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LAURA GILES, MD AT SCREEN CORNWALL
- SEE PAGE 12
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In this month’s Business Cornwall we meet the MD of Screen Cornwall, Laura Giles. Cornwall’s beautiful natural surrounding have long been a star of the big and small screen, but it is increasingly now nurturing a growing industry of its own.
Films like Bait have brought the Duchy to the attention of the wider film world and while we are unlikely to ever become the next Hollywood or even Pinewood, the potential is clear.
Laura talks us through this relatively new business sector and her hopes for the future.
Also in this month’s issue, business events and networking are back in full swing, just a quick glance at the Connected pages will tell you that. Holding your own event is a brilliant way to connect with current and future customers and on page 20 we have seven suggestions of some fabulous venues to hold your gathering.
A quick heads up to next month’s bumper edition of Business Cornwall magazine. Not only will we feature Cornwall’s brightest young business people – Cornwall’s 30 under 30 Class of 23 –but also Cornwall’s brightest employers – the findings of our inaugural search for the Best Places to Work in Cornwall
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In my spare time while working on art projects, I always enjoy listening to podcasts based on true crime, paranormal activity and the unexplained.
One of my recent favourite podcasts is called Witch Farm which tells of past ghostly happenings in a remote Welsh farmhouse. It’s presented by Danny Robins who created other podcast series such as Uncanny, The Battersea Poltergeist and the West End show 2:22 A Ghost Story (a great show if you like a ghost story with a twist).
I’ve always been fascinated by the unexplained and the idea that there might be something else beyond this life that we can’t easily rationalise. This said, I’m still sat on the fence when it comes to deciding whether I’m a true believer in the paranormal or not!’
Spartan up! by Spartan Race founder, Joe de sena, mixed with The Daily Stoic with Ryan Holiday.
It’s like I’m talking to myself sometimes. It resonates, calls me to my origins where tenacity, consistency, and stoicism always remain significant foundations for me personally. A space of solitude. To nourish. I work with people who have experienced the greatest traumas and who reveal their deepest moments of personal pain to me in clearing sessions and intensives. When they are often at their lowest ebb and leave and become so many incredible examples of progression and unbounded success. Which is hugely humbling to the potency of
the process and approach I use as well as the people who commit to it. For business and my roots and expansion of networks I listen to Money with Rob Moore. It’s the absolute oppositeprovocative and evocative. I like Rob, he can be quite disruptive but that his brand. The flip side is because anything is possible if you’re willing to take a risk.
If I can sneak a fourth stream in - Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett. Its everyday insight. Grounded.
The Marketing Forum by Katie Sandow. I used to work with Katie when she was head of marketing at Fifteen and she always has interesting people on her podcast. I feel like I am part of a conversation between them.
From a business perspective, I’m a regular listener to How I Built This from NPR, which is an amazing insight into how companies start – and prevail! I also love the Hustle Daily Show from Hubspot which gives a short, sharp shot of start-up and tech news every morning. And Start Up Europe from SIFTED is good for focussing on the Start-Up scene in the UK and Europe.
In terms of podcasts that straddle entrepreneurship and self-improvement, Steven Bartlett’s Diary of a CEO (of course!), ‘The Tim Ferriss Show’ and ‘Making Sense’ with Sam Harris are all regularly brilliant – if long listens!
Stories are at the heart of The Lost Gardens of Heligan so podcasts have a very natural home here – whether we’re listening to them or hosting our own. The Heligan podcast has been running for over a year now and celebrates the beauty of little things, from soil to seeds, bulbs to bees.
Head of gardens and estate, Alasdair Moore, chats with guests such as biologist Merlin Sheldrake and Sir Tim Smit as they take inspiration from nature and the environment around them. For our listeners, it’s a chance to reconnect with Heligan when they can’t visit themselves or to get a glimpse into the inner workings. We’re also big fans of Tia Tamblyn’s sustainable living podcast, Breakfast & Beyond – in fact, we’re about to release a collaborative series. Listen out for it!
I often listen to Louise Shanahan’s 15 Minute Freelancer; she covers things like how to stay motivated, and personal brand, so as a freelancer working alone it often helps me gain some perspective! I also like the Marketing Forum podcasts – the topics are always timely and inform my work. The subjects covered in Steven Bartlett’s Diary of a CEO are often fascinating, and I love Fern Cotton’s Happy Place because it makes me look inwardly and re-evaluate things, which I think is really healthy. If I’m tired, I listen to NearlyWeds – Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo are hilarious!
The Growth & Skills Hub has confirmed that the Cornwall Business Awards will take a break this year but will return better and brighter in 2024. 2023 will see major changes within the business support community and the focus will be on ensuring a smooth transition to the Shared Prosperity Fund and the successful delivery of Good Growth Fund. This year will also see a review of the awards, which will include award categories, sponsorship, judging and the awards event itself.
A delegation from Norwegian Offshore Wind - the largest representative offshore wind body in Norway - was in Cornwall last month to gain a better understanding of the region’s Floating Offshore Wind (FLOW) opportunities. Matt Hodson, COO at Celtic Sea Power, said: “Norway has an extremely impressive track record in offshore development and there is clear opportunity for us to work together.”
Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly Local Nature Partnership Summit is returning for a second year, on May 19 at Heartlands, Pool. The one-day event will bring together key stakeholders and inspirational speakers such as Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife & Countryside Link.
Coodes has committed to plant more than 1,200 new trees in Cornwall, in celebration of its 275th milestone anniversary. The law firm is aiming to create new habitats in the county and re-establish woodland areas in partnership with the not-for-profit Community Interest Group (CIC) Plant One Cornwall.
Local charity First Light has launched a new website (firstlight.org.uk) to support people who have experienced domestic abuse or sexual violence. First Light consulted service users in the early stages of the project, conducting research, focus groups and workshops to ensure the website had the right accessibility, features and look.
Dales Cornwall was named SEAT Dealer of the Year for the sixth time in seven years. While Dales Summercourt received the prize of SEAT Dealer of the Year for combined sales, services and parts – its first time winning this specific accolade – Dales Scorrier was awarded first place in the New Car Retailer of the Year category for a second year in a row.
Leading pork producer, Pilgrim’s UK, has invested in £1.8 million of improvements at its Bodmin factory.
The improvements include new high-speed packing lines and a storage racking system, while the business has also invested in greenhouse gas reduction projects to reduce electricity and gas usage on-site.
The food and farming business is also looking to recruit 50 new staff to work across its cooked bacon and gammon production lines over the next six months as it aims to boost production.
Site director, Daniel Inch, said: “Our Bodmin factory plays a vital role in the Pilgrim’s UK network. This package of investment forms part of our ongoing strategic focus
on enhancing operations and increasing capacity across our UK business, while taking important strides towards our net zero commitment.”
Goonhilly Earth Station has strengthened its presence in the international satellite communication market following the acquisition of two American teleports.
The purchase of the two COMSAT teleports in Connecticut and California, will enable customers on both sides of the Atlantic to have access to the expertise for which Goonhilly and COMSAT are recognised. It
will also move the company one step closer to providing a fully global, 24/7 space and satellite communications network service. Goonhilly CEO, Ian Jones, said: “This is very exciting news for us, both at Goonhilly and the COMSAT teleports.
“All three locations are world-renowned for excellent customer service, providing space and satellite communications to government and industry. Together we are energised to significantly accelerate our growth and reach. This includes both commercial satellite communications and deep space/ lunar communications, where Goonhilly is the leading commercial operator.”
“Very good progress” is being made to return tin mining to South Crofty.
Cornish Metals is targeting production in 2026, coinciding with projected deficits in tin supply.
Last May, the company completed a £40.5 million funding, the use of proceeds for which are to construct the mine water treatment plant, dewater the mine, and complete a feasibility study. It says the project could generate 250-300 direct jobs.
CEO Richard Williams said: “We have made very good progress over the last eight months, building an experienced and highly motivated team at South Crofty.
“The company remains on track to commission the mine water treatment plant in June this year, with the objective of commencing full scale dewatering operations in July.
“Construction costs for the mine water treatment plant remain in line with previous guidance of £6.5 million to £7 million.”
A Cornwall-based sexual wellness company has launched the UK’s first range of ocean plastic products, ahead of Earth Day 2023 this month.
Consisting of four products, the new collection from The Natural Love Company is said to be a UK first and each item has an inner body made with 100% recycled ocean plastic. The Natural Love Company was founded in 2022 by friends and wedding photographers Ben Foster and Barney Walters, as a result of their previous careers being put on hold by the pandemic.
Commenting on the launch of the new recycled ocean plastics range, Foster said: “As we enter this new phase of growth we’re excited to be providing consumers with the UK’s first range of recycled ocean plastic sex toys.
“Around the world, marine plastic pollution remains a major problem and as a business, we’re determined to help play our part in cleaning up the world’s oceans.”
the largest passenger ship to visit the facility in over 60 years.
The MV Bolette is Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ flagship vessel and carries up to 1,338 passengers and 645 crew.
The Bolette entered dry dock for a 13-day refurbishment, including maintenance to the ship’s Azipods and bow thrusters as well a new application of underwater pain. Over 500 members of the A&P workforce and supply chain worked around the clock to support the contract.
It is the second time in 12 months that Fred. Olsen has chosen to dock at A&P Falmouth,
with fellow ship Balmoral completing a programme of work in May last year, which included steel inserts, ship side valves, tunnel thruster overhaul and underwater paint.
A&P Falmouth MD, Mike Spicer, said: “A&P was delighted to welcome Bolette to the facility – and facilitate a visit from Peter Deer, managing director of Fred Olsen.
“The visit provided a fantastic opportunity to showcase our capabilities - A&P’s location in the south west makes it an ideal facility for cruise ships operating in this area.”
A Cornwall-based independent fishing and seafood processing business is accelerating its growth thanks to an eightfigure funding package from HSBC UK. The funding will allow the group to modernise its fishing fleet as well as accelerate growth into both retail and wholesale sectors across the UK and European markets.
The business expects to grow from £50 million to £70 million within the next three to five years, and create 50 full-time positions thanks to the funding.
Leigh Genge, group CEO at Ocean Fish Group, commented: “It’s been a difficult few years for the fishing industry so we’re excited to be taking such a positive step forward to secure our future as a leader in the European seafood sector.”
The Ocean Fish Group is an independently owned fishing and seafood processing business with distribution to UK and international markets. Based in St Austell, it has a fully integrated supply chain model: quota and vessel ownership, market management and fish processing factories.
The business is the largest buyer of fish on the south west markets and has extensive sourcing knowledge on imported species.
Marine-i hosted a special Technology and Innovation Showcase at the Atlantic Hotel in Newquay last month, to highlight the programme’s achievements as it draws to a close.
Since its launch in 2017, the £13.4 million Marine-i collaboration has assisted nearly 200 marine tech businesses across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Part-funded by the
European Regional Development Fund, the programme has helped businesses access research, product development and innovation support through grants, academic expertise and world class testing.
