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APRIL 2021 | ISSUE 146 | £3.95
HEALTHY SUCCESS
INTERVIEW WITH NEWQUAY RETAILER CLAIRE HERON-MAXWELL
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APRIL 2021
INSIDE FEATURES 10 CEO INTERVIEW WE MEET THE FOUNDER OF SPROUT HEALTH FOODS, CLAIRE HERON-MAXWELL
16 CORNWALL BUSINESS SHOW BOOK YOU STAND NOW FOR THE CORNWALL BUSINESS SHOW ON OCTOBER 7
17 EMPLOYMENT & HR THE CHANGING FACE OF RECRUITMENT
24 30 UNDER 30 THE SEARCH IS ON TO DISCOVER CORNWALL’S BRIGHTEST YOUNG BUSINESS TALENT
ISSUE 146
REGULARS 4 INCOMING A BUDGET BONUS?
6 BUSINESS NEWS BUMPER SALES FOR CLOTHING COMPANIES
38 FOOD & DRINK CORNISH CHEESE IN TIMES SQUARE
40 CREATIVE & DIGITAL ENTREPRENEUR RETURNS TO CORNWALL
44 EDUCATION & TRAINING NEWS COLLEGE MAKES ‘SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS’
45 ON THE MOVE WHO’S GONE WHERE
46 JUST A THOUGHT RETAIL FIXER SAM TAYLOR
48 THE LAST WORD STEPHENS SCOWN’S BRIAN DOLAN
41 FSB FEDERATION OF SMALL BUSINESSES ROUNDUP
42 TOURISM CORNWALL TOURSIM AWARDS WINNERS
26 BREWING UP A STORM SKINNER’S BREWERY BOUNCING BACK
28 COMMERCIAL PROPERTY SECTOR SHOWING REMARKABLE RESILIANCE
36 UNLOCKING POTENTIAL GO DIGITAL OR GO DARK
PHOTO: CBD HITS THE MAINSTREAM SEE PAGE 7 FOR FULL STORY
BUSINESS CORNWALL | 1
APRIL 2021
CORNWALL'S PREMIER BUSINESS RESOURCE FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS AND OPINION
businesscornwall.co.uk
APRIL 2021 | ISSUE 146 | £3.95
HEALTHY SUCCESS
INTERVIEW WITH NEWQUAY RETAILER CLAIRE HERON-MAXWELL
HUMAN RESOURCES SECTOR FOCUS
30 UNDER 30 NOMINATE NOW!
04
04 9 772514
842001
9 772514
842001
ON THE COVER CLAIRE HERON-MAXWELL OF SPROUT HEALTH FOODS SEE PAGE 10 EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Nick Eyriey nick@businesscornwall.co.uk PUBLISHER Toni Eyriey toni@businesscornwall.co.uk
WELCOME
BY EDITOR NICK EYRIEY
ISSUE 146
A CHANGING WORLD The pandemic has had and is still having a remarkable influence upon how we all live our lives and carry out business. One year on from lockdown #1, while there is real light at the end of the tunnel as the vaccine continues to be rolled out, the impact is still being felt on a daily basis. In this issue we look at the changing face of recruitment in the face of Covid-19. Over the past year there has been much upheaval as employers and employees have been forced to do things differently. Long gone the face-to-face interviews for instance, instead they have all been replaced with interrogation via Zoom and Microsoft Teams. On page 17 we examine this and also other trends and developments in the workplace.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Morveth Ward morveth@businesscornwall.co.uk ACCOUNT MANAGER Caroline Carter caroline@businesscornwall.co.uk 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
Of course, many of us have been working from home over the past year. This has not been an ideal scenario for the office space sector, with many businesses revising their plans and requirements for once lockdown is over. However, the commercial property market as a whole has been proving to be remarkably resilient in the face of the pandemic, as we discover in our sector focus on page 28.
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.
The pandemic has also given many of us the time to reflect on the wider environment around us and how we live our lives more holistically. And while fast food takeaways have all be doing a roaring trade, healthier alternatives have also been moving more onto the centre stage and into public consciousness, and on page 10 we meet one of the leading proponents in Cornwall, Claire Heron-Maxwell, owner of the Sprout Health Foods shop and café in Newquay.
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THE CONVERSATION
THOMAS SMITH Miller Commercial
The big question
I was expecting a little more in terms of addressing the question of business rates – especially with the impact they have on the high street. While the extension of the rates holiday for retailers and leisure providers to June and a 66% discount for the remainder of tax year, it seems the Chancellor has kicked the can down the road and has not addressed the real challenge that business rates presents – that they do not accurately reflect the market conditions and they do not address the imbalance between town shopping and online retail.
TOM ROACH
PKF Francis Clark
Pleased with the Budget 2021 announcement? Was it a Budget for business, or something that fell short of expectations? Join the conversation @biz_cornwall
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CBILS, CLBILS, BBLS, Future Fund AIA, Small Business Grant Fund, LRSG, Lockdown Payments, ARG, Wet-led Pub Grants, SSP Rebate, CRAR (My favourite!) VAT Deferral, Business Rates, Reduced VAT rate, Eat out to Help Out, Charities Support, Culture Support, Sports Support, Zoos and Aquariums Support, TV and Films restart, CJRS, SEISS, UC increase, SDLT relief, Kickstart, Restart, Apprentice grant, Skills training…if he hasn’t done enough he’s certainly improved his scrabble scores!
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While we welcome some of the measures introduced to help businesses survive in the short term, this budget showed that the Chancellor has failed to understand the gravity of the long-term problems we face. The Government is about to host the G7 here in Cornwall and has been making
WHY DOES YOUR BUSINESS NEED FAST INTERNET? Cornwall boasts some impressive broadband connectivity but behind the headlines, large swathes of the county and many businesses are poorly served by current infrastructure and missing out on the huge opportunities that fast and reliable Internet brings, says Wildanet CTO, Paddy Paddison. If you’ve been running your business for a while you’ve probably learned to cope with slow and (sometimes) unreliable Internet. Maybe you’ve got
4 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
little workarounds for the fact you can’t rely on your connection. You might even have convinced yourself it’s not a problem for your business.
THE CONVERSATION
noises about ‘building back better’ after the pandemic is over. But if it’s serious about this and really wants to show some leadership on the climate crisis, it would not be continuing to offer tax breaks on the burning of fossil fuels. Instead, it would be making sure the biggest polluters pay for the carbon they emit at great cost to us all.
KEVIN GEORGEL St Austell Brewery
As we work through the finer detail of the Budget announcement, we feel positive about the balanced financial measures that the Chancellor has put forward. It’s clear that he recognises the importance of the hospitality sector to our economy, and the vital role that pubs play in communities across the West Country and beyond. The extension of the furlough scheme, until the end of September, will help us to safeguard jobs and bring our teams back on a phased basis, as trade gradually rebuilds. We also welcome the confirmation of additional grants - up to £18k per pub – and the extension of the VAT cut and business rates holiday. As a brewer, and a long-time supporter of the Long Live the Local campaign, we know that the Chancellor’s decision to freeze alcohol duty once again has also provided muchneeded relief for the industry.
PHIL SMITH
Business West It was another extraordinary Budget from the Chancellor, reflecting what is an extraordinary time for the UK economy. Businesses will welcome an extension of the
But think of it another way; what aren’t you doing because you’ve got slow or unreliable Internet service? Are you backing up your business-critical data? If you’re not and all your customer data is on hard drives in the office, what plans do you have in the event the hard drive fails (and they do, regularly!)? How many customers do you have to travel to see, instead of talking to them via high-quality video calls? Wasting hours driving when you could be talking to new customers. Having fast reliable internet can change your business. Staff aren’t waiting for pages to load (how many hours a week is that?) Your business is more secure because business-
full range of Covid-19 support measures, with the timescales longer than many were expecting. The extension of the furlough scheme, an extended and more targeted selfemployed scheme, a new tranche of business grants and a new recovery loan scheme will all continue to provide a safety net for businesses through to the autumn. There will be disappointment, however, that limited company owners appear yet again to have been forgotten. Overall, given the uncertainty that still hangs over the ending of lockdown, the Chancellor’s approach makes good sense and contrasts favourably from the ‘stop start’ approach to previous business support extensions.
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Institute of Directors SW Business leaders will be relieved that the furlough scheme has been extended further into the year. Many firms have used the Job Retention Scheme to support their cashflow while restrictions have eaten into their revenues, and without it job losses would be even higher. By extending support until the end of September, the Chancellor has given many businesses an extra cushion as they attempt to re-scale and re-hire when the economy reopens. Hospitality and the leisure industry has been particularly hard hit in the south west and needs all the help it can get to rebuild. Widening the eligibility for self-employed income support is also welcome step, as many have gone without significant earnings for almost a year but the Chancellor missed a trick by not providing grants for company directors who continue to be left out in the cold.
critical data is stored in the cloud. Emails and file transfers are downloaded, and data, presentations and large video or graphics packages are uploaded instantly, so you’re not sat watching the progress bar (how many hours a week is that?). Of course, in these days of Covid and home working (which I don’t think is going to change) staff working from home also need a fast, reliable internet connection to enable them to work effectively and efficiently. This means a lot of businesses need to think beyond their own offices for fast reliable internet.
broadband to businesses throughout Cornwall. It has a range of options including discounted home connections for staff if your business is connected via Wildanet’s network. Call 0800 0699906 to find out how Wildanet’s broadband can help your business thrive, so you can get on with doing what you do best – running your business.
Wildanet is the Cornish broadband provider bringing superfast and super-reliable BUSINESS CORNWALL | 5
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CORNWALL B LOCAL TRAFFIC FREE LAUNCHES Cornwall has launched a ‘B Local’ initiative, promoting the work of the growing B Corporation movement across the world. B Corporations (B Corp) aspire to look beyond just profit and instead are united in their efforts to use what they do as a force for good. There are approximately 3,800 B Corps globally, including such names as Patagonia, Ben & Jerry’s and Innocent, and 14 in Cornwall – Finisterre, Fluid Branding, Green & Blue, Gydeline, Leap, Made for Life Organics, Made Open, Origin Coffee, Resonance, Solve, Ward Williams Associates, Water Skills Academy, Wild West Communications and Voice Communications.
The Cornwall B Local group, just one of six in the UK, is being co-chaired by Matt Hocking, founder of Cornwall’s first B Corp, Leap, and Russell Cosway from recently accredited, Gydeline. Its ambition is to build one of the largest B Corp communities in the UK outside of London, highlighting Cornwall’s progressive approach to modern-day, purposeful business. Hocking said: “We want the B Local in Cornwall to help progressive businesses realise the importance of balancing their people, the planet and prosperity for all. We want to demystify the journey of becoming a B Corporation, encouraging all those interested in becoming a force for good.”
Truro will be reinstating its temporary city centre road closures when non-essential retail reopens this month. The social distancing measures, which give residents and visitors space to shop, coincide with step 2 of the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown. The roadmap sets out the reopening of non-essential shops, outdoor hospitality and close contact services from April 12 at the earliest. Truro’s main shopping streets will be traffic-free daily, Monday through to Sunday, from Monday 12 April during 11am until 3pm. The road closures will be in place until Sunday June 20 to coincide with step 4 of the Government’s roadmap, where covid-19 restrictions could end from June 21 at the earliest.
STRONG SALES GROWTH Newquay-based fashion brand Celtic & Co has reported strong growth despite the pandemic. The company says sales increased 80% year-on-year for its AW20 (Autumn/Winter) season. Celtic & Co sells its luxury womenswear, menswear and homeware directly to customers through its website and call centre and exports to over 60 countries across the globe. Despite the challenges of Covid-19, Celtic
FOUNDERS NICK AND KATH WHITWORTH 6 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
& Co says its sales were helped by the shift towards online shopping and “a consumer desire for comfortable clothing and footwear during lockdowns”.
Overall, Celtic & Co’s full year sales growth has risen by 75% from £8.9 million to £15.5 million with all footwear and clothing categories significantly up year on year.
The company says it has managed to significantly increase sales numbers year on year in each key geographical territory including the UK, US, Germany, Canada and Australia.
