Find the Balance vol2

FIND

T H E B A L A N C E BUSINESS | LIFESTYLE | CORNWALL

PUT LIFE/WORK BALANCE IN FOCUS ‘KERNOWFORNIA’ DREAMING HIGH GROWTH BUSINESS

ISSU E

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Leading the way

in Higher Education

in Cornwall 98% of our research rated as world leading (REF) 2014

Rated gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2017

Picturesque and eco-friendly, Green Flag Awarded campus

A perfect location with coast and countryside on the doorstep

Find out more about studying at our Penryn Campus: ex.ac.uk/cornwall

2019CAMS034

Russell Group University in Cornwall

INTRODUCTION t’s been amazing to see a shift in perceptions of Cornwall in recent years. No longer is business in Cornwall seen as subservient to that in a big city – running a business or pursuing a career in Cornwall is now the envy of so many. With a tremendous flow of talented people, superb connectivity, (which includes some of the best internet connectivity in the UK) and a lifestyle offering that’s second to none. You really can have it all!

So don’t be fooled by the light-hearted narratives tossed about that jokingly depict Cornwall as a composition of laidback, pastyobsessed, ooh-aarr speaking folk. We all like to play around with this notion and of course we are pasty-obsessed, but the make-up is more of ambition, creativity, innovation and a love for where we live.

There are great things happening in Cornwall and over the next 52 pages we will be revealing some of them, when we explore living and working in Cornwall.

IT’S WHAT WE CALL, TH E BA L A N C E.

PUBLISHER Toni Eyriey, Tonick Business Publishing LTD (publisher of Business Cornwall Magazine) EDITORS Morveth Ward and Nick Eyriey

Tonick Business Publishing, Pool Innovation Centre, Trevenson Road, Redruth, Cornwall TR15 3PL All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publisher.

DESIGN Business Cornwall PRINTERS Deltor CONTACT 01209 718688 info@businesscornwall.co.uk

www.businesscornwall.co.uk

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SIR TIM SMIT CO -FOUNDER OF EDEN PROJECT

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e can all be big fish in small ponds and can reach people and network in a way that would be impossible in a metropolitan area. More importantly the people who live and work here are strong minded individuals unimpressed by the lure of elsewhere which inspires acts of creativity and collaboration unthinkable in other places, but... please don’t tell anyone as they’ll all come down!

Sir Tim Smit

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CONTENTS 4

MAKING MUSIC

One of the audio industry’s biggest success stories

4

6 FA S H I O N

From Porthtowan to the Brit Awards

8 10

B O O M I N G D I G I TA L S E C TO R

A story from humble beginnings

B E AG L E M E D I A

Global vision from North Cornwall

12 A E R O S PAC E Leading innovations

16 S P O R T

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A Cornish cycling team at Tour de France?

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WORLD’S BEST GIN

Tarquin’s Cornish Navy Gin wins

26 E D U C AT I O N

Supporting aspirations

28 30 32 34 36

FA S H I O N P H O TO G R A P H Y

A journey from Geneva to Cornwall

O X F O R D I N N O VAT I O N

Business support

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H O U S E S O F PA R L I A M E N T

Wayfinding designed by Cornish company

W O R K S PAC E Inspire your team

NETWORKING AND EVENTS

Collaboration and inspiration

40 M A R I N E

Making waves in the global marine tech market

42

GREEN PRINTING

44

A Cornish SME which punches above its weight

44 E X P O R T

Who said anything about limits?

46 CO N N E C T I V I T Y

Why Cornwall is truly well connected

4 8

YO U R D R E A M ?

Next steps for setting up your business in Cornwall

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EXPORTED TO MORE THAN 70 COUNTRIES WORDWIDE

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ALLEN & HEATH AT T H E L E A D I N G E D G E O F A N E XC I T I N G I N D U S T RY lthough perhaps little known outside the music community, Cornwall is home to one of the professional audio industry’s biggest success stories. Based on the outskirts of Falmouth, Allen & Heath is among the world’s leading designers of audio mixing systems. Established in London in 1969 and relocating to Cornwall in the early 1980s, the company’s mixers tour the globe with artists such as Bryan Ferry, Bring Me The Horizon and Billie Eilish, and can also be found at the heart of installed sound systems in environments as diverse as churches, sports stadiums and universities.

Allen & Heath’s Xone range is also revered in the DJ market, and is the brand of choice for A list icons such as Armin Van Buuren and Nina Kravitz.

ALLEN & HEATH’S FORMER FACTORY HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO A STATE-OF -THE-ART RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT HUB

With production now outsourced to a manufacturing partner in China, Allen & Heath’s former factory has been transformed into a state-of-the-art research and development hub.

The designs created and prototyped in Cornwall go on to be exported to more than 70 countries worldwide through an established distribution network.

Of close to 120 Allen & Heath employees, more than half are in research and development or new product introduction, with many other support and marketing positions providing high level employment. R&D is the lifeblood of any high-tech business and allows Allen & Heath to pioneer smarter, faster and more intuitive hardware and software products for sound engineers, audio rental companies, venues, broadcasters and other professionals in the audio business. The company acts as a magnet for talented software programmers, engineers and product specialists, offering an opportunity to be at the leading edge of an exciting industry, and to enjoy the immense lifestyle benefits that Cornwall has to offer.

Next time you’re at a concert, keep an eye out for the sound engineer, surrounded by their arsenal of audio gear, blinking LEDs and screens. There’s a good chance that they’re running the show from a mixer that started life as a concept on the drawing board in Penryn.

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Model wearing fashion by Uzma Bozai

K AT Y N I C H O L S O N

WILDCARD SILKS

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UZMA BOZAI

Model wearing fashion by Uzma Bozai

Model wearing fashion by Uzma Bozai

FASHION WHEN YOU THINK OF CORNWALL , WHILST ITS BEAUTY IS A PRIMARY ASSOCIATION MADE, YOU WILL L I K E LY N O T EXTEND THIS ASSOCIATION OF BEAUTY TO THE WORLD OF QUALITY APPAREL AND FASHION

or starters, from a small village in West Cornwall, Alice Vandy has developed a fashion empire that has seen the likes of Rita Ora, Jessie J, and Amber Rose, amongst others, sporting her eccentric outfits. The unique and bold outfits ‘fuse fairytale fantasy with youthful streetwear’ and include a My Little Pony and Hello Kitty collection. Alice has successfully designed showpieces for The X Factor, Britain’s Next Top Model and The Clothes Show Live.

Another shining example is Porthtowan-based fashion designer Katy Nicholson and her business, Wildcard Silks, which creates luxury silk scarves and accessories for men and women and were talent spotted and selected by Universal Music to be presented as a special gift to each of the award winners at last year’s Brit Awards.

Each of the Brits Award winners, including Dua Lipa, Stormzy, The Foo Fighters, Rag n Bone man, Kendrick Lamar, Ed Sheeran and The Gorillaz, were given one of Wildcard’s signature sugar skull designs.

UZMA BOZAI Based out of Pool Innovation Centre, another brand with roots from the other side of the world and happlily landed in Cornwall is fashion designer, Uzma Bozai.

Growing up in New York, with a rich family heritage extending to India, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Uzma spent her childhood summers in the Indian subcontinent where she became inspired by the indigenous artisan culture of creating garments with beautiful hand embroidery and embellishments, not just for special occasions, but for everyday life.

Relocating to Cornwall, following a career in international aid organisations, Uzma realised that she could support artisan communities by creating a collection which celebrated the artisanal crafts she’d grown to love, which were dying out in favour of fast fashion. The eponymous brand was born.

ALICE VANDY KATY NICHOLSON: WILDCARD SILKS UZMA BOZAI

Taking inspiration from her Cornish lifestyle and love of travel, the brand reflects Uzma’s fun, passionate and energetic personality but there is serious, conscious and ethical commitment to supporting embroidery communities with every style. Each limited edition piece is hand embellished following traditional techniques and finished by skilled Karigars taking up to 15 hours to create.

Harvey Nichols and Anthropologie were among the first to retail Uzma’s sequin adorned sweatshirt ranges, combining the timeless sweatshirt classic with playful, carefree, cheeky motifs and sassy slogans, celebrating feisty femininity and a colourful outlook on life. Furthermore, amongst others Uzma exports to the luxury department store, Galeries Lafayette, in Doha – every sequin has a story.

