If you are a business, community organisation, school, social enterprise or charity based in Cornwall or the Isles of Scilly doing great things for sustainability, you could be a winner!
To apply, nominate or book your ticket, visit: cornwallsustainabilityawards.org
Closing Date: 31 October 2025 Most Sustainable Organisation
for Nature & Growth Environmental Growth Circular Economy Low Carbon Leader Regenerative Farming Sustainable Food & Drink Join us at this year’s award ceremony: 5th December at National Maritime Museum, Falmouth
WELCOME
By editor Nick Eyriey
Best days of our lives?
As American author Annie Dillard once famously said - “how we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”
And for many of us, a large portion of our days is spent at work. In fact, the average person will spend nearly 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime, which equates to something like 3,500 days. That’s a long time.
It stands to reason, then, that it’s quite important to make sure you are happy with not just your chosen career, but also your chosen workplace.
Sad to say, then, but most people in the UK would be pretty depressed when presented with those figures, because according to recent UK YouGov poll, only 17% of British workers love their job.
There’s a good chance, however, that some of those might work for Active Plus or one the seven other businesses that passed the muster in our third annual search for the Best Places to Work in Cornwall.
Business Cornwall’s Best Places to Work aims to celebrate those businesses that go the extra mile to make their workplace a happy and consequently, a productive place to be.
Congratulations to all those eight businesses who successfully emerged from the survey process. Registration for next year’s process begins today –head over the website to find out more about the eligibility criteria: bestplacestoworkincornwall.co.uk
Active Plus – the 2025 winners of Best Places to Work in Cornwall –see page 8.
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Nick Eyriey nick@businesscornwall.co.uk
PUBLISHER
Toni Eyriey toni@businesscornwall.co.uk
ACCOUNT MANAGER
Caroline Carter caroline@businesscornwall.co.uk
DESIGN
Ade Taylor design@businesscornwall.co.uk
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THE BIG QUESTION
What makes a company a great place to work?
And which is most important – a top salary or a fun work environment?
CHRISTIAN THOMSON
Markwick Marketing
To me, a great workplace isn’t defined by salary, table football, or pizza Fridays. It’s built on mutual trust and open, transparent communication within the team. That’s what truly creates a fun and relaxed environment.
ANTHONY HUDSON
Aztek
At Aztek, we believe a great place to work is built on a culture of support, growth, and shared purpose. Our values—learning, teamwork, family, and innovation— shape a positive environment where people genuinely enjoy coming to work. We believe daily enjoyment is vital, not just for morale but for performance too. While salary matters, a fun, respectful, and empowering culture is what truly helps people thrive—and that’s what makes Aztek special.
VICKI KENT
Redruth Revival
Everyone has very individual priorities when it comes to work from flexibility for parents and care givers to training and career progression for the career go getters. Likewise, we all have individual motivators, so reward and recognition matters to us all, right? However, you could have all of these in abundance but if the pay was bad, they would not be enough to make up for it. Yet I think the opposite is true, you can have great pay but if the work culture is terrible, it is not enough to keep people.
We have all had those jobs where your colleagues are all that keeps you sane. The people you end up having to spend a good proportion of your time with can make or break you in a job. There’s a reason why people have coined such phrases as ‘teamwork makes the dream work’. My belief is that trust underpins everything and that a positive work culture breeds happy, productive teams.
EWAN MCCLYMONT
Bishop Fleming
I believe that a healthy culture is the foundation of a great place to work – a culture where workplace wellbeing is prioritised above profit, where people feel valued, trusted, and rewarded, and where they feel they can bring their best selves to work. A culture that values people, leads to higher job satisfaction, better teamwork and increased retention, ultimately driving the business’s success. Whilst we go to work to pay the bills, there is the old cliché that money can’t buy happiness. I agree with this - the greatest reward is fulfilment and enjoying what you do is fundamental to healthy mental and physical wellbeing.
KARIS MATIK
Phoneta
A culture that values people, leads to higher job satisfaction.
For me, a great place to work is somewhere you feel trusted, appreciated, and part of something that genuinely helps people. At Phoneta, we’re a telephone answering service, but what we really do is create calm in the chaos for the businesses we support, and we’ve built the same feeling inside our own team. When your day revolves around helping others stay organised, save time, and never miss an opportunity, it’s vital that you feel supported too. We work as one team, have each other’s backs, and make sure no one’s left to carry the load alone. Having the freedom to do your job without being micromanaged, along with space to grow and try new things, makes the everyday enjoyable. Not every task is exciting, but when you’re in a positive environment, with people who cheer you on and laugh with you, it makes all the difference. A decent salary matters, of course, but if the culture’s not right, even the best pay can’t fix the ‘Sunday scaries’. For me, it’s about showing up to a workplace that lifts you, and helps you do the same for others.
AN ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS PENDANT
Ethica Diamonds partnered with the Born Free Foundation and its original patron and ambassador, Joanna Lumley, to create a bespoke pendant for their live auction which took place in London recently.
The piece was designed by Ethica’s in-house designer, Laura Basham, with personal contributions from Lumley and raised £10k, all of which was donated to Born Free.
Born Free is an international wildlife charity focused on keeping wildlife in their natural habitat. The organisation campaigns for the protection of threatened species and promotes compassionate conservation.
The pendant was crafted with green labgrown diamonds totalling 3.65 carats and light blue lab grown sapphires totalling an additional 2.04 carats, set in recycled yellow gold.
“We’re delighted to be working with Joanna Lumley to create a truly special bespoke pendant exclusively for Born Free,” said Emily Foreman from Ethica Diamonds.
WAVE PROJECT REOPENING
The Wave Project reopened its Newquay shop following a major refurbishment.
The revamped shop has allowed the charity to expand its Preloved Wetsuit Scheme, which it runs in partnership with Cornwall Council and SUEZ .
As part of the scheme, wetsuits can be donated directly at The
Wave Project shop, or dedicated wetsuit recycling bins at local household waste centres. The items are then sorted, inspected and prepared for reuse.
The Wave Project CEO, Ramon Van de Velde, said: “By expanding our Pre-loved Wetsuit Scheme, we ensure that every purchase made funds vital Surf Therapy programmes for young people across the UK. The demand for mental health support has never been higher, and we are proud to be part of the solutionhelping young people thrive and find a sense of belonging.”
STARTUP TARGETS THE WORLD
A Cornish startup is looking to take on eBay in a booming market said to be worth £6 billion.
The secondary market for trading cardsPokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh! etc – is big business. Every other day there’s a new story about celebrities and influencers shelling out a seven figure sum for a “grail card”.
Such tales almost always centre on graded cards - cards that have had their condition professionally appraised by a grading company. But for every graded card sold, there are around eight ungraded or “raw” cards changing hands.
These are often traded on platforms like eBay or other peer-to-peer online marketplaces, which are, says Josh Williams, co-founder of Falmouth-based Ungraded. com, ideal for buying a plethora of things, but maybe not so much trading cards.
He said: “For trading cards you want to
really scrutinise the photos to find all the minute scratches and dinks before making a purchase decision. We thought something more specialised was needed. There seemed to be an enormous gap in the market.”
Hence together with business partner John Brame, he developed a new marketplace specifically for ungraded cards, where potential buyers can rotate a card around in a 3D viewer to see how light plays on its surface and easily spot any value defining defects.
“We definitely feel like a buzz is building around what we’re doing here,” said Brame. “The UK is a fantastic proving ground for our business model but we’re constantly being asked when this is coming to the US or mainland Europe. The message there is, as soon as we can! We’ve always known that if we can make it work here, we want to take it to America – the largest trading card market in the world – and ultimately have operational stations around the world.”
NEW FOOD STRATEGY
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly’s agrifood sector has set out a bold new ten-year strategy aimed at becoming the UK’s #1 region for sustainable food and drink.
The Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Agrifood Strategy and Action Plan is designed to position the region as the UK’s leading green, clean and fair food economy. It highlights how the food industry can be a powerful force for positive change, helping to deliver net zero, protect and regenerate the environment, improve mental and physical health and wellbeing, and enhance food security.
The strategy has been developed by industry body, Cornwall Food and Drink, in collaboration with key stakeholders and is the first blueprint for the industry in Cornwall and Scilly for more than 20 years.
The Cornish agrifood sector - defined
TWO BECOME ONE
Nalders LLP has agreed to acquire fellow Cornish law firm Hine Downing.
Nalders’ managing partner, Dale Band, says the agreement represents an “exciting step” for both firms.
“This acquisition is a natural fit,” he said. “Both firms have a long history of serving Cornish communities with dedication and integrity and have excellent reputations. By coming together, we strengthen our ability to support individuals and businesses across the region, ensuring continuity of service with an even broader range of legal expertise.”
Hine Downing partner, John Lowry, added: “Hine Downing has always been committed to delivering high-quality legal services with a personal touch.
as food, drink, farming and fishinggenerates over 10% of total GVA, which is more than twice the national average; accounts for one in five jobs and a quarter of all businesses. Some 80% of land in Cornwall and Scilly is in agricultural use.
Strategy author and Cornwall Food and Drink founder, Ruth Huxley, said:
“Cornwall has long been known for its outstanding food and drink, and this strategy provides a clear plan to build on our strengths while addressing key challenges such as sustainability, skills shortages, and supply chain resilience.
“By working together as an industry and with Government and other stakeholders, we can unlock enormous opportunities and ensure our food and drink sector continues to thrive and set an example for the rest of the UK.”
You can download a copy of the strategy from greatcornishfood.co.uk
“Joining Nalders LLP allows us to build on that foundation while providing even greater resources and opportunities for our clients and team.”
NEWS IN BRIEF
Saltash-based Westcountry Fabrication Ltd is celebrating a hattrick of certifications. The company successfully attained its first ISO14001 certification for environmental management. This achievement came within a week of its 11th consecutive ISO9001 re-certification and an upgrade to its BS EN1090 re-certification.
Cornish accountancy firm RRL has been shortlisted for the prestigious Tolley’s Taxation Awards 2025 in the Best Single Office Tax Practice category. Winners will be announced at a London awards ceremony on May 8.