Co-founder Nick Whitworth said: “Our strategy is to focus on a wide range of markets and opportunities to ensure we are not over reliant on one market or territory.
International sales exceeded 31% of all sales in 2020 and grew by 88% yoy, from £2.6 million in 2019 to £4.9 million in 2020.
“A key part of this strategy is international growth. We will be targeting a further 20% increase in net sales and increased profitability in 2021.”
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Cockwells Modern & Classic Boatbuilding has acquired The South West Shipyard at Ponsharden. Cockwells has purchased the freehold of this waterside site, located between Falmouth and Penryn, to enable it to meet demand for its Duchy Motor Launches and Hardy motor yachts.
COCKWELLS ACQUISITION
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The shipyard comprises two large sheds that equate to 25,000sq ft of undercover space, which have been managed as two separate entities until now.
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The acquisition, which will unite these sheds, its quay and slipway, has been 100% funded by Cockwells and its shareholders.
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Founder and MD, Dave Cockwell, said: “We are proud to create a fantastic new resource for marine manufacturing, adjacent to the Penryn River, which will provide more highly-skilled jobs for local people.
Leased Lines
“With the expansion of our Duchy Motor Launches to include 45’ and 60’ models; our recent acquisition of the Hardy brand of motor yachts that range from 32’ to 65’, and a very strong forward order book, we need more space than our purpose-built HQ at the Mylor Creek Boatyard will allow. “The South West Shipyard will provide us with additional capacity so that we can build more of these larger vessels.” The site will undergo full refurbishment within the next 12 months and it is anticipated that this expansion will create at least another 50 highly-skilled jobs across all the trades. Financial terms were not disclosed.
CBD HITS THE MAINSTREAM A Cornish company has launched a new skincare range using CBD and hemp seed oil as ingredients. Of all the trends in the beauty world, few are having as big an impact as skin care products made with CBD oil, or Cannabidiol’ to give it its proper name. Cannabidiol is an extract of the cannabis plant, as is hemp seed oil which is said to be
incredibly rich in nutrients such as omega 3 and 6. The nutrient-rich ingredients are hailed as helping everything from age wrinkles to inflammation.
of THC (the chemical which gives cannabis users the famous ‘high’). The number of people using CBD oil in the UK alone is estimated to stand at around 1.3 million.
One of the founders of Bude-based EthicaCBD, Ruarri Spurgeon, said: “Thanks to increased medical research and a re-education around CBD, the naturally occurring compound has become more and more desirable. We’re proud to be leading the way for ethical, pure CBD and hemp skin care products here in Cornwall.” CBD is legal in the UK. Although derived from the cannabis plant, the most important distinction to make between CBD and other cannabis-related products is the absence
BUSINESS CORNWALL | 7
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FERITECH EXPANSION
tech markets, including aerospace and telecoms. Over 90% of the company’s products and services are exported, with clients in more than 40 different countries. MD, Rob Ferris, said: “This will be a brand-new facility here in Cornwall for design and build of advanced manufacturing solutions for any market sector. We want to work in collaboration with a wide range of tech businesses in Cornwall, helping turn their innovative, market-leading ideas into reality.
A Cornish engineering company is set to open a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility on a three-acre site just outside Falmouth this summer. Feritech is a major player in marine technology and is now expanding into new
FRUGI SALES UP 51% Helston-based organic and ethical children’s wear company Frugi has reported a big rise in sales. The Frugi Group – comprising Frugi and reusable products brands TotsBots and Bloom & Nora – has reported that its consumer business increased sales by 51% for the seven months from June to the year ended December 2020. Frugi, which has also decided to repay its furlough funds to HMRC, says the growth has been driven by the continued momentum in shoppers buying from D2C businesses, especially throughout the pandemic. This coupled with the behavioural shift of consumers increasingly buying from ethical and sustainable brands. CEO Sarah Clark said: “Although the economic situation has been and will remain a challenge, the strength of the Frugi community and continued interest in our core value, of putting people and planet first, has helped support the growth of our business these past 12 months. “We have some exciting plans in our pipeline this year that I anticipate will support momentum in the domestic and international growth of our brands.” 8 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
“The new multimillion pound facility offers everything from fabrication and machining to electronics and embedded software development. This will be the largest facility of its kind in the south west and one of the largest in the UK, with design and manufacturing services provided on one site.”
Ferris says he wants the business to establish a reputation as a design and manufacturing hub for innovative local businesses of all kinds, including start-ups and new product developers. “We expect this will be a catalyst for new growth in high tech manufacturing in Cornwall,” he said, “so that we can retain much more of this high value business within our local area, rather than it being outsourced to other parts of the country. In addition, collaborative working on larger projects can be a big win for the local economy.” Matt Hodson, marine operations director for the Cornwall Development Company, added: “Ever since the company was founded, Feritech has been a leader, not a follower. They continually challenge themselves to develop world-leading products that break the mould. Companies like Feritech will be vital to our economic future, as we seek to recover from the impact of Covid, while also grasping vital new growth opportunities.”
PART OF THE NETFLIX CREW A high-end fitness tool developed by a Cornish company is featuring on a new comedy series on Netflix. ‘The Crew’ follows a NASCAR team as they embark on a season of racing with a new and innovation-led CEO. Kevin James (‘Hitch’ and ‘King of Queens’) leads the squad as they struggle to adapt their old ways to a new technology driven future. And helping them in this quest, is a CardioWall Pro-X from Bodmin-based Rugged Interactive. Rugged Interactive founder, Simon Heap, said: “It’s fantastic to be involved in a global series of course, and the coverage that Netflix brings with their millions of viewers, not to mention the international fanbase of NASCAR should really kickstart our sales in the US particularly over the next few months.” Rugged Interactive designs and manufactures products for schools, active fun, elite sport, wellness and active ageing.
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St Austell-based British Lithium Limited (BLL) has been awarded over £2.9 million from the Government’s Sustainable Innovation Fund (SIF).
customer requirements. Once proven, the company hopes to move on to full-scale production of an annual 21,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate in 3 to 5 years’ time.
The funding will allow BLL to progress its plans for a pilot plant to prove the sustainability and commercial benefits of its innovative Li-Sep technology for extracting battery-grade lithium from micaceous granite.
British Lithium CEO Andrew Smith said: “We are delighted to have won Government recognition of our important work in Cornwall and the significant contribution we’ll be making to ‘building back better’ and achieving zero carbon emissions.”
The pilot plant will also produce samples for customer acceptance, tailored to individual
BLL was the first company to drill for lithium in the UK in early 2019, and its fourth drilling campaign, the largest yet, commenced in February.
FULL POWER AHEAD
NEWS IN BRIEF Local law firm Stephens Scown LLP advised Cornish Metals on its recent listing on London’s AIM market and an oversubscribed £8.2 million equity fundraise. Cornish Metals is now pressing ahead with its United Downs copper-tin exploration project near Redruth and the South Crofty tin project in Pool. ____________________ Truro-based modular build company, ISO Spaces, has agreed to sponsor elite cycling team, Saint Piran at the Tour of Britain race this September. The Saint Piran cycling team recently secured UCI Continental status giving them the opportunity to enter the Tour of Britain, which will get underway in Cornwall. ____________________ Plans to regenerate the Pydar area of Truro are due to be resubmitted this month. The £170 million regeneration of Pydar Street will help to deliver on the Council’s commitment to provide new low-carbon homes for Cornwall. There are also plans to create a new hub for the creative industries. An outline planning application was refused in February, due to concerns over the loss of parking and the height and mass of some buildings. ____________________
GREEN TECH RESEARCH PLANS
Redruth-based medical rehab and sports performance products manufacturer DM Orthotics has launched a new product range designed to help children and adults with sensory difficulties. Made from elastomeric fabric and worn next to the skin with seams on the outside to reduce tactile sensitivity, the DMO Sensory vest, suit or leggings have been researched and manufactured to help increase spatial awareness and concentration. ____________________
Plans have been submitted to the Council for a new research centre for developing green technologies on the site of a former landfill at United Downs.
developed by Cornish Geothermal Distillery Company (CGDC) and engineers Buro Happold will boost its temperature using innovative heat pump technology.
The team behind proposals for a deep geothermal rum maturation and distillery project have designed a separate ‘Celsius - Sustainable Distillery Research Centre’ on the edge of the former United Downs landfill site, adjacent to where Geothermal Energy Ltd will be producing renewable power in 2022.
This will operate a copper still for distilling rum and a small facility to mature rum in casks – creating the template for what is claimed would be one of the most sustainable carbon neutral distillery projects in the UK.
Porthleven will host a new arts festival this autumn. Taking place from September 25-October 3, the festival will be created and curated by Porthleven Arts Community (PAC), a new Community Interest Company launched in January. The Porthleven Arts Festival will be directed by Kelvin Batt, owner of the Mussel Shoals and co-creator of the Masked Ball Festival. ____________________
CGDC founder, Matt Clifford, said: “This opportunity to harness waste geothermal heat, in particular, creates a truly sustainable source of renewable power which for us is a ‘holy grail’ of technological research.”
Correction: In the February issue of Business Cornwall magazine, we erroneously quoted Kim Conchie talking about “…the depravation that is in Cornwall” when it should have read, of course, as “…the deprivation that is in Cornwall”.
Waste heat will be piped from the geothermal energy plant directly into the Celsius centre – where technology
BUSINESS CORNWALL | 9
Claire Heron-Maxwell CEO feature & cover photographs courtesy of Getty Images
We meet the founder of Newquay-based Sprout Health Foods, Claire Heron-Maxwell, who was recently selected as one of 15 women to front a national campaign by NatWest and Getty Images to celebrate female-led businesses.
10 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
CLAIRE
HERON-MAXWELL
BUSINESS CORNWALL | 11
CLAIRE
HERON-MAXWELL
So tell us the story how you came to be where you are today. I believe you’re a nutritional therapist by background? Yes, I qualified about ten years ago but I never went into private practice, I just used the knowledge and the information to work in health food shops, advising customers and stocking products. I went to university and studied for a neuroscience degree. Following that, like many, I went travelling for a while. I lived in Australia and New Zealand for a year, did some ski seasons in France and ended up in Cornwall, which was around 2001/2002. Then I was waitressing in Watergate Bay and thought rather than just serving it, I might as well learn something about food preparation because I knew nothing whatsoever. So, I was working in the kitchen there, which must have been quite a trial for anyone who had to work with me! From there I went to work at Stein’s in Padstow for six years, moving around various parts of the business. I got to do some really fun stuff there as well. I was involved in prepping food for some of the TV filming, I got to go on the book promotional tour with Rick around the UK a couple of times and do food photography in London as well.
When did thoughts start turning towards health food? During my last couple of years working at Rick Stein’s I discovered I had Coeliac’s disease, which is an autoimmune condition that manifests as an intolerance to gluten. This meant that I had to avoid eating all glutencontain foods completely, which is tricky for a chef, when they can no longer taste the food they are employed to prepare. I had started studying nutritional therapy while working at Rick Stein’s and once I had qualified I started working at a health food shop, Archie Brown’s in Truro, which was great.
The best part of running your own business is having creative control
So quite a rounded experience? Yes, I was really lucky. Sometimes the job involved peeling 25 kilos of onions, but other times it could be in a nice hotel in Edinburgh.