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DIGITAL SUCCESS CO R N WA L L H A S T H E S E CO N D FA S T E S T G R O W I N G D I G I TA L S E C TO R I N T H E W H O L E O F T H E U K . D I G I TA L AG E N C Y , E V E R E S T M E D I A , I S A P E R F E C T E X A M P L E O F A N A M B I T I O U S B U S I N E S S T H AT H A S M O V E D TO CO R N WA L L A N D I S R E A P I N G T H E R E WA R D S verest Media has come a long way since its humble beginning in Lancashire five years ago. Not only has the home office start-up physically moved 340 miles into new, exciting office space – it has also grown and evolved as a business. Now it boasts a team of 17 servicing global leaders in their field, with a client book including prestigious names across Europe as well as local and public sector organisations.

With a focus firmly on technical excellence, Everest Media has expanded its service offering to include bespoke development, search engine optimisation, overall digital strategy development and outsourced web operations. All their work is based on data and best practice, ensuring there is always a very good reason for a piece of work and a solid understanding of what success looks like.

Co-founders Sam and Allanah Armondi say relocating their business to Cornwall in 2015 proved to be a real turning point for Everest Media. Until then, the business largely relied on freelancers and operated remotely. Since the relocation, they have pivoted and built an impressive hub of local talent and relocated professionals, all based at their trendy offices at Pool Innovation Centre.

Its offices are indicative of a business which has attention to detail, creating a quality environment which both rewards employees and breeds productivity.

From here the team provide their client base with digital solutions matched to the needs of the businesses that they serve. Never a ‘one size fits all’ approach.

Put simply, they listen, then solve the right problems, enabling success.

Samuele and Allanah strongly believe they’re in a better position because of their Cornwall relocation.

Because of it they have found their perfect balance

which accommodates fast growth, sustainable business practices and a brilliant lifestyle.

Having come this far, the husband and wife team are pushing forward with a growth plan designed to put Everest Media in the mix at a national level, regularly doing business with blue chip and public sector organisations.

Samuele commented: “We have a clear goal – we want to be the leading company of our kind in the south west.

And we want to do so by being a great employer, the kind of company that benefits not just its staff but the digital and local community too. We have so much to be proud of in our local area, and we really want to do our part in putting Cornwall on the map when it comes to serious digital services.”

H T T P S : // W W W . E V E R E S T - M E D I A . C O . U K /

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WE HAVE A CLEAR GOAL – WE WANT TO BE THE LEADING COMPANY OF OUR KIND IN THE SOUTH WEST. AND WE WANT TO DO SO BY BEING A GREAT EMPLOYER, THE KIND OF COMPANY THAT BENEFITS NOT JUST ITS STAFF BUT THE DIGITAL AND LOCAL COMMUNITY TOO.

Samuele Armondi

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BEAGLE MEDIA G L O B A L V I S I O N F R O M N O R T H CO R N WA L L e have crews in 19 territories and their footage feeds back to our HQ London office in Notting Hill and our base on the Atlantic coast in North Cornwall.

We moved half of the company to Cornwall in 2016 because of the source of rising talent from Falmouth University Film School (we hire around three grads every year); the superfast internet connection - which sounds silly but sending large film files around the world requires us to have reliable web and thanks to the EU funding Cornwall has some of the fastest in the UK; lastly, the airport which now flies four times a day to Heathrow means we can access our clients around the world really straight forwardly.

FOUNDED IN 2011 BY A GROUP OF PRODUCERS FROM CHANNEL 4 NEWS AND ENDEMOL, BEAGLE PRODUCES FILM CONTENT FO R FA ST EVO LVI N G BRANDS AND INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE WORLD INCLUDING AMAZON, PORSCHE AND THE B I L L & M E L I N D A G AT E S F O U N D AT I O N

CEO HARRY ANSCOMBE EXPLAINS MORE ABOUT BEAGLE AND THE VITAL PART CORNWALL PLAYS IN ITS SUCCESS

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We have found Cornwall to be a brilliant young and dynamic community to live in with many creatives and entrepreneurs - most people we know run their own businesses, from food to tech.

A stand-out project recently for us would be for a US brand where we shot in several locations around the world from Singapore to Texas and all the footage fed back to Cornwall where our team of editors and production assistants created all the final film content.

North Cornwall is a brilliant place to live for lots of reasons – To give a few examples, we get the drama of the seasonal weather, where we get the invigorating wind and waves off the Atlantic in the winter to the clear water and sunny serene beaches in the summer; the food scene is superb and in Newquay it is brilliant example of this - our favourite places to eat here are the Jam Jar cafe who make their own cakes; Pavillion Bakery who do a mean dahl and chapati for lunch; and Sprout, which is tucked off the high street and sells a daily hot pot. Peter Morris butchers do the best pasty in my opinion.

Lastly, there are mega-perks for the team - for instance, many of the people in the office surf and they can run down to the beach at lunchtime then shower and be back at their desks without a fuss.

There are also some fantastic properties in Cornwall together with stunning locations to create a dream home. My wife and I built a house near Mawgan Porth, which featured on Channel 4’s Grand Designs in 2018. The build was based on Cameron’s parents’ house in the 1980’s movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, just because we wanted to have some fun with it and we loved the design of the house being on stilts and set in the trees. We have three young children who go to the village school and will hopefully enjoy being brought up by the beach.

Home near Mawgan Porth

Ho House – Office in Newquay

CEO Harry Anscombe and Grand Designs’ Kevin McCloud

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AEROSPACE AND SPACE rom groundbreaking advances in deep space communications, to the development of a state-of-the-art spaceport, Cornwall is leading some of the biggest innovations currently taking place in the world’s aerospace and space sectors.

In the global spotlight, Cornwall’s space economy has gone from strength to strength, driven by a group of high-tech local and collaborating businesses.

The development of the space economy is generating exciting growth opportunities for businesses in Cornwall, as well as for enterprises looking to expand into Cornwall – and the availability of significant funding and support from AeroSpace Cornwall has made this an even more enticing prospect.

global audience, attending major industry events both in the UK and abroad. This has given those involved several high-profile opportunities to showcase the very best that Cornwall has to offer.

Cornwall’s exposure to the world’s most prominent organisations in the sector has resulted in some major developments, all aimed at exploring the possibilities of space.

Satellite communications

Funding and support available for businesses

One of the many projects currently underway combines expertise from market-leading designer and manufacturer, Flann Microwave Ltd in Bodmin, St Austell’s Teddington Electronics, and Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd. These businesses have collaborated to develop a new-to-market satellite component, aiming to enhance data processing capabilities in space.

Part-funded by the European Union, AeroSpace Cornwall has been supporting businesses through various pathways, with the aim of growing capabilities within the aerospace and space sectors - aiming to deliver a world-leading space economy for the UK.

The R&D for this initiative has been supported by a £150,000 match-funded grant from AeroSpace Cornwall, and will deliver the technology needed to use super-high capacity satellite communications links in spaceflight.

Support offered includes R&D funding grants, Supply Chain Competitiveness consultancy support programmes, and relocation packages – as well as collaborative introductions. Harnessing existing big names in the industry such as Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd and Cornwall Airport Newquay, AeroSpace Cornwall has been instrumental in aiding collaborative projects that are putting Cornwall at the forefront of space innovation.

Goonhilly has been one of the most iconic names in the world’s space sector for decades, providing spacecraft tracking and monitoring services to many of the world’s largest satellite operators.

AeroSpace Cornwall has also been able to put Cornwall and its space and aerospace businesses in front of a

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The team continues to drive research and development through its own projects, including the development of the world’s first private Deep Space Communications Network, and launching its own commercial missions to the Moon with partners SSTL and the European Space Agency.

As Goonhilly continues to grow, so does its need to expand, which is great news for the job market in Cornwall, and also highlights the success of one of Cornwall’s most forwardthinking businesses.

Growing space sector As the space sector grows, opportunities are increasing for businesses outside of the South West to move to Cornwall, and gain access to the skills and expertise within Cornwall’s aerospace and space sector.

Edinburgh-based launch operator, Skyrora, is just one business that has seized the opportunity to move into the region. It is establishing an engine-testing programme at Cornwall Airport Newquay’s rocket test facility, which will be used to carry out a series of test firings for its ‘LEO engine’. It is expected to be the first bi-liquid engine test by a British smallsatellite launcher to take place in the UK since Black Arrow over 50 years ago.

Many dynamic organisations, such as Skyrora, looking to establish a footprint in Cornwall, have been supported by AeroSpace Cornwall, and there are still opportunities for innovative businesses that want to benefit.

AeroSpace Cornwall can support any business that can contribute to further growth in a worldleading space cluster – don’t miss your chance to be at the forefront of this thriving industry.

Be a part of Cornwall’s launch into space.

