month. A first of its kind, Marston Court in Ealing was created by Truro-based ISO Spaces in partnership QED Property, Cargotek and Ealing Council. The solution is an innovative response to housing supply problems in the borough. It is a 34-apartment development created using a kit of moveable and re-usable parts, based around re-purposed shipping containers. ISO Spaces founder/director, Gregg Curtis, said: “Homelessness is an issue that is always critical at any scale; we need to design and develop more solutions to these issues. Our focus is on providing real products to do that. We are hoping to engage and work together with many more housing providers and local authorities to continue our work in this vitally important sector.”
HISTORY MAKERS Cornish architect and engineer, pdp Green Consulting, is leading a multidisciplinary design team to deliver the Command of the Heights project at Chatham in Kent. The town will soon be at the centre of an archaeological exploration and heritage regeneration project following a £1.8 million cash injection from the Heritage Lottery Fund, to help the area reconnect with its military roots. pdp Green Consulting has spent the past year surveying the site and is leading a project team that includes fellow Trurobased business, landscape architect, MeiLoci.
BUSINESS CORNWALL
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NEWS
SPONSORED BY
#FSBCONNECT
www.fsb.org.uk
CELEBRATING WOMEN IN BUSINESS During Cornwall Business Week on Tuesday May 16, FSB Cornwall will be at the Lighthouse Cinema, Newquay between 2 and 4pm to host a ‘Celebration of Women in Business’. Our fantastic line-up of speakers will inspire, motivate and enthuse as we celebrate the vital contribution that women in business make to our economy. Bini Ludlow of the FSB Women in Business Taskforce will be our MC and start proceedings with her fascinating story. Bini has turned her passion for traditional Indian cuisine into a business and launched “Sweet Cumin” in 2012. Since then Bini has won several local and national awards, is a regular contributor to the local food scene as well as penning guest columns, appearing on a number of regional food programmes and being a great national ambassador for our own FSB Women. Our impressive speaker line-up continues with; Alexis Bowater, Bowater Communications and the Venus Awards (Alexis may also be familiar to you as a past news anchor of ITV Westcountry), Jo Downs of Jo Downs Glass, Michele Poynter of Mish-Online, Linsey Hall of the Real Ideas Organisation and Karen Oldham-Waring of Sunflower Training.
They will all be talking about their journey becoming successful business women. Many challenges will probably be familiar. You will learn what they have done to get over some of those sticking points and hopefully you can take away some great new ideas. We will round up the event with a panel session for you to ask your own questions and end with a chance to talk to our speakers individually with everyone networking over a Cornish Cream Tea. The event is free to attend and open to everyone, not just ladies! It follows Francis Clark’s Finance in Cornwall event at the same venue in the morning, so if you are going to that you are welcome to stay on or just join us for the afternoon. For full speaker profiles, event details and advance booking visit: www.fsb.org.uk/cornwall
SEE US AT ROYAL CORNWALL SHOW
MAJOR CHANGES The FSB has introduced the most major changes to its offer since it was founded in 1974. The sweeping transformation programme sees the introduction of a range of innovative new joining categories, as well as new and additional benefits. It is the next phase in FSB’s vast rebranding exercise, which began in 2015, to ensure its stronghold as the most relevant, significant and accessible business organisation. Dave Stallon, FSB’s commercial director, said: “When FSB was founded in 1974, we adopted the Ford maxim of ‘you can have any colour you like as long as it’s black’. We had one membership category, delivering the same benefits to all.
NETWORKING EVENT Next FSB Cornwall Networking events: Wed 3rd May 11am to 1pm – Trethorne Golf Club Cyber-crime and how to beat it! Thurs 11th May 7am to 9am – St Austell Conference Centre
“FINALLY, ORGANISED NETWORKING WITH A FORMULA THAT WORKS!” Getting the most out of FSB membership £10 including refreshments Tues 16th May Celebrating Women in Business Lighthouse Cinema, Newquay (FREE EVENT OPEN TO ALL) Details of all events & online booking: www.fsb.org.uk/cornwall
If you want to find out more about FSB, have a business issue to raise or just need a sit down and some refreshments then please visit our stand (about 300 metres from the Pavilion Building) at the show from June 8-10.
