What's Europe ever done for Cornwall?

The journey so far‌ The European Regional Development Fund Convergence Programme

2007 - 2013

Thank you to everyone who helped ERDF Convergence investments transform ideas into reality. As the Programme closes it is time to look back and remember our investments : Superfast Broadband : roads : people : relocating businesses to the region : green technologies : marine innovations : graduate courses : business growth and expansion : research and development : new and refurbished workspace : transport : higher education : business support : infrastructure improvements : inward investment : regeneration : heritage & culture...

Contents • Welcome • What was Convergence?

• The three themes • Achievements & infographics • Making Connections • Highlight: Superfast Cornwall & Superfast Business Cornwall • Getting our region ready • Isles of Scilly • Investing in your Future • Cornwall Innovation • Higher Education • Highlight: Penryn Campus • Green & Marine • Strengthening Business • Highlight: Map of workspace • Speculative, bespoke and refurbished workspace • Regeneration of our cultural heritage • Business Support Programmes • Our sister fund ESF • Working to transform the Camborne, Pool & Redruth (CPR) area • Thank you

Convergence was just word

but its achievements have spread across the whole of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (C&IoS).

During the Convergence period investments worked tirelessly towards transforming the economy of C&IoS. However, this is still a work in progress as the journey continues and investments continue to deliver results well beyond

the end of the Programme. Building on Objective One and Objective 5b, Convergence was an economic journey, who's objective was to establish the momentum for transforming the economy to a high value added economy where

knowledge, environment and quality of life underpin sustainable economic growth.

This book showcases only some of the diverse investments made during the Convergence period, the scale of the Programme is huge, so please visit our

website www.erdfconvergence.org.uk to find out the latest information and stories from Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

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The journey isn’t over‌

The journey opportunities which enable a sustainable and home grown research, innovation and knowledge culture to grow within our region. At the same time as investing in the future, we also made sure we brought our heritage and culture up to date by investing in the regeneration of areas which can work towards future economic sustainability. Finally, we made sure our businesses had high quality environments to actually work in, so the creation of workspace was vital, especially within a recession to fill the funding gap in the cost of developing workspace. The site and situation of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is both an advantage and disadvantage to our economy, so finally, and crucially a huge investment into digital with superfast broadband helped to tie all the different themes together to allow our location to no longer be a hindrance to future business growth.

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The Convergence journey started by looking to the future. What would our businesses need to enable growth?

Strengthening business was the foundation of the whole Programme.

To strengthen business we needed to enable them to become more productive and to create new jobs by trading locally, nationally and internationally. To make this happen we invested heavily in making connections for growth, from the physical such as transport , and preparing for future infrastructure to the digital needs of future business. Once the foundations for working in new ways were in place businesses weren’t left to work alone, business support programmes helped all kinds of businesses to maximise their potential. However, the Convergence Programme wasn’t all about the here and now, it always looked to the future.

By investing in the future we helped enable the next generation of people to take advantage of higher education

The Programme objective was...

To establish the momentum for transforming the economy to a high value added economy where knowledge, environment and quality of life underpin sustainable economic growth.

What did Cornwall and Isles of Scilly receive?

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â‚Ź458 million â‚Ź196 million

European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) was used to support economic and social cohesion. Investment priorities included research and innovation, digital economy, low carbon economy and support for SMEs.

European Social Fund (ESF) supported workers, young people and those looking for work. It helped people find jobs, get better jobs and ensured equality of opportunity for all.

Over the lifetime of the Programme it has been match funded to approx...

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With €458 million to invest into C&IoS the ERDF fund was split into three funding themes to enable both public and private partners to work with the funds so the money could reach its full potential to support economic and social cohesion². To achieve this we identified the challenges we faced:

Notes: 1: Page 38 2: Page 38

Fluctuating job stability and skills gaps

Physical and digital infrastructure

Challenges for SMEs

C&IoS had a long history of tourism and retail based businesses. These provide employment for the region, but limited opportunities and low wages combined with fluctuating job stability. Skills gaps – from a historical lack of Higher Education provision, research and innovation opportunities – also put our region at a disadvantage.

Our beautiful but remote location may be an advantage for our tourism industry, but it’s often been a disadvantage for our businesses – both in terms of our physical and digital infrastructure.

Our region boasts a higher than average amount of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that needed support to allow them to reach their full high growth potential and adapt to in an increasingly digitally driven world market.

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£950million

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Our three themes:

Invest

Connect

Strengthen

Investing in our future

Making Connections

Strenghthening Business

Creating the right environment to allow people and businesses new opportunities through Higher Education, Research and Innovation.

Connecting Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly with the rest of the world through trade, technology and knowledge.

Providing businesses with support, advice and high quality workspaces needed to thrive and compete locally, nationally and globally.

‘Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have come a long way since the start of ERDF Convergence; in 2006 the Programme set out with high ambitions to address our economic and geographical disadvantages with an aim to upskill people and support businesses. Even though this is the conclusion of the Programme it is important to remember this isn’t the end of the investments. The sustained economic journey of our region will continue thanks to the successful partnerships developed during Convergence which will endure long after the Programme closes.

As Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly gears up for the next round of European funding it is important to remember that the 2014-2020 Programme will build on Convergence, as Convergence built on previous European funds during Objective One and 5b. The future looks bright thanks to the successes of Convergence which has enabled the Local Enterprise Partnership and our partners to help steer the next round of funding into priorities which will support our economy to continue on its journey towards sustainable economic growth.’

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Sandra Rothwell, Chief Executive, Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

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DCLG programme achievements

271m Gross increase in GVA

6,366 New jobs created

Research and Innovation Centres

1,926 Jobs safeguarded

29,659 Square metres of new or upgraded non specialist floorspace

472

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Environmental technologies and renewable energy enterprises assisted

523

Businesses collaborating with universities and colleges

1,354 New businesses

6,585

Businesses assisted to improve performance

Net additional GVA

263 Firms involved in collaborative R&D projects

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ÂŁ59m

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Hectares of land ready to develop

Making connections Almost everything during the Convergence period could change, our output, the number of SME’s in our region, even the amount of people working, however, one thing could never change. Our location.

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The site and situation of our region is both an asset and a hindrance. A booming tourism industry makes C&IoS one of the most popular places to visit in the UK, but sometimes this has been at the detriment of other industries. Making connections is the glue which held the rest of the ERDF themes together.

Without improvements to both physical and digital infrastructure nothing else had a hope of succeeding; as you can’t build a house without strong foundations.

In C&IOS case these foundations were both physical and digital; our Superfast Cornwall programme was one of the largest rural rollouts of superfast fibre optic infrastructure projects in Europe during the Convergence period. Superfast was an amazing programme which probably had the most direct effect on the entire population of C&IOS during the Convergence period as 95% of the region was upgraded. Other digital infrastructure which took place helped C&IOS get ready for the next round of European funding acting as a springboard to economic change.

The fibre optic cable comes ashore at St Mary's on the Isles of Scilly, summer 2014.

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let’s take a look...

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“This project shows how the public and private sectors can work together to deliver local solutions to local problems.

Households and businesses in this largely rural area can now look forward to having one of the best broadband connections in the world, thanks to Cornwall Council’s vision, European funding and BT’s investment and expertise.”

Ed Vaizey, Minister for Communication, Culture and the Creative Industries.

BT connect St Michael’s Mount to the superfast broadband network

130,000 km The programme has deployed around 130,000km of fibre optic cable in Cornwall, enough to travel around the world 3 times

939 km Cable from Porthcurno to the Isles of Scilly provides superfast broadband making them one of the best connected off islands in the world

330 Mbps A significant proportion of the fibre roll out has been ‘fibre to the premises’, the most future proof of broadband technologies, offering speeds of up to 330 Mbps.

> 600 More than 600 green roadside cabinets have been installed to connect Cornish homes and businesses to 100 telephone exchanges with ‘fibre to the cabinet’ technology, providing speeds of up to 80Mbps

Superfast Cornwall Superfast Cornwall was an ambitious £132 million partnership bringing superfast broadband to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, making it one of the best connected places in the world.

Superfast broadband will have the power to transform the life, work and play of each and every one of the half a million people living in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. 95% of businesses and homes will have access to fibre broadband by the end of 2014 and alternative technologies will be used to bring faster broadband to everyone else.

The local economy will be reinvigorated; businesses will be assisted to innovate, improve their productivity and efficiency, provide better service to customers and compete more effectively as a result.

This will drive growth and economic regeneration across the region.

Over 10,000 businesses will be connected to superfast broadband and the investment programme aims to create and safeguard 6,000 jobs and help attract new businesses to the area.

The programme has also resulted in some world first technological advancements developing right here in Cornwall. The Superfast Cornwall Labs programme has trialled the world’s fastest broadband and hit astonishing speeds of 10 gigabits per second, This trial earned the program a globally recognised award in 2013.

Through the Superfast Labs programme we have also seen how fibre broadband has a lasting positive economic, social and environmental impact by enabling Innovation across business sectors and all levels of society in Cornwall.

Superfast Cornwall has also gone a long way to help those who have never been on the internet before. Thanks to the Superfast Cornwall Digital Inclusion programme over three thousand people were given their first ever experience of the internet at a series of workshops held in community halls and libraries across Cornwall. (note: see page 38) Awards • Chartered Institute of Marketing Excellence Award 2013: Public Sector • Global Telecoms Business Innovation Awards 2013: Fixed Network Infrastructure Innovation • Frost and Sullivan 2012 European Growth Leadership Award in Rural Broadband Deployments

Superfast Business Cornwall Helping Cornish businesses implement transformational projects. This Programme gave Cornish businesses a significant advantage through superfast broadband enabled technology.

• 8 Expert Panels comprising representatives from BT, Superfast Cornwall, University of Exeter, Microsoft, Stem, Francis Clark, Lloyds, Clustre and Experience Lab • 22 businesses have been through the full application process • £1.1m of funding has been agreed for the 20 businesses who have started / about to start projects • £2m has been committed by the businesses • 60 jobs created already with another 20 expected • A further 2 projects can be funded Case Study page 77

• "Changing Lives" Broadband Infovision Award at the 12th Annual Broadband World Forum 2012 • World Communication Awards 2011: Project of the Year Case Study page 76

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The BIG Build Facts

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Getting our region ready

Aerial view over Pool

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To enable Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to work productively we had to address some of our long term infrastructure issues to enable businesses and residents to work effectively in the future.

Unlocking land for regeneration

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Redruth Brewery Site The former Redruth Brewery Site was an eyesore since its historic buildings were destroyed by fire in 2011. ERDF investment went into the flood alleviation scheme and public pathways which unlocked investment into the rest of the site enabling further redevelopment.

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The scheme proposed for the site includes a mix of cultural buildings, public spaces, workspaces and housing.

The creation of Kresen Kernow, the new archive centre for Cornwall, as part of this, will provide a much awaited home for the stories of Cornwall and will help to reinforce Redruth’s ambition to become a cultural and community destination by the end of 2016.

