BUSINESS NEWS

GRIPSURE IS AN EXPORT CHAMPION

Gripsure has been appointed an ‘Export Champion’ by the Department for International Trade (DIT).

The St Austell-based non-slip decking manufacturer has been recognised as a successful exporter dedicated to helping British businesses sell their goods internationally.

Since being founded by MD Mike Nicholson in 2004, Gripsure has grown to become one of the best-known decking brands in Europe, producing 250,000 linear metres of handcrafted decking boards in Cornwall every year. It has a wholly-owned French company and a manufacturing partner in Japan and is planning to establish its non-slip decking brand in 12 more countries.

Nicholson said: “Being made an ‘Export Champion’ by the Department for International Trade is a real honour and this achievement is testament to all the hard work put in by the whole team to make Gripsure the successful business that it is today.

THE PLACE TO B2B

The Cornwall Business Show celebrates its tenth anniversary this year.

The show, which is set to take place at the Royal Cornwall Events Centre on October 6, has grown to become one of the leading B2B events on the calendar.

Andrew Weaver, MD of show organiser Live Events South West (LESW), said: “To reach the ten-year milestone is a satisfying achievement and testament that the event

KCS LAUNCHES NEW DIVISION

KCS Print, Cornwall’s only roll label manufacturer, has launched its new digital label division.

Focused on sustainable label production, Root Sustainable Labels can now continues to be a great investment for those offering and looking for business to business services – it really is the place to b2b!”

The show will again offer exhibitors the opportunity to host the popular masterclasses, while there will also be a quality café with lots of seating for attendees to mingle and network.

“Last year’s event was a great success with people wishing to get back to face to face business, we expect that to grow even more this year,” Weaver added. “As always we offer a comprehensive all-inclusive stand package which is great value and accessible for all business sizes, and we continue to support start-ups and charities with special rates.”

manufacture branded product labels for use on bottles, cans and packaging.

Zoe Deadman, MD of KCS Print, said: “Root labels are proud to be the only digital label manufacturer in Cornwall. And I’m happy to share our expertise with companies that are looking to decrease their carbon footprint whilst increasing their shelf appeal.

“We intend to be the trusted go to labelling company for Cornish brands.”

ADVERTORIAL MANAGING COMMERCIAL DEBTS

Luke Richards, who heads up Debtlink, a fixed-price debt recovery service at south west law firm, Stephens Scown, offers advice on managing cashflow and costs.

Luke has the day-to-day responsibility for Debtlink, processing debts up through to recovery or until they become contested, with experience recovering debts of all sizes and values.

NEW ECONOMY HEAD

Cllr Louis Gardner has joined Cornwall Council’s Cabinet as the Portfolio Holder for Economy.

The role holds responsibility for economic development and strategy, town vitality and place shaping and employability and welfare. Cllr Gardner replaces Cllr Stephen Rushworth in the role. Cllr Linda Taylor, Leader of the Council, said: “I would like to place on record my thanks to Stephen who has worked incredibly hard in the role for the first year of this administration. “We have an exciting economic agenda to deliver in the coming years and I am confident that Louis will now build on Stephen’s success in this role which is vital for Cornwall’s future prosperity.”

The Great Cornish Food Store is set to become an employee-owned business.

The move means that employees will partown the business and will therefore be able to enjoy a share of the profits going forward.

The organisation follows the model of its next-door neighbour Waitrose, which is part of the John Lewis Partnership - the largest employee-owned business in the UK. The Great Cornish Food Store also joins a number of Cornish businesses who are choosing this route including Leap Media, Radix Communications and Nixon Design among others.

Ruth Huxley, who founded the store in 2016, said: “The store is in great shape and we have an incredible team, who very much deserve a boost after all the challenges they have handled so admirably over the past two years.

“I’m convinced we can really power ahead now as a purpose-driven company, becoming even more successful while preserving our values and integrity long term.”

STORE BECOMES EMPLOYEE OWNED QUEEN’S AWARD FOR NEWQUAY ORCHARD

Newquay Orchard has been awarded a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Newquay Orchard is a seven-acre community space with volunteering and education programmes at its core.

With the first tree planted in 2015 and having worked with over 800 volunteers, the organisation has become a well-known and well-loved space in Newquay, offering everything from volunteering opportunities and growing spaces to workshops, events, a co-workspace, a maker space and the community café, known as Canteen at the Orchard.

Newquay Orchard is one of 244 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the award this year.

CEO Luke Berkeley said: “What an honour. I cannot think of a more fitting tribute to our wonderful community. I would like to dedicate this award to every single person who has given their time, their energy, their passion to Newquay Orchard to craft the space we have over the last seven years.”

While much of the media’s cost of living crisis coverage has focused on how it impacts individuals and households, there’s been less attention on what rising inflation levels and supply chain issues means for business. As a result, you may reach a point of needing to recover debt from a company or sole trader struggling to cope with these increasing costs.

