Business Cornwall Oct 20

CORNWALL'S PREMIER BUSINESS RESOURCE FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS AND OPINION

businesscornwall.co.uk

OCTOBER 2020 | ISSUE 141 | £3.95

A FOND FAREWELL RETIRING CREATIVE KERNOW CEO, ROSS WILLIAMS

CREATIVE & DIGITAL ISSUE SECTOR FOCUS

AZTEK BUSINESS IN PROFILE

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OCTOBER 2020

ISSUE 141

INSIDE FEATURES 9

AEROSPACE CORNWALL UNLOCKING THE FUTURE

10 CEO INTERVIEW ROSS WILLIAMS LOOKS BACK ON HIS 29 YEARS WITH CREATIVE KERNOW

16 CREATIVE HOW CORNWALL’S CREATIVES COULD HELP YOUR BUSINESS BOUNCE BACK

24 BUSINESS REGULATORY SUPPORT CUTTING THROUGH THE RED TAPE

27 DIGITAL CORNWALL IN THE DIGITAL WORLD

36 COMPANY PROFILE

REGULARS 4 INCOMING THE GREAT HOME OFFICE DEBATE

6 BUSINESS NEWS ‘GLOBAL’ BREAKTHROUGH FOR CORNWALL?

40 EDUCATION NEWS CONGRATULATIONS TO UNI PROF

41 FSB FEDERATION OF SMALL BUSINESSES

42 TOURISM FREE HOLIDAYS FOR HEROES

43 CHAMBER NEWS CORNWALL CHAMBER LATEST

44 CREATIVE & DIGITAL IT COMPANY ACQUIRED

45 FOOD & DRINK WORLD’S BEST WINS

46 ON THE MOVE MOVERS & SHAKERS

47 JUST A THOUGHT MIKE BEE OF BIG BOX ADVERTISING

48 THE LAST WORD IDENNA CREATIVE’S JAMES NEALE

MANAGED SERVICE PROVIDER AZTEC BUSINESS

PHOTO: UNMANNED FREIGHT FLIGHT TRIAL SEE PAGE 7 FOR MORE

BUSINESS CORNWALL | 1

OCTOBER 2020

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CORNWALL'S PREMIER BUSINESS RESOURCE FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS AND OPINION

businesscornwall.co.uk

OCTOBER 2020 | ISSUE 141 | £3.95

In partnership with Global Adventure Challenges, we are offering a series of truly incredible international challenges

A FOND FAREWELL

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RETIRING CREATIVE KERNOW CEO, ROSS WILLIAMS

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WELCOME

BY EDITOR NICK EYRIEY

ISSUE 141

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

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ON THE COVER

ROSS WILLIAMS, CREATIVE KERNOW – SEE PAGE 10 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 Carter caroline@businesscornwall.co.uk

This issue is very much dedicated to Cornwall’s creative and digital sectors.

We speak to Creative Kernow chief executive Ross Williams, who is set to retire after 29 years in the hot seat.

As phase 2 of Krowji nears completion, he talks us through what inspired his vision to establish Cornwall’s creative hub and his hopes for the future.

We meet a Camborne businessman who started his IT business aged just 17 and has now grown it into one of Cornwall’s leading managed service providers with an international client base.

We also hear from experts from the creative and IT sectors, who give their tips and advice on how to get your business moving forward in the right direction.

Cornwall clearly has a lot of talent and potential in emerging sectors, from aerospace through to mining. Yes, mining. Cornwall, of course, has a proud tradition in tin mining, and could be on the verge of a new boom with lithium, after Cornish Lithium claimed a “globally significant” find near Redruth, just as we were going to press.

CONTRIBUTORS PFA Research, Toby Weller DESIGN Ade Taylor design@businesscornwall.co.uk PRINT Printed in Cornwall by Deltor BUSINESS CORNWALL is published 10 times a year by: Tonick Business Publishing Pool Innovation Centre Trevenson Road Redruth TR15 3PL Tel: 01209 718688

SUBSCRIPTIONS subscriptions@businesscornwall.co.uk 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.

In these challenging times it is important to be able to look forward to some positives. Apparently, there could be enough lithium in Cornwall to meet all of the UK’s demand when we move from fossil-fuel vehicles to electric ones.

Early days, but could be an encouraging development.

Business Cornwall Magazine is proud to be associated with

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INCOMING

THE CONVERSATION

The big question During the pandemic, many people have been rethinking their work/life balance. Do you think Covid will leave a lasting impression on people’s working habits? What are your thoughts, experiences and plans for the future? Is it time to abandon the office, or is the office environment still vital for wellbeing and productivity?

Join the conversation @biz_cornwall

/businesscornwall

businesscornwall.co.uk

ADVERTORIAL

PROTECTING INNOVATIONS

A crisis often inspires innovation and many businesses have adapted creatively to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. Intellectual property rights can protect these inventions and innovations.

4 | BUSINESS CORNWALL

THE CONVERSATION

MARK SMITH

Pastel Solutions The most likely longer-term change, driven by the coronavirus pandemic is that for some workers there are more opportunities to work remotely for some of the time. The coronavirus outbreak presents businesses with an opportunity to see which parts of the operation remain effective during a period of remote working. For jobs and teams whose performance is largely unaffected, business leaders are likely to be more open to arrangements that see employees work part of the week in the office and part of the week at home.

For most offices, this is likely to mean fewer workstations and more space devoted to meetings, events, training and socialising.

It is also likely to mean a reduction in space overall. In some cases, the questions looming are likely to be ‘Do we actually need office space at all?’ ‘Do we need to pay needless office overheads but generate the same results for our business?

This said, physical workspaces are unlikely to become a thing of the past. Offices allow companies to develop relationships and cultures that are difficult to replicate digitally.

Many employees will also not have access to the space, facilities and equipment they take for granted in the office.

Working away from the office full time also increases the risk of loneliness and other mental health issues.

NATALIE HADFIELD B-Spoke IT

Our business did not stop though the lockdown and the team worked from home each day using teams, this has really

There are a number of IP considerations that come into play when creating innovative new products and it is important that you are aware of these from the outset – both to protect your work and the investment you have made, and to commercialise your ideas.

Key IP rights to consider include: • Trade marks protect your reputation and enable you to stop others from

INCOMING

opened our eyes to the possibilities of home working and the team now work a mix of remote and office depending on business and their requirements. We will keep this option in place as it works well for us as a software company, but other businesses we are involved in it doesn’t work so well for and they are back in the office.

to suddenly start working back at the office. We’ve been incredibly busy throughout the coronavirus pandemic but the team has shown that we are just as productive and effective when working from home. It’s a huge testament to the team, their talents and their commitments to our clients.

My team at Bespoke love coming into the office and we have actually invested in a larger space for them to work in so the office is here to stay – it provides opportunities for team discussion, lunch and is better for mental health which is very important to us.

When we asked the team what their ideal working week would be like, everyone said that they’d prefer a mixture of both remote working and office-based days - so that’s what we intend to continue doing for the foreseeable. Working from home has been better for time management and the environment as more meetings are taking place online, but there was a strong feeling towards having a communal hub where we can bounce ideas around and support our robust team culture.

SAMANTHA PERKIN Zamu

People do not want to return to the morning commute, the traffic fumes, the stress or the financial cost. In order to support the wellbeing of everyone there will need to be a compromise between the need for time at the office and the drive to spend more time at home. Working from home, many people have found to be more effective and productive in the short term but over a long period of time this will need to be balanced with some support from work. How companies provide this support will vary, some may close their office and meet in a ‘hot office’, some may downsize their office and have different staff in on different days and some will return to full time office attendance, every business will make their own decision.

We as consumers must be less judgemental about the decisions others make.

JAMES NEALE Idenna

There is absolutely no pressure on anyone

using an identical or similar mark for identical or similar goods and services.

• Copyright arises automatically and protects, amongst other things, written words, software, photographs, music and art work.

• Registered Designs can protect the way an item looks and can be used to protect both 2D and 3D designs. Unregistered design right can protect the appearance of certain 3D functional products.

MARTIN CRUMP Evolution

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to radically change the way we work. In a survey we carried out recently, only 7% of respondents said they planned to make no changes. Personally, we have decided to get rid of the office and work from home.

We have changed our business model to a totally online approach and we’re working with clients to help them implement a flexible approach to working. The key is to make it truly flexible - some time at home, some time together and some time with customers. I recommend asking three questions every day. “Where do I need to be for the customer today” (or this week to plan), “where do I need to be for the team” and “where do I need to be for me”. This makes sure you are in the most effective place each day.

• Patents protect how something works. To obtain a patent an invention must be “new” and have an “inventive step” which can be tough criteria to meet so it is important that specialist advice is sought at an early stage.

• Confidentiality obligations can help protect your ideas and you should always ensure a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) is entered into prior to discussing your ideas or invention with others.

Kathryn Heath is a senior associate in the intellectual property & IT team at Stephens Scown LLP. The firm offers a free IP MOT service, to help businesses understand where they are interacting with IP and ensure it is adding value to their business. Call 01872 265100, email ip.it@stephens-scown.co.uk or visit www.stephens-scown.co.uk for more information.

BUSINESS CORNWALL | 5

CORNWALL

BUSINESS NEWS

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AMBASSADOR RAMSAY

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and wife Tana have been announced as Cornwall Air Ambulance’s newest ambassadors.

The Ramsay family spend a lot of their time in Cornwall and during recent months have become aware of the importance of the air ambulance to the county and the challenges the charity is facing to deal with the impact of Covid-19 lockdown on its fundraising.

Gordon Ramsay said: “Cornwall has been

our family home now for five years and we have always been totally in awe of the lifesaving work we see the Cornwall Air Ambulance do every day.

“We are so immensely proud and honoured to become ambassadors and join the team in helping continue to raise awareness and promote the fantastic service they selflessly carry out for the people of Cornwall.”

Cornwall Air Ambulance chief executive,

Cornish Lithium says it has found “globally significant” lithium grades at the United Downs Deep Geothermal Power Project near Redruth.

‘GLOBALLY SIGNIFICANT’ LITHIUM FIND The company says initial results from preliminary sampling indicate some of the world’s highest grades of lithium and best overall chemical qualities encountered in published records for geothermal waters anywhere in the world.

CEO and founder Jeremy Wrathall said: “This is an exciting step towards the realisation of low-carbon lithium extraction from geothermal waters in Cornwall, and compliments Cornish Lithium’s work to date on exploring for lithium contained within shallower geothermal waters in the county.

“The pilot lithium extraction plant, part funded by the UK Government, that we will 6 | BUSINESS CORNWALL

develop with Geothermal Engineering Ltd at the United Downs Deep Geothermal Power Project will allow us to evaluate green Direct Lithium Extraction technologies which will bring us another step closer to commercial production of lithium in Cornwall.

“We now have increased confidence that these lithium-enriched geothermal waters can be found at depth across Cornwall and believe that there is significant potential to replicate combined lithium and geothermal extraction plants in different locations across the county where Cornish Lithium has mineral rights agreements in place.”

Paula Martin, added: “We are very honoured to welcome Gordon and Tana on board, and so proud that they chose to support Cornwall Air Ambulance now that Cornwall is such a big part of their lives. We hope they will be able to help us reach new supporters, spreading the message far and wide to people who love this part of the world, and highlighting the life-saving work our critical care team does every day here in Cornwall.”

BALDWINS REBRAND Baldwins Accountants has announced details of a major rebrand.

Baldwins, which has offices in Launceston and Truro and across the UK, is part of the Cogital Group which is rebranding as Azets.

The move, it says, will “create a better platform for all local businesses”.

All Cogital businesses, including Baldwins, will now be known as Azets.

Partner in the Truro office, Malcolm Peters, said: “It’s business as usual at our Truro office but with a new name over the door, the name change is about us working closer together as one team across our business.

“We look forward to working with all of our clients giving them the same professional service we always have done, with the support and expertise of our colleagues across our network of offices.”

BUSINESS NEWS

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NEWS IN BRIEF

NEW BOOK COVER The Cornwall-based printing company, formerly known as TJ International, has rebranded as TJ Books.

This change comes alongside significant financial investment in new processes and equipment.

Based just outside of Padstow, TJ Books employs more than 120 people and is one of the UK’s largest independent book manufacturers, producing on average 1,000 titles a month. The £1.5 million-plus investment strategy is focused on both improvements in efficiency and providing publishers with a wide range of options for their book production requirements.

The company was founded in 1969 and underwent a management buyout led by Andy Watts in 2018. Since then it has gone through a series of structural changes to ensure a thriving business despite the big uncertainties of Brexit and Covid-19. TJ Books is today led by MD Andy Watts, finance director Andy Adams and finance director, Andy Vosper.

Watts said: “These past two years have been an important time to ensure we have laid key infrastructure to support the strategy. Our decision to buy this business and then relaunch as TJ Books, was borne from a desire to offer an innovative and refreshing approach to the market.”

UNMANNED FREIGHT FLIGHT TRIAL The Isles of Scilly Steamship Company has announced a partnership with unmanned aircraft company Flylogix to trial an enhanced freight delivery service based at Land’s End Airport operating to and from the Isles of Scilly.

The two-year collaboration will explore the feasibility of a regular unmanned logistics service for the Isles of Scilly, initially using Flylogix’s own remotely piloted fixed wing

SMIT PAYS EDEN STAFF TRIBUTE The Eden Project has paid a heartfelt tribute to its departing team members at the conclusion of a six-week restructure brought about by the devastating impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

Eden’s Biomes were closed for more than

St Austell-based housing developer Gilbert & Goode took Gold in the Devon Building Control Partnership (DBCP) Building Excellence Awards. The company won the award for the best large development at Kelly Gardens in Tavistock, which was built on behalf of Blue Cedar Homes. ____________________ Truro City Council has agreed to fund an extension of the temporary road closures in Truro city centre until early January.