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some examples of our investments, see more at www.erdfconvergence.org.uk

Wheal Harmony & Cornwall Business Park (CBP)

Employment Infrastructure Project North Quay, Hayle

Two disused brownfield former mining areas were chosen in Redruth and Scorrier as areas that could provide land for redevelopment. The sites had common barriers to redevelopment, including contamination, former mine workings and Japanese knotweed. Together they provided over 45 acres of speculative land for redevelopment and high value employment.

The completion of this major infrastructure scheme in February 2013 unlocked 1.3 hectares of employment land with outline planning consent to accommodate over 7,000 m2 of workspace, with the potential to create 276 jobs.

Both sites offered a great location adjacent to the A30 and close to the existing industrial estates in the area.

The Cornwall Business Park (CBP) near Scorrier was divided into two sites and 23 serviced industrial plots right next to the A30; CBP West was centred on an Enterprise Park with consent for office, manufacturing, distribution and storage facilities whilst CBP East had consent for waste processing facilities.

The investment provided a new road bridge, the construction of a new road and promenade, flood protection works and the repair of the historic harbour walls. It also levelled and secured the site for the new Marine Renewables Business Park including the provision of primary services.

It has supported the development of a new high value sector based around marine renewable technologies and capitalised on the £42m investment in Wave Hub.

Marine Renewables Business Park, Hayle The second phase of development at North Quay, Hayle builds upon the earlier infrastructure investment to deliver a Marine Renewables Business Park.

This new facility will accommodate companies in the growing marine energy sector. The Business Park will offer 2,500m² of offices and industrial units and is expected to create 120 jobs.

Due to open in summer 2015, the development underlines Cornwall’s commitment to its diverse marine renewable ocean resource, innovative industry and world class supply chain and will further strengthen its capability to support this growing sector.

Newquay Cornwall Airport (Aerohub) ERDF built on the previous Objective One investments that saw the transition of the airport from military to civil use.

The Airport Infrastructure Business Development (IBD) ERDF programme supported Newquay Cornwall Airport to become commercially sustainable by diversifying activities on the airport.

During Convergence several ERDF infrastructure projects took place on the site including new hangars, upgraded taxiways and aprons, and Business Park site servicing. The site was awarded Enterprise Zone status by the UK government in 2011, creating Aerohub at Newquay Cornwall Airport; the UK’s only aerospace focused Enterprise Zone.

The IBD funding allowed the delivery team to produce a competitive Investor Engagement Strategy and raise the profile of the site on an international stage.

The combination of state-of-theart infrastructure, clear airspace, development land, Enterprise Zone status and ERDF funding, makes Aerohub at Newquay Cornwall Airport the best place in Europe to locate an aerospace business. Since the launch of the Enterprise Zone in 2012, the site has attracted 7 new businesses and over 200 new jobs .

• Enterprise Zone: awarded in 2011, one of 24 sites in the UK selected • Place Making Awards Finalist

Bernard Longman, Apple Aviation.

• Spaceport shortlist: only site in England (6 in Scotland, 1 in Wales) Case Study page 77

Aerial view of Newquay Cornwall Airport

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"Aerohub at Newquay Cornwall Airport has been selected as the site for our new MRO facility, due to the excellent infrastructure the airport has to offer plus the benefits of developing our new business venture within the Enterprise Zone. The MRO facility will include aircraft storage and recycling areas and AAG looks forward to building relationships with the local community and businesses, in addition to contributing to the economy in the South West’"

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The refurbished trainline at Bissoe viaduct.

Unlocking our transport network ERDF invested in a wide range of transport projects to enable the movement of people and business across the region.

TOTAL

ÂŁ54,480,467 ÂŁ98,517,128 23

ERDF

Bikes and buses‌ * Intelligence

Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI) displays were provided at key bus stops along the main commuter route in the Camborne, Pool and Redruth area.

These RTPI signs took the guess work out of waiting for a bus. Keep passengers informed with the most up-to-date travel information can only help to increase the numbers of people using public transport.

This was the first phase of a wider project to improve the transport system in the area, improving access and quality of public transport in Cornwall.

The project provided RTPI units at a total of 37 bus stops, 29 of which within the Camborne, Pool and Redruth area, to add to the signs already sited at 10 locations on the Truro-Penzance route.

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some examples of our investments, see more at www.erdfconvergence.org.uk

Commuter link The Coosebean Commuter Link connected west Truro with the city centre via a new cycle and pedestrian link.

The scheme provided a pleasant walking and cycling route as an alternative to the A390, encouraging those making local trips in their car to choose to walk or cycle.

The project represented a significant step towards providing a better environment and safer access for cyclists and pedestrians between Truro City Centre and the Treliske, Gloweth and Threemilestone areas where there was a high demand for access to work and education.

Relieving the highway network will benefit all users and offer a healthier, active mode of travel to those who have been discouraged from using the busy A390.

Increasing the sustainable travel options for those who work or live in Truro will help the city to embrace future growth and inward investment with reduced impacts from traffic.

Reducing traffic congestion along the A390 Highertown corridor into the city centre will enable goods and services to move more freely while contributing to carbon reduction and improved air quality.

This will contribute to increased city footfall and will link with other projects to help make the heart of Truro a more attractive business location.

Roads and rail…

East-west

Park & Ride

Passing loop

The Camborne Pool Redruth East-West Link project was designed to relieve traffic on the existing A3047, hence alleviating congestion, providing an improved environment for residents, and enabling economic growth.

Building on the success of the existing Western Truro Park and Ride which operates from Langarth at Threemilestone, the Truro Eastern Park and Ride extended the service into a cross city link.

The route forms a link from Dolcoath to Dudnance Lane and from Dudnance to Wilson Way; the link is designed to provide relief to the East Hill junction which is a block to further development.

The Eastern Park and Ride provides a regular shuttle link through the city centre to Union Hill to Newquay Road. Operating on a 10-15 minute frequency, the service connects key destinations including Truro College, the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro Railway Station and three stops in the city centre.

Truro to Falmouth Branch Line. The project improved the Falmouth Branch Line by constructing a passing loop at Penryn. The loop enabled two passenger trains per hour to run during peak times between Truro and Falmouth making it easier for people to access work and education opportunities. The scheme also eased the growing vehicle congestion on the A39 link road.

“The Western Park and Ride service carried more than two million passengers over the first five years, taking an estimated 550 vehicles off the roads around central Truro each day. The Eastern Park and Ride has more than 1,350 parking spaces, which provides a reliable cross city link helping to cut congestion on the roads in and around the city centre.’

Tim Wood, Assistant Head of Transportation at Cornwall Council.

2,200

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Inhabitants on the Isles of Scilly

Aerial view of St Mary’s Island

Isles of Scilly

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Lying 28 miles off the coast of Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly have seen investments which have enhanced both social and economic opportunities for the islanders.

Connecting our remotest places…

One of the benefits of a small geographical area like CPR or Penryn Campus is the ability to see linkages between investments. The benefit of cohesive and inclusive investments through European funds is fully demonstrated within the business and community on the Isles of Scilly.

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St Mary’s benefited from varied investments during the life of Convergence which work together to connect the community and businesses together.

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some examples of our investments, see more at www.erdfconvergence.org.uk

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Connecting everyone digitally…

Connecting everyone physically…

Until November 2014 the residents of the Isles of Scilly relied upon broadband service provided by a radio link between Lands End and the islands.

Being 28 miles of the coast meant transport infrastructure was an important aspect of the funding for the islands.

ERDF were able to step in to help with vital sea and air solutions when other avenues of funding discontinued or failed.

On the islands ERDF acknowledged the vital links that are needed to keep the community alive.

The Superfast Cornwall Programme undertook a month-long operation to divert a disused fibre optic cable between the UK and Spain. The 939 kilometre cable between Porthcurno, Cornwall, and Santander, Spain had remained unused on the seabed of the Atlantic Ocean since it was taken out of service in 2006 after 11 years of handling high-speed international communications.

The 12,184 tonne cable ship “Resolute” cut the cable at two points in the Atlantic about 100 kilometres and 15 kilometres off Lands’ End - and diverted a section to the Isles of Scilly, where all five islands were able to take advantage of superfast broadband. This was a huge undertaking and was only achieved through the public, private partnership of EU funding and British Telecom.

With the closure of the Penzance to St Mary’s helicopter link in November 2012 the islands were left with access by fixed wing aircraft only in the winter months. Connections to the islands were further exacerbated in the winter when the passenger ship stopped and Lands’ End Airport suffered from water logging, resulting in delays, cancella tions or

diversions to Newquay Cornwall Airport.

In the first three months of 2014 alone there were 60 days of closure due to the elements.

With ERDF investment into Newquay Cornwall Airport complete, this allowed flights to the islands to work unhindered while ERDF investment was used to tarmac the waterlogged Land’s End Airport runways. ERDF also helped make vital improvements to the infrastructure of St Mary’s airport to allow consistent flights to continue for both businesses and residents on the islands.

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Aerial view of St Mary’s Island

…for our businesses to prosper

copyright Natalie Legg 2014

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Connecting business…

One of the benefits of a small geographical area like CPR or Penryn Campus is the ability to see linkages between investments. The benefit of cohesive and inclusive investments through European funds is fully demonstrated within the business and community on the Isles of Scilly.

The Porthloo slipway and boatyard (which is the only boatyard on St Mary’s) received investment to construct a new concrete slipway into the sea at Porthloo. The boatyard was improved with new storage for boats and better facilities including toilets, services and sumps for waste oil were installed.

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The improvements to the boatyard enabled the retention of vital marine businesses ranging from boat building to marine engine maintenance to stay on the islands, rather than relocate to other marine hubs such as Falmouth. In the long term this has enabled savings on fuel and time and also decreases the carbon footprint of the islands.

Improving and developing workspace helped retain businesses on the islands…

Porthmellon Enterprise Centre saw the redevelopment of a redundant building and adjoining land to create managed workspace for creative and knowledge based businesses on the island. The building was transformed into 10 flexible workspaces, meeting rooms and shared communal spaces.

The building was re-clad with sympathetic, low maintenance and sustainable materials, with high levels of insulation. The south facing slope was also fitted with solar photovoltaic and solar thermal panels to provide some of the electricity and heating requirements of the new building.

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some examples of our investments, see more at www.erdfconvergence.org.uk

Stemming the flow of talent from the remotest islands…

With the advent of superfast broadband the remote islands were better connected than ever before, in order to be ready when superfast connected St Agnes the island worked towards refurbishing an existing building to allow opportunities for businesses and employment.

By creating a BREEAM * highly flexible new building adjoining the refurbished and repaired hall allowed the creation of three workspace units, communal space, plant room, commercial kitchen, toilets, and a meeting room. This hub became the focus of the island and crucially allowed the residents to stay on the island stemming the flow of residents to St Mary’s in search of work opportunities. The building went on to win a Cornwall Sustainability Award in 2014.