Falmouth’s Harbour Lights restaurant’s annual fundraising quizzes raised nearly £900 for two local charities - West Cornwall Search & Rescue Team and Gyllyngvase Surf Life Saving Club.
After being crowned CUPRA Retailer of the Year, Dales Summercourt has also been named SEAT Retailer of the Year.
Launceston-based social impact investor Resonance Community Developers has received £20 million funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), which will enable it to invest in community-led affordable homes and scale its fund to £50 million.
The integration of the two firms will take place over the coming months, with the acquisition expected to complete on May 30.
FLYING HIGH...
The results are in for the third annual Business Cornwall’s Best Places to Work survey.
Companies from across the Duchy representing a wide range of sectors entered the two-part process to determine the Best Places to Work in Cornwall. Over the coming pages, we rank the top eight companies that made the grade and highlight some of the factors that stood them out.
Programme partner, Best Companies Group, conducted the surveys, analysed the data and determined the winners and rankings. Part one focused on the main company director, detailing company policies, practices, benefits etc, while in part two employees were asked 77 questions across eight subject areas to benchmark their satisfaction levels.
The results from the eight firms that made the cut this year demonstrate high levels of satisfaction.
For instance, from those workers there was an average 90% score of positive responses on leadership compared to 73% from those companies that missed the cut. And interestingly, when it comes to pay and benefits, 79% of winning company staff were happy, compared to just 51% from the list of businesses not making the grade. And it pays to engage with your team. An average 92% of workers were happy about the overall engagement, compared to 73%.
The sky’s the limit for this years winners of Business Cornwall’s Best Places to Work... These awards reflect the fantastic achievements of people and teams.
For the whole employee benchmark report, there was a survey average of 88% positive responses compared to 73% from the businesses that just missed out.
Registration for Business Cornwall’s Best Places to Work 2026 is already open, but there is one key difference next year. To reflect the large number of smaller companies in Cornwall, we are expanding the eligibility entry criteria to include businesses with at least 10 employees, rather than 15.
For full details to register your interest, head over to website now: bestplacestoworkincornwall.co.uk
ACTIVE PLUS
Teamwork and leadership courses
Website: activeplus.org.uk
Head office: Truro
MD: Laura Truckle
Employees: 19
Activities to relieve workday stress and promote fun:
• Team days held off site to socialise, network and share good practice
• Additional free annual leave over Christmas and New Year
• Earlier finish on a Friday where possible.
What three things does your employer do for you that you love?
• Team members always feel listened to.
• Everyone is so kind and friendly! Being able to work flexibly has relieved a massive life stress.
• The autonomy and trust isn’t just spoken about, it is actively promoted.
Active Plus is a Community Interest Company (CIC) that uses the skills and experience and expertise of injured and retired military veterans to deliver unique programmes that build confidence, improve motivation, generate a sense of belonging and self-worth; helping people to unlock and fulfil their potential.
This is the first year it has entered the Business Cornwall Best Places to Work scheme, and to be ranked #1 is some achievement.
“The Active Plus team are incredibly proud to have been recognised as one of Cornwall’s Best Places to Work,” says MD Laura Truckle.
“Our unique team is made up of inspirational individuals who have overcome injury, sickness and challenges in life, many of whom are Armed Forces Veterans, so it feels great to demonstrate how true inclusion and community connection creates a happy and productive workforce.”
And as a CIC, for Active Plus it’s all about making profit for a purpose, investing and reinvesting in people and communities.
“Active Plus’s ethos is about helping ourselves by helping others, something that is epitomised everyday through our work across Cornwall,” Laura explains. “Showcasing how improving the lives of others has created a passionate, happy workforce is an exciting achievement. The accolade is certainly for all team members past, present and future who make Active Plus the unique place that it is.”
Laura believes Active Plus has all the secret ingredients for a happy, productive workforce, which would appear to be borne out by its #1 ranking in Business Cornwall’s Best Places list.
“Creating an environment where every team member is valued for what they can do, and not what they can’t is a strong starting point for us,” she says.
“We recognise that working together, communicating openly and valuing each other are crucial to building a trusting team where we can achieve amazing things for our communities and ourselves. We openly talk about mental health, life’s challenges and lived experience to help one another feel secure and promote a true sense of belonging. Our veterans bring a wealth of skills and experience from their time in the military where teamwork was crucial to survival.”
Ultimately, a great place to work is of benefit to everyone.
Laura says: “A sense of purpose is crucial in having a reason to get out of bed in the morning, combine that with a true sense of belonging and a lot of laughter and you have the perfect recipe for a great place to work! These feelings of belonging and value lead to happiness, increased wellbeing and ultimately result in a happy healthier team who want to come to work.
“Our team know that they are making a difference to other people’s lives every day and that makes us feel good!”
Ultimately, a grea place to work is of benefit to everyone.
PHONETA
Telephone answering services
Website: phoneta.co.uk
Head office: Redruth
MD: Anthony Caddy
Employees: 50
Activities to relieve workday stress and promote fun:
• Themed Days: Dress-up days, such as ‘80s Day’ or ‘Pyjama Day’.
• Flexible working practices
• Seasonal Celebrations
What three things does your employer do for you that you love?
• Flexible working practices
• Supportive workplace culture
• Recognition and development opportunities
As a family-run business with over three decades of history in Cornwall, Phoneta is proud of its deep roots and strong sense of community. It was founded by the MD’s grandfather, and since then has built a close-knit workforce, with many families, including multi-generational teams, contributing to its success.
It champions disability awareness throughout the organisation, nurturing a culture of understanding and inclusion. By supporting and celebrating the unique strengths and abilities of its employees, it ensures everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Phoneta also deeply values the skills and experience that an ageing workforce brings. For instance, one of its longest-serving employees retired at 74 after 22 years of dedicated service.
In essence, Phoneta says it defines itself as a Best Place to Work through a familial atmosphere, dedication to employee well-being, commitment to diversity and inclusion, and active community engagement.
“We are proud to have created a workplace where every individual is empowered to grow and succeed,” says MD Anthony Caddy. “For the second year running, our organisation has been recognised as one of the best places to work, which is a testament to our commitment to employee wellbeing, inclusivity, and professional growth.
“Our dedication to community engagement, diversity, and creating a positive, inclusive workplace ensures every team member feels valued. This award highlights the shared pride and effort of our exceptional team, who make our workplace truly outstanding.”
SOLVE WEB MEDIA
SEO and web design agency
Website: solve.co.uk
Head office: Nansledan
Founder: Laurence Harmer
Employees: 18
Activities to relieve workday stress and promote fun
• Pets at work
• Nerf gun battles
• Spa days
What three things does your employer do for you that you love?
• Creating a really amazing space to work in, the office is such a positive environment
• Fun team outings like dolphin spotting boat trips
• Celebrating birthdays and special occasions
While pets at work days have been quite a common theme among Business Cornwall’s Best Places to Work, Nerf gun battles less so!
But then again, Solve likes to stand out for its employees. A B-Corp since 2019, it claims to have one of the highest B-Corp scores in the world. Inclusivity is so important to the company, hosting a workplace for a mix of “beautiful neurodiverse brains” and supporting team members with health conditions and disabilities.
“We are humans and that is how we view our team,” says founder Laurence Harmer. “Creating a happy, healthy workplace is at the centre of our success and we like to spread this message and inspire others to do so too.”
In the past year, extra curricula activities (apart from Nerf battles, of course) have included ice dipping, sauna session, boat trips and coasteering.
This is the third successive year that Solve has been named in Business Cornwall’s Best Places to Work, a fact that Laurence is hugely proud of.
“Being recognised for our efforts means the world and will keep attracting the right customers and team members,” he says. “ Our team is the core of our success and we value each and every one of them endlessly. This feeds into our client’s success too. We are shaping a bright future and are so excited to enjoy more time bonding as humans and spreading the message of positivity, inclusion and sustainability.”
COODES
Law firm #4
Website: coodes.co.uk
Head office: St Austell
Chair: Peter Lamble
Employees: 181
Activities to relieve workday stress and promote fun:
• Dress down days/occasional fancy dress
• Themed bake sales
• Fun team events at AGM
What three things does your employer do for you that you love?
• Free fruit available in every office
• We close at Christmas and get paid time off on top of our holiday
• We have the option to trade holiday which we really value
Coodes’ mission is to “make a positive impact on the lives of others”. And this applies as much to its staff as it does to as clients.
It is driven by a commitment to deliver outstanding legal services while fostering a workplace culture rooted in quality leadership, meaningful support and genuine development for staff at every stage of their career, evidenced by an above industry standards in length of service and retention.
Coodes sees itself as more than just a law firm, but a community and encourages staff to get involved in charitable and community initiatives. As part of its 275th anniversary celebrations, it pledged to plant 1,200 trees across Cornwall in partnership with Plant One Cornwall. Staff are encouraged to participate in the planting process, fostering a sense of teamwork while contributing to the region’s environmental sustainability.
“Being recognised as a Best Place to Work in Cornwall is a testament to the environment we have worked so hard to create,” says partner Elise Alma. “A place where careers flourish, and people feel empowered. We pride ourselves on providing opportunities for growth, fostering collaboration, and prioritising wellbeing.
“This incredible recognition reflects the heart of who we are and what we strive to achieve every day — a workplace where people thrive, feel valued, and make a meaningful difference to our clients and community.”
Website: harlandaccountants.com
Head office: Newquay
Director: Deborah Edwards
Employees: 16
Activities to relieve workday stress and promote fun:
• Office jenga
• Dogs in the office
• Christmas jumpers
Activities to relieve workday stress and promote fun:
• Pool table in the staff room
• Christmas party
• Innovation days
An accredited Living Wage employer and B Corporation, Buzz Interactive goes to great efforts in creating a supportive workplace. From regular training opportunities to ‘innovation days’ throughout the year, Buzz encourages its staff to grow with the company and feel inspired to put forward new ideas. It listens to its people, with a deep focus on communication through all levels of the team.
“Buzz Interactive was created with a mission to bring creativity into the world of software development,” says MD Lindsey Axten. “At the heart of this mission is the people – which is why building a workplace that supports staff and allows them to thrive in building on both new and old skills has been key to our success as a business.