However, prevention is better than cure. Before it gets to the stage where you’re pursuing debt, there are simple steps to stand you in better stead and mitigate against any problems, avoiding the associated time, stresses, and costs. customers, you will be able to get a sense of their circumstances through easy checks, such as whether they talk about work and their employment? Do they own their home and is it in an affluent area? These most basic assessments will give you an indication of how likely you are to recover any debt that may become due.

Information gathering becomes much easier with businesses thanks to information accessed from Companies House. This will allow you to check accounts filings, any charges held against the company, changes in directors or address, and if they have been subject to any insolvencies. diligence is key. Keep in regular contact with your customers, talk to them about their work, provide regular statements and keep your account terms manageable and you will start to understand where and how they stand and can act accordingly.

To discuss commercial debts, call Luke Richards on 01872 265100 or email DebtLink@stephens-scown.co.uk

END OF THE ROAD FOR STADIUM?

Plans for a Stadium for Cornwall appear to be all but over, after the group behind it withdrew its support.

It had been anticipated that the Council would put the project forward for levelling up funding. But following its announcement that there was no money in the budget, the Stadium for Cornwall Community Interest Company (CIC) made the difficult decision to abandon plans.

Martin Tucker, chairperson of the Stadium for Cornwall CIC, and principal of Truro and Penwith College, said: “The reason given to the CIC for the withdrawal of Culture bid support was a reluctance from both the Council and local MPs to see funding going towards the Stadium project at the expense of other projects that might go for funding in future rounds of the Levelling Up programme.

“As a result of the council’s withdrawal, the Stadium for Cornwall CIC board has voted to cease co-developing the Stadium for Cornwall project in its former capacity. Truro and Penwith College will no longer be a key stakeholder in the project, which is a huge disappointment after 12 years of hard work from everyone involved.”

A Council spokesperson said: “Due to a change in the Levelling Up Fund criteria Cornwall Council has taken the decision not to submit a bid for the Stadium for Cornwall project on this occasion.

“We had understood that submissions to the ‘culture’ strand of LUF were additional to the 6 Parliamentary constituency bids we are able to put forward under the rules.

“However, this is not the case and we have taken the decision to focus on those constituency bids at this time.”

NATIONWIDE PRINT CLOSES

The St Austell-based printing company, Nationwide Print, is shutting down.

The business, which began life as H Hocking & Son in the mid-1930s and was named Environmental Company of the Year at the 2018 Printweek Awards, closes its doors for the final time on July 15.

Citing the challenging trading conditions in the printing industry, owner Julian Hocking said he made the difficult decision following “an offer I couldn’t refuse” to lease the buildings that house Nationwide Print. “The pandemic gave us time to reflect on how we were doing and where we were heading,” he said. “Suffice to say that while the property side of our business is still growing fast, it’s getting harder to make a profit on printing.

“Then, in March, I received an offer I couldn’t refuse to lease the buildings that house Nationwide Print. So, I had to put my head before my heart and make the difficult decision to remodel the business. From now on, that means giving up printing and focusing purely on property.”

NEWS IN BRIEF

Bodmin Jail Hotel and Visitor Attraction won the Refurbishment/Revitalisation Project category at The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) 2022 regional awards. Featherbeds triumphed in the Residential Project category. ______________________________________ Trevena Cross Nurseries has been named the Best Independent Garden Centre in Cornwall. The ranking, compiled by David Wilson Homes, lists the Breage-based garden centre top of the crop ahead of St Austell Garden Centre and Carnon Downs Garden Centre. Trevena Cross scored an average 4.6 stars based on 976 reviews. ______________________________________ A £3.1 million grant fund to help SMEs in Cornwall to boost their productivity has been extended for another through to next March. Business Investment for Growth Productivity offers grants from £2.5k to £50k to qualifying businesses and can meet up to 45% of project costs for small businesses, and up to 35% for mediumsized businesses.

______________________________________ Citizens Advice Cornwall will be hosting its first ever ball this September. The Blue and White Ball will take place on September 23 at the Penventon Hotel, Redruth and will feature a three-course meal, magician, auction and dancing. Tickets are now on sale for the event at £55 per ticket or £500 for a table of 10. To book, email tamsin@ citizensadvicecornwall.org.uk ______________________________________

Falmouth won a brace of awards at the Town and City Management Industry Award 2022. Falmouth Business Improvement District (BID) executive director, Richard Wilcox, was named UK Inspirational Leader of the Year, while the virtual Sea Shanty Festival was named Best Digital Project. ______________________________________ Raymond James Investment Services has opened a new branch in Cornwall. The new branch, which goes by the name ‘Raymond James, Truro’, offers bespoke localised investment services throughout the region. It is being headed up by branch principal Simon Burnett.

Truro-based digital music distributor RouteNote appears on a list of the UK’s 100-fastest growing companies. The inaugural Growth Index reveals the sectors that have flourished throughout the pandemic with arts and media emerging as the fastest-growing sector, closely followed by fintech and health.