The Marine-i Technology and Innovation Awards were also presented, with Feritech receiving the Impact on Cornwall Award, and Morek Engineering the Best Start-up Award.
The Game Changing Innovation Award was shared between joint winners Tugdock, which has created a modular road transportable floating dry dock, and Biome Algae, which is at the forefront of sustainably farmed seaweed and novel
bio-refined extracts.
Mark Duddridge, chair of Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Marine-i has been a champion of marine tech in Cornwall and Scilly, spanning autonomous vessels to environmental protection and clean growth.
“We are particularly indebted for their support in developing the potential for floating offshore wind technology in our region, which we believe could be transformative for coastal communities in our area and make a huge contribution to achieving our goal of a net zero carbon economy by 2030.”
Tugdock, a company delivering new solutions for the marine renewable energy sector, has received equity investment from the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Investment Fund (CIOSIF), as part of a wider funding round to support the growth of the business. The CIOSIF investment, the size of which has not been disclosed, is being matched by Sarens, a global leader in crane rental services, heavy lifting and engineered
Ward Williams Associates (WWA) was officially presented with its Queen’s Award for Enterprise at a special event held at the Hall for Cornwall, addressing sustainability in the built environment.
In addition to the presentation of a
transport. Sarens will work in partnership with Tugdock to offer an innovative solution to the fast-growing floating offshore wind industry.
The funding will be used for a range of growth activities by Tugdock, including establishing a manufacturing facility in Cornwall, hiring new staff and undertaking sales and marketing activity.
Falmouth-based Tugdock’s solution facilitates the building of floating offshore wind turbine substructures. Floating offshore wind farms are located in deeper waters much further offshore than fixed wind turbines. This gives them access to higher winds which generate more power. They are set to play a key role in delivering a cost-effective net-zero energy transition.
Founder and CEO, Shane Carr, said: “With floating offshore wind expanding rapidly internationally, we are well-positioned to support the sector. The funding from CIOSIF and Sarens will help enable us to scale up to make the most of this exciting global opportunity.”
Uali, an AI-powered robotics company that specialises in drone surveys of energy assets, has secured a £625k investment from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Investment Fund.
The investment, which is part of a larger £1.55 million funding round, will be used to establish the company’s UK office at the Newquay Aerohub, which will include a drone testing facility, bringing 20 jobs to the area over the next three years.
Focussed on the oil, gas and sustainable energy sectors, Uali offers a ‘drone-as-a-service’ solution to the costly problem of monitoring and reporting on the maintenance of difficult to reach sites such as oil rigs and wind farms. Data is collected using drones, capturing images from clients’ operational sites. A real time analysis powered by AI records potential issues by identifying abnormalities from the information received and can even prepare an automated equipment parts order list.
CEO, Ian Bogado, said: “We’re a global company who see positioning ourselves in Cornwall as a smart move. It will help us seek out local talent and deliver what we need in terms of research and development. Additionally, Cornwall has five airfields available for us to test our existing and new products.
crafted vase and hand-written scroll to senior partner Andy Snapes by the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, business leaders also heard from pre-eminent sustainable development champion John Elkington.
The day also featured a panel discussion chaired by Surfers Against Sewage cofounder Chris Hines MBE, which debated a number of issues such as how big CO2 reductions can be achieved, how we need to come together to drive change and the Triple Bottom line.
“We’re really excited to expand our UK operations and get our new team on board to help us further disrupt existing tech in a very fast-growing market.”
Entries flooded in from all across this huge region for the FSB South West Small Business Awards and the final at Weston-super-Mare saw ten great Cornish companies waving the county’s flag – and two of them making the long journey back from north Somerset clutching trophies.
First among the smiles was Bude’s own Mucky Nutz, which provides safety equipment for the bike industry. Their distribution reaches no less than 30 countries and it was this that won them the prestigious FSB South West Exporter of the Year trophy. Speaking afterwards Shane Darwin, of Mucky Nutz, said he and his firm were delighted to be able to represent Cornwall and the south west and share their British made goods all across the globe.
The second Cornish title at the event went to
innovative engineering and manufacturing firm Feritech from Redruth who won the competitive Sustainability Award.
Cornwall has ‘form’ with this award as it is the second consecutive time the county has won the FSB sustainability title after the success of Bodmin firm ARCO2 Architecture Ltd in 2022. Feritech’ s Rob Ferris said he hoped the company’s success re-iterated what he passionately believes – “if you do sustainability right it is good for your business.”
Mucky Nutz and Feritech now go forward to represent Cornwall and the south west at the FSB national final in Birmingham in the spring. We wish them well and let’s hope they return with even more accolades for their great work.
www.fsb.org.uk
Currently operating under the name of Heather Venables Soft Tissue Therapy and Pilates For All, Heather Venables and Helen Stacey are excited to announce that they are working together on their new venture and will soon be called the Redruth Massage & Movement Clinic!
We are both so excited to be part of PIC. We may be “newbies,” but it already feels like home! The energy in the centre is fantastic—there’s a real buzz around the place that we love.
Who are we?
Heather is a Level 5 Soft Tissue Therapist and tutor on the Level 3 Sports Massage Diploma for Movement Therapy Education. She has treated a wide variety of injuries, chronic pain, and musculoskeletal pain in her clinic.
Helen is an Accredited Pilates instructor, working with individuals from all walks of life, covering a wide range of physiques, sports requirements, and general health conditions.
What do we offer?
Soft Tissue Therapy combines massage, education, and rehabilitation to help you take control of your pain or injury. It helps you to hurt less, move better and live more!
Pilates sessions (small group or 1:1) are tailored to your goals, to help you improve flexibility,
build strength, alleviate pain, or simply feel more present in your body.
We can’t wait to meet you all, so please do pop into F33 for a cuppa and a chat, or get in touch to book your session with us.
See you soon!
Heather & Helen Heather Venables
Cornwall has increasingly been featuring on the big and small screens in recent years. And it’s not just because of its pretty face, but there’s a growing industry on both sides of the camera. We meet Screen Cornwall MD, Laura Giles, who explains why exciting times lie ahead.
How did you come to be involved in the screen industry?
I had wanted to be a TV producer ever since I was little. I wanted to be involved in anything that involves that kind of creative process. I was just fascinated about how it was made. It’s like when some people pick up the bonnet of a car and want to be a mechanic. I just wanted to pick it up and see the process of how you make a film or a TV show.
But I began my working career more on the business side. I started out in corporate events and video production and then advertising. I had my own small corporate travel business with a colleague when I was 25, but it failed following 9/11. So, I did an MBA, and after that, I became a management consultant, which was really interesting, but not really that creative, so I started making short films on the side.
And then when I was in my early 30s, I got a job at the British Film Institute, which was a corporate job, but it allowed me to see every part of the industry and do it as my day job. So since then, I’ve worked in film, and continued to make my own things through my own production company Storm Force Films, as well as working on things like Screen Cornwall which has been brilliant, because you get to meet so many people.
So your creative and business experiences sit quite well together.
Yes, a producer’s job is very much a blend of those two things, creative and
business, and some producers lean towards one more than the other. But as a producer, you do have to straddle both. And Screen Cornwall really is about creating opportunities for people to flourish.
It started in 2019. I moved to Cornwall nine years ago, freelanced in the industry for a time and worked for an app company down here. I then worked on Cultivator when it started, which is the business support programme for creative industries, and I worked on the screen and digital side. It came out of that work and my previous work with the BFI, which was an international marketing role - I used to run the UK Film Centre at Cannes Film Festival and things like that. A lot of people said, why hasn’t Cornwall got a screen agency? So quietly through my day job, I started to explore that. And it soon became clear that there would be a benefit for Cornwall to have one where people from outside or inside could go to and find all the information they needed. A one stop shop.
We provide three key things really, we look at production support, locations, crew. That’s either for people coming in, or people based here. Quite often we would get an inquiry looking for a specific specialism or specific bit of help.
And then we look at talent development. That’s both creative talent, writers, directors and producers and also crew - all the people that make the things behind the scenes. We also look at cultural things, Cornish distinctiveness, so putting a spotlight and more resources behind programming with a Cornish perspective. A lot of the programmes made are from the outside in, and we want to support local companies to be able to make more content that is authentic.
There’s a plethora of micro businesses here, we’ve just released a report that talks about that. We don’t have any of the big brands like in the big cities, so it is slightly hidden and dispersed in the way that you’d expect for a rural area. But there are some stars coming through and names like Mark Jenkin who a lot of people will recognise. And yes, it is definitely growing. And having that sort of focus through Screen Cornwall allows us to also draw people out, or people that have moved here to work and give them a home, I suppose.
Cornwall is known for shows like Doc Martin but I guess it’s about creating more of the industry from within?
We get a lot of ‘Susan Calman and a
It soon became clear that there would be a benefit for Cornwall
campervan’ type sort of things where they’re here for a few days, they bring everything with them, they don’t really create any employment locally. Whereas with a bigger drama, like Doc Martin, that’s been coming back year after year and based itself here completely. Obviously, over the years that’s created a lot of job opportunities for people to progress and try new things.
Take the Sky show Delicious, for example, which is shot near Saint Germans and Port Elliott. It started off with about 30% local crew in the first series, but by the last series it was it was about 65%. So, they doubled it over three series. People are committed to engaging with the region, and we can help them find local people to employ.
Have films like Bait helped with the development and profile of the industry here in Cornwall?
Bait’s been a brilliant success story. Mark and his team and a lot of collaborators have been working with each other for a long time and they’re pretty much all local. Mark’s been making films for a long time in Cornwall that hadn’t been seen by the national and international industries. But this is the one that’s broken out. And that’s brilliant for him and for the region, because people who had never previously considered Cornwall to be a hotbed of talent are now taking a closer look.
What sort of things are going on in Cornwall at any one time?
There’s normally a couple of TV dramas, which might be here for 12 or 16 weeks doing a really chunky amount of work. And then usually a couple of feature films, some of those might just be parts of a feature film that they’re coming to use on location. But we had one last summer that was based here for the whole shoot, that was quite big. And there are quite a few low lower budget films. For example, o-region has just released Long Way Back, which was made locally, has just been released digitally.
The new BBC drama, Beyond Paradise. I think they’ve said in the marketing that it’s set in Devon, but it’s actually filmed in Cornwall.
Why did they not set it in Cornwall?
I don’t know, that’s nothing to do with me. But we have sort of said to them, if they get recommissioned for future series’, we would love them to take some Cornish writing into the writers’ rooms that they run and bring in some of that kind of sensibility.
But I guess it’s a marketing thing, which is entirely out of our control. And just to be clear, at Screen Cornwall we’re only two people. There’s me and Karen Mac, who’s a film officer who does most of this sort of outward facing work and helps with locations and crew. We can’t make production companies change their minds! But that’s why we want to create more content coming from Cornwall, because those sort of things would not be an issue.