Archie Browns is something of a trailblazer in that sector in Cornwall
Yes, absolutely. They really lead the way in showing what an independent business can do and be a hub within the community. I was there for five and a half years, working as a shop assistant, advising customers on nutritional supplements and diets and going on to stock procurement as well. And that gave you the desire to do something on your own? When I was younger, I never imagined wanting to run my own business, it was just something that never occurred to me. I always thought it would be fine working for someone else, but I just got to a certain point in my life when I realised that actually it was something I wanted to do and the opportunity presented itself. And having taken that leap, I have never looked back. The best part of running your own business is having creative control. You get to come up with a crazy idea and give it a go without having to run it by too many other people. Previously health food shops were seen as quite niche, but seem to be far more common now. How has this shift occurred do you think? I think social media has had quite a lot to do with it. It’s easier to get messages out there and also now I think people are aspiring to healthier, more holistic lifestyles, where they are looking at all elements of their lifestyle rather than just chasing the dollar. I think the younger generation of today are a lot healthier and more aware than my generation were. There is growing awareness
12 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
CLAIRE
HERON-MAXWELL
that chronic disease and illness are can be lifestyle based. That knowledge is a lot more well known now. And more awareness of the environment and sustainability in general? I think it all goes hand in hand. Yes, I would agree with that. So you opened Sprout in 2016. How did you come across your premises? We really love the building we’re in. It’s a really old building with a lot of character. It’s tucked just a little way down a back lane off the high street here in Newquay, and the way the lane curves from the high street, you can’t really see the building. So, it is a leap of faith for people to start walking down the lane to see us. How did you manage to spread that message in the early days? The majority was through word of mouth. We hit the ground running with social media platforms and things like that, to try and get the word out to people in the town that we were here. And we did an awful lot of events in the town as well; we opened ourselves up to the community because we had a space we could use. We opened it up for people to host events, all sorts of things, yoga sessions, cookery demonstrations, we had talks, virtual reality headset experiences. We also hosted the launch of the Newquay Spoken Word theme that kicked off a few years ago. That was one of our strategies, just ask the community what they wanted and get everyone involved. And we opened the café the same time as the shop. It is just a microcafé really, although we also have some tables outside. We have an amazing selection of raw cakes, which are all vegan, gluten free and refined sugar free. And we do some really nice locally roasted coffee and local teas. And we make our own turmeric lattes and things like that and we offer a hot pot which changes every day. We’ve kept it manageable for us, something we could keep on top of. But it’s just a nice offering to people and it’s all quite affordable, good home cooked food. And I guess the range of products has grown? It has yes. It’s funny, looking back at some of
the photos from our launch evening five years ago, there were whole racks of shelving with nothing on, whereas now we almost have to operate a one product in, one product out policy in terms of what we stock because the shop is pretty full. How do you manage stock? You live above the shop don’t you, so is the stock under beds, in cupboards etc? It has been like that in the past, but we’ve managed to find spaces here and there so it is less encroaching. We’ve always had an electronic stock management system, but we did reinvest in that at the start of the first lockdown. We used the Government grant we were given in a new better functioning stock management system that can allow us to tie in with online sales.
Now we list everything online and are going through the process of putting up photographs of everything and descriptions. We don’t take payment online at the moment, but it does allow our customers to put together a basket of goods online and we pick it for them, call them and they can either come into the shop to collect or we can deliver it to them. Delivery is something we started after the first lockdown.
The younger generation of today are a lot healthier and more aware than my generation were
It’s interesting how the pandemic has made us innovate in a good way. Because we had to stop all the events we were doing, that gave us a bit of breathing room and time to reflect on the business to see which areas were going well and which ones we wanted to change.
Have online sales really grown in the last year with lockdown?
We changed our opening hours. We’re not open as long as we were before. Previously we would have been too worried that customers wouldn’t like us making changes like that, but actually everyone is really adaptable, and it means that we are able to run the business more effectively.
I think online sales have grown for a lot of people. We didn’t really sell anything or list any products online before the pandemic.
Online payments are something we are heading towards. But while we will develop the online side of the business, it is
BUSINESS CORNWALL | 13
CLAIRE
HERON-MAXWELL
And talking about tourism, is your business seasonal or do you enjoy a steady custom all year round? It’s somewhere between the two. We’re always there to primarily serve the local residents and we are really keen for them know we’re here all year round for them. But inevitably there’s such an influx of tourists in the summer, and we see tourists coming into the store for coffee and cakes and that sort of thing. Unfortunately, some of our regulars do utter the words “we’ll see you in six weeks!”. Because if they don’t live in the centre of town, Newquay gets so busy and clogged up, they don’t bother coming into the centre. But that’s one of the reasons we’re trying to develop the online side of the business and the delivery, so we can still service those customers during that busy time and we can take the goods to them. important to serve the local community. We’re not trying to compete with Ocado! A face-toface presence will always be so important. Of course, you don’t run the business on your own, but with your partner Sebastian Yes, he’s a qualified architect. He had the vision for the building itself from where we are operating and the skills to renovate it effectively. Initially he was splitting his time between his architectural work and working on Sprout, but over time Sprout has taken up more and more of his attention so he’s doing that full time now and I think he really enjoys the customer interaction side. I think he was pleasantly surprised. The health food customer is quite happy go lucky and always quite friendly and amenable, whereas developers could be quite stressed about their money! It’s a nice place to work! Is Newquay a particularly good place for a shop like this? Yes, it’s a really
14 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
good fit. When we started there hadn’t been a health food shop here for about ten years. There is such a vibrant community of likeminded people in Newquay. The geography of the town is amazing, the beaches. People love getting outdoors, dog walking, swimming, surfing and inevitably they’re looking at their own health. And it’s attracting more and more people like that, the image of the town is changing a lot. And because of highspeed broadband, you’re getting a lot of creatives, a lot of people working online who have moved here for the lifestyle but are still able to do the jobs they were traditionally doing in cities. That side of the population is growing.
Do you try and deal with local suppliers as much as you can? We’ll always try and support local where we can. We don’t make cakes at the café. The cakes we buy are from a local lady who makes amazing ones and also from a Truro-based business. Within all categories you will find some local suppliers like local honey, local skincare range, local chocolate, local candles, all sorts.
There is such a vibrant community of likeminded people in Newquay
Newquay has had a Business Improvement District for a number of years, have you been a supporter of that? We’ve always found it to be really helpful and we see the way they are looking to elongate the tourist season in the town by putting on events at times where traditionally it might be a bit quieter. And they’re really working well with local businesses to see what they want. So, yes, we’ve had a really positive experience with the BID.
That must be one of the most satisfying and fun parts of your job, sourcing new products to stock?
Absolutely. I love it. It’s so good to see what’s out there and what people are doing. Sometimes people just contact us with something they’re working on and we always have our eyes open for things that might be appropriate. We also work with some large wholesalers as well as going direct to manufacturers, so often they will highlight new products to us as well. And sometimes things just pop up on social media.
What has been the toughest part of running your own business? Without a doubt, it’s knowing when to stop at
CLAIRE
HERON-MAXWELL
the end of the day. Drawing a line. It’s a work life balance. Can it be tougher because you live above the shop? There is probably an element of that, but we wouldn’t change it for the world. And do you find time, both of you, to take proper time out together and get away on holiday? We have done. Holidays have been tricky, but manageable. A lot of planning beforehand and a lot of admin to catch up on when you get back. But we’re in the process of employing a manager for the business which will help. A manager will also give us more time to work on the business, rather than just in the business. We have so many ideas and schemes for the business, but we just don’t get time to work on them and give them the time they need. That’s what we’re aiming for this year. How do you see the business over the next two or three years? Is it organically growing and developing it?
The pandemic has made us innovate in a good way
That together with having a stronger online presence with online ordering and payment all streamlined. And possibly more of a nutrition sense to the business, more blog posts and recipes and things. I love doing those sort of things, but rarely have the time. A bit more of that, and maybe working with other local healthcare practitioners and concentrating the events more on health and nutrition. You took part in a national NatWest and Getty Images campaign to improve the way female entrepreneurs and business leaders are represented in media and advertising, illustrating the diversity of female-led businesses in the UK. What advice would you give a woman looking to start a business? Yes, that came about because our local bank manager put my name forward for the campaign. I think women need all the encouragement they can get to get out there and do their thing. What advice would I give? There are loads of groups out there especially on social media,
women in business groups, I would say join some of those, talk to other people. There will be loads of free webinars and things like that to give you that confidence just to take the leap and realise that everyone is going through the same quandary. See what other people are doing and feed off their energy and go for it!
The partnership sees the creation of a new gallery of images on gettyimages.com, featuring 15 female entrepreneurs, illustrating the diversity of female-led businesses in the UK.
BUSINESS CORNWALL | 15
BUSINESS
SHOW
After many months of lockdown and online meetings, businesses can look forward to renewing face-to-face relationships at the ninth annual Cornwall Business Show.
Cornwall
business show
2021
Stands for this year’s Cornwall Business Show have now gone on sale.
The business-to-business trade event was originally scheduled to take place this month, but had to be postponed due to the ongoing pandemic. However, with the vaccine successfully being rolled out and all restrictions hopefully set to be lifted this summer, organisers are confident that the show on October 7 will be a timely tonic for businesses to re-engage and build those ever-important relationships. Cornwall Business Show, which is now in its ninth year since starting in 2012, is bringing together a wide spectrum of industries and sectors, from small, start-up businesses to large, established companies. Organiser, Andrew Weaver, said: “It’s clear
from the conversations we are having that people want to get back to doing businesses face-to-face. “We know you can’t beat meeting people in person, 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.
offers a genuine platform for cementing the business community within the region.”
You can’t beat meeting people in person
“Bringing people together creates real sparks and connections, something only meeting in person can offer. This year we will need to work together more than ever and the Cornwall Business Show
This year’s event is looking to host in excess of 165 exhibitors and will feature an updated floorplan to accommodate new and returning clients, including a range of showrooms suitable for commercial vehicles or office furniture.
The event will again host the popular Healthy Workplace Zone, while there will also be a free seminar programme and the new Masterclass & Elevator Pitch Zone, where businesses can promote themselves or showcase their expertise within a purpose-built suite. There are a limited number of stands available at special rates for start-up businesses, charities and social enterprises. The Cornwall Business Show is supported by JHAV and media partner Business Cornwall. Interested companies can request eBrochure via cornwallbusinessshow.co.uk or call 01872 888733.
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EMPLOYMENT
& HR
Alex Callister, MD of Trial Balance Consulting and Well Placed HR, looks at the changing face of recruitment in Cornwall.
You’re hired! Having worked in the staffing and recruitment sector for over 20 years in the south west, I’ve seen my fair share of change. Gone are the days of weekly newspaper advertising, handwritten covering letters, application forms, and the snail’s pace of posted CVs. The Internet has, for good or for worse, introduced an entirely different set of practices for recruiters, employers, and jobseekers alike.
The web has allowed us to post vacancies in minutes and reach tens of thousands of candidates within hours. Most sites now offer such a simplistic application process that prospective candidates can apply for any opportunity, anywhere in the world, in a matter of seconds. It’s a powerful tool, but often a real source of wasted time.
It’s been a rollercoaster for many operating in the sector
On average we receive approximately 40 applicants to each client vacancy listing, but with less than 5% being potentially suited. Why such poor conversion? Because the Internet has made speculative job searching faster and easier than ever before.
Yet despite this, most recruitment advertisements actually turn the best suited candidates off because most still lack depth, credibility or personality. They present as little more than a bulleted list of employer demands. They’re a box ticking exercise and offer no reassurance to prospective applicants that there might actually be something in it for them beside a salary. Rightly so, recruitment mentality and parity has changed too. It’s become a two-way street where candidates should no longer be subjected to one-way interview interrogation. Now they deserve the right to challenge and question the culture, practice and strategy of their potential new employer. In the same way that positive workplace diversity and ethical policy is now positively encouraged, so has open and constructive dialogue where an employer’s shortfalls or areas for improvement are concerned.
BUSINESS CORNWALL | 17
EMPLOYMENT
& HR
These changes might have been gradual, but the Covid-19 pandemic has, quite simply, turned recruitment and staffing practices upside down, and almost overnight. It’s been a rollercoaster for many operating in the sector. With pandemic induced unemployment levels sadly at an all-time high, many recruiters have been almost overwhelmed by applications from candidates located in all regions of the country, with most not meeting any of the minimum technical criteria for consideration. Particularly during the regionally tiered restrictions, the volume of applications for opportunities based in the southwest was unprecedented, yet the very best candidates have often gone to ground and have never seemed so elusive. Perhaps the biggest challenge has been adjusting to virtual interviewing and remote working. In early 2020, video or telephonebased interviews were generally considered inadequate. By January 2021 over 90% of the interviews that we arranged took place virtually. The vast majority of the vacancies that we have filled during the past 12 months were finalised without any face-to-face interaction. This would have been unheard of at the beginning of 2020.
