Commerce Cornwall - February 2016

FEBRUARY 18, 2016

Paying the price Can Cornwall’s businesses afford the living wage without breaking the bank?

PLUS: Cornwall call centre playing King-makers I Trailblazers for tomorrow I Key appointments 2016 Professional Business Skills Brochure out now

Truro & Penwith College Business The college that works

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NEW BUSINESS | OPINION | NEWS | EVENTS | INTERVIEWS

in this issue . . appointments

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WELCOME

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ON THE JOB

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CHAMBER

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EVENTS

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New businesses

Family businesses

Latest chamber news Cornwall diary dates

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THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2016

Meet the people on the move Business is booming in Cornwall and the need to fill key positions is instrumental to continued market success. Scott Harrison shares a few appointments

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THE PROPERTY PEOPLE: Mark Florey with members of Coodes’ residential property team Johanna Heane (left), Sarah Cowley and Debbie Mills. Photo by Paul Richards.

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OODES Solicitors has further expanded its residential property team with the appointment of Mark Florey.

Based in Coodes’ Truro office, Mark Florey started his career in his home city of Birmingham, before moving to Cornwall. He established Nalders Solicitors’ conveyancing team in Penzance and then moved across to Newquay, where he spent 10 years growing the firm’s business in North Cornwall. Mark Florey said: “Coodes is a highly ambitious firm that is going through massive growth and expanding across the region. As someone who enjoys bringing in new business, that’s very exciting.”

Hotel boss checks in THE ST Moritz Hotel has recruited Martin Clubbe as general manager of the hotel in Trebetherick, near Wadebridge. Martin’s career has taken him to five-star hotels in Switzerland, France and The Dorchester in London. Most recently Martin headed up the opening team at the five-star Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel in Bath.

St Moritz is also welcoming head chef David Williams. David has enjoyed nearly 25 years’ experience in a career that has seen him work alongside Gordon Ramsay and Heston Blumenthal.

Camel Creek move NICOLA Langridge has been appointed marketing executive of Camel Creek Adventure Park, formally Cor nwall’s Crealy.

Nicola brings a wealth of experience to her new position and a breadth of skills that she has developed through running her own graphic design, brand marketing and event management company for the past twelve years. Her background has included working closely with a

wide range of clients from FTSE 100 companies through to charitable organisations.

Cool customer AWARD-WINNING Cornish-based charity Cool Earth has welcomed a new face to its projects team. Liz Daniels has been recruited to work closely with projects manager Hannah Peck to set up, support and monitor Cool Earth’s partnerships, as well as making sure the rest of the team is up to date with what’s going on in the field. Liz will be in regular contact with Cool Earth’s community partners to ensure that Cool Earth’s funding is getting to where it’s needed most. Liz’s past experience includes project leadership in Africa and she has expertise in climate change adaptation and sustainability strategy.

Gem expert sparkles AUCTION house Bonhams has appointed a new jewellery specialist for its South West England and Wales offices. Stephen Ferguson will divide his time between Bonhams’ offices in Truro, Exeter, Bath and Cardiff.

Does your company have an appointment you want Cornwall to know about? Send your appointment news to sharrison@cornishguardian.co.uk

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LEADING THE WAY: Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park owner Patrick Langmaid (centre) became the first UK holiday park owner to become accredited with the Living Wage Foundation.

17%

The difference between salaries being paid here in Cornwall compared to the UK national average

53% Living wage can help to transform economy

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USINESS leaders in Cornwall have welcomed the introduction of a national living wage from April but have warned it could have a negative impact on small businesses in the Duchy.

From April 1, workers aged over 25 earning the national minimum wage will see it rise from £6.70 an hour to £7.20 after the Government announced a new national living wage.

Under Government plans this will continue to rise each year with an aim of reaching 60 per cent of the median wage across the country by 2020, expected to be around £9 an hour.

Some national firms have already introduced the new wage levels while others, including Tesco, have announced that they will be paying above the national living wage.

However, while the living wage has been welcomed by many, there are concerns that the extra costs they place on small firms could prove counter productive.

Kim Conchie, chief executive of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, said: “The Government is introducing the National Living Wage in order to encourage the UK to reward fairly all of our workforce.

This in some ways has a disproportionate impact on the small employers in Cornwall and Scilly, many of whom are in hospitality and agriculture, which have historically found it difficult to generate margins sufficient to pay decent wages.

“Despite this I feel it is the right direction for one of the world’s leading economies to be taking. It is not healthy for Cornwall to be paying our people 17 per cent less than the national average.

“I hope we can share best practice, review our business plans and

collaborate to make this as painless as possible. I hope that in a year’s time we will be applauding the uplift in commitment and productivity of some of our least well-off Cornish colleagues.”

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in Cornwall has gone one step further in calling for the National Living Wage to be a voluntary scheme rather than mandatory to ease the burden.

Ann Vandermeulen, development manager for FSB Cornwall, said: “The living wage is, and should remain an important aspirational goal for firms to strive for.

“More than half – 53 per cent – of small businesses already pay the living wage or above, and are recognising the benefits to their business in terms of staff morale, performance and recruitment, but it should remain a voluntary goal.

“A mandatory living wage would pose considerable risks to small

The percentage of small businesses already paying the living wage or above

businesses in certain sectors, especially retail and health and social care and retail. We want Government to reduce other business costs, which would enable small firms to pass on the savings to their staff in the form of higher wages.”

However, one holiday park owner in Cornwall has shown that the living wage can be achieved by a small business by signing up to the Living Wage Foundation, which sets its living wage at £8.25 an hour.

Patrick Langmaid, owner of Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park in North Cornwall, is the first UK holiday park owner to become accredited with the Living Wage Foundation.

He said: “There has been much hand-wringing and concern about the new minimum wage rate, it’s a step in the right direction and to be welcomed, but there’s still opportunity for businesses to go further and pay the voluntary living wage. Mother Ivey’s shows it is possible to pay the voluntary living wage.

“I’m proud to be a living wage employer and I hope West Country businesses will lead the way and demonstrate that tourism need not be a low pay industry.”

Firms flock back to Cornwall Business Show It’s a view endorsed by Cassie Kemp, account manager from design agency Absolute. After 25 years, Absolute had itself undergone a rebrand and its striking stand design caught the eye of Brian Mihell of Klaus Eco Homes, who was about to build 12 luxury apartments.

After meeting Absolute at the show and outlining his plans, Brian appointed them as his creative agency. They came up with the development’s name and have gone on to be involved in all design aspects of the project, from visual identity to

show-home interior design.

“Our business relationship with Klaus Eco Homes has come as a direct result of meeting at the show,” said Cassie. “We have booked the same position at the Cornwall Business Show 2016. We hope to forge more successful relationships at the show a year on,” said Cassie.

Cornwall Business Show 2016 sponsored by Worldpay will take place on Thursday, March 17, at the Royal Cornwall Showground.

For more details go to cornwallbusinessshow.co.uk

EU priorities BRITISH mid-sized businesses strongly believe Britain’s relationship with the European Union needs reform, a report by financial adviser Grant Thornton suggests. Based on a survey of 125 senior MSB business leaders, the research found that 90 per cent of respondents believe reforms to the UK’s relationship with the EU are needed. In terms of the reforms, 84 per cent of businesses called for the amount of red tape from Brussels to be cut while 80 per cent said the ability of national parliaments to work together to block unwanted European legislation was their top priority.

Overdue invoices The average South West smalland medium-sized enterprise is owed more than £75,270 in outstanding invoices, a new banking report has revealed.

The Lloyds Bank study showed that late invoicing has risen 29 per cent on the previous year and 2016 looks set to get even worse for SMEs. The problem is likely to worsen over the next 12 months, with 29 per cent of small businesses expecting more of their customers to demand deferred payment terms in the next six months.

Hunting for work TWO in five workers across the South West will look for new jobs, with one in five (20 per cent) of workers in the region already actively job hunting.

The findings in a new report, Job Exodus Trends 2016 from Investors in People shows 28 per cent of employees in the region are unhappy in their jobs, with 22 per cent complaining of high workloads.

Ethical dilemma TWO thirds of small- and medium-sized South West businesses do not have any ethics policy in place, a new study has shown. According to the Close Brothers Business Barometer almost three million businesses in the region do not have a formal ethics policy in place, while eight per cent not knowing if they have one at all.

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Overflow Service – which picks up incoming calls the hotel’s own team cannot, so they don’t lose enquiries.

“The show has opened doors into markets we had previously been unable to access. The hospitality trade was one we had been looking at, but we’d been unable to speak to the right people,” said marketing manager Simon Caddy.

“By being at the show we were able to start a conversation with people at an appropriate level and show them the benefits we could offer.”

national news

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STANDS for Cornwall Business Show have sold out in record time.

Managing director Andrew Weaver says its popularity has been driven by the success enjoyed by exhibitors and visitors alike.