How do the big productions, like House of the Dragon, come to be filmed in Cornwall?
There are three or four very experienced and talented location managers in Cornwall who have links with all the big studios and production companies. And they just wanted somewhere they could take over and had enough of the different types of landscapes that they were looking for. And obviously they did it out of season so they could get the accommodation or things they needed. But yes, it is a bit like a full circus coming to town when you’ve got a big production like that.
I guess they would be using a lot of their own people, increasingly using local people as well?
Yes, I believe they used a proportion of local people. There’s sort of a thing in the industry called ‘dailies’. So maybe you’ve got a day where you’ve got a lot of extras on set, so you need extra costume people, extra makeup, all that sort of thing, extra runners, extra assistant directors. All of that would be daily type work where you would try and employ local people.
Are Cornwall’s natural surroundings the main star or are other things joining that as well?
The location is always going to be a big draw. Obviously, a lot of people write about Cornwall and want to base a shoot here.
But it can also double for other Celtic nations with the dramatic coastlines or interior moors or woodlands or whatever. Part of Screen Cornwall’s job is to tell our story to the outside industry and say what’s available here in terms of crew, service companies, creative talent and so on.
It’s our job really to say to people, there’s more here to engage with than just the beaches. And people are surprised that there’s quite a thriving scene down here.
Screen Cornwall really is about creating opportunities for people to flourish
We work carefully with the university on supporting talent staying in Cornwall, trying to help them transition into work. They also invest in certain projects through the sound image cinema lab that they’ve got. They invested in Mark Jenkin’s most recent film, Enys Men, and they have invested in other projects.
Obviously, there’s a way to go before people would say Cornwall is a safer bet than Bristol or London in terms of getting year round work. With the locations being a primary focus, a lot of the work happens from spring to autumn. There’s less going on in the winter, but that’s something we’re trying to address by putting in more infrastructure for working with partners. There’s a number of developments in process - the Hive Project in Pydar Street, which is part of the Truro Town deal. And there’s another project called As One Perform, at RAF St Merryn, which is looking to create a multi creative and cultural industries hub. They will have studio space which could be used by a film one week, and then maybe a theatre production or a touring music show the next. So not specifically screen and I think that’s what Cornwall does well, blending creative disciplines in an interesting way.
A while ago the LEP identified creative as one of the key growth areas. That must help as well?
It’s quite interesting with that, because they put creative as one and digital as one. And I think what the screen sector does is actually blend creative and digital. While some of the roles maybe production design, where you’re making props, or costumes, or craft roles, quite a lot of the jobs are in the tech world. And post production, VFX immersive games.
There is a lot of overlap. Just the fact that you’re engaging somebody in a story with characters. And those characters have to be in a world that is believable. You’re engaging with an audience and looking for their leisure time. People might play a game, or they might go to the cinema, or they might go to the theatre, or might sit and watch TV. And that’s a choice that they’ve got in terms of their leisure entertainment time.
And the tools behind these things are also converging, things like Unreal Engine, which is a big, global platform for content creation which has been talked about a lot in terms of virtual production. So shows like the Mandalorian, where essentially instead of being on location, you put the location in a very high res digital screen behind the actors in a studio space. And people believe you’re in the desert or wherever. That sort of Unreal Engine technology is coming in. And what’s interesting with that is you can use it for game worlds as well as TV film production. So, the tools behind the scenes and the skills behind the scenes are converging.
What gives you most pleasure. Your Screen Cornwall role or working on a specific project with Storm Force?
I get a lot out of working with talent and enabling people to take the next steps in their careers. The way I do that through Screen Cornwall is obviously through the talent development schemes and bringing people through and helping to provide them with opportunities and hopefully really well paid work. And it’s the same with Storm Force Films. It’s about finding people with interesting
ideas and helping them get those made. Last year, we made a short digital series for the BBC. But it was generated through a group of young people who were addressing the climate crisis and wanting to see more positive stories on their screens. I don’t think the roles at Screen Cornwall and Storm Force are that different, in terms of it’s about bringing people with talent through. I don’t consider myself to be very talented creatively, but I can organise people, I can build partnerships, run a business and build networks.
How many people does the sector employ?
That’s difficult to say as it’s mostly freelance, but the screen workforce is growing. There are currently 289 crew listed on the Screen Cornwall database and a further 31 ‘above-the-line’ creative positions.
We want it to grow the screen industry in a sustainable way and in a way that we’re not overusing parts of Cornwall that are popular for filming. We don’t want to jeopardise those natural environments. Not that we give the permissions for people to film, but quite often people would say they want to film on a particular beach and we might say that beach is very busy and often used in film, you might want to consider this one.
But yes, I’d say that the room for growth in the screen industry in Cornwall is huge. And generally, the trend in commissioning and funding is that there’s a massive focus on the regions. The kind of London-centric world –as was in terms of who gets the opportunity – has now been reduced. The opportunity for people working in the regions is really huge.
Like many things, you’ve got to do your research, you’ve got to be passionate about
We want to create more content coming from Cornwall
it, you’ve got to skill up the things that you can learn in an education setting, but then there’s nothing like getting out into the world and making stuff and practicing and learning. The opportunity comes from the networks you build. If you turn up on set and have a great attitude, ask lots of questions and are interested – and offer to help over and above your duties – then you’re going to be noticed and remembered. And then the next time a production comes, they’ll ask if you are available. It’s not just having that technical skill but having the sort of attitude and ability to network which is so important in any freelance job, not just this industry.
But it is very fragmented. There are lots of very niche and bizarre and wonderful roles in this industry, which you would never necessarily see on a careers list that your school careers adviser would give you. There are so many different roles, that’s why the credits on films are so long! I’m one of those people that always sits in the cinema to the end of the credits, because I think these people have busted their guts for months on this. Most people jump up as soon as they’ve seen the actors’ names go past, but I always make a point of looking at all the crew credits!
You’re also a co founder of Goodfest Cornwall. How did that come about and why?
That came about through sitting with some Cultivator clients and contacts in the network and talking about how Cornwall felt like it was leading the way in sustainable design and sustainable approaches to creative work. And it felt like we could get a load of people together and have some conversations about what was important in terms of sustainability in the creative sector and how we could put Cornwall on the map for leading on that. And it’s evolved over the years, every year feels different, I’m just planning this year’s
Goodfest, which will be the fifth, although 2020 and 21 were online.
Is it predominantly to show people out of county what we in Cornwall can do?
We probably have about a 50/50 split from inside and outside Cornwall. And was always designed to be so, because we felt it was really important to mix perspectives and mix skills and experiences and get people talking and collaborating. And I think what we always find with Goodfest is it’s not just the sessions that are put on the agenda, it’s all the stuff that happens in between that creates a sort of special feel of it, and hopefully leads to stuff happening afterwards.
Is creativity Cornwall’s greatest attribute?
I think there’s an attitude and an approach that perhaps that because we’re on the edge, geographically, we are entrepreneurial, we see creative and innovative routes to make things happen. And we also don’t necessarily always feel we have to conform. A feeling of I’ll just do it my way because I believe that’s going to work. And obviously not everything works first time, but it’s that sort of ability to test and learn that is really useful. And another main thing is collaboration. Because we are fragmented, individuals working in a freelance capacity and in creative, particularly, people get together and join forces and make things happen.
What are the main challenges?
Being in a rural area, access to physical things can be difficult. And as an organisation like ours, making sure we provide
really good coverage across the whole region can be challenging. We do a lot of stuff online still because of that. And the other challenge is really about being seen and taken seriously outside county. We are a small cluster, an emerging cluster in UK terms, but it’s important that people understand why we’re distinctive.
Is Screen Cornwall still in that embryonic phase?
We’ve only been going four years and a lot of that was during Covid. So I wouldn’t say we’re in startup mode, but neither are we a mature business. And working out our own focus and our own channels going forward is going to be important. We’ve got a few areas of strategic interest that we’re thinking about and we’re just looking at a new business plan for the next three years. Our initial business plan has got us to this point, reasonably successfully, and now we’ve got some really good research to underpin what the next steps might be.
Britannia Lanes, a Truro-based removals and storage company with locations throughout Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, and Bristol, has sealed a contract with local digital marketing agency, HookedOnMedia, to work on something truly special - promoting a new self-storage facility that leverages their collective expertise across two different industries.
With Britannia Lanes nurturing a rich history of 40 years in the removals industry, they hold an
unrivalled understanding of their customer’s needs and how to provide exceptional service. Meanwhile, HookedOnMedia has over 30 years of digital marketing experience under their belt, guaranteeing that this exciting new venture will receive the online attention it deserves.
As a proud family-run business, Britannia Lanes has recently opened a cuttingedge, contactless self-storage facility in Falmouth. This facility is entirely unmanned,
making it one of the first of its kind within the UK. Equipped with advanced security software designed and coded in-house, this service provides customers a new level of convenience and peace of mind.
The self-storage facility located on Bickland Water Road, Falmouth, unlocked its doors in January and has already achieved 20% occupancy within one month. Offering 140 units varying in size from 15 sq ft to 250 sq ft, there’s plenty of space to hold surfboards,
boxes of student belongings, or large amounts of retail stock.
As part of this big move, Britannia Lanes has made the strategic decision to outsource its digital marketing by partnering with the Cornish digital marketing firm. Together, they aim to raise awareness of these new services within the local community and target new prospective customers. This change reflects the company’s unwavering mission to remain at the forefront of the industry, offering the latest and greatest technology and services to meet the ever-changing needs of its customers.
Britannia Lane’s director, Sarah Lane, comments: “At such a big turning point in our business, we were thrilled to have discovered HookedOnMedia. They’re a trusted partner of Google, and their team’s expertise in using Google’s tools and services gave us great
confidence that they could achieve excellent results. We look forward to watching the positive impact their efforts will bring to our business.”
HookedOnMedia’s marketing manager, Xavia Smith, adds: “Clients often come on board at a similar juncture in their business, such as launching a new product or service.
“It’s great for us as a marketing company as it opens up a new range of targeting avenues, such as keywords and audience demographics that their competitors may not be targeting. We are really looking forward to working on this one.”
As of this month, Britannia Lanes has signed up for a Google Pay-PerClick (PPC) campaign to drive online traffic and natural business growth.
“Britannia Lanes are a well-established and successful Cornish-founded business. Forward-thinking in their approach to
technology, for example, with the launch of the new contactless storage facility, makes for great synergy with our digital marketing services. The team is excited to implement our latest Google Ad strategies to boost Britannia’s online visibility and reach new customers to help achieve their business goals,” says HookedOnMedia’s MD, Stewart Roode.
With the addition of this new storage facility and the increased online visibility brought on by their HookedOnMedia partnership, Britannia Lanes is poised for even greater success this year.
