CORNWALL'S PREMIER BUSINESS RESOURCE FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS AND OPINION
businesscornwall.co.uk
JULY / AUGUST 2021 | ISSUE 149 | £3.95
RAISING THE BAR
INTERVIEW WITH FERITECH MD, ROB FERRIS
HIGH TECH TRENDS
SPOTLIGHT ON CORNWALL’S IT & DIGITAL SECTOR
07
07 9 772514
842001
Our new £3m manufacturing centre near Falmouth will be the only facility in the South West to provide such a comprehensive range of design and production services on one site. • A complete end-to-end service, all delivered under one roof –enabling streamlined quality control and faster turnaround of projects • Product design, machining, fabrication, electronic, electrical, embedded software, 3D printing and hydraulics • Bespoke solutions, including small batches and even one-off units for testing • Precision machined parts up to large diameter turning • Fabricated assemblies from a few kilos up to over 100 tons • Also offers single discipline subcontract work, eg machining, fabrication, 3D printing • Fully ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 certified
Discover world-class advanced manufacturing services – right here in Cornwall Get in touch to find out how Feritech can help your business, bringing your ideas to life.
info@feritech.com | 01326 369 444 | www.feritech.com
JULY / AUGUST 2021
INSIDE FEATURES 10 CEO INTERVIEW WE MEET ROB FERRIS, MD OF FALMOUTH MARINE TECH COMPANY FERITECH
14 IT & DIGITAL HOW THE IT SECTOR IS ADAPTING TO THE ‘NEW NORMAL’
27 NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS WHY HIRING A NED COULD BE THE BEST BUSINESS DECISION YOU EVER MAKE
30 GROWTH PROGRAMME GROWTH HUB SUPPORTING VACCINATION SOFTWARE DEVELOPER
ISSUE 149
REGULARS 4 INCOMING WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PIECE OF TECH?
6 BUSINESS NEWS FACING THE BLUE ABYSS
33 ON THE MOVE WHO’S GOING WHERE
34 CREATIVE & DIGITAL CORNWALL TO BID FOR CITY OF CULTURE
35 FOOD & DRINK APPOINTMENT AT NO. 10
36 TOURISM NEWS SCILLONIAN IV DESIGNS REVEALED
37 FSB FEDERATION OF SMALL BUSINESSES
38 EDUCATION & TRAINING NEWS APPRENTICESHIP AWARDS RETURN
39 CHAMBER NEWS KIM CONCHIE LOOKS BACK ON G7
40 CONNECTED CORNWALL G7 SUMMIT
42 EVENTS DIARY WHAT’S ON
44 TEST DRIVE EVs
46 JUST A THOUGHT ABG DESIGN’S HOWARD MILES
48 THE LAST WORD KAREN OLDHAM-WARING OF SUNFLOWER TRAINING
PHOTO: CITY OF CULTURE BID SEE PAGE 34 FOR FULL STORY
BUSINESS CORNWALL | 1
JULY / AUGUST 2021
CORNWALL'S PREMIER BUSINESS RESOURCE FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS AND OPINION
businesscornwall.co.uk
JULY / AUGUST 2021 | ISSUE 149 | £3.95
RAISING THE BAR
INTERVIEW WITH FERITECH CEO, ROB FERRIS
HIGH TECH TRENDS
SPOTLIGHT ON CORNWALL’S IT & DIGITAL SECTOR
07
07 9 772514
842001
9 772514
842001
ON THE COVER
ROB FERRIS, MD OF FERITECH SEE PAGE 10
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Nick Eyriey nick@businesscornwall.co.uk PUBLISHER Toni Eyriey toni@businesscornwall.co.uk BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Morveth Ward morveth@businesscornwall.co.uk
WELCOME
BY EDITOR NICK EYRIEY
ISSUE 149
G-FORCE LEAVES ITS MARK Motorcades, helicopters, policemen staying in cruise ships, gunboats in St Ives Bay and world leaders dipping toes in the Atlantic. It was quite a surreal few days last month as the G7 Summit descended upon Cornwall. Skies were a little grey on the Friday, but after that the sun shone and Cornwall looked resplendent. Cornwall dominated the global airwaves and when the big moment came, didn’t fluff its lines. And I think the vast majority of delegates would have left with an overwhelmingly positive perception and experience of where we call home. What the legacy will be, I guess only time will tell. But undoubtedly, it was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the Duchy on the global stage and tell the world what we are truly about, not just Pasties and Poldark, but also space and sustainability and so much more in between.
ACCOUNT MANAGER Caroline Carter caroline@businesscornwall.co.uk CONTRIBUTORS PFA Research, Toby Weller DESIGN Ade Taylor design@businesscornwall.co.uk PRINT Printed in Cornwall by Deltor BUSINESS CORNWALL is published 10 times a year by: Tonick Business Publishing Pool Innovation Centre Trevenson Road Redruth TR15 3PL Tel: 01209 718688
THE G7 SUMMIT DELEGATES AT CARBIS BAY (PHOT0 BY KARWAI TANG) And it would appear to have whetted appetites to be the focus of attention, with the news that Cornwall is to apply to be City of Culture 2025. The move, which has the backing of local-based celebrity Dawn French, would see the spotlight on Cornwall not for just one weekend, but the whole year.
SUBSCRIPTIONS subscriptions@businesscornwall.co.uk Registered under the Data Protection Act. All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, stored in an electronic retrieval system or transmitted without the written permission of the publisher. Stringent efforts have been made by Business Cornwall magazine to ensure accuracy. However, due principally to the fact that data cannot always be verified, it is possible that some errors or omissions may occur. Business Cornwall magazine can not accept responsibility for such errors or omissions. Business Cornwall magazine accepts no responsibility for comments made by interviewees that may offend.
This issue very much has a tech theme to it. In addition to our focus on the sector, we also speak to Rob Ferris, MD of Falmouth-based marine tech company, Feritch, who walks us through some very exciting plans for the future.
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INCOMING
THE CONVERSATION
LYSSA-FEE CRUMP Kraken Marketing
As a marketing agency that primarily works with technology companies, we get to experience a lot of cool technology, but our favourite has to be Trello. It helps us be superefficient and allows for full transparency in real-time with our global clients. We use it to prioritise and collaborate and it stops anything from dropping through the cracks.
The big question
I don’t just use it for work either! I have loads of personal boards too for things like house renovations. Everyone should embrace Trello!
RICHARD WOODS Eslas
My saviour is my mobile phone. A cliché but I can do almost everything I need to run my business with the technology and the extensive range of apps. If it broke I’d sadly feel like I’ve lost a limb.
JUNE SHIELDS
What is your favourite piece of technology? Do you embrace the latest tech to the full, or are you someone who is proudly ‘old school’ who believes pencil and paper is still best?
Miller Commercial Undoubtedly the most important and therefore my favourite piece of technology is RDP (remote desktop protocol). It has been a vital tool before and during the pandemic in making sure our staff can access everything they need for work whilst working from home, on the road or at our clients’ properties and businesses. I am definitely one of the main technology champions in our business, and although I do love a written list or notes the one piece of technology that has made the biggest impact on me personally at work is the iPhone 11. The quality of the camera and video means I can take professionally looking staff photo
Join the conversation @biz_cornwall
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businesscornwall.co.uk ADVERTORIAL
A DIGITAL FUTURE FOR EVERY BUSINESS
By Paddy Paddison, chief technology officer at Wildanet
When the G7’s digital and technology ministers met a few weeks ago in the run-up to the Cornwall summit, they pledged to put digital technology at the heart of a more productive and resilient global economy. They said the pandemic had underlined the importance of digital technologies to economies and societies worldwide, and accelerating their uptake was vital to economic recovery and socially inclusive growth. I couldn’t agree more. 4 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
In Cornwall, technology is driving exciting developments in areas like renewable energy, mining, data and space, and indeed this month’s Business Cornwall magazine is brim-full of exciting stories showcasing a wide range of businesses innovating digitally. Our mission at Wildanet is to continue to get Cornwall and its businesses connected for a digital future. And we want to address the toooften overlooked issue that many businesses
THE CONVERSATION
and video to upload to our website and social media within minutes rather than wait on someone else.
JOE TURNBULL Bull & Wolf
For me it has to be the smartphone. It might be the bane of some peoples lives, but it has also transformed the way we communicate with each other. The whole ecosystem of apps that have evolved from that have transformed the way we consume all sorts of content, and it’s made so many things far more accessible. It’s because of this that I always look for the latest tech, whether that’s new apps or programmes or new pieces of kit. It helps us to keep innovating, make better content and deliver better value for our clients.
ELEANOR MCGILLIE MGMPR
For me it’s reMarkable right now. I try to live and work as sustainably as possible and as a brand editor I take a lot of notes. So not having to use notepads is great. Here’s to the day when it is able to understand shorthand!
ROBERT KELLOW RJ Kellow
For me it has to be my iPhone. I am an Apple geek anyway, but that aside, I smile when I think back to the days when I used to take a camera, a tape measure, a pad and pencil (plus spares), a calculator, large format printed plans, and sometimes even a laptop to a survey. Now all of that fits neatly in my pocket rather than taking a rucksack everywhere! That said, my pad, pencil and tape never ran out of charge, so they weren’t all bad.
and communities here still struggle with a lack of connectivity to make the most of these opportunities. In some areas they don’t have to because the alternative services, such as ours, are there. In others we’re working to put them in place. We’ve seen first-hand the difference that fast, reliable connectivity can make, especially in rural areas, where we are investing £50m, with UK Government support, to close the digital divide. For businesses, it can be no less than transformative. Staff aren’t wasting time waiting for pages to load; your business is more secure
TREVOR LEE
Trevor Lee Media Mine is the Rode Rodecaster Pro which I use for podcast recordings followed by Calendy which has made organising meetings on Zoom unbelievably easy and finally Dragon Dictation which enables to speak rather than type email responses and planning notes etc... as a slow typist that saves me a ton of time.
STUART BEVERIDGE Cornwall Air Ambulance
Technology plays a massive part in my life and I embrace it – from my daughter changing my favourite playlist to Disney classics on our Alexa device to keeping in touch with loved ones during lockdown on Facetime and Zoom. I really believe that using technology can improve quality of life. My favourite piece of tech has to be ApplePay – the ability to pay by tapping my phone is convenient and saves rustling through my pockets for change. It also is a gamechanger in the charity world. With less people carrying cash, we’ve adapted our donation points to accept contactless donations.
INCOMING
SIP Trunks with all UK & Mobile calls included £7.50 /channel
While we aren’t doing away with penny jars completely, new hybrid models allow contactless donations too and we’re seeing a rise in their use.
FIONA CAMPBELL-HOWES B2B tech content writer
My current favourite is Otter.ai, the machine transcription tool. I do loads of interviews for my work and it’s saved me hours and hours of manual transcribing – hours that I can now spend on billable client work.
because business-critical data is backedup and stored in the cloud; emails and file transfers are downloaded in a flash and data, presentations and large video or graphics packages uploaded instantly, so you’re not sat watching the progress bar. How much of your week would that give back to you and your team? With Covid restrictions easing, it is now possible to get to meetings – but the past year has shown us that it’s far from compulsory to spend hours in the car if you have the bandwidth to support high-quality video conferencing with your customers and suppliers in Cornwall and beyond. More time gained to invest in your business’s success.
Wildanet is the Cornish broadband provider bringing superfast and superreliable broadband to communities and businesses throughout Cornwall. It has a range of options including discounted home connections for staff if your business is connected via Wildanet’s network. Call 0800 0699906 to find out how Wildanet’s broadband can help your business thrive.
BUSINESS CORNWALL | 5
CORNWALL
BUSINESS NEWS
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£65M FOR CORNISH TOWNS Three Cornish towns are to receive a total of £65 million as part of the Government’s Town’s Fund. Of the three towns, Camborne is to receive the largest amount (£23.7M), while Penzance will get £21.5 million and St Ives £19.9 million. The announcement that Truro would get £23.6 million, was made in April.
Camborne’s plans for the money include the acquisition and refurbishment of Camborne bus station to create the ‘Buzz Station’ complex, the creation of the ‘Fibre Park’ tech hub and the renovation of Camborne Rugby Club’s facilities. The Penzance deal will include funding for the modernisation of Penzance
Harbour, a new marine training facility at Newlyn Harbour, the development of a new public leisure facility and the renovation of Morrab Gardeners’ House, Penlee House & Coach House and Newlyn Art Gallery & the Exchange. St Ives, meanwhile, has plans for a new St Ives to St Erth trail, the development of a low carbon transport system in St Ives, the refurbishment of the historic Palais de Danse building, St Ives Rugby Club, the St Ives Theatre and the St Ives Guildhall.