Andrew said: “We have great examples of exhibitors gaining significant new clients and visitors have also found services that have helped them transform their businesses.”

Kernow Business Messaging Service gained a prestigious new Cornish hotel client at the 2015 show.

The hotel signed up for the firm’s

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THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2016

new businesses

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RIBBON CUTTING: Sian Cornish has a strong family heritage in the textile industry. From her great-grandparents’ cotton weaving in the Lancashire mills to her grandfather David Lancaster, who was trading with merchants from around the globe in the first part of the 20th century, textiles are in the blood. Photo: Tom Last

Textile artist Sian carries on family tradition Oscar Morse

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ANCASTER & Cornish are artisan textile makers based in Lostwithiel. They handcraft and dye silk ribbons, textiles and larger backdrops using plant-based natural dyes, used primarily for weddings.

Owner Sian Cornish explained: “The wedding industry has changed so much since I got married ten

years ago, with couples now looking much more at the integrity and origin of the special elements they are bringing to their wedding, from the dress and flowers to the finishing touches such as our ribbons. Our silk ribbons add a special finishing touch and can be kept for future generations to treasure.”

Sian has been delighted with the response to her handmade ribbons, coveted not only in Cornwall, but all over the world, with clients from Kazakhstan to Croatia.

Sian has a strong family heritage in the textile industry. From her great-grandparents’ cotton weaving in the Lancashire mills to her grandfather David Lancaster, who was trading with merchants from around the globe in the first part of the 20th century, textiles are in the blood.

Inspired by travels in India and Mexico, Sian continues the family tradition, and combines a passion for colour and textiles with her own ethical twist.

She works with high-quality

organic certified fabrics, lightweight silks, and natural dyes, foraged and gathered where possible from the Cornish countryside where she lives.

The seamless bamboo silk ribbons which form part of her range have a matt finish to one side and slight sheen to the other, giving a luxurious weight and texture to the finished product. They are hand-dyed, torn, frayed and pressed

by Sian to create a distinct feathered edge. Lightweight Habotai silks are bias cut and sewn to

produce continuous lengths. The palette of colours, developed in their Cornwall Studio, evolves with and responds to the seasons.

She added: “Lancaster & Cornish also sell beautiful organic lace trims and we are launching a new range of wedding backdrops later this year, with hand-painted elements and bespoke finishes. I also dye table runners and linen for weddings, and have been delighted to accept commissions to dye bridesmaids’ sashes and accessories.”

Running from 2014-2020, the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Growth Programme is the current round of European funding building on the previous Objective One and Convergence Programmes to deliver smart, sustainable & inclusive growth.

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The European funding available through the Growth Programme is accessed through a series of calls. A call is an open invitation for businesses and other organisations to submit applications against a published specification.

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ForÊdetailsÊofÊcurrentÊcallsÊ&ÊeverythingÊyouÊneedÊtoÊ www.erdfconvergence.org.uk/growth-programme ÊknowÊaboutÊEUÊfundingÊvisitÊourÊwebsiteÊorÊcontactÊusÊ Email: growthprogramme@cornwall.gov.ukÊ Tel: 01872 241379

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Cornwall Pearl brings romance to town with innovative launch

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CORNISH jeweller has celebrated the launch of its new boutique-style store with an unusual giveaway on Truro’s Lemon Quay.

Staff at Cornwall Pearl, based at Cornwall Gold in Redruth, believed that they have found the key to a successful Valentine’s Day. Earlier this month the team caused a stir by handing out more than 300 keys that could unlock a box containing £500 in jewellery.

Shoppers were given keys and instructed to head to Cornwall Gold to see if theirs unlocked the lock, revealing one of the many prizes up for grabs.

Donna Kennedy, manager of Cornwall Pearl, said: “We’re delighted with our new boutique store; we thought a giveaway would be a great way to mark the opening, but wanted it to be a little bit of fun too in the run-up to Valentine’s Day. “It’s going to be fantastic for our team as we won’t know who the winner is going to be.”

Since the key giveaway staff have noticed a steady stream of keyholders come in and try their luck.

Cornwall Pearl is home to the largest collection of pearls in Cornwall and offers an extensive range of freshwater, Akoya, Tahitian and South Sea pearls.

Alongside classically strung necklaces and pearl studs it also offers contemporary designs from the everpopular ‘floating’ necklaces to fashionable pendants and earrings.

Cornwall Pearl also retail unique Cornish Tolgus pearl jewellery made from tin ore sifted from its own mill on-site.

KEY TO SUCCESS: Donna Kennedy from Cornwall Pearl, and the lucky box.

New Businesses in association with Federation of Small Businesses

‘We’re delighted with our new boutique store’ – Donna Kennedy

GetSet back in business FUNDING AVENUE: Matt Giles of GetSet for Growth says help is available for business owners. on more than 1,000 UK businesses.”

Indeed, GetSet’s return will be welcome news to businesses that need support on the road to growth. The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills’ 2014 Small Business survey found that despite 73 per cent of UK SMEs claiming aspirations for growth, only 28 per cent feel confident about entering new markets and almost half have had difficulties in accessing finance to achieve this growth.

For more about GetSet support services, visit www.getsetforgrowth.com/register

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SME businesses,” said Kim Conchie, chief executive of the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce. “Business owners do not want to know the details of the funding, they just want it to be accessible and appropriate and GetSet has always ticked those boxes.”

Matt Giles, GetSet South West project director, said: “There are so many companies in Cornwall who have the potential to take their business to the next level and it’s great to be back in Cornwall with this unique programme of support that’s already proven its impact

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AFTER a brief hiatus which forced it to close its doors in 2015, GetSet for Growth is back in business.

Cornwall business owners are urged to take advantage of the return of its fully-funded specialist service, thanks to a cash injection from the Regional Growth Fund.

GetSet offers new and existing small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) access to an enhanced programme of finance and marketing masterclasses and workshops, including those business owners from the tourism and retail sectors who were previously ineligible for funded support.

In addition to strategic business, marketing and finance guidance, the GetSet service plays an active role in helping Cornwall businesses to access finance for growth.

“GetSet for Growth has provided ideal access to finance solutions for Cornwall’s micro and

THE Cornish region of the FSB has been holding meetings with local MPs representing each area of Cornwall at which members have been able to join the committee to discuss business concerns. Among issues raised were broadband coverage, business rates fairness, adult social care funding, controlled waste regulations for holiday lets, VAT paid by large online businesses, and town centre parking charges.

These meetings will be a regular occurrence so if you feel as a small business owner your MP could do more for you or you have a specific issue you would like to discuss, keep checking the FSB website for more details and come along to one of the face-to-face meetings.

For any member interested in finding out more about auto-enrolment pension scheme for their employees, the East Cornwall branch is holding a talk open to both employers and their employees.

This will support employers in rolling out the scheme within their business and give invaluable advice for small businesses. The event will be held in Looe at 7.30pm on March 2; go to the FSB website to book.

On March 10 at 7pm, members, along with the wider business community, are invited to Kingsley Village at Fraddon for a talk on small business funding available through the Local Action Group (LAG). To book this free event go to the FSB website for Cornwall.

Money is available within Cornwall for start-ups, business expansion and development and it needs to be allocated and used.

The grant process can seem daunting; however, the team at the event are there to guide you through the process.

Grants of up to £35,000 are available to new and existing businesses.

Finally, a great offer for FSB members in conjunction with Pirate FM. Pirate will offer members a 100 per cent enhancement for their advertising costs through Pirate. For example, spend £1,000, Pirate will provide £2,000 of advertising for your business. Additionally any members who place a six- or 12month booking will receive four free interviews in a specialist show broadcast on the digital network a value of £796 as a gesture of goodwill.

Contact Pirate FM and mention you are a FSB member and would like to take up the offer.

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Q&A: Peter Vosper Vospers

Vospers is on a mission to make motoring better Scott Harrison speaks to motor industry leader Peter Vosper,. of Vospers, about the family firm’s humble beginnings which laid the foundations for 70 years of trading success

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OSPERS is a name that is synonymous with the South West motor industry. From its humble beginnings in Looe and Plymouth in 1946, Vospers has enjoyed sustained growth that has helped establish itself as one of the top 50 motor groups in the United Kingdom.

This year the family business is celebrating 70 years in the driving seat, a remarkable achievement that has been recognised with more than 20 manufacturers’ awards for customer satisfaction.

With an established history of looking after disabled customers, this culminated in recently receiving the Motability Dealer Award in 2015.

Vospers has also collected an impressive number of business awards through the years for customer excellence.

Over those seven decades, Vospers has seen its turnover exceed £250 million a year while expanding its operation to employ 700 people across 20 sites in Cornwall and Devon. It has also branched out into delivering automotive parts via eBay and Amazon throughout the UK and worldwide.