We were thrilled to have discovered HookedOnMedia
If you’re looking for the right space to host your next conference, workshop or business event, here are seven venues for you to consider...
Over the last nine years, St Austell Conference Centre has established itself as the ‘go to’ venue in Cornwall for business events. Nestled at the top of St Austell Printing Company and at the heart of St Austell Business Park, the purpose built, sustainable modern facilities give the venue a unique, professional and inspiring quality.
Kelly Tait, St Austell Conference Centre manager says: “Due to our continued success and huge growth in demand for our conference facilities, we are delighted to announce that we have added two further conference suites within our conference centre.
“We now have a total of seven conference suites available to hire individually or as part of a multiple room package for larger events where break out rooms are required.
Each conference suite offers a different perspective, size and layout. So, depending on the type of event that you are organising, we are confident that we will have the right room for you.”
“Perfectly appointed conference suites, designed with delegates in mind”
With seven perfectly appointed conference suites to choose from, the venue offers flexibility to suit a wide range of events. So, whether you are looking to host a networking conference, a company presentation, team building away days, board meetings or company interviews, St Austell Conference Centre can cater for your every need.
“Stunning views across St Austell Bay and beyond to inspire and create positivity”
The natural light and picture windows bring the outside into every room with jaw-dropping vistas. Your guests can take a moment to recharge with their refreshments by stepping out on to the wrap-around balconies to take in the spectacular coastal views.
“Expertise, passion, know how. An exceptional venue with a service to match”
This small and friendly team are highly experienced and possess a passion to deliver a warm and faultless service to every guest. From the initial booking enquiry through to the day of your event, your dedicated event co-ordinator will oversee
all the finer details to ensure that your event runs smoothly from start to finish.
“The staff are incredibly helpful and catered to our every need. We have to say this is the best venue we have ever used” (Promas Caring for People CIC)
Not only will you and your delegates be looked after on the day, but the team also care about the environment, with recycling and sustainability at the core of everything they do. Every element of St Austell Business Park embraces the highest level of environmental sustainability, including indoor and outdoor design using sustainable materials, grass top roofs, natural ventilation, renewable energy regeneration and rainwater harvesting.
To book an event, be it a large conference or simply a team meeting or training session, get in touch to talk through our room options. We like to fully understand your event so that we can piece together the perfect package for you and your delegates.
HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE
• Largest Suite: 80 Delegates
• No of Event Suites: 7
• Spacious and light flooded
• Exceptional views
• Eco-Friendly
• Free parking
• Friendly, dedicated events team
• Delicious, locally sourced, homemade catering – excellent vegan options
• AV Support
• Superfast wifi
• View 360 tour on our website
An exceptional venue with a service to match
Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and with easy access to the A30 and Newquay Airport, Sands Resort Hotel is an excellent choice for your next conference, meeting or training day.
The modern hotel is based just outside of Newquay and offers different sized conference rooms for up to 100 delegates and equipped with the latest technology to make your event a success.
Businesses can choose between several conference packages which may include tea, coffee, cake, light snacks or a hot buffet lunch. Delegate day rates including lunch start from £27 per person.
• Conference rooms for up to 100 delegates
• Conference package incl. lunch from £27pp
• Half day room hire and conference package from £120
• Latest technology & WIFI
• Free, large car park
• Accommodation from £70pp incl. breakfast
• Indoor Pool & Spa
Discover a venue like no other at the Cornish Seal Sanctuary! This unique space offers memorable experiences for all, whether you’re hosting a wedding, birthday party or corporate event.
• Free on-site parking
• Seating for up to 100 guests
• Free wifi
• Day access to on-site cafe
• Free entry to the Cornish Seal Sanctuary (meet seals, sea lions and penguins!)
Set within 42 acres of picturesque countryside, with commanding views over the Helford Estuary, host up to 100 people at this idyllic waterside location at an event that won’t be easily forgotten.
Also available are ‘half-day room hire only’ rates from £120. Overnight stays start from £70 per person including breakfast and use of the indoor pool and steam room. The onsite spa offers relaxing treatments after a busy conference day. Sands Resort Hotel also has a large free car park with space for everyone attending the event.
Serve canapes to the sounds of seals, enjoy golden hour over the estuary or invite your guests to tour the Sanctuary before sitting down for the main event – every guest’s entry is included to the Cornish Seal Sanctuary, so they can enjoy the wonders of the vital marine animal conservation work we do during their visit.
Day hire starts from just £600, with options tailored to your needs. Contact us now to find out more...
Cornish Seal Sanctuary, Gweek, Cornwall, TR12 6UG sealsanctuary.sealifetrust.org seals@sealifetrust.com | 01326 221361
Businesses can choose between several conference packages which may include tea, coffee, cake, light snacks or a hot buffet lunch
St Michaels Resort is south Cornwall’s premier beachside resort.
Set within sub-tropical gardens, with views over Falmouth Bay and only a short walk from the vibrant Falmouth Town Centre.
The meeting spaces are ideal for focused meetings and events.
HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE
• A choice of various sizes of venue spaces
• Catering options from our two AA rosette restaurant
• Overnight packages
Our chefs are on hand to create bespoke menus from locally sourced ingredients, with healthier options available to keep everyone focused. For events that want to spend time out of the meeting room, there are plenty of activities in the health club, spa, gardens, beach and surrounding Cornish countryside to ensure a memorable and productive time.
Discover our range of packages, meeting spaces and activities to make your meeting or event unique and tailored to you.
At Knightor Winery, we are ditching the dull meeting spaces and opting for new environments to encourage creativity. Located close to the south Cornish coast, a stone’s throw from the Eden Project, the venue provides the perfect backdrop for company away days and essential boardroom spaces.
• Bespoke winery tours with the winemaking team
• Bespoke wine tastings with the winemaking team
• Carefully curated menu for corporate events
01326 312707 | info@stmichaelsresort.com
• A series of different indoor and outdoor spaces
• An on site events team to assist in the organisation of the event
• On-site accommodation if required
• Located 15 minutes from the A30
• Onsite parking
There are numerous areas available at Knightor, all of which can be tailored to suit your business needs. From private catering to bespoke set ups, the events team are on hand to take care of your requirements. Visitors have the choice of a contemporary barn located in the orchard, that can be converted into a bright classroom or boardroom space. An 18th century manor house, perfect for fuelling inspiration during off-site meetings. A plethora of different outdoor spaces, perfect for those all-important team building activities. Location, aesthetic and space, these are but a few of the benefits associated with booking a corporate event at Knightor.
Where innovation meets prime location, look no further than Venton Conference Centre. Based in the heart of Cornwall, between the hubs of Newquay and Truro, this dynamic space has everything you need for your next memorable business event.
With four flexible meeting and conference spaces, catering for anything from 10 to 120 people, this state-of-the-art venue is modern and welcoming, with cutting-edge facilities that inspire motivation.
But where this space really shines is via its innovative conference technology offer. From the Cynap Pure, which is revolutionising the presentation environment, to the Samsung Flip 2, which simplifies teamwork through digital display without the hassle, enjoy a wealth of features to enhance your event. Or why not take advantage of the latest tech addition –our new Logitech Rally Bar system? Utilising AI for next-level video conferencing, remotely connecting with your team has never been so easy.
Whether you’re looking to train new recruits, or inspire the next generation of industry leaders, our packages combine quality and accessibility with the latest technology for world-class events that won’t be easy to forget.
Budock Vean is a beautiful, four-star, country house hotel set in 65 acres of gardens and woodlands on the Helford River. Our function suite offers modern functionality and flexibility in a calm, countryside setting.
You can use our meeting rooms as 1 or split into different zones giving you the flexibility to create the right set up for the type of event you are planning. Each room has built in AV kit and large windows overlook the golf course and gardens which offer leg-stretching opportunities with a path through the valley garden down to the foreshore.
Your event will be in safe hands at Budock Vean, an independent, family run hotel and winner of the 2022 Large Hotel of the Year.
• Flexible meeting spaces, use as 1, 2 or 3 spaces
• Up to 60 delegates
• Built in AV
• Accessible meeting rooms & facilities
• Private dining options
• Breakfast sessions, day packages & residential deals available
• 56 bedrooms
• Golf course
• Indoor pool & outdoor hot tub
• Private foreshore with optional boat trips and kayaking
• Free parking
• Gardens and grounds
• EV car charging
To book your next event, call 01872 248533 or email the team at hello@ventonltd.co.uk For more information and 3D virtual tours, visit www.ventonltd.co.uk/
So, if you’re looking for a venue that takes you a little off the beaten track; that gives you space to get brains ticking, teams building and work done give us a call, we’d love to show you around.
• Natural Health Spa
With only one in four people of working age with sight loss in employment, sight loss should not equal job loss.
iSightCornwall chief executive, Carole Theobald, explains: “Like the rest of the population, people with sight loss are successfully employed in all sorts of jobs – from office workers and teachers to journalists and MPs.
“And yet, many employers are not confident their recruitment processes are accessible to blind or partially sighted people and even more employers say that it would be difficult or impossible to employ a visually impaired person.
“It can sometimes be difficult to understand how a person with sight loss is able to do certain things in the workplace, like read documents and share written information.”
Carole says the Government’s Access to Work scheme can pay for a range of support, from specialist equipment to a support worker or taxi fares. The scheme currently helps over 5,000 people who have difficulty with their vision, which is the second largest group who use the fund. And she has these easy tips on how as a business can help.
• Understand the different kinds of sight conditions people experience.
• Understand that people with sight loss may experience various difficulties arising from their condition and each person’s experience will be individual to them.
• Make sure you ask what their needs are in different situations.
• Ask what support is needed – seek local support to help with the challenges your employee might face.
• Demonstrate that you are comfortable talking about disability and understand what support to provide or signpost to.
• Realise that some adjustments may be needed to improve the working experience for your colleague with sight loss and help them feel more comfortable in the working environment.
• Be supportive but never assume. When it comes to education, it’s often
When it comes to employment, there’s lots going on, but we’ve been speaking to some local businesses who bring ideas on things such as; improving team diversity and inclusivity, preparing students better for real-life business and the merits of training and upskilling.
debated whether the system sets students up appropriately for real-world jobs.
Carrie Childs from the Careers Hub, says schools and colleges should be encouraging students to interact with employers on a regular basis.
“Education staff need to be informed of all progression pathways available and have an understanding of job market opportunities,” she says.
to promote the careers message with their wider contacts and supply chains.
• Enterprise Advisers: Using business knowledge and experience to work closely with a secondary school or college Careers Leader and be a critical friend who provides strategic and practical support.
“School and college leaders need to prioritise careers related learning within their settings and encourage the development of essential skills, so they are planned, progressive and embedded.”
There are three methods of support that can help achieve this, she says:
• Cornerstone employers: A cross-section of industry-based representatives with a focus on Cornwall wide strategy, driving change and acting as a sector ambassador
• Industry Champions: Careers Hub is in the process of creating a flexible bank of business champions who are willing to share key messages about the world of work directly to young people in our schools and colleges.