WELCOME TO THE BLUE ABYSS
CORNWALL.UK LAUNCHES A new website has launched showcasing Cornwall’s “unique sense of place, culture and commercial achievements to a global audience. Conceived and delivered by the Cornwall Place Board with the support of Cornwall Council, the site’s purpose is to promote Cornish businesses, attract inward investment and create well-paid jobs, while also revealing interesting facts that uphold the distinctive heritage and special character of Cornwall. James Staughton OBE, chair of the Cornwall Place Board, said: “With a global audience, and businesses starting to build back even better, the Board are delighted to play a part in championing Cornwall for one and all. I would encourage everyone to visit our newly launched website www.cornwall.uk, enjoy the impressive content and enrol as a Cornish Ambassador. Cornwall needs you!” The website has been designed and developed by Cornish agency Vitamin Cornwall as a directory site with content categorised and provided by voluntary contributors. 6 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
The world’s biggest and deepest pool for testing the latest underwater technology, helping advance subsea robotics and even training astronauts is being planned in Cornwall. Blue Abyss, a £150 million facility which has the support of British astronaut Major Tim Peake, will be the world’s leading extreme environment research, test and training centre serving the offshore energy, marine, defence and space sectors. It is planned for the Aerohub Enterprise Zone at Cornwall Airport Newquay, and is expected to create 160 jobs, pump £50 million of build costs into Cornwall during its 18-month construction and generate £8 million annually for the local economy. The centrepiece of Blue Abyss is an aquatic centre featuring a 50m x 40m stepped pool with a 50m deep shaft. The pool holds over 42,000 cubic metres of water – the equivalent of 17 Olympic size swimming pools or 168 million cups of tea – making it the largest and deepest indoor pool in the world. Blue Abyss is the brainchild of ex-forces diving instructor and management consultant, John Vickers, and has the support of British astronaut Major Tim
Peake, who sits on the Blue Abyss Advisory Board. Peake said: “I am proud to be part of the Blue Abyss team and I am delighted to see the project take such an important step forward. Cornwall is the perfect home for Blue Abyss, a region with great potential for its space, aerospace and renewable energy ambitions.” Mark Duddridge, chair of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), added: “Blue Abyss has the potential to become an iconic project for Cornwall and a genuine world-class resource.” Blue Abyss is in negotiation with Cornwall Council to acquire four adjacent plots on the Aerohub Business Park, next to Cornwall Airport Newquay. The ten-acre site would house the pool, astronaut training centre, human performance centre, hypobaric and hyperbaric chambers, microgravity suite, training centre with six classrooms, workshops, onsite catering and accommodation facilities.
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Spaceport Cornwall has signed a memorandum of understanding with a potential second launch partner.
SPACEPORT CHASING DREAMS
US-based space company Sierra Space has signed an MoU to explore collaboration opportunities for its Dream Chaser spaceplane. Dream Chaser is the world’s only commercial spaceplane that can land on a runway. It’s a multi-mission space utility vehicle designed to transport cargo to low-Earth orbit destinations such as the International Space Station. The MoU means that Sierra Space will use Spaceport Cornwall as a potential landing site and could be second launch partner alongside Virgin Orbit, which is planning its maiden launch from Cornwall in 2022. Fatih Ozmen, CEO and owner of Sierra Space parent company, Sierra Nevada Corporation, said: “Sierra Space envisions launching and landing a fleet of Dream Chasers around the world. Spaceport Cornwall is an excellent partnership to
HARBOUR TO RECEIVE A LIFT Marine-i is supporting a pioneering new mooring system which would increase the operating capacity in Falmouth harbour, without the need for large-scale infrastructure development. The project, led by Falmouth Harbour Commissioners (FHC), intends to meet the challenge of anchoring very large vessels or platforms without the requirement of very large capacity lifting vessels.
assist in our endeavour to make space travel globally accessible.”
SIP Trunks Domains Leased Lines
Meanwhile, The Government has announced plans to fund the design and build of a ‘community’ satellite for Cornwall. Kernow Sat 1 will be the first satellite designed, manufactured and launched in Cornwall - with the intention of it forming part of Virgin Orbit’s first UK launch next year. It would be used for environmental monitoring of Cornwall and its seas. Glenn Caplin-Grey, chief executive of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Kernow Sat 1 will be a real team effort, designed, built and launched right here in Cornwall, with its data used to inform decision-making on the ground. It’s a hugely exciting project that will inspire a new generation about the importance of space and the environment, while bolstering our space economy.”
FHC chief executive Miles Carden said: “This project is breaking completely new ground for mooring systems, so having access to the world-class research expertise available from the Marine-i partners has been critical in progressing the modelling of the new design. If successful, the impact of this new mooring system on Falmouth Harbour operations would be felt for many years to come.” BUSINESS CORNWALL | 7
BUSINESS
SUPPORT
New and young businesses often face similar challenges in the early years. Obstacles which might seem overwhelming at the time, with help and encouragement, can be easier to overcome than first feared. It’s a situation familiar to the thousands of businesses who’ve been helped by Unlocking Potential – the team which has delivered Breakthrough for the last ten years
The harder the
Whether it invigorates businesses prelaunch, at start-up or within a year or two, Breakthrough supports and champions businesses through a mix of rigorous scrutiny and caring know-how. Asking tough questions can make easy answers hard to come by, but guarantees they produce comprehensive insight which helps businesses to flourish.
questions, answers the more useful the
How to find time to ask them
LITTLE GWENDREATH HOLIDAY COTTAGES
TETHERLEADS
Specifically, businesses can expect a two-day workshop (currently re-tooled as a four-part interactive webinar) designed to explore and define their fundamentals. Content includes, to examine the business owner’s goals and strengths, what makes a business unique to its customers; and how to reach them effectively. And to square the circle of offering great value while generating enough income to keep business growing, businesses look at revenue streams and cost structure. This begins a comprehensive process. Key to the programme’s success is the ongoing relationship each business enjoys with a business development manager (BDM). Each with their own specialisms and experience of running a business themselves; this person becomes steeped in the business and lends expertise when needed.
But Breakthrough’s greatest value might lie in the bespoke ways in which it helps specific needs. For example, Sarah and Steve Moss of Little Gwendreath Holiday Cottages were doing what many Cornish tourist businesses do: working flat out just to keep things ticking over. Breakthrough was their chance to stand back, think hard, and ask key questions. Sarah says: “We just hadn’t spent much time thinking about what value we bring to our customers, what problems we were solving for them. We’d been so busy working on day-to-day operations … when Covid forced our closure, we were able to step back from those daily tasks and think about our business from another angle. Steve adds: “We have made marketing our priority as it was something we hadn’t focused on. We now have a marketing plan. Thanks to Breakthrough we will continue to monitor the feedback from campaigns and from our customer questionnaires so that we continuously develop our business. Different but no-less important lessons about customers were learnt by Francesca Cash, co-creator of Tetherleads, an adjustable dog lead. Her problem was the money and physical and emotional energy she’d used trying to make everyone fall for her brand. Breakthrough challenges businesses to recognise that some people will never buy what they’re selling.
Target the customers who resonate with your values and are passionate about what you offer
The new business owners and entrepreneurs who attend, often cite the support of peer businesses as a major plus. Sharing experiences, input from unrelated sectors, questions from outsiders: these make Breakthrough varied and valuable. The availability of grants, recruitment support, salary subsidy and specialist coaching is another positive for those who are signed up to the ERDF-funded programme.
As Breakthrough’s workshop lead, Jamie Smith, points out: “Trying to convert people who don’t want to be your customer is expensive, time-consuming and thankless. It’s important that your efforts target the customers who resonate with your values and are passionate about what you offer – it’s far more rewarding and fruitful.”
Francesca acknowledges that there were hard lessons to learn, but an upside, too: “Breakthrough was invaluable. We not only received great advice from the people delivering the workshop and our BDM, but also from other business owners who attended the workshop and who offered some great ideas.” If you’re a business-owner who needs to find answers to the tough questions, get in touch with Breakthrough today.
www.unlocking-potetnial.co.uk 8 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
SHOWCASING
Leaving a lasting
CORNWALL
legacy
Supporting with logistical arrangements for the G7 Summit was, of course, a fantastic opportunity for the Corserv Group, but it was the lasting legacy of the event that aligned with its mission of improving the lives of people in Cornwall. In preparation for the event, colleagues across the diverse Group worked on a number of projects to prepare our beautiful Duchy to welcome world leaders and bring future opportunities for growth by attracting new business and investment. Cath Robinson, Corserv Group Managing Director, said: “I’m extremely proud of what the Corserv Group has achieved in readiness for the G7 Summit. It demonstrates the value of having a large diverse organisation as we can quickly mobilise all of our divisions with clear efficiencies. “By working collaboratively, the Group excels in managing such highprofile projects, and I’m honoured that this one will leave a lasting legacy for Cornwall. We’re already in discussions with a business at the Airport that could bring over a hundred new engineering jobs to Cornwall and inspire the young people of our future.”
of surface material was taken away to be recycled and reused. It’s not just the G7 attendees who will benefit from the infrastructure improvement works. Cornwall Newquay Airport Managing Director, Pete Downes, commented: “We are delighted that the investment from the Government has allowed us to deliver work that will unlock new opportunities here in Cornwall.
A leading region in the green and digital industrial revolution
MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CORNWALL AIRPORT NEWQUAY Over £7million was awarded to enhance the runway and apron areas at Cornwall Airport Newquay. Cormac Surfacing and Contracting teams worked tirelessly to lay 11,250 tonnes of various specifications of aggregate with very tight deadlines to improve these vital areas of the runway. Over 2,500 tonnes
“The new aprons and taxiways not only open the way for more larger aircraft in the future, but will create opportunities for sustainable and innovative new businesses. These include trials of electric and hybrid aircraft, developing future zero-emission aircraft.
“We will also be creating new airside development zones with space for Cornish businesses including new hangars and increased aircraft maintenance facilities.” SHOWCASING CORNWALL’S FINEST TO THE WORLD
agri-tech and trade and investment. The exhibition included animated displays by Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Eden Project and Falmouth University students, and various zones to show investment opportunities in sustainability, manufacturing, export and innovation. To complement the exhibition, screenings of locally made films were held throughout the event highlighting ocean sustainability themed content as well as photography and visual arts highlighting the natural world from Falmouth University students. Mike King, Cornwall Development Company Managing Director added: “It is important that we position Cornwall as a leading region in the green and digital industrial revolution, both domestically and internationally. We want to evolve the region’s narrative from a ‘less developed area’ to ‘a region with a thriving and diverse economy’ that is investment-ready.” For more information about the Corserv Group and the contribution it makes to Cornwall and its residents, visit www.corservltd.co.uk
Developed in partnership with Falmouth University and Cornwall Council, Cornwall Development Company hosted the “Cornwall House at G7” exhibition and events space. It showcased various programmes, such as Aerospace technology, mining and geothermal energy,
BUSINESS CORNWALL | 9
ROB
FERRIS
Rob
Ferris
10 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
“We find ways of delivering the impossible”. As Falmouth-based marine tech company Feritech Global prepares to move into brand new £3M state-of-the-art premises, managing director Rob Ferris outlines ambitious plans for the future.
ROB What is the company’s background? We set up Feritech in 2012. My wife and I were working in the offshore marine survey industry and we could see that many of the products on the market could be improved. So, we set up Feritech with an ambition to create and deliver products that would shake up the market. That desire to innovate is still at the heart of our approach. Now we are established players in the marine tech sector. We make, sell and rent a wide range of technical equipment and we export around the world, with customers in over 40 countries. We also undertake large scale projects overseas, including recent projects off West Africa, in the USA and off Australia. We provide marine engineering services to a range of sectors, including oil and gas, renewables, geophysical surveying, cables, dredging operations, pipelines, ports and harbours. Over 95% of the company’s products and services are exported and now we want to grow our UK manufacturing business too. What are your expansion plans? We are an ambitious company with big plans for the future. To help enable this, we are moving to a new state of the art 3.5 acre facility near Falmouth, opening this September. This £3 million development will give us wider capabilities, allowing us to diversify into new markets. We also want to help other businesses in Cornwall grow through offering our services as a sub-contractor and working on projects in collaboration with others in other market sectors. A wealth of new high-tech manufacturing opportunities exist in Cornwall over the next few years and we intend the new facility to become a hub for all types of multidisciplinary manufacturing in the region.
What do you see as the growth opportunities in Cornwall manufacturing? Cornwall will be a centre for the fast-growing industry of floating offshore wind power, with the Celtic Sea one of the best resources in Europe. This will create huge opportunities in the local supply chain in the next ten years. In fact, there is already significant innovation happening in Cornwall as businesses gear up to supply the new industry and meet its engineering challenges. Meanwhile, aerospace is taking-off with development of Spaceport Cornwall along with a satellite technology cluster and the development of other high-tech manufacturing sectors. Technologies such as autonomous vehicles, AI and embedded software are transforming engineering and manufacturing. This is the new frontier where we operate.
equipment and we expect this to be a large part of our future work. We already work in collaboration with other local businesses and we look forward to this increasing, now we can offer an even wider range of design and engineering services in one facility. Collaboration is becoming more and more important right across industry and we see this as essential to growth. What will your new facility offer? Our brand new design and manufacturing facility will offer everything from fabrication and machining to electronics, embedded software and 3D printing.
We are first and foremost innovators
R&D within the offshore renewable energy sector will remain a primary operation of the company and this facility will allow the company to undertake new challenges within this sector such as floating offshore wind, providing solutions for customers quickly, while also tightly controlling the quality of the process from start to finish – and all under one roof. But we also want to broaden out and help innovators in any sector. With our broad range of design and manufacturing capabilities all on one site, we can turn their ideas into reality, including providing a production service for start-ups and new product developers. We can deliver small batches or even one-off units for testing. In addition, we will provide single discipline sub-contract work, such as machining or fabrication, using our state-of-the-art
FERRIS
It will handle fabricated assemblies from a few kilos up to 100 tons plus and include a brand-new machining hall which can produce all manner of precision machined parts right up to large diameter turning.
There are two separate workshops. The ferrous workshop handles fabrication projects in mild steel, and in the clean workshop, stainless steel, super duplex and aluminium, but also working with other specialist materials as required. Our design, electrical, electronic and hydraulic capabilities are also being expanded. So we can offer a comprehensive design and production engineering solution. The facility will be the largest of its kind in the south west and one of the largest in the UK to provide both design and manufacturing services on one site. This means projects can be delivered faster and in a way that is more efficient and streamlined, ensuring quality is high. We are fully ISO14001 and 9001 certified.