Remote working has been one of the most radical and contentious changes to staffing that we have ever witnessed. Employees are torn; some love it, others loath it. Many candidates won’t consider home based roles, others demand it and have quickly formed an opinion
that an office-based job is now antiquated. It’s clearly here to stay and many of our own clients have indicated that they may never return to an office environment. Whether or not remote working really is a thing of the future remains to be seen; ask me again at the end of this year!
01872 226990 www.murrellassociates.co.uk 18 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
EMPLOYMENT
& HR
TOP 7 BUSINESS BUDGET BOOSTS The headline for Rishi Sunak’s latest budget was around ‘Protecting the jobs and livelihoods of the British people’. Ellie Hibberd, a partner and head of HRExpress at Stephens Scown LLP, offers an overview of the top employment-related support mechanisms. 1 Extension of furlough scheme – the furlough scheme has been extended until the end of September but with employer contributions of 10% for July and 20% for August and September. 2 Statutory Sick Pay: Covid-19 rebate – SMEs can still reclaim up to two weeks’ Statutory Sick Pay per eligible employee. This relates only to the temporary measure put in place around Covid-19 absence and the Government will be setting out steps for closing this scheme in due course. 3 More support for the self-employed – a fifth cash grant has been announced for self-employed workers, with claims open to anyone who had filed their 2019/2020 tax return by midnight on 2 March. 4 Help to Grow: Management and Help to Grow: Digital – support SMEs to grow back better. The first offers access
to a government subsidised course with mentoring delivered through business schools, while Help to Grow: Digital offers access to free online courses and the purchase of productivity-enhancing software at a 50% discount. 5 Visas for high-skilled workers – There are strict requirements around bringing in foreign workers, but the Chancellor has announced a ‘fast-track’ visa scheme to be introduced by March 2022 to help start-up and tech businesses recruit highskilled workers from overseas. 6 New apprentice hire: incentive payment – Employers will be able to claim £3,000 for each new apprentice hired (regardless of age) between 1 April and 30 September 2021.
fund from July 2021 for “flexi-job” apprenticeships, which will allow apprentices to work with a number of different employers, provided they are all based within the same sector. Ellie Hibberd is an Employment partner and Head of Stephen Scown’s HRExpress team. For expert employment advice, call 01392 210700 or email enquiries@stephens-scown.co.uk
7 Flexible apprenticeships – The Chancellor has created a £7 million
AN UNDERSTANDING NATURE
they are in a job role that fits their skills set. How you actually achieve this in practice is complex, nuanced and potentially timeconsuming. This is where external HR resources can be really useful to help you drive the process. Establishing the essential framework through recruitment, reviews and appraisals, PDPs, assessments, coaching and mentoring schemes is crucial. You need to have the fundamentals in place before you can begin to see HR as a springboard to greater things. Remember, your team is your most important asset and getting to know them better is time well spent.
Sue Hook, founder and director of client development at Sapience HR, offers her insight into effective HR. HR is about more than resolving disputes and navigating legal issues; it’s about understanding your staff and how they contribute to the culture and growth of your
business. Get to grips with this, and increased engagement and productivity will follow! Understanding your staff involves assessing levels of workplace satisfaction, giving your team opportunities to develop, recognising their strengths and enabling improvement in weaker areas, and ensuring
A good HR strategist will help employers engage and talk with their staff in a way that fosters collaboration and builds a positive workplace culture. Establish an environment where feedback, requests for training, a framework for mental health support, and the positive flow of information (top down and bottom up!) is all part of the weekly routine. Your team will reward you with new levels of engagement and productivity. Contact us to see how we can help you to understand your staff better. sapiencehr.co.uk
BUSINESS CORNWALL | 19
EMPLOYMENT
& HR
TIME FOR A SPRING CLEAN?
• Does existing employment documentation reflect current and future requirements from a legal, business and employee point of view? • Do you have policies in place to deal with matters such as home and lone working, supervision, data protection and wellbeing (amongst others)? • Have existing policies, such as grievance and disciplinary procedures, been adjusted to allow for any altered working practices? • Do your risk assessments cover mental health and stress? • What additional training and support can be provided to employees? • Do your employment contracts allow for minor changes to be implemented? • Do your policies allow for adjustments without consultation, or are they contractual?
The past 12 months have brought a rollercoaster of change, stretching resilience and boundaries in every way, but now we have a roadmap to (hopefully) signpost us into more certainty and recovery.
According to law firm Murrell Associates, spring brings a perfect opportunity to reflect on your current employment practices and ensure readiness for the future. Some timely questions to consider are:
These elements will inform how any change can be implemented correctly thus reducing risks of employment tribunal claims. Murrell Associates provides staff handbooks, contracts and policies for business or alternatively can review your existing documents.
EMPLOYMENT CHANGES AHEAD Philip Sayers of Coodes Solicitor’s Employment team highlights five legal considerations for employers. 2021 is already shaping up to be an eventful year for employers. Here are five key legal considerations for the coming months. 1. CONTINUATION (AND END) OF THE CJRS With the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme extended until 30 September, many businesses will continue to make use of the support. From July, employers will need to contribute towards the costs of furlough. Businesses should also prepare for the end of the scheme, seeking legal advice if needed. 2. NEW POINTS-BASED IMMIGRATION SYSTEM A new points-based immigration system means European nationals must comply with the same visa requirements of other non-UK nationals to work in the UK. Employers seeking to recruit workers from outside the UK may need to consider a UK visa sponsor licence as well as 20 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
encouraging employees to apply for settled or pre-settled status. 3. LATERAL FLOW TESTING Growing numbers of businesses and public sector organisations are implementing Covid-19 testing procedures for their employees, taking advantage of a Government scheme offering free lateral flow testing kits. Whether you make the tests voluntary or mandatory, make sure you get legal advice. 4. POTENTIAL CHANGES FOR NEW PARENTS New legislation is expected, offering additional protection against redundancy for new parents retuning to work. While we do not yet know if these changes will happen this year, employers should keep an eye on developments. 5. CONTINUED HOMEWORKING FOR MANY The roll-out of the vaccine means we
may be able to return to some sort of normality by the middle of the year, but it is likely that many people will continue to work from home. If some or all of your employees are working from home, ensure you are doing all you can to comply with employment law and best practice, getting advice if necessary. Whatever the coming months bring, ensure your staff handbooks, employee policies and contracts reflect any changes to legislation or working arrangements. For more information or advice, please contact the Employment team on 0800 328 3282 or cde@coodes.co.uk
www.coodes.co.uk
Apply now for an Inclusivity Project HR Innovation Grant We have grants available to help you develop digital tools that support HR innovation. The grants of £1000-£2000 are aimed at helping enterprises like yours with Research & Development – by reaching a new market, launching a new product, or simply improving how you operate. Creating more wellbeing, and wider inclusion, in Cornish workplaces. Perhaps you’re thinking of using digital to increase staff productivity or engagement? Great. Or you’d like to develop new systems to tackle bias? Perfect.
Book a call with us by Friday 23rd April 2021. https://theinclusivityproject.co.uk/hr-innovation-grant/
BUSINESS CORNWALL | 21
EMPLOYMENT
& HR
UNDERSTANDING APPRENTICESHIPS WITH THE SKILLS HUB There are more than a few myths worth busting when it comes to apprenticeships.
Whatever you’re looking for in terms of apprenticeship information, let the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Skills Hub run you through everything you need to know about all things apprenticeships… Most people think that an apprenticeship is solely for young people, is this true? While an apprenticeship can be for a school leaver, they are not solely for young people. In fact, over 150,000 apprentices across the country are aged 25 or older. The key thing to note is that an apprenticeship will see you gain on-the-job experience that will provide you with a range of new skills, with around 20 percent of your time being spent studying with a college, university or a training provider. There are flexible and different approaches to the delivery of training within an apprenticeship, with some being provided within the workplace, or through a mix of online and classroom learning. Whether you want to use an apprenticeship to kickstart a new career, or if you’re looking to up-skill in an existing role, an apprenticeship can benefit both individual and employer alike. I thought an apprenticeship was primarily for those working in sectors such as construction or the beauty industry? Which industries can you find apprentices working in? It might be easier to say what industries
22 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
don’t have apprenticeships! Agriculture, business and administration, care, catering and hospitality, digital and design, education, health and science, finance, hair and beauty, engineering, manufacturing, retail, transport and logistics, construction, plumbing, accounting; there are quite literally hundreds of sectors with apprentices. Can taking on an apprentice, or having an existing member of staff undertake an apprenticeship, add value to my business?
Where do I start in terms of finding out more information about apprenticeships? There are a range of people that you can talk to about an apprenticeship. Whether you are an employer looking to take an apprentice on, an existing staff member with the desire to build on your existing skills, or someone looking to undertake an apprenticeship yourself, the team at the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Skills Hub can help. The independent, impartial and expert team will help you to find an apprenticeship framework or standard that is appropriate for the role that you have in mind, as well as providing an introduction to the training provider that is right for your apprenticeship.
One of the most appealing qualities of an apprenticeship to an employer is that they are cost-effective. Not only in terms of salary but also when you consider recruitment Could an apprentice help boost your business? The costs and any related independent, impartial and expert team at the Cornwall and government funding that Isles of Scilly Skills Hub can help. is available. If financial concerns are at the In a nutshell, the Skills Hub simply want to help make your business forefront of your thinking, better. With a vast number of training options and training providers an apprentice could be currently available across Cornwall, the Skills Hub can do the heavy a cost-effective option lifting in finding the right training solution for you, your team and for you. However, that your business. shouldn’t be your only You can contact the team on 01209 708660 or find out more by reason. visiting www.ciosskillshub.com and request a call back. With an apprentice being The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Skills Hub is part funded by the able to gain a better European Social Fund and is match funded by Cornwall Council and understanding of their the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership. business with thanks to their learning, this can bring about new ideas and a fresh perspective to help make your business better.
THE SKILLS HUB PRESENTS
HOW AN APPRENTICESHIP CAN MAKE YOUR BUSINESS BETTER
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Join Skills Hub Project Manager Bethany Allen to run through the when, what, why, where, who and how when it comes to apprenticeships.
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This FREE session will provide an opportunity to hear more about how an apprentice can help boost your business.
15 APRIL 10AM-11AM VISIT CIOSSKILLSHUB.COM AND CHAT WITH A MEMBER OF THE TEAM TO REGISTER OR CALL 01209 708660
30
UNDER 30
Inspiring
the future
The search is now on for the Duchy’s brightest young business talent - Cornwall’s 30 under 30. Get nominating now! In a year where awards ceremonies have consisted of top half well-ironed shirt, bottom half pyjamas, Cornwall Chamber of Commerce and Business Cornwall are excited about the prospect of crowning 2021’s 30 under 30 winners at a physical event. Now in their sixth year, the awards, sponsored by Truro & Penwith College and supported by Pirate FM, recognise 30 of the Duchy’s most innovative young businesspeople in Cornwall. To be eligible for the award, 30 under 30 candidates must be employed, or self-employed, under the age of 30 on June 1, 2021, and living and working in Cornwall.
refreshing and exciting to be looking forward again with a sense of genuine optimism. Judging Cornwall’s 30 under 30 has always been a highlight for me and I can’t wait to see the entries.”
Adele Bull, programme team leader for business & professional at Truro & Penwith College, said: “Truro and Penwith College is delighted to once again be headline sponsor for the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce’s 30 under 30 awards.
The winning cohort will be presented with their certificates at an informal awards evening at the end of June. If all goes to plan with the Government’s Covid roadmap deadlines, this will be one of the first physical awards ceremonies to take place in Cornwall this year.
30 of the Duchy’s most innovative young business people
Nominations can come from friends, family, employer, colleagues or the individual themselves. The judges are looking for nominations that represent the true diversity Cornwall has to offer and the unique contribution these passionate and talented people are adding to the Duchy. Judging the awards will be Tom Moran, customer
24 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
development manager at Truro & Penwith College; Business Cornwall magazine publisher Toni Eyriey, Cornwall Chamber CEO Kim Conchie, and Mark Peters, station director at Pirate FM.