“As we grow, we hope to continue to cement ourselves as one of the best places to work in Cornwall, where creativity and blue-sky thinking are celebrated as assets, and where no idea is off the table.”
HARLAND ACCOUNTANTS
Chartered accountancy
An organisation is only as strong as its people, which Harland is only too aware about, which is why it prioritises a supportive workplace culture that nurtures both personal and professional growth.
It has an approach to work-life balance tailored to the unique needs of its employees, featuring flexible working hours, remote work options, and a wellness programme that includes mindfulness sessions and organised outdoor activities to connect with Cornwall’s stunning landscape.
Being named among the Best Places to Work in Cornwall is, says director Deborah Edwards, an accolade that “reflects” the heart and soul of Harland Accountants.
“For the people who work here, this recognition represents more than just an award,” she says. “It’s a testament to a workplace where our mantra “Profit AND Purpose” guides every aspect of the business, and where employees feel valued, supported, and inspired.”
BUZZ INTERACTIVE Software development agency
Website: buzzinteractive.co.uk
Head office: Newquay
MD: Linsdey Axten
Employees: 15
5 # 6 #
SAPPHIRE HOLIDAYS
Self-catering holiday letting agencies
7 #
Website: sapphireholidays.co.uk
Head office: Hayle
Chair: Simon Tregoning
Employees: 183
Activities to relieve workday stress and promote fun:
• Dogs at work
• Away Days
• Summer BBQ/Christmas Party
NAKED SOLAR
Solar energy company
8 #
Activities to relieve workday stress and promote fun:
• Pets at work
• Pre work surfing
• Friday pub fun
Naked Solar, founded in 2010, is an award-winning solar and battery installation company. With over a decade of experience, Naked Solar has built a reputation for excellence in service and innovative solar solutions for both residential and commercial clients.
Testament to its success are the people who work for the business. Workers point to a number of initiatives that all help make Naked Solar one of Cornwall’s Best Places to Work, with a supportive atmosphere and flexible working arrangements both scoring highly.
“Our dedication to community engagement, diversity, and creating a positive, inclusive workplace ensures every team member feels valued,” says MD Tony Sampson. “This award highlights the shared pride and effort of our exceptional team, who make our workplace truly outstanding.”
The biggest employer on the list, Sapphire Holidays is family-owned, comprising several unique holiday letting agencies - Aspects Holidays; Boutique Retreats; Classic Cottages and Unique Hideaways and a management services company - Pure.
And people are at the very heart of its business model – from its holidaymaking clients right through to the people who help ensure these holidays meet expectations, its staff.
Sapphire invests deeply in staff wellbeing to curate an inclusive and supportive working environment. Employees are nurtured and encouraged through opportunities for both professional and personal growth. Sapphire Holidays inspires its team members to support its local communities and develop the environment outside of the office setting with three volunteer days per year, for each employee, available to use during the working day.
“While separate businesses within the group, together we share the same culture and desire to provide exceptional service in all we do,” says chairman Simon Tregoning.
Website: nakedsolar.co.uk
Head office: Newquay
MD: Tony Sampson
Employees: 45
SMELLS LIKE
TEAM SPIRIT
Get the crew together for some valuable bonding time.
A happy workforce is more often than not, a productive one. As all the winners of this year’s Best Places to Work scheme will attest, team building activities can go a long way to engendering loyalty.
Team building activities can come in all shapes and sizes.
From spa days to overnight stays, from obstacle courses to full-on cookery courses, the scope is pretty endless. But the aim is the same – to have some fun and to better connect with colleagues. And who knows, whether you decide to register for Business Cornwall’s Best Places to Work 2026 or not, it just might make your place a fantastic place to work.
A happy workforce is a productive workforce.
A RECIPE FOR TEAM BONDING
Corporate days and team building cookery events with Philleigh Way Cookery School.
Does your team need a fun, team-orientated away day, that’s not problem solving or breaking out of Crystal-Maze style room?
Here at Philleigh Way Cookery School, we offer corporate cookery courses and events off the peg, or designed around your team and needs. Choose one of our many successful themes for the day, or if there’s something that you’re interested in learning to cook, pitch your ideas to us and we’ll make a plan that is bespoke to you and your team.
Philleigh Way Cookery School is owned and run by ex-professional Rugby player, turned Chef, Rupert Cooper. Rupert is a people person, fantastic with food and most definitely injects some humour and passion into the kitchen.
You can all try your hand at cooking a specific dish (or several!), or Rupert can demonstrate and cook for you all (or a mixture of the two). It’s a team building
Nestled in the dramatic cliffside of Mawgan Porth, Bedruthan Hotel offers a unique and inspiring setting for meetings and away days. With venues that can accommodate up to 120 guests, it’s an ideal location for team-building events, training days, and focused meetings. The hotel’s experienced events team is on hand to assist with everything from organising creative workshops to coordinating travel and overnight stays, ensuring a smooth and memorable experience.
For larger groups, the airy clifftop conference space provides an open and flexible environment that can be tailored to suit your needs, whether for large summits or smaller, more intimate discussions. The dedicated entrance makes a lasting first impression, while the sunset terrace overlooking the cove offers a stunning backdrop for relaxation and reflection after a productive day.
day with a difference; everyone gets involved, gets a feast and gets to learn some new, transferable skills for their home cooking too.
You have the option of attending your course at our Cookery School on the Roseland Peninsula, at our seaview Cove Café, in the sand dunes at Hayle Beach, or, of course, an alternative, suitable venue.
You can see our standard Cookery Course diary on our website here www.philleighway.co.uk but for more information, to book a Corporate Day or for a quote, please email info@philleighway.co.uk
You can also see our latest news on our Instagram @philleighway
A FRESH VIEW
Team building at Bedruthan Hotel: a creative coastal retreat.
For more intimate gatherings, the Garden Room offers a secluded space surrounded by nature, featuring a large trestle table ideal for inspired team meetings. The colourful, mid-century interior leads seamlessly to the outdoors, where the planted sand dunes provide the perfect setting for informal teambuilding activities in a relaxed, natural environment.
Bedruthan’s Create Cornwall team offers a daily rotating selection of craft workshops in their seaview craft room, making it easy to add a creative, hands-on element to your meeting. These sessions provide a unique opportunity for team bonding, fostering creativity and collaboration. Additionally, the hotel offers wellness activities such as yoga, ensuring that your team leaves feeling refreshed, recharged, and more connected.
THE SHARP’S
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BOOST YOUR BUSINESS
How Redruth-based promotional products specialist Boosters can put your branding centre stage.
Promotional merchandise is a staple of many organisations’ marketing plans and for almost 30 years, Boosters has been fulfilling the requirements of local and national companies, coupling expertise with a personal service. The Boosters team has always been a safe pair of hands.
After an MBO was completed in January 2024, seeing founder Blair Carroll retire after 26 years at the helm, Donna Lee and Craig Harrison stepped up to the promotional plate.
After 12 months of reviewing and extensive conversations with many parties, they have formulated a new Boosters. Working alongside Newquay-based Idenna Creative, a rebrand has just been completed, and a more vibrant, energetic and visible Boosters style has been created, all while keeping true to the values that have been a cornerstone of the last 28 years.
CUSTOMER FOCUS
The aim is to connect you to your customers through the use of the right merchandise.
Whether you are a seasoned merchandise purchaser or just entering the market, Craig and the team at Boosters have got you. They’ll start with a conversation, nothing taxing, but a simple discovery of what you need. This helps to ensure your budget and expectations are aligned, so that the team can make sure that every penny of your marketing budget is used correctly. The aim is to connect you to your customers through the use of the right merchandise. You need to create the right impact – after all, if it doesn’t look or feel good to you, it probably won’t be right for your customers.
Boosters’ guiding principle has always been to meet the needs of the customer. They will certainly supply you with pens, but will work hard to get the right pen. Maybe a stylus top, or a QR code works for you? Or they might advise you to spend your budget on fewer, higher-quality pens, to increase the impact, and tell a better story for your business.
Do you want your merch to meet with your sustainability policies? Then Boosters can go green to align with your needs. It isn’t a one size fits all approach, and with many different options, Boosters will ensure you are getting the perfect merchandise for your needs.
GETTING IT RIGHT
The Boosters team are expanding, with Vicky Hanks and Martyn Saulsbury joining the sales team and happily embracing the existing ethos of expertise and indepth product knowledge. Founder Blair Carroll’s catchphrase was ‘The answer’s yes, what’s the question?’, and that spirit continues now. Where a customer wants something that’s not currently in the catalogue, it can probably be sourced. But Craig is keen to emphasise that he’ll only sign off on quality products. ‘Don’t buy, buy right’ is his catchphrase, and he wants to be sure that every product they sell is something he’d be happy to have the Boosters name on.
SUSTAINABILITY
Again, this has been a keystone for Boosters over the years, not only in terms of sourcing eco-friendly products from ethical sources, but also durable, quality items that will last for years.
Boosters has been a member of British Promotional Merchandise Association (BPMA) for many years and has recently signed the BPMA Step Forward Pledge. This is around sustainability, in what can be a throwaway industry, and those who sign up pledge to honour 13 sustainability commitments, around products, people and planet. Since signing, Boosters has had to make the difficult decision to part ways with one of its suppliers, who couldn’t evidence their welfare standards. Not easy, but solid proof that Craig and Donna are honouring their commitment.
and fundraising for local charities, sponsoring sports teams and events and generally getting involved. At the moment, it is sponsoring Truro City Football Club, Penzance Hockey Club and Mousehole Football Club, with a deal in the works with the Cornish Pirates Rugby Club, and no plans to discontinue their sporting relationships.
In 2024 Boosters announced a fundraising challenge, raising money for Clear: Emotional Trauma & Therapy Specialists, Penhaligon’s Friends, the Hugs Foundation and St Petrocs. Each charity received a share of a charity fund raised over the year, which is an amazing achievement, and were delighted to be supported in this way.
Sourcing eco-friendly products from ethical sources, but also durable, quality items that will last.