The Truro partnership team comprising of Truro City Council, Truro Business Improvement District (BID) and Visit Truro say the continued closures, which include Boscawen Street and Lower Lemon Street, will encourage visitors and workers to return to the high street with “space to shop”. ____________________ A platform designed to aid in the building and launching of floating wind turbines is being researched and tested with support from Marine-i. Marine-i is designed to help the marine tech sector in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly grow through harnessing the full potential of research and innovation.

The innovative design has been created

by Falmouth-based Tugdock, which has patented and produced a floating solution to lift structures for various uses. ____________________

aircraft. The first test flight is expected before the end of the year, subject to regulatory approval.

Cornish ethical beauty brand Bloomtown has secured a £48k grant from the BIG Productivity fund.

In consultation with the Scilly community, the parties aim to design a new larger unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that could meet islanders’ needs. Partners and investment will be sought to support its development.

The funding will help meeting growing demand the Falmouth-based business has seen since appearing on BBC2’s Dragons’ Den last year. ____________________

Ian Howard, chair of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group, said: “This is an exciting partnership that opens up the next chapter in our 100 years of serving the islands’ community.”

three months during national lockdown and reopened on July 4 with significantly reduced visitor capacity due to social distancing. The closure and restrictions on visitor numbers resulted in Eden Project Ltd losing more than £7 million in the first quarter of this financial year with further heavy losses of revenue expected in the remainder of the year.

As a result, a total of 169 people in full and part-time roles across all areas of operations left the company. In a message to staff, Eden co-founder, Sir Tim Smit, said: “The Eden

According to latest figures from builders’ merchants across Cornwall, sales of landscaping products grew by more than 50% in June. A lot of the increase came from furloughed workers, wanting to carry out jobs around the home.

we see today owes so much to all of you and so much to those who are leaving at the moment. No-one can ever take that away from you and nor should they. I am intensely proud of what everybody has achieved.

“We’ll keep our fingers crossed that the economy will recover, that next year will be an absolute triumph. All we can do at the moment is link arms in solidarity and say to those who are leaving us, ‘Godspeed and thanks ever so much. Don’t be a stranger.

We are one family.’”

BUSINESS CORNWALL | 7

CORNWALL

BUSINESS NEWS

SPONSORED BY

focus-technology.co.uk

JAPAN TRADE DEAL BOOST BOOK NOW FOR BUSINESS SHOW Stand bookings are now being taken for next year’s Cornwall Business Show.

month. It is the UK’s first major trade deal outside the EU.

Cornish Clotted Cream, Fal Oysters and Darnibole wine are among 14 iconic south west products that could be protected in Japan for first time as part of the UK-Japan trade deal.

The deal secures additional benefits beyond the EU-Japan trade deal, including a way for south west products to be officially recognised. By increasing geographical indications (GIs) from just seven under the terms of the EU-Japan deal to potentially over 70 under the UK-Japan agreement, this would lead to improved recognition of key UK brands in the Japanese market.

The UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was agreed in principle by International Trade Secretary Liz Truss and Japan Foreign Minister last

Products that could benefit from the new arrangements include Cornish clotted cream, Cornish pasties, Cornish sardines and Fal oysters.

The Cornwall Business Show has become one of the key events on the business calendar over the past nine years and is set to be held on March 11.

COCKWELLS ACQUISITION

Show organiser, Andrew Weaver, said: “We are confident this spring show will be a timely tonic for businesses to reengage and build those ever-important relationships, and to get the local economy and your own businesses firing on all cylinders again.

“You can’t beat meeting people in person, although new apps have emerged there is so much more value in meeting face to face and knowing who you are dealing with, sounding them out and making sure there is a real opportunity for a rapport and that you get along.

“Bringing people together creates real sparks and connections, something only meeting in person can offer. Next year we will need to work together more than ever, the Cornwall Business Show offers a genuine platform for cementing the business community and building confidence within the region.”

Next year’s event is set to be the biggest in its nine-year history, with space for more than 165 exhibitors and an updated floorplan to accommodate new and returning clients.

It will again host the popular Healthy Workplace Zone, free seminar programme and the new Masterclass & Elevator Pitch Zone, where businesses can promote themselves or showcase their expertise within a purpose-built suite.

Supported by JHAV and Business Cornwall magazine, the Cornwall Business Show will take place on Thursday March 11, at Royal Cornwall Event Centre, Wadebridge. Interested companies can request an eBrochure via cornwallbusinessshow.co.uk or by calling 01872 888733.

8 | BUSINESS CORNWALL

Cockwells Modern & Classic Boatbuilding has expanded its offering following the acquisition of Norfolk-based Hardy Marine.

Over the past 40 years, Hardy Marine has delivered more than 4,000 boats worldwide, which ranks the company as one of the most prolific British boatbuilders.

Production of its boats will now switch to the Cockwells yard at Mylor Creek.

In parallel with Cockwells’ Duchy Motor Launches, the hulls of the Hardy 26 up to the Hardy 65 are semi-displacement designs from the drawing board of Andrew Wolstenholme, who is regarded as one

of the UK’s leading naval architects in this category.

Cockwells MD and founder, Dave Cockwell, explained: “The Duchy is predominantly a stylish day boat and occasional weekender.

The Hardy is the Duchy’s rugged, sea-faring cousin. Cockwells are often asked to build bigger boats for cruising; The Hardy is ideally suited to that market.

“We plan to build on the seakeeping and styling of the Hardy brand, and introduce Duchy-like finesse to some of the fittings such as Cockwells’ famous joinery and cutting-edge superyacht technology – to make the Hardy even more yacht.”

AEROSPACE

Unlock the

CORNWALL

future

AeroSpace Cornwall.

Introducing the team you never knew you needed...

AeroSpace Cornwall is a passionate team of people who support businesses working on projects in research, development and innovation (RD&I). We offer technical and commercial support for companies across Cornwall, and beyond, who are looking to pivot into the space and aerospace sectors.

We exist to unlock the future of your business by helping to navigate incredible opportunities for diversification. In other words – we are the team you never knew you needed.

THINK YOU DON’T WORK IN OUR INDUSTRY? We work with businesses from a broad range of sectors - you don’t need to have any experience in space or aerospace. You could be currently working in manufacturing, engineering, software, digital, or even AI, not yet knowing that your business has the potential to become part of the burgeoning space and aerospace sector - that’s what we’re here for, to bridge the gap between industries.

The companies within our network are focused on a range of innovative projects, contributing significant R&D to the space and aerospace supply chains. Below are just a few examples of those that have been able to adapt their business and technologies; taking the opportunity to place themselves at the forefront of the industry.

PV3 TECHNOLOGIES PV3 Technologies is a B2B business with a mission to produce materials to reduce the cost of low carbon energy and cleantech technologies. With the opportunity to shape the world we live in, the company has branched into this new industry with AeroSpace Cornwall. Initially PV3 Technologies received funding to develop advanced coatings for use in lightweight

fuel cells of the type used in long range unmanned aerial vehicles; centering on innovations that will increase the range of fuel cell-powered UAVs. With a focus on long-term reduction of CO2 in the sector, its overall mission is to reduce the cost-base function of hydrogen-based propulsion technology for use in aerospace.

CORNISH LITHIUM Cornish Lithium is an innovative mineral exploration and research and development company. Having benefited from an R&D grant from AeroSpace Cornwall, using satellite and drone data to undertake mineral mapping and structural interpretation it has reinterpreted the mineral potential of Cornwall for lithium. Cornish Lithium has harnessed technology and big data to re-evaluate historic mining areas in the region for lithium and other technology metals; helping build a secure domestic supply chain.

HOW CAN AEROSPACE CORNWALL HELP? ● Need to understand your market? We can introduce you to potential customers, suppliers and experts to explore if your product or service is commercially viable. ● Need cash? We can award match funding for R&D of up to £60k so you can focus on product development. ● We also offer up to 20 hours of expert advice to support your product and help you to market.

UNLOCK THE FUTURE OF YOUR BUSINESS Contact us to discuss your ideas and the funding and support available. james@aerospacecornwall.co.uk

BUSINESS CORNWALL | 9

ROSS

WILLIAMS

As the second phase of Krowji, Cornwall’s largest creative hub, nears completion, we speak to Ross Williams, Creative Kernow’s long-serving CEO who is set to retire after nearly 30 years shaping and driving Cornwall’s creative sector

The impact of Covid on the performing arts sector has been dreadful

10 | BUSINESS CORNWALL

ROSS

WILLIAMS

Ross Williams CEO feature & cover photographs

by Luke Holland (Jo Buckley Photography)

You’ve spent nearly 30 years running Creative Kernow. That’s a long time! There must be some mixed emotions moving into retirement.

It has been a long time. The company has changed from all recognition from the early days. Of course, I should have gone at Easter. We were about to interview at the end of March, and of course that all stopped. The trustees took the decision to go back out because the world has changed. Also a couple of candidates, we kept in touch with, said they would rather do something different now. So, we all thought it best to advertise.

Has everything changed since the pandemic?

Some bits have and some haven’t. Creative Kernow is the overall umbrella and has lots of projects within it. And some of them, like Cultivator, which is the big EU-funded skills programme, are unaffected by the financial side of Covid because they’re fully grant funded, there’s no earned income.

Things are

still rolling on, but mostly online at the moment.

But Carn to Cove, which is our rural touring scheme, has gone into limbo really. There are no events. Toes in the water, the film scheme might start back soon because it’s easier, well cheaper for starters, to show film in a village hall. And you can set the audience apart sensibly. Live work is much more difficult. It’s more expensive, you have to pay live performers. The impact of Covid on the performing arts sector has been dreadful. The Hall For Cornwall is lucky it’s been shut in a sense!

Places like the Poly in Falmouth the Acorn in Penzance will be ok because they’re quite small and largely volunteer run, but places like Plymouth Theatre Royal, it must be a nightmare. You’ve got hundreds of staff on the books and no income coming in.

And the other casualty I guess on our side is the Cornwall 365 What’s On listings business.

And because no one’s putting on events, no one’s advertising.

You started here in 1991 Yes, when I started it was called Cornwall Arts Centre Trust. It was set up in the mid1980s, to save the old City Hall, now Hall For Cornwall, when it was under threat of being turned into a supermarket and was owned by Carrick District Council. It was a delipidated but much-loved. It was used a lot for markets, and a lot of music. Very basic technically - the roof leaked a lot. So, it was a popular campaign and Cornwall Arts Centre grew out of that about having an arts centre for Cornwall.

At the end of the 1908s, the Arts Council and Cornwall Council said you can’t run that campaign and also a programme of arts activities, so the organisation split in two, half went off and set up the Hall For Cornwall and the other half stayed and ran an arts centre programme without a building. And it was me and Bert Biscoe when we started, just the two of us, and it almost went bust immediately. It was very tiny, bumping along on a financially rocky basis. It was touch and go whether it would survive at all for some time.

It gradually grew through the 90s, but European funding was the real change as was the Labour Government. 1997 was a real sea change in recognition, partly through greater public funding through the Labour Government, but also recognition that the creative industries were a growth area. And Cornwall was learning how to use European funding better.

The big projects at the end of the 90s were Eden Project and Hall For Cornwall, and also Falmouth University which has a great creative sector focus as well. So, EU funding really changed the landscape there but also on a small scale. We worked out how to use EU funding for programmes like skills for the sector and also Cornwall Arts Marketing, our cultural tourism programme started at that point and grew through Objective One. At the same time, we had a new village hall touring scheme, we added the FEAST programme as we went along. We gradually grew on those revenue-funded programmes with Arts Council, Cornwall Council and EU funding.

BUSINESS CORNWALL | 11

ROSS

WILLIAMS

But the whole Krowji side of things, was a real step change. Before that we were just in little rented offices in Truro. In the early 2000s, part of the point of what we are doing now, was to try to keep that creative talent in Cornwall and provide workspace and incubation type support for graduates to start up businesses.

And that went alongside the growth of Internet and connectivity. So, you could work from Cornwall and have a graphic design business here, for example. The funders realsied what they wanted for Cornwall was a creative Hub. There wasn’t really one, so they came to us. It took us two or three years to find a site; we talked to town councils, the RDA and district councils and talked about where we might go. St Austell was interested in having us and Bodmin, Hayle, Penzance. And Redruth was very keen; Kerrier was very supportive at the time.

here and we gradually started doing up the classrooms, and started letting it to artists.

As soon as we finished a room, it would be let. It was really quick and there was a lot of demand without really adverting.

It was a very popular project and at the same time we started raising the money to go through the whole planning and design process for the new build and about what sort of building we would have. We ran a competition which was won by a company from Truro. We worked really well with them but it took a long time because of the funding pressures.

The worst of it was trying to raise the bank funding.

European funding was sort of straight forward. But it was the fact we could only have 50% from public funds, we had to raise the other 50% from private match funding. So we were going to all the bank saying would you like to lend us a million or million and a half, and this was 2008/09, the worst possible time to go and raise money to say to a bank we’re going to build a building in Redruth, fill it with artists and pay a mortgage. No one believed us really.

We now have about 130 tenancies and 200 people, with the new build that’s another 30 or 40 people

Geographically we wanted to be on the A30, on the main railway line. We didn’t want to be in Truro, as everything’s in Truro and it’s very expensive and so on. Redruth is good in terms of placement. A lot of the creative activity in Cornwall is down the Penwith or Falmouth end, so it’s quite well placed for that. So, we started looking for a site and found the old Grammar School site. It had sat empty for 18 months and my trustees took the plunge and bought it from the council.

We moved in but it was really in quite a state, so it was doing it up on a shoestring, started at the edges and working in. Cornwall Council’s creative unit came as well, and Miracle Theatre was

And people really like the mix. A lot of tenants work with each other. We did a survey a couple of years ago and something like 45% of tenants are collaborating with someone else here, website designers, photographers, that sort of thing.