“That model worked for over 40 years, but we recognise that today’s landscape is fast-changing and we want to offer different options to different business owners, as well as to those who are thinking about starting a business, to help them achieve their ambitions.” FSB recognises that the small business landscape is changing and diversifying. Today’s business owners have different motivations, needs and ambitions, running their businesses as part of increasingly varied lifestyles. FSB Business Creation and FSB Business Connect are two new joining categories which will sit alongside the original, but newly re-branded and enriched, FSB Business Essentials. A further joining category, FSB Business Plus, is due to launch later in the year, and a revolutionary new small business
You can also catch up with visiting MPs, business leaders, business support providers, FSB member benefit providers and hear some great acoustic musicians performing their lunchtime sets. Or just come and say hello!
e-commerce platform, FSB Marketplace, is planned to be rolled out in the spring. FSB Connect focuses on an expert networking offer; FSB Business Creation is designed to help people plan and launch a business; FSB Business Essentials includes a range of benefits and exclusive discounts to help businesses grow. Additional new benefits that are being added to the FSB Business Essentials package include cyber protection, enhanced legal insurance cover up to £100k and PR and crisis management support. These join a whole host of other, existing exclusive benefits and discounted products, from business banking to auto-enrolment. Further information and joining details can be found at FSB.org.uk
BUSINESS CORNWALL
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TOURISM
NEWS
SPONSORED BY
SUMMER IN THE SKIES
‘A LOT OF LOVE AND HUGS’ Crantock Bay is developing a new spa that will feature Spiezia Organics’ range of products.
Due to be launched at the end of June, the spa represents the latest phase in a redevelopment that has seen the former Crantock Bay Hotel transformed into luxury self-catering apartments and the C-Bay Café, Bar and Bistro. The collaboration with Amanda Barlow and Brian Hunter from Spiezia Organics is an important part of the new spa’s ethos, according to director Nina Eyles. “We’re full of admiration for the work Spiezia
40 YEARS OF THE SCILLONIAN III The Isles of Scilly Steamship Company has announced a string of celebrations throughout 2017 to mark the iconic Scillonian III passenger ferry’s 40th birthday.
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This month marks the 40th anniversary of Scillonian III, the group’s longest-serving passenger ship to date. This milestone is being celebrated with a
www.visitcornwall.com
Cornwall Airport Newquay’s summer schedule is underway with Ryanair flights to three European destinations. Flights to Alicante, Frankfurt-Hahn and Faro have commenced their twice-weekly services as well as Flybe’s daily Birmingham and Stansted flights making a return. Cornwall Airport Newquay was officially recognised as the fastest growing Airport in the UK in 2016, with 48% growth in passenger numbers. With Ryanair’s new route to Faro and a new route starting to Cork this month with Aer Lingus Regional, as well as significant frequency increases on key domestic routes to Manchester, Leeds Bradford, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Belfast, the airport is forecasting that 2017 will be the busiest since 2008 and its fourth consecutive year of double digit growth. Airport MD, Al Titterington, said: “It’s always an exciting time of year when the summer flying programme commences and with this expected to be our busiest summer in nine years we’re geared up and ready to start welcoming even more passengers through our doors.”
is doing to improve physical well-being,” she said, “especially in terms of their Made for Life therapies which offer treatments for those going through cancer.” “Many spas have to turn cancer sufferers away but our therapists will be trained in the accredited cancer touch therapy that provides holistic treatments, organic makeovers, nutritional advice and ‘a lot of love and hugs’.”
host of events, including a firework display over Penzance harbour, events on board the ship, public history exhibitions and ticket giveaways, to involve the wider communities of both the Isles of Scilly and west Cornwall. A pop-up exhibition will be held in Penzance, showing memorabilia including photographs and souvenirs from the Scillonian’s 40-year history, and display boards explaining more about the ship. The exhibition will run from May 15 - 24, and will be free for the public to visit. A party will be held on board the Scillonian while she is berthed in Penzance on May 24 for staff, guests and VIPs, concluding with a firework display over Penzance harbour at approximately 9.15pm for everyone in the town to enjoy. In June, the celebrations will travel across to Scilly, where a lunch reception will be hosted on board the ship whilst she is docked at the quayside on St Mary’s. Scillonian III was officially launched by HRH The Duke of Cornwall, Prince Charles, on May 17, 1977, before making her first voyage on May 25.