*

BREEAM stands for Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology

Improving the urban environment…

Large workspace and town regeneration is even more prominent when it is achieved within small communities.

The Porthcressa area of Hugh Town (St Mary’s) needed major rejuvenation to enable a neglected area to become a new community hub. Within a wider funding package ERDF worked in partnership to provide investment for workspace and public realm elements in the Porthcressa Regeneration.

Within the ERDF investment the existing library building was demolished and in its place three BREEAM Excellent workspace units were built, other funders invested into the building to provide apartments for local families. Together the project revitalised the area with business and residential space.

Within the wider public realm works enabled a tired shelter to be demolished

to allow the building of a new public conveniences and showers, the development also had storage facilities, a meeting space, and outside seating. This improvement to the urban environment was complemented with extensive landscaping around the area and the lack of accessibility was addressed across the site and beach by providing recessed paving areas with new steps, and a new paved promenade to improve the flow of people along the banks and more seating.

The other investors enabled the building of a new registry office and library with further provision of new workspaces.

‘This has been a real community project to enable this to happen on our island. We have suffered a real drain of talent due to the loss of people to the islands and mainland due to the lack of opportunities here. However, with the new workspaces working alongside the community hub will hopefully start to turn the tide of employment. The workspace is set to be connected to superfast broadband when it arrives on the islands, so there really won’t be any digital difference working from here or the mainland.’ Aisling Hick, Trustee of St Agnes Island Hall

The new Porthcressa meeting space and conveniences

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Within the wider public realm works enabled a tired shelter to be demolished to allow the building of a new public conveniences and showers, the development also had storage facilities, a meeting space, and outside seating. This improvement to the urban environment was complemented with extensive landscaping around the area and the lack of accessibility was addressed across the site and beach by providing recessed paving areas with new steps, and a new paved promenade to improve the flow of people along the banks and more seating.

The other investors enabled the building of a new registry office and library with further provision of new workspaces.

Investing in our future

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Our region had a historical lack of Higher Education and Research & Development infrastructure, to invest in tomorrow we had to get projects ready which would benefit our people now. Our investments into Higher Education in Penwith College, Dunheved House and Penryn Campus are buildings; however it is the people inside them that matters, as the benefits our investments offer today, allow for better prospects for everyone tomorrow.

“Researchers at the European Centre for Environment & Human Health are tackling antibiotic resistance in the environment.�

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One of the offices at Tremough Innovation Centre (TIC)

Cornwall Innovation At the start of the Programme ERDF saw the need for specialist business acceleration facilities that focussed on supporting Cornish Business. A trio of Innovation Centres were built to address this need to support growth, knowledge and innovation-led businesses...

TOTAL

ÂŁ28,803,994 ÂŁ38,405,326 35

ERDF

‘The fantastic year-on-year growth of the businesses based at the Cornwall Innovation Centres is down to the tangible support the businesses are given at the Centres. This support enables companies to focus entirely on growing their business, creating increasing numbers of high value, sustainable jobs.”

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Bernard Curren, Plymouth University’s Innovation Lead and director of Cornwall Innovation

The spacious atrium at Pool Innovation Centre (PIC)

Innovation Centres

Achieved INSPIRE accreditation

by UK Business Incubation (UKBI), effectively ranking them among the best in the world.

The Formation Zones within each of the Innovation Centres, along with Plymouth University’s two campus centres, were awarded the UK Business Incubation (UKBI) ‘Achievement in Business Incubation’ award for 2013.

139

In 2010 the Pool Innovation Centre (PIC) – the first of three Centres opened its doors to the business community. PIC reached 50% occupancy in less than six months – two-and-a-half years ahead of schedule and became a landmark building in the regeneration of the Camborne, Pool & Redruth area (PAGE?). It was a trend

that was to be repeated by the Tremough Innovation Centre (TIC), which opened in 2012 adjacent to the Penryn Campus, and the Health and Wellbeing Innovation Centre (HWIC), which launched in 2013 on the Cornwall NHS Hospitals Trust site in Truro.

By 2014, they were home to 140 businesses from a wide array of sectors and were independently judged to be ‘world-class’*. Through Plymouth University, they continue to provide extensive development and training support for their clients, who in turn have flourished in the Centres, registering 20% growth (on average), with 216 jobs created, 76 safeguarded, and revenues increasing by £9,350,000.

Read an Innovation Centre Case Study.

Case Study page 78

480

jobs created and 76 safeguarded

employed people

The Centres have hosted more than 3,200 events with 35,000 delegates

20%

Revenue growth of £9,350,000 37

At the start of the Programme ERDF saw the need for specialist business acceleration facilities that focussed on supporting Cornish Business. A trio of Innovation Centres were built to address this need to support growth, knowledge and innovation-led businesses and in particular those from the media, creative, eco, environmental, and health and wellbeing sectors. Support was designed to offer businesses at all stages of their journey from incubation through to mature enterprises looking to innovate and grow.

businesses

216

Higher Education & Research

*

The European centre for environment & human health The European Centre for Environment and Human Health is conducting world-class research into the complex connections between the environment and health.

Created with support from ERDF and ESF Convergence and an integral part of the University of Exeter Medical School, the Centre is helping to improve public health, develop business skills and enhance economic growth across the South West.

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The Centre’s academics employ a wide range of research methods in their studies, using an interdisciplinary approach that combines science, the arts and the humanities to improve knowledge and understanding of the health risks and wellbeing opportunities presented by the environment. Their findings have broken new ground in areas vital to public health, analysing the environment’s role in promoting antibiotic resistance, and providing pioneering insights into how ‘blue’ and ‘green’ spaces can boost wellbeing. The Centre’s scientists have

*

some examples of our investments, see more at www.erdfconvergence.org.uk

brought significant funding into the region, enabling Cornish companies to work on and benefit from projects that have global significance.

Collaborations with Cornish organisations have been at the heart of the Centre’s ethos, working with a diverse mix of businesses, government bodies and third sector organisations to ensure its findings enhance the economy of the region and impact policy at a national and international level. Through its PhD, MSc and new BSc training programmes, the Centre is working to equip tomorrow’s academic and business leaders with crucial skills in environment and health.

Through a concerted programme of international conferences and networking events, the Centre has helped to catalyse Cornwall’s reputation for innovation. It has brought businesses from different sectors together and supported connections that have led to exciting new commercial opportunities.

Case Study page 84

Dental investment tackles oral health in Cornwall In 2010 an innovative dental clinical teaching facility opened in Truro, which has contributed to a sea change in the way in which dentists are trained and helped to achieve better oral health in Cornwall – with thousands receiving NHS dental care where they may not have done before.

The Truro Dental Education Facility (DEF) is run by the Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise and is where third year dental students from Plymouth University treat NHS patients under the supervision of qualified dental health professionals, as part of their training.

It is one of four DEFs in the South West, with two others in Plymouth and one in Exeter.

The rationale behind the DEF programme is two-fold: to prepare the dentists of the future for the NHS by providing training in an environment which mirrors that of an NHS practice; and to raise awareness of good oral health and increase access to

dental care for local communities.

The sort of treatments and services that take place at the Truro DEF include: • Dental check-ups, oral examination and diagnosis including X-rays • Advice for preventing tooth decay and gum disease including tooth brushing and oral hygiene instruction, dietary advice and the application of sealants that protect the surfaces of teeth • Assessment and treatment of gum disease • Fillings and crowns • Extractions • Dentures Over the past five years the Truro DEF has seen nearly 2,600 NHS patients and provided nearly 17,500 appointments. It has been the focus of interaction with a wide variety of groups from communities across Cornwall.

Penryn Campus TOTAL

ÂŁ113,796,285 ÂŁ182,483,633

Aerial of the Penryn Campus near to Falmouth

Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) is a partnership of five universities and colleges working together to give more people the chance to study in Cornwall, and to use university level education to help our businesses and communities to thrive .

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ERDF

The Exchange

40

Caption:

The Performance Centre

The Exchange

Creating a new campus of excellence Over £200 million of investment, including support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Convergence, the SWRDA and Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), has produced a world-class campus which provides unrivalled facilities for an international student population.

ERDF has provided funding for key projects at the campus: The University of Exeter's Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI), which leads cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research into solutions to problems associated with environmental change. Unlike many research institutes around the world, the ESI is merely not a virtual entity. The research centre at the Penryn Campus brings together state-of-the-art resources with leading academics and researchers in a brand new BREEAM Outstanding* rated building. The ESI builds on the University's established research strengths, working with businesses in Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and beyond to translate research and expertise into innovative business practices, products and services.

The Academy for Innovation & Research (AIR) is home to research at Falmouth University and its centre for business collaboration. This multi-disciplinary research and development laboratory is designed for students, staff and researchers to work with businesses on live projects at local, national and international levels. With specialist expertise in the areas of sustainable design and the digital economy, applied research enables

innovative Cornish companies to reach their full potential by developing new products and services, new routes to market and ready access to investors and suppliers globally.

Based in AIR is the innovative Alacrity Falmouth programme, designed to create a new generation of Cornwall-based companies in the high-value digital games sector. This incubation programme works by building businesses to meet known demand arising from global markets. In so doing it enhances not just Cornwall’s, but also the UK’s, competitive position as a producer and user of digital applications and creative content. Alacrity Falmouth extends Falmouth University’s role as a talent generator at the centre of a growing digital creative hub. The programme capitalises upon and retains the brightest graduate talent for the longer-term economic benefit of Cornwall.

The University of Exeter’s new £5.5 million Science and Engineering Research Support Facility (SERSF) is bringing pioneering business, science and engineering together at the Penryn Campus. Currently under construction, the SERSF will provide a home for the University of Exeter Business School, which is expanding into Cornwall in 2015, alongside space for the University’s existing Marine Renewables team and growing Centre for Ecology and Conservation (CEC).

This new space will enable the University to accommodate 15 new planned academic posts which will bring in research funding through applications to industry, research councils, the EU, and major charitable trusts.

Falmouth University’s Academy of Music and Theatre Arts is based in purpose-built facilities at Penryn Campus. Investment from ERDF has been used to provide stateof-the-art specialist buildings including multi-purpose studios and performance venues for theatre, choreography and music.

The Academy is dedicated to education, research and public programming across the related fields of theatre, music, dance and cultural event management and production.

The Exchange is an extension to the existing Learning Resources Centre and part of the expansion of shared facilities at the Penryn Campus. Housing space for library and information services, learning and teaching, and social learning, it is central to the Penryn Campus, providing the opportunity for staff, students and visitors to collaborate and share ideas. A new lecture theatre and learning lab, ‘eddy' spaces for small group learning, and digital hubs have been created. A further development, The Heart, which will provide a new campus shop, reception and central plaza, will open in late 2015.