We now have about 130 tenancies and 200 people, with the new build that’s another 30 or 40 people. We’re about 99% full, although of course it has been a bit different recently. A hard core of ten or 15 tenants worked all the way through the pandemic, and it’s gradually growing now.

More people are working from home and people will be here less. It’s an interesting challenge for organisational culture, not meeting around the water cooler. But people will drift back gradually although I don’t anticipate we’ll be fully back to normal for some time.

Did they struggle to understand the business case?

How much is the creative economy worth in Cornwall?

Absolutely. They struggled to understand the basic concept, although there are places like this in cities, there are very few in smaller towns. And I think you say the word artist, people tend to think of subsidy. So, we try not to use the words ‘artist workspace’ it’s a ‘creative workspace’. And for us that runs right through from architects through to painters, graphic designers, website, magazine publishers, textiles, jewellers - all sorts. The whole run of the sector for us. But the principal for us right from the beginning is that we’ve always charged a commercial rent, we’ve always had to really, because that’s the business case. We’re not offering it cheaply, and that’s why people often have quite small spaces but actually if you’re a jeweller you can probably manage with 150sq ft. One of the great things is having a really flexible rental model. People can just give us a month’s notice and go.

Statistics are hopeless really. We’ve spent half our time struggling with statistics to make the case for the sector. But I think it’s generally accepted that the creative sector is about 6% of employment and slightly more of GDP. Average wages are certainly higher.

After going to all those banks, we ended up with Triodos, a social enterprise bank. And they did understand what we were looking to do and they leant 12 | BUSINESS CORNWALL

is £1.25 million. The phase 1 building was up in 2015 and by then we had 200 working on site. That has been a real step change for us from going from the much-loved, but tatty, old building. Most of our tenants at that stage tended to be painters or ceramists or people not too worried by their surroundings. Phase 1 of the new build is all BREEAM excellence, highly insulated, accessible lift etc. So, we have a lot more creative industry business types, who probably wouldn’t have been here in the early days.

Is Cornwall a hotbed for creative talent?

And have you helped channel that?

It is a hotbed for talent and I would like to think that’s what we’ve achieved. For example, Cornwall has more theatre companies than any other rural part of Britain.

It has three national portfolio organisations, Kneehigh, Miracle and Wildworks, all of whom are national standard.

Falmouth University is turning out lots of graduates and we’re managing to keep a higher proportion of them in Cornwall. There’s also a higher proportion of young people coming back again. I grew up here and went to school here and like lots of young people I left and came back in my thirties, and got the job running Creative Kernow. But a lot of people come back younger and younger these days. It’s great to go away, I wouldn’t

ROSS

have not wanted to go away, see the world, get other skills, but to bring those skills and experiences back to Cornwall is great. People used to come back to Cornwall to retire, but now they’re coming back younger and younger and that’s a great thing. And more and more are staying as well.

What did you do before you joined Creative Kernow?

My family are builders in Redruth. That’s why I have an interest in old buildings and so on. I did a little bit of work for my dad after university, working in the office, which was a useful training. Then I became a theatre production manager in London for 12 years or so, mostly small scale touring theatre companies. I had a great time in London, really liked it. I came back without any particular job in mind I was just lucky to get the job running this.

I’ve always had a practical nature, which is why we’ve ended doing up old buildings. A lot of this is about financial planning as well.

Krowji is effectively unsubsidised. It’s really a commercial workspace. We get support to help build the buildings but in the same way someone would get help to build a factory unit on Barncoose Industrial estate. We need to budget carefully and be quite commercial in our attitude to tenants, but at the same time being supportive.

How does Krowji fit? Creative Kernow is the umbrella organisation?

Creative Kernow is the parent charity effectively. And that’s got within it things like the Cultivator programme, Krowji Ltd which is a subsidiary company, Screen Cornwall Ltd which is a year and a half old now, a screen agency for Cornwall, support for film makers, location planning, advocacy for lobbying around the growth of the screen sector in Cornwall and working closely with Falmouth University in particular. Then there’s Cornwall Arts Marketing, which runs the what’s on listings business and Open Studios Cornwall.

WILLIAMS

They’re activities we could do within the charity, but you separate them out to reduce the commercial risk, I guess.

I assume Krowji is the main money earner. Does that money get used to fund other operations within Creative Kernow?

It contributes. Because we’ve been building so much over the last four or five years, we’ve been ticking over, not making much profit, but that’s ok.

But the plan is that Krowji will make a certain amount of profit, £30k, 50k a year maybe, which will then be ploughed back into the charity, which wouldn’t fund the charity, but would help support it.

The core funding for the charity comes from the Arts Council and from Cornwall Council as well and then European funding.

And European funding ends in 2022, is that a worry?

It will run into 23 a little bit I think, but yes, it’s a worry for the future. Not so much for the buildings; phase 2 will be done by Christmas and we’re not planning another phase for some time yet; it’s more a worry for things like the Cultivator programme, which is the revenue funded business and skills programme. That’s entirely public funded. If that European funding stops at the end of 2022, that programme will go I think.

BUSINESS CORNWALL | 13

ROSS

WILLIAMS

I’ve always had a practical nature, which is why we’ve ended doing up old buildings

Do you have faith the Government will bridge the shortfall?

They’ve made promises haven’t they, but that’s been very quiet since Covid. It’s not enormous amounts, £150 million a year, something like that, but it is money central Government wouldn’t normally let you spend on things. So, it’s been great for us. I’m less worried about the building side of things because there’s always some sort of regional programme, otherwise no one would ever build another factory or office block in Cornwall because the rents aren’t high enough to justify that. It’s the innovative programmes like Cultivator which have enabled us to do really amazing things for the sector.

Does the Council, and the LEP, get creative industries?

Absolutely. Comparing our lot with other rural counties, we’ve been so lucky with Cornwall. They see the value of the creative sector. The LEP produced a booklet a couple of years ago, 14 | BUSINESS CORNWALL

identifying the creative sector as one of the top ten opportunities, which was great. I think they really see the value of retaining talent in Cornwall and diversifying the workforce.

Cornwall has radically changed since I came back in 1990. Back then there was probably just half a dozen jobs in Cornwall I could have done, and luckily I got one of them and hung on to it ever since! It has utterly transformed there are hundreds of jobs in the sector now.

Looking back, is that one of your greatest pleasures?

I think in Cornwall we’ve done it ourselves.

Yes, we’ve had a lot of European funding, but we’ve been very inventive and innovative how we’ve used it. Cornwall is really well networked and joined up, it’s a bit like a city spread out. People know each other very well, we’ve done a range of things you wouldn’t normally get in rural areas. We work well together, we collaborate well together which has always been a Cornish thing.

I’m really pleased to be leaving Creative Kernow in what seems a really healthy state after growing from just me and Bert Biscoe in a tiny office in Truro.

What are your retirement plans?

I’ll continue as a trustee for Penwith Galley and St Ives and Pothmeor studios and a lot of things like that

I’m involved with, Heartlands as well. But my immediate priority is still Redurth. I’m working on the Butter Market project, which is a historic bit of Redruth, a nice courtyard down by the station. I’m involved in a CIC which we set up and bought the old Butter Market complex, and we are in the process of refurbishing that. That will probably take up the next three or four years of ‘active retirement’.

It will be very hard to walk away. It will be very strange watching it and not coming in every day after all these years.

What advice would you give your successor?

One of the things that everyone likes about working here is the calm and supportive atmosphere, not high pressure. That’s my style in a sense as well. My successor would be one not to shake things up too much, take a sort of gradual approach. And trust the staff and the board. It has been a job I have loved doing and I’ve come to work, most days, with a smile on my face.

A warm welcome back

Part of

We’re delighted to re-open our doors and offer you a warm welcome back to St Austell Conference Centre.

We are pleased to confirm that in-line with Government guidance, we are able to host business events, meetings and training sessions for up to 30 people.

Our team have new procedures in place to ensure your visit is welcoming, comfortable and safe.

Information correct as of 9th September 2020

If you need space for business planning, interviews, training sessions or just to bring your remote staff together, we’re here to help.

To find out more, visit our website or have a chat with our team.

01726 624200 StAustellConferenceCentre.co.uk St Austell Business Park, St Austell, PL25 4FD Business Cornwall - October 2020.indd 1

09/09/2020 13:59

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BUSINESS CORNWALL | 15 09:37 11/09/2020

CREATIVE

CORNWALL

creative thinking How should you best promote your company in times of an economic crisis? Some leading Cornish businesses explain all When lockdown was first announced towards the end of March, it initially hit the commercial world for six.

But the business community in Cornwall is nothing if not resilient and has learned to adapt accordingly.

And Cornwall’s creative sector has been playing its part in helping them do this.

Looking back to those early days of lockdown, Greg Welch, MD of Falmouth-based agency Gendall Design, says: “Reflecting on it now the impact has been huge. We have found that the pandemic has accelerated the need for digital transformation in almost 16 | BUSINESS CORNWALL

all businesses, finding new efficiencies, new ways of working, communicating with colleagues and customers in different ways and bringing formerly offline activities online.

“We have been forced to adapt quickly, building in more agility into how we work and adapt to new opportunities.

Overnight some of our largest clients stopped spending any money, some are still to recover, this forced us to address new markets, seek out new opportunities and add value in new ways.

From a personal view we have embraced a new level of flexibility in our work/home balance in turn empowering team members to take ownership of their working day to fit their personal circumstances.”

sentiment: “On a basic level, almost all of our clients had to take a pregnant pause, as the whole country took a deep breath and settled into the idea, and the initial impact, of lockdown.

Brands that invest in marketing themselves through the downtimes, come out stronger

Rhona Gardiner, director at Newquay-based comms agency Excess Energy, shares the

“We had a very temporary, almost strategic ‘pause for breath’ as everyone went into lockdown, however, this gave all of our clients, and our team, a short chance for creative reflection – which has proven to be extremely worthwhile.”

She says it has been important for communications agencies, like Excess, to get the tone of message appropriate given the backdrop of the global situation.

“Everyone is continually forced to operate in a semi-start-up way, given the constant surrounding changes that are still occurring. And everyone still has to sell and promote their businesses, services, products and outputs.

CREATIVE

Floorplans justCORNWALL released!

Apply now for November move in.

21 new studios now added to our Redruth creative hub.

Join our waiting list today.

www.krowji.org.uk Krowji, West Park, Redruth, Cornwall TR15 3AJ info@krowji.org.uk 01209 313200

Out of adversity comes Absolute Excess creativity Summer 2020. UK lockdown. Holidays across the country are cancelled.

What do the owners of St Moritz Hotel & Spa do to create the ultimate high-profile business bounceback, and get critical bookings re-booted?

They call ‘Absolute Excess’: the collaborative love-child of Excess Energy Communications and Absolute.

In less than a month, the globally pioneering, stylishly sociallydistanced ‘Anti-Social Club’ pop-up restaurant is imagined, branded, designed and built.

A cross-platform creative communications campaign has the phones ringing, bookings rushing in and local, regional, national and international media coverage popping up everywhere.

4th July: Doors open. Everyone wants a seat in the Anti-Social Club and every bed in the hotel is sold for months to come…

Who are you going to call?

01872 264775 hello@weareabsoluteuk.com Absolute and Excess Ad Business Cornwall 194x136mm V4.indd 1

01637 852130 sarah@excess-energy.co.uk BUSINESS CORNWALL | 17 14:17 14/09/2020

CREATIVE

CORNWALL

However, we have been working alongside all of our clients, providing constant proactive and reactive thinking and guidance on what messaging is on-point, and also on what it is that people want to know, read and, importantly, care about going forward into the ’new normal’ together.”

Natalie Thomas is copy editor at Indian Queens-based full service agency Idenna Creative, which has been helping clients meet the challenges to adapt, full on.

can adapt to be positive and proactive in the situation. We’ve definitely noticed that there’s been a bigger need for creative problem solving than there’s ever been before.”

Standing out in the congested world of social media is more important than ever if you want to succeed

Looking back at the impact and how client demands have changed, she says: “As clients have found themselves in brand new territories, our experience is that they need more help and support in terms of navigating current challenges. We’ve also noticed that there’s been a bigger need to understand how these challenges have and could continue to impact their business, and therefore how they

The pandemic has plunged the UK into the deepest-ever recession on record. During such times, there can be a natural inclination for businesses to cut back on their marketing spend.

But this isn’t always the best idea “It is really hard,” admits Welch.

“The natural instinct is to batten down the hatches and hope it blows over. However, there is well documented evidence that brands that invest in marketing themselves through the downtimes, come out stronger. The commitment to spend needs to still be there.

“There is a great opportunity in these times to go back to basics and refocus, identify the best way to reach and engage existing as well as new customers, and address their new needs, and

desires. As the AA have found for many years, customers don’t forget the brands that help them out during difficult times, it creates a powerful emotional bond and fosters long term loyalty.”

‘Opportunity’ seems to be watch word at the moment. Opportunity abounds!

“Opportunity is everywhere at the moment,” agrees Gardiner “However, realising those opportunities can be more challenging as a large number of suppliers and operations are still operating with a ‘lockdown’ mentality.”

As Cornish companies look to bounce back from the economic impact, it is a good time to reassess how you look to promote your business to the outside world.

“The fundamentals are the same across the board,” says Thomas.

TOP TIPS TO PROMOTE YOURSELF IN A COVID WORLD “Be clear about what you are trying to achieve. Take extra care of your existing customers - it costs a lot more to get a new customer than keep an existing one. Come and have a chat with us at Gendall - the kettle’s on!”

Greg Welch, Gendall Design “Follow our phrase of ‘out of adversity comes creativity.’

And naturally, out of considered, optimum creativity comes new opportunities that would never have otherwise shown themselves. Put your customers and what you want them to experience first and the rest will fall into place with the right design and creative communications campaigning.”

Helen Stephens, Absolute “My number one tip would be to get some videos made so stand out online! And while of course I would say that, this doesn’t exclusively mean getting external help to make videos.