“In what has been an exceptionally tough year for individuals and businesses, especially those just starting out on their career path or having recently launched in industry, there has never been a more appropriate time for us to come together to recognise and reward the resilience, dedication and professionalism shown by Cornwall’s next generation of talent. “As we all start to emerge from the grip of the Covid pandemic, the college is increasing its own focus on the Cornwall of the future and emerging career sectors such as e:health, digital, aerospace, IT and engineering and we very much look forward to recognising the emerging talent that will be alongside us on that journey.” Business Cornwall publisher, Toni Eyriey, added: “In what has been a depressing and frustrating 12 months for everyone, it’s really
Chamber CEO, Kim Conchie, said: “For many of our young businesspeople, this year has made them feel isolated and somewhat abandoned in terms of their personal development and career progression. “That’s why I’m so excited to champion their brilliance and celebrate the fact we have these fantastic ambassadors for Cornish business in our midst.” The 30 winners will appear in a special feature in Business Cornwall magazine. Nominations must be accompanied by a high-res photograph, and applications will close on April 26. Get nominating now!
To make your nominations, visit cornwallchamber.co.uk/thirty-under-thirty
30
UNDER 30
Email: hello@cornwallchamber.co.uk Call: 01209 216006 Online: www.cornwallchamber.co.uk BUSINESS CORNWALL | 25
FOOD
& DRINK
Raising a
glass
Skinner’s Brewery has been the heart and soul of the Cornish beer scene since 1997, responsible for iconic beers like Betty Stogs, Porthleven and Lushington’s. However, when Covid hit in 2020 the brewery was in a transitional phase making it uniquely vulnerable – even in the hard-hit brewing sector. There were genuine fears for the future of one of Cornwall’s best-loved brands. Despite the huge challenges, husband and wife team Steve and Elaine Skinner have fought tenaciously - not only for survival, but
also to bring the brewery back under their exclusive joint ownership - something they finally achieved in December 2020. “The last year has been an uphill struggle,” says Steve. “However, thanks to fantastic public support and the efforts of our team, it’s looking like we’ll just about make it through until the pubs finally reopen. It really has been touch and go.” While Steve’s creativity and experienced palette is behind the design of Skinner’s characterful beers, Elaine is the project manager and problem solver of the partnership. “If there’s an obstacle in our way, Elaine will somehow find a way of overcoming it,” says Steve. “In fact, adversity just seems to fuel her! She’s the one who makes things happen - makes our aspirations become a reality.” Elaine has been the passionate driving force for post-pandemic recovery. “For us specifically, 2020 was a perfect storm,” she explains. “Covid came along just as we were trying to bring the business fully back under our control. We had also invested in updating the internal space of the brewery bar here in Truro, with a planned second stage of creating an incredible events and hospitality space outside – but instead everything just ground to a halt.”
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It has been a difficult year for Skinner’s Brewery. But there is now light at the end of the long Covid tunnel. However, after a hugely successful Crowdfunding campaign and the prospect of all pubs reopening come May, there is now light at the end of the long Covid tunnel. “We have so many exciting plans for the brewery,” explains Steve. “The generous support we gained from the crowdfunding campaign has spurred us on - financially and psychologically. Our wonderful community of Skinner’s fans gave us a warm embrace, and it was just what we needed. The response has been overwhelming and has strengthened our belief that Elaine and I can lead the brewery on to great things, now that we can get back to doing what we do best!” The public eagerly got behind the campaign to raise £100k towards Skinner’s operating costs to help keep the brewery operational until May. For national sales & marketing manager, Stuart Hughes, this remarkable public support has been the saving grace of the pandemic. “We’ve really got to know our community a lot better during the last few months. It’s been really heartening to hear how much people love the brand. Lots of people have said that Cornwall wouldn’t be the same without Skinner’s.” As well as enjoying the beers, people rallied around Skinner’s because of the brewery’s community fundraising activities. From PTA raffles to helping transform Truro Cathedral into one huge dancefloor to raise money for the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Charity, Skinner’s has given huge amounts of time and product to good causes in the local
FOOD
community over the years. Alongside the Queen of Cornish Ales, Betty Stogs, Steve estimates the brewery has raised over £500k for grassroots charities.
& DRINK
Now we can get back to doing what we do best!
“Community is what we live for here at Skinner’s, and we can’t wait to get back into the thick of things again,” says Steve. Stuart reminisces: “You’d always find Skinner’s at the heart of the Cornish crowd, at least when crowds were a thing! I think for a lot of people attending events like the Sea Shanty Festival and the Oyster Festival, we bring the fun.” Now that Steve and Elaine are the sole owners and free from the shackles of investors, they are committed to being agile, aspirational, and focused on the brewery’s identity as genuine, fun-loving and passionate – brewers of quality beers which people love. “In the past, we’ve been advised to steer away from our Cornish links and playfulness, but I am determined to refocus on what made us popular – celebrating Cornwall, coming up with new beers with quirky, edgy names, and celebrating the fundraising work that Betty Stogs is famous for,” says Elaine.
So, what’s next for this battlescarred band of brewers? “Once our wholesale trade picks up again we’ll be releasing new beers – hopefully in cans as well as bottle, keg and cask,” says Steve. “We’ll always have a core range but there will be more small-batch runs and seasonal specials, with our Beer Club able to preorder ahead of release.” Elaine adds “We’re looking forward to continuing with the visitors centre development and outdoor areas, with eateries and events so that everyone can enjoy the Skinner’s experience in the heart of Truro.”
BUSINESS CORNWALL | 27
COMMERCIAL
PROPERTY
winning
against the odds
It has been a tumultuous year for the commercial property market, but maybe not as cataclysmic as you might think. With remote working, empty shops, lockdowns etc, you would be easily forgiven for thinking that the commercial property market sector would be in crisis, reflecting the wide economy. However, despite these hearsay tales of doom and gloom, the commercial property market is proving to be remarkably resilient, particularly in the industrial sector. Even the office space sector, while it has undeniably been hit hard over the past 12 months, talk is now of going back into the office and how that will look. Going forward, early indications are that businesses might typically look for less space, but better-quality space.
overnight. But from about midsummer onwards, market commentators have reported a steady growth in commercial activity which has shown little sign of slowing, and will probably speed up further as the vaccination roll out continues and lockdown restrictions are lifted. John Lowry, head of commercial property at Falmouth-based law firm Hine Downing, says: “The increasing popularity of Cornwall as an enviable place to live and work – highlighted by the Covid effect particularly on inner city areas – has driven work across all departments of our practice with commercial property no exception.
The commercial property market is proving to be remarkably resilient
According to Alder King’s recently published Market Monitor, the industrial/logistics market in the south west recorded an annual take up of over 6.3 million sq ft, the region’s highest figure since 2016.
When the pandemic first hit 12 months ago, like the rest of the economic world, commercial property transactions dried up virtually
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“With lockdown providing an enforced period for reflection for individuals and business owners we have seen a number of businesses changing hands and other businesses adapting and diversifying to capture the demand as tastes change and new opportunities arise. Others have decided to take the plunge and start a new venture, deciding to no longer put off long held dreams of starting out on their own. “Not surprisingly there has been a big interest in take-away businesses for sale, whilst in another poignant sign of the times, the only pubs we are transacting are for conversion into residential properties.”
As England’s roadmap from lockdown gets under way and children across the county go back to the classroom, businesses are naturally formulating their future strategies and assessing commercial property requirements. Despite the pandemic, property company Stratton Creber Commercial (SCC) is also reporting a busy 12 months for the sector in Cornwall and a recent spike in enquiry
IN THE OFFICE Over the past year, the Covid-19 pandemic has had its biggest impact on the office market. While the sector in Truro and the surrounding area saw an increase in supply for the second consecutive year (+36%), rather than the uplift in take-up as seen in 2019, not surprisingly Alder King reports a 60% drop in 2020. Alder King’s Market Monitor says the majority of take-up was limited to suites of 3,000 sq ft and below, with the majority of transactions being lettings. And with a reduction in activity and generally poorer quality lettings, headline rents for Truro have slipped from a peak of £13.50 psf to a figure closer to £12. The Market Monitor reports no new speculative office development in Truro, with the cost of construction generally exceeding the value of the completed product unless grant funding can be secured.
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levels for its services following the announcement of the Prime Minister’s roadmap. SCC director Tom Neville says: “We are pleased to have experienced a surge in enquiries in our offices over the past weeks. People now see a way out of the pandemic and there is much excitement about new business plans and concepts. “We are also hearing from those who want to relocate their businesses to this wonderful part of the world. “As businesses change, whether they expand or contract, there is growing demand for our professional work as plans that were previously on hold start to be implemented.”
One thing the pandemic has proved is that the office is not dead and provides a highly important role in working environment and relationships
There have been many developments in commercial property during the last 12 months. Massive structural changes to high streets across the UK were already under way well before Covid-19 struck. Since then, the well-publicised demise of huge household names such as Debenhams,
KROWJI PWB PHASE 2. (PHOTO: ASHLEIGH SMITH)
the Arcadia Group and others have further impacted the retail landscape. But while national chains have fallen, new independent retail businesses are now emerging, adapting to changing circumstances. Such enterprises are the result of people reassessing life plans post-pandemic with many seeking to relocate to Cornwall from large conurbations for a better lifestyle.
As a result, the county’s high streets may need to be repurposed, perhaps incorporating new medical, leisure and residential uses at their core, supported by recent changes in the planning system. Rents and rates may need to be re-adjusted. In the office market, changes are also afoot as organisations review their future requirements. Occupiers are likely to take flexible space as
PROPERTY
they test more hybrid working models. Some plan to take less space but use the same budget to secure better quality provision that gives staff a reason to come to the office. Tom adds: “One thing the pandemic has proved is that the office is not dead and provides a highly important role in working environment and relationships. As a result, offices with quality interiors, popular locations, amenities and employee perks such as gyms and showers are likely to prove popular.” Cornwall’s industrial market remains strong with both freehold and leasehold values high due to limited stock. Ecommerce businesses are leading an increase in demand for distribution units and new build developments are proving popular. Across all sectors, demand for freehold properties is reported to be remaining strong with the pandemic having little effect here due to pension investments in property assets, a volatile stock market and poor rates for savers though traditional banking channels.
BUSINESS CORNWALL | 29
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PROPERTY “Requirement levels are still strong which bodes well for the coming year despite the restrictions. Although the bulk of activity is at the sub 3,000 sq ft end of the market we have seen a significant increase is requirements above 10,000 sq ft from both national logistic companies and local companies who have seen exponential growth during 2020 as demand for online shopping jumped, reacting to lockdowns and limited access to high street shops.” The first working day of the year saw 24,000 sq ft of strategically placed industrial premises placed under offer with the momentum continuing as a variety of industrial sales and lettings have been agreed throughout the county.
THOMAS HEWITT, MILLER COMMERCIAL Miller Commercial, which has been recognised as the busiest industrial agent in Devon and Cornwall, echoes many of these positive sentiments and has been reporting “an exceptionally busy” start to 2021, particularly in the Industrial sector.
and SMEs alike on both a leasehold and freehold basis.
It says large and small industrial units are in demand from both from blue chip companies
Thomas Hewitt, commercial agency surveyor at Miller Commercial, comments: “The continued lack of supply of good quality, modern industrial space has driven rents on, and we are seeing this reflected in increased freehold prices too.
The largest commercial real estate portal, Rightmove, has seen a 71% increase in freehold requirements and 38% growth in requirements for leasehold industrial unites from January to March year on year. Part of the demand has been driven by national and local logistic companies as well as local companies who have seen exponential growth during 2020 as the demand for online shopping has escalated.
