Business Cornwall June 24

BUSINESS COMPETITION 2024

Aimed at early stage, ambitious Cornish businesses with a turnover of over £12,000 and registered before January 2022.

£11,000 prize package, includes 12 months free office space & business support.

Go to the website for more information... Terms and conditions apply.

For more information: enquiries@cornwallinnovation.co.uk www.cornwallinnovation.co.uk

Closing date for applications: 30th June 2024. Winner to be announced: 15th July 2024.

SUPPORTED

WELCOME

By editor Nick Eyriey

Congrats to the Class of 24!

A hint of celebration fills the pages of this month’s Business Cornwall magazine.

To kick off with, we feature Cornwall’s 30 under 30 Class of 2024. Over the past nine years, it has been a huge privilege to have been associated with this scheme. Reading through some of the applications – and there was a record number this year – it really does fill you with great pride on some of the young business talent that Cornwall is producing. It is also quite sobering. I’ve been on this planet for nearly double the amount of years than some of this year’s recipients (yes, I know it’s hard to believe), but haven’t achieved half as much!

Also in this month’s issue, we celebrate Cornwall’s agriculture sector and speak to some of the successful businesses who have been embracing change and “thinking outside the proverbial barn”.

And on page 10, we talk to Rodda’s MD, Nicholas Rodda. It was 14 years ago since I last interviewed Nick for the magazine and it was fascinating to learn how the family-run business has moved forward. Rodda’s, of course, has deep connections with Cornwall’s farming and agriculture sector. Nick tells us how this has developed and how the industry is increasingly embracing sustainability.

It is, of course, the Royal Cornwall Show this month (June 6-8), a favourite for so many on the networking calendar. We’ll again be hosting a special business networking breakfast and hope to see you there.

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Nick Eyriey nick@businesscornwall.co.uk

PUBLISHER

Toni Eyriey toni@businesscornwall.co.uk

ACCOUNT MANAGER

ON THE COVER

Focus on the agricultural sector –see page 16

Caroline Carter caroline@businesscornwall.co.uk

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Rachel Koerner rachel@businesscornwall.co.uk

DESIGN

Ade Taylor design@businesscornwall.co.uk

PRINT

Printed by Stephens and George

BUSINESS CORNWALL is published 10 times a year by:

Business Cornwall Magazine is proud to be associated with...

Tel: 01209 718688

SUBSCRIPTIONS subscriptions@businesscornwall.co.uk

www.businesscornwall.co.uk /business-cornwall /businesscornwall @biz_cornwall /businesscornwall

Get your digital copy https://issuu.com/businesscornwall

Registered under the Data Protection Act. All rights reserved

No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, stored in an electronic retrieval system or transmitted without the written permission of the publisher. Stringent efforts have been made by Business Cornwall magazine to ensure accuracy. However, due principally to the fact that data cannot always be verified, it is possible that some errors or omissions may occur.

Business Cornwall magazine can not accept responsibility for such errors or omissions. Business Cornwall magazine accepts no responsibility for comments made by interviewees that may offend.

Tonick Business Publishing Pool Innovation Centre Trevenson Road, Redruth TR15 3PL

We have over ten FR EE programm es of suppor t to help you work smar ter and grow your busin es s .

You don’ t have to worr y a bout which suppor t is right for you - that is why the G row th H ub is here ! Tog ether we will have a f ree busines s review to discus s all the options and point you in th e right dire c tion

You c a n also sign up on our website for one- o event s a nd work shops . Th ese a re a mix of in p erson and online covering hot topic s such as AI and in clusivit y to busines s basic s like s ales and marketing , inn ovation or planning .

O ur f riendly team of loc ally based exp er t s are ind ep end ent, im par tial a nd totally f ree !

THE BIG QUESTION

Who

is

your favourite entrepreneur and why?

JO COUMBE

Blue Marine Foundation

It won’t be a surprise that my favourite entrepreneur sits firmly in the ocean space, forcing unparalleled impact in one of the most underfunded areas of charity work – ocean conservation. Chris Gorell Barnes has been a considerable inspiration to me – and countless others – for his incredible passion and hell-fire ambition in putting the ocean front-andcentre of global conversations.

After founding leading brand communications agency Adjust Your Set, Chris went on to co-found Blue Marine Foundation, for which I am a director. As an active trustee, his vision for the charity has played a substantial part in turning Blue Marine into a world leading global NGO.

KATHERINE GEORGE

Oh So Social

After watching her speak at an event, I’ve become a massive fan of Sara Davies MBE. She spoke with honesty and openness, which is so rarely seen in entrepreneurs. She understands where her strengths lie and frankly told the room to hire people better than you. She dropped the bravado and spoke about the highs and, more importantly in my mind, the lows that come with her level of success.

RACHEL FOSTER

Agile

My favourite entrepreneur is Grace Beverley. I’ve actually followed her for long time – she grew her profile as a fitness influencer and YouTuber where she would sell workout guides and fitness products, whilst completing a music degree at Oxford.

On graduating, she launched the tenacious activewear brand TALA, as well as Shreddy, which offers digital workout products and nutrition. Her approach to business is ethical, sustainable and super inclusive

– she responds to market need and embraces all things Agile when it comes to product development. She is also transparent about her journey and her failures – her pitch deck that netted $5.7 million seed funding is available to view and learn from.

MARTIN WALTON

Acorn Blue

There are the many famous ones like Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg etc but my favourite one is Lord Alan Sugar! I like his story as a 16-year old east end boy living in a London council flat, working in a greengrocers shop, buying a van and selling electrical goods out of it, to starting up his own company (Amstrad) at the age of 21 and is now worth over £1 billion!

GEORGIE UPTON

Wild Card

My mind immediately jumps to the late Anita Roddick who sadly passed away in 2007. She built her business, The Body Shop, in the 1970s and as a child of the 80s, I knew it so well. It became ingrained in our psyche.

Anita’s business was founded on a strong and clear sense of purpose and for me, she was the first to break out and fully commit to transparent sourcing policies and animal welfare. She started conversations around decent business behaviour and questioning the reason for profit.

JOHN BROWN

Don’t Cry Wolf

The entrepreneur I am most inspired by is David Hieatt of Hiut Denim. He lives and breathes the mantra of doing one thing really well, which is to make jeans. This, coupled with his generosity in sharing knowledge and inspiration through the Do Lectures and his regular postings and musings gives me all the feels! Top bloke.

WE THREE KINGS

Three Cornish businesses have been recognised in this year’s King’s Award for Enterprise.

Teagle Machinery, Made for Life Organics and Lynher Dairies are among 252 companies nationally to receive the award this year and will be invited to a Royal reception at Windsor Castle in July.

The King’s Award for Enterprise are the highest official UK awards for British businesses. First established in 1965, the awards celebrate the success of innovative businesses which are leading the way with pioneering products or services, delivering impressive social mobility programmes, or showing their commitment to sustainable development.

Teagle, a specialist in agricultural machinery with over 80 years’ experience, won the award for international trade.

The award highlights exceptional growth

in key overseas markets such as France, Ireland, USA, and Germany, with recent expansions into India, Thailand, Vietnam, Chile, and China. Export sales now comprise over 50% of the total revenue.

MD Tom Teagle said: “The success we’ve achieved illustrates the vital role small businesses like Teagle can contribute to the reputation of UK manufacturing. This award marks a milestone in the history of the company and is welcome at a time that farmers globally are facing significant challenges.”

Made for Life and Lynher both won the award for Sustainable Development.

Made for Life CEO and founder, Amanda Winwood, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive the highly prestigious King’s Award for Sustainable Development. We are the first organic skincare brand and training provider of Touch Therapy Training for those living with cancer and other long term health issues to win this particular

award. It is an incredible accolade.”

Lynher Dairies, makers of the iconic Cornish Yarg cheese and the World Champion cheese Cornish Kern, has been chosen as a shining example of a proactive and resilient rural business living in the 21st century.

Owner Catherine Mead said the whole dairy team was honoured to be given the most prestigious business award in the UK.

“We are continuously managing our social and environmental impact as a business, and The Kings Award process has held us accountable, requiring us to scrutinise and evidence our sustainability efforts to the nth degree,” she said. “The importance of adopting this approach early is great. It means we have been able to make proactive, calculated decisions rather than reactive responses to regulatory changes and customer habits.”

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

HOW TO RESPOND TO AN ALLEGATION OF IP INFRINGEMENT

Getting a lawyer’s letter saying you are infringing someone’s copyright, trade mark, design or patent can be an unpleasant surprise. These letters often assert multiple rights, make threats of large financial damages, and demand a response on a tight deadline. How do you start thinking about a reply?

Obviously, you need to get some good advice and representation. At Albright IP we have plenty of Albright IP, 18 Lemon Street, Truro, Cornwall TR1 2LS fnoble@albright-ip.co.uk | +44 (0)1209 316161

YOUNG FISHERMEN NETWORK

A new network has been created to support the next generation of fishermen - the first of its kind in the UK.

The Young Fishermen Network has been set up by young fishermen from Cornwall. It aims to encourage new entrants into the industry and champion career progression for existing commercial fishermen under 40.

Around 60 people attended the network’s inaugural event at a net loft in Porthleven Harbour.

Young fishermen from fishing ports across Cornwall came together for a day of skills workshops, sea shanties and a seafood cooking competition.

Network coordinator, Matilda Phillips, said: “The event was an incredible way to kick start the network and it was fantastic to see such enthusiasm in the room. From Looe to Newlyn, Cadgwith to Port Isaac, we bought together all corners of Cornwall.”

Hosted by the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation, the Young Fishermen Network is funded by the Fishmongers’ Company and the ROCC project.

SELECT COMMITTEE VISIT

A Government select committee visited Cornwall last month to hear firsthand the benefits of renewable fuels.

Kehelland is representative of numerous rural villages in Cornwall - not being connected to the gas main and instead relying on kerosene-powered boilers for heating.

The Government is pushing for properties to transition away from their existing heating systems to install costly new heat pump systems. However, local oil supplier Mitchell & Webber believes that renewable heating fuels containing HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) offer a solution and has evidence to support this.

TEN OUT OF 10

The owner of a Launceston-based woollen mill was invited to No.10 Downing Street recently.

Colin Spencer Halsey, CEO and owner of The Natural Fibre Company, attended a Department for Business and Trade manufacturing matchmaking event, hosted by the Prime Minister’s wife, Akshata Murty.

Spencer Halsey said: “I was very proud to represent The Natural Fibre Company… it was a unique opportunity for British manufacturers to meet premium retailers from the UK Fashion Industry.

experience handling this type of problem and we can guide you through the process. Every case is different, but I think it is possible to say a few general things about the right approach to take.

There are two sides to every story, so what is your side, and what evidence do you have to back it up?

This is particularly the case where there has been an allegation of copying. Most of our clients are running businesses which are fundamentally honest and sensibly managed, and so it might be tempting to say that “copying just doesn’t happen here”. But sometimes things go wrong.

Getting to the bottom of exactly what has happened might need some investigation internally. Identifying any mistakes which have been made by you or your employees at an early stage is crucial to avoid

In November 2020, the firm, led by brothers Robert and John Weedon, successfully installed and delivered HVO to the first UK property in Scorrier. Building on this success, they decided to replicate the initiative in Kehelland.

John Weedon said: “We wanted to showcase a village scenario with a school, a church, and at least 25 homes to demonstrate the scalability of our solution - Kehelland was the perfect candidate and a great example of the benefits of HVO.

“We invited the select committee to witness the success of our trial and to emphasise the need for HVO as a heating and hot water fuel in off-grid gas properties.”

“For The Natural Fibre Company, it provided us with a platform to meet potential new clients and to meet up with existing clients within the centre of Government.”

unpleasant surprises down the line.