At the helm of the business is chairman Peter Vosper, who joined the company in 1966. His father Frank founded the business and his grandfather Len joined the business after his radio business was compulsory purchased in the redevelopment of Plymouth after the war.

Just five years later Peter was forced to take over the reins of the company following the sudden death of his father. He has continued to pay

tribute to his legacy by steering Vospers on the steady road of success, including instrumenting its expansion across the Tamar River into Cornwall in 1986.

Those sound business practices continue today with the fourth generation of the Vosper family, Nick, who joined the company in 1996. He currently serves as Vospers managing director, a role he was appointed to in 2011.

Scott Harrison asks Peter Vosper about his past, present and future.

Q: With 70 years’ experience in the motoring industry, Vospers has witnessed the innovation of the automobile first hand. What are the advancements that have impressed you most through the decades?

A: The improvement in safety, reliability and technology in the motor vehicle has changed dramatically.

When Ford introduced ABS to Ford Scorpio in 1985 this was a major catalyst for manufacturers to introduce ABS systems across the rest of their range.

From the early 1970s awareness of the benefits of wearing seat belts also started to resonate with drivers, although it was not until the 1980s that it became mandatory.

More recently the return of the three-cylinder petrol engines combined with engine management systems have dramatically increased economy, making them a real alternative to diesel.

Both my son Nick and I drive electric vehicles and although the range in the past has been limited, the new Leaf now does up to 155 miles and charging infrastructure is rapidly increasing throughout the county.

Finally the reliability of the motor car has significantly reduced the number of visits required for repairs and maintenance.

Q: With 700 employees and 24 locations across Cornwall and Devon, Vospers is one of the region’s major employers. What are the challenges you face in attracting new staff and providing them with the career opportunities that make them want to stay

part of the Vosper family?

A: There are increased opportunities within the business and our challenge is to communicate this to many young people who still see this as a traditional motor sales and service operation.

We now need different skills for our marketing department, our contact centres, administration and accounting areas.

The role of both the salesperson and technician is far more technologically advanced and some of the most successful salespeople are female. We would welcome a more diverse approach from young people who want to join an exciting industry.

Customer demands are different and they want longer opening hours, faster turnaround and caring trained employees. Vospers spend more than £300,000 a year on training and for those who want to advance their career we sponsor a number of accounting qualifications, diplomas and MBAs. Q: The car industry is often seen as a barometer of the health of the economy in the United Kingdom.

Does that match your experience here in Cornwall?

A: Cornwall tends to be different because there is less commercial industry and the heavy reliance on tourism, farming and the food industry, much of which is seasonal.

There are less extremes both in boom and bust. This is as a result of the large number of small businesses which exist to support and grow the Cornish economy. Cornwall is a wonderful place to live and work, especially with the growth of the digital world; providing the government funds the infrastructure for communications, road and transport, new investment will follow.

Q: Nationally new car sales have recovered well since the recession. Just how healthy is the industry at the moment in your view?

A: It is not as healthy as it appears. The European economy has still not recovered from pre-recessionary levels and

FAMILY AFFAIR: Nick and Peter Vosper are determined to be leaders in their industry and the South West business community. there is still overcapacity.

The UK has always been a strong new car market for manufacturers and coupled with the strength of the pound against the euro there is a glut of stock coming into the UK market. The good news is consumer offers have never been stronger but it is challenging for dealers.

Forced registrations means that turnover is up but profits are down, clearly not a healthy position for any dealers and could force smaller dealers to exit the industry, which many already have.

Q: Cornwall, economically, is one of the UK’s most deprived areas, one of the few areas in the United Kingdom to still benefit from European economic assistance. Does this affect the way you position your business in the county?

A: With the lack of bus and rail infrastructure throughout Cornwall

‘We place a very high value on operating in an ethical and responsible way.’

and the South West, the motor vehicle is the only mode of transport for many people. Economy and reliability are paramount, as is the level of service we provide to ensure prompt action to ensure the customer is kept mobile.

Q: Does your business experiences in Cornwall differ from those in Devon and if so why?

A: The market is influenced by rural roadways so smaller cars dominate. Lower pay means economy is important. Cornwall is a large area with smaller pockets of population density compared to Plymouth or Exeter. As a result we have more servicing outlets and courtesy cars and vans to keep customers on the road.

Q: Vospers has been a supporter of numerous charities and sporting ventures over the years. Do you see this as part of your corporate responsibility to give back

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Q&A: Peter Vosper Vospers

PIONEERS: From left to right, Frank, Dorothy and Leonard Vosper.

MEET PETER VOSPER Peter Vosper is the chairman of Vospers, a family-owned and operated business which employ 700 people across 20 sites in Cornwall and Devon.

EDUCATION Plymouth College and Kelly College, Tavistock.

FIRST JOB Articled clerk in chartered accountancy firm.

FIRST CAR Ford Anglia.

INNOVATION: Vospers introduced individual ramps in 1974. Below, a showroom in 1958.

FAVOURITE CAR Alfa Romeo 4C.

YOUR BUSINESS INSPIRATION Tom Peters.

THREE THINGS YOU NEVER LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT 1. A love for my wife and family.

2. A feeling of optimism.

3. The good fortune to be alive and well. alone, Vospers has raised over £100,000 for charities within the Duchy in the past 20 years. It’s part of our corporate responsibility and can be very fulfilling and we like all our teams to be involved in the local communities.

Q: What does the future hold for the motor industry?

A: The future is bright and forecasts for the industry for 2016 show further growth. Habits are changing and more people are changing the way that they acquire a motor vehicle. Personal contract plans and contract hire mean a more regular

cycle of change, benefiting from improvements in safety, economy, technology and expensive repair bills associated with older vehicles. For example, over 80 per cent of our new car business is transacted on personal contract plans and small businesses are taking advantage of our competitive leasing and contract hire packages, which provide fixed cost motoring.

Q: What does the future hold for Vospers?

Vospers are well suited with their portfolio of brands to meet customer demands in the future and to satisfy

any individual family or business requirements.

As a family business we believe we understand the particular need of our local area and can provide longterm solutions to customers’ motoring needs. We care about our customers and value our place in the community, which separates us from a large PLC. We can provide the economies of scale in purchasing parts and vehicles and with my son at the helm, the business is in a good position to change and adapt.

Vospers is committed to Cornwall

and the South West and will continue to make future investments to provide customers with the highest possible levels of service at competitive prices.

Q: What would your father/ grandfather think of the Vospers business model that you have built today?

A: I hope that they would be proud of the achievements and growth in their legacy and that we have stayed true to our core values, which are rooted in providing first-class services from a dedicated team of people.

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something to the communities you serve?

A: Definitely. We try to immerse ourselves in the local sporting communities, supporting Cornish rugby, regional football and school sports teams through various sponsorship initiatives. We also always try to support any sporting event in aid of good causes when asked to do so.

We are staunch supporters and fundraisers for several local charities, including Mount Edgcumbe, Devon and Cornwall Cavitron Fund and the air ambulance, to name a few. Through our golf tournament

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King’s College answers call for learning in Cornwall

LONDON CALLING: The King’s Service Centre provides IT support for 26,000 students and 7,000 staff.

Mike Smallcombe

looking at creating an additional two apprentice positions.

“But we are looking to grow and develop further; we have massive growth plans. By the end of the year we hope to employ close to 100 people, and we also promote inter nally.

“We tend to get a good response to the job adverts we place, because we are seen as new and interesting from a recruitment point of view.”

From March 1 the IT service centre will also begin to operate for 24-hours a day, instead of the current 8am to 6pm.

The Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) supported the project with an investment of almost £180,000 from its Business Catalyst Fund, which was financed by the Government’s

Regional Growth Fund and managed

by Cornwall Development Company (CDC) on behalf of the LEP and Cornwall Council.

The university says it chose Quintdown Business Park over sites in other regions such as Bristol and Kent because it offered ‘the perfect package’.

The university’s director of IT services, Gareth Wright, explained: “We have an impressive and highly skilled local workforce, good connectivity thanks to the proximity of Newquay Cornwall Airport, the opportunity to benefit from Superfast Cor nwall’s £132 million investment in fibre optic broadband, and the tremendous support available from CDC and the LEP. “I am from Newquay myself, and I’m really passionate about

100

Number of highly-skilled jobs to be created by King’s College London

Cornwall and creating sustainable employment down here. This site ticked all the boxes, but it wouldn’t have been possible without the broadband and the guarantee of the flight service to London for the next five years.”

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KING’S College London’s new ‘world class’ IT service centre at Newquay continues to go from strength to strength, with up to 100 highlyskilled jobs set to be created on the premises by the end of the year.

The university officially opened its service centre in a custom-built unit at Quintdown Business Park, in Quintrell Downs, in July.

The service centre provides all of the first line IT support required for King’s College London and its 26,000 students and 7,000 staff.