BUSINESS CORNWALL | 11
ROB
FERRIS So, will you be creating new jobs? Yes. We are currently hiring and we expect our workforce to grow to three times its current size. We are also committed to bringing on the next generation of engineers and we plan to develop a strong apprenticeship programme. A business is only ever as good as its people and we want our people to be the best. What do you see as the next big engineering challenge?
Looking to the future, we expect that the opportunities for embedded AI will continue to grow. We can handle complex projects that require the use of embedded software for the control and management of all manner of engineering systems.
Desire to innovate is still at the heart of our approach
For ten years, we have been developing bespoke ocean tools and subsea sensors for controlling equipment and collecting data within the marine environment. Sensor technology is increasingly in demand from other sectors. We can offer sensors and control systems as separate items for use in equipment or can provide a turnkey bespoke solution. Products include multiplexers, lights, cameras, hydraulic control, pressure monitoring, actuation and more. Our self-developed Feritech HUB allows users to seamlessly operate and control the range of the firm’s equipment from a single
12 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
device. Different equipment can communicate with each other through the HUB and all work seamlessly together.
This puts us at the forefront of the trend towards greater automation and autonomous operation. What scale of projects do you expect to deliver?
On the machining side, there is nowhere in Cornwall or the south west that handles really large turning. Most of that work goes off to the Midlands and the north. So we will be able to handle that, retaining more of the business in Cornwall and we hope that this will be a catalyst for new growth in the local area. This facility will allow innovative ideas created in our region to be produced here. This will allow more high-value jobs to be retained within the region and will increase Cornwall’s capabilities for fulfilling important new opportunities, especially for floating offshore wind installations in the Celtic Sea. Meanwhile, we are a specialist in small batch projects. For a multi-disciplinary project in which you have a need for electrical, electronic, machining, fabrication, assembly and hydraulics, in one piece of kit – we can deliver everything and all on one site, enabling faster turnaround. Are you seeing new approaches within the industry? Yes, increasingly businesses are working in collaboration. Technology is enabling a more
ROB collaborative approach and this is something that is being experienced in many sectors, as growth is fuelled through more outsourcing and partnership working. We welcome this trend as we really enjoy working closely with other businesses. We have an open approach and aim to build trust and mutual respect. Sometimes we are the lead in a partnership, sometimes we are the sub-contractor. In either case, we bring the same energy, proactivity and professionalism. For us, it is not about egos. It is about delivering great results. So, we want to work more in collaboration with other tech businesses in Cornwall, helping turn their innovative, market-leading ideas into reality. We believe our new design and production facility could become a powerful collaboration hub, for designers and SMEs to work together to bring important engineering innovations to market. Our aim is to establish a reputation as a world class design and manufacturing hub for innovative businesses of all kinds. Do you plan to continue to develop your own innovative products?
carbonneutral facility was a vital part of the new development project. In the new facility, we will use our own resources, including ground water, which will be collected and used with heat exchanges to warm the building. All electricity will be powered through wind and solar. Hawthorn bushes are being used rather than high security fencing, so the new build blends with its environment.
A business is only ever as good as its people
Yes, we are first and foremost innovators. We are currently working on an exciting project to develop the world’s first autonomous subsea geotechnical vehicle. This product has attracted support from Marine-i, which is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund. It is a ground-breaking project which has already received worldwide media coverage and we expect to start prototype trials in 2022. How important is sustainability to you? Sustainability is central to our approach. Developing an environmentally-friendly,
FERRIS
This will reduce our carbon footprint and cut our overheads whilst making an attractive place to work, surrounded by nature.
We expect that the new building can become a blueprint for a new kind of production facility which is at the cutting edge of environmental design. So how do you see the future for Feritech? The future looks incredibly exciting. We are so happy to be based in Cornwall at a time when it is on the cusp of so many new opportunities and new sectors are emerging. We hope that Feritech can be a catalyst for growth and work in collaboration with others to make the most of all the emerging opportunities, making Cornwall a leader on the world stage.
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The emergence of people working from home has presented challenges and opportunities in equal measure to Cornwall’s tech and digital sector. PFA Research director, Robert Rush, takes a closer look.
the new
normal
The demands upon our home and office broadband connectivity have never been as great as has been the case over the last 18 months. Despite being a very rural community Cornwall is blessed with a high level of broadband coverage - thanks largely to the Superfast Cornwall programmes - which have allowed many office-based businesses to successfully implement business continuity policies and allow staff to switch to flexible arrangements and homebased working. During the first lockdown in April 2020, PFA Research found that the proportion of its What Cornwall Thinks panel members that went out to work dropped from 40% to less than 10% (of which most were key workers) and the proportion working from home increased from 15% to 30%. (Of the balance, about 45% were retired or don’t work and the remainder were laid off or on furlough). After periods of restrictions and a second full national lockdown in 2021, most office workers (at least) are still following Government
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guidance to work at home if possible. According to London and USA market researcher Buzzback, only 60% of us say we are excited for life to go back to the way it was, with 23% of UK respondents no longer wanting to work in an office full-time. Noticeably the pandemic has instigated and accelerated changes to consumer behaviours, with a direct impact on how services are delivered and how we have been ready to adopt them.
The study found that nearly two thirds (63%) of Brits were now working at home more or had started to do so (highest among the five European countries in the study, though lower than most Latin America), with a third (34%) of people expecting to continue working from home more in the future than they had previously done so.
23% of UK respondents no longer wanting to work in an office full-time
PFA Research is the UK representative of the ARTIS Network, an international partnership of similar market research companies. In December 2020, when the UK was fresh from the November four-week ‘lockdown-lite’, we undertook the second wave of a global benchmarking study across ten countries with a sample of 3,000 people, to evaluate the effect of the coronavirus pandemic in terms of consumer perceptions, behaviours and to anticipate future behaviour and trends.
In its ‘Working from home: comparing the data’ blog in May, the ONS concluded that the pandemic has had huge effects on people’s propensity to work from home, but it is too soon to say how permanent or widespread the changes will prove to be. We are likely to see ‘hybrid’ forms of working in which employees attend their central workplace but less often than they did in the past. Some local authorities in the UK are already considering how such movements
POWER TO THE PEOPLE – DATA FOR SERVICES Privacy law, often described by companies as getting in the way of fair business, has benefitted from a huge increase in public awareness and a growing backlash against corporate data use. Intellectual Property and IT solicitor at Stephens Scown LLP, Ben Travers, looks at how consumers could soon be using their data as currency for services.
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IT &
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Internet regularly, and to date, there is little evidence that significant numbers of those previously digitally excluded had been prompted to get online during the first few months of the pandemic. That said, among those aged 75+, around a quarter (24%) are using the Internet more with just 9% using it less. As consumers spend more time engaging with digital channels, marketers have followed suit and increased their investment in digital channels. A Harris poll for OpenX in October of 500 marketers among medium and large businesses found that threequarters (74%) of marketers have made changes to their strategy because of the pandemic. may impact types and locations of homes that will be required in the future and will no doubt feature within employment land reviews. In addition to working from home more, the ARTIS/PFA Research survey found that consumers were engaging far more with digital services. 46% of the British respondents are now receiving e-medical services more than they were, higher than all other European and Latin American countries and second only to the United States (51%). 41% of Brits are receiving more e-learning services as education moved to online models, 38% were doing more admin procedures online and 38% were now accessing banking services online more than they did before. Perhaps with more time at home and chiming with the rise in online entertainment consumption, 38% said they were now consuming more online broadcasting services. Further, a Kantar survey earlier in May 2020 found one in five UK homes had newly signed up for a
THE FUTURE? TIERED SERVICES IN EXCHANGE FOR DATA? Consumers already pay to use the web; the currency is their data. We are not far from consumers controlling the marketplace and businesses will need to come to terms with this shift in the balance of power if they are to win customer trust. Imagine a site offering tiered services but only in exchange for more sensitive, and hence valuable, information about their customers. The more data you give, the more services you can benefit from. The technology would be easy to implement and consumers could easily
video streaming subscription during the first Covid-19 lockdown, and across FebruaryApril 2020, 56% of UK households now had at least one subscription video on demand. The impact of lockdowns and the wider acceptance of people to take heed of the Government guidance to stay safe and stay home will have undoubtedly tempted or compelled a proportion of late majority adopters and laggards to engage with digital services. The Age UK Briefing Paper ‘Digital inclusion and older people – how have things changed in a Covid-19 world?’ published March 2021, looked at the impact the pandemic has had on Internet use among people aged 52+ in England. The study which collected data in June/July 2020 found that 39% of people aged 52 plus are using the Internet more since the start of the coronavirus. However, it also notes usage has increased most among groups already using the
engage in such a system – trading a little piece of themselves for services, but where they decide what a fair exchange is. Consumers are demanding this now. The tools are there in current privacy law but the business community refuses to seize the opportunity and instead looks for work-arounds or ignores the law and even its customers. If business does not address this soon, by giving consumers back control, the regulators will step in and the changes needed to enforce this mentality would challenge issues key to the web, such as neutrality, freedom of speech and freedom of access.
The research which also included 1,000 adults aged 18+, confirmed consumers to be increasing their shopping online (44%) and 8% are now making online purchases daily and 37% are increasing shopping using a mobile. In response, 39% of marketers have added to their e-commerce solutions, 5% started their e-commerce platform because of Covid and 71% with both online and physical store presence offer click-n-collect style service. According to Isobar’s Creative Experience Survey (September 2020) of 1,350 global marketers in medium to large businesses, 64% say they have “completely or moderately” changed their customer experience (CX) strategy in response to the Covid-19 crisis, with 1 in 5 having ‘completely’ changed their approach. Of those that have changed their strategy, 4 in 10 (39%) have made ecommerce a greater focus of their CX strategy, while 36% are developing direct-toconsumer sales channels.
Ben Travers is a partner and head of Intellectual Property and IT law at Stephens Scown. The IP/IT team is one of the largest specialist teams of its kind in the UK and advises businesses on how to protect and exploit their IP, contract issues and data protection. To contact Ben, please call 01392 210700 or email IPandIT@stephens-scown.co.uk
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infrastructure. Marketers are responding to the demand and they in turn require the data assets and opportunity to invest to be resilient, to keep up and grow in the new normal. As we write this piece, the Internet has just suffered a major outage affecting a number of high-profile websites including Amazon, eBay, the Financial Times and the UK Government GOV.UK. While the problem was a temporary glitch and short lived for most, including the Cornwall Chamber’s Sustainable Growth Conference which temporarily lost its access to Vimeo which was broadcasting the event to 400 virtual attendees, it served to highlight our dependency on access to digital infrastructure and tools for business.
Another survey this March by Experian, which explored the impact of data quality on businesses, highlights 7 in 10 business leaders report that their response to the pandemic would have been aided by better data insights. The research comprised 700 business leaders from the US, UK and Brazil and found that nearly two-thirds (63%) feel that the overall
A LIFE OF CRIME? The rise of cybercrime has been well documented in recent years and is a problem showing no signs of going away. “Phishing emails are more prevalent than ever before and are more sophisticated,” says Piran Tech director Alex Pugh. “It’s much more difficult to recognise a phishing email, and recognising the sender is no longer a safe defence.” Alex says that while there is no need for panic, it is vital to stay vigilant and to make sure your staff are trained on how to prevent such attacks. “The advice we’d give on protecting staff and company systems from a security breach is to ensure two-factor authentication is set up, to always exercise caution, and if you have any doubt, to seek confirmation via an alternative channel, i.e. don’t reply to the email. Always think carefully before entering any login details or personal information. “We offer lots of support around IT security: we can carry out an audit on customer’s existing security, put a plan in place to ensure their systems are safe and offer advice on best practices and staff awareness.”
16 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
quality of data in their organisation since improved over the last 12 months. However, 55% say they lack trust in their data assets impeding their ability to be fully data-driven. Three-quarters (77%) believe an investment in data management initiatives now will better enable them to survive the next crisis. Consumers and businesses now have greater expectations of digital services and
Truro software company, Affinity Digital, says it has built its reputation on security. “A lot of our clients have mission critical applications that are so important to their organisations,” says sales director Jonathan Duvall. “Over the past couple of years, with so much more activity happening online, opportunists are attempting to carry out many more malicious attacks online. These could be attacks on the URL or looking for vulnerabilities in code. Keeping sites and applications 100% secure is only achievable by implementing security patches as soon as they’re released. “People need to be absolutely sure that their internal IT departments or trusted suppliers are up to date on the latest security measures and have funding available to prevent attacks It’s much easier to stop them from happening in the first place, rather than deal with the aftermath.”
PFA Research delivers business-tobusiness and social research, market analysis and programme evaluations to public and private sectors, as well as data collection services to the research industry. PFA is based in Cornwall and Greater Manchester, serving a client base across the UK and Europe.
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BUSINESS CORNWALL | 17
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DIVERSITY IN IT One of the biggest challenges many employers in tech sector face in Cornwall can be recruitment. And in what has been a traditionally maledominated industry, things could be changing, albeit, slowly. “There is definitely a lack of women working in the sector, and a lack of diversity overall,” says Piran Tech director Alex Pugh. “There are plenty of women working in supporting roles like admin, HR and management, but we have not noticed any real shift in diversity here in Cornwall when it comes to tech-focused roles. But Alex does spot some green shoots. “In the sector overall it does seem as though things are changing, with lots of great initiatives to encourage women and minorities in tech, which we’d love to see more of here in Cornwall. There’s a cultural change that needs to happen, which really starts in schools – encouraging girls to pursue STEM subjects and giving them the skills and confidence to do so – which is happening, but it may be some time before that filters down.”