CORNWALL IS LEADING SOME OF THE BIGGEST INNOVATIONS C U R R E N T LY T A K I N G PLACE IN THE WORLD’ S AEROSPACE AND SPACE SECTORS

JA M E S @ A E R O S PA C E CO R N WA L L .CO. U K A E R O S PAC E CO R N WA L L . CO. U K

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The Cornwall expert in luxury holiday home interior design, renovation and refurbishment.

Camellia Interiors is one of the only qualified and accredited British Institute of Interior Design practices in the county, founder Elaine Skinner has 30 years experience in the industry and her commitment to keeping her practice small means all clients get to work with Elaine personally. This close interaction with clients enables her to deliver a highly individual and tailored service and one that sees many clients returning time and time again for the personal and professional service they know they will receive.

with architects, property developers and holiday let companies staging show homes and styling properties to add value, saleability and desirability.

On average Camellia increases holiday home revenue by at least 25%.

They also help estate agents advise potential buyers on suitable investment properties, how to maximise a property’s potential and add value, plus working with clients who are struggling to sell.

As well as helping private clients on anything from quick fix makeovers for lettings to complete luxury property reconfigurations, Camellia work closely

www.camelliainteriors.co.uk hello@camelliainteriors.co.uk | 01872 248952

Camellia Interiors understand what it takes to stand out and pride themselves on achieving maximum return on investment for all their clients, whatever their goals.

Whether it’s the blank canvas of a new build, the complete re-configuration of a property or a corner of your home that needs some extra TLC, Camellia works on everything from large-scale builds and renovations to simple room makeovers and everything in between.

SPACEPORT CORNWALL L AU N C H I N G T H E U K B AC K I N TO S PAC E

a showcase of how launch can happen at existing civilian airports, with a reusable launch vehicle, lowering the cost of accessing space, enabling more technologies to get into space. n July 2014, the UK Space Agency (UKSA) announced a shortlist of several sites around the UK that they identified as potential locations for the UK’s first spaceport(s). The UK manufactures a large majority of the world’s small satellites; however, there is no sovereign launch capability. Something the UK has not had for over 50 years. Currently, UK satellite developers transport their systems overseas to be launched, at a high cost, with the added risk that their launch may be delayed. Small, innovative developers, with potentially game-changing technologies are priced out. The UK Government has identified this, and also identified a market opportunity.

Cornwall Airport Newquay will fully integrate scheduled airline passenger services and general aviation with space launch. Imagine landing at the Airport, looking out your window, and seeing a CosmicGril taxing to launch to space. We think this is incredibly exciting and incredibly inspirational for the next generation.

The space sector is on the edge of commercialisation, opening space up to those who want to use it to better life on Earth. And Cornwall, which was once the centre of the Industrial Revolution, is back at the forefront of a new, disruptive technology.

The UKSA selected Cornwall Airport Newquay to be a horizontal launch spaceport. When most think of space launch, vertical rockets come to mind. Horizontal launch uses new technologies to operate from runways, and launch mid-air. Existing airports with long runways, direct sea access, and low residential build up are ideal for this type of launch.

One major space company had recognised the potential of Spaceport Cornwall and at Farnborough Air Show 2018 Spaceport Cornwall signed an MOU with Virgin Orbit, Richard Branson’s small satellite launch company. The system uses a modified Boeing 747, CosmicGirl, to take-off from the end of a runway, reach 35,000 feet and launch a two stage rocket, LauncherOne, which will travel into Lower Earth Orbit deploying its satellite payload into space.

For more information contact: MELISSA THORPE 01872 322953 | @SPACECORNWALL MELISSA.THORPE@SPACEPORTCORNWALL.COM

Horizontal launch is the future of small satellite launch. By moving away from state-led, costly, infrastructure-heavy projects, Spaceport Cornwall and Virgin Orbit will provide

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SPORT, FITNESS AND LIFESTYLE I T G O E S W I T H O U T S AY I N G T H AT C O R N WA L L WA S H A S A N O U T S TA N D I N G O F F E R I N G W H E N I T C O M E S TO L I F E S T Y L E O P P O R T U N I T I E S , E M B R A C I N G T H E G R E AT O U T D O O R S A N D L I V I N G A H E A L T H Y , F U L F I L L I N G L I F E , F R O M F A N C Y D R E S S S U R F I N G TO E L I T E C YC L I N G ake St Ives for example, there is so much on offer, from surfing, SUPing and coasteering, to the food and drink scene and abundance of galleries. On occasion It also plays host to an outdoor cinema on Porthmeor beach where it has recently run corkers such as Bohemian Rhapsody and The Greatest Showman.

Another annual event taking part on Porthmeor beach which is sure to entertain is the charity fancy dress Swell Board Shootout run by St Ives Surf School.

Raising money for the environmental charity Surfers Against Sewage the event is a huge amount of fun for competitors and visitors alike. The fancy dress and performances (in and out of the water) are a spectacle that will leave you smiling for days.

When it comes to sport, the bias towards an outdoorsy lifestyle fuels our desire for it. For instance, I can think of five different rowers from Cornwall that have competed for Team GB at the Olympic Games in the last 20 years, including Ed Coode, who won Gold alongside team mates James Cracknell and Sir Matthew Pinsent at Athens; London and Rio pairs champion, Helen Glover; and Beijing Silver medalist and London finalist, Annie Vernon.

For instance, unlike many teams, the riders are involved in all key strategic and tactical decisions.

By 2023 Saint Piran aims to compete as an accredited continental professional squad in the world’s biggest races.

The ‘Kernowfornia’ theme, which playfully depicts Cornwall (or, Kernow) as the California of Britain, comes primarily from the association with silicone valley and Cornwall’s high growth digital sector, coupled with a beach lifestyle. In sport this is also evident, as the explosion of the functional strength and fitness scene that took-off after the inception of CrossFit from a barn in San Jose, California, is now big in Cornwall. With 13 CrossFit affiliated boxes (gyms) in Cornwall, as well as many other gyms focusing on functional strength and fitness.

Then we have the cycling scene which is gaining traction fast in Cornwall. Elite cycling team Saint Piran was set up only recently and is already turning heads in the world of cycling. At the time of writing Saint Piran is currently the cause of some surprise amongst the big players in the televised OVO Energy Tour Series. Owed by one of the UK’s most successful pro riders, Steve Lampier, the team is not only giving riders in Cornwall the opportunity to fulfill their dreams but also typifies what is true for a lot of businesses in Cornwall – big ambition and a lateral thinking and collaborative work ethic that circumvents what may not be otherwise possible when done conventionally.

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ANNIE VERNON OLYMPIC SILVER MEDALIST AND WORLD CHAMPION ROWER, ANNIE VERNON, FROM NORTH CORNWALL , SAYS CORNWALL FUELED HER MOTIVATION AS AN ATHLE TE

W H AT D O E S CO R N WA L L M E A N TO YO U A N D YO U R C A R E E R ?

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hen competing for my country at rowing, being from Cornwall always gave me that little bit more motivation to go out and do my best. You do feel that when you go out to compete for Great Britain, you’ve got the entire county behind you willing you on.

“As a kid, it’s a special place to grow up and it gives you a fantastic life in the outdoors. There’s nowhere else to enjoy sport in the fresh air and that is surely a reason why Cornwall has produced so many top-class sportspeople over the years – from Stack Stevens to the present day crop of Olympians.

Annie Vernon

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(or PMS 871c as it’s known in the trade)

We’ve just won the environmental printer of the year award!

Fresh from the podium (if not hot off the press), we just had to let you know we’ve been awarded a prestigious industry gong. We’re still glowing with pride after the recent PrintWeek Awards – the gold-standard of the UK printing industry – named Nationwide Print as the country’s environmental printer of the year.

We’ll spare you the teary-eyed details of the ceremony, but we will say what an honour it was to be recognised for our soaring solar powered printing talents, knockout green technology (including a rather nifty electric car) and our carbon-neutral record – along, of course, with our lightning-quick litho, digital and large format printing.

So, while we clear space on our mantelpiece, why not take a moment to share our success and get in touch with the eco-friendly printing olympians of the world*.

Selfie, anyone?

Nationwide Print Holmbush, St Austell, Cornwall PL25 3JL T: +44 (0)1726 72548 W: www.nationwideprint.co.uk E: estimating@nationwideprint.co.uk

* Strictly speaking the UK, but allow us our moment of glory.

