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DROPPING THE FILTER A Penryn-based social media agency is taking a stand against the quest for perfection online, by vowing to ‘drop the filter’ on its own images. The team at Oh So Social have SOPHIE KESSELL, KATHERINE GEORGE AND CATHERINE WILSON seen first-hand the effects social media can have on an individual’s mental health, She said: “It’s no secret that I have with the heavily edited and filtered images experienced my own challenges with posted across Instagram and Facebook, for mental health, and I am vocal about raising example, impacting on users’ self-esteem awareness of the impact of social media and overall mental wellbeing. on our mental health across my own channels. So, I thought it was about time An advocate for raising awareness of the we practiced what we preach. importance of mental health, Oh So Social director Katherine George has taken the “As a team, we’re pledging to drop the filter step to protect the Oh So Social team and will no longer be editing images for all from the mental toll of working daily in of our new team photos and any headshots social media, with the hope that others will used across our website, social media, and follow suit. externally, such as for event publicity.”
GOING GLOBAL Global communications agency Clarity has announced that local marketing executives Will Julian-Vicary and Tom Telford have been elevated to new global roles. The two will continue to work out of the Cornwall office and have ambitious plans to continue growing, building upon the creative and innovative tech scene that is burgeoning in the region. Clarity expanded into Cornwall last year, following the acquisition of 3WhiteHats. The Search Social and Analytics (SSA) team grew to 21 people across four Clarity offices, with the Cornwall team making up 13 of those team members. The team is continuing to expand and plans to add six new team members in the coming months, as Clarity expands its global work outside of traditional PR. In his new role as president of digital marketing, former 3WhiteHats MD Telford will oversee global responsibility for ensuring success and growth of Clarity’s digital marketing proposition. Julian-Vicary’s transition to global head of technology will bring a wide variety of new responsibilities, ideating and creating proprietary tech solutions. 38 | BUSINESS CORNWALL
CULTURE CLUB Cornwall’s bid to become UK City of Culture 2025 has moved another step closer with the launch of a new website. Cornwall is among eight regions in the UK vying for the prestigious title having been whittled down from 20 expressions of interest last year. The new website, www.cornwall2025.com, explains the reasons behind Cornwall’s bid, what it hopes to achieve, and showcases the wealth of creative and cultural talent that already exists in Cornwall and how City of Culture status would build on that foundation. The site has been designed by Studio Felt from Lostwithiel and paid for with a grant from DCMS that has been awarded to all bidding regions to support the bidding process. The bid says City of Culture status would generate £119 million of direct benefit to
PHOTO CREDIT: STEVE TANNER Cornwall’s economy and create almost 500 jobs, while continuing to grow Cornwall’s burgeoning creative industries sector. The long-term economic benefits could run into hundreds of millions of pounds, some £870 million in total. Cornwall’s bid is being led by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership whose chief executive, Glenn Caplin-Grey, said: “The culture and the creative industries are a massive social and economic opportunity for Cornwall and being UK City of Culture would be a huge boost for jobs and skills in a region that needs investment to close the gap with the rest of the UK.” The official bid has been submitted and a shortlist will be announced later this month. The winner of City of Culture 2025 will be announced in May.