This has inspired a new initiative, and since January for the next five years, Boosters has committed to a rolling charity support programme with two charities supported for two years each, and a commitment to give £2.5k each per year. For 2025, St Petrocs have begun a twoyear sponsorship agreement and Hugs Children’s Cancer Charity for one year. Another charity will be nominated by Hugs to take over in 2026, and so forth until the end of 2029. This initiative will be known as 30 by 30, so £30k donated by 2030, into local groups, supporting causes that make a difference close to home.
LOCAL BUSINESS, NATIONAL REACH
If you need promotional merchandise, getting the best for your business means having a conversation, and there’s nowhere better to begin that conversation than Boosters. They have clients all over the world who can testify to that, so whether you want some typical branded items – pens, mugs and notebooks – or something a little more exciting – a branded yoga mat, tin of mints, or gift box of golf accessories perhaps – then get in touch! You won’t be disappointed.
COMMUNITY-MINDED
Since the outset in 1998, Boosters has been integrated into the local community, donating
boosters.co.uk
STANDING OUT FROM THE CROWD
A strong marketing and PR strategy can be a gamechanger for any business, helping them establish a presence, build credibility, and tell their brand story to potential customers.
Well-crafted PR can secure media coverage, create a buzz around product launches and help position your company as a disruptor in the industry.
GETTING THE OPTICS RIGHT
As global socio-economic and political issues continue to blow our minds daily, it’s easy to find ourselves distracted from what we can do, within our business capabilities. Georgie Upton, MD at Trurobased PR and social media agency, Wild Card, says this has never been truer in terms of how we handle and frame our communication practices – be that internal or external.
“Just this week I heard the lines ‘we are now in a wartime economy’ and ‘business are needing to weather the storm’,” she tells us.
If our comms fall apart –everything else does too.
“So, while us business leaders are busily updating our strategies to both survive and thrive in the current economic landscape we find ourselves in, I wanted to remind us all about the optics; if our comms fall apart – everything else does too. It’s time for the swan analogy; be ferociously busy below the water kicking away, but above be calm and poised – like an elegant swan.”
She says language, tone and delivery plans need to be updated to reflect this new world order. Comms strategies must shift and adapt. What was right six months ago, even six days ago is quite possibly not right now.
In this environment, maintaining visibility and trust with your customers becomes even more crucial.
“If we look at it from the Cornish hospitality and tourism sector,” Georgie continues, “sustained PR efforts ensure potential visitors from across the UK continue to view Cornwall as a premier destination despite nationwide budget constraints. Similarly, Cornwall’s artisan producers and can leverage strategic communications to emphasise provenance, value and quality when consumers are becoming increasingly price sensitive.”
Strategic stories placed in national and regional media can generate visibility for your business, when every pound must work harder.
She adds: “Trust takes time to build and consistent communication helps maintain the trust that may have taken years to establish with customers, investors, and stakeholders. By maintaining a pipeline of fresh, relevant, communications during these challenging times, businesses position themselves for quicker recovery.”
ATTENTION RECESSION
As we move through 2025, marketing in the modern world is more complex than ever. With new technologies like AI and automation reshaping the landscape, businesses must rethink their strategies to capture and retain the attention of their customers.
And one of the most significant challenges we face today is the concept of ‘attention recession’, highlighted in recent research by Google.
“In short,” explains John Smith, founder and creative director at Hayle-based creative agency, Blumin, “people’s attention spans are shrinking, and with so much content competing for it, standing out is harder than ever.”
John says the findings suggest that traditional approaches, such as bombarding consumers with more ads or content, are no longer as effective as they once were. He says to combat this, businesses must be smarter and more intentional in how they engage their audiences.
“At Blumin, we believe that overcoming attention recession starts with going back to the basics. While AI and automation certainly have their place - helping businesses deliver personalised experiences and streamline processes - there is no substitute for a solid foundation.
“A clear value proposition, strong market positioning, and an understanding of what truly matters to your audience are critical. With these building blocks in place, businesses can create more meaningful, focused, and authentic campaigns that resonate with consumers.
“In addition, we’ve seen a growing trend towards outsourcing marketing functions. Whether it’s through full-service agencies or dedicated teams, businesses are increasingly recognising the benefits of tapping into external expertise to drive results without the overheads of large in-house departments. This allows for more agility and access to specialised skills in areas like digital marketing, PPC, content creation, and more.
“Simply put, there is no magic formula for success in today’s marketing landscape. To navigate the challenges of doing business in 2025 and beyond, businesses must adopt a well-considered, strategic approach that blends innovative technology with a deep understanding of their core values and customer needs. Future-proofing your marketing strategy is about being adaptable, staying grounded in your brand, and continually refining your approach to meet the evolving needs of your customers.”
Continued on page 24
HOW ABOUT BECOMING A FILM STAR?
At the end of the day, all business is storytelling. Whether you’re building boats, brewing coffee, or running a global brand. You’re telling people who you are, what you do, and why they should care. And the most powerful way to tell that story,” says Oatey Media MD, Sam Oatey, is through film.
“We’re storytellers first and filmmakers second,” he says. “Film is just the tool we use to help brands find their voice - and tell their story in a way that actually lands.
“Because when it’s done well, film doesn’t just look pretty. It connects. It inspires. It makes people feel something real.
“A good story isn’t always a glossy brand film (though we do love making those). Sometimes it’s a product campaign that captures a lifestyle. Sometimes it’s a case study that shows the people behind the brand. But at the heart of every project, it’s always about people - because that’s who your audience connects with.
“Anyone can make a film. Our job is to help you tell the right story, the right way, so it cuts through and makes an impact. Because in the end, it’s not about adding more content to the pile, it’s about telling a story worth listening to.”
We’re
VIDEO TECH
Video is fast becoming one of the most powerful tools we have in PR. Tristan Parkinson, creative director at DCA Public Relations, says it has the ability to tell a story quickly, emotionally and memorably in a way that words alone simply can’t.
“Whether it’s for a product launch, a brand story or a piece of reactive comms, video allows you to connect with audiences instantly - and authentically,” he explains.
seeing video become an essential asset in both marketing and PR.
“At DCA we’ve invested in our own dedicated in-house videographer unit because we believe video should be a core part of every campaign, not just an add-on. Having this capability in-house means we can move fast, stay flexible and ensure that what we produce is always high quality, on-brand and aligned with our clients’ goals.
“We’re seeing video become an essential asset in both marketing and PR. From social snippets and campaign trailers to case study films and client testimonials, video content drives engagement, boosts shareability and increases media pickup. Journalists want rich assets, and audiences expect dynamic content - that’s where video shines.
“The growth of video as a marketing and PR tool isn’t a trend - it’s the new standard. With attention spans shrinking and competition for eyeballs growing, brands that embrace video are seeing stronger results across the board. And with platforms favouring video in their algorithms, it’s never been more important to have it at the heart of your comms strategy.”
AN AGILE APPROACH
The Agile Communications Agency, led by chartered PR consultant Rachel Foster, looks to bring more to the table than traditional public relations.
The agency rebranded two years ago, from Agile PR, to reflect the broader range of strategic and tactical creative support on offer by the team.
Rachel says: “Public relations has moved on from being driven by placing media coverage – we offer support across owned, paid, shared and earned activities. This starts with setting the strategy and choosing the right tactics and channels to get your messaging in front of the right audiences.”
Agile’s marketing communications expertise was strengthened when Charla Symons joined in 2023 as agency manager, followed by head of digital marketing Lyssa-Fêe Crump 18 months ago.
Together with a supercharged team of associates, the agency packs a punch for its national and international client base – including the University of Oxford, hospitality giant Whitbread and international NGO ClientEarth.
Closer to home, The Agile Communications Agency delivers impact on projects such as Tech Cornwall’s rebrand and website re-launch, Truro Town Deal and Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Growth Hub.
Lyssa says: “Our clients often call us a bit of a powerhouse – and we’ll take that! We’re a multiskilled team with loads of experience, and we love bringing that together to support organisations in a way that works best for them. Whether it’s setting the strategy, getting stuck into delivery, or coaching teams to build confidence and skills in-house – we’re here to help you make the most of your potential.”
Continued from page 23
Your Campaigns Agency
STRATEGY
We immerse ourselves in your world with fresh perspective, to understand what sets you apart.
• Creative Direction
• Campaign Planning
• Electrifying ideas
(not literally)
FILM
• Videography
• Photography
• Editing
• Absolutely no drama - unless We create compelling narratives with big ideas at their core.
scripted
DESIGN
• Branding
• Graphic Design
• Stop thumbs and grab
We bring the strategy to life with visuals that connect and inspire. eyeballs (somewhat literal)
Digital
• Web Design
• PPC and Meta
• UX/UI/SEO/AI and every Supercharge how people see you online. other acronym
Campaigns
PAPER REVOLUTION
• Copywriting
• Social Media Management
• PR Services
• More noise than an elephant
We get your story out there, launching and amplifying your brand. orchestra (also not literal)
71% of paper and 82% of paper-based packaging is recycled into new products; one of the highest recycling rates of any material in Europe!
Sources: CEPI Key Statistics, 2022 and Eurostat, 2020. Europe: EU27 + Norway, Switzerland and the UK.
® Discover the story of paper www.lovepaper.org
Scan for paper facts, activities, blogs and much more!
CREATING A BRIGHT FUTURE
Vice-chancellor, Emma Hunt, explains the vital role Falmouth University creativity has to play across Cornwall’s economy.
Cornwall has always been a place that inspires creativity and innovation. It’s where the rugged beauty of our landscape meets the resilience and ingenuity of our communities.
It’s also the place where creativity and technology have been entwined for generations, and this special mix it at the core of Falmouth University’s mission, as it was when the Cornwall Polytechnic was founded nearly 200 years ago.
Cornwall has always been a place that inspires creativity and innovation.
As the university’s vicechancellor, I have seen firsthand the power of the potential for creativity and technology, and how this unique blend can drive growth, transform lives, and shape the economic future of our region.
At Falmouth, we understand that creativity is not just about artistic expression—it’s a powerful economic engine. Our creative industries in Cornwall are vibrant, diverse, and innovative and we’re proud that our graduates are at the heart of this.
Our graduates have the ability to think differently, collaborate across sectors, are problem solvers and makers and innovate in ways traditional industries often cannot. These skills are essential to future-proofing Cornwall’s wider economy, driving productivity, and opening doors for new forms of investment and growth.