FROM THE COAL FACE It has been a busy time for Cambornebased managed IT services Aztek Business. Director Vladimir Lisic says: “We have seen a dramatic increase in the amount of work, mainly amongst existing customers moving to Cloud setups, and new customers coming over to Aztek because their existing provider could not help them pivot quick enough.” Vladimir says clients have become more amenable to a fully Cloud setup so that they can reinforce their business continuity plans. But he says that despite more customers working from home, it has not presented the business with any more significant challenges. “We continued to operate to the same high level Aztek clients have been 18 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
accustomed to over the years.” NCI Technologies’ IT consultant, James Scott, says the pandemic has caused the business to undergo “radical transformation” in the way it works. “Overnight we went from performing onsite visits to virtual appointments,” he says. “We found that this was a positive step that has benefited us, our clients and the environment. It has also made our team more
efficient by reducing the time spent traveling. For our clients it has enabled them to interact with us in a COVID secure way, with the ability for meetings to happen quicker rather than saving questions for an on-site visit. The real winner has been the benefit to the environment as we have reduced the number of miles that our vehicles have travelled in the past year.” Business has been brisk, especially in the early days of the pandemic when there was a sudden rush of people buying laptops to enable home working. “Globally the effects of this mass purchasing led to supply shortages and price increases that are still being seen today,” says James. “This current trend has moved on from hardware purchases to businesses looking to secure their remote workers from the rise in cyberattacks.” The impact has been slightly different for software companies than IT service providers. Mark Jennings at n-coders says: “Though we have seen a reduction in ‘off-the-street’ bespoke software work, however our main clients have remained busy and as a result, n-coders has too. Further, we have had a need to transform our business working practices, both utilising and extending our technology skillsets utilising or VR development skills and remote collaboration environments. Having a core team of game developers, we have pushed forward our development of VR games, as well as ‘gamification’ for business, a process of utilising gaming processes to enhance a business operation or client interaction.” Indeed, VR looks set to play an important part in n-coders’ future. “Our aim is always the optimisation of business,” says Mark, “whilst allowing the core fundamentals of a business to remain and we feel that the use of VR as a technology, will have a hugely positive impact on local business, at a minimal cost.”
Level Up Your Business With Virtual Reality n-Coders are software and game developers in Cornwall, developing immersive solutions for businesses using virtual reality and gamification.
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Newquay-based developer Flowmoco reports a similar story, where some bits of business were lost, others were gained. Kevin Bath says: “We have been fortunate enough to see no impact to our projected income growth as a result of the pandemic. Our trading figures increased by 50% since the start of the first lockdown, which has been our standard rate of growth over the last few years. “We build software systems for a number of global enterprises who have had to shift pretty quickly as a result of the change in lifestyle we’ve all experienced over the last 15 months. “As a result of an associated shift in priorities we’ve seen a number of projects canned, to be replaced by other new projects as a result of swift pivots by our customers. Good businesses can respond to change and identify new opportunities for growth - which we’ve happily seen amongst our customer-base.” ‘Pivoting’ has become a common phrase during lockdown and the ability to ‘pivot’ has been key for many across all sectors. “We lost 40% of our clients in 72 hours in March 2020,” recalls Jess Ratty, founder of PR and comms agency Halo. “I won’t lie, it was a bit hairy - and we were only just starting our second year of business. “We already had a stronghold in the tech space and so we purposefully pivoted into more of that - we’ve been on a stratospheric rise ever since. 2021 will be the year that
Halo’s name is known for its innovative work in tech - as the truth tellers of the rise of digital transformation and the positive impacts it can have on humanity and the planet.” Laurence Harmer, founder of Internet market company Solve Web Media, says the past year or so has been “a wild rollercoaster ride”. But not just because of the pandemic.
realised the return of investing online was a pivotal role in their success in these times. The importance of having a great website and getting seen online has been elevated to phenomenal levels.” Truro software developer, Affinity Digital, says it has enjoyed a very busy 12 months, winning three large contracts including a project at the start of lockdown with the Cabinet Office to build and maintain the official G7 website.
Good businesses can respond to change and identify new opportunities for growth
“When lockdown hit, many clients panicked and paused or stopped projects,” he says. “A third of our business came from the EU. For obvious reasons, this ground to a halt. We also have many successful tourism and leisure clients. They had no choice but to reduce outgoings. At that point, we quickly adapted our offering to help businesses stay alive. We made efforts to safeguard our clients online by offering free/ reduced-cost assistance and consultancy to help them adapt. We took a huge hit, but I knew this strategy would help us all survive long term. We are in this together.” Laurence says lockdown has given many businesses the opportunity to reflect on how they work. “Not long after the initial lockdown, we were inundated with calls with business owners that knew they had to turn from physical to digital,” he says. “Many current clients
Sales director Jonathan Duval says the move to remote working by businesses across the country has had an “interesting and positive” impact.
“It has allowed Affinity Digital to be judged based on our people and the quality of our work, not on our location or an expensive office. Cornwall can feel quite distant from the action but with remote working and more people feeling comfortable meeting and getting work done online, we’ve been able to secure the new contracts without the need to meet anyone in person. “Where a company is based in the UK is no longer important. Our experience over the pandemic has been that if we can deliver work to our usual high standard, our clients are happier than ever, wherever or however our team members might be working.”
CORNWALL’S DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION Like many across the UK, Cornish business owners have been thrust into the digital ratrace. However, their digital skills, particularly in some of the more ‘traditional’ sectors, can sometimes been found wanting. Consequently, an increasing number of organisations have been seeking support to learn valuable new skills withing digital subjects. Top subjects include website creation, social media marketing, and how to sell products online. Penzance-based Digital Peninsula Network (DPN) is a leader in designing training methods to upskill sole-traders, small businesses, and individuals in digital skills. DPN has developed and delivered innovative training courses in partnership with employers to over 2,500 participants across the south
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west within the last five years. MD Janus Howard explains: “Demand for DPN’s training has increased throughout the year as many more businesses have become reliant on Internet technologies to advertise, take bookings and deliver services, due to many months of restrictions. “The development of DPN’s online training delivery has allowed us to meet this demand enabling DPN to grow as a company and support more businesses than ever before. Working in partnership on 13 separate EU and UK Government funded projects, we are pleased to have been able to support so many businesses in making the best use of Internet technologies to cushion the effects of the pandemic on the business community.”
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HOME COMFORTS Working from home has presented huge opportunities for many IT businesses, with Cornish broadband provider Wildanet being no exception. One of the main drawbacks for many people working from home, has been that broadband speeds have not always been up to the job. Something Wildanet has been able to help with. “Home working has highlighted just how poorly served many areas of Cornwall are with regards high or even moderate quality internet,” says chief operating officer Justin Clark. “Slow browsing speed is an everyday annoyance to many homes across Cornwall but being forced to work from home and not being able to join video call or download data was a massive problem.
Staff also need the connectivity at home to work effectively remotely
“There has been a huge focus on digital connectivity during the pandemic and it has also highlighted
the digital divide that remains in Cornwall, particularly in rural areas. The result has been we have had more homes and businesses signing up to our service or requesting that we extend our network into their area to meet their needs now and into the future.” Justin says the past year has seen a “revolution” in working practices. “It really
FUTURE-PROOF FLEXIBLE WORKING Over the past year, we’ve helped over 150 businesses make the shift to remote working. While every business has different needs, there are a few services we offer that have stood out as essential to any organisation working remotely, flexibly, or across multiple locations.
them to communicate with customers using their landline work number. VoIP systems are highly secure by design: as the trend towards remote working grows, good IT security is more important than ever and ensuring your team can communicate securely via phone or message is essential.
Cloud-based or VoIP phone systems come in at the top of the list: a reliable, secure phone system is crucial to any business, but VOIP phone systems offer lots of really useful functions for flexible working teams. They’re scalable, and can easily grow as your team does, and are easily managed using a customisable dashboard. Compared with a traditional phone system, VoIP systems are cost-effective, and can save you as much as 80% on your phone costs.
VoIP systems can integrate with your existing cloud-based systems, helping you streamline the way you work. Customers can be seamlessly transferred between phones and departments, and with a web app browser extension you can make and take calls from directly within your browser.
With a cloud-based phone system, users can make and receive calls from anywhere with an internet connection. Aside from being useful for remote-working teams, this function also comes in handy if your team travel or work from multiple sites, allowing
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We work with the cloud-based PBX vendor 3CX. As a 3CX Silver Partner, our engineers are trained to offer you the very best level of support, from installation to technical support, and we can offer you the best deal on 3CX licences. 3CX offers useful advanced call features such as call queues, call recording, conference calls and call reporting, as well as an Android and iOS app allowing teams to stay in touch via call, video call or messaging.
has opened everyone’s eyes to the power of technology to transform the way we work. However, for many businesses it has been a wake-up call that they do not have the reliable, high speed Internet they need to make the most of this technology and, something that may have been overlooked previously, it’s not just about the business; staff also need the connectivity at home to work effectively remotely.”
IT support company Piran Tech explains why your business needs a cloud-based phone system
To find out more about VoIP systems and 3CX, email info@pirantech.co.uk or visit www.pirantech.co.uk
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CORNWALL: THE PLACE TO BE Software Cornwall has been addressing the needs of the software and tech sectors for the past ten years. When Software Cornwall began, it was fairly rare to have a tech company in Cornwall that employed more than 30 people, with the majority being micro businesses. Today, Cornwall is home to a whole range of companies, start-ups and fast-growing SMEs, and even some owned by multinationals. A lot has changed. The business support and funding available to tech companies, entrepreneurs or those looking to digitise their business in Cornwall is currently in abundance at all stages of growth. For start-ups and budding entrepreneurs, there is Falmouth Launchpad, a leading venture studio that has produced ones to watch such Data Duopoly and Purpose 3D, each creating cutting-edge tech in niche sectors. For growth companies, there is Tech Nation which provides multiple programmes and accelerators to help tech companies focus, scale and explore new markets. There is even support for both tech and non-tech businesses that want to create innovative new propositions who can take advantage of Unlocking Potential’s Digital Transformation Programme to help them excel.
for software developers and engineers that companies are struggling to fill. This has been a longstanding problem and one that Software Cornwall and partners are continually trying to address through education outreach activities. Initiatives that began in 2014/15 are coming to fruition, including the Mission to Mars work experience programme for budding developers aged 14 and 15. This cohort are now in their early 20’s and some are taking up developer roles in local software companies to pursue a career in tech. It might be a long game, but engaging with young people and providing them with the opportunity to play with code in a fun environment has positive impacts on career choices in later life.
Co-locations like the FibreHub provide a seedbed for ideas to generate
In fact, right now more than 70 programmes across the country that Cornish tech companies can take advantage of. Some offer access to grants and mentors, while others provide partfunded and fully-funded training. And it is not just business support services that are offering help. Cornish website and app developer Hiyield has recently launched its start-up incubator, Hatch. With that growth comes some challenges. According to the 2021 Tech South West Annual Report, access to talent was the biggest barrier to growth this year. The Cornish tech community is experiencing this first hand, with the Software Cornwall jobs board full of roles 24 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
Since 2017, it is estimated that Software Cornwall has taken 350 students through its Mission to Mars programme, delivered Tech Jam events to over 600 individuals, provided workshops in schools to over 800 students and been present at over 50 careers fairs. Getting young people engaged and excited about tech is one route into the industry, but it is by no means the only one. Software Cornwall, as part of the Business Clusters programme run by Truro & Penwith College, is delivering ‘Gateway to Tech’; a project that helps adults careerswitch into tech, even if they have no prior coding knowledge. Participants are provided with introductory training and a coding challenge to test their aptitude and willingness to learn. They are then offered a six-month paid placement within a local business, with their salary part-funded by the European Social Fund. Companies locally are seeing this as a new way to recruit and
applications for those seeking a placement candidate are still open. Over the next ten years, the landscape of Cornish tech will change again. According to the Office of National Statistics, between 2010 and 2019 there was a 250% growth in businesses that fall under the ‘software’ category in Cornwall. With a Government focus on digital skills and countless reports raising alarms about technical skills gaps in the UK, this is Cornwall’s opportunity to continue this growth curve. It is also important for us to recognise that the tech sector is no longer just made up of software companies, but as non-tech businesses grow and digitise, they employ teams of software developers to keep their products, services and processes innovative. Education will need to support the industry in developing people with the right skills for tech and the industry will also have to play its part in reskilling the workforce to help close the widening gap, accelerated by the pandemic. Tackling this head-on is Cornwall’s new FibreHub, a vision coming to life from Headforwards at a site next to Cornwall College, that will not only provide space for education and industry to work together, but will develop raw talent through outreach programmes and a tech academy. Co-locations like the FibreHub provide a seedbed for ideas to generate. As companies move to potentially new ways of working following the pandemic, with hybrid approaches being considered by some, creating spaces that foster conversation between parties will lead to problem-solving and help tackle limitations felt by Cornish businesses, enabling the county to continue to grow. With the world’s eyes on Cornwall during the G7, the Fibre Park vision coming to life, a buzzing space sector leading some of the biggest innovations in space, and a bustling tech community to boot, Cornwall is the place to be. Here’s to the next decade.