Secondly, try to keep an open mind and have a think about what you might be able to do to circumvent the problem. How important is the particular trade mark, product, or whatever it is the other side are complaining about? Can it be changed in a way that distances it from whatever it is that the claimant says it has rights in?

We are experts in intellectual property and its limitations. You are the expert in running your own business. It is actually by combining these two areas of expertise that we are often able to resolve infringement problems without great expense and disruption. So, if you’ve received a nasty letter, don’t panic! Get in touch and we’ll work together to sort it out.

NEW PACKAGE OF TRAINING AND APPRENTICESHIPS

The Future Skills Institute at Truro and Penwith College has announced its latest pioneering package of career and professional development training for the 2024/25 academic year.

The training encompasses a huge range of professional qualifications, short courses, skills bootcamps, degrees at the University Centre Truro & Penwith and a targeted range of apprenticeships to offer 300 training and skills solutions to boost businesses and careers.

Truro and Penwith College is Cornwall’s only Expert Apprenticeship Provider.

Professional training is developed in line with Cornwall’s Local Skills Improvement Plan and backed by some of the best in the business. The college is Cornwall’s only professional training centre to be accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD) and the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM).

New courses for 2024/25 include: The Coaching Leader, Presenting with Confidence, the CIPD Foundation Certificate in People Practice and Psychological Safety in the Workplace. The trades also receive additional support with the addition of a range of retrofit and renewable courses, in keeping with the college’s significant investment to support sustainability and the future of Cornwall’s construction industry. Hospitality training is expanded to include the new CTH Level 2 Diploma in Patisserie and Confectionery Skills.

The college’s industry expert business partnership consultants are also set to continue working in partnership with employers to develop bespoke training solutions that target specific business challenges and goals throughout 2024/25.

The unrivalled quality of the college’s apprenticeship programmes and employer partnerships was recognised earlier this year when it not only became Cornwall and Devon’s top college for apprenticeship achievement after the publication of Department for Education (DfE) data, but was also recognised as Cornwall’s only ‘Expert Apprenticeship Provider’, one of only five FE colleges in the UK to have been awarded the status by the DfE.

The new package of training includes more than 30 apprenticeship programmes delivered across the college’s campuses in Penzance, Truro and Bodmin. In addition to bespoke apprenticeships developed and delivered on behalf of specific employers, the college’s core range of apprenticeships has seen the addition of multi-channel marketer, accounts/ finance assistant and senior production chef qualifications in response to employer need.

Wildanet is one of the latest employers to have created a bespoke apprenticeship with the college. Julie-Anne Sunderland, chief people officer at Wildanet, said: “We are delighted to be working with Truro and Penwith College, which has been particularly receptive to the idea of what we wanted to build.”

The college’s new STEM and Health Skills Centre, Bodmin opened its doors just last September providing state-of-the-art facilities and almost 30 professional development courses, apprenticeships and Access to University level courses locally in north and east Cornwall with the college going as far as to offer newly-developed training for employers local to the campus such as the food and drink maintenance engineer apprenticeship.

Discover the latest training at www.truro-penwith.ac.uk/professionaldevelopment/ and for help and advice contact futureskills@truro-penwith.ac.uk or 01872 308000

F A C E S O U L F A C E S O U L

MORCHEEBA MORCHEEBA

SCOTT MATTHEWS SCOTT MATTHEWS HANG MASSIVE ANG

5th -7th, July 2024 - Boconnoc Estate, Cornwall

Rodda’s has been producing clotted cream for more than 130 years. It is more than just a business, it is almost an institution. We catch up with MD Nicholas Rodda who explains the pressure and privilege of running such an iconic and celebrated brand.

When we last interviewed you some 14 years ago, you had just started bottling milk and selling it. How has that gone?

Really well. It’s mainly sold in county - hotels, shops and restaurants. People just love the taste and quality of it. We work with our farmers to get the highest standards and you can taste a difference coming through. And people just love the idea that they can look out the window and say “Oh, my milk comes from that field over there!” It gives people a great sense of connectivity.

Basically, when you make clotted cream, you buy in the milk and then you separate it, you take all the cream out and then you end up with the skimmed milk. So, most of the milk is semi-skimmed, we leave a little bit of cream in the milk and the rest goes to making the clotted cream.

Continued on page 12

Running your own business may sound lovely from the outside, but it takes a lot of tenacity, diligence and hard work.

Nicholas Rodda photographs by Toby Weller

The relationship you have with your milk suppliers must be very important?

We can’t make anything without milk, so yes, very important. We work with around 45 farmers all within a radius of about 25 miles, using a variety of different herds as well. People say Channel Island make the best milk to make cream, but they’re not all Channel Island, we like a nice mixture and a nice blend.

We incentivise our farmers. We’re not looking for a high volume of milk. So, if you’re a bottling dairy you’re wanting volume, whereas we’re wanting the quality of the milk. We’re wanting high fat and with that, you get high protein as well.

Rodda’s is very much a family business. You’re fifth generation I believe?

My son, Alex, is in the business as well now, so we’re coming onto sixth generation. He’s working on the commercial side of the business and reports to Tom Bell who is our sales director. And there’s also my dad’s cousin’s son, Paul, in the business.

Does running such a longstanding family business have its own unique pressures, as you’re not so much the owner, rather the custodian?

You’re right, it is very much a custodian sort of model. It has been passed down through the family, generation to generation. And without wanting to sound too clichéd, you want to be able to take the business forward and pass it on to the next generation having improved it, made it more sustainable for the future. It’s a position of privilege but with that comes quite a heavy weight of responsibility. You don’t want to be the one to muck it up!

How is the market in general?

So you have more shelf space on the supermarket in Cornwall?

Yes, there’s definitely a south west bias there.

Do you export much?

A little bit yes. We export to Dubai, to Hong Kong and Japan as well. They very much buy into the tradition of the afternoon tea and they also buy into the brand as well and the heritage of the business.

And Cornwall’s brand?

Cornwall’s brand is amazing. We’ve had so many great TV programmes here over the years. Poldark, for example, was a great hit in America; you’ve got Doc Martin shown right across the world as well, showing Cornwall’s lovely, natural, rugged beauty. And because we’re also blessed with great food here, TV chefs are emanating out of here. Things like that have definitely helped us over the years. Brand Cornwall has really grown and the Rodda’s brand has as well, both in national and international markets. We’ve had the luxury and the privilege of being around for a long time. We have quite a unique name and distinctive packaging so people tend to remember us. And if they don’t remember us from buying it at home, they definitely remember it from coming on holiday to Cornwall.

You’ve got to have a broad range of skills. Joined up thinking, a bit of vision and optimism for the future.

What we aim to do is try to make sure that they pop Rodda’s Clotted Cream in their shopping basket when they get back home. They enjoyed a cream tea in a lovely location here, so why not enjoy it at home as well.

You’ve now started selling fudge and shortbread. Does that fit with the gifting side of the business?

We had a busy year last year. The Coronation was very good for us; we probably had our busiest day ever over that weekend. This financial year, it’s a funny year, because our year ends at the end of March and funnily enough, this financial year we haven’t got any Easter as Easter came very early.

So is clotted cream consumed more on special occasions?

Typically yes. It is more regularly shopped here in Cornwall and the south west. On average people eat clotted cream three times a year, but down here in Cornwall eat it on a much more regular basis. They’ll have a cream tea, but also maybe there’s a bit of apple pie in the fridge and they would have cream on that as well.

That’s predominantly Cornwall-based. But also this summer we’re launching some flavours in clotted cream. We’re doing a vanilla clotted cream so it will be interesting to hear the feedback. No doubt there’ll be a bit of controversy about putting something in the clotted cream because it is seen as such a traditional product. But take the cider industry. At one time there was just normal cider on the shelf and now there’s lots of different flavours. Vanilla clotted cream goes very well with chocolate things for example, a chocolate brownie. We’ll see how it goes.

What are the main challenges at the moment?

The main things that we’re working on at the moment are centred around sustainability. We’re working closely with our farmers and have a project on at the moment, Project Tevi, which we’ve been doing for the past three years.

This is very much working with the farmers and getting them together. We’ve got a facilitator that comes in to share best practice and see where they can make various improvements. We’re just questioning lots of different things. Sometimes within agriculture, there can be a “but we’ve always done it this way” sort of thinking. So, we challenge that. Could we do it in a different way? And have had a great response. These farmers have been fully engaged and we’ve managed to reduce our carbon over the last 18 months by 4%. So, we’re edging in the right sort of direction.

It’s all about how do we work together to make the industry more sustainable and we’re making some great strides. We’re working at the moment with a company called Bennamann. They’ve got a project on probably about half a dozen farms here in Cornwall, including one or two of ours. They’ve got this special slurry pit where they capture the slurry from the cows, capture the methane. And we’ve just ordered a methane-powered truck. So potentially the methane from that farm will be the power in our truck that will be delivering the milk to the shop. So, it’s about how we get that circular economy going, add another source of income to the farm and lower the carbon footprint. So, we’re on that journey to being more sustainable. We want to see if we can get the business off-grid – that would be my goal. We’re just putting in some solar at the moment and we’re also looking at different machinery within the creamery which is more energy efficient.

You can’t ever sell the business because it’s not yours. It belongs to Cornwall!

And you’re also a B Corp. Cornwall is something of a centre for B Corps.

I think in Cornwall people are a bit more invested in the wider benefits of business, than just making profits. I think B Corp is a great thing and a great process.

When we went through the process, we hadn’t had a lot of it written down, so it forced us to formalise everything we were already doing and brought some clarity into what we were doing and why we were doing it. We want to make sure that we’re embedded in the community of Cornwall. We support many charities here in Cornwall, as you probably imagine, throughout the summer, there’s lots of fundraising activities.

What are your sales volumes?

We turn over about £50 million. Quite a lot of that is skimmed milk, which we sell onto other manufacturers. For every 100 litres of milk we buy in, we only get ten litres of cream, so we sell on the other 90 litres as skimmed milk. The challenge now is how do we start adding some of that value to ourselves? What’s the next new product for Rodda’s that we could potentially add some value to, using that milk?

14 years ago, you said clotted cream accounted for about 95% of the business. What is that now?

Probably about 80%, 82%. Clotted cream will always be the main focus, but in the years to come I can see the portfolio expanding. We mentioned the fudge and shortbread, we also do butter now, so how do we expand with that? It will be interesting to see what other products we can put under the Rodda’s name in the future.

We tried cheese a few years ago but we stopped during the pandemic. We had to focus on what we were doing, so we basically gifted the business to the guy who was running the cheese place for us and he is successfully still doing that now. It wasn’t a longerterm thing for us, but we trialled it and he’s making a success of it, which is lovely to see.

Had you not been here with the family business, what do you think you might have done as a career?

Hmmm! I don’t know! I once thought I wanted to study accountancy, but I’m probably glad I didn’t go down that route as I don’t think I’d have been that good at it!

But a dream job? I might have gone in a completely different sort of direction. I really enjoy photography, so maybe something like a photographer with National Geographic! But that’s only with a bit of hindsight, it probably wouldn’t have occurred to me when I was younger.

What are the main skills you bring to the company?

I think with being the managing director in a family business, you’ve got to have a broad range of skills. Joined up thinking, a bit of vision and optimism for the future. Running your own business may sound lovely from the outside, but it takes a lot of tenacity, diligence and hard work.

Do you run the business differently as an owner than you would if you were just a hired gun?

I do. When you’re running a family business and looking to pass onto the next generation, you have a different mindset. You think longer term. I’m probably benefiting from something that my grandfather did, or my father did when they were running the business.