For example, we’re delighted that Penryn’s Studio Kiln, founded by Falmouth alumni, was recently named as one of the top three design agencies in the world. Ensuring we create a talent pipeline ready to join and contribute to a thriving creative sector is just one part of our mission though. Within the Cornish business and education ecosystem we are uniquely placed to support and drive economic growth across many sectors.
Becoming the home for the Cornwall Angel Network, a venture to connect local angel investors to start-up and early-stage businesses in Cornwall, is in part recognition that for more than a decade we have nurtured entrepreneurial talent through Falmouth University’s Launchpad programmes. We have helped establish nearly 50 active businesses, placing us alongside some of the most prestigious universities in the country for spin-out survival rates.
Companies such as Hertzian, a leading AI and data analytics firm, and Waving Bear, an innovative games development studio, highlight the type of success stories emerging directly from our incubation programmes. These businesses are not only thriving but also helping to reposition Cornwall as a creative technology hub.
The angel network sits alongside our existing programme of activity to support business. Now known as Launchpad Futures, the programme is businesses’ front door to the university, providing access to the University’s cutting-edge technology and expertise; while our newly launched Academy of Continuing Education develops bespoke training packages for companies and provides short courses
EMMA HUNT
PENRYN CAMPUS
to help individuals upskill or retrain as changes in the workforce demand different and new skills.
Looking to the future, our Centre for Blended Realities (CBR) is providing the interface between creative research, technology and business. Here, the fusion of immersive arts and technology positions Cornwall as a leader in emerging technologies; helping to attract investment, generate and share knowledge that creates and nurtures innovative businesses and local entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Through CBR, we’re working with companies like Celtic Sea Power utilising underwater cameras, demonstrating the potential of creativity and technology to drive growth and innovation across multiple sectors. And as technology continues to develop this will only increase.
Our Centre for Heritage, Culture & Society has developed partnerships with local organisations to help them utilise future-focussed technologies to ensure our unique and continue to draw visitors and investors from around the globe. Our tourism and events lecturers are also working with the tourism industry to develop sustainable and regenerative practices that protect the environment and elevate the local community.
Our Employability team also acts as a bridge between students and local businesses by organising around 100 micro internships a year. These give students the opportunity to work with companies as part of their studies to honing and sharing their craft and the professional skills to help companies address their real business needs.
Falmouth University is central to achieving Cornwall Council’s Cornwall Plan 2020-2050, which targets a creative net-zero economy, sustainable resource use, thriving communities, equality and entrepreneurship, resilient societies, and a digital revolution. Through our talented entrepreneurial graduates, innovative
research in the fields of tech, culture and health, and initiatives such as our new academy for continuing education, to enable more to access our skill sets and facilities we’re excited to play our part in delivering for one and all.
As Cornwall moves confidently towards this future, I am excited about the role Falmouth University has as part of our collective journey, working with business, civic leaders, and community organisations to develop our region, economy, and society for the better.
LEE MILLER DEMONSTRATYING TECHNOLOGY AT A CBR BUSINESS EVENT
OCEAN BMW PLACEMENT
COLLECTIVE CREATIVITY
Why partnering with a campaign agency like Idenna just makes sense.
2025 is not for the faint-hearted. With economic pressure rising, businesses are being pushed to think sharper, move faster and make every decision matter.
Unlocking an entire hive of creative, hot-footed and united energy.
In a climate like this, the creative partners you choose can make all the difference. The marketing landscape is evolving at lightning speed, so the need for a cohesive, collaborative, multi-skilled partner has never been more crucial.
Enter: the campaign creative agency.
A campaign agency holds a unique space in today’s marketing world. At Idenna, its team brings together filmmakers, copywriters, graphic designers, photographers, strategists and web developersall working shoulder to shoulder at one buzzing, conversation-filled communal table.
It’s here where ideas spark, briefs evolve and campaigns come to life - fuelled by collective creativity, not isolated thinking.
This openness cultivates a unique knowledge-sharing atmosphere - an “osmosis of creativity and fresh perspectives” that simply can’t be replicated by those working solo, or within the same business every day.
When you work with a campaign agency, you’re not just accessing one brain - you’re unlocking an entire hive of creative, hot-footed and united energy.
Here’s just five reasons why that makes a difference:
1 More minds for your money Campaigns come together quicker, with sharper, stronger thinking from every angle.
2 Speed and scale With everything in-house, ideas move fast from concept to campaign.
3 Creative culture Agencies thrive on collaboration and fresh thinking - it’s built into the process.
4 Always evolving Your work benefits from the latest insights, tools and trends.
5 True partnership A great agency becomes an extension of your team - challenging, supporting, delivering.
It’s easy to assume this level of creative firepower is reserved for big brands, and yes, Idenna has worked with international names like Heck! Foods and Lotta from Stockholm.
But its proudest wins come from right here in Cornwall.
From working with The Sunrise Appeal to keep leading cancer care in Cornwall, to Mitchell & Webber and its push to get 100% renewable fuel onto the national agenda, Idenna has been a creative partner; helping them mark milestones, win PR and tell emotional, powerful stories that change minds.
James Neale, creative director of Idenna, comments: “Campaigns that use creativity to make a real difference, right here in our community bring us the most satisfaction as a team. When creativity is rooted in purpose, it can do more than sell - it can support, uplift and unite.
“Creativity is a universal currency, no matter your budget, size or where you are in the world - if you have a great controlling idea behind your campaign it can go anywhere and have genuinely monumental results. The opportunity to lift Cornish causes up to this level is why we do what we do.”
AVOIDING IP MISTAKES
Navigating intellectual property (IP) law can be challenging. Joey Medway from Stephens Scown’s Intellectual Property and Data Protection team shares some common mistakes and how to avoid them.
Misunderstanding IP ownership: Paying for creative work (designs, music etc) doesn’t automatically transfer IP rights. Ensure IP created by employees and collaborators is assigned to your business through written agreements.
Failing to protect IP early: Delaying IP protection can lead to losing rights, as some operate on a first-come, first-served basis. Develop a bespoke IP strategy early and apply for registration promptly with the help of a specialist advisor.
Overlooking trade secrets: Trade secrets and confidential information, such as unique techniques or client lists, are as valuable as registrable rights. Formulate a strategy to protect them, including robust NDAs and a trade secrets policy.
Neglecting IP: Focusing solely on home territory protection can lead to IP rights being exploited elsewhere. Consider long-term expansion plans and obtain protection in multiple territories to reduce costs.
Not conducting proper IP searches: Launching new creative projects without thorough IP searches can result in infringement issues. Conduct due diligence to ensure no existing rights are infringed.
Failing to update IP strategy: As your creative business evolves, so should your IP strategy. Regularly review your strategy to ensure it remains effective.
For clear, concise advice on a wide range of Intellectual Property and Data Protection issues, contact Stephens Scown.
Brands that resonate. Websites that convert. Software that drives efficiency. Strategies that fuel growth.
An award-winning creative and digital agency based in Cornwall, we help businesses craft their identity and build lasting success –locally, regionally, and globally.
We build brands
We define purpose, sharpen positioning, and create cohesive, impactful messaging that speaks to both your local and international audiences with authenticity.
We build websites
Tailored websites that boost your brand’s visibility and drive enquiries. We design innovative, user-centric sites that elevate your business goals and connect with your audience.
We build software
Bespoke, web-based portal software that enhances productivity, streamlines processes, and accelerates growth. From Cornwall to the global stage, we help businesses run smarter.
We build strategies
Effective marketing strategies that connect businesses with their customers. We leverage insights to drive brand success and boost engagement, locally and beyond.
With 18 years in the industry, Blumin is a full-service agency that expertly blends creativity with cutting-edge technology. We’ve built a strong reputation by delivering innovative solutions to a loyal base of long-standing clients, helping businesses thrive locally, nationally, and internationally.
PHOTO BY: MILLY FLETCHER
PHOTO BY: MILLY FLETCHER
Established in 2012, Kingdom & Sparrow collaborates with clients worldwide and has recently worked with brands ranging from Australian honey to Polynesian rum and Southern American pimento cheese to Portuguese wine. The agency was honoured to be ranked second in the world in this year’s World Brand Design Society (WBDS) Global Rankings.
The agency’s recognition is also a testament to its values-driven approach. Having achieved B Corp certification in 2022, Kingdom & Sparrow is committed to creating an inclusive, equitable and regenerative economy, delivering impactful designs that resonate with both clients and their communities.
Over the last decade, Kingdom & Sparrow has worked with ambitious start-ups and purposeful brands all over the world, including Heineken UK, Peacock Cider for Kingfisher Drinks, Young’s Brewery and one of the UK’s leading dog food brands, Forthglade. It has also supported start-up and community driven projects right here in Cornwall.
Recently working with both Soul Farm, a Community Benefit Society based in Flushing and popular local destination, Enys Gardens to craft visual identities to support them to thrive and grow.
Over time, the agency has had to weather a number of difficult storms. The combination of the Covid pandemic and Brexit, which heavily impacted the import and export markets potential food and drink clients were navigating, resulted in a tricky few years. On top of that the landscape for design agencies like Kingdom & Sparrow continues to change drastically with the rise of artificially generated design.
Managing director Lenny Mounsher-Quirk expands:
“We’re acutely aware of the existential challenges facing the design industry right now. The economic climate, the rise of AI, and shifting client needs have put immense pressure on creative businesses, and sadly, we’ve seen some long-standing, inspirational agencies - ones that were at the heart of the Cornish creative industry - close their doors. We don’t take our position for granted. We know we’re incredibly lucky to be here, and we remain committed to adapting, evolving, and ensuring that creativity continues to thrive in our industry and our community.”
Kingdom & Sparrow founder and creative director, Johnny Paton, is an alumnus of Falmouth University, graduating in Illustration in 2009. He acknowledges the challenges that AI has created across the design industry, however he also believes it throws into sharp focus the need to preserve and champion the artworking practices the agency has been built on.
“Our team possesses an incredible skillset of traditional mediums and they’re forever growing and expanding their crafts,” he says.