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www.digitalpeninsula.org
DIGITAL AND
SPONSORED BY
CREATIVE
20/20 PASTY VISION 20/20 Projects has won a contract to design and produce a range of displays at the Cornucopia food and drink attraction in St Austell. The core theme of the attraction, which is set to open this summer, will be a celebration for Cornwall’s food and drink produce. 20/20 is working on a range of displays to showcase the famous Cornish Pasty – it’s heritage and global recognition around the world today. Design manager, Jess Knowles, said: “Our concept is to weave a trail of visitor exhibits into Cornucopia’s retail and catering offering. The project will offer visitors a number of engaging, modern, entertaining and interactive exhibits that celebrate the fabulous Cornish Pasty.”
WORD UP FOR DWM
A Newquay-based web development agency has launched a new WordPress management tool helping businesses with WordPress websites keep them secure to help prevent them falling victim to cyberattacks. Digital Web Media’s (DWM) WPPressUp is
the first of a number of website security services being offered by the Newquay agency. DWM director, Mark Grice, said: “With the increasing number of cyber-attacks on websites, it’s essential that website security is not neglected.”
TECH GROWTH IN CORNWALL Cornwall’s digital tech sector has been singled out as one of the fastest growing in the country in the latest Tech Nation 2017 report. According to the report from Tech City UK, Cornwall’s digital businesses grew their turnover by 51% between 2011 and 2015, and the sector spawned an average of 22 start-up tech businesses every year in the same period. Cornwall-based tech businesses that responded to Tech Nation’s latest survey employ 1,380 people and the average advertised salary for digital tech jobs is £31,322 compared to a Cornwall-wide average of £17,873. The report states: “Cornwall’s digital tech cluster might be small, but it is increasingly mighty – centred on Redruth and Truro, but expanding to Camborne, Falmouth, Newquay and beyond. People and businesses come for the coastal quality of life. They stay, however, for the community and the connectivity.” The report adds that investment in superfast broadband means Truro now has more fibre
connections than most European cities, while the sector is backed by a collaborative ‘ecosystem’ that includes industry group Software Cornwall, the Digital Peninsula Network with 700 members in Cornwall, and the annual Agile on the Beach conference that has become a highlight of the digital tech scene. And it adds: “Talent and skills are developing fast here. Falmouth University has set up an academy concentrating on the computer games industry, while Cornwall College has improved its computer courses to match industry needs and launched a new Software Degree. The College has also teamed up with Bluefruit Software to launch their ‘I Am Digital’ programme, helping students to earn their Technical Baccalaureate while working on real projects.”
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FOOD
& DRINK
OFFICIAL BEER TO THE LIONS
BREWERY REBRANDS WINE DIVISION St Austell Brewery has rebranded its wine division. Walter Hicks Wines, named after the founder of St Austell Brewery, has been relaunched as St Austell Wines. The new look, which was created by Nixon Design, incorporates the heritage of the business, with photos from the archives coupled with bold illustrative colours and designs. Louisa Fitzpatrick, wine buyer at St Austell Wines, said: “The launch of St
Austell Wines, and its contemporary take on a traditional product, marks an exciting new chapter for our business and everyone we work with.” Brewery chief executive (and the great-great grandson of Walter Hicks) James Staughton, said: “Wine has always been at the heart of everything we do. We’re very proud of our roots and the new name and branding demonstrates the importance of the business as a key part of the St Austell Brewery family.”
Doom Bar has been named as the ‘Official Beer’ to the British & Irish Lions. Sharp’s Brewery’s premium cask beer is an official sponsor for the Lions’ tour to New Zealand this summer. The Lions Tour is seen as a unique moment in the global sporting calendar. Once every four years a squad from the four home nations of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland come together to take on the southern hemisphere, South Africa, Australia or New Zealand, playing each team only once every 12 years. James Nicholls, senior brand manager at Rockbased Sharp’s Brewery, said: “We believe the 2017 British & Irish Lions Tour to New Zealand represents the iconic and inspirational pinnacle of the rugby game so this is a proud moment for all of us in the brewery. “The association of Doom Bar with the Lions is a great fit, based on our values of dedication, commitment, precision and teamwork, which are required on the field and in the brew house.”
FIRST & LAST REVAMP
The First & Last Inn in Sennen has been revamped in time for the summer season. The traditional inn has seen a £20k investment over the winter with the kitchen being refurbished and a new pizza oven installed. Head chef, Adam Davies, said: “We decided to completely overhaul our kitchen and menu for 2017. We’ve listened to customer feedback and we’re going back to basics with real comfort food cooked.”