So, I think it gives you a different perspective on life. And while you need to make money, is that the prime motivator for getting out of bed every Monday morning? No, there’s a bigger contribution to the county of Cornwall, there’s a pride in doing the job. I’m not saying everyone is like it, but if you’re just a commercial pair of hands, maybe your mindset is more focused on just making money, looking after the shareholders, the next big investment plan and so on. You want the best parts of a family business and the best parts of the corporate business. They both have their pros and their cons and you need to somehow meld the two.

Have you ever been approached by a large multinational to buy the company?

Yes.

And were you tempted?

No!

I was at the Royal Cornwall Show a few years ago and I was talking to a lady and she said we love your clotted cream, and by the way, you can’t ever sell the business because it’s not yours. It belongs to Cornwall!

Going back to that sense of being a custodian.

Absolutely. I don’t think there’s going to be a For Sale board going up anytime soon. The only caveat I would put on that is if the business was going to fail for some reason, rather than fight it out to the bitter end where the business just withers on the vine. We’ve got 200 people that work here, 45 farmers, you have got to protect those livelihoods and not try to be a stoic and go down on the Titanic.

And we have Royal Cornwall coming up of course. What does that mean to you, you must have been showing there for many years?

Probably as far back as anybody can remember. It’s a lovely time of the year, where everybody in the county comes together and just shows off Cornwall to its best and it’s a real privilege to be part of all that. I always look forward to it every year but I must say, come day three, Saturday afternoon, my legs…!

But it’s great to be able to see so many familiar faces. We’re in the food and farming tent but we’ve also got our farmers’ hospitality tent. It’s a great three days and lovely to just be part of it. And long may it continue.

Diversification is now synonymous with the farming industry in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

THINKING OUTSIDE THE BARN

By Rachel Koerner

As Christopher Riddle, Royal Cornwall Show Secretary, highlighted in last month’s issue,

“The relevance of agriculture and its influence on the Cornish community is something that hasn’t changed…, however pressures in legislation, environmental matters and finances, have become even more prevalent in recent years.”

The funding and support environment for the agricultural sector is changing, too. With the phasing out of the Basic Payment Scheme (Government payments made to farmers who carry out eligible agricultural activities) and the introduction of new environmental schemes and targets, new legislation, support options and funds are in place.

For example, the Future Farming Resilience Programme, funded by Defra, is providing oneto-one support and running a series of events for land managers and farmers across the south west, sharing the latest information about new and existing funding schemes and grants such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive and the Countryside Stewardship

Scheme. These workshops are targeted at farmers aiming to build farm business resilience and profitability. (On June 12, a free workshop is being held at the Lanivet Village Hall.)

Meanwhile, weathering such changes and challenges is assumed of the dedicated farmers and land managers who, morning, noon and night, care for so much of our Cornwall whilst seeking to make ends meet.

Traditionally, many of Cornwall’s farmsteads were sustained through traditional agricultural practices, but as times have changed, so too have the needs of consumers, and the farmers and landowners themselves. In response, many farmers in Cornwall have embraced diversification, developing new revenue streams to not only sustain their livelihoods, but also provide new products, services and experiences to enrich and educate communities and consumers too. In recent issues I spoke to the likes of Trink Dairy about the diversification of their dairy farm business, Steve Dunstan about complimenting the family’s potato farming business with an award-winning vodka distillery at Colwith Farm, and we heard news of the new business, Cornish Changeovers, a cleaning venture spawned from a working farm and farm shop business looking to develop year-round revenue streams.

By embracing change and thinking outside the proverbial barn, these farming families have not only secured their own futures but have also redefined what it means to be a farmer in Cornwall. Diversification is now synonymous with the farming industry in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. This month I spoke to a few of the inspiring men and women from farms across our region about the value of diversified income streams.

Pete Olds cornhillfarm.co.uk

Pete Olds and his father Len manage Cornhill Farm, a family farm in Kehelland, Pete is the fourth generation to farm there.

“Our family have been at Cornhill Farm since 1912,” he says, “and the legacy continues with generation number five already showing a keen interest in farming aged just seven!

“We are turning full circle from mixed farming to monoculture and back to mixed farming again. The difference in the farming enterprises across these last 112 years is huge, not just with productivity and efficiency, but costs too. Hopefully we are farming to keep the farm fit for the next five generations, too.”

Cornhill’s two main revenue streams are awardwinning free range eggs; producing, grading and packing 11,000 eggs a day, 365 days a year, and an arable enterprise. Demonstrating a natural example of circular economy, most of the home grown wheat and barley from the 500 acres farmed is milled in-house with its Mill and Mix to its own hen ration recipe. This feeds the hens, whose dung goes back on to the land as fertiliser.

Having withdrawn from a contract supplying Waitrose four years ago, which meant eggs were being packed in Wiltshire, Pete is now proud that Cornhill has a truly local focus. Employing ten local people on the farm, packing and grading eggs on site, providing haylage and straw for local farms and horses, contracting for other local farmers, and supplying eggs to a range of local cafes, pubs and restaurants and shops from Truro to Land’s End –Cornhill is a truly Cornish business.

And Pete references the impact a certain reality TV show has had on the sector.

“Clarkson’s Farm has really shone the spotlight on, and been a huge PR asset to, farming in the last couple of years. Whilst we don’t all drive round in Range Rovers, farmers are often asset rich and cash poor.

“The series has demonstrated just how hard it now is to turn a profit in farming. This is mainly down to the fact that for many years the big retailers have squeezed the margins out of food production as successive governments have pursued a cheap food policy. For farmers producing basic products like milk, cabbages or eggs it is difficult to add value and in turn profit - they are often bottom of the pile financially. Other factors, like the Ukraine war, impacts costs, and global warming is starting to cause significant and regular problems for all types of farming enterprises too.

“Diversified income is all the more important - you’ve got to make the most of what you have got and what you have to do every day. Farming is not a business you can switch off. The hens still lay eggs on Christmas Day.”

Pete also hosts an annual Open Farm Sunday at Cornhill in conjunction with LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming). Save the date for the next one on June 30. However, the thing that excites Pete the most is the educational visits from schools.

“I find that hosting the visits is usually very rewarding – the children are usually buzzing to come and see the animals and have a look around the farm, and I make it as fun for them as I can. From meeting and holding the hens, feeding the pigs, digging the soil to find some worms, to listening to the farmland birds, packing eggs, seeing the crops we grow, there is a mass of opportunity to show ‘field to fork’ and they get a real flavour of what we do day to day as farmers.

Hopefully we are farming to keep the farm fit for the next five generations, too.

“Unfortunately, we have a generation of millennials who haven’t a clue where their food actually comes from, they think mash comes from a packet, milk comes from Tesco, and eggs- euuggh, do they really come out of a hen’s bum! Well, yes, they do, and that’s exactly why we need to be starting their food journey at a young age, knowing where your food comes from is so important, and the less processed the better. Farmers should definitely get involved in hosting visits, and now educational access visits can be claimed as part of a Countryside Stewardship Scheme, which grants £363 per visit (minimum 2 hours), it makes even more sense to host, as if nothing else it will help your bottom line!

“We are trying to farm as sustainably as possible, whilst minimising chemical and artificial fertiliser used to grow our crops, in a world which demands mass-produced cheap food. We have some exciting plans in the pipeline for our new egg packhouse, and tree planting on our less productive acres this year.

“There is a balance somewhere between being a profitable farming enterprise but also enhancing the biodiversity and resilience of our soils.”

Issy Tibbs veronicafarmfudge.co.uk

Since her parents, Kris and Geoff, moved to the Isles of Scilly in 1979 to take over Veronica Farm on Bryher, Issy Tibbs has seen a lot of change. It is not surprising that she is not afraid of diversification. At only 11-years old she looked to utilise the kitchen table to make fudge to help pay for dance lessons. Fast forward to 2024 and the farm has a purposebuilt fudge kitchen and offers a range of other products too - including mail order succulents. Now raising her own family at the farm, Issy is clearly committed to its future.

Talking with Issy about the various revenue streams and her dedication to Veronica Farm, she says: “Every part of Veronica Farm is home to me. If you’d told me as a teenager I would have been managing the farm and making fudge full time I would have been astonished. But it’s everything to me.

Every part of Veronica Farm is home to me.

“My mum took over making the fudge when I was a teenager as we had so many people knocking on the door asking for me. She took it to a completely different level creating relationships with local suppliers and shops, introducing new flavours and getting it professionally branded. It’s a constant juggling act to make the farm work with three different businesses but I have two semi-permanent helpers from Australia- who are as passionate about the farm as I am.

“The Duchy of Cornwall (our landlords) are a wonderful support to farmers on the islands which makes diversifying easier. It will be an interesting next few years for tenant farmers as there are hopes a mobile abattoir will be based on Scilly. That could change the future of island farms for the better.”

Harry Young-Jamieson st-eval.com

Taking pride in the farm’s natural environment plays a large part in what they do at St. Eval.

Founded by Sarah Young-Jamieson, the St. Eval candle company also started on a farmhouse kitchen table. The farm has been a home to generations of her family. Today, the farm is home to many others too, with the bee hotels and bat boxes that have been integrated into the sustainable development of the farm buildings.

On track to meet their goal to be Net Zero by 2030, St. Eval is B Corp certified and the St. Eval team are rightly proud of their workplace.

In the role of managing director, Sarah’s son Harry is also an integral part of the St. Eval team.

He says: “Over the past 20 years, we have implemented high-level stewardship on the farm and created dedicated fields for corn buntings. We’ve also created a wildlife pond and installed a wind turbine.

Over the past 20 years, we have implemented highlevel stewardship on the farm and created dedicated fields for corn buntings.

“The farm plays an important part in our vision for the future of St. Eval. It is a space that surrounds our factory and inspires us. We are actively looking at how we can use tree planting and regenerative agriculture to increase biodiversity and offset the carbon we produce at St. Eval.”

St. Eval have not only preserved the natural environment at the farm, but cherished and celebrated it too, to create a sustainable business model that celebrates Cornwall’s agricultural heritage.

TECHNOLOGY MATTERS

The UK dairy industry has experienced a transformative wave of technological advancements and the importance of robust contracts between farmers and tech suppliers cannot be underestimated.

Some technological advancements include:

Automated Milking Systems – These can be programmed to elect milking times that are best suited to the cows, reducing stress and improving herd health.

Precision Livestock Farming – Utilises sensors and monitoring devices to track various parameters such as feeding behaviour and health status of dairy cattle.

Data Analytics and Management Systems –Advanced software solutions enable farmers to analyse vast amounts of data from multiple sources.

Although technology can increase efficiencies, it is not without risk. It is important to carefully review the terms of service with your software supplier should something go wrong.

Uptime Guarantees – Once implemented, the automated systems become an essential part

Amy Ralston is an associate with Stephens Scown’s technology team. If you would like more information on these issues, please contact them on 0345 450 5558 or email: IP@stephens-scown.co.uk

Pete Lawrence farmersmovementcornwall.co.uk lizardleaves.com

Pete Lawrence is the farmer behind Lizard Leaves, supplying salad leaves and other farm grown produce from Canara Farm in Mylor. Having built the business up over two decades, Lizard Leaves was the main supplier of salad leaves to local wholesaler Westcountry Fruit Sales who distributed their produce across the region.

But, following the pandemic, Pete decided to scale the business back. Now concentrating on his halfacre organic market garden, he now focuses on supplying local businesses and kitchens with his produce and on the development of a self-storage farm diversification enterprise. Running the farm with his parents Carolyn and Gerald, Canara Farm is truly a family business.

No farmers, no food, no future.

of daily operations. It is therefore fundamental that any service contract includes uptime guarantees to ensure systems are operational for the majority of the time.

Data Provision – With the proliferation of data-driven technologies, access to accurate and timely data is paramount. Contracts should address data ownership, usage rights, accuracy and sharing mechanisms between farmers and suppliers. Farmers must ensure they retain ownership of the data generated and that suppliers adhere to strict data security protocols.