Another commonly cited challenge in the employment world is the skills gap.
Claire Hall from Saffron Academy says upskilling can help this.
“Upskilling people empowers them,” she says. “Training and development should be a part of any business, but the sad thing is that the training budget, if there is one, is the first budget to go when times get tough.”
Internal promotion without training is forcing the skills gap, she says. People are expected to carry out a senior role but not been given the knowledge, skills and training to ensure that the individuals have the confidence and competencies to carry out the role in a work environment.
Claire explains: “Training and developing people is imperative to staying ahead of the game, making your business the company that individuals want to come and work with over your competitors.”
She says this is particularly true in the hospitality industry, where retention is key due to the transient nature of the sector.
“Making sure your teams are trained to the highest level not only makes staff feel valued but also helps increase the profits of a business,” she says.
“Nobody will go to an establishment that has bad customer experience.”
In next month’s Business Cornwall magazine we will be featuring the winners of our inaugural Best Places to Work in Cornwall programme.
one of four areas of the UK to launch careers provision in primary schools.
This ground-breaking national initiative, titled Start Small, Dream Big, will change the way children think about their futures. It will see 300 primary schools across the UK taking part in the project, which will explore ways in which primary age children can access careers inspiration.
The Careers and Enterprise company is the driver for careers education in England and is leading on the pilot, with local implementation through organisations such as the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Careers Hub, with Cornwall being the only rural area participating.
available.
Primary Career-related learning is totally different. Often in secondary school and FE, it’s about making choices, informed by your grades and your aspirations. Primary is about expanding horizons and understanding – and inspiring possibilities.
Research suggests that, by age of just eight years old, children have often limited their potential through their own belief systems. The ‘People like me don’t do things like that’ mindset that comes from their home lives, peer group comparisons or popular culture.
Primary Careers provision is all about inspiring and showcasing futures for our young people, with the belief that if you don’t know about
This initiative will widen aspirations and challenge stereotypes, and parental engagement and influence is essential. It’s time for Cornwall to lead; the start of the train line, the start of the careers conversation.
Contact: hello@careershubcios.co.uk @careershubcios on Linkedin and twitter or www.careershubcios.co.uk
Cornwall’s Lego League (pictured, led by Cornwall Education Business Partnership and hosted by RNAS Culdrose last month) is a brilliant example of careers related learning for primary schools.
300 primary schools across the UK taking part
Cornwall Hub to pioneer Primary Careers across the county in first-ever pilot
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is essential for mental and physical well-being. It helps individuals prioritise personal and professional responsibilities, manage stress levels, and boost overall productivity.
Bishop Fleming, based in Truro, a dynamic and forward-thinking accounting firm that has been providing top-quality services to businesses and individuals throughout the UK for over 100 years explains why they are an employer of choice.
At Bishop Fleming, our employees are our greatest asset. We recognise that our success depends on the skills, experience, and dedication of our team members, and we strive to create a supportive and rewarding work environment that enables them to thrive.
We are committed to providing our employees with a comprehensive range of benefits, including competitive salaries, flexible working arrangements, and generous holiday entitlements. We also offer opportunities for professional development and career advancement, with access to training programs and support for professional qualifications.
Work-life balance is important to us as an employer, and we strive to provide a supportive and flexible working environment. We believe that happy employees are productive employees, and we work hard to ensure our team members have the resources and support they need to succeed.
In addition to being a great place to work,
www.bishopfleming.co.uk/careers
Upcoming Bills most likely to impact employers and employees include:
• Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill – changes to the response time and frequency of flexible working requests. We are also anticipating separate legislation that will make flexible working a day one right, instead of the current 26 weeks period.
• Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Bill – this expands employer liability for harassment of employees by third parties and imposes a new duty to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of their employees.
• Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy
and Family Leave) Bill – employees at risk of redundancy whilst on maternity leave currently have a prior right to be offered an alternative role (if one is available) over other at-risk employees.
The Bill extends this right to pregnant employees from the time they inform their employer they are pregnant to six months after their return from maternity leave.
• Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Bill – gives a new right to employees who have babies admitted to neonatal care for at least seven days to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave in addition to other leave entitlements.
• Carer’s Leave Bill – provides employees
Bishop Fleming is committed to giving back to the community. We are involved in a range of charitable initiatives and community projects, and we encourage our employees to get involved and make a difference in their local communities.
We’re currently recruiting for a range of positions in our Truro office from graduate and apprenticeship positions through to audit manager and executive roles. If you’d like to be part of our exciting growth journey, then head over to our careers site to see the details of the variety of roles we’re recruiting.
with caring responsibilities a right to one week of unpaid leave each year to provide or arrange care.
• Employment (Allocation of Tips) Bill –provides for fair distribution of tips, gratuities and service charges to workers. Employers in the hospitality sector, in particular, may need to adjust their practices.
2023 is expected to be a year of change in employment law, including as the Government pushes through a number of Private Members’ bills. Ellie Hibberd, partner at Stephens Scown LLP, looks at changes these might bring.
Upskilling employees, creating an inclusive culture where a diverse workforce can thrive, and getting the message across that you don’t have to be a lawyer to forge a successful career in a law firm are just some of the ways we’re concentrating our efforts on attracting and retaining the right staff.
In a competitive jobs market, we need to go further and faster in opening new career pathways. Recruitment is tough, but it’s evolving and there are an exciting range of opportunities for employees at every level.
Take, for example, business support, IT, and administration –there are dozens of roles within the firm that play a critical part in everything we do. This experienced, specialist and talented workforce is the lynchpin of our future success.
Aspiring lawyers can enter the profession in many ways – while we continue to support the traditional Legal Practice Course (LPC) for aspiring solicitors, we’ve also embraced new routes to the solicitor qualification through the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), as well as growing the breadth and depth of our lawyers through alternative professional qualifications.
Not only that, but we’ve also had real success stories with our apprenticeships – having
recently celebrated National Apprenticeship Week, it was clear that law might first be considered a difficult career path to get onto, but our apprenticeship scheme makes it easier. Many of our apprentices have worked their way through the ranks to establish successful careers at Coodes.
We take great pride in our culture and it makes us attractive to a diverse workforce.
Upskilling across the whole business is key, we know it’s important for retaining staff, and it’s vital for the business to stay ahead. We recognise personal development comes from more than qualifications, it’s working with the right people, learning from each other and the opportunities that present themselves day in day out.
We’re excited about establishing beneficial, reciprocal links with education providers. Engaging more closely with the education sector, highlighting opportunities for young people and opening doors at an early stage in their careers.
The post-Covid world of hybrid working has changed the way we do things – improving
agile working practices is something we’ll drive forward over the next few years. But it’s about providing support and guidance along the way, so staff feel confident and empowered.
Being alive to the benefits of hybrid working is important, it offers benefits to our staff and our clients, but we also try, where possible, to offer flexible benefits giving employees the opportunity to tailor their overall package suitable to their current situation.
Whether it’s working hours, location, or additional benefits, being creative with reward and remuneration, ensuring the work place is welcoming, engaging with staff, understanding what they value most and what they want from us can only be a good thing –it’s not always just about pay.
Having the right work/life balance is fundamental and that’s why we’ve introduced significant changes to annual leave entitlement, in addition to increasing the scope of our holiday trading scheme.
Taking all these different factors into account will often mean, as an employer, you’re a more attractive proposition.
We’re proud to have a diverse workforce, of all ages and stages. From Boomers to Gen Z, we have four generations represented across the firm. It means experienced colleagues can pass on their knowledge and expertise to the next generation of young professionals, and each has a voice and a part to play.
But staying true to our values, our ‘employer brand’ and delivering on what we say we’ll deliver is the true test in attracting and retaining the right people for the future.
coodes.co.uk
Upskilling across the whole business is key
Shining a light on the legal sector’s diverse range of career opportunities is a key priority for leading south west law firm Coodes Solicitors, as HR manager Becky Hosken explains…
Would you be confident to support an employee who was losing their sight?
According to a survey by the RNIB, 90% of employers believe it would be difficult or even impossible to employ a visually impaired person and only one in four people of working age with sight loss are in employment.
However, with the right support, there is no reason to exclude people with sight loss from the workplace. And that’s where we can help.
He discovered the OrCam Read - a small pen-like device which scans entire pages of written text with just one click of a button and reads them aloud. It also scans text from a computer monitor and can even decipher neatly written handwriting. Because it connects to headphones, Chris can confidently use it in public spaces or situations where he’s reading confidential client information.
We also offer training for staff and volunteers so that you can be sure that everyone in your team is confident to welcome someone with sight loss.
This is something we were able to offer the team at The Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro who were looking into providing guided tours for visitors with sight loss. We went along to the museum to speak to staff and volunteers and gave them training on how to guide people with visual impairments.
After living with diabetic retinopathy for five years, Chris Whitwood was ready to get back to work. The struggle he’d been through whilst coming to terms with his sight loss inspired him to train as a counsellor so that he could help other people who were struggling with their own mental health. However, he realised that part of his job would involve accessing written information which was still something he had difficulty with.
Through his employment adviser at Reed in Partnership, Chris set up a meeting with our technology expert at iSightCornwall and was able to try out a range of different devices which could read or magnify text.
To help Chris purchase the device, iSightCornwall applied for funding which was generously provided by St Austell Brewery’s Charitable Trust.
Chris says: “This device is life changing. Simple reading tasks had become so challenging that I felt quite disabled. But this device has given me back my independence and enabled me to set up my own business, CW-Psychotherapy. I no longer feel less able than others.”
At iSightCornwall we support organisations as well as individuals. We can advise you on offering printed materials in alternative formats and give you simple tips on lighting, signage and access to make your organisation more accessible for people with visual impairments.
Lauren Campbell, engagement officer at the museum, says: “The training was really enjoyable and informative. It was fantastic to practice guiding each other around the museum because it really helped us to think about the experience a visually impaired person has when they visit us.”
If you would like to speak to us about accessibility and inclusion in the workplace, call 01872 261110 or email info@isightcornwall.org.uk
Meeting people from all walks of life and helping them grow their business is just one of the many reasons why The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth Hub experts love coming to work.
Being part of the Hub is more than ‘just a job’ for the team. On any given day, the experienced staff can be found helping budding innovators bursting with ideas or contributing suggestions to boost already booming businesses.
Figures show more than 600 existing, start-up and prestart-up businesses, with a combined turnover of £31.4 million, claimed free business reviews with the Growth Hub last year.
Kirsty Miles-Musgrave, operations manager at the Hub, has a background in television broadcasting and corporate communications. She loves seeing how much the Growth Hub’s reviews can really help.
Kirsty says: “Often people say they benefit as much from the review we offer as the support they go to afterwards. The difference conversations can make to people, their business and ultimately their lives, is very satisfying.”