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NON-EXECUTIVE
DIRECTORS
Should you be looking at hiring a non-executive director? Business Cornwall talks to two experienced NEDS about how it could help take your business to the next level.
An executive
decision
If you look up the definition of a ‘NED’ in a dictionary, you might be in for a bit of a surprise. It is a derogatory term applied in Scotland to hooligans, louts or petty criminals – ‘non-educated delinquents’!
“Removed from the day-to-day running of a business, a NED can bring a fresh perspective and challenge practices that have become embedded within an organisation but may no longer be adding value,” says Sarah Trethowan. “This degree of challenge may not always be a comfortable process for a business owner, but it is a valuable one.”
The popularity and benefits of hiring a NED have never been greater
Thankfully, in a business context, the truth is altogether more sober and reassuring. A NED is an acronym for non-executive director. And according to the Institute of Directors (IoD), the non-executive director’s role is to provide a creative contribution to a board by providing independent oversight and constructive challenge to the executive directors.
Historically NEDs haven’t always enjoyed the best of reputations and you might be familiar with the old joke “what’s the difference between a non-executive director and a supermarket trolley?” “A supermarket trolley has a mind of its own, but you can get more food and drink into a non-executive director!” However, such misconceptions have long been consigned to the dustbin, and the popularity and benefits of hiring a NED have never been greater. So, what is a NED and how could one benefit your business? They don’t have any responsibility for the day-to-day running of the business and consequently tend to be part-time. But they can add real value to a business through their experience, knowledge and independent perspective.
Robert Salvoni says appointing a NED can help a business “revisit or turbo-charge” its strategy.
“You also get access to their network, and any NED worth their salt should be able to introduce advisers, partners and
even customers to your business,” he says. “I think it is important for a NED to at least cover their direct costs to a business, whether through incremental sales or reduced costs, even before adding any less immediate or strategic value. It is really important that a NED, especially to an SME, is not viewed as an overhead.” WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS? Sarah believes the pros of hiring a NED far outweigh any cons. “Employing the services of a NED is a cost-effective way to bring new ideas to your business and ensure the decisions you are making are the right ones,” she says.
HOW DO I BECOME A NED? On the other side of the coin, rather than looking to take on a NED, perhaps you are ready to be one yourself? Robert Salvoni has some advice. Being a NED can be incredibly rewarding, providing challenge, variety and potentially a really good career. Personally, I have relished seeing the Cornish businesses I have been involved in thrive, having helped attract millions of pounds of investment and taken on dozens of new employees. However, it isn’t for everyone, and those who do take this route need to understand their obligations, commit to achieving certain professional standards and build up their expertise over time. Just having run a business, even a very successful one, does not give you all the tools you need to support others in achieving the same. I strongly recommend joining the IoD and participating in their Professional Development Programme, with Chartered Directorship as the gold standard. Just as important as Executive track-record and professional knowledge is NED experience – the classic Catch 22! Fortunately, there is an easy solution. Volunteer as a trustee of a local charity, arts foundation, local business support group or other NFP, ideally while you are still working as an Executive. I still try to balance fee-earning roles with NFPs. Not only can you make a great contribution to causes that you believe in, they are a great learning and networking opportunity which can result in lasting value and friendships. Experience gained in tackling the real challenges of an NFP are pure gold to build your value and currency as a commercial NED.
BUSINESS CORNWALL | 27
NON-EXECUTIVE
DIRECTORS
“They can alleviate some of the pressure and loneliness of running a business. Obviously, this all relies on the quality of the relationship you can build with the NED which is only con really. I would advise a couple of informal conversations before making any commitments to make sure the NED is someone you feel you can work well with.” But a NED will move you out of your comfort zone, which can be challenging in itself and maybe not for everyone. “For founders, entrepreneurs and CEOs who are unused to challenge and being held to account, appointing a NED or nonexecutive chair can feel uncomfortable,” says Robert. “However, the boardroom is no place for egos, although they do seem to thrive there! The first step is to recognise that you would benefit from some help.
Sometimes appointing a great coach rather than just a better striker is the best long-term investment a team can make.”
HIRING THE RIGHT NED Of course, it is important to hire the right NED for your business, and different businesses will have different needs. There are recognised qualifications you can look for. Sarah Trethowan, for instance, is a chartered director with the IoD and had to study for several years, take exams and prove her NED experience to achieve that status.
NEDs can alleviate some of the pressure and loneliness of running a business
“Creating and executing the best strategy in a challenging competitive environment, often with limited resources, is a team sport.
But hiring the right NED for your business goes far beyond the length of their CV.
“The most important think to look for is someone you believe you can work with,” says Sarah. “They will challenge and push you which can be uncomfortable but if you have a sound relationship this will be easier to work through.” Most important is to understand what you need, says Robert. “What is the gap you are trying to fill? Is it industry experience and market knowledge? Is it credibility to attract investment or prepare a business for sale? Is it around motivation and cultural improvement? As well as specific experience, appointing a NED is a great opportunity to introduce diversity of thought, background and perspective to your board and business, so actively try to find someone who isn’t afraid to challenge you.” And when you are wondering who to hire, ask for recommendations. “Word of mouth is always the best way,” says Sarah. “Ask within your network can anyone recommend a NED. If this doesn’t work there are specific organisations like the Institute of Directors that have directories of NEDs or organisations like South West FD who specialise in NEDs with financial experience.” Robert agrees. “Once you have a clear view of what you are looking for, use your networks to find some candidates. Professional search firms have NEDs on their books, but can be expensive. Take recommendations from business leaders you respect, and search LinkedIn! Take time before formal appointment to your board – if the successful
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NON-EXECUTIVE
candidate is serious, they should be happy working with you for a few months before you formally appoint them through Companies House.” Is it important that the NED has specific experience of your industry or business sector?
DIRECTORS
Sometimes, personality, inquisitiveness and acumen are more important than being an industry insider
Sarah says not necessarily. “I’m a generalist so obviously I would say no except for financial expertise. In larger organisations you may have more than one NED so they can bring a range of skills and experience. It’s more important they have a track record of success and understand what is involved in growing a business.” Robert adds: “Sector knowledge and experience can accelerate a NED’s contribution, helping to quickly spot challenges and transfer ideas and bestpractice. Just be wary of conflicts of interest and the potential for a lack of diversity of approach. “Sometimes, personality, inquisitiveness and acumen are more important than being an industry insider.” HOW EXPENSIVE DO NEDS TEND TO BE? The cost of hiring a NED can differ greatly, depending on the expertise and experience of the NED. But it’s important to take a holistic approach. “I see it as an investment in yourself and your business,” says Sarah. “It also doesn’t need to be a long-term agreement which will reduce the costs. Given each meeting will only be for 1-3 hours so although the hourly rate may seem high you don’t need that many hours for a NED to be effective.”
Robert advises: “While they generally charge a monthly fee, unlike with consultants, its best that both parties don’t watch the clock. If you expect them to commit serious time in your hour of need, you should also be relaxed if they only attend the odd meeting when things are quiet. Remember, even though they formally work part-time, your NED is a director of your company all the time! The good ones are living and breathing your challenges, making connections, mulling over your issues and opening doors for you day and night. I always recommend reviewing your NED’s contribution every few years, and really just
keep them on board as long as they are adding value.” And, of course, the length of time the NED devotes each month to your business changes case by case. “This will depend on the needs of the business and the budget available,” says Sarah. “It will also tend to be more intensive at the start and then reduce in frequency and duration. “For example, I might spend a day in the business at the start with the business owner and then the wider team. Then I come back for a 2-3 hour session to reflect my observations and then we’d agree a schedule for further time I spend in the business, probably half a day once a quarter or an hour once a month. “I do believe once you feel as a NED you have lost that independence of thought and become ‘part’ of the business it’s time to move on. Sometimes the business owner might not feel they are ready but it’s just time for a new NED with a fresh perspective. I’d said this can be anything between 2-6 years.” Sarah Trethowan is a Chartered Director with the Institute of Directors, Sarah has more than ten years’ experience as a non-executive director. She co-founded regulatory affairs consultancy TRAC Services in 2001, before selling the business 16 years larer. Robert Salvoni is currently a director of software businesses Bluefruit, Colateral, Everest Media and MyWorkpapers, as well as Cornish stove Manufacturer Anevay and venue Park House Opera.
Appointing a NED can help a business “revisit or turbo-charge” its strategy
BUSINESS CORNWALL | 29
GROWTH
PROGRAMME
As the fight against the Coronavirus continues, the digital health market is a key player in providing rapid and innovative solutions. In Cornwall, software company Tango3 Health has played its part by developing a bespoke software service for the mass booking of Covid vaccinations.
Growth Hub supports
mass vaccination software developer
30 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
GROWTH
Specialising in digital infrastructure, software development and UX digital design, Tango3 Health, created the booking system in partnership with Cornwall Ambulance Service, Cornwall Council, Kernow CCG and the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust. Launched for Covid vaccinations in December 2020, the system uses cloud-based software to allow key workers and front line staff to book and amend their own vaccinations online, with tens of thousands of appointments already booked and fulfilled so far.
“So far, the RCHT has arranged more than 60,000 vaccinations across 30 organisations, something which simply would not have happened without an efficient booking management system.” Since the launch of the software, Tango3 has seen an increase in demand for its services and has received business support from the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Growth Hub. Part funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the Growth Hub helps businesses in Cornwall navigate the wide range support available so that they can work smarter, develop and grow. In Tango3’s case, the Growth Hub signposted them to recruitment and finance organisations such as Unlocking Potential and SWIFG Finance.
A cost-effective and easily scalable service which can be used for all vaccination types
Mike Trebilcock, co-director, says: “At the beginning of the national vaccination programme for Covid-19, it became clear that there was no effective booking system in place for front line staff and key workers. We had however already launched a pilot version of the software for Cornwall’s Flu Vaccine Drive Through (VDT) project, where more than 14,000 vaccinations were booked and rolled out successfully.
“After the announcement about the Covid-19 vaccination’s rollout was made, we then worked with the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) to update this software to accommodate the two sessions required by the Covid vaccine, removing the administrative burden for the NHS of managing key worker and employee vaccinations.
Matt Borne, business connector at the Growth Hub, says: “Tango3 quickly recognised the need for an efficient booking management system for Covid vaccinations, and despite operating remotely, worked collaboratively to create a programme which has no doubt saved lives. “The owners have shown fantastic drive, technical knowledge, and resilience as they
PROGRAMME
continue to play their part in fighting the coronavirus pandemic and are now looking to increase Tango3’s workforce as they cement themselves as a leader in the digital health market. We were pleased to facilitate business review sessions for the Tango3 team and are excited to see what the next chapter brings.” VDT is a self-service system which provides key workers and front line staff with a booking link via text or email, allowing them to go online to book or amend vaccination appointments, and rebook missed sessions. Built from the ground up, it simplifies complex mass vaccination programmes, and due to being cloud-based, is a cost-effective and easily scalable service which can be used for all vaccination types. Mike continues: “The success of the VDT software has solidified the position of Tango3 as a credible new player in the digital health market, and we are proud to be helping to solve pressing digital transformation issues within the Covid era. Our ambition is now to use the service to improve the uptake and efficient delivery of annual vaccinations for both patients and surgeries.” Funded as part of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth Programme, the European economic regeneration programme for the region, the Growth Hub provides free confidential business reviews. For more information visit: www.ciosgrowthhub.com
BUSINESS CORNWALL | 31
BUSINESS
SUPPORT
MEET THE ACADEMICS Dr Allen Alexander – Senior Lecturer in Innovation Allen is a senior researcher, investigating the role that innovation and knowledge-based capabilities play in enabling a transition toward the Circular Economy, in particular focusing on Circular Acceleration. Professor Steffen Boehm – Professor in Organisation and Sustainability Steffen’s research focuses on a range of social scientific analyses of problems of environmental sustainability and circular economy.
Looking to the
future
Bespoke business research to give your business a competitive edge. with The University of Exeter
Are you interested in the relationship between your business and the environment?
The University of Exeter and Unlocking Potential have joined forces to deliver Future Focus. The ERDF-funded programme for Cornwall and Isles of Scilly with fresh ideas, new thinking and inspirational people combined to enable established businesses to identify opportunities, trends and threats. As part of this programme, the University of Exeter aims to help Cornish businesses explore the relationship between business and the environment, to move to a more environmentally sensitive, ethically responsible and circular way of running your business. Through the programme, they’ll provide the hard facts about how a business can change its impact for the better through academic lead workshops; engaging events on sustainability, the environment, net zero and circular economy; funded research and development unique to each business and one-to-one support plus grants, jobs support and more.
The University of Exeter (Penryn Campus) offers support with: • Business Breakfasts with industry and academic speakers on a variety of topics, such as: Circular Textiles and Fashion, Cornwall Tourism and a new Breakfast series starting in Autumn on Onshore Renewables • Engagement with an Impact and Partnership Development Manager who can help with jobs, grants and coaching as well as diagnostic and data collection • University Led Workshops over 2021 with our University of Exeter Academics, complimented by A Playful Twist on Virtual Workshops using the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® materials and methodology, to help you take new thinking and apply it directly to your business • External Events such as Drapers Sustainability Conference and Mining Conferences being held virtually • Uber Visits – exclusive business trips such as to Morgan Motor’s HQ, to meet other industries and thought leaders outside of Cornwall • Research from Business Research Fellows on topics such as: Sustainability/ Circular Economy and materials and assessment, SME innovation, Networking and Collaboration.