A lot of businesses and brands could achieve more than they think by simply making more content themselves. The growth of TikTok shows that rough and ready content can work really well for businesses wanting to promote themselves on social media without having to spend lots of money.”

Joe Turnbull, Bull & Wolf “Our top tip would be for businesses and brands to take time to really introspect around why they’re doing what they’re doing.

Get super clear and then relay key messages concisely and honestly to your customers. Also, reevaluate your ultimate aims and keep that front and centre of everything you do. Being on a mission will drive your brand forward, and is a powerful notion that your consumers will naturally want to align with.”

Natalie Thomas, Idenna Creative

18 | BUSINESS CORNWALL

CREATIVE

CORNWALL

Change is inevitable

The Typewriter: 1880s - 1980s

Storytelling is timeless

IDENNA CREATIVE

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| 21

CREATIVE

CORNWALL

“Take stock, be surefooted on what the opportunities are, and then pursue them.

Also, reevaluate those opportunities more often than you normally would - weekly or even daily, if you can. It goes without saying that things are changing very quickly at the moment so it’s crucial for businesses to be on it. Another universal truth is clarity and authenticity - be clear and honest with your communications.

Your customers will appreciate the transparency when everything else seems so turbulent at the moment, and that will strengthen their relationship with your brand.”

“It seems that in lockdown people spent even more time online and many business owners and marketeers saw the benefits of investing in video, even if they kind of knew it was a worthwhile investment already,” he says.

There’s been a bigger need for creative problem solving than there’s ever been before

Bull and Wolf specialises in marketing and promoting clients through video production, which was particularly hit in the early weeks of lockdown.

Founder Joe Turnbull says: “Like many industries the filmmaking world was hit hard by the pandemic. Whether it was with smaller shoots like ours or big Hollywood blockbusters, production had to be paused on many shoots.”

However, as lockdown struck, with the emergence of Zoom, it got many people to thinking more about such online solutions.

20 | BUSINESS CORNWALL

“In the past we sometimes had to push to encourage people to make and use cutdowns of their videos, whereas now we are seeing many people coming to us wanting this as a starting point.

“We have also seen people requesting videos as a replacement for things that they would do in person, such as virtual tours, welcome packs or introductions. This gives them huge flexibility going forward, so they can be prepared for any changes in restrictions and have a resource that means they can reach people who can’t attend in person events.”

While many business reassess their plans and strategies, it is no time to start hiding your light under a bushel.

Turnbull says: “It’s often said that one of the first things

businesses cut when times are hard is their marketing budgets and investment in things like video production.

“Yet in a world that has moved even further online during lockdown, standing out in the congested world of social media is more important than ever if businesses want to succeed. There is nothing wrong with taking stock at a time like this, but you should never stop promoting what you do. And for businesses wanting to get ahead at a time of uncertainty, turning to a tool that may seem new but is proven to generate results should really be a no-brainer. Social-ready video can be a catalyst for building your brand and winning new customers.

“Business that can combine the right type of content creation with the right digital marketing tools will see great returns on their investment and will wonder why they hadn’t tried it before.”

“

THEY FILMED CONTENT

CREATIVESEAMLESSLY AND CREATED

CORNWALL

ORIGINAL MATERIAL FOR US TO BUILD THE BRAND OF PLYMOUTH STARTUP WEEKEND. WE REALLY ENJOYED WORKING WITH THEM UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH

”

WITH SOCIAL READY VIDEO THAT GETS RESULTS Visit our website: bullandwolf.co Chat with us: hello@bullandwolf.co

BUSINESS CORNWALL | 21

CREATIVE

CORNWALL

hidden gems

Six shining stars from Cornwall’s creative sector

OATEY MEDIA

SAM AMPS

Cornwall-based Oatey Media’s reputation as a vibrant, fast-growing video production company creating captivating content for leading brands across the UK is on the rise.

Headed up by Samphire Amps (a Fellow of the CIM), Sam Amps Marketing and Web Ltd is a digital marketing and web development agency (also a Google Partner Agency, a MailChimp Partner and a Shopify Partner).

MARKETING & WEB

Its goal of creating ‘Video Less Ordinary’ has seen Oatey Media add a growing list of prestigious UK-wide clients to its customer base, covering a range of sectors including tourism, manufacturing, agricultural, education, food & drink and lifestyle.

Cornish clients include Aspects Holidays, Teagle, Truro School, Watson Marlow and The Royal Cornwall Show, whilst nationally and internationally clients include Kuhn Farm Machinery, RaceSafe, Equine America & Food 52.

Every project starts with a thorough understanding of a client’s business and their precise needs to ensure a successful outcome.

Established in 2015, founder, Sam Oatey was recognised as a bright young business talent having been named in Cornwall’s Top 30-Under-30 list of leading entrepreneurs in 2020.

01872 211499 / 07722 591088 info@oateymedia.co.uk www.oateymedia.co.uk

22 | BUSINESS CORNWALL

While Cornwall is full of designers and content providers, Sam Amps felt there was a real gap at the more technical end. With a strong skillset in Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and User Experience (UX) and a heavy focus on performance, the agency builds websites that are designed to get found easily and make a real difference to business results.

Once your website is sorted, Sam Amps supports with search and social media advertising, email marketing and marketing planning. As a highly experienced trainer, Sam is also happy to help you learn to do more of this yourselves, supporting at a distance.

“Because we have a wide skill set, we will listen to your individual needs, offer the most appropriate marketing package for your business, and if for any reason it doesn’t work, we have the flexibility to quickly switch tack and try something else.”

01736 272 101 sam@samampsmarketing.com www.samampsmarketing.com

CREATIVE

CORNWALL

HALO

OH SO SOCIAL Oh So Social is an international multi-award winning social media and digital marketing agency, they have a love for all things social media and beyond. They take pride in using their expertise to write great content, design unique advertising and offer tailored training sessions to both teams and individuals.

Founder Katherine George is one of only eight Facebook Blueprint Lead Trainers in Europe, one of 24 Facebook and Instagram accredited #SheMeansBusiness mentors in the UK and was named one of the UK’s Top Six Marketing Advisors by Enterprise Nation.

Experts in their field, the team at Oh So Social have experience working with businesses large and small across an amazing breadth of industries. Regardless of what you do, they will get to the heart of your company in order to achieve your goals in the best way possible.

The agency also offers a range of training options to suit individuals or organisations wishing to boost their social media knowledge.

Using its understanding of social media and other digital marketing platforms, Oh So Social has the toolkit to take your marketing to the next level, so you can focus on growing your business.

Halo PR and Communications is an unconventional, exciting creative agency with a commitment to innovation and change. Halo’s approach to PR is unique and ever-evolving, spanning all aspects of storytelling; from editorial to social media strategy to content creation in all forms, including video and podcast production.

A predominantly tech-focused company working with some of the world’s leading cutting-edge businesses, Halo’s current client line-up includes teams in the Space industry, Artificial Intelligence, Deep Learning, XR and Environmental Fund Management, amongst other sectors.

Founded in 2018 by Jessica Ratty, Halo’s mission has always been to tell the incredible stories of the people they work with in new and creative ways. As a Cornish born company, they are extremely proud of their heritage and as Cornwall evolves into the next evolution of business and innovation, Halo sees working from this incredible county as an opportunity to build and inspire the next generation.

01326 450 333 hello@ohsosocialmarketing.co.uk www.ohsosocialmarketing.co.uk

07789 102402 hello@ha-lo.co ha-lo.co

PIP HAYLER PHOTOGRAPHY

CORNISH MARKETING

Based at her waterside studio in Penryn, Pip Hayler produces thoughtful photography that helps businesses show themselves at their best.

Most businesses want to grow sales, but when it comes to talking about what they do, many don’t know where to start.

She specialises in product and interior photography and her reliable, professional, and caring approach has earned her many loyal clients in Cornwall and beyond.

That’s why, after ten years of leading in-house teams, Belinda set up the Cornish Marketing Consultancy. Since setting up business three years ago, Belinda has helped organisations across the UK (and beyond) find clarity where it matters most, a clear message and a compelling story.

Having worked in the industry for several years, Pip has developed a service that focuses on what each individual business needs. This enables her to deliver imagery that is ready for use, which saves clients time and keeps the quality of photography intact.

Pip’s authentic method and eye for detail enable her to produce beautiful, balanced imagery that delivers the impact businesses are looking for.

Professional photography is an important investment for any business. Whether it’s a creative lifestyle shoot or a seemingly simple pack shot for ecommerce, the quality of your photography can put you above your competitors and help customers trust your brand.

07984 682379 contact@piphaylerphotography.co.uk www.piphaylerphotography.co.uk

Belinda says: “people buy when they hear the words that make them want to buy. Whether you’re building a big brand, or want to take your small business to the next level, a clear message and brand story is the key to connecting with customers who care, so that sales can grow.”

Stop struggling with marketing that doesn’t work. Give Belinda a call on 07436 884807, to find out how much your sales can grow if you tell the right story.

07436 884807 belinda@cornishmarketing.co.uk www.cornishmarketing.co.uk

BUSINESS CORNWALL | 23

BUSINESS

SUPPORT

Cutting through the

red tape

Food hygiene, fire safety, licensing and health and safety are among the regulatory compliance issues that businesses of any size can face. With the added impact of the enhanced safety measurements required

BETTER BUSINESS FOR ALL Better Business for All (BBfA) is a business focused project led by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). It includes: • Small and large regulated businesses • The Federation of Small Businesses • National Farmers Union • Cornwall Chamber of Commerce • Representatives from Cornwall Council.

It works with the business community to improve the delivery of regulatory services.

It aims to encourage more businesses to seek advice to promote business success, as well as provide public protection. It’s also about making sure that their staff understand how businesses operate and the pressures they face.

Cornwall’s award winning BBfA partnership has helped shape the delivery of the Council’s regulatory service to meet the needs of local businesses. Businesses said that regulatory advice was difficult to access and needed streamlining. This feedback resulted in the introduction of a new regulatory business support service. It provides a single point of access for all the Council’s regulatory business support hub.

24 | BUSINESS CORNWALL

due to coronavirus, business owners may be feeling overwhelmed.

Cornwall Council’s Business Regulatory Support (BRS) service has been developed to enable businesses to easily interact with their team of regulatory professionals. This helps to ensure that the businesses meet the required levels of compliance and allow them to pass on the highest levels of safety to their customers.

Since its launch, the multiple award winning BRS service has continued to adapt and evolve to meet the needs of the local business community. By listening to and working with local businesses the BRS has developed a robust service and a support network that guides businesses through regulatory compliance.

SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT HUB Working with a single point of contact is the most effective way to achieve continuity and consistency for advice and support. The BRS team build personal relationships with every business that contacts them. This is essential, as it ensures the partnership is managed in an efficient and dependable manner. To further enhance this relationship each business is directly looked after by the same member of the team.

When someone really understands your business, it gives you confidence that you are getting advice that is tailored to your business,

meaning fewer things to have to think about.

And more time for you to focus on doing what you need to do to make your business the success it deserves to be.

BUSINESS

SUPPORT

AWARD WINNING SUPPORT AND SERVICE

The Business Regulatory Support team and its contribution to the local business communities have been recognised nationally, some of the most recent awards include: • iESE – Bronze Award for Customer Service • Regulatory Excellence Awards 2019 -Winner - Local Authority of the Year • Better Regulations award 2017 - Winner - Business Support Category • Better Business for All Partnership award 2016 Winner - Best Partnership

The BRS Hub provides a dedicated contact within their team for each of the businesses they work with to help you achieve regulatory compliance. No fuss, no worries, no unexpected visits; just the help and support you need, when you need it.

The Support you need, when you need it.

Whether you are starting up or are an existing business of any size, the BRS Hub can help you to cut through the red tape. The team will help you get it right first time, saving you money, time and helping you to grow and compete.

access regulatory advice. The team can help you with the licences and permissions you need from one place. The services include free signposting as well as business support packages. These are charged at cost price. They are suitable for all businesses whether pre-start, start-up or an established business.

a robust service and a support network that guides businesses through regulatory compliance

The BRS service offers a single point of contact for businesses. It covers areas including: • Food Safety • Environmental health

When you contact the BRS, it will ask you about your business and discuss what you need to do to meet the regulations.

Depending upon your business, your experience and your needs, it may recommend an on-site visit if they feel this would benefit you.

• Planning and building control • Fire safety The service makes it much quicker and easier for you to

• Gain an understanding of your business and agree a solution that is best for you • Help you achieve regulatory compliance in the most cost-effective way • Agree timescales, expectations and preferred methods of communication at the outset with you • Explain their reasoning and consider any cost implications

• Licensing • Trading standards

When the BRS works with your business this means that it will:

THE BRS PLEDGE The BRS has made a commitment to help businesses succeed. It will provide you with specialist, tailored regulatory advice according to your business needs.

The BRS has around 60,000 one to one interactions with businesses every year. It also handles around 11,000 licence applications.

Through this activity it has been recognised as a national leader in its field.

Working with the Better Business for All partnership (BBfA), it will: • Help you to get it right first time • Work with you to help your business be regulatory compliant • Help reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens

Web: https://www.businessregulatorysupport.co.uk Phone: 0300 1234 212 Email: businessadvice@cornwall.gov.uk Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ BusinessRegulatorySupport

BUSINESS CORNWALL | 25

ADVERTORIAL We wanted somewhere that would inspire us and make us feel like we’re going somewhere.

COVID SECURE WORKING Despite the social and economic impact of lockdown, Cornwall Innovation has welcomed 13 new companies to its innovation centres in Truro, Pool and Penryn since March.

Cornwall Innovation states that the number of new customers and overall enquiries has exceeded initial forecasts made at the start of the current pandemic and clearly reflects the need for Covid-19 secure, quality accommodation with access to business support and external funding initiatives.