The facility has already provided skilled IT jobs for 35 people, the majority of whom are local, with 100 jobs expected to be created by the end of the year.

King’s College London, which is

ranked as one of the world’s top 20 universities, says the facility will boost the local economy by more than £1 million by the summer.

The building has space to accommodate 100 employees and is already providing an IT training centre of excellence and four skilled apprenticeship opportunities, which will increase to six in the near future.

Service centre manager EmmaJane Wood said the centre has “massive growth plans”.

“We have been very, very busy and it is working really well,” she said.

“We currently have 35 employees on the site, which is going to be increasing to 50 in the next couple of months.

“There are lots of opportunities here. We currently have four apprentices, but this week we are

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family first

Total commitment helps build sound family business

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We place a very high value on operating in an ethical way

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FAMILY AFFAIR: From left, Bella Young, Alastair and Kathryn Camegie, Daniel Rodia and Ellen Pearse make up the Total Energy Solutions team.

HEN Stoke Climsland couple Alastair and Kathryn Carnegie went into business as energy brokers, they knew they had their work cut out.

Entering a trade renowned for commissionchasing cowboys, the husband and wife team decided they were on a mission to help clean up the industry’s bad name. Almost a decade on and Total Energy Solutions is working with big names from across the region in a range of sectors from hotels, restaurants and holiday parks, to farmers and retailers, as well as the care and education sectors.

Such is the success of the business that late last year, Total Energy Solutions expanded the team and took on Kathryn’s niece, Bella Young, as sales manager, and her partner Daniel Rodia, as finance manager. Along with longstanding employee Ellen Pearse, it takes the current team to five.

Alastair, managing director of Total Energy Solutions, said: “From the outset, we made a vow that, as a small business working in the South West, we would offer a level of customer

service that was second to none. There’s no hard sell, we’re proactive, we never cold-call, and no-one is put on commission-based packages.

“We see it as our job to learn about our clients and their energy supply needs. We might not be growing as quickly as others in the industry, but we build our business on strong client relationships. We have many clients that have been with us since the outset and are good friends now too.”

Having met in a work environment over 20 years ago, Kathryn and Alastair launched Total Energy Solutions in 2007, and know all too well how to separate business and home life.

Kathryn said: “We work well together as a team but it’s important to know how to separate business and home life. Our different skills come together to make a great working partnership.”

Alastair and Kathryn both have a strong Christian faith and say that plays a part in how they operate. “We place a very high value on operating in an ethical and responsible way,” said Kathryn.

“We also believe that companies, no matter

how big or small, have a moral obligation to give something back to the communities in which they operate,” she added.

Total Energy Solutions regularly works with a number of organisations such as Jeremiah’s Journey, Food bank, Compassion UK, Stoke Climsland Parish Church, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Callington Youth Project and South West MS Centre.

As if their time wasn’t already full to the brim, Alastair and Kathryn also help mentor students at universities and colleges across the South West. In partnership with Stoke Climsland Parish Church, the couple was instrumental in helping set up Mentor+ scheme at Duchy College helping gear youngsters up for the world of work.

Alastair said: “Nurturing future generations in the world of business is one of my passions.

A little bit of guidance goes a long way. We’re very proud of the successes we’ve witnessed among students that we’ve helped mentor in the past, such as Plymouth University students who have brought home the Flux crown four years running, and others who have gone on to carve out careers for themselves thanks to a little support that we’ve been able to offer.”

Five-star start for popular pony centre Alexandria Pesic

achieve best practice. When an inspector visited the tourist attraction they were so impressed with the centre’s high food hygiene standards, that they awarded Springfields a five-star rating.

Laura said: “We were aware that under the previous owners, the kitchen had received a two-star rating but we had no other reports or information to help us improve, which is why working with the team was so beneficial. [They were] very supportive and reassuring and that means a lot when you are new to something like this.”

Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth Programme

Meet Lindsey Hall Running from 2014 to 2020, the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth Programme is the European economic regeneration programme for the region.

The Integrated Territorial Investment (ITI) Board is made up of a broad range of public, private and voluntary sector organisations. Collectively, their role is to agree the ITI strategy, advise the managing authorities on call development and review all funding applications.

Each month, we will be introducing a member of the ITI board to give you a feel for what their hopes and aspirations are for the Growth Programme. ● Lindsey Hall is co-founder and CEO of the Real Ideas Organisation group, a leading social enterprise that runs its own social enterprise ventures, including an artisan bakery and visitor attraction and enables others, particularly young people, to develop socially entrepreneurial activities, solve problems and build skills. Lindsey represents the growing number of social enterprise businesses in Cornwall seeking to create economic and social value. Representing Enterprising Leaders and the Cornwall Social Enterprise Zone on the board, Lindsey says: “Cornwall has recognised the important role social enterprise businesses play in the growth of the economy and their particular strength in creating jobs and businesses that benefit individuals and communities alike.”

Lindsey’s track record in the private, public and third sector gives her a broad ranging perspective on all the issues the ITI deals with. As Lindsey says: “In one meeting we can be discussing complex issues around energy generation; how best to meet the challenges of supporting businesses to grow and create jobs; and where to invest limited allocations to alleviate flooding. It is constantly challenging and hugely rewarding, both to contribute widely and to fly the flag for social enterprise and ensure they make the most of the opportunities offered by the Growth Programme.” ● For more information on EU funding opportunities contact 01872 241379 or e-mail: growthprogramme@cornwall.gov.uk ● You can visit our website at erdfconvergence.org.uk/growth-programme

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regulatory standards that come with running a commercial kitchen.

Steve and Kate’s daughter, Laura Cooper, who works as assistant park manager, said: “The team were there to help us, not to penalise us or use enforcement powers. They wanted to support us to succeed and it was fantastic to have that knowledge and experience to guide us through an area we knew little about.”

The family were visited by the council’s Food Safety team, who talked them through the regulatory requirements needed to

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THE NEW owners of a Cornish tourist attraction are offering a five-star experience to visitors, thanks to the help of a pioneering new scheme.

Steve and Kate Taylor, owners of Springfields Fun Park and Pony Centre, took over the business near St Columb as a family venture with their children last June.

Despite Steve and Kate having previously run a number of businesses, the couple said that catering was a whole new experience.

But through the Better Business for All (BBFA) project, a partnership between Cornwall Council’s regulatory services and the business community, the family were able to get to grips with the demands of running the centre.

The BBFA partnership is being driven by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and is designed to boost the county’s economy.

As part of the scheme, they were put in touch with Cornwall Council’s Food Safety team, who helped them meet all necessary

Economic Development

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chamber events Meet the Neighbour Cornwall Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with the new look Devon Chamber of Commerce (formerly Plymouth) to offer its members the chance to expand their services across the Tamar.

Meet the Neighbour – sponsored by Cornwall College Business – will be held at St Mellion International Resort on Monday, February 29. Delegates from both chambers will get the chance to network with each other over lunch, before making use of St Mellion’s stunning facilities for private meetings. Booking open now.

Connected Lunches Our next Connected Lunch takes place on Tuesday, March 8, at the stunning Headland Hotel in Newquay. Enjoy a two-course lunch, followed by short presentations (without PowerPoint!) and speed networking.

SOUP! Straight from Detroit, this fantastic concept comes to Cornwall! Pay your £10 and enjoy a bowl of soup while hearing five pitches from different companies. When you’ve heard all of the presentations, put your bowl in front of the company you most enjoyed hearing from. That company gets all of the entry fee monies, plus £250 from Plymouth University and a host of other fantastic business benefits to help take their business to the next level. Don’t miss it on Friday, March 11.

Your Futures Cornwall Chamber of Commerce has been busy taking careers advice into schools with the help of its member businesses. Our ‘Your Futures’ programme of events culminates in a large event at Eden on March 15; not only will we run an event for 14 to 24 year olds on the day, we’ll also be running an employers’ event. If you’re interested in having a stand or attending the employer event, please get in touch.

cornwall chamber of commerce

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BUSINESS NETWORKING: The Cornwall Chamber of Commerce stages events every month to help bring business people together.

FOR some, the words ‘chamber of commerce’ connote men in grey suits sitting down at long banquet tables and talking very seriously. The reality is, it’s nothing like that – especially in Cornwall, where we have such a vibrant, creative business environment.

Membership of a chamber of commerce in the 21st century means a support network of businesses and individuals on hand to help your business succeed. Our British chambers accreditation means this extends both nationally and internationally.

One of the things Cornwall Chamber of Commerce offers its members is business connections. It’s very difficult for anyone to go in cold at a reception desk and get through to the decision-maker in a company; members of the chamber can use their dedicated business connections manager to go straight to the person they need, make the introduction for them and cut out all the middle men (or women).

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Cornwall Chamber of Commerce

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THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2016

Chamber membership offers avenue to decision makers

Kim Conchie CORNWALL Chamber of Commerce inspires, connects and supports businesses throughout the Duchy.