Christina Hunnings, senior business connector, brings a wealth of experience from a career in business intelligence research for multi-national organisations. She has also been involved with projects that tackle
unemployment and raising awareness of intellectual property.
She explains why she enjoys her work at the Growth Hub: “It’s giving people a sounding board and motivation to try out suggestions.” Her business tip is to focus on the money. “Make sure you plan, monitor and review your finances,” she says, “you should know at which point your business is breaking even and going into profit.”
Bill Giles is a business connector. He previously worked for more than 42 years in the banking industry, which has given him a ‘real understanding’ of the challenges businesses in Cornwall face.
He says: “I applied for the job at the Growth Hub to do something which didn’t have a commercial aspect of making a profit.
Why we love
A place anyone can come for helpPHOTOS (LEFT TO RIGHT): KIRSTY MILES-MUSGRAVE, CHRISTINA HUNNINGS, BILL GILES, TORI KNIGHT, JESSICA FISHER, KELLY FEGAN
“It’s great to have this free service to help people with their start up, new business, or grow an existing business.”
Tori Knight, business connector, describes herself as a “true Cornish Girl, born and raised”. She has worked in various sectors from hospitality, finance, to the local authority managing a team providing businesses with regulation advice.
She says the most interesting part of her job is working with different people and hearing their stories. Her tip for businesses is ‘planning’. “Do as much planning as possible around what you’re looking to achieve. The more you do the better organised you are.”
Jessica Fisher, business connector, has been helping people in businesses for 20 years - from the day-to-day practicalities, to analysing customer motivations and what triggers a sale.
She says: “When people have an idea it helps to talk to someone who is not associated with the business, so they can say ‘if I was your customer this is how I would look at it.
“We are a really good sounding board and starting point for many businesses.”
Kelly Fegan, business connector, has previously been an executive for over 30 years in London. He has also started two
businesses of his own - including a long-held ambition of owning his own bar.
Kelly describes the Growth Hub as a place anyone can come for help. His top tip is to tap into the independent and impartial guidance from the Growth Hub as ‘friends and family will tell you what you want to hear’. Seeking advice from someone external can provide that critical friendship your business needs.
The Growth Hub has directly supported over 3,000 businesses in the county since it began in 2016, taking more than 5,000 business enquiries and over 15,000 phone calls.
To contact the team to discuss your business plans visit www.ciosgrowthhub.com or call us on 01209 708 660
The Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Growth Hub is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and is match funded by Cornwall Council, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership.
“Thank you Tori for inspiring me to dive into action and for the treasure trove of resources!”
“Christina really listened to my ideas and business needs and was able to translate this into an action plan. I’ve already said ‘yes’ to the potential of being stretched!”
“Jessica was very understanding and really listened to my business dilemmas, but also ideas. I really valued that time to review and refresh my tactics.”
“I was very nervous at first, but Bill put us at ease. He was clear, friendly, encouraging and helpful.”
“Kelly was straight to the point. He helped me work out areas in which I had gaps and issues within my business in order to find me the right help.”
Students in Falmouth have joined forces with Red Bull and celebrated ‘doodling muralist’ Dave Draws as part of a special partnership with Red Bull Doodle Art.
Red Bull’s Doodle Art competition encouraged individuals to let their minds wander through imaginative doodles and Red Bull were looking to create a bespoke doodle piece in collaboration with a university known for its artistic background.
Falmouth will have 13 students involved in the collaboration, representing a range of courses including fine art, illustration, games art, textiles, business & digital marketing.
Last month, 13 chosen students painstakingly created their part of the overall doodle mural masterpiece under the theme “What does Falmouth University mean to you?”. The collaboration was part of Red Bull’s Student Projects and the mural is situated at Falmouth’s Fox Café.
Helping the students and creating his own signature artistic flair was Dave Draws, a popular freelance illustrator, mural artist and serial map doodler who has travelled across Europe, Hong Kong and the US for his largescale wall murals.
He said: “It’s nice to see all the different styles of the students’ work – it’s good to work with them, they’re really receptive and they’re bringing some great ideas. I’m helping them out answering their questions, but otherwise I’m letting them doodle.”
Truro School has been listed as Number 23 in the Best School’s Top 100 Coeducational Boarding Schools in the UK, by A-Levels.
best-schools.co.uk is the main website of Education Advisers Ltd and aims to provide independent and accurate information about the 2,600 independent schools in the UK.
The table lists the Top 100 co-educational boarding schools in the UK, based on 2022 A-Level results. Rankings are based on the percentage of A-Level entries awarded A* and A grades.
Truro School was ranked 23rd overall in the UK and the fourth best in the south west. It was the only school listed from Cornwall.
Two start-ups supported by Falmouth University’s venture studio, Launchpad, have been shortlisted for this year’s South West England Startup Awards.
Web-based easy parking payment solution, Find Park Pay, is up for the Mobile &
Truro School head, Andy Johnson, said: “We are extremely proud of the Sixth Form provision here at Truro School that helps to shape the well-rounded young adults who leave us to go on to exciting futures.”
Emerging Technologies StartUp of the year, while ‘voluntourism’ company TSAP Travel is shortlisted in the Social Enterprise StartUp category.
“We’re delighted to be shortlisted for this award,” said Find Park Pay founder Tim Macknelly. “It validates that we’re moving in the right direction.”
Chloe Lingard, founder of TSAP Travel, said: “Having only launched our pilot project last year, it’s a credit to the TSAP Travel team and changemakers, who worked incredibly hard to support communities in Madagascar.” Winners will be announced in June.
Twelve students from Truro and Penwith College are off to Oxbridge having received offers to study at two of the world’s most famous universities.
The 12 represent success for nearly a quarter of the 51 students that have applied for places at Oxford and Cambridge, placing the college well over the national average success rate for independent schools and colleges of 20%.
Students are set to read a wide variety of subjects, including; philosophy, politics & economics, archaeology, history, classics, materials science, biochemistry, maths, engineering science, engineering and natural sciences (physical).
Angela Liversedge, Oxbridge lead at the college, commented: “We are absolutely delighted with the success of our students in securing places across all subject disciplines. Nationally, the competition for places at Oxford and Cambridge is fierce and it is therefore remarkable that, despite this intense competition, nearly a quarter of all our Oxbridge applications received offers.”
St Ives is set to have its own gift card to showcase its local and tourist offering – and businesses are being urged to sign up for free. The St Ives Gift Card will work through the Mastercard system, with no additional equipment required by the businesses to accept the card. All types and sizes of businesses are eligible to take part, from restaurants, bars and cafés to shops, services and attractions.
The new gift card initiative is being driven by St Ives Business Improvement District (BID) as a means to grow the visitor economy
and keep spend local. Once available for sale, both physical and digital versions of the St Ives Gift Card will be available to buy online and in-person. The card will also be marketed to tourists through the St Ives Tourism Association (SITA).
Sarah Hooper, BID manager at St Ives BID said the card will provide a welcome boost for the town’s economy.
“St Ives is an iconic destination that benefits from strong local support and many repeat visitors,” she said.
“Having our own gift card means we can sell the gift of St Ives and will support tourism in the town on a number of levels. For one, it will be an easy way for accommodation providers to introduce visitors to a curated range of St Ives businesses through the gift card, in place of traditional welcome packs.”
Destination marketing service, Visit Truro, has launched a new website.
The site, which is now live, has increased functionality to highlight the range of events, offers, accommodation options, shops, and hospitality venues in the city.
Alongside the visitor site, a new community site - yourtruro.org.uk - has also gone live.
Truro City Council has been working with digital marketing agency, MiHi Digital, over the past year to redevelop the website. MiHi MD, Mark Worden, said: “Truro has so much to offer those visiting Cornwall and also living in the surrounding communities.
“It’s been an absolute pleasure working with people that are so passionate about this great little city, and we look forward to spreading the word about events, groups and everything that is going on in the coming months.”
The St Enodoc Hotel’s restaurant has been recognised at this year’s prestigious AA Rosette Awards.
Karrek received three AA Rosettes – standing out for its selection and treatment of the “highest quality ingredients and consistently excellent flavour combinations”.
Simon Numphud, MD at AA Media, which operates the AA Rosette scheme, said: “I’m constantly inspired by the resilience, innovation, and quality demonstrated by these trailblazers in our industry, and Cornwall is lucky to be home to such an impressive restaurant. Congratulations to all the worthy winners.”
Truro-based CAD Architects has recently secured planning approval for the redevelopment of two hotels in Newquay. The proposed schemes for Whipsiderry Hotel and Sandy Lodge implement an innovative model of regeneration by using open market housing to fund the creation of new, high-quality tourist accommodation on the same site.
The Whipsiderry Hotel building will be replaced with four self-catering holiday units alongside six residential houses, five of which will be sold on the open market and one retained as owners’ accommodation.
Sandy Lodge, which is currently under construction, will deliver six apartments and five terraced townhouses, one of which will
be lived in by the owners of the hotel. The sale of these dwellings will fund a programme of investment to upgrade the facilities in the existing hotel.
CAD Architects MD, Mark Dawes, said:
“This new approach helps solve a number of issues. Firstly, the development secures future income for the hotel owners and means that jobs will be retained and created on the site.
“Secondly, it enables the business to pivot into one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK tourism market – high quality, selfcatering accommodation that meets the luxury expectations of today’s visitors. This will help consolidate Newquay’s position as a leading holiday destination.”
Pool-based software development agency
Thought Quarter has struck a deal to acquire all web development and hosting clients from Tanist.
The agreement follows Tanist’s decision to streamline its current offering and focus solely on IT support services and hardware installation.
“The market has changed, and much of
it is now dominated by specialist website development and hosting,” said Tanist CEO John Holman. “Thought Quarter are a dynamic team who have those skills in abundance.”
Thought Quarter founder and MD, Sam Armondi, added: “We’re thrilled to have finalised this acquisition and are already having some fantastic conversations with the transferred clients.
“We have a great relationship with the team at Tanist and will continue to work with them to ensure both their existing and new clients benefit from this transition. We’re excited to help them level-up.”
American charity TimeBanks.Org has chosen Made Open to replace its ‘timebanking’ software.
Timebanking is a reciprocal service that uses units of time as currency. Timebank members earn credit in Time Dollars for each hour they spend helping other members of the community.
Made Open’s software will provide a better user experience to these 100+ timebanks, and enable TimeBanks.Org to create many hundreds of new platforms around the world.
Explaining the concept, Krista Wyatt, CEO of TimeBanks.Org, said: “Imagine how beautiful it would be to have a timebank in every community. A grandfather sharing his stories instead of feeling alone. A mother securing that job because someone helped improve her resume. A son or daughter learning their favourite song with the help of a musician.
“Made Open’s software is the tool to make these connections possible. Our members can exchange credits with anyone in a connected neighbourhood timebank.”
to communicate with multiple parties involved in the housing process.