DONE DEAL One of Cornwall’s largest pasty producers, WC Rowe, has been acquired by industrial holding group, Iberia Industry Capital (IIC). Rowe’s existing senior management team will remain in place under the new ownership, with plans to develop and expand the business. Financial terms were not disclosed.
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JUST A THOUGHT
There are 75 billion reasons to congratulate 1.58 million women, says the FSB’s Ann Vandermeulen
OPINION
A GENDER AGENDA unning a business can be tough, no matter who you are. You are “it”. That is why the organisation that I work for, FSB, was formed in 1974 when it was becoming increasingly evident that as individuals, small business owners were being marginalised and needed someone to fight their corner. The great thing about FSB is that they really don’t mind who you are, what your business is, if it’s just you trading alone, with business partners or if you have staff. More personally they are not worried about how you look, what you can and can’t do, your gender, creed or what your background is. You just have to be a human being running a business for FSB to want to help you to succeed. Just think, what the business community could achieve if we all genuinely worked to these principles with preconceived perceptions and historical stigma put aside. On May 16, in Newquay, FSB will pay tribute to one sector that has been changing perceptions over decades in our ‘Celebrating Women in Business’ event. For me, the women in business ‘agenda’ is more than just about ‘a gender’. Although there are unique challenges, it is also about demonstrating that tailored support and equal opportunities creates real benefit and an impact far wider than one individual group. Improvements in the rate of women starting their own businesses is having a really positive impact on the economy. Since 2008 the number of women who are self-employed increased by around 50% and so today there are now 1.58 million. It is estimated that UK
women-led SMEs now contribute about £75 billion to economic output (16% of the UK SME approximate GVA total) and there is no reason why that upward trend shouldn’t continue. How far have we come? Lots of well documented history tells us that if your face didn’t fit or society didn’t accept you then be prepared for a hard time. For example, back in the18th century, if a woman ran a business then it was likely to be something like a brothel, an alehouse or a tavern. I bet there were some amazing business women then but they were put down because of who or what they were perceived to be. Even notable, glamorous career women like Coco Chanel back in 1910 and the resourceful Bette Nesmith Graham, who in the 50’s developed the typing correction liquid ‘Mistake Out’, had huge problems to overcome. Bette, for example, would sign her orders simply B Smith so no one would know she was a female. That tells a story! Also a working mother (of musician and producer Michael Nesmith of The Monkees), she would certainly identify with some of the issues that women face even today. Before you let out a great big sigh, the rise of the downtrodden woman is but one example. We all need to take a minute to think about fairness, perception, language, opportunity and support. Everyone faces their difficulties, everyone’s situation is unique and everyone can do their bit to create a better environment for businesses to flourish, no matter who runs it. There are 1.58 million women examples making 75 billion worth of difference, now just think what we could do if we were more supportive and inclusive of everyone.
Improvements in the rate of women starting their own businesses is having a really positive impact on the economy
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TEST DRIVE
SKODA SUPERB
A SUPERB EXECUTIVE
This month Morveth Ward has been reviewing the 2017 Skoda Superb to find out why it has received such plaudits in the class
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T
his is a very easy review for me and I’m not going to polish it up in a round-about way: The Skoda Superb sits in the executive class midst seriously tough competition and totally holds its own in an appealing understated way and with a list price considerably lower than many – starting from £19,945. Therefore it’s plainly clear why this car has received numerous awards and top reviews. On paper the Superb is undeniably one of the best propositions you’ll find in this sector and must be considered. Executive cars are known for being large, well-equipped and comfortable, which the Superb is and will lap up the miles effortlessly. Deceptively, the Superb is actually a hatchback which of course lends itself to the Cornish lifestyle yet giving a saloon appearance (you can also get an estate), so you get the best of both worlds. It’s massively roomy, I’m 6ft 4” (with disproportionately long limbs) and with