To start a conversation with the University of Exeter team visit unlocking-potential.co.uk/uoe
32 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
Professor Fiona Charnley – Associate Professor of Circular Economy and Co-Director Exeter Centre for the Circular Economy Fiona has a background in Industrial Design and has extensive experience of working with organisations from across sectors to identify new approaches to design, innovation, manufacture and business modelling to transform resource use and value creation. Dr Ruth Cherrington – Business Research Impact Fellow Ruth was responsible for several industry funded research projects focusing on the environmental, social and financial implications of the materials and manufacturing processes within sectors such as automotive, energy and aerospace. Professor Andrew Parker – Professor of Business, Associate Dean Research & Impact, Director Exeter Centre for Social Networks & Co-Director Research Methods Centre Andrews’s research uses the lens of network theory to better understand problem solving processes, innovation, knowledge transfer, turnover and performance within organizations. He has conducted social network analysis research in over 70 multinational organizations and Government agencies. Professor Stefano Pascucci – Professor in Sustainability and Circular Economy Stefano is an applied economist who developed an interest for sustainability as connected to organization theories, innovation management, and value chain analysis. His research focuses on agribusiness, sustainability and circular economy. Dr Laura Philips – Lecturer in Management Alongside Future Focus, she is also working on VISTA AR, which is a £7.8 million INTERREG project that explores visitor experience at cultural heritage sites, creating new VR and AR digital interpretations and exploring the new business models they enable. Dr Bill Russell – Senior Lecturer Bill’s work addresses these challenges of cost conscious and eco- aware customers, through integrating innovation, the creation of value from ideas, and entrepreneurship, the skills and ideas to make innovation happen. Professor Erno Tornikoski – Professor of Entrepreneurship, Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship Erno’s research involves the application of psychological and sociological theories, and both qualitative and quantitative methods to entrepreneurship to investigate how individuals transform entrepreneurial ideas into value creating new activities.
PEOPLE
ON THE MOVE
NEW AIR AMBULANCE CEO Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust has appointed its new chief executive. Tim Bunting, who currently works for BBC Children in Need, will take the reins from COO Steve Murdoch, who has been acting chief executive since Paula Martin stepped down from the role in February. Mark Carne, chair of the board of trustees, said: “We are delighted to welcome Tim to lead the vital lifesaving work of our charity. The missions are entirely paid for by the
SHARP’S HEAD OF SUPPLY Rock-based Sharp’s Brewery has appointed a new head of supply chain. Donna Breakspear, who has been with Sharp’s for just over six years in the human resources department, succeeds Andrew Madden who has departed for pastures new in Scotland. Madden moved into the head of supply chain role back in 2019 following a career as head brewer – a position which is now occupied by Aaron McClure. Sharp’s commercial director, Dai Griffiths, said: “I am absolutely delighted that Donna has been successful in her application for this key role, back full-time with us, here in Rock. This forms an exciting new chapter in her career and is fantastic news for all of us at the brewery – it’s safe to say we’re in very capable hands. I know this is a sentiment shared across the whole site.”
public and we believe that Tim’s experience and leadership will help us to keep flying and saving lives well into the future.” Bunting added: “As someone who lives in Cornwall with my family, I know just how vital Cornwall Air Ambulance is to everyone who lives in or visits Cornwall or the Isles of Scilly. It will be an honour to lead this remarkable team and I am looking forward to getting started and meeting colleagues and supporters.”
COODES APPOINTMENTS MICHELLE HAWKINS
Coodes Solicitors has appointed two new conveyancers to help meet growing demand from people looking to buy or sell properties in Cornwall.
With the latest figures suggesting a 140% increase in interest in HEIDI START properties in Cornwall, Coodes is facing significant demand for its conveyancing services. Solicitor Heidi Start has been appointed
as head of the later living team. Based in Coodes’ Newquay office, she previously worked for law firms in north Cornwall. Legal executive Michelle Hawkins brings conveyancing experience spanning two decades and brings a wealth of knowledge of working in Penzance and west Cornwall. Partner and head of residential property, Maria Richards, said: “The property market in Cornwall is booming and we need to grow our team to ensure we continue to meet demand while maintaining the high standards of service for which we are known.”
Newquay-based clothing brand Celtic & Co has appointed a new managing director. While announcing a 77% rise in annual sales, the company unveiled James Williams as its new MD. Williams, who will work alongside cofounders Nick and Kath Whitworth, has a decade of digital ‘direct to consumer’ experience with mainstream brands including Jigsaw and Phase Eight and will join Celtic & Co at the end of the month from Frugi. He said: “I am thrilled to be joining Celtic & Co at this pivotal point in their journey. The brand has seen a sales acceleration in recent years as the movement the brand has pioneered towards natural, sustainable clothing has increasingly developed into the mainstream. “I am excited to work with the brand’s founders and senior leadership team to further develop this iconic brand.” Celtic & Co has been going through a period of sustained growth. Results for 12 months ended January 31 saw sales leap 77% to £16 million, bolstered by an 82% rise in international sales which now account for a third of the company’s business.
WILLIAMS NAMED CELTIC & CO MD BUSINESS CORNWALL | 33
CREATIVE
AND DIGITAL
SPONSORED BY
START-UP PRESSES ACCELERATOR
CITY OF CULTURE BID Cornwall has announced its intention to bid for City of Culture 2025 in a move that would put the UK’s cultural spotlight on the far south west for a year. The plan has the backing of creative personalities and cultural organisations across Cornwall and beyond, including actor and writer Dawn French, national Tate director Maria Balshaw, the Eden Project, Falmouth University, Hall for Cornwall, Newlyn Art & The Exchange Gallery and many more. The competition to find the City of Culture 2025 was launched by UK Culture Minister Oliver Dowden two weeks ago. The winner of the four-yearly contest will pick up the baton from Coventry, which predicts a £110 million investment dividend from being this year’s host. For the first time, groups of towns will be able to join together and apply for the title to be awarded to their area, which means Cornwall is eligible to bid.
www.digitalpeninsula.org
Actor, comedian and author Dawn French, who lives in Cornwall and is Chancellor of Falmouth University, is supporting the bid and said: “I’m delighted that Cornwall is bidding to be City of Culture 2025. “Cornwall is a place of huge creativity and culture and while it might seem strange that a rural area is bidding for City of Culture, it is usual for Cornwall to be challenging perceptions and rewriting the rules.” The bid is being led by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), the economic development body for the region, in partnership with Cornwall Council. Cornwall’s creative economy includes more than 1,000 businesses employing over 5,700 people and it boasts a fast-growing tech sector. Falmouth University specialises in creative industries and contributes some £100 million to the Cornish economy every year, with courses ranging from fine art to computer gaming.
CODICES IN NATIONAL RUNNING
Green+Kode, a start-up from Falmouth University’s venture studio Launchpad, is one of just 50 start-ups from over 400 applications to be accepted onto the Data Market Services (DMS) Accelerator programme. The DMS Accelerator programme aims to offer support and services to start-ups and SMEs that are located within Europe. Those accepted onto the programme can benefit from meeting investors and mentors as well as opportunities to expand knowledge and develop business plans. James Tang and Colin Higgs are the cofounders of Green+Kode. Their aim is to see behavioural change within the hospitality and food service sector that contributes towards a more profitable and sustainable business.
Codices Interactive Limited has been chosen to represent the south west and Wales in KPMG’s search for the next tech innovator in the UK. Along with Bristol-based Huboo Technologies, the businesses were two of ten shortlisted fast growth tech companies from the region to pitch their businesses to a panel of industry experts in the search for two outstanding representatives to go forward into the UK final to find the next tech giant of the future. 34 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
Falmouth-based Codices, which was founded in 2018 by Tim Edwards and Fern Pombeiro, develops technologies designed to enable broadcasters to monetise, manage and make their own live interactive shows. The overall UK winner will secure a place at Web Summit in Lisbon in November, where they will compete against tech innovators from across the world to be crowned the first KPMG Private Enterprise Global Tech Innovator.
Higgs said: “This is a great opportunity to get mentorship in data and IP protection and help with R&D grant applications and fundraising - we see all of these areas as being central to our business development.” Tang added: “We’re looking forward to receiving mentorship and support from DMS Accelerator. We want to make the most of this opportunity to help us get to our next milestone.” The programme, which includes mentoring, boot camps, webinars and access to entrepreneurial ecosystems, expert content and promotion, starts next month and runs until November 2021.
FOOD &
DRINK
NEW LOOK FOR MICROBREWERY Cornish Crown Brewery has invested in a major equipment overhaul and relaunched with a new look to keep pace with the rapidly evolving market for craft beer. Since launching in 2012, the microbrewery, which overlooks St Michael’s Mount, has grown to become one of the south west’s most iconic small breweries. Founder Josh Dunkley recently revealed a rebrand for the brewery and a revamped
MP HEARS FALFISH PLANS
website for online sales. He has also invested in cutting-edge equipment for seamless production of small batch, hop forward beers which he will mainly be selling in can. And he has bought an electric van for local deliveries. He said: “Pre-Covid we were still producing quite a lot of cask beer for pubs. It was a shrinking market, accelerated by the effects of the pandemic. Our response has been to completely overhaul our business, taking it in a new and exciting direction.”
CORNISH TEA DOWNUNDER
Environment Secretary George Eustice visited the main Falfish site in Redruth and met with Morrisons chief executive David Potts, to hear about the company’s plan for investment and growth of Falfish. Falfish operates from two sites in Redruth and Falmouth docks and was acquired by Morrison’s earlier this year. Eustice toured the Redruth main site, the new 1,400 pallet coldstore and a nearby development to increase Falfish’s freezing capacity for Cornish Sardines. The business has long-term relationships with the owners and skippers of over 70 partner boats in the south west who land their total catch direct to Falfish. Falfish’s buyers also buy direct from the three key south west fish markets in Newlyn, Plymouth and Brixham. Following the visit, Eustice said: “It was great to visit the Redruth site recently and hear more from Morrison’s about their plans to invest in Falfish to help create more jobs in our local area.”
Cornish tea producer Tregothnan was given an opportunity to break into the Australian market last month, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson handed a bespoke hamper filled with food and drink products to the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. The event aimed to showcase well-known, high quality Great British food and drink brands who are set to benefit from the newly-announced free trade agreement with Australia. The hamper was set up as part of the Great British Food Programme, an initiative delivered by Business West to support UK
food & drink producers to engage with international buyers across the world with events, workshops, and an online directory. Tregothnan commercial director Greg Springer said: “Tregothnan has been pleased and proud to be a part of the Great British Food Programme as it has helped showcase our English grown tea to markets across the globe. “It is never too early, or too late, to think about export. As soon as you have a product you are happy to sell online, or to put in a shop in the next town over – you are ready to export.”
INN AT NUMBER 10 The directors of Inn Cornwall Ltd were invited to Number 10 last month to help launch a new campaign as part of the UK’s drive to net zero. Through the Together for our Planet small business campaign, the Government is urging the thousands of SMEs across the south west to lead the way on climate action, as part of a national call to put the small business community at the heart of the green revolution. Boris Johnson and Business Secretary
Kwasi Kwarteng greeted a number of small business leaders at the reception, including Justin Barnett and Mark Holden from Inn Cornwall, who operate The Victoria Inn at Threemilestone, the Norway Inn at Perranarworthal and The Victoria Inn at Roche. Holden said: “It was an amazing experience to meet the Prime Minister and to hear first hand his vision as he launched this fantastic new campaign for businesses. We talked about our company’s recent journey and discussed our future plans for our pubs. We are constantly looking at ways to improve and have started making steps towards Net Zero.” BUSINESS CORNWALL | 35
TOURISM
NEWS
SPONSORED BY
www.visitcornwall.com
SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME? BOSCASTLE (PHOTO BY ADAM GIBBARD)
INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE Visit Cornwall has launched a media and travel trade engagement drive to entice international visitors and encourage British holidaymakers to discover the county’s lesser-known delights following last month’s G7 Summit. Cornwall’s tourist board has designed a dedicated media and travel trade portal which it launched at a special virtual event for overseas media and tour operators. As well as free-to-use imagery, newlycommissioned video footage and example itineraries, the new portal also features a bank of blog articles. Tour operators, travel agents and travel press now have access to everything they need to be able to write about or sell Cornwall. Visit Cornwall chief executive, Malcolm Bell, said: “If overseas visitors have heard of Cornwall, the chances are that it will have been thanks to films and TV shows that have been shot here, from Doc Martin to the BBC’s Poldark. But international holidaymakers may be surprised to discover the amazing walks along our 400-plus miles of coast path, the glorious gardens, fabulous wildlife, world-class food and drink, historic houses, castles and vibrant arts and cultural scene. “Cornwall should be high on the bucket list of places to see as part of a UK visit once travellers are able to come.” www.visitcornwalltraveltrade.com 36 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
State-of-the-art designs for the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company’s new passenger and cargo vessels have been revealed following an extensive consultation process with the Isles of Scilly community. The new 72m passenger ferry will carry 600 passengers over three decks with “a contemporary, comfortable seating arrangement”, onboard coffee shop and retail area. It will be capable of a speed of 18 knots, reducing journey time by 20%; anti-roll fins to improve the stability of the crossing; increased cargo capacity with the ability to carry chilled and frozen goods; improved access for passengers with reduced mobility, and a hybrid propulsion system to reduce emissions. The 45m dedicated cargo ship to replace the Gry Maritha will have an increased
cargo capacity, including more space for chilled and frozen goods; a crane which can lift eight tonnes and a lounge for up to 12 passengers. The next step will be entering discussions with shipyards on potential build programmes. The company has partnered with international shipbroker Blair Reid, which specialises in the sale and procurement of new ferries. Steamship Company chief executive, Stuart Reid, said: “We are proud of the proposals, which will ultimately enhance the excellent cargo and passenger services we operate today and serve generations of travellers for years to come.” The company is currently working with the Council of the Isles of Scilly and Government on financing options.