Those taking up office space in the three innovation centres include a renewable energy research business, a nanotechnology innovator and specialists in digital marketing and outsourced IT support.

EXPANDING BUSINESS COMMUNITY Head of Cornwall Innovation Centres, Matt Harrington, says: “We are delighted to be expanding our business community.

In addition to welcoming these 13 new customers over the past few months, we have developed a strong pipeline of enquiries all of which has exceeded our expectations of recovery during the pandemic.

“The demand from businesses looking to move into our Innovation centres bucks the trend of what many are describing as the ‘end of the office’ and shows that there is demand for high quality, Covid-secure workspaces, which we are ideally placed to provide.

26 | BUSINESS CORNWALL

N.BORA “The companies who have joined us over recent months include early stage and more established ventures, across a range of sectors. They all have ambitions to grow and create new, high quality jobs in Cornwall.

Crucially, they share our enthusiasm for being part of a vibrant and collaborative business community that is about so much more than office space.”

Peter Hastings is relocating his business, N.bora, which provides support in IT projects, programme and portfolio management, to the Health and Wellbeing Innovation Centre. Peter set up N.bora three years ago after returning to his home city of Truro. He made the decision to move the business from his home into the innovation centre to accommodate its next phase of growth.

He says: “With our team members and clients based worldwide, we are a truly global business. However, I also want to grow locally and tap into the talent to build the business here in Cornwall. Now that we’ve expanded to a team of five, we really need a creative space to call our own, where we can get together as a team and securely house our equipment.

“The Health and Wellbeing Innovation Centre works for us because the arrangements are flexible and setting up here is so easy, in terms of connectivity and infrastructure. The biggest attraction, though, is the opportunity to connect with the other businesses based here and become part of the innovation centre community. I am absolutely confident that for the next piece of work we need to collaborate on I will be walking down the corridor and knocking on someone’s door.”

WELL CARE CORNWALL Jacob Wells set up Well Care Cornwall in June and is now preparing to move the family business into Tremough Innovation Centre in Penryn. Originally from Truro and with a background in healthcare, Jacob was inspired to set up the venture last year when he was unable to access care himself while recovering from major surgery.

Jacob says: “We are now expanding our team to serve a growing number of clients in mid and West Cornwall, who we offer a helping hand at home to and days out. We are in the process of applying for Care Quality Commission registration so we can also offer personal care. Having an office is part of their criteria, so it was important for us to move the business out of our home.

“The Innovation Centre offers such a vibrant environment that you can’t get anywhere else.

There’s a positive energy that inspires you as soon as you walk through the door. Having that opportunity to network and bounce ideas off other people will help us along the journey we want to take our business.”

The three innovation centres remained open throughout lockdown, with Covid-19 secure safety procedures now in place to allow companies to safely return to work in the centres.

www.cornwallinnovation.co.uk

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IT &

DIGITAL

ITdigital Technology is a vital cog in the operation in most businesses. We have come to rely upon a digital world. Over the following 13 pages we focus on the sector in Cornwall and discover more about some of Cornwall’s key players who help keep your business moving forward

A is for Aztek Business Aztek is one of Cornwall’s leading managed service providers. A single source solution of innovative IT, telephony and media solutions, Aztek has experienced steady growth since it began trading back in early 2009. To read the full Aztek story, turn to page 36.

B is for Broadband At a time when we are increasingly reliant on the Internet to run our businesses, having unreliable or slow broadband is putting many Cornish organisations at a disadvantage.

Unlike other providers who rely on the old copper network, Wildanet is rolling out its own independent network across the region.

Thanks to its cutting-edge digital technology, it is helping organisations throughout Cornwall

access the superfast, low latency broadband they need to run their businesses and service customers better than ever before.

C is for Community Made Open helps organisations and partnerships around the world build bespoke community platforms and design better services. It is a service design and technology company, a Certified B Corporation, a Creative England Top 50 company (2019) and a multi-award winning software provide.

Made Open’s ethos is to make society more sustainable and all of its clients are committed to improving health and wellbeing, developing communities or creating more sustainable futures.

D is for Domain Name The part of a network address that identifies it as belonging to a particular company or organisation. No two websites can have the same domain name.

E is for Email Marketing The internationally renowned email marketing platform Mailchimp recently certified Penzance-based email marketing specialist, FouldsCRM, as part of its newly-launched Mailchimp Academy. FouldsCRM has been a Mailchimp Partner since February 2019, the first in Cornwall, and has used the programme to create hundreds of highly successful email marketing campaigns for clients in the tourism and leisure sectors, both in Cornwall and beyond.

BUSINESS CORNWALL | 27

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F is for Facial Recognition

J is for JavaScript

Following the pandemic, there has been increased interest in face recognition technology. One of the pioneers in this sector is Cornish company TouchByte, which during lockdown was awarded a £50k grant from Innovate UK to develop a prototype using contactless facial recognition technology to grant access to spaces.

A programming language that is commonly used for building website features that require user interaction.

G is for Goonhilly A space ‘AI’ institute and receiver factory is currently being developed at Goonhilly Earth Station. The £3.77 million project will involve commercial operators across sectors including space, data science, and high-performance computers as well as a consortium of leading universities to progress innovation in space-related artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, machine learning and advanced manufacturing.

K is for KBPS kBps is a measure of how fast information is downloaded to your computer from a modem. kBps means a transfer rate of one kilobyte per second. Not to be confused with kilobyte (KB) which is a measure of computer memory and represents 1, 024 bytes.

L is for Launchpad

DIGITAL

The single easiest way to IMPROVE YOUR GOOGLE RANK is to SPEED UP YOUR WEBSITE

Launchpad is Falmouth University’s innovative post-grad incubation and acceleration programme which helps create new digital businesses. Recent successful businesses to emerge from Launchpad include agri-tech

Supercharge your website by over 200% by switching to our Pro Hosting with Qfast Turbo Boost hassle-free and with zero downtime H is for Heatmap A heatmap is visual summary of how users interact with a specific webpage. Heatmaps identify ‘hot spots’ where page aspects have high interactivity levels. This tool is widely used for conversion rate optimisation.

I is for ITEC ITEC has been providing IT and managed print services in Cornwall for more than 30 years. As one of the largest technology providers in the UK, it helps translate large processes and global relationships “into a tight-knit operation that transcends the local nuances of Cornwall”.

company, Glas-Data, and Codices, which works with brands and influencers to create live interactive shows on Twitch, a video live streaming service which is a subsidiary of Amazon.

Just £8.25 /month FREE Migration & FREE for 3 months use promo code: BUSCORNWALL

M is for Managed IT Service Provider Cornwall is dominated by small and micro businesses. The vast majority, while relying on IT services, tend not have an in-house IT team. This is where managed service providers, like Redruth-based Focus Technology (Europe) come into play, managing your IT requirements from the bottom up, from support when something goes wrong, to strategy to help your business get ahead.

01208 220010 | info@webmate.me BUSINESS CORNWALL | 29

IT & DRIVING GROWTH THROUGH A PANDEMIC DIGITAL

The pandemic is creating serious challenges and asking big questions of businesses, both globally and locally. Economic recovery will be reliant on the ability of businesses, and the communities around them, to be responsive, innovative and entrepreneurial.

this vibrant university has to offer from academic excellence to our expert team of industry professionals, in addition to the wider entrepreneurial ecosystem, these exciting new companies have the potential to make a huge positive impact on the regional economy.”

Here in Cornwall, Falmouth University’s Launchpad, a business incubation and acceleration programme, is focusing on fostering new digital start-ups that are built for growth and equipped to pivot to the market.

The potential for Launchpad businesses has been demonstrated during the pandemic, when one of the businesses that was incorporated in the first full cohort in 2018 secured $800k of seed funding.

The programme has just appointed a new head, James Murray, who joins Falmouth from a career in high technology companies including airborne drones and autonomous vehicles.

James was also a former entrepreneurship educator at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, where he was instrumental in establishing the pre-cursor to the now wellknown Oxford Foundry.

Explaining why he was attracted to the role, he says: “Launchpad is an incredibly exciting programme with an important mission of incredible potential. I am really looking forward to being a part Launchpad and growing its ecosystem of companies and supporters as it enters this new phase.

“Here, in this creative hub, fuelled by everything

RETAIN YOUR CLIENT BASE – INCREASE YOUR REVENUE

Codices Interactive creates live interactive shows on Twitch and saw a boom in users when the online quiz phenomenon took off in lockdown – it now serves over a million monthly users.

Tim Edwards, CEO and co-founder of Codices says: “We developed Quiz Kit to allow anyone to create cool interactive gameshows on Twitch, the world’s leading live streaming platform for gamers. When bars and pubs had to close their doors for lockdown, Quiz Kit was a great way for them to stay connected with their customers and to potentially earn some money.

“Quiz Kit allows users to host their own live interactive quiz shows and is the most used game show creation tool on Twitch. Users can write their own questions or use our readymade quizzes. It offers full dashboard controls, leaderboards, prize winner data capture and

Services Include:

· Email Marketing Automation, Creative Campaigns, List Management, Account Management, Training and Support · CRM Database Management, List Building · Campaign Management Email, SMS, Direct Mailing

analytics. It supports multiple-languages and is fully customisable.”

Launchpad not only offers a full-time MSc, but Launchpad Outreach, also offers business support and consultancy to small and medium sized enterprises in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, helping them develop their internal capabilities to improve productivity and growth.

To find out more about accessing business support from Launchpad Outreach please visit falmouth.ac.uk/launchpad-outreach.

To apply for the MSc in Entrepreneurship, read more about Codices and other Launchpad success stories, visit https://falmouthlaunchpad.co.uk/

Made Open

Want to build a better online community?

Healthcare providers, charities and local authorities use our platform to engage and activate communities.

· Retention Strategies · Content Marketing · Mailchimp Workshops

Find out why: madeopen.co.uk www.fouldscrm.co.uk | 0788 0505 777 | christinef@fouldscrm.co.uk 30 | BUSINESS CORNWALL

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N is for NCI Technologies

R is for Return on Investment (ROI)

Penryn-based NCI Technologies offers IT support and phone systems for businesses and schools throughout Cornwall, UK and beyond. Earlier this year, director Andy Trish was named one of the UK It industry’s most important movers and shakers, by industry publication Computer Reseller News.

ROI is a measurement of a business’ or campaign’s profitability. ROI is calculated by dividing the net profit by the cost of investment. A high ROI means the investment’s gains compare favourably to its cost.

O is for Organic Search When a search engine, such as Google, is used to display results for a search term.

S is for Software Cornwall Software Cornwall is an open and collaborative group of technology-based businesses, education providers and

DIGITAL

Experience the worlds most advanced Hosted VoIP PBX with free UK & Mobile calls

Fully managed, fully configured & fully featured with no per-seat fees P is for PPC Pay Per Click, or PPC advertising is about reaching your audience at the exact moment they are searching for your product or service.

Cornish PPC expert HookedOnMedia has many years’ experience in competitive industries to drive targeted traffic that converts into new business. It approaches campaigns from the ground-up working with you to fully understand the goals you wish to achieve.

Q is for Quality Score Quality Score is a metric used by Google, Yahoo!, and Bing that influences ad rank and cost per click of ads. To determine the position of the ad on a search engine, each ad is allocated using a process which takes into account the bid and the Quality Score.

business support organisations and represents one of the fastest growing tech clusters in the UK. The community is independent and funded by its members, sponsors and supporters. Software Cornwall was established informally in 2012 by a group from the software sector, becoming a limited not-for-profit organisation three years later.

2 Line system just £40 /month, £7.50 per extra line

T is for Telecommunications A thank you page is essential if you are an ecommerce business and can help track your ROI. This page can be added after people make a purchase on your site but if you are not an ecommerce business you can add a thank you page to your contact form, which will help show where your customers are coming from and also track your conversions.

01208 220010 | info@webmate.me BUSINESS CORNWALL | 31

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wildanet

Business Broadband 3 Months Free

Switch to Wildanet’s fixed wireless service and get your first 3 months free, plus free standard installation* when you quote offer code: BizCn3

Packages from just £29.95+VAT A month

Unlimited Data Static IP Address For an extra £9.99+VAT a month, a static IP address makes it easier for your staff to work remotely and access your company server

Enhanced Technical Support for Business Customers 1 hour response times and guaranteed fix within 24 working hours

“Having Wildanet has made a huge difference to my business.

Running a small business from a relatively remote location was a nightmare with our previous (very well known) supplier. Having Wildanet has made a huge difference to my business and my family. Highly recommend and our bills are cheaper. Very happy customers. Thanks Wildanet!”

Jules Wivell – JW Jewellery Design

www.wildanet.com/biz | 0800 0699906 | business@wildanet.com *Offer only available to businesses in our fixed wireless network areas. Terms and conditions apply. Visit www.wildanet.com/biz for full details.

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Wildanet Limited. Unit 1a Penrose House, Treleigh Industrial Estate, Redruth, Cornwall, TR16 4DE Registered in England and Wales no 10586466.

IT &

U is for UX

X is for XHTML

UX is the consideration of user needs.

User experience is the core of a successful campaign because it deals with appealing to the people who will actually visit your site.

Extensible Hypertext Markup Language. A spinoff of the hypertext markup language (HTML) used for creating Web pages. It is based on the HTML 4.0 syntax but has been modified to follow the guidelines of XML and is sometimes referred to as HTML 5.0.

V is for VoIP VoIP phone systems (Voice over Internet Protocol), use your Internet connection to make calls, rather than a traditional landline. Redruthbased IT support company, Piran Technologies, is a VoIP specialist and can help businesses save money and improve productivity.

W is for WebMate Cornwall is home to one of the UK’s leading Internet service providers, boasting fast and reliable web hosting, something increasingly important for search engine ranking. WebMate is locally owned and staffed for over 20 years, with a cabinet full of national awards. It offers a broad range of premium services from broadband and leased lines, web hosting, email and VoIP services - with an ethos of providing premium services at honest prices.

