Business Cornwall June 23

WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOUR BUSINESS?

Vertu Land Rover Truro

6 Cornwall Business Park West, Scorrier, Redruth, TR16 5BN

0344 234 6119

vertumotors.com/land-rover

Official Fuel Economy and CO2 results for the Range Rover Sport Autobiography 23MY extended-range Plug-In Electric Hybrid range in mpg (1/100km) (weighted combined): 353.1-313.9 (0.8-0.9). CO2 Emissions (weighted combined) 18-20g/km. Equivalent all-eletric range: 70 miles (112 km). The figures provided are as a result of official manufacturer’s tests in accordance with EU legislation with a fully charged battery. For comparison purposes only. Real world figures may differ. CO2, fuel economy, energy consumption and range figures may vary according to factors such as driving styles, enviromental conditions, load, wheel fitment, accessories fitted, actual route and battery condition. Using 50kW rapid DC charger. Charging times will vary dependent on many factors, including: the age, condition, temperature and existing charge or the battery facility used and duration of charge. For more information and to configure your vehicle visit landrover.co.uk. Vertu Land Rover is a trading name of Albert Farnell Limited which is an authorised representative of Bristol Street First Investments Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Company registration number 00391896. VAT Registration number 902737238. Registered office: Vertu House, Fifth Avenue Business Park, Team Valley, Gateshead, NE11 0XA.

INSIDE REGULARS

12 CEO INTERVIEW KICKING OFF OUR FOCUS ON THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR, WE TALK TO TEAGLE MACHINERY MD, TOM TEAGLE

18 ROYAL CORNWALL SHOW

A TIME TO MEET OLD FRIENDS, CONDUCT BUSINESS AND ENJOY EVERYTHING THAT CORNWALL HAS TO OFFER

26 SUCCESSION PLANNING

WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOUR BUSINESS?

30 CORNWALL FESTIVAL OF BUSINESS

A WEEK OF EVENTS (JUNE 19-23) INCLUDING THE CORNWALL BUSINESS FAIR

32 OUTSET CORNWALL AS THE OUTSET CORNWALL PROGRAMME DRAWS TO A CLOSE, WE LOOK AT THE IMPACT IT HAS HAD

34 TEST DRIVE MORVETH WARD GETS BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A RANGE ROVER PLUG-IN HYBRID

PHOTO: RUPERT COOPER’S NEW VENTURE SEE PAGE 40 FOR FULL STORY

WELCOME

It’s showtime!

ON THE COVER

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Nick Eyriey nick@businesscornwall.co.uk

PUBLISHER

Toni Eyriey toni@businesscornwall.co.uk

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

MANAGER Morveth Ward morveth@businesscornwall.co.uk

ACCOUNT MANAGER

Caroline Carter caroline@businesscornwall.co.uk

DESIGN

Ade Taylor design@businesscornwall.co.uk

PRINT

BY EDITOR NICK EYRIEY

June is always a favourite month on the networking calendar and in this month’s issue of Business Cornwall magazine we look forward to two of the year’s biggest events.

On June 8 we all head over to Wadebridge for the Royal Cornwall Show. The word ‘iconic’ is an often misused and overused word - a bit like ‘unique’ - but in this case it is a fair term for a marvellous occasion. Cornwall just wouldn’t be the same without the Royal Cornwall Show!

In this month’s CEO Interview, we meet Teagle Machinery MD, Tom Teagle. Among many things we discuss, he explains that county shows on the whole are on the decline but not in the case of Royal Cornwall, which remains a key date in the agricultural machinery manufacturer’s calendar.

And then a couple of week later we have the Festival of Business to look forward to and its headline event, the Cornwall Business Fair which this year is once again being held at Falmouth University.

As I write this, more and more business events and seminars are being added to the Festival calendar. Head over to the cornwallchamber. co.uk website where you will be able to download a full digital guide.

SUBSCRIPTIONS subscriptions@businesscornwall.co.uk

Business Cornwall Magazine is proud to be associated with

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

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DAVID MCGUIRE Radix Communications

“Try and leave this world a little better than you found it.” – Robert Baden-Powell

I’ve never been especially motivated by benchmarks or targets. Instead, I want to make things better than they were yesterday. Keep improving, keep growing, keep learning, and eventually you’ll get to where you want to go.

That’s especially important when you’re running a business, I think. Any organisation is a work in progress – there’s always more to do, to be a better employer, provide a better service, or make things more efficient. Perfect is impossible, and an endless to-do list can quickly become overwhelming. That’s when I try to remember that “better” is the only goal that really means anything.

This quote informs our attitude to environmental, social, and governance things too. We don’t want Radix to exist at the expense of the world; we want the world to be better because we were here.

BRENT TRELOAR The FSE Group

“Rule No.1: Never lose money. Rule No.2: Never forget rule No.1.!” Warren Buffett

It resonates because this can often get lost in the noise of modern business complexity. Businesses can change the world once they make money, very few can without it!

LEE DONEY Deltor

Some might considere this anti-business, but it really isn’t.

“Work to live, don’t live to work”.

This resonates with me as a family man with three children and considering myself quite a social person. Life is short and you need to enjoy it. Work your hardest at work and make it deliver for you and your employer. Work is about the quality of hours you put in, not quantity.

CLARE TRICE CTC Solutions

I have always loved Anita Roddick’s viewpoint on many things in life and business, and so had to search the wording for this one as I couldn’t completely remember the whole quote: “We entrepreneurs are loners, vagabonds, troublemakers. Success is simply a matter of finding and surrounding ourselves with those openminded and clever souls who can take our insanity and put it to good use.” Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop. This one resonates with us here at CTCC, as we think it is about believing in ourselves, finding the like minded people amongst us, not worrying about the ones who don’t understand why you do what you do, there are so many out there that do.

CLARE DOWLAND Fridaygirl.com

The Quote is “This too shall pass”. I heard the inimitable Tom Hanks (long term film star and vintage typewriter hoarder) say it in an interview about how important this phrase has been to him in his life and career, the only certainty is change and that how we feel about a situation at the time,

will pass, in good times and bad. It also helps keep our egos in check. If you feel great and that you have all the answers? “This too shall pass”. Annoyed you didn’t listen to that niggling feeling of doubt about a decision? “This too shall pass”. Having the worst day possible when suppliers let you down and all seems against you? “This too shall pass”. Learn and move on…

ANDREW FINLEY Oxford Innovation

I’m not one for one-liners and exhortations to follow my dreams. As a publisher by trade and lover of all things maverick, I admired the late Felix Dennis for his creativity, ingenuity and willingness to rattle the doors of accepted wisdom. He declined to engage in the trendy business of writing mission statements. He summed up his philosophy through his talent for poetry and “The Bearded Dwarf” was instead used as an alternative for his wonderful Dennis Publishing company. I had a framed copy of the poem by my desk through my days running my own business. When things got tough or I was feeling down, a read of this would remind me why I chose to leave corporate life and do my own thing. I still have the same copy by my desk today as I write this.

I offer one verse as a taster:

“There’s them as plan and them as chance. And them as rather walk than dance. There’s them as never leaves the shore, but me, I’ve always seized an oar, a mate or two at either side, to set our backs against the tide. Not knowing where our prow might touch, not turning round... nor caring much.”

NEWS IN BRIEF

Falmouth University has been awarded £850k research funding for an innovative new research project that will use cuttingedge technologies to capture and archive performance practice, exploring new ways to widen access to performances and provide new income streams to support the creative industries in Cornwall.

Nominations are now open for the West Country Women Awards 2023. Sixteen categories are up for grabs, including a Food and Drink Award, Women in Arts and Culture Award and Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Nominations will close at the end of August. westcountrywomenawards.co.uk

Vision Nine, organiser of Cornwall’s surf and music festival Boardmasters, has announced that more than 38 local charities and community groups are set to benefit from a share of £105k raised by the Boardmasters Foundation in 2022.

Local industrial door company, A & P Southern Doors, has moved to larger premises on the Victoria Trading Estate in Roche, as part of new expansion plans. To complement its growth strategy, the company has also launched a new domestic garage door division, which will be headed up by Niall Devenish.

£14.5k was raised during Cornish Pasty Week for local food redistribution charity, Devon & Cornwall Food Action.

South west family specialist The Family Law Company has been awarded a contract enabling it to provide legal aid services in Cornwall.

ADVERTORIAL

Tributes have been paid to Mark Duddridge, chair of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), who died unexpectedly at his home in south east Cornwall last month. He was 60.

Mark was a tireless ambassador for Cornwall, its businesses, and the wider economic and social aspirations of the county.

Glenn Caplin-Grey, chief executive of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LEP, said: “We are all deeply saddened by this devastating news and our thoughts are with Mark’s wife Amber and his family, friends and colleagues. Mark was a true champion of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, always hugely generous with his time and with an energy and passion that was an inspiration.”

Allister Young, chief executive of Coastline Housing, said: “Mark joined Coastline as our chair in 2021 and what made him so brilliant in his job was his commitment to trying to make sure communities in Cornwall have a bright, prosperous future and that everyone has a decent, secure home to live in. He regarded it as a personal crusade and that drive and passion to bring people together typified his approach.”

Headforwards director, Toby Parkins, said: “Mark was such a kind man who dedicated himself to helping Cornwall’s economic development. He worked very hard to help achieve a better place for everyone to live and work. He really cared about helping others. I messaged Mark to see if he could help deliver Christmas food for CPR foodbank: ‘Just tell me what day and time and I’ll be there’ was his reply.”

Mark was appointed chair of the LEP in 2016 following a 20-year career in the food industry with Samworth Brothers, including 15 years as managing director of Ginsters. Before that he held a variety of roles with Northern Foods, including commercial director. Latterly he

TRIBUTES PAID TO ‘ TRUE CHAMPION OF CORNWALL’

was also a director of Rodda’s and managing director of Pasta King.

He became group chair of Coastline Housing in 2021 and was also an associate non-executive director of the Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. He was a trustee of the Prince’s Countryside Fund, a trustee of Chicks (Countryside Holidays for Inner City Kids) and a past governor of Callington Community College.

CAN YOU PATENT SOFTWARE?

By Frederick Noble, British and European Patent Attorney at Albright IP.

It sounds like a simple enough question, but the answer is that “it depends!”.

UK and European laws have excluded from patent protection “a program for a computer

as such” since 1977, but the scope of that exclusion has been hotly contested for just about as long.

Where we seem to have got to, 45 years

Industry leaders in Cornwall say plans to build floating windfarms off the coast could unlock a “green growth revolution” and thousands of jobs – if power is landed directly in Cornwall.

Later this summer The Crown Estate, which manages the seabed around the UK, will invite energy companies to bid for leases to build floating windfarms in the Celtic Sea.

The plan is to unlock 4GW of electricity by 2035, enough for three million homes, with potential for 24GW in the years following. For comparison, Hinkley Point C nuclear power station will be 3.2GW when complete.

But where that power comes ashore is still far from certain. Industry leaders in Cornwall are urging both The Crown Estate and the National Grid to bring at least 2GW ashore in Cornwall by 2030 as part of the first phase of Celtic Sea development, to unlock industries vital to the UK’s transition to net zero.

This includes mining for minerals like lithium, tin and tungsten which the Government has identified as ‘critical’ to safeguarding British industries now and in the future.

These minerals are found in abundance in Cornwall and large parts of the UK economy depend on them, from electric vehicles to medical and defence equipment.

But Cornwall’s existing electricity network is so constrained that it is holding back the development and growth of these industries, and the ability to ‘plug’ more green energy generation into the National Grid.

An estimated 80% of potential renewables projects in Cornwall are having to wait until 2036 for a grid connection because of capacity constraints.

There are serious concerns that Cornwall could miss out if power from the first Celtic Sea turbines all lands in Wales or other parts of the south west. However, a connection into Cornwall could benefit the whole of the south west region.

Glenn Caplin-Grey, chief executive of the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise

Partnership, said: “If you think of the National Grid like your ring main at home, it basically ends in mid-Cornwall. This lack of capacity is holding back industries old and new, threatening to stifle jobs and investment, which is why we need urgent action.

“A direct 2GW connection from the first phase of the Celtic Sea would literally energise our economy and unlock industries that can play a vital role in the UK’s energy transition, creating thousands of jobs. This includes mining critical minerals like lithium and tin, geothermal energy and methane capture, all of which are being pioneered in Cornwall.

“It will decarbonise existing industries by providing an abundance of clean, green electricity and more capacity for local green energy generation. That’s why it’s vital the electricity generated from floating wind makes landfall in Cornwall before the end of this decade, and those decisions are being made now.”

Back in April, Cornwall Council announced that almost £1 million has been awarded to Falmouth Docks & Engineering Company, operated by A&P Group, from the Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund for an environmental impact assessment to inform potential redevelopment at the port to support the floating wind sector in the Celtic Sea.