Case Study page 83

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In 1999, Falmouth University acquired a large site in Penryn that has been developed as a joint venture with the University of Exeter. Initial development of the campus, supported by European Union and South West Regional Development Agency funding, included road infrastructure and the media centre. The Daphne Du Maurier building complex, which included the Design Centre, Camborne School of Mines, shared library, and lecture and social space, was completed in 2004. The Peter Lanyon building and the Photography Centre opened in 2007.

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Investing in our land, our people and the ocean

“Teams at the European Centre for Environment & Human Health are exploring how the environment can improve wellbeing.�

Green & Marine Investment went into many projects across the region which would act as a catalyst for change in the green and marine sectors. Investments varied from business support, buildings, innovation and technologies to kick start the sector within C&IOS, let’s take a look…

TOTAL

£49,751,538 £97,618,409 43

ERDF

Teaching green skills

*

Falmouth Marine School Cornwall is the most maritime mainland county in England, with the highest proportion of coastline (700km) to area (3500km2). The GDP of the marine sector is estimated to be £500M, supporting over 14,000 jobs. Falmouth Marine School (FMS) is the only specialist marine college in the region providing education and training in marine science, marine technology and marine sports.

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However, the existing building was constructed in the 1960s and had become outdated and ill-suited for meeting the requirements of students, businesses, staff, or modern standards of energy efficiency and access. In particular the

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some examples of our investments, see more at www.erdfconvergence.org.uk

labs and equipment were outmoded and not suited to medium and higher level technical and applied science education and training requirements.

The redevelopment project is a combination of rebuild and refurbishment which will result in modern laboratories, workshops and teaching and learning facilities which reflect the current and future needs of students and marine businesses. The new Falmouth Marine School will provide skills training, higher education, and innovation support to help drive business growth, workforce development and great careers in the marine sector.

Green Build Hub Run by the Cornwall Sustainable Building Trust (CSBT), The Green Build Hub (GBH) is located at The Eden Project bringing together green build specialists from the charity as well as specialists from commercial and academic spheres.

GBH is a ‘living laboratory’ where ecobuilding products are installed, tested and monitored to produce objective and comprehensive performance data in a real building setting. The building serves as a distinctive training centre, and encourages inward investment by companies such as specialist green suppliers by enabling them to showcase and test innovative products within the building.

“The Green Build Hub (GBH) has been a long awaited concept. UK and Europe continue to engage with new ways of using sustainable building technology in construction and we want to position Cornwall as a hub of knowledge for sustainable innovations in building techniques.” Paul Bright CEO of CSBT. Pull Outs: • BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ building • High-speed charging for electric vehicles • Fully accessible building including the roof

Developing marine business

Pendennis Shipyard Pendennis Shipyard Ltd located in Falmouth was seen as a major asset to the region due to the growing marine sector during the Convergence period.

Pendennis benefited from two investments, the first to assist with an extension to the dry dock supported by covered workshops space for the construction and refit of superyachts.

The second project focused on integrated construction elements that included new project offices and workshops and three new water-facing construction halls (two at 90m and one 45m hall). Following the completion of these construction halls an adjustable-depth wet basin is being built adjacent to the yard to improve the post-project support that Pendennis can provide.

• Enabled further skilled job creation • Enhanced the company’s award winning Apprenticeship scheme • Supported long-term career opportunities for the sector

Aerial view of Pendennis Shipyard at Falmouth Docks

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Many investments were made into Marine businesses in our region.

Find out more on our website www.erdfconvergence.org.uk

‘Wave Hub continues to be a catalyst for the development of the marine energy industry not just in Cornwall and the South West, but around the world. It has helped to attract international investment and has put a global spotlight on the skills, expertise and abundant natural resources in our region.’

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Claire Gibson, Managing Director, Wave Hub Ltd

The Wave Hub socket being deployed into the sea off Hayle

Testing marine innovation

devices to one of Wave Hub’s four berths and test how well they perform.

operated by Wave Hub Ltd, an arms-length company set up by BIS.

Wave Hub supports the development of marine renewable energy, including wave and wind power, both of which could play a big part in helping to meet the world’s future energy needs, and create skilled jobs in Cornwall.

Being able to do this out to sea, in real conditions for long periods of time, is an important part of making sure these new technologies work and in making them commercially available in the long run.

Stats and achievements

Wave Hub is a marine energy test site that includes a giant four-way socket on the seabed around 10 miles off the coast of North Cornwall, connected to the shore by an electrical cable.

As well as speeding up the development of marine energy, Wave Hub’s role is to foster a growing industry in Cornwall and the UK, and maintain the UK’s position as a world leader.

Companies around the world that are developing new green energy technologies that generate electricity from waves or wind can bring their

For marine energy to make a significant contribution to meeting our energy needs it will require lots of electricity generating devices working together.

That’s why Wave Hub is specially designed to test groups of these devices, not just one at a time, making it the largest marine energy test site in the world.

Wave Hub cost £30 million to build. It was funded with £16.5 million from the European Regional Development Fund Convergence Programme and £13.5 million from the UK Government. It is owned by the UK Government Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and

• Wave Hub has been a catalyst for growth in the highly skilled marine energy industry, including more than £100 million of investment in marine energy facilities in the region.

• In the South West there are an estimated 400-500 well paid jobs in the sector in areas like technology development, research, consultancy, design engineering and marine operations. This is expected to grow to more than 1,500 people by the late 2020s.

• Wave Hub itself employs five staff and turns over more than £1 million a year, much of which is spent with local suppliers either in Cornwall or the wider South West.

• Wave Hub is a past winner of the BusinessGreen [CRRT] Leaders Awards, having been named Sustainable Project of the Year, and won the sustainability category of the Institution of Engineering and Technology Innovation in Engineering Awards.

• In summer 2014 Wave Hub Ltd, the company that operates Wave Hub, successfully bid to The Crown Estate, manager of the UK seabed, to operate two wave demonstration zones off North Cornwall and Pembrokeshire, and a tidal demonstration zone off North Devon. This allows Wave Hub Ltd to sub-let parts of the seabed to a range of wave and tidal stream developers in these areas.

Case Study page 82

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Wave Hub & the Marine Renewables Business Park

Strengthening Business

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A strong business is a sustainable business.

Who knew back at the start of the Convergence period that the economic recession would last so long and affect so much of the world? Its effects rippled into C&IoS and had immediate repercussions on our economy and the Programme.

Engineered Arts Ltd in Penryn were supported by the GBI fund.

The Programme initially set out to grow productivity and create jobs; however, during the recession with businesses under pressure sound advice was needed to help them through the harder economic times. The Programme helped businesses sustain their sector positions whilst creating focused expansion and job creation for long term steady growth.

The Strengthening Business theme set in motion future jobs within the region, by working with investments within Higher Education, Research & Development meant graduates, who often came out of other investments, could stay within the region at companies with high growth and high value potential enabling emerging talent to stay within the region.

ERDF invested into Engineered Arts Ltd in Penryn

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Likewise, that talent could engage with businesses and the Research & Development cluster to enable collaborations and success. Across the region eligible businesses were given bespoke support and advice whether they were expanding or just starting out. Find out how ERDF business support improved Cornish business‌

Workspace During the programme, one of the targets was to improve workspace across the region to enable job creation and business expansion.

63 high quality workspaces have been built or refurbished.

ERDF

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TOTAL

ÂŁ61,650,697 ÂŁ146,187,156

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32

17 18 19 20 21

24 25 26 27

51

33 34

57

35 52

36

28

22 05

BESPOKE WORKSPACE

23 06 58

01

09

02

10

03

11 12 04

07 08

28 miles southwest of Land’s End

01 Porthcressa St Mary’s 02 Porthmellon Enterprise St Mary’s 03 St Agnes Workspace 05 Porthmeor Studios 06 Marine Renewables Park 07 Helston Cattle Market 09 Barncoose Gateway 10 Cornwall Business Park 11 Heartlands 12 King Edward Mine 13 Krowji 14 Marlin House 19 Tolvaddon 2b, 4, 5 20 Treleigh plot 1 21 Treleigh plot 2, 5 22 Treleigh plot 6 23 Treleigh plot 7, 8 28 3T 29 Baldhu Office 30 Headworks 31 RMD House 35 Quintdowns Business Park 36 Newquay Cornwall Airport Improvements 37 Jubilee Warehouse 50 Chenoweth Business Park 52 Victoria Commercial Centre 53 Cross Lane Offices 54 Goonvean Yard 58 Old Duchy Palace 59 Bude Stratton Business Park

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We have highlighted a few of the 63 projects over these pages, the rest can be found on the investment map. Many of these projects wouldn’t have been possible without the match funding packages the projects raised, so we congratulate them on working hard to make their projects happen.

Isles of Scilly

SPECULATIVE WORKSPACE

13 14 15 16

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29 30

50

31 37 38 39 40 41 42 43

54 55 56

44 45 46 47 48 49

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08 Spiral Construction 15 Calidus Engineering 16 David Paull Ltd 18 Western Power Distribution 27 Wheal Daniel Workspace 32 Cornwall Air Ambulance 33 Keo Energyshare 34 Apple Aviation 38 Jarrang 39 Mark Product 40 Pendennis Building & Yacht Basin 41 Rustler Yachts 42 Watson Marlow 51 Cornish Crabbers 55 St Austell Printing Company 57 Caterlink 61 Spinnaker International INNOVATION, R&D, EDUCATION WORKSPACE 04 Penwith College 17 Pool Innovation Centre 24 ECEHH 25 Health & Wellbeing Innovation Centre 26 Peninsula Dental School 43 Academy of Innovation and Research 44 Environment and Sustainability Institute 45 Falmouth Marine School 46 The Performance Centre 47 SERSF 48 The Exchange 49 Tremough Innovation Centre 56 Green Build Hub 60 Dunheved House

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Often the award winning Innovation Centres located at Pool, Penryn and Truro are held up as examples of ERDF invested business incubation space in C&IoS. The trio have demonstrated the potential for business growth in C&IoS wasn’t constrained despite a worldwide economic downturn. However, the Innovation Centres weren’t suitable for all businesses, so the ERDF Programme had to be smart to ensure investment met business's demand. To fulfil this remit workspace investments were split into three distinct areas, speculative, bespoke and refurbishment.

Speculative workspace One of the driving forces behind the speculative developments during the Programme was the engagement of the private sector and their willingness to invest in large scale developments despite the risks during a recession. One of the successes of this partnership was the number and diversity of the developments, all of which were completed to BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standards, on schedule and showed great tenant interest and retention.

Transforming land for high growth, high value business

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Treleigh Industrial Estate (SCORRIER)

Barncoose Gateway (REDRUTH)

Victoria Offices (VICTORIA)

ERDF jointly invested in six plots on the Treleigh Industrial Estate in Redruth over the life of Convergence. These developments built 18 high quality units totalling 9011sq. metres of workspace.