With thousands of SMEs and micro-businesses, there’s always plenty to do to champion the region’s excellent businesses, hardworking people and to make sure we’re getting the best deals from EU funding, our own government and local authority.

This year we will be launching a new forum for a group of businesses that has been identified by the powers-that-be as being a real

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driver of economic growth.

We are launching the Growth Business Forum for companies based in Cornwall having 50 to 249 employees.

These so-called mid-size businesses are typically either run by entrepreneurs with aspirations to grow, or are family businesses which have loyal customer bases, established distribution procedures and proven products or

We hold events like Meet the Buyer, which offer members the chance to pitch their services to buyers of large companies in the Duchy – we had one recently at Pendennis Shipyard and more than ten companies came away with follow up meetings in the diary.

We offer members a marketing service which enables them to get a message out to thousands of businesses in Cornwall

as often as they need to. On average we run around 15 events a month – everything from large networking events to small seminars. Our BIG Breakfasts attract more than 130 people and offer fantastic networking opportunities.

Aside from the events our members see we are also working behind the scenes to make the business environment easier for Cornish companies; Cornwall Lenders’ Forum (all the banks and lenders in one room to hear our feedback from members regarding barriers to finance) and our Large Enterprise Action Group (companies with 250 employees or more meet to tackle issues) both run throughout the year, and between us we sit on almost every strategic business-focused board that exists in Cornwall.

Our criteria is, ‘if it’s good for Cornwall, we’ll do it’; our members call on us for help on a daily basis and we really can make a positive difference for business in the Duchy.

our new growth business forum service. The Growth Business Forum (GBF) will enable these exciting businesses to find sales opportunities, share best practice and learning, swap issues and horror stories, discuss marketing, merchandising, recruitment, training, common problems and digital innovation.

In fact, in truth, the business owners will set the agendas.

For further details contact the Cornwall chamber and look out for GBF dates on our website.

The Growth Business Forum is

but one of the new activities that the chamber will provide in 2016 to inspire businesses from our grandest employer to the smallest social enterprise, from Bude to St Buryan, from software coder to soft glove-maker.

So also keep an eye out for the events that are up your street, metaphorically and actually: ● women in leadership; ● connecting North Cornwall; ● meet the buyer at Imerys; ● lobbying for A38 resilience; ● export advice; ● raising productivity (which

Cornwall is notoriously poor on); ● and, lastly our famous BIG Breakfasts and Connected Lunches – not to mention lots more opportunities to sell, learn, network and grow in confidence, profitability and aspiration.

We have dedicated account managers, a list of member benefits and are always happy to answer your questions, point you in the right direction and inspire you to be better in business.

So contact us on hello@cornwallchamber.co.uk or 01209 216006 for anything ... well, almost.

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2016

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women in business

Helen’s design for life Everything is Absolute for Helen Stephens, the woman behind a thriving Truro design agency. And her success is down to a lot of hard work and sheer determination. Gayle McDonald reports

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I didn’t realise the drive and ambition I had before I started running my own business

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GRAND DESIGNS: Helen Stephens started her Truro-based design business in 1991, buying her first computer with the help of the Prince’s Trust.

Cornwall but I really didn’t enjoy working in London. I was only there for nine months.

“Really I had two options; I could spend the rest of my life working in bars or start up my own agency.”

In 1991 she bought her first computer after receiving a £5,000 grant from the Prince’s Trust and got to work.

“My flat was on the first floor and I had a very mad old lady living below me,” she says.

“When I had clients round, she would come out and tried to get them to go into her flat with her. I told her she couldn’t do it and she said ‘they are my friends’.

“I ended up renting another box room for work. It was 6ft by 10ft and only had space for two people.

“I lived on as little as I possibly could. For five or six years I didn’t go on holiday. I worked seven days a week until God knows when most nights.

“I didn’t realise the drive and ambition I had before I started running my own business.”

Working with local companies she built up her client base and established a strong reputation within the hospitality sector.

“I soon found myself getting a name for myself with hospitality businesses because that’s one of the biggest sectors down here and I kept getting asked if I knew any interior designers,” she says.

“That’s when I thought I need to find a partner.”

In 2000 Helen brought in an interior designer and expanded the business.

Today her company, Absolute, which is based in Truro, works with clients all over the world including big names such as Pizza Express and JD Wetherspoon, as well as various local firms from Flambards to Trewithen Dairy and The Cornish Bakery.

Throughout her career Helen

has seen how the evolution of technology has transformed the business world.

She says: “I remember when we first got e-mails. I would have to unplug the phone and plug in the computer and it would make that awful noise. You’d log on and have maybe two e-mails. Then it just grew and grew.

“I constantly say to my staff ‘I don’t know how we ran a design company without any of the technology we have today’.”

The headstrong businesswoman says hard work and a little bit of passion is the key to success.

Hoping to encourage others to pursue their business dreams, she says: “There will be good times and bad times and it can be quite lonely. Don’t be afraid of hard work. It will be a rollercoaster ride.

“But I get up every day and I love going in to work. That makes it all worthwhile.”

Local Enterprise Partnership

UNEMPLOYMENT in Cornwall is at its lowest level for eight years and the number of claimants fell in the last year from 1.4 per cent to 1 per cent, pointing to an ongoing improvement in the labour market.

But welcome as these figures are, they mask the fact that far too many jobs are still low waged and low skilled, with average earnings in Cornwall just 77 per cent of the national average in 2015, at £17,340 compared to £22,487.

Rather than unemployment being the issue, we need to focus on under-employment so that we improve the quality of jobs on offer and the skills of the workforce needed to fill them.

But that’s easier said than done because time and again businesses tell me that they simply can’t fill the vacancies they have because they can’t find people with the right skills.

Bridging that gap is a key focus of Cor nwall’s Devolution Deal that was signed with the Government last summer.

It gives the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) increased control over employment and skills funding in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly so that the needs of business are better met.

In order to understand current provision of post-16 training and education and where the gaps are, there will be a major review in Cornwall and Devon later this year.

The LEP’s role will be to make sure that the voice of business features prominently in that review so that future provision really is demand-led.

The Devolution Deal also empowers the LEP to forge much closer links between businesses and schools, and improve careers advice for young people so that they are aware of the options available to them.

An excellent example of this is the work of Software Cornwall, where software businesses have come together to promote programming and technology through code clubs in schools, Tech Jams and work experience placements.

And apprenticeships are a key focus.

We are determined that young people see apprenticeships as a high quality and prestigious path to a successful career, and to put employers in the driving seat so they get the skills they need – but more on that next month!

– Sandra Rothwell is the chief executive of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Council.

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RESTLING her clients away from the crazy old lady downstairs was just one of the many challenges Helen Stephens faced when she launched a design agency in the spare room of her tiny Truro flat 25 years ago.

During the time of no e-mails, Google or social media, the determined youngster had to work hard to get known and get noticed.

After graduating from Falmouth University, Helen, who now runs a hugely successful studio with 15 talented troops behind her, headed for the big city.

But London life wasn’t all it seemed.

“I went to London as everybody does,” she says.

“It was back when there wasn’t really a design industry in

Future Economy

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THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2016

Welcome to our monthly highlights from Business Cornwall magazine. Each month we will be featuring a look at what has been appearing in Business Cornwall magazine, as well as a preview of what to expect in next month’s issue.

Your money matters Get in touch with us: Produced by Redruth-based Tonick Business Publishing, Business Cornwall magazine is available by subscription only. If you are a Cornish business and would like to be sent a copy each month, please e-mail subscriptions@businesscornwall. co.uk Tel: 01209 718688 E: news@businesscornwall.co.uk

next issue

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The March issue of Business Cornwall magazine will be taking a look at the Duchy’s events and conferences sector.

As the saying goes, it’s not what you know, but who you know. And what better way for a business to get to know customers past, present and future, than to hold its own networking event?

As well as tips and advice on how to go about this, there will also be suggestions on some the best venues in Cornwall to hold the event.

Also next month, Business Cornwall magazine will be meeting Tony Sampson, MD of local solar pv company, Cornwall Solar Panels.

Mr Sampson will explain how he has grown his business and how, despite the much-publicised cuts to the Feed-in Tariff, installing solar panels to your home or business premises can still offer some very lucrative retur ns.

All this plus the usual roundup of latest news and opinion from the Cornish business sector, while guest columnist in the March issue will be Toby Parkins, president of the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, and director at rapidly-expanding software development outsourcing company, Headforwards.

FEATURE: Toby Parkins, president of the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce.

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HE February issue of Business Cornwall magazine focused on the finance and funding landscape in Cor nwall.

As well as expert commentary from a number of leading accountants, the article also touched upon the availability and affordability of finance.