‘BRING FLOW ELECTRICITY ASHORE’

on, is that software can be protected if it makes a “technical contribution”, that is, if it constitutes a technical solution to a technical problem. What is “technical”? That’s hard to define, but some examples on either side of the line may help.

On the one hand there is software which controls external technical processes. If a new program controls a machine in a factory to make the machine produce better products or use less energy, then the fact that the only change you have made to the machine is to rewrite the software is not going to stop you getting a patent. The law will recognize that the invention is really a better way of controlling a machine, not “a

computer program as such”. These things are patentable if they are new and non-obvious. At the other end of the spectrum, if your program just implements a new way of doing business, say an algorithm for setting prices, it isn’t going to be patentable. “A scheme, rule or method of doing business” is excluded as well, and just implementing that scheme on a computer won’t help. These things are not technical and not patentable.

In the middle there are going to be inventions which are arguable. People will argue over definitions, but perhaps everything which is properly called “artificial intelligence”

addresses a technical problem of how you make a computer do something which was previously the proud preserve of human brains. Does that make it patentable? Well, maybe... there’s not a simple answer I’m afraid, but if you think you might have some new and technical software give us a call.

Albright IP, Pool Innovation Centre, Redruth, Cornwall TR15 3PL

fnoble@albright-ip.co.uk

+44 (0)1209 316161

PHOTO: KAROLINE RIVERO BERNACKI - COPYRIGHT EQUINOR

NEW MD AT COMPOSITE

Saltash-based manufacturer Composite Integration has appointed a new managing director. Kelly Ellis, who has been with the company for 13 years, has been promoted to MD from her previous role as operations director.

In her new position, Ellis will be responsible for setting the company’s strategic direction and driving growth and innovation. She will be supported by the appointment of a highly experienced production & quality manager, Matt Owen.

Richard Bland, one of the original founders of Composite Integration and its current MD, will move to take on the role of technical director.

He said: “I am proud of everything that we have accomplished at Composite Integration. Kelly has been a key part of the company’s growth and ambition and I look forward to continuing to work with her and contributing to the company’s development in my new role as technical director.”

£588K SOLAR FUNDING FOR HEALEYS

Cornish Scrumpy Company Limited (CSCL) is to receive £588k from the Shared Prosperity Fund to create an 850kw solar farm to provide power for their business operations as part of ambitions to migrate to 100% renewable energy over the next five years.

The Penhallow-based family-run business, which trades as Healeys Cyder, already generates 18% of its energy from an onsite wind turbine. The addition of the new solar farm will increase their renewable generation capacity to 75%. Five acres of unused land will be transformed to provide the infrastructure for the new solar farm.

The Shared Prosperity Fund grant, which is subject to the solar farm project obtaining planning permission, will support investment into renewable energy and allow CSCL to take advantage of new market opportunities, increase

competitiveness, recruit two additional employees and safeguard ten roles over the next three years.

Joe Healey, MD Trading, said: “As a second generation, proudly independent Cornish family, it is our ambition to celebrate 100 years of business. Sustainability is therefore at the heart of everything we do.

“Having recently completed a large expansion of our processing facility here on the farm, this solar project, part funded by SPF, will reduce our onsite CO2 emissions by around 170 tonnes a year.

“Together with our existing turbine, we should be able to generate around 75% of the energy we need to operate. Combining this with the 1500 trees we planted in January 2023, and our new rainwater harvesting system on our roof and apple bays, 2023 will be a transformational year in our journey towards achieving our longterm sustainability goals.”

Famous for its ‘Rattler’ Cornish Cyder, Healeys produces and sells a range of cyder, brandy, whisky, gin, country fruit wines, apple juice and more recently, sparkling wine from its newly-planted vineyard on the outskirts of Truro.

WILDANET CROSSES THE TAMAR

Cornwall-based Alnet (Alternative Network Provider) Wildanet has announced a major expansion into Devon for its gigabit-capable broadband network.

This full scale move into Devon will see

major investment in new digital infrastructure right across the county, initially connecting communities spanning from South Molton and Holsworthy in the north and west, to Yealmpton and Axminster in the south and east.

As part of the move, Wildanet expects to create 60 new jobs and is opening a 35,000 sq ft warehouse, comprising offices and

logistics centre in Bideford which will act as a hub for its expanded operations in Devon as well as north Cornwall.

Chief executive, Helen Wylde, said: “This is an exciting announcement for us and a significant moment in the growth of the business and our ambitions to level up connectivity across the south west.

“Our work in the region is showing what can be achieved through commitment, innovation, our own investment and strategic partnerships with Government.”

RICHARD BLAND (TECHINCAL DIRECTOR) AND KELLY ELLIS (MANAGING DIRECTOR)

NEW SPACEPORT FACILITY OPENS

Spaceport Cornwall’s new Space Systems Operations Facility (SSOF) has officially opened its doors.

The launch of the SSOF is being seen as a key milestone for the future of Cornwall’s space cluster. The facility will be home to a network of innovative businesses across a wide range of industries that use space or satellites.

Combined with Spaceport Cornwall’s Space Systems Integration Facility (SSIF), the Space Systems Operation Facility completes the Centre for Space Technologies, a £5.6 million project funded by ERDF and Cornwall Council.

Cornwall is currently home to over 500

KENSA SECURES £70M INVESTMENT

The Kensa Group is receiving the biggestever investment into ground source heat pumps in Britain.

Octopus Energy’s generation arm and Legal & General Capital are investing £70 million in the Cornish manufacturer and installer of ground source heat pumps.

This marks the biggest investment ever made in ground source tech in Britain. It will allow Kensa to rapidly expand and install 50,000 ground source heat pumps a year by 2030. The move will drive down costs of heat pumps and reduce reliance on polluting gas boilers.

The UK is targeting 600,000 heat pump installations a year by 2028 as part of wider efforts to decarbonise the heating industry and realise its net-zero ambitions.

companies in the space and data sector, with a GVA of £88 million and employment within the sector up 24% since 2018.

At the opening event, attendees heard from a number of key figures in the UK space industry. Head of Spaceport Cornwall, Melissa Quinn, welcomed visitors and spoke about the bright future of Spaceport Cornwall and the UK space sector, while the UK Space Agency’s director of launch, Matthew Archer, offered a national perspective on the benefits of the facilities in Cornwall.

Quinn said: “The opening of the Space Systems Operations Facility marks a significant milestone for Spaceport Cornwall and the growth of Cornwall’s space sector. By providing state-of-theart facilities on-site, to businesses across the space ecosystem, including launch, manufacturing, satellite applications, data and environmental intelligence, we are diversifying our activity and leveraging previous investments into the Spaceport.”

Unlocking investment through deals like this will help rapidly grow the country’s heat pump industry, meet net zero targets and deliver jobs. Kensa expects its growth to create more than 7,000 green jobs in the UK by 2030.

Kensa CEO, Dr Matthew Trewhella, added: “This is a monumental moment for ground source heat pumps.

“This investment will help unlock Kensa’s vision of a mass transition to low carbon heating by replacing the gas grid with its 21st-century equivalent - an ambient temperature heat network.

“We’re extremely proud to partner with Octopus Energy and Legal & General Capital who show incredible leadership in bringing about our low carbon energy future.”

MILESTONE FOR OLTCO

Newquay-based Oltco has reached a milestone of recycling the equivalent of 500 million plastic straws using its sustainable resin bound solution, Recycle Bound.

Four years on from its launch, Oltco’s Recycle Bound solution has recycled the equivalent of over 500 million plastic straws and is being used not only on driveways up and down the UK, but also at some of the UK’s leading hotels and attractions.

Recycle Bound is made utilising waste plastic (straws, plastic drink bottles and plastic food packaging) from a plastic recycling point. Each square metre of Recycle Bound consists of the equivalent of 3,000 plastic straws, therefore, if Recycle Bound was laid on a standard 70 square metre drive, the equivalent of 210,000 plastic straws would be recycled in the process.

Co-founder Johnny Pearce said: “Hitting 500 million plastic straws after four years is a huge milestone…here’s to the next 500 million.”

DR MATTHEW TREWHELLA WITH COO JAMES STANDLEY

JOHNNY PEARCE AND TOM STRINGER (CO-FOUNDERS)

MELISSA QUINN, MATTHEW ARCHER, CLLR LEWIS GARDENER AND JOEL FREEDMAN (SATELLITE APPLICATIONS CATAPULT)

RURAL CHALLENGES

Neil Eames Regional development manager – south central and south west FSB

Although to many outsiders Cornwall is about seaside tourism and beautiful beaches, the county is at its heart a rural one with all the issues and challenges that a rural dominated economy has to face.

The recent news therefore that the county is set to receive over £5.5 million in Government funding towards supporting rural businesses as part of the ‘Rural England Prosperity Fund’ is to be welcomed and should see much-needed investment in farming, rural tourism and improved community infrastructure.

We, at the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), were very pleased to see this modest but still important support because the news came in just as we revealed our own new report - The Growth Belt: Supporting Rural Small Businesses – which highlighted the way rural businesses across the UK are

struggling against a backdrop of mounting energy costs, poor transport links, and unreliable broadband.

Our report – which can be downloaded from our website - revealed that rural businesses were often under more pressure than their urban equivalents on a number of key day-to-day issues and highlighted many examples of where rural business activity is a more costly affair than it could be.

To counteract some of this we put forward a number of ideas in our report which we felt might help to redress the situation and try to put an end to what we call the ‘rural deficit’.

A strong rural economy is good for jobs, good for community cohesion and good for the economy as a whole so we hope for the sake of the wider south west in general, and Cornwall in particular, we can, in time, get rural businesses back on a level playing field with their urban partners.

www.fsb.org.uk

Ke Ko – Kegin Koffiji | Cornish Kitchen Café

Successful café operator due to open second site for Cornwall Innovation Centres

When Symon Stephens of Ke Ko first heard that the café lease was available at the HWIC building in Truro back in Autumn ’22, he instantly knew that it was his next career move. Symon having run a similar venture previously in Newquay, knew the potential the site could have. Driven by a quote Symon heard many years ago from the author Ken Follett, ‘Hard work should be rewarded by good food’, that quote became the Ethos for Ke Ko and has provided the inspiration for their unique menu.

Symon believes that it’s important that people have the option to vary what they have so they created the ‘build your own’ range for their salad boxes, sandwiches, baguettes and toasties. Offering over 30 ingredients to choose from, customers can order exactly what they’re in the mood for.

Since opening in October ’22, Ke Ko continues to be a great success within HWIC and Cornwall Innovation Centres

are delighted that Symon and his team are taking on the opportunity to run the café at the Tremough Innovation Centre in Penryn in addition. With homemade produce including freshly baked cakes, pastries and sweet treats on the menu, Ke Ko is sure to be a popular hit with the TIC customers and meetings and events attendees.

Keeping all things innovative and understanding the time demands on customers, Ke Ko launched their online ordering system for click and collect at a chosen time making their offering accessible to all. Opening in early June, Tremough Innovation Centre are looking forward to welcoming Ke Ko to the centre.

Kegin Koffiji kekokernow@gmail.com @kekokernow (Instagram)

TomTeagle

Front cover and some CEO feature photographs by Toby Weller

Teagle Machinery is a true standard bearer for Cornish manufacturing on the world stage and its agricultural equipment can be found in operation in around 100 different countries. We meet the MD of the proud family business, Tom Teagle.

Teagle started out as a farming business?

Yes. In 1913 my great grandparents moved from St Columb to Tywarnhayle Farm near St Agnes and my grandfather, also Tom Teagle, started running the farm at 19 years old. When Tom was in his late 20s his flair for engineering became apparent when he started making horsedrawn tip carts. In the post-war push for agricultural production new ideas for machinery came thick and fast. The land around the farm was sold over time to invest in factory buildings and equipment. This year the business is celebrating its 80th anniversary since incorporation in 1943.

Were you always destined to work in the family business?

The third generation of the family have always had a close connection with the business. My father and his brothers were always very clear that to work at Teagle we had to contribute new ideas to the business and that we should work elsewhere before returning. I think they wanted us to make our first mistakes on other people’s money! I work at Teagle with two cousins who have also previously worked in engineering, but the draw of returning to work in Cornwall is very strong, so now seven of the eight in my generation live within five miles of the company. After university I initially worked for Rolls Royce, and then for Siemens in Germany. I was then fortunate to get a job in Melbourne, Australia, working in automated logistics design, and later construction contract management.

When my wife and I started a family we returned to Cornwall, but I struggled to find similar work so took an opening as a spare parts administrator at Teagle, as a

stopgap. That was about 15 years ago. Since then I have worked on the sales and marketing side of the business, becoming sales director in 2015 and then managing director in 2022.