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Since the beginning of 2021, Miller Commercial says it has let or sold over 80,000 sq ft of industrial premises, with many more deals awaiting completion. One of the challenges facing the market is that Cornwall does have a relative shortage of good quality, modern, fit for purpose industrial units with many new builds being let or sold prior to completion. Across the wider south west region, north and south Devon are experiencing a similar demand. Consequently, Miller Commercial says its team has thus been busy working with developers, advising them on various projects in the pipeline, which are due to be delivered
REDRUTH ENTERPRISE PARK during 2021/2022 to help ease the bottle neck. And there’s also good news if you are a commercial property owner seeking reliable income. Management surveyor Zoey Collis, who is part of Miller Commercial’s property management team that covers everything
from single stand-alone units to portfolios owned by institutions and high net worth individuals, recently revealed that: “Over the last 12 months we are proud that we achieved 98% rental income collection for our biggest light industrial client, with positive numbers across the board which are well above the national average.”
Modern office suites on flexible lease terms available at the Pattern Shop, Plantation Store and Dowren House.
With the prospect of the G7 summit coming to Cornwall this summer, demand for small office suites in the St Ives and Hayle area has never been so high. Do not miss the opportunity to join other like-minded businesses take occupation in one of only a few remaining office suites in this state of the art office scheme set within the historic Harvey’s Foundry in Hayle. The office suites are ideally suited for two to eight people, allowing occupiers the opportunity to work in an open plan environment, while maintaining social distancing measures. Part of an historic 18th century foundry in the heart of Hayle, the Pattern Shop and Plantation Store are the pinnacle of a ten year regeneration scheme which has refurbished and preserved several historically important buildings fundamental to Cornwall’s industrial heritage forming part of the Cornwall UNESCO Mining World Heritage Site. A variety of unit sizes are available so for full information on costs and specific unit sizes please contact the letting agents, Miller Commercial on...
Offices within both the Pattern Shop and Plantation Store all come with the following: • Private WC and kitchenette • Central heating • Fully refurbished to a high specification • LED lighting • Communal shower and bicycle parking facilities • Separate meeting rooms available for hire
The business property specialists Thomas Smith | 01872 247013 | ts@miller-commercial.co.uk
BUSINESS CORNWALL | 31
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Redruth Enterprise Park Are you an SME in need of business space?
Then look no further, here at Redruth Enterprise Park we can offer all the space and facilities to accommodate your business and encourage growth. We pride ourselves on delivering excellent space to work with our dedication to delivering high quality, well maintained premises. Whether it’s an Office Suite fully furnished and ready to move into or a Light Industrial Space with Reception, Office Space and Warehouse, you will find it here at Redruth Enterprise Park. Our on-site management ensures everything is taken care of so you can concentrate on your business. Located on Cornwall Business Park West, adjacent to the Scorrier junction of the A30. Built to the BREEAM Excellent build certification in partnership with the European Regional Development Fund we offer an unrivalled space to work in the heart of Cornwall. Light, fresh, dynamic workspaces for Cornwall’s next generation of businesses. Created by South West specialists with an established long-term commitment to investment and development in the region.
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Redruth House offers 14 high quality serviced office spaces from 180 sqft to 440 sqft. Fully furnished ready to Work Office Suites. High speed broadband connection on your own secure network, Heat, light & power, Shared meeting room facilities, Reception facilities, kitchen, accessible WC’s & shower, Cleaning, Allocated parking & bike store. Redruth Enterprise Park offers 14 high quality industrial units of approx. 2500 & 3500 sqft. Includes accessible WC, reception, kitchen facilities, separate office, allocated parking, bike store & shower block. We focus on the building so you can focus on your business. The following services are included within your Service Charge: • Maintenance of the building exterior (Roof, walls, windows & access ways) • Maintenance of all landscaped areas • CCTV Security system • Cleaning & maintenance of all common areas within the estate
Interested? Why not come and meet us and see for yourself the excellent Space to Work and how it will help you and your business grow.
Space2work.co.uk Redruthhouse.com Redruthenterprisepark.com 08700 712121 01209 500550
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DIGITAL
TRANSFORMATION
Go digital or
go dark
You might be forgiven for thinking that every change in business is currently being driven by circumstances beyond our control. But some changes, no matter how timely and topical, are intentional, strategic and offer Cornish businesses flexible ways to adapt to turbulent times. Unlocking Potential has launched ‘Digital Transformation’, a programme to help transform Cornish businesses through planned and strategic change, enabled by technology. This is a brand new, ERDFfunded programme developed in partnership with The Cornwall College Group and Software Cornwall, and it’s been designed with the region’s current and future digital needs at its heart. Of course, the county’s had a reputation as a
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hi-tech pioneer for years; the sector was already flourishing long before March 2020’s first lockdown. But since Covid turned the world upside down, digital has become increasingly important and forced businesses to adapt, to change how they work, what they offer and, frequently, how they think too.
Fast-forward ten years: what will your business look like?
Digital Transformation aims to ensure these new technologies and systems help businesses to perform better, and to become more competitive and efficient. The programme’s manager, Dr Nathan Jeffery, says: “If there were any doubts about the need for digital transformation to facilitate business longevity, the global pandemic has silenced them. “Those businesses that have quickly pivoted
to undertake business in the digital economy are the ones reaping rewards from the pandemic. Businesses are now blending the physical and the digital to provide their customers with the best overall customer experience possible.”
Nathan will lead the project from within the new base at the brand new Fibre Hub, located on The Cornwall College campus in Pool. This hi-tech building will encompass work and event spaces, cutting-edge technology, and superfast connectivity. He will be joined there by Digital Innovators, Katie Moore, Helen Jones and Dave Crossley, selected for their skills in combining technical expertise with people-and-business know-how, and for their ability to turn niche expertise into practical ways for businesses to prosper.
DIGITAL
TRANSFORMATION
ALLYSON GLOVER
DR NATHAN JEFFERY
Unlocking Potential’s programme director, Allyson Glover, is conscious of the programme’s timing. She says: “There’s no getting away from the challenges faced by Cornish businesses in the last 12 months; Digital Transformation could hardly be better timed or more topical. We have all had to change how we work, think differently, learn new skills, innovate and embrace change. We know businesses are ready to adapt and take up the opportunity to explore how they can take digitisation to the next level and ultimately transform.” But how will the programme work in practice? Katie, Helen and Dave will help businesses find out where they’re up to, digitally, and what their options are, then work with them to test and develop new ideas. Once all the data’s gathered, a plan for transforming into a successful ‘digital-first’ business comes into focus. This is where the collaboration begins between businesses aspiring to be digital, and other tech companies able to help them achieve that. As Mike Barritt, director of Software Cornwall, acknowledges, there’s more than enough expertise in Cornwall to catalyse this change: “It’s no secret that the Cornish tech cluster is growing at exponential rates,” he says, “but digital transformation isn’t just reserved for tech companies, it’s pivotal to the success
of any business. Digital Transformation will enhance and grow the collaboration between digital and non-digital businesses to provide a positive impact on the Cornish economy.” Given that Unlocking Potential is part of The Cornwall College Group, whose campus will also host the Fibre Hub, Digital Transformation (the concept as well as the programme) is clearly vital not just to businesses now, but to Cornwall’s future, too, as it represents where skills and vocational training are heading. Justin Olosunde, assistant principal, external engagement & business innovation at The Cornwall College Group said: “Digital Transformation, and the agenda that it represents, is absolutely fundamental to growth within the economy locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. As a large skills provider, we want this project to create the environment that enables the market to develop, and helps people cultivate the new skills they need to allow their collaboration within the digital economy to flourish.”
KATIE MOORE
HELEN JONES
Think what businesses have been through in the last year or so, and how pivotal digital has been. Fast-forward ten years: what will your business look like? Has it changed quickly enough and can it still compete? Visit digital-cornwall.co.uk to get in touch with the team today.
DAVE CROSSLEY
BUSINESS CORNWALL | 37
FOOD
& DRINK
MORRISONS ACQUIRES FALFISH Cornish seafood supplier Falfish has been acquired by supermarket giant Morrisons. Falfish operates from two sites in Redruth and Falmouth docks and was owned by founder Ian Greet and his son Mark, the managing director. It has long-term relationships with the owners and skippers of over 70 partner boats in the south west who land their total catch direct to Falfish. The company has supplied fresh fish and shellfish to Morrisons for more than 16
KERN REIGNS SUPREME Cornish Kern cheese produced by Lynher Dairies was crowned Taste of the West’s Supreme Champion Product of 2020. This product was selected from a group of 25 champion products from the Taste of the West Awards, and judges were “blown away by its sweet aroma, solid bite and a healthy dose of rich dairy flavours”. Ponsanooth-based Lynher Dairies is the sole producer of both the award-winning Cornish Kern cheese and the iconic nettlewrapped Cornish Yarg. The dairy owns a herd of Ayrshires to provide the rich and creamy milk that goes into its award-winning cheeses. Having been crowned Supreme Champion at the World Cheese Awards in 2017, Cornish Kern has now gone on to win both Taste of the West’s Champion Cheese Award 2020 and the Supreme Champion Product Award 2020. “Our fields are where our story begins,” said Lynher Dairies owner Catherine Mead. “A healthy soil rich in nutrients grows the very best grass and that is what we want our cows to feed on. Free-ranging, pasture-fed cows produce wonderful milk which in turn produces great cheese. Cornish Kern is proof of that.”
38 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
years and about 50% of its circa £40 million turnover is with the retailer. Mark Greet and all 140 Falfish staff will join Morrisons. Mark Greet said: “Falfish has been a supplier to Morrisons since 2004 and over the years this has become a very strong partnership. For my father Ian and our family, as part of the Cornish community, this acquisition ensures the continuing ethos of Falfish in upholding our relationships and values, and strengthens this for our colleagues, for the south west fishing fleet, and for all of our customers and stakeholders. “The acquisition is great news for Falfish’s Cornish operations and the wider community, bringing investment and access to many new opportunities.” Murrell Associates advised the shareholders on the sale, with a team led by Hugh Murrell and Nikki Reid.
SMILE AND SAY CHEESE A £3.2 million investment from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) is boosting production of one of the UK’s best-known cheeses. The LEP’s grant from the Government’s Getting Building Fund is supporting the multi-million pound expansion of the Saputo Dairy UK creamery in Davidstow to increase production of cheddar and ingredients for infant formula. Davidstow employs more than 200 people and is home to the Cathedral City cheddar brand which has annual sales of over £300 million and is found in more than half of all UK household fridges. The cheese is made from 100% local milk, directly supporting around 330 dairy farmers across Cornwall and the south west. Last year the business started selling Cathedral City to the Canadian and US markets for the first time, helped by a major media campaign which included an 8,500 square foot digital billboard standing 18 stories tall in Times Square in New York. Tom Atherton, president and chief
operating officer of Saputo Diary UK, said: “The awarding of this grant…enables us to strengthen the infrastructure at our Davidstow creamery to support the continued growth of our award-winning cheddar brands, both in the UK and abroad. The launch of Cathedral City in North America is just the first step in our ambitious international expansion programme.”
FOOD &
SEA SALT SALES SOAR AN EGGCELLENT AWARD St Ewe Free Range Eggs was named Best Rural Food Business at the first ever virtual national final of the Rural Business Awards, in association with Amazon. The winners were decided by an independent panel of judges drawn from the rural business sector, rural public sector agencies and rural charitable organisations.
Cornish Sea Salt is reporting a 46% rise in sales across its supermarket accounts. The uplift is being credited to consumers becoming more creative with their cooking during lockdown. Sales of Cornish Sea Salt rose a huge 202% in Tesco, with further growth in Morrisons (76%), Sainsburys (22.6%), Waitrose (31.6%) and Asda (22.6%). More shoppers than ever before are
DRINK
upgrading to gourmet salt from ordinary table salt as the once foodie trend becomes mainstream – Cornish Sea Salt also saw a 22.6% uplift in ASDA stores. The brand also reported growth in convenience stores, with sales in Co-Op up by more than a third. Cornish Sea Salt Company MD, Philip Tanswell, said: “The past few years have seen a significant rise in the demand for sea salt in the UK, quadrupling output from our sea salt house in Cornwall as a result. “Our salts are naturally lower in sodium and contain over 60 healthy minerals. They pack such a punch that you’ll get away with using 30% less than other salts for the same intensity of flavour.”
Nikki Owen, head of marketing at St Ewe Free Range Eggs, said: “Thank you to the Rural Business Awards and Amazon for this amazing award. We also want to thank the people of Cornwall and beyond who buy and enjoy our eggs. It means the world to us and we could not have achieved this success without you, our amazing team, producer farms and suppliers.”