O N F I R E : WHY CORNWALL’ S CULINARY SCENE IS SO HOT E L L I E M I C H E L L F R O M B A R E F O O T CO R N WA L L E X P L O R E S T H E C U R R E N T T R E N D S I N CO R N WA L L ’ S R E S TAU R A N T I N D U S T RY the Michelin-starred Brat restaurant in Shoreditch both cooked at a test event at Trefresa Farm near Rock, where the owner Will Herrmann has plans to develop a restaurant, cookery school and food-led festival, Porthilly Spirit, in 2020.

This is all good news for Cornwall’s firewood suppliers, such as Hugh Davis of Wildwood, who, during the summer season, sends 65% of his sustainable, kiln-dried hardwood to some of the county’s best known chefs, including Jackson Bristow at Nancarrow Farm, near Truro.

Jackson Bristo at Nancarrow Farm

n summer 2017 over 22,000 people applied for just 600 tickets for The Hidden Hut’s feast nights, which sold out within eight seconds, making them more sought after than Glastonbury tickets.

Such is the power of Cornwall’s food scene right now.

Atmospheric wood-fired feasts: long tables laden with hearty, Instagram-friendly, flavour-laden dishes; crackling fires; and stunning sunsets all make for picture-perfect evenings.

Cooking over fire isn’t new, but its resurgence has led to a change in style for many menus, with gutsy, wood-fired dishes appearing in pubs, such as the St Kew Inn, and in restaurants, such as Barnaby’s in Padstow, where food is cooked on a wood-fired oven called Bertha, and UNA kitchen in St Ives where the menu is based around a wood-fired oven.

Pop-up feasts are equally well-suited to this style of outdoor feasting, with big name chefs bringing a more relaxed approach to high end dining events. In May The Hidden Hut’s Simon Stallard and Tomos Parry from

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Hugh and Tina Davis Ingredients for Nancarrow Farm’s wood-fired feasts are grown on the family’s organic farm. Nancarrow was an early adopter of the field-to-fork trend, now embraced by those who have the space to grow their own.

Coombeshead Farm, near Launceston, has a similar approach, and its superb restaurant serves almost entirely home-grown produce.

Sunset drinks on the deck at The Beach at Bude.

Over the past three years the Polgooth Inn has expanded its kitchen garden and now grows virtually all its own veg.

Chef turned grower Ross Geach deals with gluts by hosting pop-up feasts in his polytunnels at Padstow Kitchen Garden. An increased understanding of the symbiotic relationship between growing and cooking can only improve the quality of what ends up on our plates.

The county’s fresh produce is second to none; our climate and coastal position mean we have world class meat, cheese, fruit, vegetables and seafood. With such fantastic ingredients available, it’s no wonder that Cornwall has so many keen home cooks, eager to improve their culinary skills, and there’s no shortage of cookery schools.

Of course, there are still the hard-to-beat classics for which Cornwall is famous for: a freshly baked pasty; fish and chips eaten straight out of the paper; a crab sandwich on thick slices of soft white bread; strawberry jam and huge dollops of clotted cream on warm scones.

From traditional pubs and quirky cafés to beach bars and smart restaurants, it’s hard to overstate the breadth and quality of food on offer in Cornwall right now. We really are spoilt for choice.

Stalwart Rick Stein’s Cookery School in Padstow is renowned for its classic fish and seafood cookery lessons. The brand new Truro School Cookery combines cooking and dining in an innovative way, giving those with a passion for food the opportunity to learn new skills whilst cooking enough food to take home for family and friends; it’s the equivalent of a spa day for foodies.

Also in Padstow, Paul Ainsworth is due to open his new cookery school, Mahé, this summer, the latest addition to his portfolio, which comprises his flagship Michelin-starred restaurant No 6, pizzeria Rojano’s in the Square, the luxurious Padstow Townhouse, and now The Mariner’s pub in Rock.

Ainsworth epitomises the ever-increasing food tourism sector, where renowned restaurants draw in visitors from afar, and therefore need to provide accommodation. In turn, hotels are putting as much emphasis on their food as their rooms, with many hotel restaurants considered for destination dining in their own right. Hotels such as The Beach at Bude’s Summerleaze Beach, often command the best waterfront locations, making them the perfect spot for a summer sundowner.

Simon Stallard

FOR ELLIE’S REGULAR FOODIE DIARY, FEATURING FOOD NEWS AND EVENTS, RESTAURANT REVIEWS AND MORE, VISIT B A R E F OOTCO R N WA L L . CO M

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CRAF T BEHIND THE COMPANY TA R Q U I N L E A D B E T T E R T R A D E D A L I F E I N T H E C I T Y TO M O V E TO CO R N WA L L A N D S TA R T O N E O F T H E U K ’ S F I R S T C R A F T G I N D I S T I L L E R I E S , TA R Q U I N ’ S G I N ou started making gin in 2012, what were you doing before that?

Immediately before I started the distillery I was working in a bar in London, a pub in Notting Hill which sold Thai food. I had left my desk job - I was an emerging markets analyst. I used to write research on Latin American economies, mainly Venezuela and Colombia, doing political, economic and financial market research, which was very much an extension on my degree - I did politics and economics at Bristol University.

So, it was really good to put it into practice, but I knew it wasn’t me, it wasn’t what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I had always wanted to do something creative and loved the idea of being my own boss.

So I needed a change of direction. I had always been interested in food but hadn’t been so immersed in the drink realm of things. I became more inquisitive about the drinks I was working with. The back bar, about 90% of it, was probably owned by three or four multi nationals.

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Then I read about a couple of independent spirit companies who had started up. I didn’t really know that it was feasible to make spirits on a small scale, so it immediately sparked my interest. I made the decision to see if I could set up a craft distillery and make a gin from scratch. That was my aim. I literally went from looking to set up a restaurant in London to seeing if I could do a distillery.

I didn’t want to do it in London, though. I’m from the West Country, I’m actually from Devon but spent all my holidays at my grandparents’ house in Cornwall. So, the idea of living by the sea in Cornwall, going surfing and making gin was kind of a dream on paper but one which sounded pretty incredible.

And this was very much pre-gin boom time as well. When I told people my idea, they thought I was a bit crazy. And there is a lot of secrecy in the gin distilling world. Most of the producers are big companies, and the details of the recipes as to what goes into a gin was kind of proprietary information, it’s not in the public domain. So, I had to read between the lines and ultimately dive into trial and error and experimentation, lots of combinations and permutations.

There are now hundreds of craft distilleries. What sparked this gin craze?

There are two crazes I guess, the gin craze then the craft distilling craze. The craft distilling craze was heavily influenced by America. I think gin has a very strong background in England so is the first spirit which English craft distillers would lead to. But in terms of consumers demanding gin and becoming connoisseurs, it’s a mixture of a lot of factors in society. The British consumer had got to the stage where we enjoy local produce, we’re willing to pay a little bit more for something better but drink a bit less of it. It’s not all down to cost. The big companies over the last 20 or 30 years have been cutting costs, killing off brands and homogenising products within the marketplace, and people are turning their backs on that, drinking local products and liking variety as well.

How many craft distilleries are there roughly?

Lots. I was the first in Cornwall, now there’s probably a dozen or so here. Cornwall is a food and drink-led county so perhaps we have a higher number compared to other counties, but this can be replicated across the country, so there will be few hundred and more starting up. It was my dream, it’s a lot of people’s dream, to quit their job and do something creative and be their own boss and start up a distillery.

In 2017 you won the San Francisco Gin Award. Was that quite a big thing for you?

Some awards are more independent than others, but

within our industry there are probably two international awards, one in San Francisco and one in London which are seen as the pinnacle and are judged by a panel of expert judges, blind tastings and several hundred products at a time.

So, I think any good result from one of these awards is a good pat on the back from your peers and to win it in San Francisco for our Sea Dog Navy Gin was definitely the highlight of my distilling career.

Why have you been so successful?

A mixture of a lot of things and we’ve been lucky with a lot of things as well. You could say we were at the right place at the right time launching our gin in a fantastic county at the beginning of the gin boom. Then having a good product has really been important. It’s easy to sell one bottle to someone but to get a repeat purchase has been crucial to our success.

We also have a fantastic team and have had positive people join the company right from the beginning. And I don’t think we would be where we are if we didn’t have such a fantastic local community within Cornwall. It is the ideal place to launch a brand; I think word of mouth is particularly strong. Having that strength in grass roots marketing has really been fantastic.

The full version of this interview appears in the October 2018 issue of Business Cornwall magazine.

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H E A LT H Y C O W S A N D HAPPY CUSTOMERS THE MOST EXCITING PART IS HAVING OUR CUSTOMERS COME UP TO T H E F A R M A N D A C T U A L LY SEE THE WHOLE PROCESS, FROM THE COWS BEING MILKED THROUGH TO THE MILK BEING PASTEURISED. Rachel Knowles, Trink Dairy

n Cornwall we are lucky to have so much local produce on our door step.