Service Levels – Service levels encompass the quality and responsiveness of support services provided by technology suppliers. Contracts should clearly outline service level agreements detailing how support requests should be made, response times, resolution times and escalation procedures. As technology continues to revolutionise the industry, farmers should carefully negotiate and formalise contracts to safeguard their interests.

However, Pete’s attentions are not only on Canara Farm as he seeks to support farmers across the country. Having founded the ‘Farmers Movement Cornwall’ group in February this year, Pete is seeking to support farmers with the many issues and policies affecting their livelihoods as well as campaigning for greater awareness of national food security risk. Connecting and working with other farmers to share ideas and experience to develop ‘Agricultural Reform Proposals’ to lobby Government, Pete is driven by a rallying cry of, ‘No farmers, no food, no future’.

He explains: “My working life in the agricultural sector over the past 25 years has taken me on a journey through large field scale mixed vegetable growing, product specific business development, Covid crisis e-commerce adaptation, farm diversification and small scale regenerative organic food production.

“So, I’ve seen a few different angles, but connecting all of them is a realisation that farmers must remain masters of their own destinies. They must remain independent, resourceful and able to quickly adapt their business models as they see fit and that policy and funding support must serve to support these vital abilities through assurance of long term profitability.

“The challenge for developing a system of husbandry which creates a beneficial and sustainable symbiosis between us and nature must never lose its appeal, after all such a system is entirely necessary, least of all for our own survival. Equally though, the challenge for developing policy protections for our farmers based on our unique set of circumstances as a nation facing financial pressures from others operating at far greater economies of scale must never lose its appeal. Finally, given present international events, the challenge for creating a world comprised of static, prosperous nations all pursuing their inalienable rights of self-determination whilst all cooperating and trading peacefully with each other must never ever lose its appeal.

“The mindfulness of such challenges in fact renews our understanding in the connectedness of all things, the soil micro biome, mycorrhizal fungal networks, insect and large animal ecosystems, family, the world of business, agriculture and geopolitical policy. The sooner we realise a world universally working together to uphold as first principle the importance and understanding of such connectedness over the disconnected needs of self-serving unrestrained individualism the better it will be, the healthier it will be, the happier it will be, and the lesser the risks to all our food security will be.”

Whether preserving nature, communities, or in some cases hundreds of years of family legacy and heritage, it is clear that dedication, passion and a strong work ethic are commonplace amongst Cornwall’s farm community who honour the past with a sustainable eye on the future. And, what unites these examples of diversification, innovation and heart, is a love of the land.

BRIAN ETHERINGTON MEAT CO. LTD

In 1954 Etherington’s started providing Cornwall’s hospitality sector with great quality meat. Today, we are one of the largest wholesale butchers in the county, supplying over 500 individual outlets throughout the Southwest, the South coast and London.

We also have a thriving frozen goods division, selling everything from our gold-award-winning ribs in sauce and sausages, to delicious desserts and frozen vegetables.

Our on-site farm shop in Scorrier is open six days per week, stocking not only our famous handmade Cornish pasties but also a huge selection of local produce including store cupboard essentials, wines, spirits, fresh vegetables and sweet treats.

All our products are fully traceable, giving peace of mind and confidence in everything we supply.

etherington-meats.co.uk

Wholesale: 01209 890555 Farm Shop: 01209 899203

ST AUSTELL BREWERY

Independent, family-owned St Austell Brewery was established in Cornwall in 1851. Fast forward 172 years, and the company’s range of award-winning beers - including Tribute pale ale, Proper Job IPA and korev lager - are available in pubs and supermarkets nationwide. The business owns over 160 pubs, inns, and hotels across the West Country - including managed houses and tenancies. It also operates two breweries, in St Austell and Bath, having acquired fellow West Country brewer, Bath Ales in 2016.

With a network of six depots across the West Country –from St Columb to Wimborne – the company is the leading wholesale drinks distributor in the region.

0345 2411122 | staustellbrewery.co.uk

CORNWALL’S BIGGEST EVENT!

The Royal Cornwall Show takes place from June 6-8, at the Royal Cornwall Events Centre in Wadebridge.

It might just be around the corner, but the Royal Cornwall Show team have been busy planning the 2024 event for the best part of a year.

promote the innovation and future sustainability of agriculture and farming in Cornwall, partly by providing competition, and also the opportunity to bring farming and businesses across Cornwall together.

The ‘Royal’ part of the Association, and the show, was established in 1858 when a Royal Patronage was given by Queen Victoria. Other Monarchs that have acted as Patron over the years include King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II.

Such rich heritage can still be found today across the event, showing both past and present technology and innovation. In the Creative View Ltd Countryside Village, many rural skills such as thatching, blacksmithing and carriage driving can be found. Contrast that with the latest machinery and farming technology that is also on display across the showground.

As the years have gone by, the focus on promoting the Cornish economy and local businesses has gone even further. The Royal Cornwall Food & Farming Pavilion, the largest multi-stand marquee at the show, showcases top quality food and drink producers from across Cornwall, from bread to beer, and everything in between.

There is also ‘Wadebridge Street’ which is a whole avenue dedicated to businesses based in the town that the Events Centre calls home. This allows them to display their products and services to potential customers from across the county.

It’s

the perfect place to get a dose of the Cornish Life.

A bit like ‘painting the Fourth Bridge’ as soon as one Royal Cornwall Show is done and dusted, it’s straight on to the next one, and everything starts from scratch once again. It takes a team of ten full time staff, eight part time staff, and dozens of seasonal staff and contractors to bring everything together, as well as maintain and run the Royal Cornwall Events Centre, and the Pavilion centre, all year round.

But thanks to all their hard work, it all comes together to deliver what is Cornwall’s largest, and most beloved, annual event. Focusing on thrilling entertainment, top level competition, and incredible local food and drink, it’s the perfect place to get a dose of the Cornish Life.

Heritage goes back a long way, the show can trace itself all the way back to 1793, when the Cornwall Agricultural Society was formed. The idea was to

In recent years, a big focus of the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association has been education. The idea of teaching the next generation of food consumers where their food comes from. During the year, this takes the form of the Farm & Country Roadshow and mobile classroom. During the show there is the Food Chain Hub, which not only houses the mobile classroom, but also other local organisations looking to educate children on various food, farming, and environmental topics through play and interactive activities.

Bring all this history, heritage, and education together, along with jaw-dropping entertainment, live music, and hundreds of trade stands, you get one of the best days out in the region, whether you are looking for business, pleasure, or a bit of both!

The Royal Cornwall Show takes place on June 6, 7 and 8, at the Royal Cornwall Events Centre in Wadebridge. Tickets can be purchased online at www.royalcornwall.co.uk

FORGOTTEN PROMISES?

Brian Harvey, head of PKF Francis Clark’s agricultural sector group, wonders what the imminent General Election means for Cornwall’s farmers.

As I write this piece on the morning after the local elections, it looks more likely that we will soon have a Labour government, and the question is now perhaps not who will win but what will be the size of the majority.

As an adviser to the Cornish rural community, and in particular the core agricultural sector, this has led me to think and speculate as to how the rural sector and Cornwall will vote in the forthcoming General Election.

Have Cornwall and the rural farming vote been taken for granted?

Historically, Cornwall and rural England have been predominantly blue on the political map, very much backed by the landowning farming sector.

However, I read with interest articles in the local and farming press suggesting five out of the six constituencies in Cornwall are projected to be lost by the Conservatives. In the wider country, similar polls are suggesting that the agricultural community is also no longer the blue haven it once was.

So, I ask myself a question I have been thinking about for a while: have Cornwall and the rural farming vote been taken for granted?

It is scary to think that the Brexit vote was almost eight years ago. At the time I was amazed that Cornwall and the rural community voted to leave the EU when both had been significant financial beneficiaries of EU membership.

Having worked with clients through the halcyon days of both Objective One and Convergence funding, it is apparent that promises that Cornwall’s funding would be maintained have been long forgotten. Surely this is not a surprise to anyone, but it is to Cornwall’s detriment.

As an avid viewer of the Budget and Spring or Autumn statements, I always find it of interest and hugely frustrating that the Chancellor invariably takes pleasure in announcing new large-scale funding initiatives and opportunities in mainly urban towns or cities in the north of England, which often form part of the ‘Blue Wall’, but there are rarely mentions of towns such as Penzance, Falmouth or Bodmin. Cornwall in general doesn’t seem to be on the wider political agenda any more and we didn’t even get funding for the stadium.

In terms of agricultural funding, things are a little better, with the EU funding levels frozen at £2.4 billion until the end of this parliament. However, in real terms this has been eroded by inflation and funding is now focused primarily on environmental schemes rather than core food production, with food security not being seen as a risk.

None of the main political parties has announced their thoughts as to what the level of funding might be for the next parliament and – whilst the National Farmers Union (NFU) and Country Land and Business Association (CLA) are pushing for more – all recognise that funds are tight.

What most are looking for is some long-term commitments to the sector. Agriculture is a longterm, generational industry where certainty of agricultural strategy and funding is critical for the necessary investment to be made. Unfortunately, politics is more than ever seemingly about the right here, right now.

So, have the Conservatives taken the Cornish and rural vote for granted? I will let you decide, but it would seem worth a question when prospective candidates knock on your door shortly.

Finally, will a change in government be good for Cornwall and the agricultural community? I suspect we shall soon see.

For more information, call 01872 276477 or visit pkf-francisclark.co.uk

Cornwall Farm Machinery has been appointed as a distributor for Ifor Williams Trailers (IWT) which has a global reach through its market-leading products.

Rob Hattam, the general manager of Cornwall Farm Machinery, says the tie-up makes great business sense because of the shared interests and overlapping customer base of the two companies.

Formed in 2010 and about to mark its 15th anniversary next year, Cornwall Farm Machinery has become a ‘go-to’ dealership for the agricultural community right across the county.

Rob says: “The addition of Ifor Williams Trailers range to our repertoire can only reinforce that confidence. We’re very excited to be working together with the IWT team.”

The Ifor Williams Trailers products are being sold from Cornwall Farm Machinery’s main depot in Truro, conveniently located off a main road at Carland.

It is also the official supplier for the large central and southern areas of Cornwall.

The company also operates a parts outlet for agricultural machines based in Longrock, Penzance, and it has a Country Store at the Truro depot supplying equine, pet, clothing and footwear, tools and hardware, garden and Stihl products.

Like IWT it is an independent family-owned firm, employing a 19-strong workforce offering the complete package from initial inquiry to sales and after-sales support services.

Rob, who has been with Cornwall Farm Machinery for eight years, is delighted that they have joined Ifor Williams Trailers’ 50-strong network of distributors across the UK.

IWT has global reach with its market-leading products – made in its six factories in Denbighshire and Flintshire, in north Wales. They are sold in outlets across Europe and as far afield as Australia and New Zealand

First established in 1958, it is Britain’s largest manufacturer of trailers up to 3500kg gross weight, delivering trailers for a wide variety of purposes.

HOOKING UP WITH IWT

A leading agricultural machinery company in Cornwall clinches a new deal with Europe’s top trailer brand.

secured when customers part-exchange their old Ifor Williams trailer for a new one.

“The reliability of their trailers coupled with their attention to detail in design and manufacturing, has ensured that generations of families have chosen Ifor Williams Trailers as their preferred trailer brand, time and time again.”

They are without doubt a market leader at home and abroad.

It invests heavily in research and development to produce the most sought after trailers designed to meet the needs of real people doing real jobs.

Rob Hattam says: “They are without doubt a market leader at home and abroad. You will see their trailers wherever you go in the world.