So, you’ve pretty much got you’ve hands dirty in all aspects of the business?

Less so in production, but as a relatively small business it is natural that all departments work very closely together. Having studied mechanical engineering I have an appreciation and understanding of the pressures on production and research and development.

More importantly we have a strong leadership team in finance, R&D and production with responsibility for supporting day-today activities as well as continuous improvement.

How has the business developed over the years?

We are fortunate that historically Teagle has had a reputation for strong products, but more recently we have focused on quality and efficient design and manufacture for us to remain competitive.

Around 15 years ago when we were exhibiting at a major event in Germany, we realised that we had created a stir with some of our products. Farmers were comparing our machines with those manufactured by large multinational companies, and choosing a Teagle. My father and I said to each other “now we are playing with the big guys” and that is the benchmark against which we now judge ourselves. We have subsequently developed our quality and our production capacity with this in mind. We can now only justify the R&D that goes into a product if we can find a market in both UK and export markets and we design machinery with this in mind, from European road homologation to packing for efficient transport in containers.

To support and increase our sales, we have invested heavily in the last ten years in our export sales team and now have branches in Ireland and France and North America.

So, Teagle has established a really strong brand in the sector and reputation for quality and excellence?

We have achieved the position as the number one manufacturer of bale processing equipment globally, which means bringing together, amongst other things, all aspects of quality, performance, durability and after-sales support.

Is everything actually manufactured here on site?

We are first and foremost a manufacturer. Whilst some production plants are primarily assembly operations using components manufactured elsewhere, we receive the raw materials and manage all the processes through to the finished product. So, we’re very self-sufficient which gives us good control on quality and costs; and we only have ourselves to blame if something goes wrong! During the recent supply chain challenges this has meant that our production line has only stopped for a couple of days due to component shortages.

Geographically and logistically speaking, it must be a challenge getting raw materials in and products out when we’re so far down the end of the line here in Cornwall? Logistics is a challenge, and there is certainly some additional cost. However, supply chains are now global so in the grand scheme it does not make a lot of difference. We work where possible with local suppliers with whom we have longstanding relationships and understand each other’s businesses. Last year we spent £3 million with suppliers in Devon and Cornwall.

We currently employ around 175 people

A greater challenge of our location in Cornwall is the relatively low population around us, and the engineering skills that are available. If you draw a circle of a commutable distance around the company, there’s a lot of sea!

We work hard at skills retention and have a great team that currently includes six father and son combinations. Our average service time at the company is now over ten years, which is great for the business.

How many people are working here now?

We currently employ around 175 people with ten of our sales team working off-site.

I guess a strong apprenticeship programme is out of necessity, given the skills shortages?

It is out of necessity, but it’s also a programme that we are proud of, and it brings enthusiasm and new ideas to Teagle. We’ve had some fantastic apprentice intakes over the last couple of years working with Truro College, and we continue to push on with that because it’s been a real success story.

Our objective, and we are well on track, is that by 2024 10% of all staff will be in, or have graduated from, our apprentice programme.

And over the years have the product ranges themselves expanded?

While we could expand our product range, the danger is that it would dilute our research and development efforts. We stick to three core product ranges, primarily bale processors, the Tomahawk range; manure spreaders, the Titan range; and then we have grass care, including toppers and mowers. Because our customers will not compare many products before purchasing we consider that we have to be in the top three for each category. Around 15% of our team are in research and development, so it’s a big

investment and we have to make sure that we are good at what we choose to do. We always have some blue-sky projects, thinking towards the future. But they will always fall within one of our three categories.

I assume technology plays a big roll?

Technology is incorporated where it can provide a benefit. We now offer variable spread rates on ISOBUS for our manure spreaders, and Bluetooth control of our bale processor range, for example. More recently we’ve seen a big push for electrification, particularly on export markets and are now launching an electric drive bale processor. Having run customer surveys we have found that in every case reliability is number one. When it is four in the morning and it’s raining, the machine has got to work every time. It’s all about quality and reliability!

Is robotics coming into it more?

Most of our customers are moving from manual operations to mechanisation, rather than fully autonomous systems. However, we are starting to see autonomous feeding and bedding systems which is where our electric models can be integrated.

In the manufacturing process we are introducing more and more robotics, whether it’s sheet steel plasma cutting, steel forming or robot welding. We’ve just invested £2.5 million in a new paint plant, which is semi-automated.

Farming involves a lot of manual labour and following Brexit, are farmers increasingly looking for more automation?

Labour shortage and labour cost goes back

a long way before Brexit, but it has accelerated the conversation quite rapidly. A lot of the equipment we sell now is taking a manual process and mechanising it, reducing the amount of labour that’s required. So yes, it is an important challenge for farming.

You must have close relationships with your end customers?

This is where it’s really important that we retain the feel of a family business as we grow, because all of our customers are ultimately family businesses. When we receive a call, we make sure the phone is picked up and answered straight off, not a hub “dial one for this two for that”. Our engineering, after sales service and quality departments are tied closely together so that when we do get queries, we can resolve them quickly. We can remain agile because we have control of our own processes on the site here. On the sales side, the team are on farms demonstrating. They are all very practical, looking after service when necessary, so they have very close relationships, not only with our dealer network, but with farmers as well. We enjoy incredible support from the farming community, especially here in the south west.

Because the equipment is such a big investment, is customer service key?

Absolutely. We have to make sure that someone who’s bought Teagle always comes back to us again. That’s always the objective. We’ve worked very hard to make sure that service support and spare parts backup all work well. We recently set up a spare parts centre in France because it cuts the transit times down for our export customers.

It’s all about quality and reliability!

In this modern age, many products like washing machines, mobile phones etc, seem to have a built in obsolescence. But I guess these pieces of equipment are built to last. How do you grow the business and get new customers when you might only sell a particular product to them once?

It is a challenge and a number of our distributors have said to me, “look, we’re reaching saturation point, because your machines that are lasting too long”. But I’d rather be in that position than them falling apart after a few years!

However, when we look at the size of the potential market worldwide, there are still a l lot of farmers in the world who do not own a Teagle machine and have not taken that first step. There are also plenty of farmers who own one of our products who could potentially buy from one of our other ranges. So, the opportunities are still very much there.

What are the main countries you export to?

The USA is the largest, then France. We have found the UK market to be fairly flat over the last 12 months, but have grown our European sales by over 50% and in North America and Canada by over 30% in the same time. It’s a strategy of the business to spread our risk as we hope that that there will always be one market around the world that is doing well.

In 2019 we invested quite heavily into distribution into Russia and Belarus, but in March 2022 suspended all shipments which was a tough decision to make as it represented a significant turnover, and importantly potential for enormous growth for us.

However, we have continued to support business in Ukraine with our longstanding distributor, and sales have developed well in Kazahkstan and other former CIS countries. We are shipping a machine to Azerbaijan this week and are working on developing business in Uzbekistan.

It must cost an absolute fortune for farmers in America to import your machines. You would have thought there would be manufacturers in America that do this just as well?

The main line that we export is our ‘Tomahawk’ bale processor range. Most of our research and development goes into bale processing, and globally we are recognised as the market leader. This puts us in a strong position to provide a machine that meets the needs of farmers in the USA. We also have a resident salesman in North Carolina as well as a strong Distributor network so that we can supply and support our products. Shipping has been particularly expensive in the last two years but the exchange rate has fortunately been on our side.

One of the less obvious benefits of exporting is that we get feedback from lots of different markets and environments which are fed back to make our products better, which delivers benefits to UK farmers. It does cost a lot to export our products around the world, but there are a lot of farmers who are very pleased to buy a British built Teagle product.

How much is annual turnover?

Turnover will be around £22 million this year, split about 50-50 UK and export. We now have machines operating in around 100 countries around the world.

Going forward, is export where the growth is going to come from?

For the last few years, I’ve been expecting export to exceed the UK sales by quite some margin, but we’ve got a keen sales team in the UK who have kept growing UK turnover to stay ahead of export. It is a healthy competition!

Farming is a challenging environment. Do their challenges reflect on you?

Absolutely. We’ve been through all sorts of challenges in the last few years that are specific to us as a business, whether it’s skills, material and component costs or supply chain issues, but ultimately we are subject to the strength of the market. Anything that affects farming affects us. Whether it is the drought conditions of last summer, current uncertainty around farmgate prices or input costs, this has an effect on demand for our products.

Royal Cornwall is coming up. How important are shows like this?

We have a photo of my grandfather at the Royal Cornwall Show at Callington in 1950, meeting HR King George VI, so we have a long association with the event. We exhibit at about ten shows in our own right in the UK, and another 20 globally. During lockdown, we asked ourselves “do we really need to be doing these shows in the future as the move to online sales activities accelerated”? When we got back on the show scene in 2022, we had some of the best responses we have had since I’ve been at the company. Our customers wanted to get out and see the product and have a social, and I am not sure that you can replace that. So, we might be more selective about the shows that we go to in future, but the Royal Cornwall Show remains a fantastic event for us.

Royal Cornwall must be one of the bigger county shows in the country?

There are not so many good county shows on the calendar now. Generally, they have become less agricultural and certainly less

Anything that affects farming affects us

machinery orientated. However, the Cornwall show is head and shoulders above the rest as it has maintained a strong exhibitor list, we enjoy fantastic support from the local farming community, and more so in recent years we find that visitors travelling from right across the UK. It is an important date in our diary to kick off the summer show season.

What’s the main trade event on the calendar?

The main trade event for us is Agritechnica, which comes around every two years. It’s in November, in Hannover, Germany. It’s like the Geneva Motor Show, but for agricultural machinery. It is an incredible event with about 450 thousand visitors. It is important for us as we meet not only our potential customers but also representatives of our distributor network.

Do you sell all your equipment through a dealership network, is there any direct to consumer as such?

We are not set up to provide out of hours on-farm support, process trade-ins, arrange finance, or any of the other functions that our dealer network are good at. Like car manufacturers, there’s a lot of good reasons why they have a dealer network and we’re the same.

How proud are you to be such a successful, Cornish business?

Last year we shipped around 525 trucks of machinery to around 40 countries around the world. Half of them are in shipping containers or curtain side trucks so you won’t realise they are from us. Seeing a load heading up the A30 always makes me very proud because I know what the team behind it has achieved!

It’s difficult not to have grown up in Cornwall, to be part of a thriving business and not be proud of what we see down here. Whether it is working with local schools and colleges, Cornwall Manufacturers Group, or any of our local suppliers, there are so many fantastic

businesses and organisations in Cornwall, and I’m very proud that Teagle are part of that.

Is your industry quite a mature industry? Is there much rationalisation going on?

If I look back at an exhibitor list from the Smithfield Agricultural Show in 1970s, there was a long list of British manufacturers of agricultural machinery. At LAMMA, the current equivalent show, you wouldn’t see many of the names that that were there, but instead a lot of French, German and Italian companies. That would reflect the environment for operating as a manufacturer in the UK, rather than rationalization.

There has, however been a lot of change in the UK dealer network as tractor manufacturers seek to ‘simplify’ their distribution.

Would you ever be tempted to sell up to a JCB or big European?

I don’t see that, no. We enjoy what we do and benefit from good support from our family shareholder group, they are all very

supportive of what we do. As long as we keep developing, then I don’t see any reason that we would ever change that.

Cornwall’s day biggestout!

ROYAL CORNWALL SHOW, JUNE 8-10, ROYAL CORNWALL SHOWGROUND, WADEBRIDGE

June is fast approaching, which means one thing; the Royal Cornwall Show is just around the corner, and the duchy’s most popular event will be bursting at the seams once again with three full days of fun.

As ever, there will be some of the best livestock and equine competition in the country, thrilling entertainment and live acts, Cornish food and drink, as well as hundreds of trade stands so that you can shop ‘til you drop.

The main objective of the Royal Cornwall Show, can date itself back to the Cornwall Agricultural Society in 1793, is to promote the innovation and future stability of agriculture in Cornwall. Which is done by giving a platform to farmers, businesses, and local people to demonstrate their work in the field and to educate the public of the industry around them. Not to mention, to provide a great place to enjoy time with friends and family.

You can explore the heritage, history and future of our great county in areas such as The Creative View Ltd Countryside Village, the Rural Crafts area, and the Woodlands Area demo ring. All of which look at skills both past and present that shapes the environment around us.

Thousands of animals and birds, big and small, are waiting to be made a fuss of, from hundreds of competition animals to the rare breeds display, to falconry and search dogs.

The show prides itself on being a ‘foodie’s paradise’ with the best of local food & drink ready to try and buy at the Royal Cornwall Food & Farming Pavilion. There is also dozens of food trucks and catering across the showground serving a range of cuisines from pizzas to pasties!