“We bring these skills and creativity to every brief in a way that AI can’t. The designs our studio produces are unique and crafted with real design knowledge and expertise. Our team all work from our Falmouth based studio and when we kick off a project, we gather around our plan chest and sketch ideas together. I believe this creative environment really
MAKING LIFE LOOK BETTER
Branding and packaging design agency
Kingdom & Sparrow is based in central Falmouth and specialises in food, drink, and lifestyle brands. Its team of designers are highly skilled in a broad range of traditional image making, artistry and typography.
allows us to feed off each other and is very conducive to some fantastic design.”
The team also reviews Illustration students’ portfolios each year and works closely with the Graphic Design BA, providing internships and work experience to new graduates. Fostering a collaborative approach to design is something that has its foundations in the teams’ university years and many of the current team studied at Falmouth, graduating in Illustration, Fine Art, Graphic Design and Film.
Johnny explains that he’s keen to continue to support the university as they train the next generation of designers.
“We celebrate the fantastic craftsmanship coming out of Falmouth University right here on our doorstep and have taken on some brilliant interns over the years. We need to continue to encourage people to train in artistic mediums and champion the creativity coming out of Cornwall, which has always been a bastion for artistic talent and inspiration.”
We bring skills and creativity to every brief in a way that AI can’t.
Johnny is also keen to point out that this emphasis on creativity and traditional design practices doesn’t negate the need to be agile and adapt to an ever changing profession.
“Looking into the future for Kingdom & Sparrow means being aware of the changes to the design industry and honing our offering to meet the needs of our clients” continues Johnny.
“We’re aware that how people perceive and interact with design is always evolving and we bring innovative thinking to every brief.”
As we head into the second half of the 2020s, the Kingdom & Sparrow team see their studio by the sea as the perfect setting to continue to ignite fresh ideas and bold strategies for food, drink and lifestyle brands.
kingdomandsparrow.co.uk
CREATIVE GEMS
Introducing five shining stars from Cornwall’s creative sector...
Cornwall Time Lapse
Cornwall Time Lapse provides specialist visual solutions for the construction and event industries across the south west.
We deliver cinematic time-lapse, drone footage, and hyperlapse films that capture long-term builds, key milestones, and large-scale events with clarity and impact.
Whether it’s a multi-month construction project or a one-day installation, we offer bespoke visual storytelling to
support progress reporting, stakeholder engagement, and marketing.
With discreet, durable equipment and creative post-production, we turn time into powerful content.
cornwalltimelapse.co.uk
Matt Hollands Design
At Matt Hollands Design, we believe in simple, honest, and thoughtful design. We take the time to understand who you and your business are, so that our designs are tailored to represent your brand and communicate your message effectively.
Matt is an award-winning designer who builds brands and creates exciting and functional website designs using
The Lost Line
At The Lost Line, we deliver bold branding, dynamic graphic design and strategic insight for emerging industries and techdriven businesses. We cut through the slow, rigid processes of big agencies with a collaborative, agile and high-quality service.
From printed reports and presentations through to exhibitions and websites – we turn complex ideas into clear, standout visuals that engage and inspire both our clients, and their target audiences.
eye-catching graphics and dynamic typography.
If you have a design project coming up that you would like our expert assistance with, get in touch! We can’t wait to get to know your business.
matthollandsdesign.co.uk
Ellie Glason PR
Ellie Glason PR is a Cornwall-based consultancy helping purpose-led brands get seen across local, national and social media.
Founder Ellie Glason has over 13 years’ experience in PR, and has run campaigns for iconic Cornish names including the Eden Project, Falmouth University, Rodda’s, Kelly’s of Cornwall, and Pendennis Shipyard.
We’ve worked with brands like RAB, Autodesk, Digital Catapult and Mothercare.
Our secret sauce is our Live Design process, bringing clients into the creative journey in real-time for quicker turnarounds and fewer revisions.
We are creative, fun and imaginative –let’s make something great together.
thelostline.com
JKC
Creative Marketing
For more than 40 years, we’ve helped overworked marketers to look brilliant. If you have a plan, we can lighten your load with:
• Effective copywriting, blogs, web content, and PR
• Eyecatching, brand-compliant design
• Digital promotion, emails, and social
• Special projects like exhibitions and awards
She now works with forward-thinking local businesses to publicise their products, services, stories and people across traditional and social media.
Whether launching a campaign or building long-term brand awareness, Ellie brings strategic thinking and creative energy to every project.
ellieglasonpr.com
We’re relaxed and easy to work with; just treat us as part of your team (pricing is straightforward too, so there’ll be no surprises). Most importantly, we’ll always be in your corner – ready to listen, share ideas, and give you an honest, experienced view.
jkc.co.uk
NEW SW CHAIR
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has appointed a new south west chair.
Ramona Obefami, a business owner based in Bristol, has become regional chair for the whole of the south west region which covers, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, Devon, Somerset, Wiltshire, Bristol and Gloucester.
Ann Vandermeulen, FSB development manager for Cornwall & Isles of Scilly, said: “I am really looking forward to working with Ramona to discuss issues and concerns with businesses in my area of Cornwall & Isles of Scilly and raising the profile of key messages via a truly business lens.”
CUSTOMER CARE
Persimmon Homes Cornwall & West Devon has appointed Lisa Morrish as its new head of customer care.
She returns to Persimmon where she had previously been head of customer care for eight and a half years and assistant site manager for two of the company’s south west businesses.
She said: “I am excited to be back working with colleagues from across the business to set Persimmon Homes apart from other housebuilders with our customer-centric approach and to ensure that we continue to be aligned with evolving customer needs.”
WILCOX LEAVES FALMOUTH BID
Richard Wilcox has stepped down as manager of the Falmouth Business Improvement District (BID).
Wilcox, who has managed the awardwinning organisation for almost 15 years, left the role at the end of April.
Falmouth BID director, Rob Holmes, said: “Over the past 15 years, Falmouth BID, led and managed by Richard Wilcox, has played lead roles in nationally significant events such as the Tall Ships Regatta, which
won UK Best Event at industry awards last year and National Armed Forces Day Cornwall, as well as overseeing regional firsts such as free public space Wi-Fi, which won a Best UK Digital Project recognition and the impactful Falmouth. co.uk, the official website for the town.
“We as a board are incredibly grateful for Richard’s dynamic and expert delivery, which has continually done Falmouth proud, raised its profile and encouraged critical spend and investment.
“We wish Richard the very best in his future career.”
Many businesses collect raw data but struggle to use it effectively - so, where do you start?
AWARDS OPEN FOR ENTRIES
Entries are now open for the 2025 Cornwall Tourism Awards.
Recognising excellence across the region, the awards celebrate achievements in accommodation, attractions, experiences, events, visitor information, food and drink, sustainability, accessibility, dog friendliness, customer service and more.
Robin Barker, director at awards organiser, Services for Tourism, said: “Every year we’re inspired by the calibre of entries from across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. These awards are about more than trophies, they’re a chance for businesses to benchmark, celebrate success and get recognition for their hard work.”
“Entrants in some categories automatically go through to the National VisitEngland Awards for Excellence and we are keeping our fingers crossed for this year’s finalists Boscastle House, Treworgey Cottages, Polmanter Touring Park and Mylor Sailing School.”
Winners of the national VisitEngland Awards will be announced in June. Deadline for entering the Cornwall Tourism Awards is May 18. cornwalltourismawards.org.uk
Businesses are increasingly looking for new ways to dig into data for smarter decisionmaking; an untapped resource that could transform the way they do business.
For us, the key to building tools for data management starts by shining a light on what a business actually needs through a discovery process first. By understanding how the business currently functions (and its key pain points), developers can work out what data is actually valuable, rather than jumping feet-first into development with no direction.
User experience (UX) makes up a vital part
NEW HOTEL OWNERS
The Pentire Hotel in Newquay is under new ownership.
The 78-bedroom property, which has recently undergone significant investment
BUSY SEASON AHEAD
The first Skybus flights of the year have taken off from Cornwall Airport Newquay, heralding the start of a busy season ahead.
Skybus has been flying from Cornwall Airport Newquay since June 1992, a successful partnership spanning 33 years and the airport’s longest serving airline.
and renovations, has been bought by Cashmere Hotels Ltd off an undisclosed guide price.
The sale was completed to Cashmere Hotels following an off-market sale process with Savills acting for the vendor.
James Greenslade, director at Savills Hotel Capital Markets, said: “The sale of the Pentire Hotel provides the purchaser with a well invested hotel, with a strong trading track record.
“Given the strong market fundamentals, we understandably received good levels of interest in the hotel and are delighted to have found a new owner who we are sure will continue its success.”
Earlier this year Skybus announced a major expansion of its service at Cornwall Airport Newquay for the summer season.
The route will go from last year’s three weekly flights to two flights every day (Monday to Saturday) from May 12, with a choice of morning and afternoon
of this journey, too. By focusing on getting the system aligned with your business needs and building a good UX that allows staff easy exploration, you’ll have everything you need at your fingertips to perform in-depth analysis and uncover insights that can positively impact your business (think reduced costs, faster processing, and early warning flags).
From here, businesses can then incorporate features like dashboards, notifications and alerts, or tools for mining historical data, to help optimise operations, react to real-time changes, automate, and identify trends for strategic growth.
departures in each direction. A further increase will see a third flight added each day at lunchtimes (Monday to Saturday) from July 1.
The 30-minute flights between Newquay and St Mary’s will be operated by the airline’s four-strong fleet of 17-seat DHC6 Twin Otter aircraft.
The end goal? To build tools that can evolve with changing business needs, so you’re always tapping into what you need to know.
James Bale is a Development Manager at Buzz Interactive: 01637 817410 www.buzzinteractive.co.uk
CAREERS MARKETPLACE
The serene setting of Newquay Community Orchard will transform into a dynamic hub of career exploration this month as it hosts the inaugural Empowering Newquay’s Futures Careers Marketplace.
The event is designed to connect young people and job seekers with exciting opportunities across Cornwall’s diverse industries.
Bringing together 50 businesses from a diverse range of sectors, the fair will
COLLEGE REDEVELOPMENT
Construction work has begun on Cornwall College’s new St Austell campus development.