“We’re delighted to hear that Ifor Williams Trailers have invested £14 million in creating a new Genuine Parts Hub which will have a huge impact in terms of the rapid delivery of genuine spare parts.

“The exceptionally high quality of their range is reflected in the unsurpassed high trade in values

Ifor Williams Trailers sales manager Lois Wynne adds: “We’re delighted to be working with the progressive and positive sales team led by Rob Hattam at Cornwall Trailer Centre, the new subsidiary of Cornwall Farm Machinery.

“They’re well-known for the high standard of their customer service which gives us the confirmation and confidence that they will look after our customers exceptionally well.”

Carland: 01872 51913

Longrock: 01736 719440 cornwallfarmmachinery.co.uk

RAISING THE BAR

Ruth Huxley, founder of Cornwall Food & Drink and the Great Cornish Food Store, explains how a new initiative is helping our agri-food and fishing businesses become best in class.

The food and drink industry across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is an economic powerhouse boasting an annual turnover of more than £2 billion.

With our Great Cornish Food – Raising the Bar programme we aim to build on the success and resilience of this vital sector, which accounts for almost one in five jobs west of the Tamar.

We also want to showcase to the world everything that is brilliant about the great produce from the peninsula and the islands.

The programme has been created thanks to an investment of more than £500k from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme, which is managed by Cornwall Council and funded by the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Our project launched in March this year and is being delivered by our team at the Great Cornish Food Store in Truro.

We have hit the ground running at a crucial time. The food and drink industry faces headwinds in the shape of subsidy reform, the need to decarbonise and cost pressures.

We want our agri-food and fishing businesses to be the best in class and our project aims to achieve this by showcasing, sustaining and evolving the sector in a new and engaging way, delivered by people in the industry, for the industry.

So how are we doing this?

Under our development plan, we are helping new businesses to find their feet - and helping established businesses to develop - by accessing the right expertise, becoming more efficient and productive, reaching the right customers and finding the right people.

We can help all levels of business access professional help from some of the best in their field to crystallise ideas, fill knowledge gaps or just act as a sounding board.

A large chunk of the project’s budget is being invested straight into businesses via our easy-access small grants programme which is already fully allocated.

We are creating the brand new Great Cornish Food Awards to shine a light on those who excel in ways that really matter, recognising the standard-bearers and sharing the secrets of their success.

We are developing a Great Cornish Food Academy, to inspire budding food entrepreneurs and attract new talent into the industry, including showcasing the range of career opportunities available to the next generation as well as older people considering a career change.

We can help you find and keep the right people, pay them better, find new markets, build your brand, tread more lightly on the planet, receive the recognition you deserve and improve your bottom line.

And we can help you become more green and clean. Cornwall has all the tools to forge ahead in the race against climate change and to become a leader in the low-impact food systems the world desperately needs.

We are developing a Great Cornish Food Academy, to inspire budding food entrepreneurs and attract new talent into the industry,

And we are bringing the industry closer together with a defined purpose. Prior to closing on April 1 this year, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership commissioned a farming, fisheries and food insights report which will help shape food strategy and investment across the county and islands.

To help us develop this strategy we are creating an industry-led Food Board to ensure the effective direct participation of businesses across the sector.

So, we say to anyone who runs a food, drink, farming or fishing business in Cornwall and Scilly or is thinking of setting one up - we can help you in many ways.

Great Cornish Food is promoting local pioneers in net zero and regenerative farming, sustainable fishing, conservation, biodiversity and circular economies.

We can show you the opportunities that renewable energy generation, new technologies and space exploration can provide for food, drink, farming and fishing and offer you the right connections to make it happen.

If you are – or know of – a food, drink, fishing or farming business in Cornwall or Scilly and you would like to know more about how to benefit from our sector development programme, we would love to hear from you.

You can contact us at: bepartofit@greatcornishfood.co.uk For more information go to: www.cornwallfoodanddrink.co.uk

A HOTBED OF INNOVATION

MintMech co-founder and director, Laurie Thornton, shares the importance of vocational career paths and bridging the skills gap in engineering.

Historically, there have been two traditional, and somewhat segmented, avenues for pursuing careers: the academic university route and the workplace apprenticeship. But are these traditional windows into work and education the best way to encourage and prepare our young people? With the combination of insight and innovation lying at the heart of success, is now the time to rethink our approach, and encourage different ways to educate and inspire?

At MintMech, we are a firm of engineers in Penryn specialising in delivering safe, bespoke equipment, and operational support for the offshore wind, marine construction, geotechnical drilling, and subsea industries. Within the world of engineering, we as engineers and employers, along with the industry as a whole, are especially aware of the gap that can be created by these two parallel approaches to learning.

The county is a hotbed of innovation and an exciting frontier in engineering.

As the world around us evolves, technology rapidly develops, and the environment faces unprecedented challenges, the demand for professional engineers is ever-growing. Yet despite this, according to recent studies, the numbers of young people pursuing careers in the industry has declined. It seems, therefore, that the recruitment of new engineers across a broad spectrum of disciplines requires a dynamic and progressive response.

Encouraging younger people into the profession and delivering the best of both theoretical and practical worlds, advocating for vocational training could be the key to this educational cleft. Offering an alternative route to purely classroom or workplacebased learning, vocational courses can help to bridge

the gap between tool and trencher and pair rich educational development with invaluable experience in the field.

For those on the engineering fence, this could make all the difference. A comprehensive approach to learning, vocational pathways promote the balanced development of practical skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. Enhancing and finetuning, they offer the exciting and challenging opportunity to apply knowledge and skills in real-life working environments, all the while gaining recognised academic credentials.

Of course, there’s no set way to follow career dreams and everybody’s style of learning is different. That said, it seems that now more than ever, it’s important to showcase all that engineering has to offer as a career and step up to the challenges employers may face. As the industry continues to evolve, vocational training will arguably become more and more important in preparing young engineers for the workforce and supporting the next generation of innovators.

Here in Cornwall, the county is a hotbed of innovation and an exciting frontier in engineering. From revitalised mining industries to the future of floating offshore wind, Cornwall’s engineers are well-placed to support an immersive approach. To take full advantage of this rich field and wealth of experience, it’s important that up-to-date training courses collaborate with local employers to ensure that learning opportunities align with industry needs and provide students with an inspiring platform.

At MintMech, we have always prided ourselves on flying the flag for engineering in Cornwall and beyond and sharing our dynamic, out-of-the-box thinking. Passionate about engaging the next generation of engineers, we work with local schools, colleges, and universities and more to support STEM subjects and make sure anyone interested in engineering can gain a real insight into what the industry looks like.

Believing in the power of personal and professional growth, this also plays a huge role in the foundation of our team. Driven by innovation and powered by people, we support the professional development of all our staff and work closely with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). Working across a broad array of projects, we provide unique opportunities and specialist training to continue delivering engineering excellence.

At the forefront of exciting projects within a local and global framework, there is a huge amount of potential for engineering in Cornwall. For young people, the possibilities are endless. Perhaps then, we should be encouraging more conversations with those on the career fence and discuss the challenges they face. Inspiring the next generation, we can then work towards funnelling the correct skillsets into engineering professions and bolstering Cornwall’s place on the global engineering map.

We pride ourselves on flying the flag for engineering in Cornwall and beyond.

Some of the brightest young business talent gathered at the Atlantic Hotel in Newquay last month, for the unveiling of Cornwall’s 30 under 30 Class of 2024.

Now in their ninth year, Cornwall Chamber of Commerce received more entries to 30 under 30 than ever before, underpinning the belief that the Duchy truly is a hotbed for innovation and talent.

And we think you’ll agree, as over the following eight pages we profile the winning 30 business men and women. Congratulations to one and all!

THE DUCHY’S BRIGHTEST TOP TALENT

Introducing the winners of Cornwall’s 30 under 30, 2024.

MICHAEL MAWBY

KuasaSemi

Michael Mawby’s vision is to revolutionise the semiconductor industry, pioneering cutting edge software used to develop next generation electronics to combat the global climate crisis.

He graduated from Newcastle University with a first class masters in electrical and electronic engineering. After working for several leading companies including Lyra Electronics and McLaren Automotive, in December 2022 he co-founded KuasaSemi Ltd, a high-tech Cornwall-based technology business, and provider of advanced semiconductor design solutions.

Last September Michael was part of the UK’s firstever semiconductor business delegation to Taiwan, where he met with leading academic and industrial segments of the Taiwan Semiconductor Industry.

He is currently working with an international trade advisor from the Department for Business and Trade to expand the business globally.

MATTHEW BROAD

MintMech

Matt Broad joined the MintMech team as a graduate design engineer at the beginning of 2022 and has swiftly made himself a highly-valued member of the team, being promoted to team design engineer last year. Championing Cornish industry and working with a global client base, Matt’s work includes all elements of mechanical engineering and technical problem solving.

Among the big projects last year, Matt worked on the design and fabrication of a temporary works grillage to support the construction of a new road bridge in Germany and also spent a month in Japan as a project engineer on a deepwater geotechnical drilling campaign.

KATE PASSMORE

Cornish Explorers

A shining example of what can happen when passion meets purpose. Kate Passmore is not just a business owner, but a leader, guide and “advocate for nature”.

Kate’s love for the outdoors drove her to create Cornish Explorers, a venture that embodies her adventurous spirit and entrepreneurial drive.

From digital marketing to writing, from business strategy to web design and beyond, Kate has honed her expertise in various domains. However, it was her interest in walking, the benefits of the outdoors, and nature connectedness that sparked the idea for Cornish Explorers—a platform aimed at building a vibrant community of outdoor enthusiasts in Cornwall.

MADELEINE TRESTRAIL

The Art Café

As the young owner of an emerging and thriving café business in Penzance, Madeleine Trestrail has already established a loyal customer base and is well on the way to transforming her establishment into a creative and welcoming community hub with a focus on wellbeing.

Even during the winter months which are notoriously difficult for hospitality businesses, Madeleine has grown her business and is now providing three jobs for other young locals. She uses Cornish products wherever possible.

She is currently studying for additional counselling qualifications on top of her degree in Human Psychology, in order to emphasise the mental health and wellbeing aspects of her business. She has plans for mindfulness workshops, support group meetings and more.

HARRY BUTTON

BrowZ By Harry

Harry Button opened his first salon in 2019, aged just 19, taking on a space in the heart of Truro and quickly building a loyal client base. And while the beauty industry was hit hard by lockdown the following year, a mixture of Harry’s resilience and customer loyalty saw him emerge even stronger.

He has since outgrown his original salon, securing a much bigger space with greater accessibility and visibility, whilst managing to remain right in the centre of Truro.

Harry has worked in collaboration with one of the top beauty companies in his sector, providing them with masterclasses for new people coming into the industry.

GEORGE CALVERT Wildanet

Over the past three years with the company, George Calvert is credited with having played “a pivotal role in propelling Wildanet’s significant growth”.

Among his many achievements, George spearheaded the development and refurbishment of the internet service provider’s training academy, which is a first of its kind in the south west, including the first ever telegraph pole field in Cornwall.

A testament to his “visionary leadership” is the successful creation of a new apprenticeship programme in collaboration with Truro & Penwith College, an initiative which has proven to be a resounding success, onboarding over 20 apprentices in 2023, with ambitious plans to double this number in 2024.

Has also positively impacted the lives of hundreds of people in Cornwall.

ALICE NIGHTINGALE

Boaz Studio

Alice Nightingale has played a fundamental role in the success and continued growth of Truro-based interior design company, Boaz Studio.

She has demonstrated “fantastic work” growing her industry knowledge across numerous interior projects including residential, hospitality, retail, education, and healthcare sectors.

An advocate for sustainable design, Alice also drove Boaz to becoming the first interior design studio in Cornwall to gain B Corp accreditation.