In the main ring this year it is a real adrenaline rush. Ben Atkinson Action Horses will be showing off the relationship between man and beast with a beautiful display of trick riding, and Paul Hannam and his quad bike stunt team will be in charge of thrills and spills. All of the Main Ring acts will be performing on all three days of the event.

Weather permitting, the RAF Falcons Parachute display team will be ‘dropping in’ and the mesmerising horses of Spain and Portugal will be wowing the crowds with Iberian Show Tour Team.

With hundreds of businesses, both local and from further afield in attendance, it is the perfect opportunity to network, catch up, or even attract new customers. The main event in any Cornish business’ calendar, it cannot be missed.

The Royal Cornwall Show takes place on the 8, 9 & 10 June, at the Events Centre in Wadebridge. Tickets can be purchased online at www.royalcornwall.co.uk

The duchy’s most popular event

The future of

farming

Staff and students from Duchy College Stoke Climsland had an opportunity to contribute towards BBC Radio Cornwall’s broadcast at the College’s “Future Farm” research facility.

The £4 million-pound farm at Duchy College Stoke Climsland is at the forefront of the next evolution of environmental farming and was the chosen location for a live radio programme.

The show focused on the future of farming in Cornwall, highlighting the role of technology in driving the industry forward.

Venetia Summers, head of campus, discussed the importance of working with local businesses to address some of the issues faced by the industry.

She said: “Our staff and students are passionate about the industry they work in, so the main role for us as a college is to fill the skills gap that currently exists in agriculture, and work with local employers to fill that gap.”

Working in agriculture for several decades, farm manager, Duncan Elliott, expressed his perspective on the future of farming in Cornwall. “Everything we put into the cow, and everything coming out of the cow has value for something, so we’re adapting to research and pass-on that knowledge to students, the future generation of farmers.”

With 22 years of experience in managing and running medium to large scale dairy farms, Ed Parrish, director of land-based operations at Stoke Climsland and Bicton, reflected on working with livestock, and seeing the students’ progress.

“It’s amazing to see our learners coming to the college for the first time, going through their studies, and then seeing them graduate and succeed in their chosen careers – it’s why we do what we do.”

BBC’s James Churchfield spoke to herd manager, Caitlin Hancock, who shared her farming experiences and thoughts on working in farming, emphasising, “there’s definitely a place for women in agriculture”.

“When I was a student,” she said, “the number of girls on my course was pretty low, but ten years later there’s been a drastic increase in female learners choosing land-based studies.”

The broadcast was a great opportunity for Future Farm to showcase its innovative approach to farming and share its insights on the future of the industry in Cornwall.

Robin Jackson from the Rural Business School, RBS, spoke of its specialist team undertaking Farm Net Zero research, consultancy and knowledge exchange with industry, academia and government.

A recent study by AgriFintech ReFarm Fund, which provides finance and expertise to de-risk transition to regenerative and renewable approaches to make farming environmentally positive and more profitable, has confirmed that many UK Farmers are struggling with financial viability, and this is taking a personal toll on their physical and mental health.

The research showed that 53% were confident about their finances, but 47% said their farm’s finances were average or in a poor state. Some 38% say they have considered getting out of farming altogether. Key motivators for this were not being able to make a living (47%), physically farming has become too much (47%) and the impact on their mental health (42%).

The research amongst 100 UK farmers was undertaken in January 2023 by ReFarm Fund, a new AgriFintec which provides finance & expertise to de-risk transition to regenerative & renewable approaches, through a finance and land management platform which quantifies progress & certifies environmental impact.

ReFarm fund founder, Omaid Hiwaizi, said “Farmers are the backbone of our food supply chain, but many, other than the largest industrial farmers, are finding it more and more difficult to keep going. This not surprisingly affects their mental health, and many are considering getting out. ReFarm Fund has been created to give farmers a positive way forward by accelerating the rate at which farmers move towards environmentally positive and more profitable farming, with the support of transition capital, expertise and other services.”

Register your land at the Land Registry

If not already registered, applying to the Land Registry for voluntary registration will help to identify any problems that could arise when considering any future transactions or succession planning. It will also ensure that if a third party were to claim any rights over your land, the Land Registry will be able to notify you and give you the opportunity to object.

Have you reviewed your tenancy agreements?

Choosing (and carefully drafting) the correct type of tenancy agreement is vital to ensure the documentation matches what has been agreed between the parties. For example,

LEGAL HEALTH CHECK FOR RURAL BUSINESSES

it is important to avoid accidentally giving statutory legal rights to a tenant/grazier that the landlord did not intend them to have. Landlords and tenants should also not assume that the terms of a tenancy agreement will automatically roll over when that agreement expires.

Do you need a contract farming agreement?

It is becoming increasingly common for farmers and landowners to enter into agreements with third parties in relation to labour and machinery, particularly where there is no clear succession with a younger generation. While it sounds simple to agree over a

EXPERTS IN THE FIELD

EDWARD VENMORE, PARTNER AND HEAD OF FARMS, ESTATES AND RURAL LAND AT FOOT ANSTEY LLP

At Foot Anstey the farms, estates and rural land team is a key part of our private wealth sector.

Our lawyers in the private wealth sector work alongside individuals and businesses on a wide range of matters including wills and succession advice, matrimonial proceedings, development land, renewables projects, farm sales, and landlord and tenant work.

As trusted advisors, we understand the risks and challenges that your personal affairs have on your assets - past, present and future.

Our lawyers appreciate that agriculture and rural business is highly specialised, bringing its own set of unique commercial and legal challenges. We use our expertise to make sure that whatever you need legal advice on, it is as smooth as possible, whether it’s

a proactive plan or protecting you when presented with unforeseen events.

Our rural team operates from our bases in the south and south west of England working collaboratively with our clients and their other professional advisors. We seek to ensure the best legal and commercial solutions are achieved every time.

We are proud of our long-standing relationship with the NFU. We have been its panel solicitors for Devon and Cornwall for over 12 years working with the organisation to support its members. NFU members receiving a discount on our fees.

We pride ourselves on being embedded in the industry and knowing what the major issues that impact farmers are. As part of our work we launched our regular podcast series

handshake, it is a good idea to have an agreement down in writing – this can prevent future disputes and ensures that both parties are on the same page.

Do you have an up-to-date partnership agreement?

A formal written partnership agreement will ensure your business is structured in the most efficient way and also that you have agreed what will happen in certain circumstances (for instance the death or retirement of a partner). Written partnership agreements are also more beneficial if you are looking to obtain lending, as banks prefer to see a written agreement.

called ‘Experts in the Field’ which focuses on insights and practical advice on important issues for agriculture and rural businesses. It brings together experts from within our firm and those we work with to discuss how best to make the most of your business and plan for the future.

Should you require legal support in any of the areas mentioned above, please do get in touch with me at Edward.Venmore@footanstey.com

Stephens Scown’s Rural team has a long-established relationship with farmers, landowners, and estate managers across the south west and further afield. Contact:

BRITTANY ALLEN, A SOLICITOR IN STEPHENS SCOWN’S RURAL TEAM, SHARES SOME COMMON ISSUES THAT ARISE WHEN CARRYING OUT A LEGAL ‘HEALTH CHECK’ FOR RURAL BUSINESSES.

Food

& drink

PRIMROSE HERD

Located within a world heritage site in Cornwall, Primrose Herd combines the benefits of traditional breeds reared slowly and naturally outdoors, with tried and tested family recipes to produce a range of awardwinning pork products. Products include Cornish Hogs Pudding, fresh free range pork, a complete range of cured products plus selection boxes.

Primrose Herd offers a click and collect service from the Truro office, or find the Primrose Herd at a farmers market in Cornwall or order online for delicious meat with honest provenance delivered direct to your door. Primrose Herd will also be exhibiting at the Royal Cornwall Show 2023.

www.primroseherd.co.uk

Shining a light on some of Cornwall’s great businesses in this iconic sector.

GREAT CORNISH FOOD STORE

A grocery store and so much more…

An independent, employee-owned business, situated right next door to Waitrose in Truro and committed to selling 100% local.

We champion Cornwall’s stunning array of produce with passion, pride, service and skill. Our counters are filled with the very best from the Cornish coast and landscape, and our chefs use that same produce to create the menu for our café and takeaway from scratch.

We also love creating bespoke, cost-effective, tasty solutions for casual parties, business get-togethers and corporate gifts for treating friends, colleagues and clients.

Great choice, great service, great value... Great Cornish Food!

LYNHER DAIRIES

Lynher Dairies, tucked away in the countryside between Truro and Falmouth, is the sole producer of the iconic nettle-wrapped Cornish Yarg and the much sought after World Champion Cornish Kern.

The fresh nettles are foraged by hand in early spring from local hedgerows (yes, gloves are worn!) and then frozen so they can be used all year round. It’s not just stingers the team are after. Lynher also makes Wild Garlic Yarg, made to the same recipe but enveloped in the aromatic ramson leaves that carpet the Cornish woodlands in April. The flavour difference imparted by the two leaf varieties is remarkable.

The dairy’s beautiful herd of Ayrshires, looked after with the highest of animal welfare practises, provide the rich and creamy milk that goes Into the longer maturing black waxed Cornish Kern. Happy cows are the very heart of it all.

SHARP’S BREWERY

store@greatcornishfood.co.uk

www.greatcornishfood.co.uk

CRUSTY JUGGLER

Based just a mile from the Atlantic Ocean, the elements help shape all the beers that are born out of Sharp’s Brewery. And with Solar Wave Hazy IPA, the brewery’s exciting new offering, it’s the sun, the sea and the incredible ways they interact which has inspired the Rock-based team.

Solar Wave is the first nationally available beer from Sharp’s to be brewed ‘hazy’. From the makers of the UK’s number 1 cask ale brand, Doom Bar, it has an exceptionally eye-catching look and feel, and delivers delicious flavours and aromas often associated with new-world craft beers.

At 4.6% ABV, Solar Wave is vibrant, golden, juicy cask beer, brewed to hit the sweet spot between fruitiness and hop bitterness, and accompanied by a lower fizz and a distinctive golden haze. It is also easier for publicans to handle, as it requires no settling time in the cellar.

Solar Wave Hazy IPA is available now in outlets across the UK and in mini casks via Sharp’s Brewery’s online shop, www.sharpsbrewery.co.uk

Crusty Juggler Black Spiced Rum is blended, barrelled and bottled in the heart of Cornwall.

Made with a blend of exotic spices including ginger, clove, cinnamon, orange peel and whole vanilla pods, our awardwinning spiced rum is aged in ex-bourbon whiskey barrels for extra depth and flavour.

www.lynherdairies.co.uk

Enjoy neat over ice or shake with coffee liqueur and fresh Espresso for a creamy Espresso Rumtini! (Other recipes and serving suggestions available at our website).

www.crustyjuggler.com

@crustyjugglerrum

#incrustywetrusty

onPuttingtheCornwallmap

Being the first tea farmer in the UK was once just a thought! Now, over 26 miles of tea make Tregothnan Europe’s largest tea plantation.

While writing this update, Number 10 rang to arrange tea to be served to the Prime Minister in Downing Street, to showcase British farming. There’s lots to showcase. Agriculture is never out of the news because bad news sells, but Cornish agribusiness generates astonishingly good news. Make a cup of Tregothnan tea and think of this:

Taking 30 great Cornish farming businesses to Japan in October helped us see even more opportunities for Cornwall to trade at a premium for fantastic farmers. As I put the packed itinerary together to visit businesses across Japan, I had to think up a word to describe a diverse group of landbased businesses. We went with ‘Green Businesses’. Farming is far from perfect but farmers can rightly claim to be the original green businesses.

There was a concern that by describing land-based business as green, we may be perceived as ‘green and inexperienced’! Apart from trade, what went to Japan, stayed in Japan- it is true to say that farmers know how have to have fun!

In fact, many are going back to Japan to sell at the Hankyu British Fair in Osaka. While traveling around Japan on bullet trains,

we worked out that Penzance to London would take one hour on the Shinkansen. However, in other technologies, Cornwall is ahead of Japan and the rest of the world.

The first solar-powered robot to pluck tea was invented and built, not in Tokyo, but Tregothnan! Satellite guided ‘teabot’ can pick five miles of tea rows on one charge and is a world first, to be demonstrated to the world’s media later this month.

Running a farming business is one of the most challenging and rewarding of any enterprise; nature based, techie and innovative. Spaceport is another great achievement, and again shows the world that the original west coast of the world is not California, but Cornwall! Spaceport has no qualms about its ambitions to be the greenest spaceport in the world by carefully thinking about every aspect of launches, following the successful entry into space in January this year.

Payload partners will see the success of Cornwall Spaceport and work out how to get their instruments released in Cornwall, already known as the environmentalist’s spaceport.