Y is for Yoyo Yoyo mode refers to a situation wherein a computer or a similar device seems stuck in a loop - turning on briefly, then turning off again.

The idea is that the rapid restart and shut off patterns can be compared to the down and up cycles of a yoyo.

DIGITAL

Award-winning, world-class Internet solutions you can count on ...engineered here in Cornwall

Z is for Zoom Pre pandemic, many people would not have heard of the American video conferencing company, but since lockdown, Zoom meetings have become a way of life for many, keeping businesses and individuals connected.

Web Hosting Broadband Web Builder Email Hosting Domain Names SIP Trunks Hosted VoIP Leased Lines

01208 220010 | info@webmate.me BUSINESS CORNWALL | 33

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DIGITAL

THE NEW DIGITAL WORLD

The global changes that we’ve all felt since March this year have set the world on a new course.

Old practices have changed, office working to home working, face to face meetings to efficient digital video calls, shifts in retail spends further away from the dwindling high street to online retailers… the list goes on. Not all of these new ‘normals’ will stay, but many will remain and in fact speed up the inevitable dynamic shift to the new digital world.

Are your digital marketing channels ready for the new world, asks HookedOnMedia business development manager Lee Jackson?

01872 248376 | lee@hookedonmedia.com

In April of this year, almost 50% of the UK workforce were working remotely as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Statistics by the ONS show that many businesses have now adopted remote and flexible working long-term, particularly as we face extended social distancing measures.

As a company that provides IT support and future-proofing services to hundreds of companies nationally, Piran Technologies was well-prepared for uncertainty when the lockdown came into effect in March.

Piran director Alex Pugh says: “Our disaster recovery plan came into effect on March 23 as we entered lockdown, and it’s still in place. It’s enabled us to weather the challenges of the last six months with minimal disruption to our customers.”

With cloud-based software in place allowing its team to work from anywhere, Piran’s staff have managed to keep working almost exactly as they would in the office, using their office numbers to make and take calls and collaborating on projects using the cloud.

Piran offers a range of services to help businesses plan for the future and get the most out of their IT. Cloud-based phone systems like 3CX allow teams to use their office numbers from anywhere with an

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Ensuring your business is marketed efficiently online is now more important than ever. We consider the following digital channels to be key for driving real-life new business in volume.

1) SEO, your Google visibility. No matter where you rank in Google for your target keywords, work can be done to improve positions. SEO is a long-term marketing method, building up the authority of your website within Google’s ranking index over time, at the same time ensuring all on-site ranking factors are correct, from the content itself to page load speeds. Getting this right means a steady flow of high intent traffic, brands that have put effort into their SEO

over the years are currently reaping the rewards in many sectors.

2) Google Ads. Like SEO, having a presence at the very top of Google ensures high intent website traffic. The difference with paid ads is the traffic is instant, no need to build up authority over time, ads can go live the same day… however, care needs to be taken to avoid unnecessary spend waste, a main part of this is setting up accurate tracking at all contact or purchase points.

3) Social Ads. Often less immediate buyer intent on social media than a search engine, however audiences can be laser targeted based on their interests, browsing habits and demographics. Do you have an existing customer list? it is possible to create a lookalike audience of this list and reach new like-minded customers via geographically targeted ads. This is just one example of the power of social advertising.

Our recommendation is to look after these three areas of marketing exposure. It’s still important to make connections, gain referrals, send newsletters etc, but in terms of return on advertising spend in this new world – these are the channels to get right.

If you need any help or advice please don’t hesitate to give me a call.

REMOTE CONTROL

internet connection.

Collaborative tools like Microsoft Sharepoint and Google Apps allow remote-working teams to work together on projects, wherever they’re based. Another cloud-based solution, Microsoft Azure, offers an alternative to onpremise servers, saving costs and reducing the risk of downtime. Piran also works closely with its customers to put together tailored disaster recovery and business continuity plans just like their own, so that clients’ data and systems are protected against the unexpected.

For more information on how Piran could help you plan for the future and protect against uncertainty, get in touch by emailing info@pirantech.co.uk, calling 01209 340120 or visiting their website at www.pirantech.co.uk

Flexible working future: how to protect your business against uncertainty

REMOTE WORKING FOR CORNWALL The IT Support Cornish Organisations Deserve

Remote working makes legacy systems a liability.

ITEC creates an IT Support Service that empowers your business to reach its goals.

ITEC Managed IT Support Service can feature: 24/7 IT Help Desk Disaster Recovery Cloud Productivity Suite & Cloud Infrastructure Set-Ups Zero Trust Advanced Threat Protection

01209-703-998

itecgroup.co.uk

Relax

We’ve Got IT Covered As customer expectations rise, businesses depend on reliable technology to deliver goods and services. Keeping your technology healthy, reliable, resilient, secure and with a plan for the future is key to driving growth and success.

Partnering with Focus can help you achieve these goals, and more.

01209 613660 | focus-technology.co.uk BUSINESS CORNWALL | 35

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DIGITAL

One stop

shop

Since MD Anthony Hudson started the business back in 2008, Aztek Business has evolved and grown greatly.

The company started as a general audience B2B/ B2C workshop to repair computers and has since experienced steady growth transitioning into what it claims is a “customerorientated company, and a single source solution of innovative IT, telephony and media solutions”.

Pretty much a one-stop-shop for all your IT and digital marketing needs.

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Business Cornwall explores the impressive growth of Aztek, a business started by a then 17-year old that now has local and international clients and hungry for more

It was a natural progression and expansion for Aztek to get to this point of offering the breadth of services that it does today. The first change came about in line with the move away from the ‘break and fix’ society, meaning that people were no longer bothering to mend equipment, but rather replace.

At this point Anthony spotted a gap in the market for retained IT services and then moved to a full MSP (managed service provider) model.

Director of media and development, Vladimir Lisic, explains how clients were demanding unwavering support for anything digital & IT.

on everything from your firewall; networks; website; emails; printer etc.”

The team treated this demand for all encompassing digital and IT services as a challenge and wanted to be able to furnish this need, backed up by a growing team of skilled specialists in each area. And the business had its market firmly in sight – the ideal client being one that could not perhaps justify full-time, in-house IT, so instead looked to an outsourced remote working IT support business – which is where Aztek came in.

Like an extension of the clients’ own team, rather than just a subcontractor

“Many clients would see us simply as the ‘computer guy’, and even if it was outside of our job role, your client would expect you to be able to deliver on a full host of IT services, delivering

IT & production, eCommerce solutions and all forms of marketing.

Aztek’s drive and passion to continue improving and growing shines through and while you can see how its trajectory has been set, it has been perfectly guided by its motivated people.

This necessitated the natural growth over the past decade, and in being agile, Aztek has made sure that it has kept up with all the latest trends and needs to make sure its clients need not look elsewhere for any services.

The latest gap Aztek spotted and filled is in a suite of marketing services and as a result, Aztek Marketing was born, offering services from branding and website design, to video

Anthony has only now turned 30 and has achieved a lot in that time. Explaining how the passion started, he says: “From secondary school I have been computer-crazy and left school with no qualifications other than in IT, nor did I have any other interests. I did work experience in a small computer shop and thought I could do a better job!

“I then got into hosting and hosted game servers for EA Games. When the gaming industry changed, I decided to set up Aztek,

DIGITAL

aged 17. With my first employee Tim (who still works for Aztek now) we managed to secure great clients and started growing the business from there.”

As well as being highly technical, there is a strong entrepreneur in Anthony and he grew the business by picking up the phone and scouting for businesses. The team also thrive off working with other ambitious businesses, which includes Cornish Lithium, where Aztek is effectively its IT team, and while not revealing any detail, Anthony talks very promisingly of its future.

perfectly guided by its motivated people

BUSINESS CORNWALL | 37

IT &

DIGITAL relationship was forged from there, now with nine of the 23 team members working in Serbia. Both offices are cosmetically identical, too – from the carpet up! Also, Serbia conveniently has some of the greatest number of software developers per capita in Europe, with it being an occupation that many in the country aspire to, together with an enviable work ethic.

In Cornwall we hear feedback of skills shortages, so for a Cornwall-based business, this has proven a good way to mitigate this and ensure a highly skilled workforce.

While on the subject of the team, this a critical part of Aztek and Anthony speaks very highly of his team and how he can rely on each and every one of them to deliver 24/7. The team is also important to Aztek’s plan to scale the business, as Anthony mentioned ‘you are only as good as your team’ and their hunger to grow has to be synchronised with attracting the appropriate skilled and driven talent.

Customer loyalty or ‘customer orientation’ is another area which Aztek prides itself on and evidenced by the many clients it is still working with now and that have been with it since almost the beginning. When asked about USPs, Anthony stressed the importance of long-lasting relationships with its clients and they like to feel like an extension of the clients’ own team, rather than just a subcontractor. This is helped by nature of the managed service offering, whereby everything is inclusive, meaning that clients aren’t worried that every time they speak with a member of the Aztek team, they’re incurring additional cost.

To name one example, Cornish Premier Pasties

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has been a longstanding client, which Aztek talks about like they’re family.

Aztek has provided IT support throughout its growth, where in peak season it will make circa 25,000 pasties, and now helps on a vast range of services including Internet, telephony, IT support and label printing.

A onestop-shop for all your IT and digital marketing needs

An interesting facet of the business is that it has an office in Serbia, the land of Nikola Tesla, Novak Djokovic and many others.

A cooperation that grew because of the shared passion for quality work and achieving superior results for clients of various size and industry.

When Anthony and Vladimir crossed paths in 2012, Vladimir was working in Serbia and the business

Aztek have employed an agile methodology for many years which has meant that there has been no real transition period through the pandemic and in the flick of a switch they were ready to go and able to support clients who weren’t able to make similarly seamless transitions, for whatever reason. All of which helped by Cornwall’s roll out of fibre connectivity.

Aztek is an outward thinking progressive company with comprehensive expertise in all things IT, telecommunication and media, with both a local and international clients and prides itself on its team and the relationships with its clients.

Contact: Aztek Business www.aztek.co.uk | 01209 712816

IT &

DIGITAL

PASTEL

digital stars To conclude our feature on the digital and IT sector, here we profile three of Cornwall’s star digital businesses...

Truro based Pastel is a telecommunication specialist, providing cloud hosted telephone solutions.

Working with businesses throughout the UK, Pastel brings together a dispersed or remote located workforce into one centrally managed system as if everyone was in the same office together.

Recent events have forced businesses to reconsider how they do business, how best to serve their own customers and where staff can be safely located. In many cases this has resulted in a permanent change.

Cloud hosted telephony is fast becoming the standard for businesses, providing significant benefits to workforces and customers alike.

A system which is flexible, scalable, and surprisingly affordable for businesses of any size.

Keep everyone connected, improve customers experience and join the future of telecoms.

01872 228806 marks@pastelsolutions.co.uk www.pastelsolutions.co.uk

HEDGEHOG DIGITAL

COAST 360

With over a decade of experience in digital marketing, Hedgehog Digital is expert in generating business online using the power of search.

This digital star has been supporting businesses in Cornwall with their digital marketing for over 15 years. The company was founded by Elliot Walker - a former journalist and travel content producer for Virgin.

The agency takes a unique, reactive approach to digital marketing based on an in-depth understanding of search intent and a desire to solve the problems of their clients’ potential customers.

As Hedgehog Director Alan Spurgeon says: “We know there are people out there looking for the products and services our clients provide because they’re entering related queries into the search engines. Our goal is to ensure those customers find our clients ahead of the competition.”

Determined to help forward-thinking businesses to thrive online, Hedgehog isn’t interested in improving vanity metrics like site traffic and page rankings that have little impact on overall business performance.

Using a combination of SEO, content marketing and digital PR, the company delivers strategic campaigns to help its clients attract, engage and win new customers online.

Working almost exclusively with travel and tourism companies, the expert team helps boost online visibility and gain maximum exposure through Google and other online channels.

The Newquay-based company has a tried and tested system for achieving top search engine rankings that has boosted bookings for a range of clients, including hotels, cottage rental agencies and tour companies in Cornwall and beyond.

Instead, the agency works to produce digital marketing solutions that deliver measurable improvements to their clients’ businesses, such as increased leads, sales and enquiries.

The company’s 360 degree marketing solution encompasses website optimisation, link building, blog writing, content marketing and digital PR.

01736 754747 info@hedgehogdigital.co.uk hedgehogdigital.co.uk

01637 806559 info@coast360.co.uk www.coast360.co.uk

Visit the website for your free appraisal from the tourism digital marketing specialists.

BUSINESS CORNWALL | 39

EDUCATION

AND TRAINING

NEW TRAINEESHIP

SPONSORED BY

Tanya Krzywinska, professor of digital games and chair of the university’s digital economy research theme, has been made a Fellow of the Higher Education Video Games Alliance (HEVGA).

Truro and Penwith College has launched a new Hospitality Traineeship Programme that will support 16-24-year-olds to get into work while offering capacity and financial incentives for employers in one of Cornwall’s hardest hit sectors.

The news was announced by Jonathan Elmergreen, executive director of the HEVGA, in front of thousands of participants at the Games for Change Virtual Festival.

The new 12-week programme will start this month and again in January, with an eightweek intensive programme also planned for next summer.

Professor Krzywinska joined Falmouth in 2014, where she led the establishment of the Games Academy, now one of the university’s fastest-growing academic departments.

Trainees will attend college throughout the programme to develop their skills while completing nearly 100-hours of quality work experience with Cornwall’s top hospitality employers.

The new programme is the first major development after the college announced it would be ‘rapidly expanding’ its traineeship offer in response to the Chancellor’s July economic statement that cited traineeships and apprenticeships as being key to the recovery of the UK economy post Covid.

www.truro-penwith.ac.uk

She said “It’s a great honour to be awarded this lifetime Fellowship and it is wonderful to be recognised as one of the pioneers who fought to bring games into the academic curriculum.