And according to a recent Federation of Small Businesses survey, things are on the up, with a

record 62 per cent of businesses being successful in accessing credit among the broadly stable 15 per cent of firms that apply. This is the highest level since the series began at the start of 2012. Larger “small” businesses were more likely to have applied for credit – 20 per cent of those with 21 to 50 employees applied compared to just eight per cent of those with no staff. Small manufacturers were some of the most likely to seek credit (23.5 per cent of firms) compared to five per cent of professional services firms.

The average rate of interest being offered continued to decline, to 4.9 per cent in Q3 2015 from 6.2 per cent a year ago. Overdrafts were the most popular borrowing facility, among 60 per cent of applicants; next most popular was a bank loan for 38 per cent.

Other kinds of financing, including export finance, seed capital, angel investments, venture capital and peer-to-peer lending, were much less popular among the small businesses surveyed.

Overall, it is an encouraging trend

that small businesses are able to access the finance they need to fund investment or to manage cashflow; however, the FSB report indicates that it may be one that starts to reverse in 2016, alongside potential rises in Bank of England base rates.

Because the lending landscape has changed so considerably since the last time base rates were higher than the current 0.5 per cent rate in 2009, with many more alternative providers of finance including crowdfunding, things are difficult to predict.

Spaces to live, work and play A CORNISH start-up that specialises in transforming used shipping containers into some of the most incredible spaces imaginable is targeting significant growth in 2016.

Since opening for business in 2013, ISO Spaces has seen demand for its bespoke high-end shipping container conversions outstrip supply.

Consequently, the business has just moved into a new 10,000sq ft factory at St Blazey and expects to create 20 new jobs over the next five years, having already more than doubled its staff from four to nine in the past 12 months.

The company is the brainchild of former stockbrokers Ben Treleaven and Gregg Curtis, who have since been joined by a third director – Andy Orr, who oversees the manufacturing side of the business.

It is a world away from dealing in derivatives, but it is one that the Treleaven and Curtis have readily embraced.

“We were used to dealing with very large numbers that didn’t really exist!” says Treleaven. “We had always talked about setting up a business that was a bit more tangible, and I had always liked the old-school business model, of buying something for a price, adding value to it and selling it for a profit. And we took it from there.”

And that in its most simplistic terms, is exactly what ISO Spaces is doing – buying a used shipping container, which typically has a price of £2k-£3k, and then transforming it into the most incredible creation.

“The value isn’t so much in the container itself,” says Curtis, “but more in the building, finishing and development of the technology we put into them. We manage every stage of the process and add value all the way through.”

From bars and restaurants, through to driving simulators and affordable housing, the ISO Spaces

SHIP SHAPE: ISO Spaces has seen demand for its bespoke high-end shipping container conversions outstrip supply. team of designers and interior architects has transformed shipping containers into a huge variety of different applications, where the only barrier is the imagination.

While to date many of the applications have served the high-end marketing needs of such clients as Kodak, Ted Baker and Caterpillar, there is an increasing demand for more pragmatic uses.

With all of ISO Space’s creations meeting the latest building and fire regulations and because the units can be stacked up three high, they can provide high-density accommodation in a small footprint – ideal for cities where space is at a premium.

And councils across the country

are seeing the potential for providing temporary solutions for good-quality, low-cost housing, while more permanent housing is built.

“With such a shortfall of affordable homes in the UK,” says Treleaven, “the market could be huge because it’s so much cheaper than bricks and mortar, and a lot faster.”

Two affordable housing units were recently dispatched to Manchester, as a prototype of a bigger job on the horizon in London.

Comprising two 40ft containers put together, they feature a bathroom, kitchen, lounge and two bedrooms.

They took just 15 days to build and were installed in an hour.

ISO Spaces is now looking to

expand this part of the business and is exploring the opportunity of leasing a whole housing development to a council.

Growth has been swift and now that ISO Spaces has secured its own factory with its own team, rather than relying on subcontractors, this expansion is set to gather pace even further.

“When we started out,” says Curtis, “we probably did two a year, something like that. We then did ten to 12 in the next year, and from Q2 of this year we will be looking at four a month. The order book is full. Potentially, we have about 60 conversions lined up for the first six months. That’s quite a jump.”

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2016

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green cornwall

Scott Harrison reports on one farm with green credentials W:18.3237cm H:9.1027cm

in association with

Cornwall Sustainability Awards (CSA)

SAVE WITH SOLAR: The Knowles family are using solar energy to help produce their milk.

Trink Dairy goes green to help make marvellous milk

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The Knowles opted for a 42Kw, 164-panel system which has a sixyear payback through energy generated and the Government Feed In Tariff payments.

Happy Energy chief executive Adrian Wright said agricultural businesses such as Trink Dairy with large roofs or outdoor spaces can benefit greatly from harnessing solar power despite the cut in feed-in-tariffs.

He added: “For many working farms or those that have diversified into food production

or tourism, energy remains one of the most expensive costs they face.

“It makes sense – given the open locations they are predominantly in – to harness natural energy such as the sun to generate their own power and reduce costs.

“The added double benefit is that any excess energy produced can then be sold back to the grid and they will also receive Feed-in Tariff payments which are still available for new installations.”

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“In terms of energy usage, the biggest impact comes from cooling, cleaning and milking, so we looked at ways in which renewable energy could help reduce our costs and environmental impact.

“Given our sensitive, environmental location, a wind turbine was not an option but with barns and the milking parlour we had a lot of readymade roof space to help harness the sun, so we looked at the benefits of solar.”

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WEST Cornwall dairy farm is producing thousands of gallons of environmentally friendly, high-quality milk with help from the sun after installing a 164-panel solar PV system on the roofs of its milking parlour and barns.

The Knowles family – who own and run Trink Dairy – a 400-acre farm just outside St Ives with a dairy herd of 300 Friesian Jersey cows – is now using solar energy to help with its milk production, used to create Rodda’s clotted cream.

With the milking process involving the use of energyconsuming cooling equipment and hot water cleaning systems, dairy owner Chris Knowles said the environmental aspects of milk production was an influencing factor behind the decision to turn to solar.

Mr Knowles said: “As a business we like to have as low an impact on the environment as possible.

“The herd is grass-fed, spending most of the year in our fields, with the majority of the milk production taking place in the summer months when the milk yield is naturally high.

SUSTAINABLY built homes are important for Cornwall’s future.

Cornwall Council’s draft Local Plan recognises this need and is looking to prioritise buildings that minimise energy consumption through high levels of insulation and use of measures such as natural lighting and ventilation.

Verto Homes not only won the ‘Best contribution towards the creation of a sustainable energy economy’ category but were also crowned ‘Overall Winner’ at the Cornwall Sustainability Awards 2015.

Established seven years ago in Newquay, Verto Homes specialises in providing highspecification homes which are both affordable and sustainable in terms of impact, usage and life.

The company has seen a steady sales increase since inception and there has been a particularly significant rise in demand over the past three years.

Customers are attracted to both the company ethos and also the low running costs which sustainable homes offer. Success has meant that the company has gone from meeting local demand to now providing homes nationwide. Its aim is to be the largest sustainable housing developer in the UK by 2020, and based on current sales it looks set to reach its target, with more than 80 units under construction already in 2016 across the country.

Tom Carr, co-director for Verto Homes, explains a bit more about the firm’s ethos: “The words ‘sustainability’ and ‘developer’ are rarely heard in the same sentence, at least not often in a positive light.

“At Verto Homes we believe in a different approach, an approach that means our homes are sustainable and those living in them are provided with a good platform to exist in a world where resources are running out and long-term energy is no longer a given right but something that should be considered by all.

“Our aim is to deliver affordably priced housing that allows the owner to live in a responsible, low environmental impact, sustainable way. The way we do this is by building super-insulated, zero-carbon smart homes, which means there are no fossil fuels used in the homes.”

On the firm’s CSA success, Tom added: “As a direct result of winning the CSA awards we have been lucky enough to have been approached by a number of companies and individuals and offered a number of new development sites that have provided us with some fantastic opportunities to work with people that would never have known about our model previous to the awards. We are truly honoured to have won both of our awards and are striving to continue to push our sustainability model.

CSA has really put the wind in our turbines by encouraging us to continue along the same path that we have chosen; one that we wish all would join us on.” ● For more information about CSA, please visit www.cornwallsustainabilityawards.org Could your business be a winner too?

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THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2016

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cornwall connected

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Holiday park sold for £1.7m A HOLIDAY park on the edge of tourist hotspots in Cornwall has been sold from a guide of £1.7 million.

The six-acre Trelay Farm Park in Pelynt, near Looe, has 63 holiday static caravans and 43 touring caravan pitches.

There is potential to develop a further 17 holiday caravan pitches.

Robert Gale-Hasleham, director of leisure and trading at Savills, who handled the sale, said: “Well-established caravan parks continue to make excellent investments and we anticipate 2016 will be another good year for the market.”

£200m investment GOLDEN MOMENT: Simon and Andrea Copper of the Pebble House collect their gold award after being named gold winners for the B & B of the Year.