me sat comfortably in the driving seat there’s ample room behind me for someone with similar proportions. I tested the SportLine model which has a 190bhp 2l diesel and is also 4x4. I often get frustrated by some brands marketing derived initiatives to develop tame sports versions which offer little more than a few cosmetic touches, bigger wheels and slightly more ponies resulting in a product that sometimes looks and sounds better than it drives. However, this SportLine version actually feels sporty to drive. The DSG gearbox is super-responsive which gets the most out of the diesel engine making the delivery more linear and seamless than you’d expect. With spirited driving it turns into a hot-hatch-like drive with good contact through the steering wheel, agility and holds the road seriously well. Impressive since the ride on this version is barely compromised and irons out uneven surfaces graciously. Other Superb models will be more comfortable again but of course won’t handle quite as well. There’s a decent range of engines including 1.6l and 2l diesel’s and 1.4l and 2l TSI petrol’s. My preference is the 2l diesel variants which moves it along effortlessly and in reality will return mpg levels close to the 1.6 diesel and better than that of the petrols. Though some cars in this class feel more glamourous, the Superb feels sophisticated, confident and accomplished and the low list price it makes it one of the class leaders. It’s superb! Contact Carrs Skoda Indian Queens to try out a Superb 01726 213050
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EVENTS
MAY
SPONSORED BY www.jh-av.co.uk
MAY EVENTS 11
Downs Glass; Michele Poynter of Mish; Linsey Hall of the Real Ideas Organisation and Karen OldhamWaring of Sunflower Training. fsb.org.uk/cornwall
#FSBCONNECT
St Austell Conference Centre
The monthly breakfast networking event from the Federation of Small Businesses, taking place every second Thursday of each month at the St Austell Conference Centre. fsb.org.uk/cornwall
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FALMOUTH BUSINESS CLUB
The Working Boat Pub, Greenbank Hotel
The Club meets on alternate Thursday mornings over breakfast in the Working Boat Pub at the Greenbank Hotel, where a lively and welcoming group of local business people awaits you. Speaker Henry Austwick, who runs Swashbuckling Cornwall falmouthbusinessclub.co.uk
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A fantastic line-up of speakers will inspire, motivate and enthuse as we celebrate the vital contribution that women in business make to our economy. Bini Ludlow of the FSB Women in Business Taskforce will be MC while other speakers include Alexis Bowater, Bowater Communications; Jo Downs of Jo
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CORNWALL BUSINESS AWARDS
Cornwall Social Media Cafe is held on the second Tuesday of each month at Vertigo Bar in Truro, aimed at anybody who is into social media – for work, study or play. Each month CSMC brings together a great crowd of people from Cornwall’s business, academic, media and public sectors – sometimes just for informal networking and sometimes to hear a guest speaker. www.meetup.com/ CornwallSocialMediaCafe
CORNWALL CHAMBER BIG BREAKFAST
China Fleet Country Club, Saltash
GROWTH HUB TOWN TAKEOVER
The 12th annual Cornwall Business Awards are a celebration of innovation, achievement and entrepreneurial spirit within the Cornish business community. The glittering event shines a spotlight on the amazing people who help drive the Cornish economy and make it one of the best places in the country to do business. Organised by the
CORNWALL SOCIAL MEDIA CAFÉ
St Austell Conference Centre
The monthly Big Breakfast networking meetings from the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce are held at a different venue each month, typically attracting 100+ business people depending on the size of location. Cornwallchamber.co.uk
St Mellion International
Vertigo, Truro
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY ESSENTIALS FOR START-UPS
Find out how to utilise no-cost and low-cost digital tools for running a business. Delivered in a jargon-free and easy-to-understand way, these events for businesses just starting out are an ideal opportunity to learn about the benefits of digital technology. sfbcornwall.co.uk/workshops-events
The Hayle Business Breakfast meets on the third Wednesday of each month at Birdies Bistro in Hayle. All welcome. sarah@abodepropertyagents.co.uk
Lighthouse Cinema, Newquay
Top 5 this month
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Birdies Bistro
Lorica Insurance, Indian Queens
FSB WOMEN IN BUSINESS
Now in its ninth year, Cornwall Business Fair is a centrepiece of Cornwall Business Week. What better way than to engage with Cornish Businesses in a truly unique venue and the largest botanical garden in the world, the Eden Project. Pre-register now to fast track your entry on the day, and sign up for one of the fantastic breakfast and lunch networking events. cornwallbusinessfair.co.uk
HAYLE BUSINESS BREAKFAST
COPPER & TIN NETWORKING GROUP
Recently-formed business networking group that meets fortnightly at the offices of Lorica Insurance at Indian Queens. All welcome. sarah.garcia@smartpasupport.com
CORNWALL BUSINESS FAIR
The Eden Project
Cornwall Development Company in association with Business Cornwall magazine and the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce. cornwallbusinessawards.co.uk
Helston
The Growth Hub business support service wants as many businesses as possible in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to access its free range of services, so is taking to the road to visit towns across the Duchy to spread the word and let people know what type of support is available. ciosgrowthhub.com/growth-hub-onthe-road