“25 years ago, videogames were considered at best marginal, so we’ve moved a very long way towards getting games recognised as an art form, as worthy of academic study and as a career option for graduates.”

BUSINESS training solutions

A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW

FROM TURKS & CAICOS TO TRURO Truro High has appointed a new head of prep.

Supporting your business to bounce back Find your funding and training now t: 01872 242711 e: business@truro-penwith.ac.uk w: truro-penwith.ac.uk/business 40 | BUSINESS CORNWALL

Katie Hinks took up her new position last month after 13 years teaching at an international school in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Truro & Penwith College Business

We are tremendously excited to have such a fantastic, forwardthinking and experienced, practitioner joining us,” said Truro High headmistress Sarah Matthews.

“Katie’s energy, enthusiasm, creativity and dedication to valuing and nurturing the children as individuals made her the perfect choice to lead our thriving prep school.”

Hinks said: “I’m very ambitious for the school and for our children - I believe you can never put a ceiling on what children can achieve.

“I think Truro High School has a wonderful mix of traditional values with a modern philosophy and that, for me, is where it’s at.”

NEWS

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#FSBCONNECT

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU? It is always a pleasure to hear from our members and help them turn a difficulty into an opportunity.

in the immediate future but among the least confident are those in wholesale & retail and arts & entertainment.

Now things are opening up there are increasing challenges, new rules and a not so normal “new normal” to grapple with every day. At the head of everyone’s list is going over and above the “old normal” version of health and safety to keep everyone socially distanced and Covid-free as businesses try and build customer traffic and confidence again. All this with limited capacity and dwindling funds. It ain’t easy!

However, as we move into the winter months with outdoor venues and customers being less plentiful this is a moving feast. A sizeable share of firms have already had to let staff go so there is focus on reskilling, changing business models and financial planning but there is also a burning desire to rebuild and rebuild better!

Expectations of future performance are increasingly polarised, according to the latest quarterly SBI from FSB, which shows construction, accommodation and food service sectors were among the most confident about a relative uplift in performance

So how can we help you? Apart from campaigning for further tailored support, FSB has a wide range of services available which you can find out more about at our website fsb.org.uk or simply give us a call 0808 2020 888. If there is something that we are not doing that your business needs help with, let us know. Email Ann.Vandermeulen@fsb.org.uk and we can arrange a conversation.

ZOOM IN ON FSB CORNWALL CONVERSATIONS

A CAUTIOUS WELCOME Responding to the result of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)’s business interruption test case, the FSB was pleased to see that this ruling marks a big step forward. It can only be celebrated as a partial victory, however, as it still leaves many with little certainty around whether they will receive pay-outs for policies that have cost them thousands. And for many others with standard interruption cover, this judgement will have no bearing.

FSB national chairman Mike Cherry, said: “The FCA was absolutely right to argue that disease or denial of access clauses within interruption policies should trigger pay-outs in the event of coronavirus-linked disruption. We’re hugely grateful for its work in this space.”

We are all getting more comfortable with using online platforms for meetings, networking and informational webinars. At FSB we are fortunate enough to be a UK wide organisation and like never before our members have been “travelling” to events all over the country without physical travel.

Great for time management, the planet and mental health. We are always surprised by who turns up with people from Wales, Norfolk, Essex, Bournemouth, Scotland to name a few as well as the deepest darkest corners of Cornwall and Devon (talk about the order of Jam and cream on scones is banned).

Every Thursday our virtual meeting place is open from 2.30pm to 3.30pm. It is called FSB

Cornwall Conversations and it’s more than networking. If you imagined FSB had a shop or a drop in office that you could go along to, to meet other businesses, ask questions about FSB or get an answer to an issue that is bothering you then this is it.

We also have some local business support webinars coming up on Diversity & Inclusivity (20th Oct), De-stressing Your Finances (3rd Nov – Cornwall Business Week) and planning for 2021 (15th Dec).

You can find all of our events, all over the country at fsb.org.uk/event-calendar You can also find further nationally sponsored webinars, resources and guidance firstvoice.fsb.org.uk See you there!

The FSB echoes the regulator’s call to insurers to reflect on the clarity provided by this judgement and do the right thing by policyholders, many of which are fearing for their futures after six months of serious disruption.

They acted responsibly by taking out these policies and having them honoured is crucial to encouraging more firms to do the right thing where insurance is concerned.

FSB Offer for Business Cornwall Magazine Readers at www.fsb.org.uk/join If you want to join FSB after reading this page then please quote BCM30 when you join and save £30!

BUSINESS CORNWALL | 41

TOURISM

NEWS

WAIT IS OVER

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RESORT PLANS IMPROVED

Developer, Commercial Estates Group (CEG), says the primary objective of the fresh approach is to move the sea wall back to create a dune sea defence following consultation with Cornwall Council and the Environment Agency.

Public consultation has been held on improved plans for the long-awaited Carlyon Beach development.

The project has been a long-running saga, beset by a number of obstacles over the years – extant planning permission was originally granted in 1990.

Approved plans for the luxury resort are being revised and concentrate on Crinnis Beach. This will comprise of a beachside village of up to 361 homes with easy access to the two-mile stretch of sand at Carlyon Bay.

CEG corporate communications manager, Jacky Swain, said: “The Carlyon Beach development has been a long time in the making, and CEG’s unwavering commitment is a testament to the careful consideration that has gone into every step of these plans.”

After a long delay, Penzance Helicopters was finally able to introduce the state-of-the-art AW139 to its service to the Isles of Scilly.

The aircraft had originally been due to arrive in March but was delayed by export restrictions and control measures linked to Covid-19. It made its debut flight from Penzance to Tresco and St Mary’s on September 12.

Jeremy Awenat, MD of Sloane Helicopters, which operates the service, said: “While awaiting delivery of the helicopter we have maintained the service by operating with a fleet of interim aircraft but the AW139 is our helicopter of choice. We are looking forward to sharing the many benefits that it offers with passengers and the local community.”

CHINA FLEET ADVENTURE HOLIDAYS FOR HEROES in luxury holiday lodges and caravans on the parks.

Mann visited Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park which has announced it is laying on the nocost holidays for NHS staff and other key workers later this year.

Owner of the family business, Patrick Langmaid: “To be frank, the cost to our business pales into insignificance when seen alongside the risks and sacrifices made by the heroes of Britain’s lockdown months. We were delighted that Mr Mann was able to take time out to learn more about our plans, and to meet members of our staff who will be helping these guests enjoy their stay.”

He described the plan as “a fantastic initiative and a wonderful gesture” which is likely to see more than 150 stays provided

In order to provide the free holidays this year, the hire-fleet at Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park will remain open throughout November.

North Cornwall MP Scott Mann has praised a Padstow holiday park for offering free holidays to key workers.

42 | BUSINESS CORNWALL

China Fleet Country Club has increased its attraction facilities by opening an outdoor adventure golf course.

“We opened in August and already we are pleased with the volume of visitors this course has attracted locally and all over the region,” said MD Dean Bennett.

NORTHERN LIGHTS Loganair, the UK’s largest regional airline, has announced its Summer 2021 schedule, with Cornwall Airport Newquay returning to the airline’s network after the launch of services this year was deferred due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

There will be four routes linking Newquay with the north-east of England and Scotland – with up to four weekly flights to Glasgow, four to Edinburgh, three to Newcastle and two flights each week continuing north from Newcastle to Aberdeen as a same-plane service. There will be additional weekly services to Newcastle and Aberdeen during the July and August holidays.

CHAMBER

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NEWS

MEMBER SHOWCASE – CORNWALL TRAINING & CONSULTANCY Cornwall Training & Consultancy is continuing to provide local, affordable, high-quality training courses and has made the training centre Covid secure for your safety. Director Simon Blench explains all.

Working with Cornwall Chamber and its members has enabled us to support some of the business members to continue to trade throughout the current difficult times. We also used member services to help us through the past few months.

Whether we are offering Health & Safety advice and guidance, safety equipment supply, or training, we put you, the client at the heart of everything we do. We guarantee that excellence is at the forefront of all of Cornwall Training’s services. Our training courses include First Aid & Pre-Hospital Care, Health & Safety subjects, Fire Safety, Construction-

based courses, Hospitality-based courses and Mental Health support courses. All of which are flexible to meet your needs.

Advice is always on hand and is of course, free. Attendees benefit from our inspiring, professional, and diverse training team, who deliver from experience gained across a range of Emergency services and commercial business, which stands us above other providers, as we do what we teach. We are now approved to run apprenticeships for the coming year, which is a significant achievement for the team at Cornwall Training. Along with the Event Medical Support team, we are now back supporting local events.

The above can enable us to empower and give confidence to the people of Cornwall and beyond to learn to save lives and be safe at home and work.

We have a range of courses running each week, with fewer attendees on courses, which means more dates are available, adhering to Covid-19 safety procedures.

With the flexibility to work around your needs, it makes us the go-to compliance training company in Cornwall.

We welcome new and existing clients the ability to meet the trainers and to walk around the centre to see how we are operating during the current climate. You can view the light airy and comfortable training rooms with natural ventilation to put your minds at ease, that we are keeping your staff safe.

Please check the website for more information at www.cornwalltraining.com give us a call on 01726 932293 or email admin@cornwalltraining.com for information and to book your courses.

CORNWALL BUSINESS FAIR 2020 On November 4, Cornwall Business Fair, Cornwall’s largest networking event, is going virtual!

WHY JOIN? Cornwall Chamber of Commerce is an independent not for profit organisation accredited by the British Chambers of Commerce. We solely exist to represent businesses in Cornwall. Our events provide a platform for businesses to connect, create and make valuable business relationships. Membership to the chamber starts from as little as £17+ VAT per month and provides you and your business with the tools you need to promote your business.

Get in touch today to have a chat about how we can support you and your business.

As the Cornwall Business Fair enters its 11th year, Cornwall Chamber is excited to bring a new way of networking during the current pandemic. Cornwall Chamber has been busy behind the scenes working with a new software to offer businesses this unique opportunity that will encourage a drive of positivity for the county after a time of darkness.

Naomi Copperwait, events executive at Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, said: “It is very exciting to be using software which has previously been used by big brands such as Nestle, T-Mobile and Ford. This will be the perfect platform for businesses to develop valuable business relationships, grow supply chains, and promote your business.”

The software will be the home of the virtual business fair on November 4. It will be a great place to meet and connect with a range of businesses from the comfort of your own home or office with no special app needed, you can attend or exhibit on any device.

For exhibitors, the software is easy to navigate and setting up a stand is simple. A custom

Email: hello@cornwallchamber.co.uk Call: 01209 216006 Online: www.cornwallchamber.co.uk

link is sent to set up your stand, allowing you to upload documents, videos, images and have full creativity of your stand design.

Exhibitors can redirect any image to their product, service or website and connect with attendees through a live chat room, available on all stands. Networking has been made easy with a dedicated networking area, where you are able to have a conversation with anyone by searching their company name or job role.

Delegates can add information from businesses stands to their virtual goody bag. At the end of the day the information in the goody bag can be downloaded or sent straight to your email.

The Chamber recently hosted a live webinar to introduce this innovative new way of networking. If you would like to watch the webinar and gain more of an insight into how the Business Fair will be run virtually, why you should join and how to sign up, please visit the Cornwall Chamber’s website, cornwallchamber.co.uk/cornwall-business-fair Cornwall Chamber is excited to see the virtual event come to life in November, partnering the fair are Cornwall Chamber members Cornwall Training & Consultancy. Take a step into the virtual world, position your brand in front of the Chamber’s extensive network and support the on-going recovery of Cornwall.

Interested in exhibiting?

Email naomi@cornwallchamber.co.uk BUSINESS CORNWALL | 43

CREATIVE

AND DIGITAL

LISKEARD GOES FASTER

EXTRA COLATERAL

Liskeard has become Cornwall’s first location to benefit from the fastest level of broadband speeds available.

Homes and businesses in the town centre are now able to connect to download speeds of up to a gigabit a second, after Wildanet installed the latest wireless technology on top of Liskeard’s town hall.

Gigabit speeds are usually only available with FTTP (fibre-to-the-premises) connections. However, Wildanet’s technological solution means that these speeds are available wirelessly.

CEO Ian Calvert explained: “Better connectivity is especially crucial for Cornwall, where broadband speeds have historically been slower than many other areas of the UK. Wildanet’s technology is not reliant on the outdated cable infrastructure, which is a bonus for Cornwall and Liskeard.”

NEW DEAL AT WILD CARD The Wild Card and Wild West communications agencies are merging under a single banner.

Wild West, which has offices in Truro and Bristol, will now work alongside its Londonbased parent company under its Wild Card name. As part of these structural changes, Georgie Upton, previously MD of Wild West, will take on the role of MD of Wild Card.

Truro-based software company Colateral has successfully completed its latest funding round including further investment of £200k from both the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Investment Fund (CIOSIF) and existing corporate investor, SMP Group PLC. The Future Fund, which supports innovative UK companies with growth potential, has also committed £400k.

Previously known as Swoop Applications, the company has recently rebranded as Colateral in order to improve market relevance.

Its Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform manages instore marketing campaigns for

Founder Kate Wild explained: “We have taken the opportunity over the last few months to review the shape of the business to ensure we are in the strongest position to continue to provide exemplary thinking and service to our clients going forward.

“The past months have illustrated how easily and effectively we can work as a joined up team, albeit from different locations in the UK. Our offices will still be important focal points for creative development and client meetings; equally we now have confidence in the technical ability to work remotely where required.”

South west IT company, Acronyms, has acquired Cornish IT specialist IT-OK.

44 | BUSINESS CORNWALL

HOME SWEET HOME Idenna Creative is celebrating a change of scenery after completing an office move in the midst of the global pandemic.