Pebble House enjoys golden moment at tourism awards

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ORNWALL tourism businesses celebrated success after winning honours in regional and national awards.

Of 95 trophies handed out on February 4 at the South West Excellence Awards, 29 went to Cornish businesses. Nine also reached finalist status in the national Visit England Awards for Excellence.

Pebble House in Mevagissey, Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park in Padstow, Treworgey Cottages in Liskeard, and The Olde House in Wadebridge, left the grand award ceremony with gold in their respective accommodation categories.

It was also gold for the Eden Project as the Large Attraction of the Year and The Ship Inn, Wadebridge, as well as Railholiday Ltd in Saltash and Bodmin Tourist Information Centre. Geoffrey Pearce of The Godolphin Arms in Marazion was also rewarded for his customer service with the Unsung Hero award.

“

We are aghast to have won such amazing recognition

EXCEPTIONAL EDEN: Hannah Bullock, Eden’s digital content manager, and Dave Folland, Eden’s senior site manager, accept the gold award in the Large Attraction of the Year category at the South West Tourism Awards.

Nine Cornish tourism businesses were also announced as finalists in the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2016.

Cornwall was second only to Devon in the competition between English counties and with 26 of the finalists being located in the South West the region is at the top of the leader board for finalists. The winners are due to be announced in March.

Malcolm Bell, chief executive of Visit Cornwall, said: “This is a commendable result for Cornwall.

“From entering the Cornwall Tourism Awards these businesses

have shown excellence in their field to stand out amongst stiff competition from across the South West.

Congratulations to our regional winners and best of luck to our national finalists.

“To represent Cornwall on a national platform is a significant coup.

Here’s hoping many more trophies come Cornwall’s way when the VisitEngland awards are announced next month.”

After claiming gold for bed and breakfast of the year, Andrea and Simon Copper from Pebble House, Mevagissey, are now finalists in the VisitEngland awards.

Mrs Copper said: “We are aghast to have won such amazing recognition in our first two years of Pebble House being open.

“The Cornwall Tourism Awards were the first awards that we have ever entered so to win those and now go on to win regionally and reach the national finals is a huge honour. We owe thanks to our suppliers as with the quality they provide it further enhances the high standards that we offer.”

For more information and a full list of winners and finalists visit southwesttourismawards.org.uk and visitenglandawards.org

ONE of the UK’s leading retirement housebuilders has created 50 jobs in the South West following a £200 million regional investment.

McCarthy and Stone has announced the opening of its new South West regional office in Taunton and announced that over the next 12 months it will deliver 200 new purpose-built homes in 14 desirable locations in the South West, including Falmouth.

Simon Mantell has been appointed as regional managing director for the region. He said: “With an ambitious growth plan in place. In the South West we currently have 14 sites under construction in 2016 and a further 12 in planning.”

Care home sold A CORNISH care home is to change hands after 25 years.

Fernleigh House Care Home and Domiciliary Care Agency, in Albaston, near Gunnislake, has been sold after being owned and operated by Alastair Tinto and Jan Cradick for more than 25 years. They have now retired from the care sector.

The home is registered for 11 clients with 10 en-suite bedrooms while the domiciliary care agency provided more than 200 care hours per week to clients in and around the Tamar Valley area and neighbouring towns and villages.

The new owner, Caslope Care Ltd, is run by Charity Masoapatali and Sofia Musangeya, who have operated care businesses in London for the last five years.

They will continue to run the business with the existing staff to ensure continuity for all service users.

Let us know what you think of Commerce Cornwall on Twitter: Find us at @CommerceKernow or use the hashtag #commercecornwall

training & skills

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2016

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NEW BUSINESS | OPINION | NEWS | EVENTS | INTERVIEWS

Businesses urged to become trailblazers

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Training & Skills in association with

Truro and Penwith College Sam Amps, curriculum lead for marketing and social media at Truro and Penwith College Business, explains why businesses need to make sure their marketing measures up.

ON THE JOB: Cornwall is being given a chance to help shape the future for young people.

Apprenticeships are changing – and it can only be good news for businesses. Dan Allen reports

“

We need

to equip employers with the support they need to guide them through the reforms

concerns that current trailblazer groups are mostly represented by large companies.

But Ms Franklin was quick to address those fears, saying: “We need to improve the perception of apprenticeships and ensure that they are viewed as equally rewarding and stretching as other routes.

“We need to equip employers with the support they need to guide them through the reforms process and ensure they are able to provide the support needed to develop the skills of the apprentice to levels required by the trailblazer.”

She said the next steps for the reforms in Cornwall will include enabling better access for apprenticeships for people with transport problems.

Public transport issues can be a particularly big problem for apprentices paid a training wage.

There is an effort to develop more sector-led training areas identified as important, which include construction, marine engineering, and technology and health sectors.

Another aim is to get more funding from central Government and to look at the potential to devolve the delivery of funding to try and see greater investment locally and focus funds on Cornish issues.

If successful, Cornwall and its future workforce can truly be known as trailblazers.

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individual needs to be fully competent in an occupation; ● And give employers purchasing power. Putting control of Government funding for the external training of apprentices in the hands of employers, to empower businesses to act as customers, driving up the quality and relevance of such training.

Jacqui Franklin, development management lead for the trailblazer scheme at Cornwall College, said: “It is anticipated that for both the existing and reformed apprenticeship

programmes, the definition of an apprentice remains the same: a job with sustained and substantial on and off-the-job training, which allows the apprentice to develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours required to perform the occupation competently.”

Businesses across Cornwall are being encouraged to help shape the trailblazer programme to best suit their needs.

Crest Accountants, which has offices in St Austell, Bude and Redruth, is one firm taking part in the pioneering scheme.

“The apprenticeship trailblazers, launched in October 2013, have gone from strength to strength,” said a spokesperson for the company. “The first phase of trailblazer sectors includes energy and utilities, digital industries, financial services, life sciences and industrial sciences.

“Businesses from each sector worked together and produced new concise employer-led standards for key apprenticeship roles in their industry.

“Building on their success, the businesses involved will now work on standards for more occupations that they see as crucial to developing their workforce and that will provide new opportunities for young people.”

Some small enterprises, which make up a large proportion of Cornish businesses, have raised

From updating your website to feeding your social media channels, paying for ad space in the paper or smartening up your signage, marketing takes time and money and you want to make sure that it is delivering on the investment.

For small businesses, there are many choices to be made. What to do and when?

When to pay and when to rely on organic sharing? If you’ve got small budgets and big ambitions, understanding which channels and messages will work for your audience is crucial.

Our students often find that taking some time to research their market and come up with a well-informed plan of action can make a real difference to the impact the marketing has on their business.

Marketing apprentice Poppy Faithfull told us: “For me, the importance of planning aims and objectives before carrying out tasks has been invaluable. It allows me to manage my time, which is important when you have a long list of things to do! It also gives the ability to measure the success and highlights areas for improvement in future. And of course, it reduces the risk of costly mistakes.”

Social media in particular can quickly use up time and money if you approach it without some research and a plan.

Emma Sixton of Sam’s took a social media award with us and discovered: “By using the analytics that I did not realise were so in depth, I have become more aware of who to target and when to engage, saving time and getting better results… If you are not using social media, you should. Even if you think you understand it, there is so much more you can learn and this knowledge will help you generate sales.”

If you can’t make it to a course yet, check you have the basics in place. Do you know who you’re targeting and what it is they need from you? Do they pay attention to the channels you’re thinking of using? Once you know that, putting your action plan together will be a whole lot easier. From there, it’s just a case of getting those communications out there, building some conversation around your brand and making sure all your hard work is bringing in some business.

To find out more about marketing and social media training at Truro and Penwith College Business, come along to our marketing and social media event on April 29 at 8am in Haven House.

There will be a short talk entitled ‘Your Marketing Plan In Half An Hour’, to get you started on the key elements you need to consider when planning on how to develop and promote your organisation and a chance to hear from former students about how they have benefited from our training.

Visit the events pages of the college website to book your place – www.truropenwith.ac.uk/events

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ORNISH businesses are at the forefront of the Government’s attempts to refor m apprenticeship so they better meet the needs of employers.

Employer groups called “trailblazers” are designing models for apprenticeships which will take over from the current framework in 2017.

The apprenticeship ideas created by trailblazers are intended to make sure apprentices trained under the new standards will have the skills needed for their area of business and industry.

The new initiative is acting on the recommendations of the Richard Review in October 2013, entitled The Future of Apprenticeships in England.

The key recommendations were as follows: ● Put employers in the driving seat. Apprenticeships will be based on standards designed by employers, making them more relevant and therefore more attractive to existing and new employers; ● Increase the quality of apprenticeships. An apprentice will need to demonstrate their competence through rigorous and holistic assessment. This will focus on the end of the apprenticeship to ensure that the apprentice is ready to progress; ● Simplify the system. The new employer-designed standards will be short and easy to understand.