A microbrewery on the north Cornwall coast has been adapting to survive through successive lockdowns with the help of Acceleration Through Innovation 2 (ATI2) business support programme. Perranporth-based Black Flag Brewery was established in 2013 by brothers Nick and Benedict Sales. Having grown their craft beer business by supplying Cornish pubs, bars and restaurants, the duo were hit hard when the first wave of the pandemic forced them to close their doors.
A CAN-DO ATTITUDE
With successive lockdowns causing traditional sales and distribution channels to dry up, Black Flag realised it would need to adapt its existing business strategy away from a reliance on wholesale distribution and increase sales to the end
consumer. To do so, the brothers needed to invest in new machinery to package and preserve their beer, as well as build an online web shop and distribution service. ATI2 was able to award Black Flag an innovation grant to help the business install its very own micro-canning line, which has had a dramatic impact. “The financial support has been a lifeline to help with the purchasing of the canning machine, particularly in winter, a period which is always a tight couple of months for us and has been made even tighter with another lockdown,” said Nick Sales. As a result of the investment, Black Flag Brewery is now able to reduce product losses and stock holding, while also improving product consistency, quality and control. Sales said: “Before we had the canning machine we had used mobile canning companies. But oxygen is bad for beer and we had had whole batches ruined in the process. It takes 2-3 weeks to brew our beer and bringing it in-house gives us greater control, reduces costs and creates timing efficiencies as we aren’t waiting for someone else to can it.”
BUSINESS CORNWALL | 39
CREATIVE
AND DIGITAL
DOUBLE DELIGHT has been shortlisted twice in this year’s Digital Women Awards.
FUNDING FOR FIN-TECH START-UP Falmouth based Fin-tech start-up Money Story, has received grant funding from the Social Investment Business Reach Fund. The Money Story digital platform helps users explore their financial identities, coaching them to improve their financial wellbeing via “unique insights and financial reflection”. Jones Oviawe, Money Story founder and CEO, said the grant will help move the company into the next phase of development. “We’re delighted to receive this investment,” he said. “The fund’s focus is exclusively on social impact companies, so it’s great we’ve been recognised as we’re on a mission to empower people to realise that having a healthy relationship with finance can boost their wellbeing. “The funding will allow us to grow our market presence and complete improvements to our technology following BETA feedback. We’ll also now look to explore broader market vertical opportunities for our pilot project pipeline.”
A Cornish entrepreneur and social media expert has been recognised twice in a national awards scheme that celebrates women working in digital. Katherine George, founder of international social media marketing agency Oh So Social and online training platform Oh So Savvy,
George is a finalist in the Digital Entrepreneur of the Year category and has also been shortlisted for Digital Woman of the Year. The latter category also forms this year’s 40 Digital Women to Watch in 2021 list. She said: “It really means so much to not only be shortlisted for Digital Entrepreneur, but to also have a place in the 40 Digital Women to Watch list among so many inspirational women who are doing amazing things in the industry.”
CODE FIRST GIRLS COLLABORATION Falmouth University’s ‘venture studio’, Launchpad, has partnered with Code First Girls as part of its commitment to support more women into the tech industry. The partnership will offer free part-time remote coding courses for women and nonbinary students at Launchpad and Falmouth University. James Murray, head of the Launchpad Programme, said: “It’s common knowledge there’s a lack of diversity in the tech industry. We’re totally committed to bridging that gap and empowering under-represented minorities to realise their potential, embark on a career in tech and make a global impact.
expertise and unrivalled opportunities for our Launchpad community.” Anna Brailsford, CEO of Code First Girls, said: “We’re delighted to support the Launchpad Programme and all the entrepreneurs, innovators and inventors at Falmouth University through our Coding Kickstarter classes. A career in technology and entrepreneurship is one of the most rewarding paths you can take and I am personally so excited to see the impact that this partnership will have on the woman and non-binary tech leaders of the future.”
“We’re excited by this partnership, along with our recent collaboration with Software Cornwall, this further brings together sector
‘SUPER GOOGLE’ FIRM IN NEWQUAY Marwick Marketing, a ‘super Google’ firm and one of the fastest growing companies in western Canada, has expanded its operations to the UK, opening a new office in Newquay. A Premier Google Partner Agency, Marwick Marketing claims to be one of only two companies across the south west with this qualification and experience. It marks a welcome return to Cornwall for founder and CEO Christian Thomson, who previously lived in Newquay for 13 years, setting up a number of successful businesses and meeting his Canadian wife, Theresa, in the town. In 2009, he was named Young 40 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
Business Person of the Year at the Cornwall Business Awards. Along with his family, he later moved to Canada where he founded Marwick Marketing in 2012, providing digital business and profit building strategies in and around British Columbia. In that time, Marwick was listed 11th in the Fastest Growing Companies in British Columbia list. Thomson said: “We have a team of 21 in our office in Canada and for myself and my family, moving back to Cornwall was a very natural opportunity for us – and for the business.”
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AWARD-WINNING SPEAKER Nigel Risner is a motivational speaker and consultant known for inspiring and empowering both big corporate CEO’s and small business owners alike. On April 7, FSB Cornwall is delighted to be hosting Nigel for a UK-wide webinar that will change the way you think about your business and your life. Having appeared on prime-time chat shows, such as Richard & Judy, Nigel is an awardwinning speaker who is known around the world as a respected author and television presenter in his own right. He speaks with authority and experience about how to overcome the unfamiliar and uncomfortable. Which is where many of us will be right now. Nigel conducts more than 150 motivational seminars and corporate speaking engagements a year for an enormous variety
LENDING TOPS £100BN of companies and organisations in Britain and overseas. His books ‘You had me at Hello’ – the new rules for better networking – and ‘It’s a zoo around here’ – the new rules for better communication and The IMPACT Code have sold in their thousands and are literally transforming lives all around the world. As one of the youngest CEOs of a financial services company in the City of London, Nigel knows business but unlike others, he has the ability to translate complex philosophes into entertaining, understandable and actionable concepts that FSB are delighted to share with business owners attending their free motivational online event. Book your free place at www.fsb.org.uk/event-calendar
GOOD BUSINESS CHARTER Small businesses are being offered a new way to have their employee wellbeing, sustainability and diversity credentials acknowledged thanks to a fresh collaboration between FSB and the Good Business Charter (GBC). Firms with up to 50 employees can apply for GBC accreditation through a streamlined application process. The new assessment has been designed in recognition of the time and financial pressures faced by small business owners, especially against a backdrop of trading restrictions and the end of the transition period. The Good Business Charter – brainchild of Richer Sounds MD Julian Richer, who handed control of the firm to his employees
in the summer of 2019, enables businesses to have their commitment to ethical practice recognised by clients, employees and the wider community alike. Richer said: “We welcome this opportunity to work closely with FSB and take an important step forward to ensure the accreditation works for small businesses. Richer Sounds started as a small business and as it grew, responsible business practices have always been at the heart of our approach to all stakeholders. We want the GBC to work equally well for small businesses as for the largest UK companies and are excited about the potential small businesses now have to lead the way in being recognised for their ethical practices.”
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!
The FSB has responded to the launch of the British Business Bank (BBB)’s latest Small Business Finance Markets report, which shows gross bank lending (excluding overdrafts) to smaller businesses rose to £104 billion in 2020. National chairman, Mike Cherry, said: “The BBB has been a critical component of the business support landscape over the past year, helping more than a million small firms to access the emergency finance they’ve needed to stay afloat. The BBB’s role will no doubt become even more fundamental as we withdraw from EU funding streams. “Of the small firms that have recently accessed finance, four in ten now describe their debt as ‘unmanageable’. A lot of them do not fit the narrow definitions of frontline retail, leisure and hospitality so have received little by way of direct Government support. “Three quarters of small firms are accessing finance to help manage cashflow which underscores how Covidlinked disruption is exacerbating our late payment crisis, a crisis which destroys 50,000 firms a year at a cost of at least £2.5 billion to the economy. “The question now is, what steps should policymakers and banks take to ensure emergency debt delivers value to the economy? More than half of those with facilities say a student loan approach – whereby repayments are only made once a firm is profitable again – would mark a helpful way forward. Greater incentives to adopt an Employee Ownership Trust model could also help many in this area. As repayments start to fall due in the coming months, lenders should remember that these loans were only made possible by the Government in order to help firms in need and treat borrowers accordingly.”
BUSINESS CORNWALL | 41
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NEW ASPECTS OFFICE THE BOWGIE GOES GREEN The Bowgie Inn has joined forces with ZLC Energy to install renewable and low carbon energy solutions in a bid to become more sustainable. As part of its recent refurbishment, The Bowgie Inn in Crantock has taken big steps in its efforts to increase energy efficiency and reduce its carbon footprint. The historic Cornish pub was granted planning consent in 2018 and has been working closely with ZLC Energy to implement a number of renewable solutions ever since. Bowgie Inn owner Sally Pickles explained: “We first teamed up with ZLC Energy in 2017, when they installed a solar PV system at The Bowgie. Their work and values were so in line with the vision we have for our pub, a lot of the decisions made around our refurbishment were made with ZLC in mind.
“It’s been particularly rewarding partnering with them to design bespoke solutions for The Bowgie. Parts of the building here date back to the 1700’s so to bring such a historic venue into the eco-friendly, sustainable present has been so exciting.” The solar PV system included 21kw of solar panels and three inverters to generate electricity directly from sunlight. A ground heat source pump has also been installed, which supplies underfloor heating throughout the bar. ZLC managing director, Matthew Shepherd, added: “We’ve really enjoyed working on these two projects with The Bowgie. It’s great to see a family-run business investing in the future with renewable technologies such as solar PV and GHSP, adding a new green chapter to their history - we can’t wait to work with them on more exciting and progressive projects moving forward.”
Lettings agency Aspects Holidays has opened a new office in Wadebridge. Property manager Jules Harrison has been appointed to run the new office, with the support of Morgan Tocher who will be working for Aspects Holidays and sister company, Pure Management. Commercial director, Mandy Spencer, said: “We are so pleased to have opened our latest office in Wadebridge. Having a hub in this perfectly positioned spot means we can now help owners looking for a fully managed holiday letting service for properties in areas like Padstow, Rock, Polzeath, Port Isaac and Wadebridge itself.”
SKYBUS TAKING OFF Skybus flights to the Isles of Scilly from Cornwall Airport Newquay are being reintroduced next month. Isles of Scilly Travel is resuming its Skybus services from Newquay on May 1, with scheduled flights available to book until October 23. Flights from Newquay have been on hold in recent months owing to the Covid-19 pandemic and resulting UK lockdowns. Stuart Reid, chief executive of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Group which operates Skybus fixed-wing flight services, said:
42 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
“We are excited to be reintroducing Skybus flights for our popular Newquay route. The service will add choice for passengers wishing to visit the Isles of Scilly, in addition to our existing services from Land’s End Airport and Exeter Airport.” Pete Downes, MD at Cornwall Airport
Newquay, added: “We recognise how important these lifeline services are for the islands’ population, as well as for connecting leisure passengers from across the UK when tourism is able to restart. We have made significant progress in rebuilding our network, and I’m delighted that Isles of Scilly residents will be able to share the benefits of this.”
NEWS
TOURISM
THE BEST OF TOURISM Leading hotelier Martin Barlow received one of the top accolades at the Cornwall Tourism Awards.
Catering, while Mullion Cove Hotel and Spa took gold for Small Hotel and Carlyon Bay Hotel the gold for Large Hotel.
and Sustainable Tourism, and to Cove24 Restaurant and Bar in the New Tourism Business category.
Barlow, who is proprietor at the Budock Vean Hotel, was recognised for his Outstanding Contribution to Tourism, while Watergate Bay’s Ben Harper took the prize for Business Leader.
The Old Embassy House took the gold for B&B and Guesthouse of the Year with Polmanter Touring Park and Ekopod taking the final two accommodation golds for touring park and glamping.