Creative director, James Neale, said: “We were already thinking about making a move before lockdown happened in March, as we were looking for an upgraded office and studio that reflects how we feel as one of Cornwall’s leading creative agencies.

The acquisition comes after discussions with former IT-OK directors Ian Chambers and Andrew Hampton, both of whom will now focus on their digital agency, Pitched.

Acronyms hopes to open its new Cornish office in early 2021.

Colateral chairman, Robert Salvoni, said: “Colateral is an end-to-end solution, capturing the needs of individual stores and tailoring campaigns to match. As the business continues to grow and expand, even in these unprecedented market conditions, we are delighted to have received additional funding from CIOSIF and our private investors, allowing us to continue with our recruitment drive, further developing our already strong and robust team.”

The creative agency has made the move down the A30 from Victoria to its new creative space at Indian Queens.

The move allows Acronyms, which has offices in Bristol and Plymouth, to increase the number of clients in Cornwall, bring on board specialist staff and continue its growth plans.

“We are delighted to have acquired IT-OK. The business that Ian and Andrew have built up gives us a great opportunity to continue their success in Cornwall,” said Dave Smith, MD at Acronyms (pictured right).

retailers, cutting waste, improving communication with stores and helping to drive increased sales with better display compliance.

It works with some of the UK’s leading retailers including Paddy Power, The Works and WH Smith.

NEW OWNERS AT IT-OK

“The opportunity to take one of the modern facilities at Indian Queens Trading Estate came up at the perfect time! Whilst we didn’t necessarily need desk space over the past few months, we definitely needed a central hub so that the film and photography team could manage kit as we were still out and about on shoots, so it was the best of both worlds.”

FOOD &

WORLD’S BEST

DRINK

CREAM ON TOP Cornish dairy business AE Rodda & Son has reported a strong set of results for its last financial year.

The Scorrier-based company recorded sales of £38 million, up from £36 million a year earlier.

Operating profit, before exceptional costs and other operating income, came in at £1.877m, while gross profit improved to 24.7% from 19.9%, reflecting, it said, “lower production costs, improved efficiencies and ongoing restructure savings”.

Sharp’s has announced a number of successes at the World Beer Awards 2020.

The Rock-based brewery was awarded six medals including the highest accolade of ‘World’s Best Pale Bitter’ for Sea Fury and ‘UK Best in Category’ for its collaboration with Rick Stein - Chalky’s Bite.

It scored 98/100 in the London Dry category, one of only three London Dry Gin’s to be marked so highly.

The team’s innovative new brew and the first scale 0.0% amber ale in the UK market, Doom Bar Zero was awarded silver. There was a bronze medal for Sharp’s Wolf Rock and a further bronze medal for Offshore Pilsner.

Co-founder and distiller, Simon Finemore, said: “Over the past few years gin has really had its moment, with Britain having 1,700 different gins alone. It’s amazing that our small distillery, nestled on the Helford Passage, can compete on the international stage and come out on top, alongside the very best in the world.”

Meanwhile, different tipple but same result as Monterey Gin was recognised as one of the world’s top gins after it was awarded Gold Outstanding in the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC).

According to the Wine & Spirit Trade Association, last year saw over 83 million bottles of gin sold in the UK worth around £2.6 billion, with gin sales almost doubling in value in just two years.

Cornish soft drinks company Jolly’s has launched its new Cornish Tonic Water.

Despite initial delays due to lockdown, MD Cheryl Ingram is excited to now see the canned tonic water hit the shelves.

JUST THE TONIC

She said: “With such a resurgence of the Cornish Gin scene we felt it only right that our first drink to launch from our new canned range of soft drinks should be our Cornish Tonic Water. We are thrilled with our new brand look, stylish environmentally-friendly packaging and our 200ml can is the perfect size for a gin and tonic.”

Jolly’s new Cornish Tonic Water is made with fresh Cornish water from a spring that was discovered 40 metres below Jolly’s new factory in Saltash and is blended with natural quinine and botanicals with notes of citrus.

THE PACKET SETS SAIL The team behind acclaimed seafood pub, The Tolcarne Inn in Newlyn, has launched its second Cornish inn.

Chef and restaurateur Ben Tunnicliffe (pictured above right), alongside his head chef Matt Smith (pictured above left), have taken over The Packet Inn – an old coaching inn near Prussia Cove.

Whereas the location of The Tolcarne – on the harbourside of one of the UK’s major fishing ports - naturally dictates a focus on seafood, The Packet sits between coast and countryside and so here Tunnicliffe and Smith will look to both for inspiration.

“The timing is challenging,” admitted Smith, “and there’s not many people launching new enterprises right now, but The Packet will be very accessible – both in terms of location and price – and the site lends itself well to adaptation and social distancing.

“It’s really great to be doing something positive - our staff and suppliers have received a much-needed boost as a result of this launch.”

BUSINESS CORNWALL | 45

PEOPLE

ON THE MOVE

A KNIGHT RIDES IN MORE STAFF AT BICKERSTAFF ACCA-qualified Kelly Ovett has joined Haylebased accountancy firm Bickerstaff & Co. A keen biker, Ovett becomes the sixth member of the Bickerstaff team, which recently moved into new larger offices on the Guildford Road Industrial Estate in Hayle.

MD Jenny Opie said: “I am so proud of what my team and I have achieved, especially through the uncertainty of the last few months. With the addition of Kelly to the team, I know that bigger and brighter things await us and our clients.”

South west insurance broker, WPS Hallam, has appointed two new senior account managers.

Jerry Knight, who has 20 years’ commercial broking experience, will be based out of Truro, while corporate and commercial insurance specialist Stephen King will be stationed in Exeter.

WPS sales and marketing director, Steve Harvey, said: “We are delighted to welcome both Steve and Jerry to the team. Both are extremely well known in the local business community and are focused to delivering an exceptional local broking and Risk Management service to businesses here in the south west and beyond.”

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

NEW MURRELL ASSOCIATE

Bishop Fleming has welcomed its next fleet of apprentices.

Thirty-five university graduates and nine school leavers joined the chartered accountancy firm’s new apprenticeship programme last month.

Bishop Fleming says the investment in trainees supports its continued growth. The 2020 intake sees a 29% increase compared to 2019. The firm has grown overall by 13% in the last three years and has seen continued growth for the past ten years.

Truro-based law firm Murrell Associates has recruited highly-regarded corporate lawyer, Nikki Reid.

experience of working with clients in the renewable energy, waste recycling, food, veterinary and healthcare sectors.

The new intake will work across the firms seven offices, including Truro, and across a variety of sectors including tax, audit, restructuring and corporate business services.

Reid, who qualified as a solicitor in 2014, joins as an associate having worked at two top 100 UK law firms in East Anglia.

Murrell Associates senior partner, Hugh Murrell, said: “I am very pleased that Nikki has chosen to join the practice, a decision that I think underlines the fact that moving to the south west represents the best of both worlds; quality work in a great environment.”

Anna Averis, people director for Bishop Fleming, said: “I am delighted that as a firm we have recruited a record breaking number of trainees, and even more so that we are able to get them started with the firm this September, despite challenges met by the coronavirus pandemic.”

She has worked with entrepreneurs of startup businesses to sophisticated corporate investment firms and has extensive

46 | BUSINESS CORNWALL

JUST A THOUGHT

OPINION

When times are good, says Big Box Advertising director Mike Bee, you should advertise. When times are bad you must advertise

TIME TO SHOUT! Many business leaders have talked a lot about why it is important to ‘pivot’ during the Covid-19 pandemic.

They all have their own ideas about what it actually means as well as their own agendas for telling every business owner that it’s important to do it. What does it actually mean? Why is it important?

I think that ‘pivot’ means that during times of crisis, it’s more important than ever to get seen more by your customers. I think it’s important because consumers need an extra nudge to make purchasing decisions at the moment for many different reasons. This is not the first time in history businesses have had to work extra hard to make more sales.

For some of us, it’s happened very much in living memory.

A lot of businesses internationally and locally learned a lot of lessons from each of these bad times. This is why I think when times are good you should advertise. When times are bad you must advertise.

In the 1920s, during the great depression and just after the last global Spanish flu pandemic, Kellogg’s cereal doubled its advertising while its main competitor, Post, cut back on its advertising significantly. Kellogg’s profits grew by 30% and they became the industry leader globally. A hundred years later, I would take a guess that you have a box of Kellogg’s in your

cupboard right now. I also bet you are sitting at your desk thinking ‘who is Post?’.

saying that if we all ‘pivot’ then we will all end of like Jeff, but we can all dream.

Between 1973 and 1975, Toyota pressed ahead with the promotion of their famous Toyota ‘Corolla’. In 1976 they ended up passing Volkswagen as the top imported carmaker in the country.

All of the companies above have the same thing in common, they pivoted. In my opinion, your situation doesn’t define you, you define your situation.

In 1990/91, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell (famously part of the same group) increased their marketing budgets while nearly all of their competitors cut theirs. Pizza Hut’s sales grew by 61% and Taco Bell by 40%. On average, their competitors sales dropped by 25%. This really shows the power of advertising and why we all should do it all the time.

Your situation doesn’t define you, you define your situation

I am nearly finished with my history lesson so please bear with me…

After the global financial crisis in 2008, Jeff Bezos (who famously owns Amazon) decided to give a nod to his love for Star Trek and launch a touch screen book called the Kindle.

Amazons sales (much like now) grew by 28% during a time of financial crisis. I have just read today that Jeff Bezos is now the first person in history to be worth over $200 billion. I am not

At Big Box Advertising, we have pivoted (although I still dislike that word). We have not only advised our advertisers to change their messaging to suit the times we live in (to great success), we have also used our digital information screens in the Royal Cornwall Hospital to show up to date Covid-19 information to staff and the public in real time from Public Health England.

We have also launched Big Box Creative Design which offers graphic design solutions to businesses such as logos, leaflets, business cards etc. We have been really busy because we have pivoted.

To conclude, I thought I would leave you all with a story. Sam Walton who is the founder of Walmart put it best when he was asked by a reporter “What do you think of this recession?” His reply: “I thought about it and decided not to participate”.

BUSINESS CORNWALL | 47

THE LAST

WORD

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG? I actually told my mum when I was little that I wanted to be a holidaymaker!

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST FULL TIME JOB? I was an account manager for a publisher when I was living out in New Zealand.

WHAT’S IN YOUR POCKETS? A face mask, a poo bag and some sand. Definitely not my keys (I can never remember where they are even after I’ve just used them).

HOW DO YOU LIKE TO RELAX? I meditate, jog, surf, skate, hang out with friends, cook, eat, drink and spend time with my perfect family almost always in that order.

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT CORNWALL? Cornwall has a primal energy that is like nowhere else on Earth. Standing on the shore line, watching huge Atlantic swells driven in by south westerly storm systems as the seasons change on a spring low tide is magical. Everything about our county oozes creativity and adventure.

IF YOU COULD INVITE ANY TWO PEOPLE FOR DINNER, WHO WOULD THEY BE AND WHY WOULD YOU INVITE THEM? My mum and my brother. I lost them both too young and I’d love to see and talk to them again.

Celebrity-wise it would be Ian Brown and Kanye West can you imagine?

IF YOU COULD BE GOD FOR A DAY, WHAT MIRACLE WOULD YOU PERFORM? I’d reset the world’s understanding of nature and natural resources and give people the intelligence they need to protect the planet.

WHAT’S THE GREATEST INVENTION EVER? The printing press – it democratised news and education.

WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST MISTAKE IN LIFE? I left the chip pan on at my mum’s flat in Spain back in the day (don’t worry, that’s not the reason she’s not here anymore). The new kitchen was pretty expensive!

WHAT WAS YOUR LUCKIEST BREAK? I haven’t had it yet.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE DOING IN FIVE YEARS’ TIME? I’d be working as the creative director at Idenna, telling the stories of all the wonderful businesses we get to work with. Oh, and meditating, jogging, surfing, skating, hanging out with friends, cooking, eating, drinking and spending time with my perfect family always in that order.

48 | BUSINESS CORNWALL

JAMES NEALE

Idenna creative director

Truro School Visit our website to view our

VIRTUAL TOUR truroschool.com/admissions to be, rather than to seem to be

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Follow us

Take on the challenge OF a lifetime with Cornwall Air Ambulance In partnership with Global Adventure Challenges, we are offering a series of truly incredible international challenges Snowdon at Night • • • •

Costa Rica Coast to Coast Cycle

When: 7–8 August 2021 Challenge Duration: 2 Days (1 Night Trekking) Challenge Distance: Approx. 9.5 miles Challenge Grading: Challenging

• When: November 2021 • Duration: 10 days • Distance: Approx. 467km • Grading: Extreme

Climb Wales’ highest mountain by night

Sahara Desert Trek

Trekking Mt Snowdon during the day creates a great challenge and has been conquered by many… But what about trekking using torches to light your way and having the moon as your backdrop?

You will feel a completely new sense of achievement as you watch the sun rise.

• When: November 2021 • Duration: 6 days • Distance: Approx.

17–21 hours of trekking • Grading: Challenging

You will trek up Mt Snowdon by moonlight, ascending approximately 1,085m. Seeing the sunrise across Snowdonia National Park will be a memory never forgotten. Upon your descent, you will witness the breathtaking mountain range open up to give glorious views and afterwards, tuck into a delicious celebration breakfast.

“

The Alps Trek • When: June 2021 • Duration: 5 days • Distance: 46–48 km • Grading: Tough

Doing a challenge with CAAT helped me to achieve a life goal, while supporting my favourite charity. It’s an experience I’ll never forget.

“

– Steph, Machu Picchu Trek 2018

For more information and for a full list of challenge opportunities, get in touch:

www.cornwallairambulancetrust.org/events 01637 889926 Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust Trevithick Downs, Newquay, Cornwall TR8 4DY Registered charity 1133295

enquiries@cornwallairambulancetrust.org