Cornish software business Tappter has secured a £200k equity investment from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Investment Fund (CIOSIF) as part of a £400k funding round.
The CIOSIF investment, along with matchfunding from existing and private investors, has been used to set up a base in Falmouth,
and will create high value jobs to benefit the regional economy.
Established in 2016, Tappter’s app is a multi-channel messenger with ID verification and e-sign features. The business is currently targeting the residential sales and lettings market, allowing businesses and customers
An estate agent can use the software to communicate with a buyer, while also using it to speak with solicitors and conveyancers. Broader expansion of services and markets is expected in the near future.
CEO Keith Banwaitt said: “Messaging apps are the primary method for communication between individuals. It makes sense that businesses should see the value in this trend and seek to duplicate its ease and ingenuity.”
Change is afoot in Cornwall – lots of EU programmes that continued post Brexit will begin to disappear as the funding runs out and there is nothing to replace it.
I’m annoyed at the Government’s memory lapse when it comes to what happens in Cornwall when there’s a gap in funding; it should have learnt lessons from a time many of us will remember, when one EU programme finished and there wasn’t a seamless move into the next one - hundreds of professionals in Cornwall were made redundant.
A Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) should mean that our strongest, most successful EU programmes can run seamlessly into becoming a SPF-funded programme, and no jobs are lost. Unfortunately, this is not going to be the case.
So, here we go again – all the programmes ending and no clarity around what Shared Prosperity Fund priorities are going to be; there is a huge lack of transparency at present.
18 months ago – the moment we knew the EU money was going to run out, we should have had the opportunity to look at which EU programmes had really delivered return on investment, and decided where we should focus lesser funds.
I was the only CEO of an accredited Chamber who was for staying in the EU – because even though it’s very difficult to pin down the ROI on EU programmes, the black and white is that Cornwall looks like a much more confident place now than it did 25 years ago. Speaking of which, the Spring Budget seems to have taken us back 25 years! It’s as if Cornwall and Isles of Scilly don’t exist. I don’t think appalled is too strong a word to describe my reaction to the Budget. I’ve downloaded the entire thing and searched for both “Cornwall” and “south west”, and there’s not one mention of either.
None of the 12 Investment Zones set to receive tax incentives and funding to improve skills and provide specialist business support, are west of Birmingham. It feels like the term “levelling up” actually just means Teesside and the Northeast.
The big disappointment nationally for businesses was that there was no announcement regarding support with energy costs, which is so desperately needed.
FALMOUTH UNIVERSITY’S PENRYN CAMPUS SPONSORED BY WILDANET AND INSPIRED MOTIVE
June 21st 2023 - if you haven’t put the date in your diary already, do it now! Cornwall Business Fair is the largest celebration of innovative, forward-looking businesses and business support in The Duchy.
Stands are selling fast but if you manage to get your hands on one it’s a fantastic way to showcase your products and services to hundreds of local businesspeople. We also have a few opportunities left for sponsorship of events during the day.
New for 2023 is a networking stage, sponsored by Bott Ltd.
If you’re planning to attend the fair, make sure you sign up for what is shaping up to be our biggest BIG Breakfast yet. We have capacity for 200 delegates in Falmouth University’s Stannary Bar and intend to fill it! The breakfast – sponsored by Coodes, is a networking opportunity like no other and will get you set up for the busy day ahead. Contact mattwilliams@inspiredmotive. co.uk or ryantreloar@inspiredmotive.co.uk for more information or to book a stand.
So many organisations will struggle to pay their bills past April, and this will hinder their ability to invest and get the economy back on track. This black cloud will continue to impact business confidence and growth potential, particularly when our whole region seems to have been ignored.
Similarly, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has repeatedly called for a reform to business rates, and there were no announcements on that either.
I’ll try and lift the mood a little – there was one positive in that the Chancellor is looking at ways to strengthen the workforce; increasing its size will help bring interest rates down. Funding for one and two years old, and schools having to offer wraparound care, will make such a difference both financially and logistically to so many people.
It’s great he’s also putting measures in place to get older professionals into the labour market, including abolishing the pension cap. I can’t hide my disappointment at this Budget, and my faith in the Shared Prosperity Fund is dwindling. However, we must stay positive and work together to keep reminding the Government that we’re here, we’re capable of leading the green industrial revolution, and we’re not going to sit back and let things slide.
CORNWALL IS AT A FUNDING CROSSROADS, SAYS CHAMBER CEO KIM CONCHIE, AND THE SPRING BUDGET DID LITTLE TO OFFER ANY DIRECTION.
A chef from Cornwall is working on a new initiative to ensure more young people consider hospitality as an enjoyable and rewarding career.
During the last few months of 2022, Rupert Cooper from Philleigh Way Cookery School worked with students from Richard Lander School and Truro & Penwith College, to tackle the perception of working in hospitality. The initiative is hoping to ensure that more young people consider cooking as not just an essential life skill, but an enjoyable and rewarding career.
The hospitality industry in the UK is feeling the impact of a serious staffing crisis. Last summer there were a reported 176,000 job vacancies in pubs, hotels and restaurants
Cornish Pasties are set to go international after a leading local bakery was acquired by a French-owned group.
Proper Cornish, which operates from a newly-refurbished 58,000 sq ft bakery in Bodmin, has been supplying Cornish Pasties and other savoury pastries to a wide range of markets since 1988, either under the Proper Cornish brand or as own label.
With a current turnover of £26 million, it now has big growth plans following the acquisition by Groupe Boncolac. New markets are set to open up, including across Europe. The existing senior management team at Proper Cornish will remain in place to help deliver the growth plans.
The Groupe Boncolac has been supplying quality desserts and cocktail bites since the 1950’s from four factories in France. Its products are sold in France and in over 30 countries to all channels, including retail, freezer centres, and foodservice.
Alexandre Vigneron, CEO of Groupe Boncolac, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Proper Cornish Ltd within the Groupe Boncolac. I have been impressed by the quality of the Proper Cornish management team, as well as the great product positioning with respect to the traditional manufacturing techniques. We are looking forward to starting a fruitful collaboration between our companies in the UK and abroad.”
Cornwall-based chef Nathan Outlaw received the Award for Special Contribution at this year’s Trencherman’s Awards, presented at the Salcombe Harbour Hotel. The Trencherman’s, which are regarded as the most prestigious dining accolades in the south west, attracted 30,000 individual votes in the second round of voting, with some of the closest final scores seen in the awards’ ten-year history.
Outlaw pipped Paul Ainsworth for the Special Contribution accolade, while other Cornish winners included Padstow’s Prawn on the Lawn (Best Trencherman’s Restaurant) and Carbis Bay eatery Ugly Butterfly by Adam Handling (Award for Creativity and Innovation).
Commenting on his win, Outlaw said: “I’ve been in the south west for well over 25 years and the Trencherman’s Guide has always been at the forefront of the scene. It’s one of the guides you want to get into as a chef – and it’s also a guide that a lot of customers follow and then come to your restaurant as a result. To receive this award is incredible and a great honour.”
In traditional Trencherman’s style, a number of last year’s award winners made up the team of top chefs who crafted the ceremony’s four-course feast: Mark Dodson of The Masons Arms (starter), Michael Smith of Porthminster Beach Cafe (fish), host chef Jamie Gulliford of Salcombe
around the UK – 13% of all job vacancies in the country at the time. At the start of this year, 94% of hospitality businesses were struggling to recruit.
Cooper said: “The main challenges we, as an industry, are up against are the way that that commercial kitchens are seen as shouty, stressful environments, with different working hours and split shifts which are known to be antisocial.
“There’s also a lack of interest in food and cooking amongst school and college leavers, which is something I’m passionate about changing.”
Cooper’s hoping to inspire other college and school leavers across the country, by rolling this opportunity out to other education providers.
Harbour Hotel (main) and Dorian Janmaat of The Idle Rocks (dessert). The quality cooking was paired with fine wines from Hallgarten and Novum, Cornish beers from Sharp’s Brewery and soft drinks from Frobishers. Canapés were served with local spirits Trevethan Cornish Gin, Atlantic Spirit No.7 Sea Buckthorn Gin, and Sea Arch Coastal Juniper.
to the role of marketing and communications director.
Price joins the business from Wilko, where she is currently group HR director. She has over 20 years of experience in the HR sector, including previous roles at Unilever, Molson Coors, and Boots.
Truro School has appointed Richard Osmond as its new director of music. He will take up his position in September.
Osmond has extensive experience of music leadership in schools and this will be his third director of music post, having held the role at the co-educational Bristol Grammar School and more recently at Haberdashers’ School in London. He replaces Martin Palmer, who retires at the end of this academic year after 19 years at the school.
Truro School head, Andy Johnson, said: “We are a School that is passionate about both musical excellence and the widest range of musical engagement and education for all. Richard shares these passions and his appointment is very exciting for our community.”
James Anderson-Besant has been appointed as Truro Cathedral’s new director of music. He will move from his current role as assistant director of music at Exeter Cathedral to take up his new post in June.
Interim dean, Simon Robinson, said: “I am confident that we have, in James, a worthy successor to Christopher Gray as he leaves us for St John’s College, Cambridge after 22 years here.
“From an extraordinarily strong field of applicants, James shone as someone with the musicianship, vision, and personal qualities to lead the music here at Truro Cathedral which means so much to the community in Cornwall, as well as to people all over the country and abroad.”
St Austell Brewery has appointed two new directors to join its executive leadership team.
Kate Price will join the company next month as its new people director, while Laura McKay has been promoted internally
Leading south west law firm Coodes Solicitors has announced three new appointments to its specialist commercial disputes team, following a significant increase in instructions for its legal services.
Experienced solicitors Trudy Rosevink and Lucy Vaughan, as well as soon to be qualified solicitor Fleur Uren have now been appointed to work on all areas of commercial litigation.
Rosevink, who joins from Womble Bond Dickinson in Plymouth, is based at Coodes’ Liskeard office and will work on all areas of commercial litigation with a focus on property disputes.
Vaughan, who graduated from the University of Sheffield and qualified in legal practice at De Montford University, specialises in corporate and insolvency
St Austell Brewery has also taken the decision to align its marketing and communications teams under the leadership of Laura McKay. McKay has worked for the business for seven years, most recently in the role of head of marketing for beer and brands.
Chief executive Kevin Georgel said: “I am very confident that welcoming Kate and Laura to our team will enable us to move forward with even greater momentum throughout 2023 and beyond.”
disputes, but will also work across all commercial litigation matters.
Uren joins the team having recently completed her legal practice course with a masters degree in law and business.
Orna NiChionna has been appointed as the new chair of the Eden Trust, the charity responsible for the Eden Project. She joined the board of trustees last month and will succeed Edward Benthall in the chair role in June.
NiChionna’s career has spanned business and the not-for-profit sector, where she has focussed on environmental and biodiversity issues. She was a partner at consulting firm McKinsey and Company for many years
and since leaving McKinsey she has served on the boards of a number of well-known companies, including Royal Mail, HMV, Bupa, and Saga. She is currently the senior independent director at Burberry.