HIGH FIVE FOR EASYJET
easyJet has begun flying five new domestic routes into Cornwall Airport Newquay.
are delighted to be welcoming easyJet to Cornwall Airport Newquay.
Flights To Manchester and Glasgow got underway at the end of May, while London Gatwick commenced last month.
“These new flights will not only serve the needs of those looking forward to a holiday in Cornwall this year but will also enable local residents and businesses to get flying again, whether that is to visit clients and customers or to catch up with the friends and family they’ve been missing during the lockdowns.”
The most recent additions are summer links to Birmingham and Inverness. Pete Downes, MD at the airport, said: “We
NEWS
SPONSORED BY
#FSBCONNECT
FSB CALLS FOR GENUINE G7 LEGACY The politicians and media circus have gone home. The tide has come in and smoothed the sand like nothing has happened. However, G7 did happen and FSB will be joining with other key stakeholders in pressing for tangible interventions that will have been inspired by Cornwall’s investment in hosting one of the most important global meetings in history.
collective convened by FSB (key influential business organisations, representing some 13 million businesses internationally from the G7 countries) urged leaders at G7 to act on seven specific recommendations
Ann Vandermeulen, FSB Cornwall’s development manager, said: “A lot of fantastic things are happening in Cornwall and my goodness we showed them off! Well done to everyone involved in that. The case has been made for investment and our Government can’t pretend that they haven’t got the memo, so what we need now is action. “Please don’t tell us about bids already won, that other places have also benefitted from before us or pipeline cash and call it a ‘G7 legacy’. Let’s cut the spin and get on with the job of investing in the considerable impact that, thus far, neglected Cornwall can clearly make on the world stage. Support its people, businesses and innovation and we can do the rest. That’s the genuine ‘legacy’ that we want.” On top of specific investment in Cornwall there are, of course, issues facing the wider business community that need fixing which are also holding Cornwall back. The SME7
covering the G7 priority areas: ‘uIntroduce’ a World Trade Organisation (WTO) committee dedicated to the trading needs of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. ‘uEnsure’ any future free trade agreements include dedicated small business chapters, so that smaller firms can make the most of preferential terms. ‘uUnlock’ the potential of small firms that sell goods and services online by removing barriers to access and digitising customs paperwork. ‘uFollow’ the five principles it has set out to ensure smaller firms can successfully make the transition to a net
INTERVENTION “NECESSARY BUT NOT SUFFICIENT” Responding to new measures from market regulator Ofcom aimed at ensuring small businesses can secure fair deals when arranging energy contracts through third party intermediaries (TPIs), FSB national vice chair Martin McTague said: “It’s very encouraging to see Ofgem embracing a number of the recommendations relating to TPIs that we set out last year. “Empowering firms to shop around effectively, giving them a meaningful cooling off period immediately after they’ve put pen to paper, increasing transparency around fees and ensuring access to dispute resolution services will all help to improve standards
in the industry and protect firms from being ripped off.” The FSB would, however, like to see further action. These measures are a necessary starting point, but they are not sufficient. McTague went on to say: “Honest brokers provide an incredibly important service to small businesses, particularly at a time when cash reserves are depleted and the future still looks uncertain. That’s why Ofgem should follow this intervention with additional steps to regulate TPIs, thereby promoting trust in them, and fully protecting small businesses from cowboy providers.”
FSB Offer for Business Cornwall Magazine Readers at www.fsb.org.uk/join If you want to join FSB after reading this page then please quote BCM30 when you join and save £30!
zero economy. ‘uIntroduce’ digital vouchers to ensure small firms can access the right tech and training. ‘uDeliver’ full fibre broadband connectivity for every small business premises. ‘uRadically’ reform business taxation to make it fairer for small businesses at the heart of community high streets. Given the right tools and investment, small businesses will underpin global recovery and Cornwall is well set to be a world leader. FSB will be pressing for change and promises to be kept.
FSB WEBINAR GOOGLE DIGITAL GARAGE SERIES FSB is partnering with Google Digital Garage to provide free live webinar training for members. There are three webinars planned over the next few months: • July 5 Digital marketing strategy How to use different channels for customer engagement. • August 5 Social media strategy Time saving tools and how to reach more customers. • September 7 Get started with analytics Understanding your audience & maximising engagement. Visit fsb.org.uk/event-calendar.html for more information.
BUSINESS CORNWALL | 37
EDUCATION
AND TRAINING
SPONSORED BY
www.truro-penwith.ac.uk
APPRENTICESHIP AWARDS SET TO RETURN Nominations are now open for Truro and Penwith College’s 2021 Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards. With a year’s hiatus in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, 2021 will be the sixth annual Cornwall Apprenticeship Awards, and the college is again on the hunt to recognise exceptional apprentices and employers at the gala dinner and awards evening on Friday November 19.
VENTURE PARTNER Falmouth University’s Launchpad programme has welcomed Beta Earth Venture Studio as a strategic partner. In collaboration with Launchpad, Beta Earth Venture Studio will help guide students through the venture building process and mentor the teams for a year, steering them through the market. James Murray, head of Launchpad, said: “We’re really excited to announce the first in a new chapter of strategic partnerships. Strategic partners with the vision and capacity to co-create and co-invest in our teams is a huge step in the right direction for public/private innovation. “Beta Earth represents an organisation with the reach and knowledge that gives our venture teams a massive advantage in the market to co-create robust impactful ventures, supported by our excellent access to talent, a world-class master’s degree course and state-of-the-art facilities.” 38 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
A brand-new, one-off Community Champion category has been added to the event, to recognise apprentices who have gone the extra mile to support their employer and local community throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. The college has extended the eligibility criteria for the 2021 Awards to ensure it is open to those who missed out in 2020, accepting nominations for any apprentice
Falmouth University is worth £100 million to Cornwall’s economy every year, the equivalent of around £1 in every £109 produced in the Duchy, according to a new independent economic study. The report also reveals that by 2030, Falmouth University could contribute as much as £200 million and provide 4,260 jobs in Cornwall. The study by Hatch describes how the university is adding value to the region as a major employer and purchaser. It found that in 2018/19 the university spent £7 million with suppliers in Cornwall; supported 2030
or employer who has been involved in apprenticeship training since June 2019. Nominations are now open for all 17 categories and are being accepted on the College’s website where information on all of the categories, eligibility and the awards evening is also available.
www.truro-penwith.ac.uk/CAA
full time equivalent (FTE) jobs in the Cornish economy and generated £26 million GVA (Gross Value Added) in the Cornwall economy through student and visitor spending. The report also explored the role of Falmouth University as a driver of skills development and as a research and innovation hub. Vice-chancellor and chief executive professor, Anne Carlisle said: “As the only university headquartered in Cornwall, we’re proud to act as an anchor institution, fully committed to driving the development of the region’s economy. “It’s fantastic to read this report and see how the institution is not only providing value for its students, it’s also delivering major economic benefits to our wider community.”
THE VALUE OF EDUCATION
CHAMBER
SPONSORED BY
cornwallchamber.co.uk
NEWS
A SHINING BEACON CORNWALL CHAMBER CEO, KIM CONCHIE, REFLECTS BACK UPON WHAT HE SAYS WAS A “FANTASTIC” G7 FOR CORNWALL. Anyone else got the G7 blues? I certainly have – although usually when an event finishes, I find myself saying things like, ‘it was all over so quickly’ and ‘all that build up for one day’, when actually the whole thing felt like a sustained period of excitement, and the buzz is still going. A lot of people have told me that considering how much emphasis was put on the fact that this was an event that would exclude them, the media coverage and geography – Eden, St Michael’s Mount, Falmouth, Carbis Bay, St Ives, Cornwall Airport Newquay, actually made Cornwall’s residents feel the summit was engaging with the Duchy and that the world was taking an interest in us – which is fantastic. The police were incredible and seemed to bring communities together rather than
alienate them. The world leaders and their families appear to have fallen in love with the Duchy, and the protestors in the main were amicable – and in many cases helped demonstrate Cornwall’s creativity, community spirit and uniqueness. My time over the four G7 days was split between Cornwall House and the International Media Centre. Cornwall House was an outstanding business and investment-focused exhibition held at Falmouth University’s Woodlane Campus that we collaborated on with Cornwall Development Company. I speak to businesses everyday and I thought I knew the full extent of what this wonderful Duchy is doing to drive the green revolution – but I learned so much from the exhibitors in Cornwall House. One of the businesses I met for the first time was Cleaner Seas, who have collaborated with Fishy Filaments to manufacture filters for washing machines. The prototype filter the company was showcasing at Cornwall House is 3D printed from recycled fishing net. The company claims it reduces polluting materials like micro-plastics and fibres coming out of clothing and into the sea by a huge 82%.
WHY JOIN? Cornwall Chamber of Commerce is an independent not-for-profit organisation accredited by the British Chambers of Commerce. We solely exist to represent businesses in Cornwall. Our events provide a platform for businesses to connect, create and make valuable business relationships. Membership to the Chamber starts from as little as £17 +VAT per month and provides you with the tools to promote your business. Get in touch today to have a chat about how we can support you and your business.
We are the greenest and bluest land – we have the resource to run with ideas when we have them, and this is exactly what companies like Cleaner Seas demonstrated in Cornwall House. Businesses that weren’t exhibiting had the opportunity to watch broadcasts live from Cornwall House (thanks to Cornwall Channel TV commissioned by the Chamber) and get involved in all sorts of debates and creative sessions via the six hubs we set up around Cornwall. Each hub ran their own events; Launceston held a Gin7 event, Bodmin had a food
and drink focused debate. All were given the same question to debate, as requested by Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LEP: Investment in what in your patch of Cornwall would make the most impact? Feedback was brilliant and responses varied from cycle paths to a food and drink innovation centre – all will be fed back to the LEP, so great progress on that front to deliver some creative thinking from individual areas who all need support in different ways. As a Chamber, it was great to get involved with the Y7 group (youth from G7 countries). Engaging with young businesspeople is hugely important to us, so it was fantastic to be able to meet budding journalists and businesspeople who will soon be breaking into the world of work – hopefully in Cornwall. We invited a few of the Y7 group to have a look around the world’s first hybrid boat, docked in Falmouth harbour. They were clearly blown away by it and inspired by the creativity. I’d really encourage Cornwall’s businesses to help us retain talent in Cornwall by engaging with the next generation at every opportunity - showing them what’s going on here and what we as a Duchy are capable of achieving. There are too many people and organisations to thank individually for making Cornwall shine during G7, but thank you, onen hag oll! Even if you sent a tweet welcoming @ POTUS, or supported the Fete of the Earth community event in Falmouth’s Church Street car park – it’s all made a difference. We have collectively shown Cornwall off in the very best light, which I am confident will pay dividends for the careers of our children and our children’s children.
Email: hello@cornwallchamber.co.uk Call: 01209 216006 Online: www.cornwallchamber.co.uk BUSINESS CORNWALL | 39
CONNECTED
CORNWALL
SPONSORED BY
www.cioslep.co.uk
G7 SUMMIT
The global spotlight shone on Cornwall last month as world leaders gathered in the Duchy for the G7 Summit. As well as discussing all the key issues at Summit HQ at Carbis Bay, delegates also attended a reception hosted by the Queen at the Eden Project.