Built on brownfield land at the entrance to the Barncoose Industrial Estate, this large complex consisted of 6 hybrid units housing both offices and manufacturing, totalling 7439 sq. metres. Since it was built it helped to change the Camborne, Pool & Redruth (CPR) landscape with the aim to retain and attract businesses to the area.

Situated in Central Cornwall, the project built office space over two new buildings totalling 2183 sq. metres. This flexibly designed development allowed for the division of office space into a range of different sizes of unit with various rental terms aimed to suit a variety of businesses, as well as ample space for conferences and parking..

‘The Gateway Business Centre has been a great success. I think much of this was to do with the infrastructure we incorporated into the design and build. Businesses have been able to take advantage of both the physical and digital infrastructure the Centre offers by using the 10gig internet connection, conferencing facilities and its location close to the A30, and the surrounding industrial estates.’

‘Victoria is such a well-located place for business. The Centre is adjacent to the A30 and in the geographic centre of Cornwall. Since opening the businesses taking up tenancy in the offices have found the area has great links to both inside and outside of Cornwall.’

‘The opening of Treleigh Park (Plot 1, Treleigh) realises the first step in our ambition to develop high specification commercial property in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We have worked with a great team to deliver the project and thanks to our investment match funding ERDF we have been able to build these units which are not only a great addition to the wider industrial estate, but also act as a showcase build to demonstrate the ambition of our company.”

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Shaun Hunt, Managing Director of H.G. Sites Ltd

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Bob Pepper from Practical Developments some examples of our investments, see more at www.erdfconvergence.org.uk

Graham Honey, Victoria Offices

Bespoke workspace In some areas businesses were unable to expand as construction costs outweighed the final resale value of the building. This was a common issue in certain areas in Cornwall where businesses were eager to expand to help facilitate jobs in their area but couldn’t due to funding issues. ERDF worked with many businesses to help fill the funding gap, from complete new buildings, bespoke refurbishment or extensions to their existing premises.

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some examples of our investments, see more at www.erdfconvergence.org.uk

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St Austell Printing Company (ST AUSTELL) This investment created two new buildings at St Austell Enterprise Park; bespoke workspace for St Austell Printing Co Ltd and a speculative development of flexible, high quality workspace/office accommodation. The investment into the 5,280 sq. metres of space enabled the St Austell Printing Co Ltd to relocate from their existing premises to a new bespoke factory and offices.

Cornwall Air Ambulance (NEWQUAY) Convergence investment built a new base for Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust and its helicopter at Newquay Cornwall Airport, as part of the growing aviation business hub. The development included a hangar and high quality office space, providing accommodation for both operating crews and the fundraising team.

Pendennis Building Redevelopment & Yacht Basin (FALMOUTH) The project focused on six integrated construction elements located at Falmouth Docks that included new offices, workshops and wet basin, it aimed to enable skilled job creation, sustain the company’s award winning Apprenticeship scheme, and build long-term career opportunities for those with the drive to match the Pendennis brand values and aspirations.

“As SAPC match funded the money we were in it together, with that extra money we could build a factory that not only is good looking, but encompasses the latest technical and environmental amenities for business. ERDF funding makes projects like this happen, a developer wouldn’t have invested that kind of money into this area as it would be a hard to get that revenue back in the short term.”

Peter Moody, Managing Director SAPC

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Using European investment to support local business workspace

Refurbished workspace The ERDF Programme built many new workspaces across the region; however, a focus on refurbishment enabled existing business premises to be upgraded with the latest amenities. Building on our heritage and also looking at developments which could be improved was an important part of the Programme where refurbishment could make a difference. Many of the refurbished projects were already vibrant places of work or culturally important, they varied vastly, but they all used investment from ERDF to improve their BREEAM status and the workspace they offered.

Transforming buildings of yesterday for tomorrows business needs

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Baldhu Office, Wheal Jane (Nr TRURO)

Jubilee Warehouse (PENRYN)

Dunheved House (LAUNCESTON)

This project involved new build and refurbishment to form both a feature gateway office and entrance to the Wheal Jane Earth Science Park.

Investment into Jubilee Warehouse enabled the refurbishment of a former self-storage facility into a high quality BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rated workspace.

The workspace centred around a glazed atrium where an over-sized table at the heart of the building encouraged networking of the businesses in the building. The workspace was split into 13 units totalling 450.7 sq. metres targeting knowledge based creative sector businesses.

A former boarding school in Launceston was renovated and reopened as a highlevel education centre with conferencing facilities and learning space, the project incorporating both ERDF and ESF investment.

After completion of a new office block tenants Wardell Armstrong International moved from the existing 1970's office block adjacent into the new building to allow the old building to be upgraded.

Once the upgrade was complete including an atrium link between the two blocks, Wardell Armstrong were able to expand into both making provision for the ongoing expansion of their international mining and minerals business.

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Can you tell which block is the original and which is the new!?

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some examples of our investments, see more at www.erdfconvergence.org.uk

Apart from being fully accessible both buildings are energy efficient and heated by a deep bore hole geothermal system.

This development complements the Jubilee Wharf workspace project, adjacent to Jubilee Warehouse, which was funded with the assistance of ERDF under the previous Objective One Programme.

‘We are so pleased to be able to have a permanent site in North Cornwall to enable us to provide better services to businesses in the area. Cornwall College consulted with the local business community about the kinds of training they required and we continue to welcome businesses to the venue to demonstrate the training options available.’

Raoul Humphreys, Deputy CEO at Cornwall College

The regeneration of our historic buildings was an important part of the creation of quality workspace within the Programme. Buildings with historic or cultural importance were chosen that were either economically viable as workspaces for business or would act as a catalyst for wider economic community regeneration.

The Heartlands project in the centre of Camborne, Pool & Redruth

Julie Seyler Culture Programme Manager - Economic Development & Culture, Cornwall Council

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Regeneration of our cultural heritage

“ERDF helped to address the need to regenerate the former brewery site in Redruth by investing in the preparation work on the land, this prep work enabled further investment from other funding schemes to be unlocked so the Kresen Kernow Archive Centre could be built. Kresen Kernow and the surrounding redevelopment of the land into public spaces, housing, and retail will act as a catalyst of change in a rundown area which has been a blight on the local community.

This unlocking of funds was evident on many of the cultural and regeneration projects within C&IoS and something which enabled many projects to transform from ideas into reality.�

King Edward Mine

Krowji

King Edward Mine, near Troon, is the oldest and best preserved pre-1920 mining site left in Cornwall.

and consultation and this first phase of capital development has helped to secure funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to conserve the core museum buildings, including creating a cafe and new exhibition space in the derelict Assay Office and Boiler House. This will greatly enhance the visitor experience and with the Workspace Project, will have a positive impact on the local community and economy.

Krowji was already a successful creative workspace community before ERDF investment. The former Redruth Grammar School buildings were almost bulldozed after 2003 when the school moved to modern buildings, but founder Ross Williams and the Krowji team saw their potential and worked hard to transform the shabby but much-loved site into artistic spaces.

"We were sure the demand for an extension to our unique creative workspace was justified. The inspirational atmosphere we created at Krowji has extended into the new build, and all of our people here make use of the creative and collaborative atmosphere. It was so exciting to welcome new people into the spaces after the years of hard work from applications to construction, to final finishes.’

"This award-winning heritage site has a very special place in many people's hearts, especially those connected with Camborne School of Mines, but also today's museum visitors and the many volunteers who keep the site open to the public. The creation of these affordable workspaces allows businesses to benefit from a connection with the site's inspiring past and future aspirations with all the latest amenities any business needs."

The Krowji buildings had room for around 100 "makers" and creative businesses, but through ERDF the site underwent major regeneration. A dilapidated 1950s gym and canteen were razed to allow two new buildings to be built in their place, effectively doubling the space. These created space for a further 100 people and were linked to the original 1907 school buildings by a new landscaped courtyard which offered a pathway between the old and the new.

Ross Williams

from mine to museum... to creative workspace

For more than a century it was used by Camborne School of Mines to deliver practical training before being bought by Cornwall Council in 2009. Now a popular mining heritage attraction, it is situated on the Great Flat Lode cycle and walking trail.

ERDF was used to turn the old Count House and Carpenter’s Shop, both Grade II* listed buildings, into nine new workspace units for businesses working within the knowledge economy and creative industries sector.

Using traditional building skills and local materials, the two derelict buildings were refurbished and adapted, significantly improving their environmental, access and sustainability standards within the constraints of their Grade II* listing.

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The King Edward Mine Workspace Project was the result of several years of planning

Tamsin Daniel, Cornwall Council’s Commissioning and Project Development Officer.

from disused school... to creative workspace

Porthmeor Studios

from sail lofts to historic artist community... to modern artists' studios and school

The artistic community arrived in the 1880s, and built their studios on top of the fishermen’s cellars. Illustrious names including Ben Nicholson, Francis Bacon and Patrick Heron all used the studios during its history.

It was bequeathed to the Borlase Smart John Wells Trust in 2002, after being put on the English Heritage ‘Buildings At Risk’ register and the need for extensive repairs meant a major task to

raise funding to protect and refurbish a building of great cultural and economic importance. With ERDF the Grade II* listed building was refurbished within two years to provide workspace for artists and fishermen.

• The space was upgraded and divided into 13 artists’ studios • The St Ives School of Painting was revamped ready for workshops and education • The whole site was made accessible with a new footbridge and visitor lift

“It often rained inside, and it was completely normal to have buckets everywhere.

Once hailstones actually came inside, so you can guess how large the holes in the skylights were. It was always very, very cold.”

Naomi Frears Artist at Porthmeor Studios

• In June of 2014 RIBA rewarded the Porthmeor project both for Conservation Of A Listed Building, and for Innovative And Outstanding Architecture

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Porthmeor Studios in St Ives has long been an important cultural and historic building with significance within the local, national and international art scene. The building dates back to the early 1800s and for its first 100 years were at the centre of the St Ives pilchard industry with its unique position on Porthmeor Beach.

Business Support Programmes

ERDF

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TOTAL

ÂŁ61,650,697 ÂŁ146,187,156 invested into many sectors including businesses in the Green & Marine sector

Grants for Business Investment Grant for Business Investment One of the successes within engaging businesses through European investment was the Grant for Business Investment (GBI) scheme. GBI supported the startup, expansion, modernisation and diversification of high growth, innovative and knowledge-based businesses. ERDF helped invest with the business into key assets such as buildings and machinery thereby creating jobs, increasing business productivity and raising skills levels.

Create new educational tools for educators

Install new machinery to enable product expansion

Construct new factory and workshop space

• ERDF investment joined match funded private business investment • The majority of jobs created within GBI were to be at NVQ Level 2 (the equivalent of 5 GCSEs) and above

Develop innovative software

• Salaries were to average in excess of £20,000pa • GBI Programme created and safeguarded 339 jobs within Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (December 2014) Other businesses helped through GBI are in the Green & Marine section PAGE?

