CHAMBER
SPONSORED BY
cornwallchamber.co.uk
NEWS
A MORAL DILEMMA CORNWALL CHAMBER CHIEF EXECUTIVE, KIM CONCHIE, LOOKS AHEAD TO PLANET C WEEK LATER THIS YEAR. Last week, I heard a story about a local jewellery company in a predicament: the nontoxic glue they have been using for some time is starting to fail, meaning their jewellery has a limited life span. The only alternative it seems is to use a more toxic glue, compromising the company’s green credentials. This type of problem is going to come up more and more often as businesses try and strike a balance between reducing their environmental impact and producing a quality product. We need to change the assumption that ‘green’ always means less effective or compromised on quality. But if the green product really is less effective, should we compromise on quality in favour of protecting the planet? This is exactly the sort of question we’re going to be exploring during Planet C week in September, sponsored by Don’t Cry Wolf.
We’re thrilled to have recruited Green Works Consulting as our project partner across the four days. Their ideas and solutions really resonate with me, and I think they are very well placed to help us support the Duchy’s SMEs navigating their way through the green revolution. Paul Atkinson, cofounder and director of Green Works believes business owners should feel empowered to make changes in whatever scope they can, without having to be perfect straight away. This is so important to remember. In Paul’s words: “Cornwall has great aspirations for the promising potential of geothermal energy, lithium mining or even space travel. “However, we must be aware that we run the risk of a major a disconnect between this end goal and many of the SMEs within our county that don’t feel this reflects what they
can achieve or is relevant to their size, scale, industry, or budget.” I’m really passionate about creating an event that gives every business in Cornwall practical tools to enable them to do their bit for sustainability – regardless of how small they are or what they do.
THE WORKFORCE OF TOMORROW Sustainability is just one piece of the puzzle when looking at the future of business, and I really feel like Cornwall has got behind this lately.
WHY JOIN?
Cornwall Chamber of Commerce is an independent not-for-profit organisation accredited by the British Chambers of Commerce. We solely exist to represent businesses in Cornwall. Our events provide a platform for businesses to connect, create and make valuable business relationships. Membership to the Chamber starts from as little as £17 +VAT per month and provides you with the tools to promote your business. Get in touch today to have a chat about how we can support you and your business.
By the time you read this, Eden will have hosted Boardroom2030 – an event to get Cornwall leading the way in inspiring businesses to imagine what 2030 looks like. Boardroom2030 looks at the power a board has, the role it plays, and how bringing new voices into a boardroom can shake things up. The latter is particularly pertinent to the Chamber’s campaign to let young businesspeople in the Duchy voice their opinions and take the lead on projects. Both our 30 under 30 Awards and Surge of Entrepreneurs networking group for the under 30s have shown just how much talent exists
here. It’s this generation that are the future of business in Cornwall, and we should let them help us shape it. It’s very easy to shut out young voices or disregard new ‘out there’ ideas, but that fresh thinking really can be the key to unlocking the next chapter of a business journey and create some exciting opportunities. Cornwall Business Fair (Wednesday June 15, Falmouth University), sponsored by Wildanet, is this year titled, ‘The Future of Business’ We’re continuing that theme of looking ahead to what the business landscape of tomorrow might look like. The day will include a host of insightful talks and helpful workshops – we still have a few promotional stands left, but grab ‘em quick! See you there: www.cornwallbusinessfair.co.uk
Email: hello@cornwallchamber.co.uk Call: 01209 216006 Online: www.cornwallchamber.co.uk BUSINESS CORNWALL | 43