We also have a farming and agricultural sector which is pioneering and forward-thinking.

Run by the Knowles family, Trink Dairy near St Ives is continuously looking to improve its farming and production processes to ensure the best for its cows and its product.

As well as this, it is making steps to bring the consumer closer to the workings.

Trink cows have over 90% of their diet from home grown grass to produce milk that is healthier and still 95% fat free. On top of this Trink is now milking just once a day (not twice which is usual) to reduce the pressure on the cows, whilst ensuring a higher-quality product.

Furthermore, it has teamed up with a south west charity called FarmLink to encourage more children to the farm and more farming lessons at school both in workshops and assemblies.

Oh, and did we mention the taste? Trink milk has a creamy, naturally sweet taste which means whatever your preferred genre of coffee derived beverage – it will taste better than ever! Be sure to keep an eye out for it when you’re out and about.

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UTILISING SOLAR PV TO POWER EQUIPMENT EDUCATING CONSUMERS M I L K I N G O N C E A D AY O N LY GRASS TO BOTTLE THE SECRET TO A PERFECT FLAT WHITE?

Founded in 1880, Truro School is Cornwall’s leading independent day and boarding school for boys and girls aged 3 - 18.

NURSERY | PREP | SENIOR | SIXTH FORM

Upcoming Open Events: Sixth Form

24 September 2019

Senior

5 October 2019

Nursery

23 November 2019

Prep & Nursery

9 March 2020

Guided tours are available throughout the year.

Please visit our website for more information.

www.truroschool.com

SUPPORTING ASPIRATIONS W H E T H E R YO U ’ R E L O O K I N G F O R E XC E P T I O N A L S C H O O L S A N D CO L L E G E S F O R YO U R C H I L D R E N TO AT T E N D , O R I F I T ’ S S K I L L E D YO U N G TA L E N T YO U ’ R E L O O K I N G TO E M P L O Y , W E T H I N K CO R N WA L L HAS IT ALL n issue one we focused on the hub of creative thinking and design that is Falmouth University and its Launchpad programme that offers aspiring entrepreneurs the chance to begin their business journey. We also covered the Ofsted Outstanding Truro College and Truro High School for girls which, amongst other things, has been encouraging girls to explore engineering with a range of exciting projects.

This year we take a look at Truro School and the University of Exeter.

The excellent provision of facilitating subjects at Truro School is further reflected in the most recent UCAS statistics where 57% of applicants secured places at Russell Group Universities – the most prestigious universities in the country.

Truro School Headmaster, Mr Gordon-Brown, commented: “The aim of Truro School is to provide students with a balanced education; one that considers academic environment as important as character development and personal support.

Truro School Truro School, a leading independent school for girls and boys aged 3-18, has recently been identified as the topperforming co-educational A-Level provider in Cornwall for both the average grade received and percentage of students achieving AAB or higher in at least two facilitating subjects.

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“We encourage students to find and fully develop their talents through challenges, opportunities and a great deal of academic enrichment. Our impressive co-curricular programme nurtures students to become well-rounded young adults, prepares them for university and beyond into the world of work and is a dynamic springboard to their future.”

The University of Exeter A member of the prestigious Russell Group, the University of Exeter has two campuses in Cornwall – one in Penryn, near Falmouth – set in over 100 acres of the most beautiful countryside, and close to the coast; and one at the Knowledge Spa on the Royal Cornwall Hospital site near Truro, where future doctors are taught and where the European Centre for Environment and Human Health is based.

With a dedicated business support team in Cornwall, the university can provide unique access to collaborative research and development, innovation, facilities and expertise that can make a real difference to local businesses. Over 800 businesses across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have received support, in one way or another.

Awarded TEF Gold for quality of teaching, the university offers a wide range of degree courses and research opportunities at all levels on subjects ranging from marine life to business and attracts students from around the world.

Research on the Cornwall campuses encompasses a diverse range of themes; from renewable energy, conservation and construction to healthcare, culture and government. Researchers collaborate with local businesses, as well as leading international institutions, to address global and local issues in science, medicine and society.

Penryn Campus is the home to the university’s Environment and Sustainability Institute, an interdisciplinary centre leading cutting-edge research into solutions to problems of environmental change.

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FASHION PHOTOGRAPHS

BY OLIVIA BOSSERT

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A JOURNEY FROM GENEVA TO CORNWALL F T B C AU G H T U P W I T H FA S H I O N P H OTOG R A P H E R O L I V I A B O S S E R T TO F I N D O U T W H AT I T WA S A B O U T CO R N WA L L T H AT H A D D R AW N H E R H E R E I N T H E F I R S T P L AC E A N D W H Y S H E S TAY E D What is it about Cornwall that has made you stay, both living and working here?

It was never my intention to stay here, but things just sort of happened that made it the obvious choice.

At the time of finishing university, I was running an online fashion magazine which I wanted to take to print (www.theatlasmagazine.com). Thanks to Unlocking Potential (a fully-funded business support service for Cornwall) I was given the opportunity to get some funding towards making that dream come true. I needed to be in Cornwall for that to happen, so it was a no brainer.

On top of that good fortune, my partner was also keen to stay and pursue a career in Cornwall, and I felt like I had an awful lot more exploring of this gorgeous county to do.

It wasn’t time to go!

Time has gone by, and I no longer work on the magazine, but now work full time as a fashion photographer. I work out of county more and more but equally a lot of my jobs take place in Cornwall. I get hired by fashion brands from around the country because of my location. I was very strategic in marketing myself to brands which need a coastal look for their imagery… and its worked really well!

Where were you brought up and how did you end up in Cornwall?

I grew up in Geneva, Switzerland. I’d not really ever spent much time in the UK as a child or teen. When it came time to choosing a university, I knew I wanted to study photography. We had a representative from Falmouth University come to my school, and I was immediately drawn in. It looked like such a magical place! As someone who grew up surrounded by mountains, the sea looked dreamy. I got accepted into a foundation degree, and then onto the BA Fashion Photography course at the uni.

That’s how I ended up in Cornwall.

With significantly improved connectivity Cornwall really can offer the best of both world’s when it comes to business and leisure. You work with local, national and international brands: how does this work when you live in Cornwall?

The internet is my best friend. I do a lot of pitching via email, which means that it doesn’t matter where I live!

The internet has opened up the world to so many more people. There are more opportunities than ever before.

Outside of your work, how do you like to spend your free time in Cornwall?

I love to walk my dog, get down to the beach, explore the many small towns that we’re so lucky to be surrounded by!

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ACCESS TO FINANCE S I N C E L AU N C H I N G I N 2017 T H E ACC E S S TO F I N A N C E P R O G R A M M E , D E L I V E R E D B Y O X F O R D I N N O VAT I O N A N D F U N D E D B Y T H E EUROPEAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND, HAS HELPED B U S I N E S S E S I N CO R N WA L L A N D T H E I S L E S O F S C I L L Y S E C U R E M O R E T H A N £12 M I N VA R I O U S F O R M S O F F I N A N C E hether a client is seeking to go down the route of debt, crowdfunding, grants or equity partnerships – or, as is often the case, simply doesn’t know which options are out there – the Access to Finance team has the expertise to help the business arrive at the right solution for their specific needs.

“I applied for funding as the new project I was working on required a top of the range drone – the DJI Inspire 2 with a load of accessories. This is the same drone that they use in Hollywood movies, so it is a serious piece of kit, which I definitely would not have been able to afford on my own.

“This new equipment has put me so much further ahead of my competition, so I am grateful to the Access to Finance team for all of their support throughout this process.”

Tom successfully applied for both a business loan and a grant, with input from several members of the Access to Finance team. “The whole team was so useful and they have different team members whose skills are specialised in one area. Jackie George was my main contact for my grant application, while John Whittaker helped me refine and develop my business plan. The whole team was available if I had any questions or queries during the application processes.”

Tom Wadsworth, director of Bad Wolf Horizon Tom Wadsworth, director of award-winning drone filming and photography company Bad Wolf Horizon, is one such client who admits he was surprised by how many possibilities there were to pick through when looking to secure finance to help grow his business. “I wasn’t aware that there were business loans and grants so readily available but I knew that it would help take my business to another level by opening so many more options,” he said.

Having secured a collaboration with Visit Cornwall to debut the company’s exciting new livestream drone footage service across three locations, Tom was keen to make the most of the opportunity.