We all need a hobby, ideally one that helps us see things differently, relax, enjoy the natural environment, and think. For me it’s trees. I am delighted to have teamed up with techies and founded tremap, the first map of every tree on earth.

Over 15 million trees are tremapped this year and we expect to have a billion mapped next

year. It is fun to map any tree that you come across, regardless of your expertise. Tremap allows experts to edit the tree data and help build up the world’s first complete record of every tree on earth, all from your mobile phone.

You wouldn’t be reading this magazine if you weren’t interested in business and you will soon see the benefit in knowing every tree. In addition to the free tremap app, there are enterprise tremap systems to help the great gardens of Cornwall and the world to map their trees for visitors and scientists.

The Eden Project was quick to see the global potential for tremap and, along with Spaceport, Innovate UK, Tevi and leading tree experts, have helped propel tremap from its Cornish HQ to a global audience. This month the Smithsonian Institute in the USA becomes the biggest tremapper, west of Wadebridge!

So, with a bit of thought, the business community and our wonderful environment can help us solve many challenges and make a positive contribution. Who would have thought that many of the 5,000 satellites above our heads would help us know every tree on earth and engage anyone with a smartphone to help ‘ground truth’ every tree on earth?

Cornwall invented tourism. Blackpool may lay claim to ‘inventing the day trip’ but when Brunel’s Bridge opened in 1859, Cornwall became the first mass tourism holiday destination. Tourists discovered famous food in the county and continued to buy it via the new railways once they went home.

This helps explain why the Cornish food and drink brand is the most widely recognised of any county.

The Cornish food and drink brand is the most widely recognised of any county

Jonathon Jones OBE, MD of trading at Tregothnan, hails the Cornish agricultural sector.

It is up to all of us to ensure that the Cornwall brand is respected forever. The premium that farmers need to sustain their businesses in Cornwall can be delivered by working closely with tourist industries and celebrating our food and drink exports to worldwide markets. I am inspired to work with Visit Britain to promote Cornwall to consumers in Paris, Germany UAE and the USA. Take a moment to connect with buyers overseas, while the pound is still relatively weak.

The Plimsoll ‘Cornwall Report’ is being researched to provide the first detailed analysis of every company in the county. I found Plimsoll insights vital to discovering and understanding all competitors, suppliers, and customers. Cornwall is to be the first county to receive a comprehensive Plimsoll analysis of every company, highlighting the great strengths (and some weaknesses) linked to our people, climate, and geography. Since using Plimsoll many years ago, I have stayed close to the team there and met many business leaders around the world who rely on the simplicity of the Plimsoll line to manage their businesses. To this day, I have never met a business owner who asked for anything to be more complicated. Simplicity leads to success.

I hope I have inspired you to look for the amazing positives in doing business in Cornwall and to get out there and promote your products and services to the world. After another tea, you might be excited to get in touch about a place on the Cornwall Agri-Food Council to help guide the support that farmers, growers, and foodies need… just a thought.

Successionplanning

When it comes to planning for the future, while the majority of businesses have a strategy in place for the months and years ahead, a surprising amount fall short when it comes to succession planning – what happens when a key member leaves? Or indeed, what are you going to do when you plan on retiring and calling it a day.

Does the business finish as well?

A recent report found that 61% of UK SMEs haven’t put a plan in place should a key member suddenly leave.

Another survey discovered that a significant percentage of family-run businesses in the UK have no succession plan in place at all

for their company when they retire. Nearly a quarter expected their enterprises to change hands with five years.

With busy daily lives, it is understandable that continuity planning may have slipped down to-do lists, but it is a vital topic that demands attention.

It is never too early to start thinking about your exit strategy. It is important to realise that exiting your business is not like a simple flick of a switch, but should be a tailored process, used to maximise the value extracted upon exit. Even if you are not currently planning to sell your business it is important to understand the process, making it easier to realise the full potential of the financial return when you are ready to sell or retire. It can take time for a business to become ‘sale ready’. Your business needs to be a well-oiled machine in order to maximise the value on disposal. Management should consider the current state of the business and set about a process of business maintenance which could include:

EXITING YOUR BUSINESS

EVENTUALLY, EVERY BUSINESS OWNER LEAVES THEIR BUSINESS, AND THIS IS A HUGE MILESTONE. HOWEVER, MANY DO NOT CONSIDER THOROUGH SUCCESSION PLANNING AND THEREFORE DO NOT LEAVE ON THEIR OWN TERMS, SAYS BISHOP FLEMING PARTNER, ALISON

Operations: Ensure processes and systems are robust, consider pricing policies and proper registration of patents and IP.

Profitability: Improve current and forecast financial performance, cutting out nonessential costs and focus on increasing margins.

Presentation: Try to present the company in the best light, ensuring all branding and publications are up to date, and start to build a media presence.

Balance sheet: Give your balance sheet a ‘tidy-up’, paying down debt and hardening attitudes to working capital and stock management.

Management: If you are the owner manager of your business, significant value

may be lost through your exit. Consider developing second tier management or training up potential successors.

Identifying target buyers at an early stage will allow you to best prepare your business in order to attract premium offers. There are several potential buyers for any business, each offering different results or potential deal structures for the vendor.

It would also be unwise not to consider your personal plans and ambitions post exit. Many business owners fail to identify their goals for the future which effects the proposed exit strategy. Starting your personal planning early can help you meet your lifestyle, income and security objectives. Personal wealth management advice should form part of the overall exit planning.

To help you with your exit planning, we would be happy to arrange a no obligation meeting with you. Please contact Alison Oliver at aoliver@bishopfleming.co.uk or on 01872 247085. Further information is also available on our website, www.bishopfleming.co.uk

SUCCESSION AND EXIT PLANNING

HAVING A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE OF A BUSINESS PROVIDES A LEVEL OF CERTAINTY FOR EVERYONE, SAYS RRL SENIOR TAX ASSOCIATE, ANETA WILLIAMS.

The Covid 19 pandemic highlighted the importance of planning for the future of a business and prompted many business owners to think about their plans for the future, to attempt to engage the next generation in the business and to start planning for succession and/or exit.

Business succession is the process of transitioning the management and the ownership of the business to the next generation (whether family, management etc).

This entails assessing the readiness and desire for those earmarked to take over the business and identifying the training and experience needed to facilitate it.

Having an informal succession plan or vague ideas is not as effective as a clear, documented and effectively communicated plan, together with robust implementation.

Succession planning not only involves the business itself and core operations but also establishing the ownership, management and developing governance i.e. having a clear structure that defines roles and responsibilities in the business.

Despite common belief that with the succession planning there will be transfer of business to the next generation it is useful to know that transfer of management does not mean transfer of ownership and both transfers do not need to happen at the same time, and a phased transfer should be considered.

The key to managing the future of a business is taking the time to develop a realistic plan (with honest discussions and assessments) and seek experienced professional advice.

Having a plan for the future of a business provides a level of certainty for everyone

RRL can help, please contact us,

involved in the business.

Where succession is not possible (i.e. the earmarked individuals to success the business are not capable and/or interested), alternatives need to be considered e.g. sale of the business and therefore maximising value, incentivising a new management team, tax mitigation etc.

OLIVER

approach A partnership

A new generation of leaders at PKF Francis Clark’s Truro office are proving Cornwall is a great place to achieve your career ambitions.

NEWLY PROMOTED PKF FRANCIS CLARK PARTNERS KATIE SKEA, IAN HUGHES AND NICOLA CORNISH (PHOTO: TOBY WELLER)

“About ten years ago, my husband and I were thinking about moving to London to further our careers,” says Nicola Cornish. “Fortunately we decided to stay in Cornwall, and it’s the best decision we ever made.”

Along with colleagues Katie Skea and Ian Hughes, Nicola was recently promoted to partner at PKF Francis Clark in Truro. Developing its own talent to support clients with all their business and tax advice needs is an important part of the accountancy firm’s culture, so it’s no coincidence that all three have progressed through the ranks over the past 15 to 20 years.

Ian and Nicola joined straight from university and trained with the firm, while Katie returned to her Cornish roots after several years working for Deloitte in Bristol and Australia.

“When I was thinking about moving away, a senior partner told me I had the potential to become a partner in the firm one day, which I had never considered a possibility,” said audit and assurance specialist Nicola, who works with owner-managed and family businesses. “After 15 years here, I can honestly say that everyone is so supportive and the leadership team are fully committed to growing our own. That’s evident by the number of partners, directors and managers who have worked their way up from trainees.”

Ian advises owner-managed businesses on a variety of tax planning and business issues, with a particular interest in supporting clients with cloud accounting and the Government’s Making Tax Digital agenda.

He said: “When I joined 20 years ago fresh from university, I’d be lying if I said I pictured myself

as a partner one day. But my progression is testament to the firm’s commitment to developing future managers and partners from within, which I’m looking forward to continuing – I’m viewing our juniors with fresh eyes already, wondering which ones I’ll see joining the partnership in another 20 years!”

Katie, who works with GP practices across Cornwall, said: “For me, making partner has been a journey of learning, growing and balancing life and work, so it’s a really rewarding milestone.

“As a busy working mother with three children, the firm has been very supportive in accommodating my need for flexibility, as well as giving me the opportunity to diversify my skillset in becoming a healthcare specialist. I’ve learned from the best in Luke Bennett and am now really looking forward to helping as many clients as possible and developing the skills of the great team around me.”

Outside work, Katie is a keen member of Bodmin Road Runners. The Truro office also has its own running group, reflecting the emphasis on health and wellbeing at PKF Francis Clark, where there are regular sessions for all colleagues focusing on physical, mental and financial wellbeing. After achieving Great Place to Work certification, the firm has been named as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces for Wellbeing and is ranked 33rd among large organisations on the prestigious Best Workplaces list. Tom Roach, who heads the Truro office, said:

“Colleague wellbeing is only one part of our environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitment, as we continue to focus on making a positive impact on our communities and the environment. Being recognised as a Great Place to Work was important for us because we love living and working in Cornwall and we’re eager to show young people you don’t need to move away to achieve your career ambitions.”

PKF Francis Clark has grown steadily over recent years, with the Truro office now home to a 140-strong team. Like many of their colleagues, the new partners are actively involved in the business community. Nicola is a non-executive director of Visit Cornwall, while Ian is on the board of Cornish film and theatre company o-region.

Annual volunteering days see colleagues helping good causes including the Children’s Sailing Trust, Cornish Seal Sanctuary and Truro Foodbank. The firm also hosts events such as the popular annual Finance in Cornwall seminar and a recent wine tasting evening. Meanwhile, its Business Noodles & Doodles podcast has showcased local success stories including the Eden Project, Watergate Bay and Rodda’s.

Tom added: “Katie, Nicola and Ian’s promotions are thoroughly deserved and I look forward to them playing key roles in supporting our clients and developing our team in the years to come.”

More information can be found at pkf-francisclark.co.uk

The new partners are actively involved in the business community

PKF FRANCIS CLARK COLLEAGUES VOLUNTEERING FOR TRURO FOODBANK

PKF FRANCIS CLARK’S TRURO OFFICE

Cornwallbusiness festival of

Monday June 19 to Friday June 23

It’s been a long old winter, both weather wise and for businesses battling the changing tides of the economic climate.

Finally, the sun is shining (albeit intermittently) and that must mean only one thing – it’s nearly summer, and time for Cornwall’s Festival of Business!

Now in its fifth year, the Duchy’s Festival of Business is a week-long series of events run by local businesses, led and promoted by Cornwall Chamber of Commerce.

of useful training opportunities for businesses, as well as socials and informational talks.

“This is a great opportunity to network and make new connections, learn new business skills, as well as ensure you are up to speed with what’s going on in The Duchy, nationally and internationally.

A week-long series of events run by local businesses

The centrepiece of the week is the Chamber’s highly anticipated Business Fair, which includes its largest monthly BIG Breakfast of the year, and a host of networking opportunities.

Kim Conchie, chief executive of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce comments: “This year, Cornwall’s Festival of Business is packed full

“We all work better when we collaborate and there’s so much passion and excitement for the future of business in Cornwall.

“Every year, the Festival of Business is the catalyst to making some brilliant things happen in our region – new partnerships are formed, ideas are generated, and people benefit from the contagious positivity in the room.”

This year, Cornwall Business Fair, sponsored by Wildanet and supported by Inspired Motive, returns to Falmouth University’s Penryn campus on Wednesday June 21.

The fair opens with the Chamber’s June BIG Breakfast, open to members and nonmembers, sponsored by Coodes. As well as a delicious locally sourced breakfast, delegates will benefit from amazing networking opportunities with over 200 people present, and insightful business presentations from guest speakers.

The exhibition doors open at 10am in the University’s sports hall, and attendees can browse over 50 stands, food outlets and outside displays.