Edward Benthall was appointed chair of the Eden Trust in 2015 and has been an Eden trustee since 2014.
The arrival of Orna as the new chair comes at a pivotal moment for the Eden Project, following the announcement in January that Eden Project Morecambe has been granted £50 million from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund.
Have you heard about ChatGPT? A popular topic, for marketers (and students) at the moment.
As an experienced marketer, I try to keep informed on the latest trends and campaigns from influential companies. Around the end of 2022 I became aware of people talking about ‘ChatGPT’.
I’d already been aware of AI being able to produce incredible graphic design and images but I didn’t think that ChatGPT would really affect me and what I do.
I’m not overly technical (and honestly, still a little afraid that eventually AI is going to take over the world – we’ve all seen the movies, they don’t tend to end well for humans!).
The stories about ChatGPT continued, with major news outlets describing it as ‘supercharged predictive text’.
What is this, I thought to myself. This AI. This chatbot. Surely this has nothing to do with me or with what I do, with my work. But then again, maybe I should take a look into it, just in case I’m asked about it. Or for the next time I’m at a marketing conference, so I don’t look completely clueless in a discussion.
And what I found… blew my mind. Now, it might be my generation (as much as I don’t want to admit that I’m in that age bracket)
but, for me, it’s a gamechanger. Having done about ten minutes of ‘desk research’ to understand it a bit more, I signed up to the website. At the moment (until all the major companies catch up), it only exists on a website, there’s no app. And it’s completely free to use – no adverts, no obligation.
The possibilities are endless…you can simply type in what you want it to do, and it will deliver a result within about ten seconds! Each result is different. It’s not pulling through information that’s already been pre-written on the Internet. It is intelligently writing an article, or a social media post, or creating a spreadsheet, or whatever you ask it to do, by itself! Yes, I know that’s the point, but I just can’t get my head around the fact there’s not some genius person sat inside my computer doing all this for me, within ten seconds!
To test this AI, I asked it simply to explain what ChatGPT is. Here’s what it came up with (word for word):
“ChatGPT is a large language model developed by OpenAI. It is a machine learning model designed to understand
natural language and generate humanlike responses to user input. ChatGPT is trained on vast amounts of text data and can be used for a variety of natural language processing tasks, such as language translation, text summarization, question answering, and conversation generation. As a chatbot, ChatGPT can carry out a conversation with users and respond to their inputs in a way that mimics human conversation.”
So, what do we think? Robots taking over the world? Well, maybe to a certain extent, although it’s still obviously lacking the human touch.
But, maybe this AI has merit and we can use it to our advantage? What if we use this as a framework to improve our work? What if we think of this AI like sitting next to our intelligent colleague who can help us start an article or a social media post? Writer’s block is now a thing of the past.
Certainly, there are questions (and concerns) around this AI. How are they going to monitor its use in educational settings, for example? Can it really do the job of an intelligent, highly-qualified and experienced human? Of course it can’t.
But, in my opinion, this, like so many other technological advancements, such as social media, can’t be ignored. It’s only going to get bigger (and better). So maybe we use it to complement our human work, to enhance our copy, to reduce our workload.
Why don’t you see what you think?
This, like so many other technological advancements, such as social media, can’t be ignored.
Conversations on regeneration were to be had at Heligan’s second seasonal breakfast event, hosted by podcaster Tia Tamblyn.
Trewin Design Architects celebrated its 50th anniversary with a special event held at Tre, Pol & Pen near Launceston
Photos by Chris Yacoubian.
Choristers from Truro Cathedral were a tuneful addition to Cornwall Chamber’s Big Breakfast at The
The business support programme celebrated its six-year legacy of innovation at its final event last month, at the Atlantic Hotel in Newquay.
The Nare hosted its Spring Story drinks reception, the annual celebration of the flowering of Cornish Magnolias and the arrival of spring in England.
St Petrocs launched its new Business Club at a networking breakfast held at Rick Stein in Newquay.
Businesses gathered at the Royal Cornwall Showground last month for Cornwall’s leading hospitality trade event.
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CORNISH PIRATES V CALDY
Mennaye Field, Penzance
Championship rugby action as the Cornish Pirates welcome Caldy to the Mennaye. For the full match day experience why not try a hospitality package – the perfect way to entertain clients and colleagues alike. cornish-pirates.co.uk
HEARTLANDS BUSINESS BREAKFAST
Red River Café, Pool
The Heartlands business networking breakfast is a great way to start the day with friendly, relaxed networking and good grub! heartlands.com
CORNWALL CHAMBER LUNCH
Trenderway Farm, Looe
Join Cornwall Chamber in the heart of spring at Trenderway Farm. Do not miss out on the chance to blossom your Cornish connections, while indulging in a locally sourced lunch. cornwallchamber.co.uk
ARCA ON THE ROAD
Carbis Bay Hotel & Estate
Come and join the Arca team for a free workshop on exploring
Your Partnerships is Cornwall’s largest networking group, with meetings up and down the Duchy
Growing a business can be challenging. You want your business to be visible to the right people, so it’s important to know how and where to meet them.
Your Partnerships is Cornwall’s largest networking group and it events enable you to connect with other members, gain referrals and build trusting relationships with customers and suppliers.
Your Partnerships, can help your business grow!
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the benefits of using coaching techniques within your business. eventbrite.co.uk
UX FOR E-COMMERCE
Peaky Digital, Falmouth
Gain valuable insight on UX best practices for your eCommerce website, equipping you with a bespoke checklist and plan of action to help you design your site for success. eventbrite.co.uk
CORNWALL CLUSTER
WORKING LUNCH
Flory Restaurant, Bodmin
Meeting on a quarterly basis, all are welcome to Cornwall ClustersBusiness Lunch to gather business leaders to work on making as stronger Cornwall for all. eventbrite.co.uk
CORNISH PIRATES V HARTPURY
Mennaye Field, Penzance
Championship rugby action as the Cornish Pirates welcome Hartpury to the Mennaye. For the full match day experience why not try a hospitality package – the perfect way to entertain clients and colleagues alike. cornish-pirates.co.uk
APRIL 2023
3 MARKETING & ADVERTISING WITH MIKE BEE Victoria Inn, Threemilestone
6 WEST CORNWALL NETWALKING
King Edward Mine, Redruth
11 WEST CORNWALL BUSINESS BREAKFAST
Inn for All Seasons, Treleigh
12 WADEBRIDGE FORUM
The Pearl and Trawl at Wadebridge
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CHAMBER CHARITY OF THE YEAR EVENT
Fishermen’s Mission, Penzance
An opportunity to meet Cornwall Chamber of Commerce’s 2023 Charity of the Year – Fishermen’s Mission – and to learn more about the work of this important charity. cornwallchamber.co.uk
RETROFIT IN THE REAL WORLD
Tremough Campus, Penryn
This one-day workshop will explore sustainable energy solutions and the real-world retrofit challenges around making them work in existing buildings. eventbrite.co.uk
FARM GRANTS UPDATE
Indian Queens Village Hall
Update on grants available to farming businesses and help to navigate the Agricultural Transition. businessinfopoint.co.uk
CORNWALL CHAMBER BIG BREAKFAST
Cornish Pirates RFC, Penzance
This event has the best of both worlds. Not only is this a great networking opportunity as the room will be filled with people who
13 WOMEN IN BUSINESS LUNCH Penventon Hotel, Redruth
14 BREAKFAST NORWAY INN Norway Way, Perranarworthal
19 WORKING FROM HOME
The Pearl and Trawl at Wadebridge
19 NETWALKING WITH ANNIE CHAPMAN & ANNIE PAGE
The Borough Arms, Bodmin
20 OPEN HOUSE CORNWALL Victoria Inn, Roche
For further details of these and more networking events visit businesscornwall.co.uk
To publicise your event for free, email news@businesscornwall.co.uk
may be able to help you grow your business, but it will also have an inspirational and informative speaker coming along to talk.
cornwallchamber.co.uk
EARLY BIRD COFFEE CLUB
Cocktail Haus, Falmouth
A space for local businesses, startups, creatives and entrepreneurs to connect over good coffee. Kindly hosted by Solskinn Coffee and Cocktail Haus in Falmouth. eventbrite.co.uk
THE PIG DIPPERS
The Pig at Harlyn Bay Networking while swimming in the Atlantic Ocean, followed by a light breakfast of pastries. What could be more refreshing! cornwallchamber.co.uk
HFC NETWORKS CLUB
Hall for Cornwall, Truro Hall for Cornwall is more than a creative hub! Its networking club is an informal regular opportunity for businesses and freelancers to get together for a chat and a drink in the stunning new Playhouse Bar at Hall for Cornwall. hallforcornwall.co.uk
19
APRIL 26
MISSION TO HONG KONG: LAUNCH EVENT FOR EMPLOYERS
Valency Building, Truro College
Truro College is excited to share this opportunity for Cornwall’s Tech businesses to explore expansion into Hong Kong and the Asia Pacific Market as hosts of this unique event from Tech West England Advocates.
The event is being held in partnership with the South West Institute of Technology and will offer Cornwall’s tech founders and investors the opportunity to find out more about the Hong Kong market, tech eco-system, support and funding available to expand into Hong Kong and to decide if they want to join the week-long Mission to Hong Kong with Tech West England Advocates in November.
truro-penwith.ac.uk
yourpartnerships.co.uk
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG?
I wanted to be a vet… then realised I wasn’t much of an animal person! So, I moved to architect or something drawing which I loved.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST FULL TIME JOB?
Kitchen assistant, this started my love of food.
WHAT’S IN YOUR POCKETS?
I always have a pen, craft knife, spatula and a few odd screws.
HOW DO YOU LIKE TO RELAX?
Kayaking on the River Fal with family. I also like playing on my Xbox.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER?
Starting Freedom Signs with my best friends.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE WORST MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER?
Getting made redundant when I had a young family which was scary but ultimately made me start a new career path.
WHAT WAS YOUR LUCKIEST BREAK?
Being made redundant at the start of Covid and starting Freedom Signs.
IF YOU COULD INVITE ANY TWO PEOPLE FOR DINNER, WHO WOULD THEY BE AND WHY WOULD YOU INVITE THEM?
My grandad would be there as I never got to meet him and I think he’d be so proud of the family.
Bono would be the other as he is my all time hero and I know he’d have amazing stories to tell.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION?
I like visiting different places and cultures but a recent trip to Montana made me fall in love with America and I’d love to go back sometime.
IF YOU COULD BE GOD FOR A DAY, WHAT MIRACLE WOULD YOU PERFORM?
Obviously, world peace!
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE DOING IN FIVE YEARS’ TIME?
I’d love to be doing the same thing but teaching my skills and knowledge to someone so they can enjoy a career I love so much.
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