Develop state of the art robotics

Relocate and expand

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Read the GBI case study on page XX

Oxford Innovation high growth coaching

Oxford Innovation delivered the Combined High Growth Programme offering intensive coaching support for all eligible businesses from start-up to established enterprises through a predominantly coaching based service.

The Oxford Innovation team of highly experienced coaches, all with backgrounds of proven commercial

success, were available to support businesses with ambition, seeking to grow and thus drive forward the economy of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. This programme gave each business access to coaches who enabled them to tap into extensive expertise and knowledge networks that facilitated rapid growth.

Case Study page 82

2,400 have been created and safeguarded to date

£41,000,000 In GVA added to the local economy with a ratio return on investment of 3:1

400 businesses have been supported in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly so far.

1,838

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new jobs have been created up to now

“The Combined High Growth Programme has been an outstanding success. Oxford Innovation is proud to have played our part in helping over 400 companies accelerate their growth. With both tangible commercial impact and evidence-based improvement in management skills of the participants, the legacy of this project will endure for everyone’s benefit.”

Andrew Finley, Commercial Director for Oxford Innovation Enterprise Coaching

OI Business Coach Paul Perkin with Mark Marriott Finance Manager for Clear-flow Ltd

Invest in Cornwall inward investment

Invest in Cornwall had two main goals: • Promote the business opportunities in Cornwall, challenging outdated perceptions of Cornwall as a tourism only location; • Attract non-EU Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Cornwall – the first time Cornwall has proactively marketed itself overseas to attract FDI. Through a range of communication activities, from PR, marketing, digital media and event attendance, Invest in Cornwall has looked to promote the business face of Cornwall around the world. Working with key partners, the team shaped globally attractive opportunities around the Aerospace (working with Aerohub), Marine Renewables, Smart Grid and Technology sectors in Cornwall. Led by sector growth, the team mainly targeted North America, Australia and the Middle East.

In addition, many of Cornwall’s most entrepreneurial or innovative businesses have participated as Cornwall “Brand Ambassadors”, helping the project to highlight the business face of Cornwall.

Over £2m of Advertising Value Equivalent (AVE) PR coverage was generated, as the project successfully promoted Cornish business successes. In addition, Cornwall branded stands could be found at key trade shows, from UK-based shows such as the International Food Exhibition (London), All-Energy in Aberdeen, Farnborough Airshow, across to the Geothermal Energy Expo in San Diego and Dubai Airshow.

The team also ran high profile digital campaigns that included the development of a series of videos, engaging social media activity, as well as a dynamic website that helped demonstrate the opportunities that exist.

Case Study page 80

“Despite operating during the recession and at a time where Foreign Direct Investment was challenging globally, over 200 foreign owned businesses were engaged with and over 30 hosted in Cornwall to come and discuss projects they could develop in the region. By the project close, several companies have relocated with many more looking to set up post 2015.”

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Lucy Hunt, Invest in Cornwall Manager for Cornwall Development Company

SWMAS Ltd

supporting our manufacturers The Product Development Centre (PDC) provided SME manufacturing businesses with a dedicated service to encourage them to innovate and grow. An expert Manufacturing Advisor visited each of the companies that expressed an interest in the project to help guide them through a process, identifying development and growth opportunities. A bespoke package of support was put together through an innovation review and many of these were accompanied by funding to enable the business to focus on key issues. The project also linked businesses with other sources of expertise at the right time for them - including universities and other business support programmes. A wide range of issues were covered including product development (new and existing products), identifying and accessing new markets and developing strategies for business growth.

The project has supported over 70 businesses with free innovation reviews and grants to support 50% of costs associated with growth projects. The average grant was in the region of £2000 with businesses matching this with at least 50% of their own investment. There was a significant demand from businesses for this support and the feedback has been very positive. A mid-term evaluation of the project found that 100% of the companies felt that it had helped maintain or improve their market position.

There was a focus on assisting ‘new’ / start-up companies, as well as those in the Environmental Goods and Services sector and also encouraging businesses to improve their environmental performance. The project has helped to demonstrate the types of issues businesses are facing and prioritise support for these going forward.

Case Study page 79

£2,000 average grant with businesses matching 50%

100% of the companies felt that it had helped maintain or improve their market position

‘In my capacity as Manufacturing Advisor, I have witnessed firsthand the positive effects the Programme has had on many SMEs in the Cornish manufacturing world. The ability to offer funding to companies, which would not have happened had it not been for the availability of these investments has been a major success story. I am confident that this support will provide the necessary foundation for the recipients to realise their growth expectation in the years to come.’

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Martyn Pearson, SWMAS Ltd

Suresense was just one of the businesses to benefit from SWMAS guidance.

Suresense ‘Eluma’ lighting is fitted in the Concorde visitor centre in Manchester.

Business Investment for Growth investing in business growth The BIG programme funding was available on a 50% match funding basis to businesses with project based investment proposals which led to growth and job creation. Investments in individual businesses were for a minimum of £1,000 and maximum of £50,000, with average investments estimated at £25,000.

The purpose of the programme was to improve the competitive advantage of high growth Cornish small and medium

enterprises, leading to 400 skilled jobs being created. It was aimed at high value businesses with a strong track record of performance, operating in national / international's growth markets with innovative and competitive products and services.

Case Study page 78

“We have been delighted to be able to co-finance high quality business projects across Cornwall. This has clearly demonstrated that there is a role for this type of funding in encouraging and de-risking investment projects, which leads to sustained business growth and job creations”.

CDC Programme Manager Brent Treloar

£3,600,000 of funds committed and are on target to create 300+ plus jobs and £10m GVA (2014)

225 Tom Raffield, Handmade Steam Bent Lighting And Furniture.

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skilled jobs created so far

GetSet for Growth investor readiness

GetSet for Growth was launched in November 2013. An innovative and unique programme designed to support both new and established businesses looking to access finance and new markets in order to start, sustain or grow. Its team of industry experts provided bespoke 1:1 advice in sales and marketing and business finance, offering support through connections, knowledge and enhanced skills through a series of specialist masterclasses helping businesses to grow.

"We have seen some tremendous achievements for GetSet for Growth and our clients - I believe this success has been driven by our refreshing approach to investment readiness.

We work with businesses to validate market opportunities and build strong value propositions for business growth, helping create effective sales and marketing strategies for securing those opportunities. Only then can finance be unlocked through robust business planning and realistic financials, with clear milestones and deliverables. The combination of this approach with the professionalism demonstrated by our team of experts and our clients has been recognised by the finance sector resulting in a funding success rate of 97%." Matt Giles, Project Director Case Study page 85

By the end of February 2015 the businesses GetSet assisted had:

ÂŁ2,024,739.66 finance secured for our clients

97% Funding success rate

124 64

jobs created

Export Cornwall support for global growth

Export Cornwall was a business support service which aimed to help Cornish businesses succeed in international markets.

• Training, workshops and events catered for all levels of expertise, from complete export newcomers to experienced global operators.

Export Cornwall was a uniquely designed part of the UK Trade and Investment service (UKTI), which works with UK-based businesses to ensure their success in international markets, and encourage the best overseas companies to look to the UK as their global partner of choice.

With the addition of ERDF UKTI was able to create an important extra service specifically for Cornish businesses.

• 1 to 1 mentoring on a range of subjects from export strategy to international digital marketing techniques with Export Cornwall’s mentors

Support for businesses was offered in the form of: • Business Development Vouchers for Export Projects

• Access to a unique online learning tool which provided practical advice on a range of export subjects in bite-size, easy to access modules.

• Membership to the Export Cornwall Network which opened up access to Cornwall’s export business community Case Study page 83

• A team of International Trade Advisers provided practical and expert advice including sector and region specialists and full access to the national UK Trade and Investment service.

345 businesses supported

278 of target jobs created

60 Sonya Gibbs & Chris Pearce from B Skincare

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of target jobs safeguarded

Small Loans for Business access to finance

Small Loans for Business, part-financed

by Convergence European Regional Development Fund was developed as part of a wider south west programme, with the objective of supporting business and economic growth in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and delivered by South West Investment Group (SWIG Finance).

Launched in 2009 the project supported businesses from diverse sectors where the business plans were viable but they were unable to access sufficient funding from commercial sources, such as the banks. With a focus on creating and expanding growth and growth potential, eligible applicants were able to apply for up to £50,000 to invest in their business until December 2015.

The aim of the project was not to compete with the banks, but rather to support where the banks were unable to fund

businesses due to the applicants failing to meet the lending criteria.

The Small Loans for Business Scheme supported 79 businesses across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly up to August with £2,036,565 worth of finance which equated to 133 jobs either created or sustained as a result of the funding, with further funding delivered until December 2015. Working in partnership with business support organisations across Cornwall, both Convergence funded as well as other funded and commercial organisations, many businesses were successfully supported with preinvestment business advice as well as support following the investment.

Case Study page 80

100 Businesses fundedaff employed

£2,311,565 of funding delivered

133 66

Jobs created or sustained

The small loans for business scheme allowed SWIG Finance to support 100 businesses with £2,311,565 worth of businesses across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly which wanted to grow but under normal circumstances would have been unable to access the investment. Supporting 79 businesses with £2,036,565 worth of funding has been an incredible achievement and the local economy has benefited as a result.”

Managing Director, John Peters

Brian Steer from SWIG Finance and Jamie Stephens of Cornwall Design and Print, one of the companies who accessed funding from SWIG Finance

Outset Cornwall business startup support

Outset Cornwall provided people living in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly with fullyfunded support to make the leap into selfemployment and start their own business.

parents, long term unemployed, people recently made redundant or at risk of redundancy and those with mental or physical disabilities.

The service, created by YTKO Group, was introduced in October 2009 in order to support the growth of the Cornish economy through the creation of new businesses and jobs, and became a core part of the county’s business support landscape.

Incorporating a mix of information sessions, business start-up workshops, one-to-one development coaching, events and networking sessions delivered in over 15 different locations around the county, the Outset service engaged over 2,700 individuals and supported the creation of more than 430 new businesses and over 600 new jobs throughout the region.

Founded on principles of social and economic inclusion, the Outset programme had a strong focus on helping individuals that were often excluded from traditional employment routes, to pursue self-employment as a viable and sustainable alternative.

Outset Cornwall actively supported people from a range of backgrounds including women, 16 to 25 year olds, over 50’s, black and ethnic minorities, single

Outset Online, an online interactive learning platform based on the same core content, was also developed to support the overall offering, ensuring ongoing business support for residents of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Case Study page 81

3,200 individuals engaged and supported aff employed

470 new businesses

600

“Thanks to Outset Cornwall, I managed to write a comprehensive business plan despite my severe dyslexia, put together a product portfolio and launch my flagship product through a number of retail channels, overcoming many barriers along the way. Outset Cornwall gave me encouragement, support and a framework in which to explore my ideas and I’ve definitely grown in confidence and capability.”