They will describe the knowledge, skills and behaviour that an

15

business awards

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NEW BUSINESS | OPINION | NEWS | EVENTS | INTERVIEWS

www.COMMERCECORNWALL.co.uk

Levi to share his success story

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RAGONS’ Den star Levi Roots will be spicing things up at this year’s Cornwall Business Awards.

Levi Roots shot to fame on the BBC TV series using his unique Reggae Reggae Sauce song to charm the fiery dragons.

Peter Jones and Richard Farley were persuaded to invest in his business, and the Reggae Reggae brand quickly became a national sensation.

As well as marketing his wide range of food products, Levi has written a series of cookery books and a top-selling business book.

Recently he opened his very own Caribbean restaurant.

Arthur Hooper, group managing director of Cornwall Development Company, which organises the awards in association with Business Cornwall magazine and the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are delighted that we have been able to secure such a fascinating guest speaker as Levi Roots for what will be the eleventh year of these awards.

“Innovation and entrepreneurship are absolutely vital to the continued growth of our local economy, and I am sure our business leaders will be keen to hear some useful tips from someone who has created a hugely successful business from humble beginnings.”

Levi Roots said: “I am hearing great things about Cornwall and the exciting businesses that are

REGGAE REGGAE: Levi Roots shot to fame following his successful pitch on Dragons’ Den.

growing there. It seems to have a unique vibe that is all its own and a growing reputation for the quality of its restaurants and the strength of its food and drink sector, amongst others.

“I am really looking forward to meeting all the finalists from this year’s awards and learning how they ‘have achieved their success’.”

Any business based in Cornwall or the Isles of Scilly can

enter one or more of 14 award categories, which include Best New Business and Best Family Business. There are two new award categories this year – Manufacturer of the Year and Sustainable Business of the Year.

Around 350 business leaders are expected to attend the glittering awards dinner at St Mellion International Resort on May 12: one of the most important events in the

diary dates for Cornwall FEBRUARY 24

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IoD South West Debate: The Institute of Directors in Devon and Cornwall will be holding a debate on the future of crowdfunding at the Foot Anstey’s offices on Sutton Harbour, Plymouth, between 8am and 10am. Since 2005, approximately £5.5 billion has been loaned to UK businesses and consumers by the alternative finance sector. Now that the lending market has recovered, the alternative finance sector has also evolved and changed. The event is the third of the IoD Devon and Cornwall’s annual debates on funding for business. Up to 50 IoD members are expected to attend the conference, which includes speakers Jane Dumeresque, CEO of Folk2Folk, Craig Jackson, from Funding Circle, Dawn Bebe, of Crowdfunder, Richard Eckley, of Crowdcube, and John Peters, of SWIG Finance. You will have the opportunity to question them on recent developments in the market.

Breakfast and refreshments are included in the £10 price for IoD members and £15 for non-members.

MARCH 1, 2, 3 Expowest Cornwall: Expowest Cornwall is a crucial event on the business and social calendar. If you’re involved in hospitality and food and drink, this is the show for you.

Attending gives you the vital advantage of tasting the latest innovations in food and drink, as well as testing and evaluating the products and services on show. The event will showcase products that cover the

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THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2016

whole of the hospitality and catering market; from tableware to furniture, catering equipment to business services, coffee to speciality food. There are currently 98 exhibitors registered for the expo, 15 of which are doing it for the first time. The free event takes place at the Royal Cornwall Showground, near Wadebridge. For more visit www.expowestcornwall.co.uk/

MARCH 2 Federation of Small Businesses: Any Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) member interested in finding out more about auto-enrolment pension scheme for their employees, East Cornwall branch are holding a talk open to both employers and their employees. This will support employers in rolling out the scheme within their business and give invaluable advice and guidance for small businesses. The event will be held in Looe from 7pm. Go to the FSB website to book your place.

MARCH 4 The South West Business Growth Conference: Julie Girling, MEP for South West England & Gibraltar, invites you to attend the South West Business Growth Conference at WestPoint Centre, Clyst St Mary, Exeter. The conference is open to all SMEs and micro businesses across the South West. It is free to attend and offers a range of excellent speakers from GetSet for Growth, UKTI, The European Commission and more. To secure your free place register

now at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/growth-forthe-south-west-business-conference-tickets19490034217

MARCH 7-11

Cornwall business calendar.

Mr Hooper added: “Every year, we are really impressed with the quality of the entries we receive, and this year has been no exception. We have already received a number of outstanding entries and I would urge as many businesses as possible to enter before the deadline of March 13.”

Entries for the awards should be made online at www. cor nwallbusinessawards.co.uk

submissions: Send your business diary event

to sharrison@cornishguardian.co.uk and customer loyalty. Guest speakers include Robert Rush, MD at market research firm, PFA Research, Judi Blakeburn, of Watergate Bay Hotel, Emma West of Cornwall Housing and data visualisation expert James Ambler, of Moor Consulting.

Scilly Business Week 2016: Businesses on the Isles of Scilly are set to receive new expert advice on how to be more competitive – and profitable. The Islands’ Partnership, with the assistance of the Council of the Isles of Scilly’s Lifelong Learning team, is hosting a week of bespoke support for all business owners, sole traders and budding entrepreneurs living and working across the islands. Scilly Business Week 2016 has been designed to help island businesses make more money by gaining a better understanding of, and more confidence in, delivering a service or selling a product that is both highly sustainable and more profitable. It runs from Monday, March 7, to Friday, March 11. Participants can book their places by calling the Islands' Partnership office on 01720 424036 and speaking to Sam Ellis, or e-mailing samellis@islandspartnership.co.uk.

MARCH 10

MARCH 9

Truro and Penwith College: Truro and Penwith College will be holding a discussion entitled Engineering Your Future Workforce: Working With Local Businesses to Deliver Future Growth. The college is looking to businesses to help shape the future of Cornwall’s workforce. Truro and Penwith College has invested more than £10 million in its engineering and manufacturing centre at its Truro site. Over the last three years it has worked with a wide range of businesses,

Chartered Institute of Marketing: The Chartered Institute of Marketing is hosting a business event with market research firm, PFA Research at Tremough Innovation Centre. The aim is to highlight the role of research and how market and customer insights can help make decisions on market selection, product development, branding

THE AWARD CATEGORIES FOR 2016 ARE: ● Young Enterprise – sponsor TBC ● Young Business Person of the Year – sponsored by Truro & Penwith College ● Best New Business in Cornwall – sponsored by Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership ● Best Third Sector Business – sponsored by The Eden Project Customer Focus – sponsored by GWR ● Employer of the Year – sponsored by Cornwall College Business ● Manufacturer of the Year – sponsor TBC ● Most Creative Use of Design – sponsor TBC ● Sustainable Business of the Year – sponsored by University of Exeter ● Excellence in Digital Marketing – sponsored by Niddocks ● Most Dynamic Growth Business – sponsored by Oxford Innovation ● Best Family Business – sponsored by Francis Clark ● Best International Business – sponsored by Tulip ● Business Innovation of the Year – sponsored by Plymouth University ● Entrepreneur of the Year – sponsored by Falmouth University ● Winner of Winners – sponsored

by Cornwall Chamber of Commerce.

and Cornwall Manufacturers Group, to develop and deliver specialist training locally for this sector. The college is keen to ensure that what it delivers meets the future needs of the industry. The event will take place in the Seaton building at the Truro College campus from 4.30pm to 7.30pm.

Places are limited so please book early, email: apprenticeships@truro-penwith.ac.uk

Federation of Small Businesses: Members of the Federation of Small Business (FSB), along with the wider business community, are invited to Kingsley Village, Fraddon, at 7pm for a talk on small business funding available through the Local Action Group (LAG). To book your place at this free business event go to the FSB website for Cornwall. Money is available within Cornwall for start-ups, business expansion and development and it needs to be allocated and used. Grants of up to £35,000 are available to new and existing businesses so take the opportunity to see for yourself how this scheme can help you.

MARCH 17

MARCH 15

Making the most of your chamber membership: The Cornwall Chamber of Commerce is offering a session to help new and existing members understand what a chamber does. The session covers networking and events, communication channels, the chamber website, news, blog and member messaging, national and international connectivity, exports, Young Cornwall, member-to-member and British Chamber of Commerce discounts and so much more. The free session for members takes place at the chamber offices in Camborne from 9am to 11am.

Cornwall Business Show: The Cornwall Business Show is the largest, most inclusive business exhibition in Cornwall. The oneday event brings together a wide spectrum of industries and sectors, from small, startup businesses to large, established companies. It takes place between 9.30am and 4pm at the Royal Cornwall Showground, Wadebridge.

MARCH 24

Next issue of Commerce Cornwall will be published by your West Briton on March 17