(LEFT TO RIGHT) CANADA’S PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU, EU COUNCIL PRESIDENT CHARLES MICHEL, USA’S PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN, JAPAN’S PRIME MINISTER YOSHIHIDE SUGA, UK’S PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON , ITALY’S PRIME MINISTER MARIO DRAGHI, FRANCE’S PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON, PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION URSULA VON DER LEYEN & GERMANY’S CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL
EMMANUEL MACRON & JUSTIN TRUDEAU (PHOTO BY JUSTIN GOFF)
DELEGATES AT THE EDEN PROJECT (PHOT0 BY KARWAI TANG)
BORIS JOHNSON AND WIFE CARRIE MEET HIS EXCELLENCY CYRIL RAMAPHOSA, PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA (PHOT0 BY DAVID FISHER)
JILL & JOE BIDEN ARRIVE ON AIRFORCE ONE (PHOT0 BY DOUG PETERS)
40 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
CORNWALL
CONNECTED
JOE BIDEN MEETS PRINCE CHARLES (PHOT0 BY KARWAI TANG)
DELEGATES AT THE CARBIS BAY HOTEL (PHOT0 BY KARWAI TANG)
UK’S PRIME MINISTER BORIS JOHNSON, HM THE QUEEN & FRANCE’S PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON (PHOT0 BY KARWAI TANG)
THE MEDIA CENTRE IN FALMOUTH (PHOT0 BY KARWAI TANG)
THE RED ARROWS FLY OVER CARBIS BAY (PHOTO BY DAVID FISHER)
BUSINESS CORNWALL | 41
UPCOMING
EVENTS
JULY
EVENTS 7 9
roles involve organisation and management responsibilities. truro-penwith.ac.uk/higherlevelskills
JULY
YOUR PARTNERSHIPS ONLINE Business With Purpose
FSB CORNWALL
This event will cover aspects of running a business with purpose. yourpartnerships.co.uk
Cornwall Conversations
Every Thursday from 2.30pm, join FSB Cornwall for its weekly virtual networking Cornwall Conversations via Zoom. This is your chance to chat, make new contacts and share best practice for an hour each week. fsb.org.uk
YOUR PARTNERSHIPS Penryn Breakfast
Your Partnerships’ Breakfast Business Networking event taking place at the Norway Inn. Free for members, £12 non members. Breakfast paid for separately. yourpartnerships.co.uk
12
TRURO & PENWITH COLLEGE
14
TRURO & PENWITH COLLEGE
15
Photography
This free taster session is aimed at those working with photographic techniques or interested in improving their photographic techniques, or for individuals whose roles involve photographic responsibilities. truro-penwith.ac.uk/higherlevelskills
Human Resources
20
This free taster session is aimed at those working in, or interested in working in, Human Resources and for individuals whose
KEEPING CONNECTED Hello from Your Partnerships Cornwall
CORNWALL CHAMBER
27
FSB DEVON/CORNWALL
Event Management
Free taster session aimed at those working or interested in working in roles with responsibility for Event Management. The session will provide an introduction to what is involved in organising a successful event, including planning, budgeting, promotion and delivery. truro-penwith.ac.uk/higherlevelskills
Coffee Catchup
Once a month, on a Thursday, Cornwall Chamber chief executive Kim Conchie and a special guest have a themed discussion and you can get involved. This month’s guest is Bishop Fleming corporate and business services provider Ally Allington, who will be discussing Bishop Fleming: Back Better. cornwallchamber.co.uk
Women In Business
TRURO & PENWITH COLLEGE
These regular networking events on the fourth Tuesday of the month are open to all and each month we have a different guest speaker giving a short, inspirational talk on an aspect of their business. This month we have Alison Theaker. fsb.org.uk
An introduction to the skills, knowledge and techniques that can make you a more successful manager and result in improved efficiency change management, problem
For further details of these and more networking events visit businesscornwall.co.uk To publicise your event for free, email news@businesscornwall.co.uk
Leadership
Ever heard of the saying, “Your Network is your Net Worth?” Do you believe in this? Give first and goodness will come back to you. For example, I met a man named Sam the other day and he was looking for an outsourced social media manager. I put him in contact with five of our members to find the right fit.
Here are two networking tips to live by. 1 - How to respond when people ask “What do you do?” Barnett Photo Studio
22
TRURO & PENWITH COLLEGE
Now Sam is happy, four of my networking group are happy I recommended them and one very happy networker that has a new customer.
42 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
solving and strategic leadership. truro-penwith.ac.uk/ higherlevelskills
Start with what you provide to help or solve needs of your customer. For example, if you are a software developer and you specialise in CRMs. Don’t start with technical jargon, instead say
something like: “I provide an instant memory for business owners to ensure they do not miss important sales calls or follow up conversations.” 2 - Always ask to help before you offer to help. “How can I help you?” “What contacts do you need that I can help you with?” “Who has helped you in your business lately?” These leading questions will open up the conversation and before you are even aware it is happening you will be helping your new networking connection and they will in turn help you. To learn more about Your Partnerships go to www.yourpartnerships.co.uk and attend a few meetings so you can see what a true interactive and caring business community the group really are. Happy Networking and see you soon.
Thursday 7th October Royal Cornwall Events Centre ✓ 1500+ targeted visitors ✓ 165+ exhibitors ✓ Unrivalled stand packages ✓ Seminars ✓ Masterclasses ✓ Healthy Workplace Zone ✓ Commercial vehicle showrooms ✓ Quality café with ample seating
BOOK YOUR STAND NOW Supported by
For more information visit
cornwallbusinessshow.co.uk
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“Having access to a free, tailor-made business course like Outset is amazing; I would never have got started without it.” Alice Bird
We know what it’s like to grow a business in Cornwall.
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Let us help you cover all the bases, get to know our in-house team of experts with an initial meeting – it’s free.
Text OUTSET to 82228 or visit www.outset.org/cornwall to find out more
www.rrlcornwall.co.uk Chartered Accountants & Chartered Tax Advisers Truro Office | 01872 276116 Penzance Office | 01736 339322
BUSINESS CORNWALL | 43
TEST DRIVE
EVs
Why Choosing an
EV makes sense WORDS BY MORVETH WARD
Electric Vehicles (EVs) are quite the talking point now and are becoming the norm, no longer the alien of the motoring world, but more often, the sensible choice - low emissions and generally better for the planet and there’s now a good choice of vehicles, too. And an investment that can make a good financial decision…
Matt Trevaskis of Drive Energy, tells of why choosing an EV can be of great financial benefit: “With the Benefit in Kind (BIK) rate on Electric Vehicles at just 1% in 2021/22 and 2% in 2022/23, the company car driver choosing an EV will take home significantly more of their salary, especially through a Salary Sacrifice scheme, and particularly so with a premium brand EV. And with zero Road Fund Licence, exemption from Clean Air Zone charges and restrictions being introduced in cities around the UK, it can make a lot of sense.
A 0-60 of 4.5 seconds and a quoted range up to 292 miles, what’s not to like
Since April, 100% First Year Capital Allowances can be applied towards the purchase of zero emission cars only and can give significant tax relief to businesses, which can also claim up to £14,000 towards the installation of charging points at their sites for fleet and staff use, whether those are company vehicles or staff-owned cars. If this energy is provided for free it is not considered a taxable benefit. 44 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
There is still government funding available (until March 2022) towards the installation of a home charging point, even for company car drivers - some of these can even record your usage for expense claims. Longer journeys out of Cornwall are becoming easier, after new investment in rapid charging infrastructure with upgrades already underway at motorway services after a recent buy-out of the principal national charging network.”
Jaguar I-Pace So, there really are great rewards for investing in an EV. So, the question is, what car to choose? The mad dash from manufacturers to make sure they get their market share of
the fast growing EV market, before they lose customer loyalty to other brands has meant that there is now a vast choice, that there hasn’t been previously. One of our favourites here at Business Cornwall and one we’re featuring this month, is the Jaguar I-Pace, which our motoring columnist Morveth Ward reviewed previously, thanks to Carrs Jaguar Land Rover. Commenting, Morveth said: “The I-Pace is a very well-rounded car that came to the premium end of the market with great acclaim. New generation Jaguar refinement and luxury, coupled with planet saving eco credentials. “I see the I-Pace as a luxury performance SUV which is reflected in the body design which compares to both coupes and SUVs alike – Its distinct and bold look turns heads, but being electric and with a softer carbon footprint means it’s hard to resultingly label it ostentatious, when it’s trying to do its bit for the planet. The drive is effortless and refined, just with a hint of tyre noise, which kind of indicates how quiet the rest is as there’s nothing to drown it out. The ride is beautifully smooth and uncompromised by the big 20” (or optional 22”) wheels.
With Jaguar character and quality, a 0-60 of 4.5 seconds and a quoted range up to 292 miles, what’s not to like.” The I-PACE is currently available to purchase from £65,245.
Contact: Carrs Jaguar Land Rover, Scorrier 01872 398883
JAGUAR I-PACE BCH PEACE OF MIND HAS NEVER BEEN SO EXHILARATING.
The award-winning all-electric Jaguar I-PACE delivers 0 - 60 mph in 4.5 seconds with zero tailpipe emissions. Rapid charge up to 78 miles in just 15 minutes.* And up to 292 miles of electric range,^ thanks to its aerodynamic design and advanced driver technologies. Choose a new Jaguar, estimate your annual mileage and select an initial rental and preferred contract term between 24 and 60 months. Now that’s peace of mind that gets the pulse racing. To find out more, search Jaguar I-PACE Business Contract Hire.
Carrs Jaguar 6, Cornwall Business Park West, Scorrier, Redruth, TR16 5BN 01872 263377
I-PACE BUSINESS CONTRACT HIRE BENEFITS
.
Low rental cost Flexabilty to change your contract term and mileage No worry of selling the vehicle at the end of the contracr Optional maintenance and service packages
*When using DC rapid charging. ^The figures provided are as a result of official manufacturer’s tests in accordance with EU legislation with fully charged battery. For comparison purposes only. Real world figures may differ. Energy consumption and range figures may vary according to factors such as driving styles, environmental conditions, load, wheel fitment, accessories fitted, actual route and battery condition. Range figures are based upon production vehicle over a standardised route.
BUSINESS CORNWALL | 45
OPINION
JUST A THOUGHT
Howard Miles MD of ABG Design believes that good design can make life better for people.
BE PREPARED 2020. No one could really see what was coming in early spring 2020, but you had to act quickly and have a plan. We were lucky enough to have several long-term projects that were not going away and would see the light of day again later in the year. I needed to really think about how we were working. The majority of our clients are spread all over the UK and this meant I was on the road a lot; meeting people, running workshops and kick starting meetings to generate new business and ensure there was a clear brief coming into the studio alongside general project meetings. There were around three days taken up out of the studio every week or so. Then everything changed. Clients said they would be happy for us to present via Zoom or Teams and that really scared me, but I pulled myself together and thought yes, I got this!
This is what I have learned There are rules to presenting online. When you have ten or more people on a call it is important you make it clear that you are leading the presentation. And ask everyone to write down their comments and save them until the end of the presentation because healthy debate about design is still important, it just needs to be contained until you have finished your presentation. It is important to be yourself when you are presenting. Present your creative work with the same passion and humour you would if you were in person so the call has a level of energy.
Do the best work you can, take control and be prepared
46 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
What our clients say It’s OK, this new way of working! It saves us all time and the fact ABG Design is based in Cornwall makes no difference at all.
It is great to hear comments like “I think this is the best Zoom call I have ever had”. You know you are doing something right. Also, I can be brutally honest and after one presentation I said to the client I thought that was going to be a nightmare to manage with so many stakeholders and was told it had gone so well because I was well prepared and the creative work I presented absolutely hit the brief. So, the long and short of it is do the best work you can, take control and be prepared. You are only ever as good as your last project. We pride ourselves on our ability to build long-term working relationships with our clients and this new way of working has not changed that. Our collaborative approach ensures we deliver strategic design and communications programmes that deliver highly effective results. We also like to have fun and want our clients to enjoy the creative process, otherwise what is the point in doing it.
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Nominations now open To nominate visit: www.truro-penwith.ac.uk/CAA
Hosted by Truro & Penwith College
19 November 2021
Award Partners
#CornApp21
t: 01872 305500 e: nominations@truro-penwith.ac.uk /Truro.Penwith.College
@Truro_Penwith BUSINESS CORNWALL | 47
THE LAST
WORD
KAREN OLDHAMWARING Sunflower Training & Consultancy director
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG?
LOVE Cornwall and would happily live in a small village near the coast and hope I get the chance to do so in the future.
Easy! A dancer. I grew up in a small village in the Lake District in the 70s and had absolutely no chance at all of accessing any dance classes (other than country dancing, and that was for ‘old people’ as far as I could see). So instead, I spent most of my time dressed in a mock-up of a stretchy onesy, tutu and leg warmers, flouncing around like a floating, graceful wisp (in my head) or in reality, the crazy feral child from down the council estate!
I’ve been privileged enough to have a few and they all revolve around people who have used the Suicide Prevention First Aid skill that I’ve taught them and gone on to save others from such dark and tragic outcomes.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST FULL TIME JOB?
WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT CORNWALL?
In the 90’s managing a gym for an NHS mental health ward in the north west. It was one of the first of its kind and started off in a large room attached to the main hospital. By the time I left, to relocate to Cornwall, the gym had moved into a town centre location and we were also taking referrels from GPs, Probation Service, Social Services and Community Mental Health Services.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER?
For me, one of the best things about Cornwall is the slower pace of life, compared to other places that I’ve lived in the UK. But also, the space.
IF YOU COULD INVITE ANY TWO PEOPLE FOR DINNER, WHO WOULD THEY BE AND WHY WOULD YOU INVITE THEM?
WHAT’S IN YOUR POCKETS?
Dave Gilmour from Pink Floyd because his music has been with me since my hippy childhood and Sir David Attenborough because he just gets it and I could learn a lot from this wonderful man.
HOW DO YOU LIKE TO RELAX?
IF YOU COULD BE GOD FOR A DAY, WHAT MIRACLE WOULD YOU PERFORM?
Dog poo bags, dog treat crumbs, an old tissue and ooh, a £1 coin!
Hmmmm… really tough question. I’d love to sound all spiritual and say something like meditation, not least because I’m a massive fan of yoga and do try to meditate but in all honesty, I find it really hard to do. But, what does float my boat and open my neural pleasure pathways is stroking (or as they say in Bodmin ‘smoothing’) my beautiful Cockapoo and staring into space. I’m really good at that!
IF YOU COULD BUILD A HOUSE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHERE WOULD IT BE?
I’m lucky enough to have been brought up in one area of beauty and now live in another. I’ve done a little bit of travelling but, I 48 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
Sorry to sound all ‘Miss Worldy’ but honestly, I want world peace.
WHAT WAS YOUR LUCKIEST BREAK?
Being made redundant. It forced me into starting my own business and provided the finance and necessity of purpose to set it up. Ooh, and meeting my husband! So probably not in that order if you’re reading this, Ed.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE DOING IN FIVE YEARS’ TIME?
Still having purpose. Without it, I’m prone to wilting like a closedup flower.
Truro School OPEN EVENTS Esse Quam Videri To be, rather than to seem to be
truroschool.com
Sixth Form Open Evening: 21 September Senior School Open Morning: 2 October Please visit our website to find out more
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BUSINESS CORNWALL | 49