New for 2023 is a networking area, sponsored by Bott. Take the weight off your feet and catch up with a client in the dedicated area or take part in Bott’s speed networking sessions.

The networking area will play host to a selection of speakers giving half hour talks throughout the day, including Helen Tite from iCareiMove, Guy Cooper from NJ Akers, Carrie White from White Willow Partners, Kerrianne O’Mahoney from Cornwall College Business Training and the team from Wildanet.

The fair closes at 4pm, but the networking is set to continue in the University’s Stannary bar. Either side of the Business Fair, festival week is jam-packed with a diverse range of events.

For example, on Tuesday June 20, 8.309.15am, Employee Ownership Trusts will run a free webinar looking at what’s happening in the world of employee ownership.

Specialist Employee Ownership advocate and solicitor, Christian Wilson, will be joined by Chris Budd, author of the Eternal Business Guide to Employee Ownership and founder of an employee-owned IFA, to discuss why Cornwall and the South West in particular could be well placed to lead an employee ownership revolution benefitting founders, employees and the wider community.

Also on Tuesday June 20, copywriter Katie Wild will give a talk on top tier Thought Leadership at Falmouth’s Maritime Museum, 10am-12. Aimed at marketers and company executives, the seminar will look at how thought leadership can complement a marketing strategy; attendees will leave with a clear vision for their own thought leadership content, and hopefully have taken the first few steps towards creating their first piece of copy.

After a busy day at the Business Fair on the Wednesday, there’s an opportunity to stay in the comfort of your home or office on Thursday June 22, with a cyber security webinar from Cool Waters Cyber.

Attendees will learn about cyber security certifications and the best time to invest in cyber, and can benefit from a free Dark Web Security Report.

Those who have taken part in Software Cornwall’s four-part AI course in the three weeks leading up to festival week will need to find some energy for their final session.

Build with AI will provide attendees with a solid foundation in AI, and covers topics like Chat GPT and natural language processing.

The course is designed for anyone looking to reinvigorate their professional outlook, from start-ups and self-employed individuals to small/new businesses and larger/established businesses looking to renew or expand.

Thursday afternoon/evening is Cornwall Chamber’s Innovation Investment Network (CIIN)’s Pitch in the Pad event in partnership with Falmouth University Launchpad and Mylor Ventures.

Pitch in the Pad, sponsored by Network Sponsor British Business Bank, is an exclusive networking event which will provide early-stage start-ups within Cornwall with the opportunity to pitch their businesses to regional angel investors and VCs, to build confidence and gain valuable feedback.

Festival events are coming in by the day, so keep an eye on the Chamber website (Events>Festival of Business) to plan your week. See you there!

CORNWALL BUSINESS FAIR

sponsored by Wildanet

Wednesday June 21, Falmouth University’s Penryn Campus

If you make new connections at the beginning of festival week, why not arrange a follow up meeting with them at Cornwall Business Fair? This free event is always buzzing with excitement and positivity so it’s a great place to get the ball rolling on new business relationships and collaborations.

Alasting

As we near the end of European funding, with many successful programmes coming to a close, a new era of funding dawns, bringing with it a changed landscape of funded support for organisations, businesses and individuals across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

For the last 14 years, Outset Cornwall has played a major role in the funded support arena, providing award-winning business start-up and early-stage growth support to individuals and businesses throughout the county.

Launched in 2009, just as the UK was heading into a recession and during a time of huge economic uncertainty, Outset’s mission was to help people who were underrepresented or excluded from mainstream support by offering them the opportunity to explore self-employment or starting their own business.

legacy

“Outset has always been unique; we give individuals the chance to explore different business ideas and see whether their skills and expertise make them suitable to run their own business, so that we’re developing the person as well as their idea,” says Lee Hughes, deputy CEO of Outset Cornwall’s parent company, YTKO Ltd.

“By building their confidence, and growing and enhancing their knowledge and skills, our whole programme helps break down the often-self-perceived barriers that are stopping them from retraining, getting back to work, becoming self-employed or starting a business.”

Lee continues: “While we’ve experienced and witnessed many changes over the years, both internally to our team and projects, and externally to the economy and society on a local, national and global level, our overall

mission has always remained the same. And I’m happy to say, it’s been very much accomplished.”

Indeed, it has; since 2009, Outset Cornwall has helped more than 3,200 people explore selfemployment and starting their own business. More than 65% of Outset’s clients identify as female, over 10% as being of an ethnic minority and more than 27% are aged over 50, all of which are well above national averages.

In terms of barriers, over 40% of Outset’s clients state they have physical and/or mental health issues, more than 10% are dyslexic and over 44% of clients face one or more other barriers such as being a single parent, living in a rural area, returning to work or being at risk of redundancy.

“We’ve had so many individuals come to us over the years, all of them unique with their

As the Outset Cornwall programme draws to a close, we take a look at the significant impact it has had on the local business landscape.

TONY SAMPSON FOUNDER OF NAKED SOLAR OUTSET START-UP SOCIALS CLIENT NETWORKING EVENT

own challenges, issues, circumstances and, of course, great business ideas,” says Lee.

“As a team, we’ve always been committed to reaching and helping as many clients as we can, making a positive difference in their lives by supporting and encouraging them to believe in themselves and achieve their goals.”

Throughout Outset’s history as one of Cornwall’s longest running support programmes, there are many instances of them doing exactly that.

Take Tony Sampson, founder of Newquaybased Naked Solar for example. One of the first people to join the Outset programme in 2009, Tony started out as an electrician, and now runs a hugely successful company, winning a host of awards including Best Solar Panel Installer in the UK, employing 38 people and has just been voted one of the best places to work in Cornwall.

“Outset really were a huge help; they gave me so much guidance and there’s a good chance I wouldn’t be where I am, or anywhere near where I am today without them,” states Tony.

Krissie Colton Me Clothing

Valentina.

And there are plenty more such examples across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, all of whom cite Outset as being a tremendous support in helping them get their ideas off

others, much needed jobs in

but will continue to make a significant contribution to our economy for years to come. As a team, and as a company, we’re incredibly proud that this will be Outset’s lasting legacy.”

Outset Cornwall 4 project is funded by European Regional Development Fund, HM Government

YTKO Ltd and Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change.

WINNING STAND AT ROYAL CORNWALL SHOW 2022 OUTSET CORNWALL TEAM AT GRAND DAY OUT 2022

VALENTINA LANGLEY AT TRURO FARMERS MARKET

Morveth Ward test drives the new Range Rover P440e PHEV, courtesy of Vertu Motors, which recently acquired a large number of Helston Garages dealerships across the south west, including the former Carrs Jaguar Land Rover.

RANGE ROVER P440E PHEV

WORDS & PHOTOS BY MORVETH WARD

Often, I say you need to spend at least a week in a vehicle to truly understand it, learn its nuances and thus be able to fairly appraise it. Not in this case, I can wholeheartedly say it was love at first sight. I must apologise in advance for the wide use of superlatives and no, this is not an advertorial, in case you were thinking...

Starting with the striking looks, I think both the new full-size Range and the new Sport look incredible. I romantically look back on the original 3 door Range Rover Classic from 1969 and admire the revolutionary design, but even-still the latest model I believe to be the most attractive yet – both just look perfectly proportioned with flawless lines. I genuinely think they’re two of the best looking vehicles ever.

Then there’s the interior, short of the likes of a £350k Rolls Royce Phantom, this interior is the pinnacle of luxury and design. This is where I truly fell in love – I had got barely 200m from driving away from the showroom and I thought to myself how incredibly accomplished this model is. Being a hybrid, as I pulled away I was running on all electric, majestically wafting along in complete silence.

The interior isn’t spoiled by superfluous lavish additions, it’s actually fairly paired back, thoughtfully designed – contemporary and serene is how I’d describe it (with functionality on point). My only tiny criticism is that for a huge vehicle, the interior doesn’t necessarily feel huge, but nor is it trying to. In terms of the ICE (in car entertainment), it goes without saying that it has everything you’d ever need.

Elaborating on the drive, I honestly think it’s the most relaxing thing I’ve ever driven and my preferred driving style is influenced accordingly - put on some nice music, maybe a bit of 70s soul, and just chill.

However, if you so wish, it will shift: the hybrids come in the guise of P440e (as this is) or P510e, indicative of the power output (in bhp), which is achieved by a 141bhp electric motor and a 3-litre straight six turbo petrol making up the rest in both cases.

For me, the greater meaning of this power is that it makes driving effortless and adds to the refinement and luxury feel. Typically, hybrids can feel a bit unnatural and almost fidgety, where you sometimes get an aggressive changeover from electric to petrol. Also, you can really notice the difference in refinement when driving an all-electric versus petrol. Not the case at all here – it all feels totally seamless and the smooth pleasant sound of the straight six is mostly muted, too.

What I love even more about the Range Rover is that despite all this aforementioned luxury, it is uncompromised in being true to its roots. The original idea behind the Range Rover was to create something with all the offroad capabilities of the series Land Rover, whilst combining that with road manners and a bit of luxury. This new Range Rover is utterly accomplished off-road, too, with insane wading, hill climb, descent capabilities etc – all of which it’ll do with zero fuss in the cockpit. You will most likely never get close to exploring this off-road ability, but it’s good to know.

This model being the hybrid is the most relevant in this case for a business audience. For starters, Land Rover PHEV drivers currently pay from only 5% in Benefit in Kind (BIK) and if you’re visiting cities with emission controls, then you will typically incur no charges.

Is there anything to fault with the Range Rover? An all-electric would be good at some point (due next year), but other than that the only criticism I have is that the indicator sound was a bit over-bearing – yes really, that’s it (and I bet you can change that in the settings?).

Oh, one more actually: the hybrids (and only the hybrids) towing capacity is reduced from the full 3500kg to 3000kg. And I suppose at face value you can’t help but baulk at the price, too. I mean this model I test drove is spec’d at over £130K and you can spend way north of £150K!

However, it offers so much and is so brilliant, that I get it – it suddenly doesn’t seem such a crazy price after all. If you’re feeling dumbfounded, go and experience one and I bet you’ll get it, too.

What a bit of kit!

Vertu Land Rover Truro Cornwall Business Park West Scorrier, Redruth

TR16 5BN

01872 461196

www.vertumotors.com/land-rover/

Uncompromised in being true to its roots

START-UP WIN

A start-up created out of Falmouth University’s venture studio, Launchpad, has won the inaugural Times Higher Education (THE) edtech start-up competition.

KEVRI, founded by Corin Mynett, Emily Devonald and Natalie Campion, is a digital platform that enables universities to easily capture and measure their knowledge exchange activity.

ALL SET FOR SEPTEMBER

Truro and Penwith College has released its line-up of new 19+ career and professional development courses for adults that will launch at the new multi-million-pound STEM & Health Skills Centre in Bodmin in September.

Designed for large groups to boost business or for individual applicants seeking career development, the courses have been introduced in collaboration with the college’s employer partners in north and east Cornwall, targeting sectors and job roles where skills are in demand and quality employment opportunities available.

Learners and professionals applying for the new courses will benefit from the £6.3 million centre’s state-of-the-art, purpose-built facilities including engineering workshops, health simulation suite and modern digital technology.

Hayley McKinstry, director of business partnerships and apprenticeships at Truro and Penwith College, commented: “Skills are at the heart of any successful economy and it’s vital that local people are armed with the industry-relevant skills needed by Cornwall’s employers to boost business, raise aspirations and encourage both businesses and local people to look, reach and go further.”

COLLEGE PLANS WELCOMED

A public consultation event showcasing the new campus development plans at Cornwall College St Austell, has been warmly received by local residents.

The exhibition, which saw members of the local community gather at the College’s Keay Theatre, was an opportunity to learn more about the plans and proposals for the incredible new campus redesign in the town.

Members of the senior leadership team

Devonald attended the THE Digital Universities conference recently to showcase the platform, during which she took part in the edtech competition, pitching against other start-ups in the field in a dragon’s den scenario, which saw a unanimous vote declare KEVRI the winner.

She said: “When they called out KEVRI, I was ecstatic. It was great to see our business validated by expert opinions and awarded for our innovative vision, scope and growth in the education and impact sector.”

For the first time in history, 14 girl choristers were invited to join the choirs of Westminster

from The Cornwall College Group (TCCG) were on hand to discuss the grand plans, as well as representatives from BAM Construction, the Department for Education and AHR Architects.

The public response was said to be overwhelmingly positive. John Evans, principal and chief executive of TCCG, stressed the importance of keeping local communities well informed throughout the redevelopment process.

“We believe that it’s crucial to keep the residents involved in the planning stages, to give them a chance to be heard, and ensure our plans are aligned with their visions and aspirations,” he said.