Jayne Tarasun Flock Follies

Jayne Tarasun, Flock Follies

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new jobs throughout the region.

Social Enterprise Focus growing your potential

Social Enterprise Focus (SEF) provided a three tier service to support the growth of Social Enterprises in Cornwall and increase their contribution to the economy. The project was delivered by Peninsula Enterprise in partnership with the School for Social Entrepreneurs Cornwall, The Fruit Tree, Sue Morrish, WHM Consulting, Buckman Associates, Hudson Friday and Brookward Consulting SEF held regular networking, information and advice events giving Social Enterprises the chance to meet with like-minded businesses, partner organisations and commissioners. The aim was to encourage collaboration to open up bidding opportunities for newer and smaller Social Enterprises and enable them to access contracts that would

otherwise be beyond their reach.

Over 90 businesses received advice through the service. The project worked with partners and commissioners to identify and notify suitable bidding opportunities to our clients and provided opportunities for clients to meet commissioners through specific advice events for suitable clients when opportunities were identified. The growth achieved by the businesses resulted in over 30 new jobs Find out more about Social Enterprise Focus and read their case study.

Case Study page 81

90 businesses received advice through the service eployed

30 new jobs due to growth achieved by the businesses

“It has been great for Peninsula Enterprise to work with such enthusiastic and dedicated partners in the delivery of this service.

We are passionate about helping social enterprise to survive and grow, and so I am pleased that we have been able to help so many in Cornwall make the most of procurement opportunities from both the public and private sector, both inside the county and beyond, creating lots of new jobs along the way.�

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Adam Chambers Chief Executive Peninsula Enterprise

Collaboration Event held by Social Enterprise Focus

Unlocking Potential

unlocking growth for your business

Combining ESF and ERDF funding meant a range of complementary services for business leaders and individuals were delivered under the Unlocking Potential brand, jointly managed by Plymouth University and Cornwall College, across Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and beyond. Funded by ERDF, the Enterprise Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly was delivered between 2011 and 2015.

The programme aimed to deliver business support in a responsive way, meeting the needs of business owners in a format they wanted at the time they needed it. This aspiration translated into three elements: Enterprise Heroes events; Fast Forward Groups and Research.

Enterprise Heroes events brought the best business minds to Cornwall, to share their experiences, insights and knowledge with the Cornish business community.

Local enterprise heroes lent a Duchy perspective and proved that anything is possible from a Cornish base. Forming a key part of Unlocking Potential’s Connect events, the Enterprise Heroes inspired

and informed over 2000 delegates from more than 1000 businesses.

Often, the expert speakers went on to work with small groups of like-minded business leaders during Fast Forward Groups. The groups were a series of targeted learning sessions where business peers, together with an expert explored topics to develop business growth. During the two-to-three days, the participants experienced plenty of ‘I never would have thought of that' moments and were helped to focus on their goals and rethink how to reach them. Over 400 delegates took part in 60 groups, taking with them new knowledge, ideas and a network to support them.

Research delivered by specialists from Plymouth University’s SERIO team, provided groups with up-to-the-minute insights and tracked specific groups of Cornish business leaders (start-up businesses and female entrepreneurs) over a number of years to provide practical insights that are already helping businesses, and those who support them, develop.

Case Study page 85

£1,878,514 of ERDF matched by £826,815 of HEFCEaff employed

420 27

clients received Business Assists of 12 hours or more

Events were held with 28 international speakers and 27 Cornish Enterprise heroes

“For the team to have the opportunity to deliver support to business in a style that they defined was a huge privilege. We’d long held the view that learning between businesses was a powerful way to ensure that Cornwall built on its strengths. Injecting external expertise and providing expert research, allowed businesses to really drive forward on their own goals and broke the mould of traditional service delivery. Wrapping ERDF business support with ESF graduate development was the icing on the cake, and provided a seamless growth package.”

Mark Smith, Executive Director

Caption:

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Unlocking Potential helps people develop and business grow through employability, work experience and business support services.

Our sister fund: ESF ESF Convergence has been invested in jobs and skills, delivering for people and businesses across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and making a real impact – tackling both the current economic conditions and also building for the future.

Key partners in the delivery of ESF have been the three co-financing organisations – Department of Work and Pensions, Skills Funding Agency and National Offender Management Service, with a host of delivery organisations including our Further Education Colleges, the private sector and many voluntary and community sector organisations.

Uniquely in the country ESF Convergence has also been invested in Higher Education, including graduate placements and PhDs with business, through the Combined Universities in Cornwall partnership. ESF Convergence investment has had an immediate impact on the lives

of the individual participants - helping people help themselves into work and progress in work, with the economic independence that paid employment brings giving new opportunities for the individual and their families. And the longevity of the impact is also seen shaping new ways of working in the mainstream. Successful employment and skills practice developed and championed using ESF is visibly shaping the mainstream offer through investors such as Jobcentre Plus and the Big Lottery.

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“It’s brilliant news that we’ve won a RegioStars award for creating jobs for young people. We aim to create fantastic opportunities for our apprentices by giving them time, love, care and a platform to develop both their confidence and the professional skills they need to be successful in the workplace. Over 90% of the graduates from Fifteen Cornwall are in employment, and over 80% working in the restaurant industry.” Jamie Oliver

Fifteen Cornwall Apprenticeship Programme One of the beauties of European Cohesion Policy is that programme delivery means that investment in business and infrastructure (ERDF) and in people (ESF) occurs together.

The Fifteen Cornwall Apprenticeship Programme won a top award at the Europe wide RegioStars 2014, in the Inclusive growth: creating jobs for the young generation category.

Fifteen Cornwall, the first project anywhere with ESF investment to win a RegioStar, is a social enterprise which aims to inspire via food and offers a

chance for disadvantaged young people to transform their lives by becoming chefs. Run by the charity Cornwall Food Foundation, the restaurant – which uses celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s international brand - was originally set up using European Social and European Regional Development Fund (ESF and ERDF) investment. It continues to receive ESF Convergence for its Apprentice Programme which is also supported by mainstream funding from Jobcentre Plus and Skills Funding Agency and 100% of the restaurant’s profits.

Camborne, Pool & Redruth Wheal Harmony

A30 junction improvements

The CPR area was transformed during the economic journey of Convergence. ERDF took the time to consider investments which would work best for both community and businesses.

ERDF

TOTAL

ÂŁ61,135,107 ÂŁ127,204,832 71

Treleigh Ind. Estate

Welcome to the of regeneration‌ The Camborne, Pool and Redruth (CPR) area was transformed during the economic journey of Convergence. ERDF took the time to consider investments which would work best for the community and businesses in CPR due to it being one of the most deprived areas in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The area was hard hit by recession; on top of this the closure of former industries left acres of brownfield land right in the heart of two of the most populated urban areas in C&IoS. Within a few square miles regeneration has helped this former mining and industrial area transform into a community ready for business which showcases how ERDF can work for transformation.

Camborne, Pool & Redruth Tolvaddon Energy Park Construction of a new warehouse and offices helped Large Diameter Drilling (LDD) expand into a new headquarters for their worldwide operations.

Pool Innovation Centre The first of a trio of centres and one of the first projects to be completed in the CPR area

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Its rich history was allowed to continue with the creation of workspaces for creative companies with the latest connectivity and facilities in a semirural area

Workspace units for local construction company expansion and rental income from other mixed used units

Western Power Distribution The new office and warehouse space allowed WPD to stay in Cornwall and expand their workforce across the region, whilst the building redefined the approach road into CPR

Sustainable Transport

East Hill Junction King Edward Mine

Marlin House

Improvements to the road helped unlock the potential of the area without congestion

East West Link Road Provided a quick loop around CPR to allow traffic and business to move through the revitalised area

Electronic real time bus updates helped labour mobility in a socially deprived area

Joining the East Hill and East West Link road this improvement helped move the flow of traffic through the busy CPR area to avoid congestion

Redruth Gateway Investment into high quality workspace in CPR allowed businesses to move from PIC and other places to make the most of the latest facilities and connectivity

Demolition of 1950s buildings allowed this creative workspace to double in size to accommodate the growing creative industry in CPR

(Plots 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 & 8) – various workspace investments allowed the expansion of businesses into high quality mixed used workspace with great links to the A30 and the business community

Creation of a new business park specialising in green industry on land which was remediated through investment to clear it of former mining works and other contaminates

Wheal Harmony The Programme helped fund the unlocking of place for future business opportunities.

Contaminated land was remediated ready for construction

Redruth Brewery and Archive Krowji Workspace

Cornwall Business Park

Funding helped unlock other funding to transform the derelict site into Kresen Kernow (Cornish Archive Centre), shops, workspace, housing and community space

700,000

Visitors to Heartlands since 2012 Heartlands is the fruition of a community's ambition to see a former blight on the landscape changed forever to become an asset to the local community, and something for everyone for now and in the future to be proud of.

The Elms Refurbishment of the building led to community learning and links with ESF

Heartlands is a free to enter community regeneration project set upon the beautifully transformed site of the former derelict mining site Robinsons Shaft, Pool. The 19 acre site includes the World Heritage Site Gateways exhibitions, Robinsons Engine House, five beautiful Diaspora Gardens, water features, the unique Red River CafĂŠ, a small community of local businesses and one of the largest free adventure playgrounds in the South West.

ERDF investment helped to construct live and work space within the project to enable small businesses to grow on site.

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A30 junction improvements

Treleigh Ind. Estate

Notes 1 About the Programme. In 2006 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly (C&IoS) were lagging behind the rest of the UK economy hence the European allowance. Today we have many investments realised that perhaps wouldn’t have happened without European investment, but before Convergence started C&IoS had issues which have historically placed us behind other UK areas in terms of economic output. Our region suffered due to a lack of capital investment, coupled with a long history of poor industrial infrastructure made businesses struggle to trade effectively, especially with the lag in the travel time to major markets. These factors were also further hindered by the lack of skills opportunities in seasonal or low level employment together these problems accounted for the poor performance of the region.

Due to these factors C&IoS was awarded special status from Europe as the region qualified for a special package of investment to help improve our economic position and remain competitive in the future. This investment package was called Convergence.

The world economy was especially buoyant during that time and accordingly the Convergence Programme set out with high ambitions and targets to reflect our drive for transformation. However, a lot has changed in the world economy since then, when the worldwide recession hit, it had a huge impact on the UK economy – and its repercussions rippled into C&IoS.

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Despite these challenges, the European

Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Convergence Programme pressed on committed to establishing the momentum for transforming C&IoS into a high value added economy – where knowledge, environment and quality of life underpin sustainable economic growth.

To achieve this we have worked in partnership with both the public and private sectors to develop and deliver local investments to improve growth, productivity and prosperity within the region. Within 3287 days the achievements of the Programme are evident, and whilst some of the results and benefits won’t be fully realised until long after the Programme closes and the next Programme is up and running, this book takes you on a journey to discover how European investment helped change our region for the better.