While her main focus is interior design, working in a small company she has a number of strings to her bow and excels as a graphic designer, leading Boaz’s marketing and social media efforts. She even lends a hand in the finance department!

JAMES DOWRICK

Dowrick Electrical

James Dowrick has shown great progression since stepping up from apprentice to director in the familyrun firm. He drives the Dowrick Electrical brand and demonstrates “a rare ability to function with customers as well as in a leadership role”.

Among a growing list of achievements, James successfully delivered on a full rebrand in 2022, which has become a catalyst for growth. Within the first 12 months of the rebrand, Dowrick’s customer base increased by 9%.

He also moved the business operations to a new 2,500 sq ft industrial unit, which has allowed for bulk purchasing, which subsequently increased the profit margin by 10%.

AMELIA NELSON

Area 21 Design and Social Media Management

Aged just 19, last September Amelia Nelson set up her own business offering a graphic design and social media service to karting teams and karting athletes.

A keen karter herself since the age of 11 and a winner of the South West Championships, Amelia has broken down barriers in what is typically a male-dominated sport, to pioneer and champion women’s motorsport across the south west and beyond.

A Young & Talented Cornwall recipient for three years in a row, Amelia is now an active ambassador encouraging other girls into motorsport and recently met Queen Camilla.

RUBY BANKS

Smart Working Revolution

Ruby Banks’ dedication and passion for her work have not only propelled the success of the business but have also positively impacted the lives of hundreds of people in Cornwall.

Ruby joined Smart Woking Revolution (SWR) as a participant on the job seekers confidence building programme. Her enthusiasm made her standout when she applied for the role and in the interview she showed her passion for the programme that had benefited her personally.

Her tireless efforts to connect job seekers with suitable employment has made a tangible difference to the lives of many, contributing to local economic growth. With Ruby onboard, SWR has supported over 300 people in Cornwall and found jobs for more than 70.

YAZ AHMED

Coodes Solicitors

Yaz Ahmed’s interest in law came about when as a teenager he was exposed to the legal transactions in his family’s business.

He has now completed his law degree, LPC and Masters in Law. The final part in his qualification journey is his training contract which once completed will allow him to obtain his solicitor qualification.

Beyond his professional achievements, Yaz is actively involved in community initiatives and charitable work and has used his legal expertise to contribute to pro bono services for those in need, embodying the spirit of giving back.

He is also a member of the Cornwall Young Professionals group and a committee member of the Junior Lawyer Division of the Cornwall Law Society.

KATIE RAMAGE

Paul Morgan & Associates Wealth Management

Katie Ramage joined Paul Morgan in September 2021 as an apprentice and had an instant impact at the financial adviser.

Towards the end of her apprenticeship, she was tasked with creating a business improvement project, so she developed a health and wellbeing programme which proved so successful that it is still being implemented today.

Known for her determination and business acumen, Katie was promoted three times in 2023 and is now in her new role as client servicing manager. She also mentors Paul Morgan’s current apprentice, leads on its community financial education programme in local schools and is the creative driver behind the company’s marketing and social media.

FAYE HOOKINS

St Petrocs

Homelessness support coordinator Faye Hookins has received “glowing” feedback since joining St Petrocs during the Covid19 pandemic, with people saying no one else was able to help them, but she did.

The work Faye does day to day can be extremely challenging. However, she is always cheerful, committed, dedicated and determined to help people who are sleeping rough in Penzance.

Recent achievements include setting up a dedicated women’s space at Breadline, St Petrocs’ resource centre in Penzance. “It has been such an important addition,” she says. “I always knew it was needed but I didn’t realise how important it was until we started it. It is a lifeline for women.”

ALICE NIGHTINGALE

JAMES DOWRICK

AMELIA NELSON

KATIE RAMAGE

YASIN AHMED

FAYE HOOKINS

JENNA SMITH

Kier Construction

A newbie to the construction industry when she joined Kier in August 2022, Jenna Smith has developed and grown into something of a true champion for the sector.

Working in a business development role, Jenna has engaged with clients and consultants to gain a thorough understanding of the industry.

She recently became chair of the Cornwall branch of the Construction Excellence South West Generation 4 Change group, organising events and informing the younger generation about the different routes into the construction industry.

She also works closely with Truro & Penwith College to support and develop student’ understanding of the roles in the construction industry.

EWAN MCKINSTRY

Truro

& Penwith College

Ewan Mckinstry’s unique qualities are said to bring “a breath of fresh air” to the Career Development sector and Career Zone at Truro & Penwith College, where

his calm and measured character seamlessly bridges the gap between staff and students.

Among Ewan’s remarkable achievements is a Level 6 qualification in careers guidance and development, making him one of the youngest individuals in the country to have achieved this endeavour.

An innovative approach is evident in championing new technologies to make careers guidance engaging and he spearheaded the use of VR headsets for crucial employability elements such as interview techniques, effectively helping students in becoming proficient at public speaking.

EMILY BROWN DP Engineering

Emily Brown entered this year’s 30 under 30 to encourage more women into what is a maledominated industry. Having completed her FdSc Engineering, Emily spent the next three years working in a pub, deterred by a tough jobs market and lack of confidence in entering such a male-dominated world. However, having worked at DP Engineering for six years now, she says applying for a job in engineering was the best thing she has ever done.

EMILY BROWN

TOM HARVEY-JAMES

EWAN MCCINSTRAY

KELSEY HENDERSON

JENNA SMITH

KELLIE WILLIAMS

Just six months after joining as trainee CNC setter, she was made a quality technician and 18 months ago became a production engineer, managing a team of ten people.

“Bite the bullet,” she says, “and show them what us females can do!”

KELSEY HENDERSON

Doodles Kids Club

Like so many people, Kelsey Henderson found lockdown during the Covid pandemic a particularly anxious and difficult time. However, she had always loved art as a distraction and began creating hand sanitiser key rings which she provided to the NHS and Morrisons stores. She then began to create other art products which proved a huge success and are stocked on Padstow high street.

Art helped Kelsey so much that she wanted to share the benefits with local children, so she started the Doodles Kids Club. These sessions have had some amazing feedback, with parents saying how their children had grown in confidence since joining Kelsey’s group.

TOM HARVEY-JAMES

Groundsure

Tom Harvey-James has been with the business for seven years, having started out as a mining consultant for Mining Searches UK before its acquisition by Groundsure in 2020.

Over the 18 months he has moved out of his comfort zone into a more customer-facing role and is said to be a “real asset” to the business. A natural communicator, Tom is driven by his passion for his subject and desire to share this to both educate and advise clients and the wider community. He represents Groundsure on many levels, from his technical understanding of data and products, to delivering training, creating content and organising events.

KELLIE WILLIAMS

Cornwall Cricket

Kellie Williams’ journey is a “testament to her indomitable spirit and her unwavering commitment to fostering inclusivity and excellence within Cornwall’s cricketing landscape”.

Beginning her journey with the Cornwall Cricket Board in April 2020 as the women and girls development officer, Kellie has swiftly emerged as a beacon of empowerment. Key achievements include having created a strategy to enable a 500% increase in the number of girls aged 7-18 taking part in girls specific cricket activity across Cornwall within a 12 month period.

More recently, Kellie has enjoyed becoming a cricket coach developer, allowing her to share her passion

for sports development by educating aspiring volunteers from all backgrounds to become proficient and competent cricket coaches.

KENSA JEWELL

Stephens Scown

Kensa Jewell’s impact at Stephens Scown extends beyond her contribution as a trainee solicitor in the firm’s inheritance and trust disputes team.

Her “dedication, empathy and energy” are said to be an important part of her client work. She is regularly involved in new initiatives and opportunities to further improve the client service offering, adding value both to the firm and to the clients whom she ably serves.

Kensa also played a key role in Stephens Scown achieving B Corp certification last year and is a ‘B Corp Champion’, one of a select group of employees who share their knowledge to not only improve practices within the firm, but to help external organisations implement their own changes.

An inspiration for disabled and able-bodied people alike.

EMILY DAVIDSON

Castle Beach Café

Since taking ownership of the Castle Beach Café in Falmouth in September 2021, Emily Davidson has significantly increased footfall and turnover.

Emily exemplifies everything a top Cornish hospitality business should be. Innovation, community and environmental business practices are just a small part of her holistic approach to business management.

Emily has always prioritised the feeling of community for both customers and staff alike, highlighted by the numerous free events she has set up on the beach.

This commitment to investment in the café’s longevity carries through into environmental factors.

With an already excellent approach to single use plastic, Emily also plans to explore the use of solar energy to sustainably power the café.

JESSICA ROWLEY

Treloweth School

An inspiration for disabled and able bodied people alike, Jessica Rowley has Cerebral Palsy. When she was little, her parents were told she would never walk – but she can. And it this sort of determination that has led her to gaining an apprenticeship at Treloweth School in Redruth to become a teaching assistant, while she is currently also learning to drive.

She “absolutely loves” working with the children and has been given a little girl to work one-to-one with, to hopefully help and inspire.

ROMY-JO JOHNSON

disAbility Cornwall & Isles of Scilly

Romy is an inspirational, dynamic leader, who founded the Humans Cornwall programme in 2021. Humans Cornwall, a service from the disAbility Cornwall & Isles of Scilly charity, addresses the barriers and challenges people can face when returning home after being discharged from hospital.

Initially funded by Public Health as a pilot, the initiative provides a wide range of bespoke practical support packages from deep cleans and declutters of clients’ homes through to advice and care.

Nearly 6,000 discharge and admission avoidance support packages have been provided to date, while Romy’s Humans programme swiftly led to the development of an office-based team and three community based teams of nearly 30 people.

She has demonstrated remarkable innovation, leadership and dedication.

JODIE SMITH

Classic Cottages

Having grown up in foster care, Jodie Smith left the social care system aged 16 to work as a hairdressing apprentice. She was introduced to the hospitality sector while working for eight years in the office at the Budock Vean Hotel, while also holding down various other part-time jobs. It was during this time her young daughter inspired her to go to university and better her career, “so I could work fewer hours for more money and spend more time with her”.

And she has never looked back, graduating with first class honours from Falmouth University. Securing her “dream career” as an area manager at Classic Cottages in December 2022, she now looks after a growing portfolio of more than 90 holiday lets.

NAOMI JOHNS-DYER

Truro & Penwith College

Naomi Johns-Dyer is the youngest programme team leader (head of department) in the history of Truro & Penwith College. Since joining the college in 2021, her ascent to lead the mathematics, computing and engineering department has been “nothing short of stellar”.

Initially employed as a lecturer on the college’s software development programmes, it soon became obvious that Naomi was an inspirational lecturer and by her second year had been promoted to deputy team leader, with a focus on curriculum development.

From this academic year, she was promoted to head of department, comprising 56 members of staff covering subjects including GCSEs, A levels, apprenticeships and BSc programmes.

JESSICA CHANCE

Steren School of Ballet

Having graduated from the Royal Academy of Dance with a BA Hons in Ballet Education, Jesssica Chance set up her own dance school in Camborne, enrolling 130 students in the first three months.

Her passion, professionalism and enthusiasm has been evident and last December Jessica opened a second dance school, in Penzance. Her vision is to make dancing as inclusive as possible and she has also set up a community interest company, offering 150 children dance camps and a hot meal during the summer holidays.

SARAH CARBIS

PKF Francis Clark

Sarah Carbis exemplifies the qualities sought in 30 Under 30 recipients. As a manager at accountancy firm PKF Francis Clark, she has demonstrated remarkable innovation, leadership and dedication to both her professional endeavours and the community at large.

She completed her chartered accountancy qualification over a period of three years (the minimum length of a training contract) with first time passes in all exams alongside working a full-time job.

She has become a role model for aspiring young professionals, mentoring several junior members of the firm who are enrolled on apprenticeships and has been instrumental in launching a local young professionals networking group.