CROWNING GLORY

Abbey and HM Chapel Royal Choir, St James’s Palace, to sing at the Coronation last month.

The girl choristers from Truro Cathedral Choir, who all attend Truro School in Cornwall, and from the Methodist College, Belfast, sang alongside the boy choristers of

Westminster Abbey for the historic ceremony. Ahead of their performance at King Charles III’s coronation, Rachel Vaughan, head of choristers at Truro School, said: “The girls have been rehearsing at the Abbey for almost two weeks and are incredibly excited to have been given the opportunity to be the first girl choristers to ever sing at a Coronation.”

function room and a vacant restaurant area.

The addition of the outdoor Coast Beach Bar in 2022 has proven very popular among residents and visitors alike, with the 160 seat bar providing panoramic views of the coast.

BUDE HOTEL FOR SALE

Stephen Champion, director at Christie & Co which is handling the sale, said: “Having recently benefited from a range of improvements and refurbishments, An Mor is well placed for a new owner to take over and enjoy the likely increase in revenues these changes will generate.”

Land’s End has opened its new £800k immersive indoor adventure golf attraction, The Lost Treasure of Lyonesse.

The Lost Treasure of Lyonesse is a 15-hole indoor course with a variety of interactive elements, voice overs, sounds and smells.

General Manager, Trevor Broome said: “We are thrilled to announce the opening of our new indoor adventure golf attraction at Land’s End.

SHOWING EXCELLENCE

Two Cornish facilities have been named among the finalists for this month’s VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.

Among the hopefuls are Hendra Holiday Park in the Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year category and PK Porthcurno, which will be hoping to win the Small Visitor Attraction category.

VisitEngland director Andrew Stokes said: “This impressive list of finalists demonstrates the innovation and excellence thriving across England’s tourism industry.”

Winners will be announced at Warner Bros Studio Tour London on June 7.

LAND’S END IN THE SWING

NEW DESTINATION FOR FLAMINGO

Newquay-based agency, Flamingo Marketing, is under new ownership.

The business has been acquired by Destination, which has offices in Exeter, Cheltenham and London, as part of growth plans to further expand its services in the leisure and tourism sector.

“We’re delighted to have welcomed Flamingo into the Destination family and are excited to be expanding our brand with the addition of some highly experienced and hugely creative new personnel,” said Destination CEO Matt Baker.

As part of the acquisition, Destination has opened a new PR office in Newquay, where Flamingo Marketing was based.

Flamingo’s founder, Nikki Smith, commented: “After 14 years of building Flamingo Marketing into a leading PR and marketing specialist for visitor attractions, this is an exciting growth opportunity to build on our extensive industry experience and take it to the next level.”

“We believe The Lost Treasure of Lyonesse has a strong sense of place within the area, with the course rooted deeply in Cornish myth and legend. The attraction, like our other family experiences, is one of its kind in Cornwall and our substantial investment guarantees an unprecedented level of quality and detail.”

A NEW PARTNERSHIP

The bodies responsible for supporting the visitor economy in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have worked together to be awarded national status.

Visit Cornwall working in collaboration with the Islands Partnership is one of 15 new Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEPs) to be announced by Visit England.

As the local and national visitor economy re-sets itself for post-pandemic growth, LVEPs will be a core function to provide coordinated working, access to funding and skills support.

Malcolm Bell, executive chair of Visit Cornwall, said: “This announcement by Visit England reconfirms Cornwall and the Isles of

Scilly as a stand-alone premier destination.

“Visit Cornwall lead the submission working with our partners as we were keen to become one of the first LVEPs. It gives the partnership significant benefits with national status, as the tourism sector body for Cornwall, and makes us a nationally approved partner with Visit England.”

Euan Rodger, executive vice chair of The Islands Partnership and member of the Council for the Isles of Scilly, added: “The LVEP is extremely positive for the Isles of Scilly tourism sector. The collaborative working and opportunities it will provide will help ensure we have the tools we need to support our vital visitor economy.”

The An Mor Hotel in Bude has gone on the market, with an asking price of £1.5 million.

The four storey property includes 29 en suite bedrooms including two family rooms, a bar,

WOMEN IN TECH

A new website has been launched to tackle gender inequality at tech events in the south west.

The womenintechsouthwest.com website, which was created by Community Interest Company TECwomen in collaboration with Software Cornwall and the team behind the annual Falmouth-based conference Agile on

the Beach, was launched on International Women’s Day and has already attracted more than 50 user profiles.

Users are invited to create their profiles on the platform using a simple form, which can then act as a searchable database for event organisers looking for speakers on specific topics. In addition, it can also act as a place to find mentors, mentees, advisors, board members and subject matter experts among women in the southwest.

A new app has been launched looking to help revitalise Falmouth’s high street.

The XplorFALMOUTH app, which has been developed by Data Duopoly, will encourage local residents to explore Falmouth more and discover hidden high street gems they never knew existed.

The app will also promote all the events happening in the town in one place and enable users to receive special offers and experiences from local traders.

B CORP BULL & WOLF

Video production agency, Bull & Wolf, has become the latest Cornish company to achieve B Corp certification.

The B Corp certification addresses the entirety of a business’ operations and covers five key impact areas of governance, workers, community, environment and customers.

There are currently over 1,300 B Corps in the UK and 6,279 worldwide, with Bull & Wolf joining Cornish businesses such as Finisterre, Origin Coffee, Leap and St Eval Candles as a certified B Corp.

Founder, Joe Turnbull, said: “I am incredibly proud to announce that Bull & Wolf is now a certified B Corp, joining a global community of businesses and organisations that prioritise people, planet and purpose.

“For us, B Corp is the economic alternative to a world dominated by shareholder-only decision making. And to be part of this community, in a region that is leading the way in this space, is something very exciting indeed.”

Unlocking Potential has teamed with Software Cornwall to launch a new online platform to help Cornwall’s digital and tech companies connect with non-tech businesses.

Ping Digital enables the Duchy’s digital innovators raise their profile, showcase their skills, and increase their market reach. It is also where non-tech companies can clue up about the digital solutions, using experts as go-betweens with Cornwall tech experts.

The team has set a target of 500 new profiles added to the website and is inviting submissions from any person who selfidentifies as a woman.

Caitlin Gould, founder and director of TECwomen CIC has extensive experience in speaking at tech conferences and in schools on STEM subjects. She said: “If young people only see men talking about tech then it creates a bias early on. When you do get a woman coming in to talk about tech it starts to change some of the perceptions they have.”

DATA DUOPOLY APP

Tanuvi Ethunandan, founder and CEO of Data Duopoly, said: “Utilising powerful data insights, we hope our technology can help areas make informed investment decisions.”

PING DIGITAL LAUNCHES

Allyson Glover, programme director at Unlocking Potential, said: “Many tech businesses exist independently of each other, and of business more widely. And some non-tech businesses can feel wary of investing in digital because of its cost and complexity, and because it’s hard to know exactly what’s out there and what they need.

“Ping Digital helps to bridge those gaps and counters that anxiety with information and support.”

CHANGES AT THE CHAMBER

There have been a lot of changes at the Chamber and if you’re a seasoned networker, you should start seeing some new faces!

Ella, our events and marketing assistant, has left to pursue her freelance career as a virtual assistant – we wish her all the best with her new venture.

Zoe, our membership officer, is following her passion and has landed a fantastic job in the charity sector with one of our members, Children’s Hospice South West. We will undoubtedly see her at Chamber events with a different hat on!

I’m pleased to announce that Sarah Whipp, who has been with us for some time as business clusters project manager, will be stepping into the role as marketing and events lead – I know she will do a brilliant job.

We are currently recruiting for a membership executive, if you are interested, please get in touch.

POWER IN PEOPLE

CORNWALL CHAMBER CHIEF EXECUTIVE, KIM CONCHIE, REFLECTS ON THE PASSING

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.

AND THE EXAMPLE THAT HE SET US ALL IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

I must start by paying tribute to Mark Duddridge, one of Cornwall’s brilliant business leaders who sadly passed away unexpectedly in May.

Since being in post at Cornwall Chamber of Commerce for the last eight years, I have worked closely with Mark, championing Cornwall’s businesses and promoting the Duchy to a national and international audience. I will miss his good humour, positivity, insight and inspiration; Cornwall has lost one of its best advocates.

Mark’s sad passing has left me thinking about the power individuals and businesses have, to create change.

I’m often guilty of throwing my hands up in the air, despairing at the Government’s withholding of the essential tools to enable Cornwall to progress and prosper. It’s incredibly frustrating, but then I find myself at an amazing event like Eden’s Anthropy, or visit the Chamber’s Business Fair, or simply have a meeting with Mark, and realise that actually, there is immense power in people, and we have the tools to be able to make positive changes here.

I’m really looking forward to the Chamber’s Festival of Business and Cornwall Business Fair on the Wednesday of that week. When I think back through the years, there are so many success stories and wonderful partnerships that happened because the Chamber brought people together, and for that I’m very proud.

We shouldn’t be complacent about our incredible ability to collaborate in Cornwall

– it’s something we should shout about, because not all regions are like us. The way our organisations interlink and support each other when we need to push for something, and the way our businesses see an opportunity and work together to make it happen, is very special.

As you’re walking around the Business Fair speaking to companies with exhibition stands or chatting to a new contact over breakfast, please think about the power your businesses would have if you embraced the synergies between your organisations and teamed up on a project or campaign.

The green agenda is a huge area where we all need to pull together to put pressure on the government. We’re unique in our make up here in Cornwall – we’re poised and ready to go on leading the green industrial revolution, we just need to assert ourselves and take the lead.

Cornwall Chamber’s accreditation with the British Chambers of Commerce is vital to the lobbying we can do on behalf of Cornwall’s businesses; we can increase the pressure on the government to solve problems for the Duchy’s organisations and acknowledge our capabilities on a national scale.

Do come and talk to me or a member of the team at the Business Fair – let us know the challenges your business is facing and what opportunities you see ahead.

OF ONE THE DUCHY’S “BEST ADVOCATES”

A GREAT CORNISH AWARD

The Great Cornish Food Store in Truro was named as the South West’s Food Retailer of the Year at the Farm Shop & Deli Show held at the NEC recently.

The Farm Shop & Deli Retailer Awards play an important role in shining a light on the UK’s independent

food retailers across all regions of the UK. This year, the judges were particularly interested in the ways that these retailers develop and retain their teams.

Ruth Huxley, MD at the Great Cornish Food Store said: “We are over the moon to receive this coveted award and we believe our success comes down to our emphasis on supporting, developing and championing our amazing colleagues.

“In June last year the store become employee-owned and we believe this award reflects the importance we have placed on empowering our team to drive the business forward, and of course to the way they have risen to that challenge.”

The Porthleven Food Festival - presented in partnership with renowned chef Jude Kereama – was proclaimed a great success despite heavy rain.

Approximately 35mm of rain, that wasn’t forecast, fell on the Saturday – in the wettest day of the festival’s 14-year history! - but it didn’t dampen the spirits of those tucking into a full weekend of entertainment including chef demos, live music, familyfriendly activities, evening sessions and much more.

Designed to offer an exceptional foodie experience, for residents and visitors alike, the festival’s Chef Theatre line-up this year was the best to date, showcasing talent from the top of the industry - including Adam Handling, Tom Barnes, James Knappett, Jeffrey Robinson, Kate Attlee, Charlotte Vincent, and Elly Wentworth, amongst others.

Alec Short, one of the festival organisers, said: “The 2023 festival was great fun, a

FESTIVAL SUCCESS

GORSE GROWTH

big success, and there was an amazing atmosphere with everyone getting stuck into the great variety of entertainment available over weekend – despite the rain!”

A former professional rugby player who followed his love of food to take over Philleigh Way Cookery School, has announced his latest venture.

Nestled within the cliffs above Riviere Towans beach in Hayle, Rupert Cooper opened Cove Café last month.

Cooper, who continues to run Philleigh Way Cookery School, said: “Taking on Cove Café is actually something I’ve wanted to do for over five years – the timing was never right, so now everything has aligned, I’m really excited to get started.

COOPER OPENS COVE CAFÉ

“My vision is for Cove to become a nearenough 12-month beach café with a simple offering, welcoming both locals and visitors to enjoy wholesome food, incredible scenery and great hospitality.”

Independent sourdough bakery, Gorse, has opened a café and bakery in the newly developed business space at Lanteague, near Zelah, thanks to growing demand.

Gorse became a hotspot in Newquay when the bakery opened in 2021 on the outskirts of Newquay, where owners Nat and Anna started producing sourdough for café and restaurant clients around Cornwall.

With a booming wholesale business, consumer demand allowed them to open a weekly counter at the site, where they’d sell a variety of baked goods until sold out. With a need for a bigger space, Gorse opened its bakery at Lanteague, a community of studios for small businesses on the north Cornish coast, at the beginning of April.