In total, 74 awards were presented across 27 categories during an innovative online awards day hosted by Daphne Skinnard and awards organiser Robin Barker of Services for Tourism.
The Cornish Seal Sanctuary showed its further improvements taking gold in both the Wildlife Friendly and Dog Friendly categories with Paradise Park also taking two golds for Large Visitor Attraction and Experience of the Year. The Shipwreck Treasure Museum took the Small Attraction gold, with Treseren winning gold for Wedding Venue and St Moritz Hotel gold for Tourism Innovation. It was good to see Falmouth Oyster Festival 2019 taking the gold for Tourism Event of the Year and Visit Newquay Tourist Information the gold for Visitor Information.
The awards also recognised five ‘Unsung Heroes’ who had gone above and beyond during 2020. These were Gary Zammit of Feadon Wildlife Centre, Kim Spencer of SECTA, Patrick Trembath of PK Porthcurno, Robert Hawkins of Martha’s Orchard and Sally Pickles from The Bowgie Inn.
“I am delighted to receive this award,” said Barlow. “We don’t achieve things on our own in this business and so this is for the whole team at BV. They are a fantastic, dedicated team, many of whom have been at BV as long as I have, some longer. Thank you to Robin Barker and his team for their determination in organising these awards, despite the challenging circumstances, and giving us all the opportunity to showcase the rich variety and quality of Cornwall’s hospitality businesses.” Barker added: “It would have been very easy to cancel the awards this year – we did think long and hard about it, but the level of early entries we received in spite of everything, and the creativity and determination shown by entrants inspired us to find a way to make this happen – and your responses and feedback ever since have completely blown us away.” Among the other top winners was Landal Gwel an Mor, winning Gold for Holiday Park of the Year as well as awards for Access, Small Attraction, Spa and Wellbeing, and Wedding Venue. Sara’s Cottage was another multiple winner picking up golds for Access and Self
For a full list of winners and finalists, visit cornwalltourismawards.org.uk
Food and drink businesses were also recognised with Teacup Tearoom winning gold for Café/ Tearoom of the Year, The Pandora Inn for Pub of the Year (for the fourth year running) and Bango Kitchen the gold for Restaurant and Casual Dining. Prestigious golds also went to The Sanctuary Cornwall for Ethical, Responsible BUSINESS CORNWALL | 43
EDUCATION
AND TRAINING
SPONSORED BY
PERMANENT MOVE TO DIGITAL DELIVERY
BREAKING STEREOTYPES In a male-dominated industry, a female motor vehicle lecturer from Cornwall College is encouraging more young women to consider a career in the automotive sector. Viv Collings, a study programme manager from the college’s St Austell campus, is looking to grow awareness of the opportunities available for local females interested in the career path. “You need to have a strong head as a female to join the motor vehicle industry,” Collings explained. “Although it is a more male-orientated sector, it is a trade for everyone, and women can really achieve. I work closely with our female students to help them feel confident, the mandatory work experience on our courses has really opened the door for our students to go into the workplace and show what they can do.”
Truro and Penwith College has announced that two of its apprenticeships will continue to be delivered online on a permanent basis after its remote teaching was praised by both learners and employers.
Truro and Penwith College moved timetables online in March of last year in response to lockdown and the Covid-19 pandemic and has been recognised as a national leader of online learning, being one of only 20 colleges leading a Department for Education (DfE) project to develop “cutting edge digital approaches to online learning”. Strong support for its digital delivery and calls from learners and employers have influenced the decision to offer online options for Business Administrator Level 3 and Team Leader/Supervisor Level 3 Apprenticeships on a permanent basis.
SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS Ofsted has praised The Cornwall College Group (TCCG) following a successful monitoring inspection in February. The college group was given the accolade of “significant progress” in the recently published report compiled by Her Majesty’s Inspectors. TCCG’s principal and chief executive, John Evans, welcomed the report, and said it was testament to the hard work carried out by staff over the last 12 months.
Collings, who changed her own path as a qualified nail technician to pursue her passion for auto repair, is motivated to help students to chase their dream career.
He commented: “We are delighted that Ofsted has witnessed first-hand the incredible results stemming from the effort by staff to provide a quality education and experience to every single learner, especially with the unprecedented challenge of doing this in the last 12 months.
With female mechanics now accounting for around 10% of the workforce in the UK, a rise of 125% since 2011, it seems the stereotype around women working as mechanics is slowly fading.
“And I am pleased that their report recognised our success in reviewing the college curriculum to ensure it meets the needs of our learners and the local employment opportunities.”
APPRENTICESHIP FUNDING BOOST The Cornwall College Group (TCCG) has welcomed the Government’s announcement of extra funding for companies that take on apprentices. Speaking to MPs in the House of Commons to outline his plans for a post-coronavirus economic recovery, chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that incentive grants for apprenticeships would increase from £1.5k to £3k – and a £126 million additional 44 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
www.truro-penwith.ac.uk
The report stated: “A new leadership team was appointed in October 2019. They have made significant progress in remedying the weaknesses identified at the previous inspection. “Leaders have systematically reviewed the college curriculum, checking with partners that it now meets the needs of learners and local employment opportunities. Each subject lead has assessed their curricular objectives and carefully considered how best to sequence learning and assessment.” investment would be put into traineeships. This comes on top of other grants that are available meaning firms who take on new apprentices can receive up to £4k in total. Lorna Martin, head of apprenticeships and external engagement at TCCG said the announcement was “excellent news” for both employers and those looking to take on the further education option. She commented: “Apprenticeships are a fantastic career-boosting move for so many people, so I am delighted the Government have recognised this with these incentives.”
PEOPLE
ON THE MOVE
RTP ON THE MOVE A leading Cornish building surveying firm has marked the start of a new business chapter by moving to new premises. RTP Surveyors, which has offices in Falmouth, Bodmin, and Plymouth, has relocated its head office to the Tremough Innovation Centre in Penryn. It follows a strong two years of growth for the business, which has included the opening of an office in Devon, the expansion of its team, and a shift in ownership profile following a management buyout. Director Richard Collett said: “Following 22 wonderful years in our Arwenack Street office, we are excited to be joining the Tremough Innovation Centre community.
“Better connectivity means that our team can, in the long-term, more effectively balance home and office working, which will allow employees to enjoy a better quality of life - something we’ve been striving to achieve over the last two years. “As a business which is focused on sustainability, this new way of working will
AZETS PROMOTIONS
also help us to reduce our carbon footprint.” Founded in 1986 by Richard Thomas, RTP Surveyors is a RICS-accredited firm with an 18-strong team of building surveyors, architectural technicians, and administration staff. In 2018, after 32 years at the reins, Thomas became a consultant to the business, following a management buyout.
Regional accountancy firm Azets has announced three promotions within its Truro office.
Gill Vokes, formerly assistant manager has been promoted to manager, Rachel Elliott moves from the role of associate to senior and Cara Dale, who previously held the role of senior manager, has been promoted to practice manager. Malcolm Peters, partner at Azets, said: “All three of these promotions reflect commitment to the firm and to the industry, and are incredibly well deserved.
GILL VOKES
“Delivering a highly personalised service will continue to be a focus for us, and these promotions highlight Azets commitment to continued investment in our people within the south west region.”
NEW LEP BOARD MEMBER The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has appointed a new non-executive director. Lisa Oakes, who is finance director at Bodmin-based confectionery company Buttermilk, will also chair the LEP’s audit and assurance committee. She has more than 20 years of business finance and accountancy experience. Oakes joined Buttermilk part-time in 2012 as a consultant management accountant and became full time finance director in 2016. Prior to that she held a variety of finance and accountancy roles with a range of Cornish businesses including Healey’s Cornish Cyder Farm, Pooleys Chartered Accountants and Mannings Hotel, Bar and Restaurant.
RACHEL ELLIOTT
CARA DALE
She said: “I’ve experienced first-hand the many challenges of growing a successful business and I want to bring those skills to the LEP board as it shapes the economic future of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.” BUSINESS CORNWALL | 45
OPINION
JUST A THOUGHT
Sam Taylor from The Retail Fixers consultancy welcomes the return of non-essential retailing.
A CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM April 12 is the date the Government has given for a further relaxation of the lockdown rules, which allows non-essential retail to reopen. It has been estimated that the cost of lost sales to non-food stores during lockdown is now over £22 billion and counting. Retailers are desperate to open their doors again. The phrase “cautiously optimistic” has been picked up and discarded many times over the past year but as we emerge from lockdown 3.0, independent retailers are tentatively reintroducing it back into their lingo. Yet, with this very welcome next step in the roadmap, we are still left with a number of unknowns; some of which will be defined by the Government closer to the date, such as whether the two metre rule will still be in place and for how long, whether changing rooms can be used and what advice there will be for staff social distancing.
We have spoken to a number of our clients about their thoughts about opening their doors again and generally there is a lot of positivity; albeit tinged with apprehension. Mish, who is a partner at The Retail Fixers and has her shop in Wadebridge, commented: “We are so excited to be reopening and getting back to serving our customers in person. We have pivoted to providing our bra fittings to zoom but obviously we can provide a faster and higher quality service in person.”
How has consumer behaviour changed over the past year?
This is all to be advised over the next few weeks but there are also many unknowns, which we can only speculate over. How
46 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
has consumer behaviour changed over the past year? We know that sales have inevitably transferred across to online but will people be willing to get back into our shops? There are promising indications, not least from the successful vaccine roll-out. Will we see a spike in the grey pound initially, or will the reticence persist? Until the doors open, we will not know the answer to these questions.
When asked about the challenges her business is facing, she continued: “There are of course questions still to be answered; as a business our service relies on having our changing rooms open, so that is a key concern to us, as well as keeping our customers and staff safe”. This is the same for our other clients, one of which will only start to open up once all of their staff have received their vaccines. June 21 will be another key milestone, especially for Cornish shops, given the proportion of gift shops; browsing and touching are key elements in enticing customers into the store and from there converting sales. If all restrictions are lifted, this could potentially be fantastic news, especially for those retailers with smaller shop space. I think we will continue to see retailers be inventive with how they display stock, especially if they have the ability to take their merchandising outside of the shop. So, we wait and we watch for greater clarification before the doors open and then we wait and we watch to see how our customers behave, as we continue to caveat our optimism with caution.
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BUSINESS CORNWALL | 47
THE LAST
WORD
BRIAN DOLAN
Football-loving partner at law firm Stephens Scown LLP WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG? Striker for Coventry City.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST FULL TIME JOB?
IF YOU COULD INVITE ANY TWO PEOPLE FOR DINNER, WHO WOULD THEY BE AND WHY WOULD YOU INVITE THEM? Michael Palin and Barry Humphries – very funny and plenty of stories to tell.
Midland Bank International in the City. I didn’t want to go to university; I wanted to crack on, get a job and make my fortune. It was a tedious job settling foreign currency cheques. I was paid less than I had earned pot washing in Newquay. I left and went to university.
IF YOU COULD BUILD A HOUSE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD WHERE WOULD IT BE?
WHAT’S IN YOUR POCKETS?
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION?
Debit card, reading glasses and of course a mask.
St Agnes.
HOW DO YOU LIKE TO RELAX?
I was born in Singapore and love going ‘home’ to see my brother, but I don’t really have a favourite – it’s a big and fascinating world with lots of different places to discover.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER?
IF YOU COULD BE GOD FOR A DAY, WHAT MIRACLE WOULD YOU PERFORM?
Cycling. I’m a fair weather MAMIL.
Winning a defamation case for a local client – appalling accusations made against them and significant costs on the line.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE WORST MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER?
Cure/prevent pandemics!
WHAT WAS YOUR LUCKIEST BREAK?
Calling the Judge ‘My Lord’ throughout my first advocacy experience: Her Honour graciously didn’t correct me, recognising I was a tad nervous.
Finding I was working a few desks away from the chairman of the London Coventry City Supporters Club in 1987. He got me FA Cup semi-final and final tickets in our one glory year. It’s been famine trophy-wise every other year of our existence.
WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT CORNWALL?
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE DOING IN FIVE YEARS’ TIME?
Best place to grow up. Best place to live. Best place to work.
48 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
Playing up front for Coventry.
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