MEGAN SEARLE-THOMAS

Whyfield

Megan Searle-Thomas was promoted to the marketing manager role at Truro-based accounting firm Whyfield at the beginning of 2024, just under two years of being with the company.

Within the first few weeks of being at Whyfield, Megan quickly added her creative stamp to the firm’s social media, allowing the personality of the brand and the team to shine through. This then led to a comprehensive brand refresh, updated website, updated social and email marketing designs, refined tangible marketing materials, and beautiful new office interiors.

Away from the office, Megan takes on extra marketing projects on a volunteer basis. Most recently, she volunteered for ten months with Tight Lines, a CIC providing mental health support to the people of Cornwall.

DANNY TOMKINSON

Pink Liquidation

Danny Tomkinson formed his business while still at school. Since then, he devoted his time and energy to developing Pink Liquidation into what it is today – a

national wholesaler buying clearance and bankrupt goods and redistributing them to retailers, giving these shops much higher margins than they otherwise would have got from traditional wholesalers. Last year, he redistributed £915k of stock.

Also last year, Danny flew to Germany to attend his first international wholesale fair, making contacts and learning more about international trade. He has built up a WhatsApp broadcast of over 4,000 traders, from people running an ecommerce store from their bedroom, to multi-chain shops.

TAMSIN BEST

Stephens Scown

The scope of Tamsin Best’s work as a valued part of the Stephens Scown family team is a small element of her wider impact across the organisation and outside of work.

Joining the law firm straight from her Legal Practice Course (LPC) in 2020, Tamsin’s empathy and dedication to support her clients are key factors in the family team’s shortlisting in the Family Law Awards.

One client said she was “worth her weight in gold”.

Tamsin has also acted as a trustee on the firm’s Trustee Board and has spoken at events representing the family team and gives updates to other professionals to share her knowledge and experience of the sector.

JODIE SMITH

NAOMI JOHNS DYER

SARAH CARBIS

DANNY TOMKINSON

MEGAN SEARLE-THOMAS

NEW CHEF DE CUISINE

The St Moritz Hotel and Cowshed Spa has appointed a new chef de cuisine.

Jake Arthur Grove’s CV demonstrates a range of high-level culinary experience at top end restaurant and hotel establishments, most recently at the Michelin-starred Outlaws Fish Kitchen in Port Isaac. He also spent some time in Australia where he took on the role of Chef de Partie in the world-renowned restaurant Sepia in Sydney.

He has also held the position of head chef at Montagu Arms Hotel Terrace Restaurant in Hampshire where he sharpened his management and business skills.

Director of operations, Sarah Last, said: “Jake is our ideal chef for St Moritz Hotel. He has worked here in the past and his dedication, spirit and creativity are unparalleled.”

STEPHENS SCOWNS PROMOTIONS

South west law firm, Stephens Scown LLP, has announced the promotion of 11 individuals, including five new partners, a new senior associate, and five new associates across a range of areas and specialisms.

Promoted to partner are Chris Morse, a trusted advisor in employment law; Tamara Hasson, who supports clients with inheritance and trust disputes; Susan Reynolds, team leader of Stephens Scown’s rural sector team; Guy Michell, who specialises in construction matters and Alex Mackie, chief operating officer, who becomes the first non-lawyer to be made partner in the firm’s history.

HEAD OF TAX

Azets has strengthened its regional senior leadership and tax team by appointing Amy Buckley as head of tax for the central and west regions.

In her new role, Buckley will lead the tax service line across regional 16 offices, including Truro.

Having been with Azets since 2022, Buckley was previously private client tax partner at the firm, based across the firm’s south Wales offices.

Regional MD, Richard Goddard, said: “The appointment of Amy reflects our commitment to support our ongoing growth, so we can continue to meet the needs of our expanding business. I look forward to working with Amy closely,

Also promoted are James Rickard in Stephens Scown’s corporate team, specialising in the food and drink sector, who has been promoted to senior associate, while five new associates have been named as rural specialist in the real estate team - Tom Graham and Lydia Hart, from the specialist social housing sector team, Megan Julier and James Stone from the private client team, and Victoria Wells from the dispute resolution team.

In addition, Tom Biddick, who joined Stephens Scown in May 2023, will be taking over the role of leading the firm’s private client team. An experienced solicitor with expertise in private client matters, Tom has strong links to the farming community across the south west and acts for a number of farmers in the region.

alongside our team of talented partners and directors, to continue to grow our service offering to the benefit of our clients and teams.”

HEADFORWARDS DIGITAL ACADEMY

Headforwards is launching a digital academy to deliver tech training and digital upskilling to the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly workforce.

The project is part of Digital Futures, which has received £2 million from the

MEDTECH FUNDING

A MedTech business that is working closely with Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust (RCHT), has received a £200k equity investment from the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Investment Fund (CIOSIF).

The funding is part of a £400k round and will be used to support job creation and the overall growth of the business.

Peninsula Medical Technologies (PenMed) produces medical equipment and technology to improve the safety and outcomes of patients in the critical care environment. The company has been awarded an Innovate UK Biomedical Catalyst Grant for project costs of £1.2 million to take its modular ventilation/ anaesthesia device into clinical trials.

UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund as part of Cornwall Council’s Good Growth Programme.

Headforwards Digital Academy provides the opportunity for people to go ‘from zero to tech hero’ on a bootcamp that takes participants to the point of being a junior developer, as well as delivering upskilling in functional tools for people across the region.

SPACE AGENCY COLLABORATION

A Cornish company has launched a new initiative using space technology developed in partnership with the ESA (European Space Agency).

Remote Planet, from Saltash-based tech company Secure Innovation Group, gives customers a customisable solution to monitor and manage critical assets and infrastructure remotely, from anywhere in the world.

Developed in collaboration with the ESA, the technology harnesses multiple satellite networks, optimising Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and proprietary hardware to offer remote access for customers via a secure online portal.

• A capital gains gift holdover relief to enable gifts of such properties to be made and capital gains tax mitigated (as gifts of assets are treated as sales at market value for capital gains tax purposes).

Significant income tax relief available on large proportions of the purchase price of the property, and on the cost of furnishings.

• The higher-rate income tax relief on finance costs (e.g. mortgage interest) not applying as they do for other residential lettings.

• The possibility for joint owners to flexibly share profits year-on-year and not be have to be taxed on line with the ownership percentages.

• The profits being ‘relevant earnings’ for personal pension contribution purposes.

Headforwards co-founder, Toby Parkins, said: “We know there is a gap in tech skills for highly skilled people and a need for Cornwall’s workforce to gain more competency in using digital tools. Our Digital Academy will deliver training at both levels to upskill and deliver effective digital transformation.”

The 16-week Software Development Bootcamp will be delivered in collaboration with Code Institute. Launching in September with full-time and part-time options, it is open to those employed or living in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly over the age of 16 with eight fully funded and 16 part-funded places. Those who do not meet the criteria are still encouraged to make contact if interested, as the full project scope extends beyond the initial criteria.

Secure Innovation MD, Tony Westington, said: “The need for secure and efficient asset management has never been greater. With its innovative technology, Remote Planet is set to revolutionise the way we control and manage assets, enabling customers to do so remotely, effortlessly, and securely.”

It was announced by the Chancellor on Budget Day that the FHL regime is to be abolished from 6 April 2025, and that anti-avoidance rules will apply to some disposals (presumably to catch claims for the capital gains tax 10% rate) from 6 March 2024.

This is a huge blow to FHL owners. At the time of writing we have no detail as to what the change will look like, and particularly if a new Government (post the upcoming General Election) would continue with the proposals.

FHL owners will need to keep abreast of developments, and of the abolition takes place, seek experienced and proactive tax advice to consider their position going forwards, asking themselves: whether the continuation of the business is viable, if so, how the business should be structured going forwards to make it as tax efficient as possible.

KELLY KINGSTONE (PROJECT DIRECTOR), TOBY PARKINS AND RHONWEN DAWES (TRAINING COORDINATOR)

MINISTERIAL VISIT

The Secretary of State for Education Gillian Keegan was welcomed to Truro and Penwith College to see the impact of investment in skills for Cornwall’s students firsthand.

The Education Secretary visited Truro and Penwith College’s three campuses in Penzance, Truro and Bodmin, meeting staff, students and apprentices.

She attended a roundtable in Penwith with local employers and education providers to understand skills needs in Cornwall and how the Government can support businesses to get the workers they need to thrive.

She also formally opened the college’s new STEM and Health skills centre on the Bodmin campus, which has been backed by £3.78 million from the government Local Enterprise Partnerships.

The new centre will enable young people in Cornwall to break into the industries of the future, and has partnered with mineral company Imerys to recruit 12 apprentices to do their Level Three Engineering Technician apprenticeship at the centre.

Keegan said: “Cornwall has such a proud history of enterprise, hard work and

innovation and it’s been inspiring to meet so many fantastic young people getting the skills they need for the future.

“I’ve been working with my colleagues across the south west to deliver skills and opportunity.

“Truro and Penwith College shows that when employers work together with education providers, they can really power growth and public services in an area, and these new facilities are transformative for North Cornwall.”

NEW COLLEGE PRINCIPAL

The Cornwall College Group (TCCG) has appointed Rob Bosworth as its new principal and chief executive, following the retirement of the current Principal, John Evans.

Bosworth joins TCCG from Exeter College, where he served as deputy CEO.

“I am absolutely delighted to be appointed as the new principal and chief executive of The Cornwall College Group,” he said.

“It has been overwhelming to experience the passion and commitment of the staff, and a real joy to meet the incredible students. I would like to take this

opportunity to thank John Evans for his contribution to the region as chief executive.”

Patrick Newberry, the TCCG chair of governors, said everyone was “delighted to welcome Rob to the Group”.

He said: “His outstanding track record in further education and his integral role in the success of his current college assure us that he will build on the excellent work John Evans has done and ensure we remain an excellent college for learners and our community.”

Bosworth starts at TCCG on July 1, with Evans leaving on July 12.

NATURAL LEARNING

Newquay was the location for a new style of business support developed by the University of Exeter, which is all about getting outside and doing things differently to spark new ideas in your business.

The Innovation in the Wild series takes enterprises into “spaces that invigorate and inspire”, creating the right conditions for generating thinking and discussion within peer-to-peer networks.

The Headland Hotel hosted the latest event recently which included a workshop with Professor Allen Alexander and bodyboarding with Newquay Activity Centre.

Professor Alexander, who is head of the Sustainable Futures team at the University of Exeter Business School in Penryn, said: “I originally conceived these sessions to encourage new approaches in learning about innovative ideas and theory, but now they have become so much more…we are so pleased to be able to use the natural capital of the southwest for such beneficial economic purposes.”

It’s all go down here at Chamber HQ, I have some very exciting developments to update you on.

Firstly, Cornwall Chamber has entered into a joint venture with British Business Bank to launch Cornwall Angel Network.

You’re hopefully familiar with what an Angel investor is, but think Dragon’s Den – an individual invests their own money in a business in return for a minority stake.

Establishing a more diverse investment community in Cornwall could really help our businesses grow and support higher levels of equity investment.

Investment is an area where many businesses feel out of their depth, so I’m confident that through this new partnership we can play a part in unlocking new opportunities for businesses – particularly our SMEs.

Another very exciting development is that we have teamed up with our good friends here at Business Cornwall Magazine to revive the much-loved Cornwall Business Awards.

We’d love to celebrate Cornwall’s amazing businesses with as many of you as possible at the Atlantic Hotel Newquay on October 24. Keep an eye on our website for booking and award entry details.

I must flag an important piece of insight from the British Chambers.

Recently, Director General, Shevaun Haviland returned from a five-day trip to the US to explore opportunities for UK businesses.