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FUTURE FOCUS
The Eden Project
Featuring keynote speakers Lara Morgan (Pacific Direct founder) and Robert Salvoni, you’ll spend the morning exploring the opportunities for change and innovation in your business. Whether it's exploring your leadership style, creating and maintaining high-performance teams or enhancing your business strategy, change can be hard. This event will help you take charge of the change. unlocking-potential.co.uk
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FALMOUTH BUSINESS CLUB
The Working Boat Pub, Greenbank Hotel
The Club meets on alternate Thursday mornings over breakfast in the Working Boat Pub at the Greenbank Hotel, where a lively and welcoming group of local business people awaits you. Speaker on May 25 is Business Cornwall’s very own Morveth Ward. falmouthbusinessclub.co.uk
CORNWALL HUB
TBA
Created to help those that were often put off or daunted by the prospect of going to traditional networking events, the Hub is a fun and dynamic forum for likeminded business people to meet in an informal setting. Meeting on the last Thursday of each month at a different venue, visit the website for latest event details. cornwallhub.org
TRURO CONSTRUCTION PROPERTY FORUM
Mannings Hotel, Truro
The Truro Construction & Property Forum meets every last Thursday of the month at Mannings in Truro. The networking event brings together people from across the industry. Entry is a £1 donation to sponsored charity. sarahgreenslade@wwasurveyors.com
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COPPER TIN NETWORKING GROUP
Lorica Insurance, Indian Queens
Recently-formed business networking group that meets fortnightly at the offices of Lorica Insurance at Indian Queens. All welcome. sarah.garcia@smartpasupport.com
EXECUTIVE GALA QUIZ NIGHT
Penventon Hotel, Redruth
A special ‘executive gala quiz night’ in aid of the ROC Wellbeing charity and sponsored by Harris Begley Financial Planning Flexible on size, teams of up to eight brainiacs can be registered. Tickets cost £19.95 per ‘egg head’, which includes Champagne cocktails, canapes and a three course menu, concluding with a prize giving. The organisers hope more than £2k will be raised for the charity. ian.harris@harrisbegley.co.uk
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NETWORKING Business Cornwall’s Morveth Ward keeps us up to date on the networking scene It’s now my turn to try and keep you all upto-the-minute with prevailing networking and events following on from networking guru and The Samphire Club founder, John Harvey. At this point it’s pertinent to say congratulations on The Samphire Club on its first Birthday – the marking of this was held at St Austell Brewery and saw a large gathering of the ‘Samphire tribe’ on a stunning spring evening: spirits were high and as usual there was a lot of fun and catching-up had by all whilst the sense of networking purpose consistent with the club’s origins pervaded as new connections were made. I’m sure 2017/2018 will boast more again! Whilst it is great to endorse relationships with familiar faces it is of course also equally as important to make new ones and it is a challenge to any event organiser accordingly to make sure that there is a good balance and reach out to the right audience– this is something I’ve been working on with our own Business Cornwall LIVE! series. As One talks is a networking event new to 2017 which attracts a whole new audience and is designed to ‘unite speakers and audiences, to uncover epic untold stories and to unlock awesomeness.’ Speakers to date have included: Ernest Capbert, co-
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HFC NETWORKS CLUB
Hall for Cornwall, Truro
Come along to the next HfC Networks Club to take away some great tips on how you can use the latest in neuroscience to achieve your goals, with guest speaker Adam Pearson from Newquay Hypnotherapy. Organised by Cornwall's largest theatre, Hall for Cornwall, the event will be a great opportunity for you to network. It is open to all individuals working in local business, looking to start-up a company, or those hoping to secure employment in the region. chelsean@hallforcornwall.org.uk
founder of Who Buys your Stuff and co-founder of Finisterre, along with Ben Treleavan, co-founder and managing director of ISO Spaces. This exuberant series of networking comes with the intent to make a palpable difference whilst having fun. It is a must. Another new networking event, Notes for the Entrepreneur, launched in April with the ambition to put a spin on traditional networking, welcomed three experts tackling hot topics that small businesses face today. The inaugural, networking for nonnetworkers pop-up event, was hosted at Princess Pavillion, Falmouth. The networking and events calendar is packed full this month and includes the centrepiece in Cornwall’s networking calendar - Cornwall Business Week - along with the highly regarded Future Focus event. I will also be speaking at Falmouth Business Club on May 25 sharing basic tips on how to get media coverage. See you out there!