An official ground-breaking ceremony took place on April 25, with local dignitaries, secondary schools and local MP, Noah Law, in attendance
The transformative project will see the replacement of the college’s old John Keay House building with two new teaching blocks, featuring a variety of modern and comfortable teaching environments.
showcase the incredible career pathways available across the region.
Liz Wright, Town Councillor for Porth and Tretherras with Newquay Town Council, said: “Empowering Newquay’s Future is about bringing together local businesses, young people, and the wider community to showcase the incredible opportunities right here in our town.
“By connecting future talent with local enterprises, we’re not just inspiring the next generation—we’re building a stronger, more resilient local
economy where young people can see a future for themselves in Newquay.”
HIGH ACHIEVERS
Apprentices at Truro and Penwith College are officially among the highest achieving learners at General Further Education Colleges (GFECs) in England, according to new Government data.
The latest national Apprenticeship Achievement Rate figures published by the Department for Education (DfE) place learners at Truro and Penwith College third in England, reaching an Achievement Rate of 74.2% in the 2023/24 academic year.
Hayley McKinstry, director of partnerships and apprenticeships at Truro and Penwith College, said: “We are absolutely thrilled and incredibly proud of our learners for achieving these nationally leading Achievement Rates, that culminate an unprecedented
period of recognition for our Outstanding apprenticeship offer here at Truro and Penwith College.
“The college constantly strives to deliver the highest quality, career-driven qualifications and opportunities that encourage our students to look, reach and go further. These Achievement Rates are a testament to all the hard work of our students, staff and the top employers across Cornwall that support our curriculum and ongoing development.”
A Cornish startup is looking to revolutionise the manufacturing industry with the launch of its smart platform, Busroot.
Busroot is a digital platform that connects diverse factory machines and systems -
AVANTI MOVES INTO SPACEPORT
Satellite company Avanti Communications has relocated its Cornish base to the Spaceport Cornwall facility in Newquay.
Avanti offers GEO and multi-orbit satellite connectivity solutions and operates a fleet of four Kaband HYLAS satellites from its technology hub in Cornwall.
regardless of age, brand or location - to create one real-time, centralised view of operations.
The result is instant access to insights that can unlock efficiency, reduce waste, and help businesses stay competitive in a fast-changing economy.
Output Industries says Busroot can significantly reduce inefficiency across UK industry - currently costing the economy an estimated £150 billion per year.
“A machine is only valuable when it’s doing what it should be doing,” said Mike Wright, CEO and co-founder of Output Industries. “Busroot shows manufacturers which machines aren’t delivering, why, and what to do about it.”
Together with a secondary site in Goonhilly Earth Station, Avanti delivers crucial connectivity and communications across the globe, delivering capacity to government, military, enterprise, telecoms and carrier markets.
CEO Kyle Whitehill said: “Our move to Spaceport Cornwall’s Space Systems Operations Facility (SSOF) reinforces our commitment to Cornwall’s growing
space sector. This move enables us to collaborate more closely with the pioneering space and technology companies in SSOF and collectively contribute to the region’s growing reputation as a world-class space cluster.”
Ross Hulbert, head of engagement at Spaceport Cornwall added: “It’s a sign of the ambition of the cluster that a company the size and calibre of Avanti has chosen Newquay as its base, and we look forward to working alongside them for many years to come.”
Pool Innovation Centre (PIC) has expanded its meeting and event facilities with the introduction of a new large meeting room, ‘Crofty.’
Designed to accommodate up to 25 people, Crofty joins the centre’s existing six meeting rooms and a conferencing suite, offering a flexible space for members and non-members.
SHINE A LIGHT
Cornish startup Tidelight has just launched a Kickstarter campaign for its flagship product, the Tide.lamp.
Unlike traditional tide clocks, the Tide. lamp takes live data from over 6,159 coastal locations worldwide, including 600 in the UK.
Via a user-friendly app, people can sync their lamp to a specific beach and the lamp will gradually change its lighting to mirror the real-time tide cycle of that area
The brainchild behind Tidelight is Alex Tweed, a tech innovator with over 20 years of experience in IT, including roles at the Eden Project and Goonhilly Earth Station.
He explained: “Tidelight began as a personal project in 2017, inspired by my love of spending time at the coast with my family. I wanted to be able to bring my favourite beach into our home, so we could experience the changing of the tides.
“I created a lamp, and after seeing how much visiting friends loved it, I refined the design to share it with others. My vision is to blend technology and sustainability to link people with the ocean, however close they are to the coast.”
The centre provides hourly, half-day, and full-day hire options, along with equipment hire. A dedicated on-site Events Assistant is available to support bookings, ensuring seamless event execution.
Guests can also enjoy on-site catering services, making it an ideal venue for corporate meetings, training sessions, and networking events. Pool Innovation Centre is committed to accessibility, with wheelchair access and a Hearing Loop system available.
For more information or to book the space, please email: picevents@plymouth.ac.uk
St Austell Brewery was named ‘Best Brewing Pub Company’ at the Publican Awards.
The 2025 win follows its recognition last year as ‘Best Accommodation Operator’.
The brewery was a finalist for two other awards on the night: Best New Site for Pier House and Beer House, its managed houses in Charlestown, and Best Managed Pub Company (2-50 sites).
“We are incredibly proud to receive this prestigious industry award which is a testament to the hard work, talent, and dedication of our entire team,” said COO Andrew Turner.
NEW FACES AT PANDORA
Two friends and renowned local landlords have reunited to run an iconic Cornish pub. Tom Milby and John Calland, who have both run popular village pubs and restaurants in Cornwall, share a long history, having worked at the Pandora together more than a decade ago.
Calland previously ran the Old Quay Inn in Devoran for 15 years and Milby, who grew up in Mylor, was the owner and chef at The Waterside in nearby Flushing.
Calland said: “Tom and I have always been close friends, and it feels fantastic to be taking on the Pandora Inn together. The
FOOD FESTIVAL SEASON
The food festival season is back in full swing in Cornwall.
After the Porthleven Food Festival (May 2-4) kicked off the May celebrations, attentions turn to St Ives (May 16-18) with the UK’s only food festival on the beach - offering a refreshed programme of celebrations hosted on Porthminster Beach.
Among the top chefs from across the country set to take part will be Ashley Palmer-Watts, co-founder of one of the UK’s
biggest culinary success stories in 2024, The Devonshire, Soho; Tom Brown of the seafood sensation Pearly Queen in Shoreditch; and Cornwall’s own Jude Kereama, of Kota & Kota Kai.
Meanwhile, the third annual Falmouth Food Festival returns over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend (May 23-26), promising to be “bigger, better and tastier” than ever before.
One of the standout features of this year’s festival is set to be the Chef’s Theatre, a new addition that will showcase some of the best chefs of the south west.
place has a powerful resonance and history – no matter where you are, it has a majestic presence. Our new venture... feels like coming home.”
Clive Greene, head of tenanted estate for St Austell Brewery, added: “As expected, we had a really good level of interest from people wanting to run the historic Pandora Inn but for us, Tom and John really stood out.”
KING OF THE CASTLE
Castle Brewery is celebrating its biggest achievement to date after winning two Gold Medals at the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) National Beer Awards.
The award win coincides with launch of Coldframe Brewery - a new brand that separates Castle’s continental-inspired beers from its traditional British ales.
Coldframe builds on the “stylistic direction” of this year’s gold medal winning beers - New Season, a crisp, modern take on a Belgian Pale - and Gorse, a mixed fermentation golden ale using locally captured native yeasts.
The new brand, says owner and head brewer, Simon Court, is a step towards modern farmhouse brewing, creating beers that are an authentic reflection of place.
“Coldframe Brewery is the natural evolution of everything we’ve been working towards,” said. “The awards were an incredible honour and testament to our vision for the new brewery.”
As we enter the high tourism season here in Cornwall, there’s a familiar mixture of cautious optimism and muted anxiety in the air.
People are booking again. Granted, they’re doing it at the eleventh hour with the kind of spontaneity that gives booking systems palpitations but booking they are. The decent run of weather in the lead-up to Easter is always helpful and will go some way to remind the UK that a summer spent in Cornwall is a terrific option.
But, tourism is not out of the woods. While visitors may be coming, the cost of hosting them is climbing. Minimum wage hikes (well-meaning but bruising), national insurance contribution increases (less justifiable), and an anaemic trickle of Government funding that seems more interested in wooing overseas markets than shoring up domestic mainstays are all contributing to a dodgy feeling in the stomach.
And yet, there are unmistakable shoots of positivity pushing through the sand. This industry is resilient by nature and while survival is still in the lexicon of many visitor economy business leaders, so is evolution, experience and diversification.
The Cornish experience remains as rich and distinctive as ever, but it’s changing. There will always be a place for the holy trinity of beach, pasty and cream tea, but that’s the start, not the destination. Cornwall is leaning hard into the experience economy, not as a gimmick, but as a natural extension of its cultural roots.
Theatre that makes you part of the performance, prisons you can sleep in without committing an offence, museums that curate a sensory experience as well as an intellectual one, all wrapped in accommodation that caters for everyone and food and drink to satisfy the fancy to the frugal.
But this energy, this creativity, needs amplifying. It needs support. I’m heartened to see more sector-specific voices rising up to advocate for their patch of the visitor economy. They’re working alongside the likes of Visit Cornwall, and yes, the Chamber too, to make sure that Cornwall’s offer isn’t just rich in content, but coherent in its messaging.
But where is the money for the megaphone? More thought, effort and ambition need to be applied to supporting domestic tourism as well as international
DAYS TO REMEMBER
visitors. Both stimulate the economy, and yet just one gets the attention.
That said, no amount of storytelling can paper over bad policy. This sector needs more than a platform, it needs relief. A serious look at NICs, a business rates reprieve that actually delivers, and the courage to put everything on the table and explore what genuine ambitious and exciting policy changes could happen to nurture this essential industry.
So yes, we need help. But we also need guts. Guts to adapt and to innovate, let’s not be a postcard of what Cornwall was. Let’s be a living, changing, occasionally rebellious version of what Cornwall can be.
VISIT CORNWALL / MATT JESSOP
I can’t imagine running a business anywhere else.