She noted that the US is paying more attention to supply chain security following disruptions caused by the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and shifting geopolitical tensions in China and the Middle East.

The US has a strong focus on energy, tech, finance, healthcare, life sciences, security, and defence. This spells great opportunity for Cornwall given we are pioneering world-leading innovation in many of these sectors.

Shevaun stressed that it isn’t just about guaranteeing the supply of raw materials, but also small and large components and the intellectual property rights that underpin manufacturing.

Finally, I am delighted to announce that the King has just announced that he is delighted to renew his patronage of British Chambers of Commerce. King Charles really does appreciate and exalt what businesses do for communities, prosperity, jobs and innovation – particularly, may I say, the type of civic-minded businesses that are members of their Chambers of Commerce!

JOIN? Cornwall Chamber

REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL

If you’re in a position to explore opportunities in the US market, now would be a great time to do so. If you need support with this, please get in touch with us hello@cornwallchamber.co.uk.

I’ve not got enough space to go into detail about all the amazing events we have coming up, so I’ve listed a few below, but do have a look on the Chamber website for further details.

Our Productivity conference takes place at Scorrier House, Redruth on Tuesday June 11 and the agenda is brilliant.

Our June BIG Breakfast is on the 12th at Cape Cornwall Hotel.

On June 26, we’ll be at St Mellion Estate in Saltash for a Meet the Neighbour event with Devon & Plymouth Chamber – a great chance to discover business opportunities across the Tamar.

I hope to see you at some of our events, and if we haven’t met before, please do come and introduce yourself.

CORNWALL BUSINESS FAIR

Don’t forget, our annual Business Fair will soon be here. Put July 17 in your diary!

Sponsored by Wildanet, Cornwall Business Fair has become the most diverse, vibrant, and accessible networking event the Duchy has to offer.

This year, we’re back at Truro School and it’s shaping up to be another fantastic event with 50 exhibition stands and lots of opportunity for networking.

The day starts with a huge networking breakfast sponsored by Coodes. That’s a separate bookable event, so do visit our website to secure your place if you’d like to start the day right.

See you there!

cornwallchamber.co.uk/cornwall-business-fair-2024

There is much to look forward to, says Cornwall Chamber CEO Kim Conchie. Email: hello@cornwallchamber.co.uk

BEST TRENCHERMAN’S CHEF

Looe-based chef Ben Palmer won the top accolade at the Trencherman’s Awards.

Palmer, head chef at The Sardine Factory, was named Best Trencherman’s Chef at the ceremony held at Bovey Castle.

Other Cornish winners on the night included legendary hoteliers the Polizzi family, who won a Special Contribution award, and eco-chic Scarlet Hotel in Cornwall, which was named Best Trencherman’s Hotel. The Old Coastguard in Mousehole won the award for Best Bar List.

The event was attended by leading south west chefs, restaurateurs, hoteliers, and food and drinks businesses.

Trencherman’s Guide editor Abi Manning said: “It’s always a delight to gather the very best of the south west’s hospitality scene in one room. Their hard work, dedication and passion is the reason the south west enjoys such a stellar reputation for dining, and the awards showcase that.”

In traditional Trencherman’s style, three of last year’s award winners plus the host chef crafted the ceremony’s four-course feast: Andrew Swann of The Castle at Taunton (starter), Rick Toogood of Prawn on the Lawn (fish), host chef Mark Budd of Bovey Castle (main) and Scott Paton of Acleaf (dessert). The quality cooking was paired with fine wines from Hallgarten and Novum, and Cornish beers from Sharp’s. Canapés were served with Classic Cuvée Multi Vintage from Nyetimber, Trevethan Original Dry Gin and Navas Garden Tonic, as well as non-alcoholic alternative Drinks Kitchen Orange Cinchona and tonic.

A NEW FOX

Chef Adam Handling MBE has opened a new gastropub in Cornwall.

The Tartan Fox is on the site of the former Fox’s Revenge at Summercourt, which closed its doors in March.

It is Handling’s second venture in Cornwall, joining his restaurant and bar Ugly Butterfly near St Ives.

Serving modern British food, underpinned by a philosophy of “sustainable, local luxury”, all produce used at the pub

is locally sourced from in and around Cornwall.

Handling said: “I’ve always loved Cornwall, so when this opportunity came up, it was one I just couldn’t refuse. The pub is completely stunning, steeped in history, set in the Cornish countryside with so much land.”

A CORNISH COLLABORATION

St Austell Brewery has signed a three-year deal with the Rick Stein Restaurant Group to supply beer to its venues.

The two businesses have had close working relationships for many years, with the Stein family having run The Cornish Arms in St Merryn for 15 years, which is a St Austell Brewery-owned pub.

Korev, St Austell Brewery’s flagship lager, is now on draught at eight of the 11 Stein’s sites across the UK, including in Padstow, London and Winchester.

Bottled Tribute will also be available as well as Harbour Brewing beers, Arctic Sky and Daymer Bay - both to be supplied on draught in six of Stein’s sites.St Austell Brewery took a minority share in Harbour in 2022, to help grow the company’s south west beer distribution.

Three of the brewery’s beers, meanwhile, came away with medals from the SIBA South West Independent Beer Awards 2024.

Cornish Best (3.4% ABV), Mena Dhu (4.5%) and DIPA Big Job (7.2%), all won silver.

ROYAL CORNWALL SHOW

Royal Cornwall Showground, Wadebridge

The county’s biggest annual event, over three days bringing you the best in entertainment, shopping, competition, food and farming. royalcornwallshow.org

7 BUSINESS CORNWALL LIVE!

Royal Cornwall Showground, Wadebridge

Get ready for the second day of Royal Cornwall with a special business breakfast networking event. A chance to make new connections as well as catching up with existing ones. eventbrite.co.uk

11 THE PRODUCTIVITY CONFERENCE

Scorrier House

Join delegates at the beautiful venue of Scorrier House to explore themes around productivity, including business performance, social sustainability and personnel.

cornwallchamber.co.uk

12 CORNWALL CHAMBER BIG BREAKFAST

Cape Cornwall, St Just Cornwall Chamber’s flagship networking event comes to you from Cape Cornwall Golf Club, with speakers including Ben Clements (Peaky Digital), Lucy Cox (The Acadame) and Alistair Carnegie (Total Energy Solutions). cornwallchamber.co.uk

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

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

EVENTS

June 2024

20 THE PIG DIPPERS

The Pig at Harlyn Bay

Net-swimming and breakfast club for those to who want to start the day fresh! Why not come along, after all, the water’s getting warmer! cornwallchamber.co.uk

20 YP OPEN HOUSE

13

CORNWALL BIG LUNCH

Penventon Hotel, Redruth

Step into the future of skill development as Your Partnerships proudly unveils Truro and Penwith College Future Skills Institute as the headline sponsor. yourpartnerships.co.uk

14 SURF NETWORKING

Newquay, TBC

A morning of surf networking with The Wave Project, Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, CTCC Solutions and Newquay Hypnotherapy. cornwallchamber.co.uk

14

FEMALE BUSINESS OWNERS STRATEGY DAY

Hotel Meudon, Falmouth

Inspiring the confidence to change and create calm in your business so you feel in control, have clarity and focus to reach your Q3 goals. eventbrite.co.uk

Victoria Inn, Roche

A morning of breakfast, banter, and brilliant connections at the original Open House event! Held each month at Victoria Inn in Roche, the birthplace of Your Partnerships. youpartnerships.co.uk

27 PENZANCE BUSINESS BREAKFAST

Jubilee Pool, Penzance

The Penzance Business Breakfast is an opportunity to meet other local businesses and professionals, gain contacts and establish mutually beneficial relationships. eventbrite.co.uk

27 NETWORK HFC

Hall for Cornwall, Truro

Network HfC gathers a free-range collective of individuals from business, creative, tech and media, for an informal monthly get-together. hallforcornwall.co.uk

CONNECTED

Business life photo gallery.

FINANCE IN CORNWALL

Businesses from across the Duchy flocked to the Lighthouse Cinema in Newquay for PKF Francis Clark’s annual Finance in Cornwall conference.

YOUNG AND TALENTED CORNWALL

The latest Young & Talented Cornwall recipients came together at the University of Exeter, Penryn Campus where they were congratulated by Colonel Sir Edward Bolitho, Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall who heads up the initiative.

DEAN HANEY AND JON HURRELL (SELLECTRONICS)

RICHARD WADMAN (PKF FRANCIS CLARK)

IAN JONES (CEO OF GOONHILLY SPACE STATION AND CURATOR OF THE SPIRIT OF TREVITHICK AWARD)

KIM CONCHIE (CORNWALL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE) AND BELINDA SHIPP (CORNISH MARKETING CONSULTANCY)

JANE HARTLEY (CORNWALL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION TRUSTEE)

KATE PRICE (ST AUSTELL BREWERY ) AND MATTHEW KENWORTHY-GOMES (CORNWALL PRIDE & Y&TC PANEL MEMBER)

MATT GREAVES (WILDANET) AND MATTHEW DICKINSON (EVELYN PARTNERS)

PLANET C

University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus was the venue for Cornwall Chamber’s Planet C Conference, looking to help businesses create a positive change.

Photos: Exposure Photo Agency, 07725 875743

PORTHLEVEN FOOD FESTIVAL

The Porthleven Food Festival, presented in partnership with chef Jude Kereama, welcomed thousands of visitors over the weekend (April 26-28) for three days of festival fun.

CARL ROWLINSON (PLANT ONE)

CRAIG BLACKBURN

JOHN BROWN (DON’T CRY WOLF)

KATE KENNALLY (CORNWALL CHAMBER)

KIRSTY PRICE, GEORGIA COCKLE AND ROSIE LEA (CORNWALL CHAMBER)

JASON KNIGHTS

CEO and founder of Knights Media & Public Relations

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG?

Looking back, my childhood aspirations were a hybrid of ideas from joining the Royal Navy as a pilot, becoming a vet, through to Formula One racing influenced by the likes of Senna, Prost, and Mansell. Three very different aspirations but each symbolising excitement, adventure, and passion that has since influenced a fulfilling career to date.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST FULL-TIME JOB?

Before moving to Renishaw plc, Paramo, Rigibore and latterly Lloyd’s Register, I started my career with Cornwall College in Pool as marketing co-ordinator.

HOW DO YOU LIKE TO RELAX?

Finding solace and rejuvenation in Cornwall’s great outdoors, I cherish moments spent on the water. The gentle sway of the River Fal and the soothing sounds of local nature create a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of my work.

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

Apologies to Business Cornwall readers for turning down Cornwall (I do feel Cornwall is becoming a haven for excessive housing development), but for me it would be Lake Wānaka in New Zealand.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER?

The decision to leave a prestigious position with Lloyd’s Register of Shipping and embark on the entrepreneurial journey of starting my own public relations and communications agency with Graham Buckley and Sabina Zawakzki. Leaving the security of a full-time paid job was a daunting prospect, but the rewards far outweighed the uncertainties.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE WORST MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER?

Redundancy – not just once but twice! The emotional toll of losing a job, facing uncertainty about the future, and navigating the job market can be overwhelming. Despite the setbacks, this experience has always helped me step up to something better.

WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT CORNWALL?

Simple! I call it the 3 C’s. It’s the community, culture and cuisine – and yes there’s nothing quite like a proper Cornish Pasty!

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

Difficult choice. For an entertaining evening, ideally I would like to invite more to the table such as Freddy Mercury, Emma Watson, Rick Stein, Claudia Winkleman and John Cleese, and with Natalie Imbruglia on vocals that could be an interesting cohort! But if I had one wish, I would be very happy to sit for a few hours with my late grandma and grandad – I miss them both.

ACCOUNTANCY TAX ADVICE

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.