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FINANCE IN CORNWALL
Lighthouse Cinema, Newquay
PKF Francis Clark presents its 10th annual Finance in Cornwall event, which has become an integral part of Cornwall Business Week. This seminar features presentations from sources of grant, debt and equity funding, as well as business support agencies operating in the region. The presentations will be short and sharp giving the delegate a basis for an assessment of which funding stream/funder matches their requirements. francisclark.co.uk
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CONNECTED
CORNWALL
SPONSORED BY
www.cioslep.co.uk
BC LIVE!
Funding for businesses was the theme of our latest LIVE! event, sponsored by Access to Finance FROM RIGHT:GILL PIPKIN (PIPKIN CONSULTING), LIZZIE HEATH (LITTLE KITCHEN MAGICIANS) AND TONI EYRIEY (BUSINESS CORNWALL); ROBERT RUSH (PFA RESEARCH), ALISON ELVEY (ROBINSON REED LAYTON), NICK EYRIEY (BUSINESS CORNWALL); MARK GRICE (DWM), SAM PERKIN (ZAMU), SUE HOOK (SAPIENCE HR); MARK THAYRE (SWIG)
ROYAL VISIT The Duke of Kent was in Falmouth last month visiting Cornwall Marine Network FROM LEFT: THE DUKE WITH DICON ROGERS (KEYNVOR MORLIFT); DAVE MARTIN (CMN); PAUL WICKES (CMN); MEETING CMN STAFF
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CORNWALL
CONNECTED
SAMPHIRE CLUB 1ST BIRTHDAY FROM BELOW LEFT: SUE BRADBURY; EVA SEYMOUR; SAMPHIRE BIRTHDAY CAKE; BOTTOM ROW: PARTY IN FULL SWING
Cornwall Wed Meetup The Beach Club at Carbis Bay was the venue for the latest Meetup
ABOVE: PEOPLE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT MAXINE BARRON, HAZEL PARSONS, CHRISTOPHER MILLS, JENNY WREN, DONNA SHARPE - CWMU 2017 - OLIVIA BOSSERT PHOTOGRAPHY
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THE LAST
WORD
SPONSORED BY Contact: A. E. Verona Cocks E: vcocks@setfords.co.uk | T: 01209 708 651 www.setfords.co.uk
PAUL HOLMES
Musician, adventurer and Cornwall Chamber of Commerce account manager WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG?
Astronaut, event rider, rock star, sound engineer, explorer.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST FULL TIME JOB?
Driving the visitor minibus at Windsor Safari Park. It had no first gear. If the bus was full, I had to reverse it up the long, steep hill to the top. I was 17, I’d just passed my test. Bonkers!
WHAT’S IN YOUR POCKETS?
Swiss Army penknife. Always.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK?
The Best of Punch Cartoons 1841 – 1992. A profound and funny commentary on changes in society - and the British sense of humour. Insightful and laugh out loud.
FAVOURITE FILM?
I don’t really watch moving picture boxes – would rather immerse myself in music.
BEST MOMENT OF YOUR CAREER?
A battery and a firework were caught shoplifting. The Police Officer charged one and let the other one off
My seven years at The Eden Project.
IF YOU COULD INVITE ANY TWO PEOPLE FOR DINNER, WHO WOULD THEY BE AND WHY?
Jimi Hendrix – a cool guy and he could teach me a few guitar licks and Barack Obama – he’s got a bit more spare time for a chat now.
TELL ME A JOKE?
A battery and a firework were caught shoplifting. The Police Officer charged one and let the other one off.
FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION?
Nepal. Cluttered, chaotic, challenging but utterly charming.
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN THREE ADJECTIVES
Passionate. Fun. Adventurous.
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“Your business is our business.”
YOU DEAL WITH PEOPLE, WE’LL DEAL WITH THE MACHINES Home and Business Solutions
PCs
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