We’re not out on a limb, either professionally or geographically anymore.
I believe that working and living in Cornwall brings a truly unique business mindset, affecting not just those of us who are lucky enough to work here think, but also how we operate day to day.
I knew it was time to leave London when I got off the train at Paddington and cried. I love that city, it’s great to visit but the desire, as one of my friends said, “to pull the houses down and to see the horizon” was stronger than my desire to stay. Thankfully my husband felt the same and off we moved with a toddler and a baby, back to the motherland.
There’s been a visceral shift in perception of Cornwall as a serious place to do business. I think much of that has been a slow burn over the past few decades with a foot to the floor shift in gear since the Covid years, with that gap now closing even more.
Covid caused so many of us to rethink where we lived, with a mass exodus from the cities. Regularly you hear people recount how they left a big city during Covid, often heading back to where they grew up in rural or suburban area and didn’t go back. None of my friends who run their own creative businesses live in cities anymore. It seems that being surrounded by nature draws inspiration and wellbeing is enhanced outside of core urban locales. Studies have shown that creative workers especially are more attracted by the possibilities of adopting an active lifestyle, being closer to natural landscapes.
Being surrounded by the physical energy of the coast, whether riding waves, sea swimming, coastal walks or just gazing out into it, it’s healing and anyone that lives closer to the water understands this. In the modern world where we’re tethered to our devices it’s more important than ever to be able to step away from that. To decompress and process thoughts and goals. Our team at Parc Signs certainly
LOCATION, LOCATION
Does where you work influence how you work?
Parc Signs MD, Karen Barnett, thinks it does.
make the most of what’s on our doorstep, going from work to the trails or the sea.
Cornwall has always been full of people with a “do things differently” attitude. We know that to survive and thrive in Cornwall you need to think about how to make things work. With Falmouth University on our doorstep and world class graduates across many sectors there’s so much collaboration here and that style of working is so normal. There’s an ambition to be innovative within Cornwall and beyond. We’re not out on a limb, either professionally or geographically anymore.
That baby and toddler we brought home to Cornwall in 2008, one chose a university surrounded by the sea, the other is studying a creative course at college, drawing inspiration for many projects from nature. A coincidence? I think not. They’ve been shaped by what surrounds them.
I never imagined returning to Cornwall but my family business opened up a huge opportunity to still have a career and live somewhere I love.
Living and working in Cornwall isn’t without its challenges, we don’t have all the amenities and diversity of a city, transport links are still poor, the housing situation is woeful but the work life balance, the access to nature, the inspiration it brings and the feeling of wellbeing dramatically affects all of us. Sometimes it takes stepping out into what surrounds us to realise that. Or having a spaniel who needs constant walking. Probably the best way to decompress and think.
Cornwall has always been full of people with a “do things differently” attitude.
I can’t imagine running a business anywhere else.
CONNECTED
Business life in pictures.
THE STABLE
The Stable, renowned for its fresh pizza and craft cider, celebrated the opening of its new Padstow harbourside restaurant.
Photos: MEOR Studio
NICK WILLIAMS AND ROSS GEACH THE STABLE, PADSTOW
CHEF JAMES STRAWBRIDGE WITH CORNISH PIRATES CAMERON JONES, OLLIE ANDREWS AND HARRY YATES
HAYLEY REYNOLDS, DAPHNE SKINNARD AND JONATHAN REYNOLDS
JAMES STRAWBRIDGE AND EMMA BLACKWATER
WILL LANE, LUCY LANE AND EMILIE MORRIS
JOSH ECCLES AND EMMA ECCLES
ANTHROPY25, EDEN PROJECT
Anthropy’s national gatherings bring together leaders and leading organisations across all sectors to consider Britain’s future and its place in the world.
GUESTS ARRIVE AT THE EDEN PROJECT FOR ANTHROPY25
THE RT HON KEMI BADENOCH ADDRESSES DELEGATES
ANGELA RIPPON CBE LEADING A CONGA LINE AT ANTHROPY25
LUCY WARNOCK, NISHMA PATEL, STEVE HOLLIDAY, SHEVAUN HAVILAND AND SIR CHARLIE MAYFIELD
EVENING DRINKS
INFINITY BLUE IN THE CORE
PATRICK JACKSON, FOUNDER OF PICKER PALS
For further details of these and more events visit businesscornwall.co.uk
To publicise your event for free, email news@businesscornwall.co.uk
EVENTS
May 2025
7 YOUR PARTNERSHIPS LUNCH
Bedruthan Hotel, Mawgan Porth
Your Partnerships Select Lunch events are exclusive networking experiences designed to foster meaningful connections among established businesses within the Your Partnerships community. yourpartnerships.co.uk
8 WOMEN
IN BUSINESS
LUNCH
The Penventon, Redruth
All are welcome to the Women in Business Lunch on the second Thursday of each month. yourpartnerships.co.uk
9 THE GYLLY DIPPERS
St Michaels Resort, Falmouth
A monthly net-swimming and breakfast club for those who want to start the day FRESH. cornwallchamber.co.uk
10 CORNISH PIRATES V HARPURY
Mennaye Field, Penzance
Round 19 Championship rugby action as Cornish Pirates play host to Hartrpury. Full corporate hospitality packages available. cornish-pirates.com
13 PIRAN NETWORKING BREAKFAST
Norway Inn, Perranarworthal
Referrals-based business network meeting on the second Tuesday of each month, building strong relationships and working for one and all. eventbrite.co.uk
15 YOUR PARTNERSHIPS OPEN HOUSE
Victoria Inn, Roche
This is the original home of Your Partnerships and is always a great meeting. If you have never experienced an Open House with Your Partnerships at the birth home of Your Partnerships you are missing out.. yourpartnerships.co.uk
17 CORNISH PIRATES V AMPTHILL
Mennaye Field, Penzance
Round 19 Championship rugby action as Cornish Pirates play host to Amphill. Full corporate hospitality packages available. cornish-pirates.com
21 CORNWALL CHAMBER BIG BREAKFAST
Cornish Pirate RFC, Penzance
Join Cornwall Chamber for its monthly Big Breakfast event, this month co-hosted by the Cornish Pirates. cornwallchamber.co.uk
22 THE PIG DIPPERS
The Pig at Harlyn Bay
Head over to the idyllic Harlyn Bay for a swim to blow away those cobwebs, ready for the weekend. cornwallchamber.co.uk
23 30 UNDER
30 AWARDS
The Atlantic Hotel, Newquay
The presentation of this year’s 30 under 30 Awards, showcasing and celebrating the incredible young talent within Cornwall. cornwallchamber.co.uk
29 NETWORK HFC
Hall for Cornwall, Truro
Network HfC gathers a free-range collective of individuals from business, creative, tech and media, for an informal monthly get-together. hallforcornwall.co.uk
31 CORNISH PIRATES V NOTTINGHAM
Mennaye Field, Penzance
Entertain clients and colleagues alike at Cornish Pirates’ final Championship game of the season. cornish-pirates.com
Truro & Penwith College
PAPER LOVES TREES
Source: Two Sides analysis of FAO data, 2005 - 2020 European Forests: EU27 + Norway, Switzerland and the UK. European forests, which provide wood for making paper, paper packaging and many other products, have been growing by 1,500 football pitches every day!
The latest national Apprenticeship Achievement Rate figures published by the Department for Education place learners at Truro and Penwith College third in England.
truro-penwith.ac.uk/apprenticeship-employers
Saturday, May 10, kick-off: 14.30 CORNISH PIRATES V HARPURY Saturday, May 17, kick-off: 14.30 CORNISH PIRATES V AMPTHILL Saturday, May 31, kick-off: 15.00 CORNISH PIRATES V NOTTINGHAM
For more information email: liz.mclean@cornish-pirates.com www.cornish-pirates.com
Coming to this gorgeous Georgian former mansion doesn’t feel like work.
PAUL RICKETTS
General manager at Alverton Hotel.
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG?
I wanted to be a chef and trained at college for three years. Once I got the opportunity to work a shift front of house, there was no turning back. At least those three years weren’t wasted, to this day I can boil the perfect egg (sometimes).
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST FULL-TIME JOB?
I worked at a beautiful restaurant in Cheshire called the Rheingold Riverside Inn. I started there at 18 and became restaurant manager at 21. I worked there until I was 25 before relocating to Cornwall.
WHAT’S IN YOUR POCKETS?
A diary, a pen, keys and, whilst looking, I have just found a £1 coin. Result.
HOW DO YOU LIKE TO RELAX?
My wife and I try to get abroad as often as possible, so relaxing somewhere hot whilst going on a long walk is my real chilled time.
IF YOU COULD BUILD A HOUSE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHERE WOULD IT BE?
Having just bought our dream home in Cornwall, next would be on the outskirts of Alicante, and we’d aim to go as much as possible.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER?
Meeting Rik Mayall, he was so funny and tried to embarrass me every opportunity he had whilst staying, including bolting up from his chair in our very busy restaurant, saluting and shouting “CAPTAIN ON BOARD” with 100 people wandering what was going on.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE WORST MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER?
If not the above, then when the power went out completely during a wedding. It was also my proudest time as a manager, watching the team kick into action to ensure the bride and groom still had the best day ever.
IF YOU COULD BE GOD FOR A DAY, WHAT MIRACLE WOULD YOU PERFORM?
Many selfish thoughts come to mind, but being able to stop everyone fighting wars and the devastation that comes with it would have to come first. If I had any time left in the day, I would improve my golf game…
WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST MISTAKE IN LIFE?
I really don’t have many regrets as they’ve all got me to this point, which is pretty perfect.
WHAT WAS YOUR LUCKIEST BREAK?
I would honestly say being given the opportunity to manage The Alverton. Not only has it become a great part of my life, but I also met my wife here. So, without being here, my life would be completely different.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE DOING IN FIVE YEARS’ TIME?
Much of the same, I think. Coming to this gorgeous Georgian former mansion doesn’t feel like work. As long as we continue to get on a plane as often as we can, let’s keep things as they are.
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ACCOUNTANCY TAX ADVICE
AUDIT
INHERITANCE
Big picture accountancy in Cornwall, with a team of in-house experts.