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Another of Access to Finance’s business finance specialists, Chris Oliver, feels that he is part of a programme that can play a significant role in helping clients take the next step on their journey. “I have found that the programme has plugged the void between companies who are happy to foot the bills for professional service firms straight away and those who would otherwise sit on their ideas due to the financial risk; be they a start-up, a successfully trading business which wishes to diversify, or anywhere in-between,” he said.

“We have proven to be an incredibly useful stepping stone, giving our clients confidence, belief and evidence that their ideas have genuine chances of success and that obtaining the required funding to make them happen is not as onerous as they may have expected.”

Andrew Finley, project director of Access to Finance, is clear on the impact the programme has had on client businesses. “A2F has been transformational to the 1,200 businesses we have supported,” he said. “Apart from the

Business Finance Specialists Chris Oliver, Jackie George & Yvic Carr, Programme Delivery Manager Heather Coupland & BFS Chris Cotter

£12.5m of finance raised, the business owners now understand their financial controls better and are well placed to manage future funding requirements.

Ultimately, this is what ERDF investment is designed to do – change the business community for the better in a sustainable way.

“Beyond that, it has been really heartening to see the ambition of the entrepreneurs. The significant majority of the finance raised has been debt or equity. This lays to rest the often-stated claim that Cornwall is grant dependent. This programme proves that ambitious businesses do what is best for their commercial models and are focused on growth, not ‘free money’.

“The evolving equity investment landscape is encouraging. The Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Investment Fund is pivotal here and the burgeoning angel networks are providing Cornwall with a compelling offer to start-ups. This a place that offers unrivalled standards of living but now possesses all the elements required for a vibrant early stage business ecosystem.”

Andrew Finley, project director of Access to Finance

FO R M O R E I N FO R M AT I O N O N T H E WAYS IN WHICH ACCESS TO FINANCE CAN HELP GROWING BUSINESSES, VISIT THE PROGRAMME WEBSITE AT W W W. A 2 F C O R N WA L L . C O. U K O R CA L L 01872 300386

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HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT WAYFINDING T H E R E A R E S O M A N Y E X A M P L E S O F G R E AT W O R K T H AT H A S B E E N CO M P L E T E D B Y CO R N WA L L - B A S E D B U S I N E S S E S O U T S I D E O F T H E B E AU T I F U L P E N I N S U L A R O F T H E D U C H Y. S O M E V E RY P R O M I N E N T ruro-based ABG Design was commissioned to design a new signage and wayfinding scheme for the main visitor areas at the Houses of Parliament.

The new signage design takes small elements of design detail from the architectural style of the buildings and balances the need for clear visitor pathways without obscuring the sheer beauty of the palace itself.

ABG MD, Howard Miles, said: “I was pretty pleased when the Head of Visitor Services from Houses of Parliament called saying we are the people they needed to sort out the visitor services signage design. This is one of the most prestigious projects that ABG Design has been involved in and the whole team were delighted with our design results.”

ABG Design has won a larger tender in conjunction with Donald Insall Architects to review and recommend signage across the whole parliamentary estate.

“Our client was thrilled with the design results and visitor feedback has been excellent. They tell us that there is a new selfie spot now in front of our signage design which really pleases us.”

WHEN I MOVED TO CORNWALL FROM LONDON 23 YEARS AGO ALL OF MY FRIENDS SAID I WAS MAD, WONDERING HOW IT IS GOING TO WORK, AND WILL THERE BE ENOUGH CLIENTS FOR GRAPHIC DESIGN C O N S U LTA N T S . I ’ M P L E A S E D T O S AY I ’ M S T I L L H E R E I N C O R N WA L L GET TING THAT LIFE WORK BALANCE RIGHT AND IN RECENT YEARS S O M E O F T H O S E F R I E N D S T H AT O N C E T O L D M E T H E M S E LV E S I WA S MAD HAVE NOW STARTED MOVING TO CORNWALL!

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Howard Miles

The premier magazine for Cornwall’s business community NEWS

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WORKSPACE W E T H I N K CO R N WA L L I S A H E A D O F T H E C U RV E W H E N I T CO M E S TO MODERN WORK CULTURE Nixon Design, Hayle

nother beauty of living in Cornwall is the workspace on offer. You don’t need us to tell you how a place of work can impact your business on many levels, from providing inspiration, increasing moral and productivity and impressing clients.

Hayle Marine Renewables Business Park

Whether you’re in one of the three state of the art Innovation Centre’s in Cornwall or an old converted character building – wherever you are in Cornwall, you’re only a short distance to a stunning place on the coast or in the countryside that lets us unwind, reflect and enjoy the charms that is on offer. When we return to our desks, we’re buzzing and raring to go – well, most of the time! A pretty good platform for raising morale and productivity, for sure.

Creative is a word that pervades Cornwall and as such a lot of workspaces lend themselves to this. Something which is not new here – for example Porthmeor Studios, St Ives which back on to the beach, has been harboring talent from painters since the late 19th century. Sculptors such as Ben Nicholson, Francis Bacon, Patrick Heron and Wilhelmina Barns-Graham were attracted both by the north-facing lofts and the unique quality of Cornish light.

So, a conventional office block is a bit of a rarity here. There are now many inspirational workspaces across the county, from self-contained units to co-work spaces.

HoHouse, Newquay

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Cornwall is also home to numerous Enterprise Zones which are designated areas that provide tax breaks and Government support. Locations include Aerohub Newquay, Goonhilly Earth Station and Hayle Marine Renewables Business Park.

FIND A BUSINESS FIND A BUSINESS SPACE...

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SPEC I A LI S IN G IN B RIN GI NG YOU BUSI NE SS SPACE S LAC UN ABUS INE S S . COM SPEC I A LI S IN G IN B RIN GI NG YOU BUSI NE SS SPACE S LAC UN ABUS INE S S . COM If you’re looking for the right space to host your next conference, workshop or training session, then

Lacuna Business is the website that makes this process easy. With listings that cover the whole of Cornwall and venues that can accommodate a range of meetings for any number of guests, Lacuna Business ensures If you’re looking for the right space to host your next conference, workshop or training session, then you only have to search in one place to find exactly what you need.

Lacuna Business is the website that makes this process easy. With listings that cover the whole of Cornwall and venues that can accommodate a range of meetings for any number of guests, Lacuna Business ensures If you have a great space that is available and awaiting bookings, then a listing with Lacuna Business helps you only have to search in one place to find exactly what you need. to ensure that you reach businesses looking for the right meeting space.

If you have a great space that is available and awaiting bookings, then a listing with Lacuna Business helps U N Dthat G Oyou O Dreach T O businesses YOU? toS O ensure looking for the right meeting space.

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COLLABORATION AND INSPIRATION W E T H I N K CO R N WA L L H A S A PA R T I C U L A R L Y S U P P O R T I V E A N D CO L L A B O R AT I V E B U S I N E S S CO M M U N I T Y W H I C H I S U N D E R P I N N E D B Y R E G U L A R E V E N T S T H AT B R I N G T H E CO M M U N I T Y TO G E T H E R TO S H A R E A N D P R O S P E R . A N D , T H I S T E N D S TO B E D O N E AT P R E T T Y AMAZING VENUES

hen you think of Cornwall then you may conjure up an idyllic scene of holding a meeting at a beachside setting with the sound of the gulls and the soothing sea in the background - ideas flowing and spirits high. Well this is exactly the sort of thing that goes on in Cornwall daily – it’s only logical to make the most of the stunning settings we have at our disposal in virtually every nook and cranny of the county.

There are many pretty epic venues for hosting conferences and events together with a busy calendar of networking and business events. So, if you’re looking to get fully immersed in the Cornish business scene then you can expect a warm welcome from the regular and one-off networking events taking place in all corners of the county.

Larger events are drawn in and born out of Cornwall’s naturally inspiring setting. A new event to the 2019 calendar is Goodfest.

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Goodfest host, BBC Wildlife presenter Gillian Burke

100 people gathered in the first ever Goodfest, a new annual festival aimed at inspiring the minds of the creative and curious.

At the Bedruthan Hotel, Mawgan Porth, the festival explored how to develop impactful ideas to drive lasting environmental and social change. Following the success, the founders announced that Goodfest will run again in May 2020.

The festival played host to inspiring talks and workshops from the best of the south west’s speakers and sustainable change makers from across the creative industries.

Hosted by BBC Wildlife presenter Gillian Burke, keynote speakers included Sir Tim Smit; Hugo Tagholm CEO of marine conservation charity Surfers against Sewage; Tom Kay, founder of multi award winning outdoor and lifestyle brand Finisterre; Hanna Henshall, co-founder of digital marketing agency If Not Now Digital; Chrissy

Levett, creative director of Creative Conscience; film-maker Ben Akers.