Nat Galliano-Hale, co-owner of Gorse, said: “It’s always been our dream to have a bigger location and invite customers to sit inthanks to the support of our local community and customers, we’ve now been able to grow as a business to get to this milestone, as well as creating six local jobs.”

TRIO OF TALENT

WBW Solicitors has promoted three members of its Launceston team.

Emma Davey is now a partner in the firm, while Rebecca Stanbury and Marie Moore have been made associates.

Managing partner, Steve Bulman, said: “All thoroughly deserve their promotion and I hope everyone can join me in congratulating them. Well done to them all!”

LAW FIRM PROMOTIONS

Leading south west law firm, Stephens Scown LLP, has recognised the experience and expertise of 15 of its legal advisors in the firm’s latest round of promotions across a range of specialist legal services.

The firm has announced four promotions to partner, three to senior associate and eight to associate level.

Individuals promoted to partner include Sarah Bell, who heads up the specialist family children team in Stephens Scown’s Truro office; Anna Garde-Evans, a specialist in contentious probate matters; specialist immigration lawyer, Lisa Mulholland; and Sarah-Jane Williams-Cole, who works in the firm’s planning team.

Also rising up the ranks are inheritance and

Special advisor and chair of the Eden Project’s science advisory panel, Professor Michael Depledge CBE, has been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society.

Depledge, whose role at Eden over the last ten years has seen him support, advise and guide the senior Eden Project team, is joining some of the world’s most eminent scientists, engineers and technologists at the Fellowship.

He said: “Over more than 360 years the Society’s many eminent scientists have transformed our understanding of the world. To be included among their ranks as the Society goes forward is both humbling and exciting.”

Rob Chatwin, group CEO of the Eden Project, added: “I know everyone at the Eden Project will join me in offering hearty congratulations to Mike for this incredible and deserved accolade.

“He has achieved much in his time with us and, most recently, he has been

trust disputes solicitor, Eve Hebbron; corporate and commercial lawyer, Jade Kent; and Hazel Sanders, a chartered legal executive. Promoted to associate level include Anthony Booth (real estate), Sam Dunstan (commercial real estate), Benitia KnowlesWright (family finance), Carrianne Matta (employment), Lucy Peters (property litigation), Becky Pickford (intellectual property), Amy Ralston (intellectual property), and corporate lawyer Dave Robbins. Meanwhile, Tom Biddick has just been announced as the latest partner to join Stephens Scown’s specialist agricultural and rural affairs team.

An experienced solicitor with expertise in private client matters, Biddick has strong links to the farming community across the south west and acts for a number of farmers in the region. Having lived in Exeter since 2001, Biddick also has deep roots in Cornwall, where he grew up, and regularly returns to visit his parents’ farm near Wadebridge.

A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW

fundamental in setting up our science advisory panel which is instrumental in informing Eden Project narratives today and in the future.”

HAPPY JACQUI

Miller Commercial has appointed a new commercial property manager.

Jacqui L’Heureux brings 16 years of property management experience across a wide portfolio throughout Cornwall and Devon.

Head of property management, Giles Barton, said: “Jacqui’s appointment demonstrates Miller Commercial’s commitment to ensuring its clients continue to benefit from receiving a high level of property management knowledge, experience and expertise, particularly in these more challenging times.”

REBECCA STANBURY, MARIE MOORE AND EMMA DAVEY

NEWLY PROMOTED PARTNERS: SARAH BELL, ANNA GARDE-EVANS, LISA MULHOLLAND AND SARAH-JANE WILLIAMS-COLE

CORNISH GEMS

Leading luxury holiday lettings company, Cornish Gems, celebrated the opening of its new office on the Roseland.

THE RCPS MEDAL AWARDS

The Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society (RCPS) Medal Awards were held at The Alverton in Truro, celebrating outstanding Cornish talent in the fields of science, industry, and the arts.

ROYAL CORNWALL POLYTECHNIC SOCIETY (RCPS) MEDAL AWARDS CEREMONY

CORNISH GEMS TEAM

MICHELLE BAILLIE (CORNISH GEMS COMMERICIAL DIRECTOR)

TOR AMRAN (THE CORNISH FOOD BOX COMPANY)

TAMSIN HUDDY (CORNISH GEMS PEOPLE AND TRANSFORMATION DIRECTOR)

GOONHILLY (IAN JONES, PIRAN TREZISE, COLONEL EDWARD BOLITHO OBE AND KIM CONCHIE)

DR NICK TREGENZA NICOLA BEALING

FISH ‘N FIZZ

Celebrating the start of summer with plenty of fish, chips and fizz was the order of the day at a Coodes-hosted get together at the Upper Deck in Falmouth.

DAVID BROCK (YOUR PARTNERSHIPS) AND LUKE TUDOR (COAST MEDIC)

ROSALYN SHALLCROFT (FRANCIS CLARK) AND DEMELZA PALLANT (COODES)

PETER LAMBLE (COODES) AND ANTONIA MULALLY (CORNWALL HERITAGE TRUST)

AVERIL BRELSFORD (KERNOW ACCOUNTANCY)

OLIVER TWENTYMAN (PELOTON)

RICHARD HOCKING (HOCKING ASSOCIATES) TREVELLYAN WARD (ATKINS FERRIE WEALTH MANAGEMENT)

TRAILBLAZERS

Sara Davies from TV’s Dragons’ Den was the keynote speaker at Unlocking Potential’s last big Future Focus event –Trailblazers: Changing the Game, at the Eden Project.

ALLYSON GLOVER ACCEPTING FLOWERS FROM THE UP TEAM

ALLYSON GLOVER (UP) AND LAURA WHYTE (WHYFIELD)

MICHAEL RABONE (PROVENANCE BRANDS)

ZOE DEADMAN (ROOTS SUSTAINABLE LABELS)

AMANDA WINWOOD (MADE FOR LIFE ORGANICS)

SARA DAVIES MBE

IAN GREAVES (ST EVAL CANDLE COMPANY)

6

JUNE 2023 EVENTS

HEARTLANDS BUSINESS BREAKFAST

Heartlands, Pool

Heartlands business networking breakfast is a great way to start the day with friendly, relaxed networking and good grub. hearltandscornwall.com

CORNWALL CHAMBER LUNCH

Bedruthan Hotel, Mawgan Porth

Co-hosted this month by Phoneta, do not miss out on the opportunity to blossom your Cornish connections, while indulging in a locally-sourced lunch. cornwallchamber.co.uk

8 810

a time to meet old friends, conduct business, and enjoy everything that Cornwall has to offer. royalcornwallshow.org

INNOVATION IN AGRICULTURE

Duchy College, Stoke Climsland

A healthy discussion and knowledge exchange focusing on key aspects of technology and innovation in the agricultural industry. eventbrite.co.uk

GOLF NETWORKING FOR WOMEN

Truro Golf Club

SAVING OUR SEAS

University of Exeter, Penryn Campus

Join in on World Ocean Day to discuss the recent High Seas Treaty and how we can protect our marine environment. eventbrite.co.uk

ROYAL CORNWALL SHOW

Royal Cornwall Showground, Wadebridge

The Royal Cornwall Show is the county’s biggest annual event over three days, bringing you the best in entertainment, shopping, competition, food and farming. This is

Your Partnerships is Cornwall’s largest networking group, with meetings up and down the Duchy

Growing a business can be challenging. You want your business to be visible to the right people, so it’s important to know how and where to meet them.

Your Partnerships is Cornwall’s largest networking group and it events enable you to connect with other members, gain referrals and build trusting relationships with customers and suppliers.

Your Partnerships, can help your business grow!

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Join ASCFinance for Business for a fun golf networking event for women at Truro Golf Club. This session is a great introduction to the sport with resident golf professional Scott Richards taking you through all the basics. penzancebusinessbreakfast. enginehousetickets.co.uk

CORNWALL CHAMBER

BIG BREAKFAST

SkyBar, St Agnes

Cornwall Chamber of Commerce would like to invite you to SkyBar for its June BIG Breakfast. Join them for the first time at this incredible venue where

21

you will be served a delicious Full English Breakfast on the grounds of this iconic setting. cornwallchamber.co.uk

ARCA ON THE ROAD

Penventon Hotel, Redruth

A FREE workshop to explore the benefits of using coaching techniques within your business. eventbrite.co.uk

EMBRACING TOP TIER

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

Maritime Museum, Falmouth

Find out how to reach more people and strengthen your brand by communicating to the right audiences, in the right way. eventbrite.co.uk

CORNWALL CHAMBER

BIG BREAKFAST

Falmouth University, Penryn

What better way to prepare for a day at the Cornwall Business Fair than a preBusiness Fair Big Breakfast!? cornwallchamber.co.uk

CORNWALL BUSINESS FAIR

Falmouth University, Penryn

The Cornwall Business Fair has become one of the most diverse and vibrant networking events

Holiday Inn Express, Bodmin

13 WEST CORNWALL BUSINESS LUNCH

Inn for All Seasons, Redruth

14 WADEBRIDGE FORUM

The Pearl and Trawl at Wadebridge

15 OPEN HOUSE CORNWALL Victoria Inn, Roche

21 NETWALKING WITH ANNIE CHAPMAN & ANNIE PAGE The

For further details of these and more networking events visit businesscornwall.co.uk

To publicise your event for free, email news@businesscornwall.co.uk

the Duchy has to offer. Providing a platform for businesses of all shapes and sizes from all over Cornwall to inspire, connect and support each other. cornwallchamber.co.uk

PIG DIPPERS

The Pig Hotel, Harlyn Bay

A monthly net-swimming and breakfast club for those who want to start the day fresh! Benefits of cold water swimming include an increased tolerance to stress and self-esteem boost. cornwallchamber.co.uk

HFC BUSINESS NETWORKING CLUB

Hall for Cornwall, Truro Hall for Cornwall is more than a creative hub! Its networking club is an informal regular opportunity for businesses and freelancers to get together for a chat and a drink in the Playhouse Bar. hallforcornwall.co.uk

SURF NETWORKING

Towan Beach Newquay

The Cornwall Chamber of Commerce have started a series of surf networking events partnered with The Wave Project cornwallchamber.co.uk

FEATURED EVENT

JUNE 9

BUSINESS

Royal Cornwall Showground Business Cornwall magazine is teaming with the Royal Cornwall Show and Vertu Motors to host a business breakfast networking event on the Friday of the show. Expect a delicious full English breakfast made with local produce and the chance to make new connections as well as catching up with those existing ones.

We would love for you to join us. The breakfast will be in the President’s Marquee around the back of the Members’ Pavilion Building. eventbrite.co.uk

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG?

An author as I love reading. The adventures that I went on while reading books made me want to write my own adventure for people to enjoy!

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST FULL TIME JOB?

Working at Albright IP! I applied for Albright during Covid and after I finished my degree.

WHAT’S IN YOUR POCKETS?

Usually my phone, my key card and a coffee shop loyalty card.

HOW DO YOU LIKE TO RELAX?

Spending time with my family and friends. I am also part of a netball team which I really enjoy taking part in. I like to watch a film on Netflix after work and curling up on the sofa with a book.

IF YOU COULD BUILD A HOUSE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHERE WOULD IT BE?

In Cornwall or France looking out over the sea.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER?

Passing the first set of my patent exams and recently getting the news that a chemistry research project that I worked on at university has become a published scientific paper.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE WORST MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER?

In the two years I have been working, luckily I haven’t had anything that stands out, so hoping it will stay that way!

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT CORNWALL?

For me, it’s my family as I was born and bred in Truro. I love going back home to spend time with them and to also go for a dip in the sea.

IF YOU COULD INVITE ANY TWO PEOPLE FOR DINNER, WHO WOULD THEY BE AND WHY WOULD YOU INVITE THEM?

I would invite Chris Hadfield; I would love to speak to him about being in space and his opinions of future space travel. I would also invite my Grandad, who passed away a few years ago.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE HOLIDAY DESTINATION?

Travelling around the ports of the Mediterranean.

IF YOU COULD BE GOD FOR A DAY, WHAT MIRACLE WOULD YOU PERFORM?

Probably a little cliché, but I would reverse global warming and help those in need.

WHAT WAS YOUR LUCKIEST BREAK?

Being signed up to Storm modelling agency a few years ago. I was waiting for a friend in town and one of their agents came up to me and gave me their business card, it was very unexpected!

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE DOING IN FIVE YEARS’ TIME?

I would definitely like to have passed all of my patent exams and be a successful qualified patent attorney.

ALYSIA DRAPER

ACCOUNTANCY TAX ADVICE AUDIT

INHERITANCE

We offer more than just accountancy, with a team of in-house experts here in Cornwall. Get in touch for a meeting – it’s free.

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