Commenting on his first event, Ben Akers, said: “This was truly amazing. It exceeded all our expectations. It’s taken us two years to get it off the ground - and boy was it worth it. 14 fantastic speakers, a delicious vegetarian dinner and brilliant people. It was the talking between the talks that made this different.

100 people buzzing with change making ideas all wanting to share and collaborate. That’s what makes this event special. The amazing local Cornwall talent meeting the cream from around the UK (hopefully next year the world) and all carbon balanced. Bring on May 7th- 8th 2020.”

The combination of great Cornish and leading national creative talent in one place provoked some transformational conversations and started building a community that will continue beyond the event.

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PAUL AINSWORTH ’m honoured to be able to call Cornwall my home, each day I’m blown away by the people who live here and the incredible produce practically on our doorsteps. We know we have some of the best meat and seafood as well as a fantastic variety of vegetables and top quality dairy products in Cornwall so being able to run our restaurants here is the ultimate dream. I love supporting independent businesses around Cornwall and finding the very best the county has to offer. We’re lucky to have so many amazing local suppliers bringing delicious ingredients to Paul Ainsworth at No.6, Rojano’s in the Square, Padstow Townhouse, and soon, Mahé and The Mariners in Rock. I see it as a privilege to bring my customers a true taste of Cornwall, moving here was the best decision we ever made.

Paul Ainsworth

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MARINE H O W M A R I N E - I I S M A K I N G WAV E S I N T H E G L O B A L M A R I N E TECHNOLOGY MARKET arine-i is a pioneering business support programme that has been designed to foster innovation in the marine technology sector in Cornwall. Professor Lars Johanning, who leads the Marine-i team, explains their philosophy:

Company, and the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult.

They each have their own particular strengths and specialist expertise that they apply to support innovative marine businesses.

“Cornwall currently accounts for 8% of UK marine industry turnover and 1 in 7 of all UK marine jobs. We want to build on this powerful heritage and ensure that Cornwall plays a pivotal role in the sustainable marine tech industries of the future. These include marine energy, marine manufacturing, maritime operations and marine environmental technologies. This programme is partfunded by the EU and aims to stimulate and support research, development and innovation to help Cornish marine businesses exploit new market opportunities.”

Ken Wittamore, MD of Triskel Marine, experienced the benefits of this ethos when his company created a new on-engine generator that is designed to work with hybrid marine propulsion systems. He says:

Accelerating product development

“Our product is a real breakthrough and one that potentially has a massive worldwide market. The grant support that we have received from Marine-i has allowed us to purchase specialised equipment for our vital prelaunch tests. It has been great for us to work with a team of people who really understand the marine technology sector and the challenges that businesses like ours face.”

Building global leaders

Kiote Ltd, testing their new technology.

Photo copyright - Helena Darvelid, Sailrocket

Comprehensive support Marine-i offers one of the most complete packages of innovation support ever designed for the marine sector.

This encompasses business consultancy, research expertise, grant funding, access to some of the best testing facilities in Europe and graduate support at a subsidised cost. Marine-i provides a bespoke package to marine businesses that is geared to their specific needs and delivered through one point of contact.

There are six Project Partners who work closely together to create the Marine-i offer. These are the University of Exeter, University of Plymouth, Cornwall College Group, Cornwall Marine Network, Cornwall Development

FIND OUT MORE:

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Marine-i has provided grant support to businesses working in fields as diverse as wave energy devices (AMOG), hybrid propulsion systems (Triskel Marine and Whiskerstay), offshore wind turbine tendering systems (Buoyant Works), unmanned surface vessels (Ultrabeam Hydrographic and Unmanned Survey Solutions), artificial reefs (ARC Marine), offshore pile drilling (Ocean Hydraulics), sail technology (Kiote), tidal energy (InyangaTech), and marine conservation.

To date, £3.19 million of grant funding has been allocated, of which £1.7 million is already contracted.

In the case of Global OTEC Resources, their grant from Marine-i helped establish their entire business in Cornwall. The region’s focus on research, development and innovation makes Cornwall the perfect base to develop their marine renewable energy technology for use at resorts in the Maldives. Their MD, Dan Grech, says: “Cornwall stands out as the ideal place to relocate our business. There is a superb breadth and depth of marine technology talent in the county and we want to work with this fantastic supply chain. There is also unrivalled expert business and research support available through Marine-i.”

WWW.MARINE-I.CO.UK

Testing at the COAST Lab (University of Plymouth)

Launch of Remotely Operated Vehicle from Falcon Spirit (University of Plymouth) Other international businesses that have opened offices in Cornwall as a result of Marine-i support are AMOG (Australia) and Navimeteo (Italy.) Meanwhile, Marine-i has helped many UK based businesses set up a new base in Cornwall, including ARC Marine, Wave-Tricity, Imetrum, Turbulent Designs and STL. And yet further start-up businesses have received support from Marine-i, such as Unmanned Survey Solutions, Kiote, Solis Marine, Ultrabeam Hydrographic, Gaisford Marine, Jaxon Surfboards and TowFloat.

An exciting future Professor Lars Johanning concludes: “At the outset of the Marine-i programme, we set ourselves a challenging target of supporting 100 businesses, while providing grant support to at least 66 marine businesses. We are well on the way to smashing this target. To date, over 190 businesses have registered with Marine-I and the project runs until the end of 2019.

“The factors that link the many projects we have supported is their high growth potential for the future, their ability to support new job creation in the Cornwall supply chain, and the opportunities that they offer to build important new global markets for Cornwall’s marine technology expertise.

“Marine-i is delighted to help businesses like these move to the next stage in their development. The pioneering innovation that we are seeing in Cornwall today is building a brilliant platform for future growth, making this a really exciting time for our marine technology industry.”

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ENVIRONMENTAL PRINTER OF THE YEAR N AT I O N W I D E P R I N T I S A CO R N WA L L - B A S E D S M E W H I C H P U N C H E S A B O V E I T S W E I G H T I N T H E P R I N T I N G W O R L D , CO U N T I N G T H E L I K E S O F A R M A N I , R O L E X , S T AU S T E L L B R E W E RY A N D T H E E D E N P R OJ E C T A M O N G S T I T S C L I E N T S . Y E T M D J U L I A N H O C K I N G ’ S G R E AT E S T AC H I E V E M E N T TO DAT E I S N ’ T S E C U R I N G A M U L T I N AT I O N A L C L I E N T , B U T W I N N I N G A TO P E N V I R O N M E N TA L AWA R D hat to do when an awards ceremony, ‘The Oscars’ of your industry, clashes with a friends’ 50th birthday? The answer is put friendship first of course, but sneak off to check your phone at every opportunity… At the PrintWeek Awards 2018, Nationwide Print was up against some big players in the category of ‘Environmental Print Company of the Year’. Winning the coveted title seemed a remote possibility, and Julian was happy to keep an eye on announcements via Twitter, with Production Manager Matthew Pascoe standing in for him at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. “I nearly fell off my chair when I heard we’d actually won,” recalls Julian. “And then I shouted the place down!”

Once back in the office at Nationwide HQ (where Matthew finally let him hold the trophy) Julian was able to reflect on what the achievement meant for the firm, which has been in his family since the 1930s.

“This was our second major PrintWeek Award, having been crowned SME of the Year in 2014,” says Julian.

“However, to take the Environmental title is undoubtedly our greatest achievement to date. We’ve worked hard, we’ve kept our focus, we’ve taken huge risks, we’ve put our money where our mouth is… You don’t get awards like this without a lot of scrutiny, so clearly our credentials stack up.”

The road to ‘Environmental Print Company of the Year’ began back in 2010, when Julian took part in an Eden Project initiative. The Green Foundation set Nationwide Print on an exciting new course, one which would see bold investments in green technology and energy saving measures, plus commitments to staff training and behaviour-change initiatives.

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The sustainability business plan which Julian devised during the Green Foundation in 2010 has been implemented in stages. Investments have included the installation of two large solar arrays, energy-efficient office lighting, super-efficient hand dryers and exterior cladding.

Despite housing a highly energy-intensive operation, Nationwide Print HQ is now a net-contributor to the grid, producing more energy annually than it uses.

Last year the purchase of a fully electric e-Golf for local meetings and deliveries singled a new phase in the plan.

“Our carbon footprint here on the Holmbush Industrial Estate is really as small it can be until energy storage technology improves,” says Julian. “We’ve now started looking at our transport systems and also behavioural factors. For example, we recently gave all staff Nationwide Print-branded Chilly’s drink bottles to help reduce single-use plastics.” The firm is also FSC Certified.

Having a plan and sticking to it isn’t always easy, whatever line of business you’re in. It’s even harder when your sector is undergoing the kind of seismic changes that the printing industry has experienced over the last ten years.

Many other firms haven’t been able to keep pace with the changing needs of clients, unpredictable procurement patterns and digital technology and have ceased to trade, whilst Nationwide Print continues to thrive.

For Julian, the choice to ‘go green’ has been a big factor in his firm’s success; he sees it as both an ethical and economic imperative. “Responsible use of resources is part of our ethos, and it’s something all businesses should be accountable for. Our clients, quite rightly, care about the environment and they make choices which take that into consideration. Our green credentials give us a point of difference in a highly competitive industry, so it’s win-win-win for us, our clients, and the environment.”

THIS WAS OUR SECOND MAJOR PRINTWEEK AWARD, HAVING BEEN CROWNED SME OF THE YEAR IN 2014.

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CALLESTICK FARM CORNISH ICE-CREAM IN CHINA

SEASALT EXPORT SALES UP 36%

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EXPORT WHO SAID ANYTHING ABOUT LIMITS?

espite being on the geographical periphery in the UK, this hasn’t stopped an increasing number of Cornish companies turning to export trade to grow their business.

For the past two years, Cornish clothing company Seasalt has been ranked to the Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200 league table of Britain’s mid-market private companies with the fastest-growing international sales, with reported export sales worth £3.2 million out of total revenue of £51.1 million. Export sales are said to have grown 36% over the past two years.

Cornish companies who have been enjoying stellar overseas success come in all shapes and sizes. Husband-andwife team William and Charlotte Morris launched their first collection of 12 handmade teddy bears in 2006. Today, Charlie Bears, which is based in Launceston, produces more than 500,000 bears each year, selling online and through 500 retailers in 37 countries, from Germany to Australia.

Liskeard-based giftware wholesaler Puckator is another of the UK’s fastest-growing SME exporters, with international sales of £9.1 million, and offices in Italy, Spain and China.

Indeed, China is proving fertile export territory for many Cornish companies, particularly in the food and drink sector.

Liskeard-based seafood supplier, Ideal Foods, has such a strong grounding the country that it now has a satellite office in China and has launched its own export service – Channel to China – to help other British food and drink companies sell their products in the country.

The Chinese are also enjoying Cornish-made ice cream, after Callestick Farm won a £500k contract to supply 125ml and 500ml retail tubs. “The managing director of the company we’re selling to was in the UK on business and happened to buy one of our ice creams,” said sales director David Jeffs.

CHARLIE BEARS IN 37 COUNTRIES

“He fell in love with it, thought it was perfect for the Chinese market and got in touch. It’s a very exciting development that we’re planning to build on in the coming months.”

But perhaps the most surprising Cornish export to China in recent times has been its tea. In 2005, the Tregothnan Estate became the first tea plantation to supply the world’s first truly British tea, and the Chinese love it!

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CONNECTIVITY W I T H O N E O F T H E FA S T E S T G R O W I N G A I R P O R T S I N T H E U K A N D A S I G N I F I C A N T D E P L O Y M E N T O F F I B R E B R OA D B A N D , CO R N WA L L I S T R U L Y W E L L CO N N E C T E D e may be a bit biased, but Cornwall is one of the most beautiful regions in the country. Surrounded by more than 400 miles of coastline, its natural environment is what attracts thousands of visitors every year.

But its geographical peripherality can come at a cost, can’t it? Bad roads, slow or no Internet. Seemingly cut off from the rest of the world. Well, you couldn’t be more wrong.

Indeed, Cornwall prides itself in being one of the most connected regions in the UK, thanks to a number of significant infrastructure improvements in recent years to its roads, rail, airport and broadband.

New, faster rail stock is coming on line connecting Cornwall to the capital, while Newquay Cornwall Airport has just reported its busiest year yet, with 461,000 passengers using the airport in the last year.

While it is now possible to fly from Cornwall to such locations as Denmark, Germany and Spain, it was the addition at the end of March of a new four-times daily route into London Heathrow that was particularly welcomed by the business community here in Cornwall.

Mark Duddridge, chair of the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Regional air links are vital to rebalancing the UK economy and supporting our emerging industries in Cornwall like space, clean energy and creative tech. Four flights a day into Heathrow will help our ambitious businesses trade around the world and attract more domestic and overseas visitors to one of the best parts of the UK.” And those who prefer to do their business miles on the road will be cheered by the improvements to the A30; with the dualling of the road near Bodmin having an instant impact and plans for dualling the nine-mile stretch between Carland Cross and Chiverton Cross at an advanced stage. The planned upgrade would offer drivers more than 100 miles of dual carriageway between the M5 and Camborne.

When the European-funded Superfast Cornwall programme was launched in 2011, it began a journey which would give the Duchy one of the best fibre rural networks in the world. When the first phase of the project concluded in 2015, over 132,000 km of optical fibre had been laid – enough to stretch around the globe three times!

Today, over 90% of premises in Cornwall have access to speeds in excess of 24 Mbps, with work ongoing to bridge the gap in any remaining ‘not-spots’.

With superfast broadband speeds, there is often no need for many physical face-to-face business meetings, as they can be done through online video conferencing technology. But for those meetings upcountry that you do need to attend in person, transport infrastructure into Cornwall is also seeing steady improvement.

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ONE OF THE BEST FIBRE RURAL NETWORKS IN THE WORLD F O U R F L I G H T S D A I LY F R O M N E W Q U AY TO HEATHROW IMPROVED RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE

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THINKING ABOUT SETTING UP YOUR BUSINESS I N C O R N W A L L? CO R N WA L L T R A D E & I N V E S T M E N T D E L I V E R S A S E RV I C E T H AT ’ S D E D I C AT E D TO P R O V I D I N G S U P P O R T , K N O W L E D G E A N D E X P E R T I S E TO B U S I N E S S E S E S TA B L I S H I N G T H E M S E L V E S I N CO R N WA L L ornwall Trade & Investment delivers a service that’s dedicated to providing support, knowledge and expertise to businesses establishing themselves in Cornwall.

The support provided by the team is tailored to the businesses individual requirements and their specific needs. From introductions to like-minded peers, help finding premises and identifying talent, through to support identifying the right sources of funding for your business our team is ready to provide a complimentary service and support you every step of the way.

Nixon Design office, Hayle

GET IN TOUCH TO FIND OUT MORE: V I S I T : WWW.CORNWALLTI.COM

@INVEST_CORNWALL

E M A I L : INFO@CORNWALLTI.COM

@CORNWALLTI

C A L L : 01872 326727

CORNWALLTI

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spend the day

25

£

*

per adult

NEW FOR 2019 Offer includes Saturdays and double sailing days

overseas

Our 2019 Scillonian daytrip offer for locals enables you to explore St. Mary’s or Tresco and now with double sailing days included why not use the extra time to discover St. Martin’s, Bryher or St. Agnes.

Travel Isles of Scilly

Travel Isles of Scilly

islesofscilly-travel.co.uk *T&Cs apply. See website for details.

IS LE S O F SCI LLY

IS LE S O F SCI LLY

Bergen Stavanger Oslo

Helsinki Stockholm Tallinn

Gothenburg

St Petersburg

LONDON HEATHROW Moscow Amsterdam Brussels

NEWQUAY

Warsaw Prague

Lyon Toulouse

Lisbon

Madrid

Kraków Vienna Zürich Salzburg Budapest Ljubljana Milan Zagreb Pula Belgrade Rome

Valencia

Kiev

Sofia Corfu

Algiers

Tunis

Athens

Marrakech

Crete

WORLDWIDE CONNECTIVITY via London Heathrow Discover the possibilities of worldwide travel with our interactive map at: cornwallairportnewquay. com/flying-from-cornwall

LONDON HEATHROW Calgary

St John

Montreal

Vancouver Chicago New York Las Vegas Los Angeles New Orleans Dallas Miami Mexico City

International routes on this route map are displayed as an idea of where you can travel and are not a comprehensive or exhaustive list.

Algiers Marrakech

Tunis Cairo Dubai

Delhi Mumbai

Bogotá

Nairobi

Beijing Seoul Chengdu Dhaka Hong Kong Hanoi Bangkok

Kuala Lumpur Singapore Jakarta Bali

Rio De Janeiro Santiago

Johannesburg Buenos Aires

Perth Sydney Melbourne