2 Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly qualified for Convergence in 2005 because its economic performance between 2000 and 2002 had been below 75% of the European Union average. Convergence is the third significant European programme (following 1994-99 Southwest Objective 5b and 2000-06 Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Objective One Programmes) that the region has benefited from.

3 The investment in a brand new superfast network was just the beginning. The programme recognised that economic benefit will only be achieved through high levels of take up and the capability of the new technology being exploited to its full

potential.

Superfast Cornwall lead the way in many ‘add on’ programmes designed to realise the impact on the local economy and society: • Demand stimulation – The Superfast Cornwall marketing team have developed successful marketing campaigns to ensure take up of fibre broadband. Communications was across advertising, online and social media channels have achieved some of the highest take up in the UK. Effort was directed at the heart of the community and tailoring the approach according to each area.

• Digital inclusion – National Statistics show that about 15% of adults in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have never used the internet.

Superfast Cornwall has helped to address this very real issue of digital exclusion by providing free computer training to more than 2,500 computer novices in Cornwall. Working with BT’s Digital Inclusion programme, Get IT Together, and the UK charity Citizens Online and a network of volunteers, all attendees have learned practical skills and gained an understanding of the benefits the internet can bring to them.

• Research & Innovation – Superfast Cornwall Labs is a collaborative activity that investigated current thinking, research, technology developments and trends to push the boundaries of what is possible through superfast broadband and to bring value to the economy. Activities included collaborating with universities to undertake

research into e-health, sustainable digital neighbourhoods and outreach education.

Four PhDs were supported with local universities at Falmouth and Plymouth universities, 4G wireless, global technology scouting and proof of concept of 10Gbps XG-PON technology trials were undertaken.

In addition the evaluation programme has provided research which identifies the real impact of superfast broadband on the economy and social and environmental benefits.

• Environmental benefit – Access to superfast broadband has significant environmental benefits to Cornwall and Isles of Scilly making it easier to work from home, use video conferencing rather than travel to meetings and reducing the cost of travel.

It also helps reduce energy use. Cloud computing has become a reality for many businesses taking away the need for energyhungry servers and allowing VPN (Virtual Private Networks) to allow remote access.

• Skills programme – A vital key to unlocking the full potential of superfast broadband, the programme has engaged with local training organisations to ensure the businesses in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have access to the training provision they need.

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A selection of case studies

Natural Generation

MacMate

Natural Generation are a renewable energy company, based at Perranporth. The company installs and maintains wind turbines and solar panel developments, as well as other renewable energy projects.

MacMate was launched in June 2012 by MacAce, an established internet services company in Bodmin. It is an elegant collection of cloud services for Apple Mac, including web hosting, cloud disk storage, back up, iCal calendar sharing, email and galleries.

connected by Superfast Cornwall (page 17)

The business has undergone rapid growth since being set up eight years ago with just two people and rising from 5 to 25 full time employees in the past four years.

Natural Generation were one of the first to order superfast broadband as soon as it became available in Perranporth. Managing Director Ivor Thomson said: “We are an internet-hungry business. We maintain over a hundred wind turbines, both in Cornwall and as far afield as Scotland. All are connected to the internet and we can monitor their performance online. If one breaks down, we can see it on the large screen in our office or online and we can usually sort out the problem remotely. In other words, high speed internet is vital to our core business operations and superfast broadband has been tremendous for us.

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“We now rely on superfast speeds of 80Mbps from our two superfast broadband lines and this has made it easier for us to carry out desk

top surveys via Google Earth as well as run our telephone systems through VOiP (Voice over Internet Protocol.) We have international clients and frequently talk to our clients in Germany and Canada. Since having our superfast broadband connection, we can rely on excellent quality Skype, so we now routinely use videoconferencing in place of telephone calls.

“We have also moved to a cloud-based server. In the event of bad weather or a disaster such as fire or flood at the office, the business would not be at risk and could continue to operate as usual. It also means that it is easier to work from home or remotely whenever we please, just as effectively as we can from the office.”

“Although it is hard to quantify the exact contribution, there is no question that superfast broadband is making a huge impact on our business. By being able to do things remotely and in new and better ways, we are moving the business forward faster than would otherwise have been possible. Undoubtedly, this is leading to new job creation and will continue to do so over time.”

connected by Superfast Cornwall (page 17)

Following exhibiting at the world’s biggest Apple event, MacWorld Expo in San Francisco, MacMate has stormed ahead in the US marketplace and sales in the USA now account for 75% of total MacMate sales. CEO Gary Hall says: "We targeted the USA specifically as the Mac market is ten times larger there than in the UK. "MacMate has turned us from a niche UK-only ISP into an exporter of cloud-based services in only a few months. It’s a market that’s highly profitable and highly skilled and we are perfectly placed to exploit it. We offer something with our cloud services that customers could not get anywhere else – a human being on the end of the phone."

"As an Internet Service Provider, it has always been imperative that we have the highest possible internet speeds, so we had to supercharge our broadband connection before

the arrival of superfast broadband. We had a bonded solution (with three ADSL lines bonded together) which gave us speeds of around 30 Mbps download and 2 Mbps upload. Now we have fibre broadband, we enjoy speeds of 80 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload – and all for a quarter of the price!"

"The extra bandwidth also means that our Virtual Private Networks are far more stable" says Gary.

"We run a number of Virtual Private Networks for customers as well as within the business. Now we have superfast broadband, it is no problem to run multiple VPNs simultaneously – they all run perfectly.”

Gary says: "We are making more use of video conferencing and screen sharing, now that the increased bandwidth ensures a higher quality experience. We regularly use iChat to speak to colleagues and customers in the USA.” “In the last year, the business has grown from 4 staff to 12. We are recruiting additional staff now too. Superfast broadband has been a fantastic boost to our business and helped accelerate our rapid expansion."

Ambient pressure diving

AugustaWestland

For over 45 years Helston-based AP Diving has led the way in diving Innovating, designing and manufacturing diving equipment of the highest quality. The company has grown from a small family business to an internationally respected dive manufacturer with a global network of dive instructors, distributors and support centres.

AgustaWestland is a world leader in the manufacturing, training, and maintenance of helicopters. Owned by Finmeccanica, AgustaWestland approached NQY in 2009 looking for a new home for their Operational Flight Training Centre.

Support from Superfast Business Cornwall is enabling AP Diving to undertake a strategic change to grow the business. The centrepiece of the project is the implementation of a new Customer Relationship Management / Enterprise Resource Planning system that will revolutionise how the company manages its information.

The project has already enabled AP Diving to expand their team and to put in place a VoIP telephone system. The project will deliver growth in all areas and will allow AP Diving to expand its national and international client base.

enabled by Newquay Cornwall Airport Infrastructure (page 21)

AgustaWestland’s relocation took only 6 months from initial enquiry. Now the 402 hangar is home to the expanding presence of their Operational Flight Training Centre (OFTC). The OFTC delivers high-quality training for helicopter pilots, engineers and mission crews.

What the hangar incorporates: • A helicopter hangar • Briefing rooms and IT training rooms • Currently accommodates 40 high-skilled jobs (pilots, engineers and ground crew) including 13 aircrew instructors.

AgustaWestland has invested over £1 million in this initiative (including £300,000 of ERDF Convergence investment).

The AgustaWestland OFTC runs helicopter flight training programmes for up to 60 students per annum, covering specific helicopter skills such as search and rescue and policing.

AgustaWestland is an established provider of professional training services and solutions to a wide range of military, civil and industrial customers.

It is committed to developing and expanding its training portfolio to meet both the current and future needs of all of its customers.

On their opening day, Graham Cole, Managing Director, AgustaWestland said “We are already seeing strong interest from military and public service helicopter operators around the world for the operational flying training services this new facility can deliver. The AgustaWestland Operational Flying Training Centre, here at Newquay Cornwall Airport, is not only bringing new highly skilled jobs to Cornwall but it will also benefit local businesses and become known around the world as a centre of training excellence.”

The excellent training environment combined with the aviation services provided by Newquay Cornwall Airport are vital for AgustaWestland and, without the operational airfield, they would have to relocate elsewhere. The presence of AgustaWestland at the airport is likely to grow over time.

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guided by Superfast Business Cornwall (page 17)

Spiezia Organics

expanded by Cornwall Innovation (page 37)

Organic skincare company Spiezia Organics recorded a record increase in profits of £34,000 and created three new jobs just a year after moving to be based at a Cornwall Innovation Centre..

Spiezia, an established, highly successful Cornish company manufacturing 100 per cent organic skincare products, moved to the Health and Wellbeing Innovation Centre in Truro shortly after the facility opened in January 2013.

The three award-winning business acceleration centres are operated by Plymouth University, and offer growing businesses targeted support to help them expand quickly. This support enabled Spiezia Organics to enjoy enormous growth in its first year.

Amanda Barlow, managing director and owner of Spiezia Organics, said: “Moving to the Innovation centre has made an incredible difference to us and made the most amazing positive changes to how quickly we've been able to grow and expand.

“Profitability has increased enormously; we've had a £34,000 net profit increase in one year, which is a 100 per cent improvement on the previous year, and taken on four new members of staff with more being recruited all the time.”

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Spiezia Organics started 12 years ago and Amanda bought out the company in 2007 from its original founders. It sells more than

35 different skincare and body care products made using 100 per cent accredited organic ingredients, and tailored spa treatments using its products are offered at some of the UK's leading spas and beauty treatment facilities, including Browns of Mayfair.

“We've been able to improve productivity, expand sales and the team at HWIC has really supported us in very tangible ways to grow quickly,” Amanda added.

“The help we've had from the HWIC staff has been phenomenal frankly, giving us leads and helping us to link in with other businesses and supporting us to grow and expand the company. I can't believe the difference in just one year.”

The Health and Wellbeing Innovation Centre has 41 offices and a 20-desk Formation Zone for start-up companies, as well as manufacturing and laboratory space. Businesses based there are primarily working in the health and lifestyle markets, and often find opportunities to team up and work together.

A chance meeting in the centre’s kitchens recently led to Spiezia teaming up with a business which had recently moved in – Insite Digital. After chatting over coffee, the webbased company was recruited by Spiezia to build a new online shopping platform to help boost skincare sales.

The Grain Sign Company funded by BIG Investment (page 63)

With over 180 businesses supported and £3m of funding allocated, we revisit Peter Radcliffe of The Grain Sign Company to find out about the actual results of the BIG investment and how the funding plays a part in supporting his long-term growth plans.

What did the BIG Investment enable you to do and what jobs have you created to date?

We were successful in applying for 50% matchfunded grant towards the capital investment costs of a large bed world leading laser cutting machine that enabled us to run laser based projects through in high volume production runs. This in turn increased throughput and reduced production times. The large laser cutter also enabled us to handle much larger project volumes and introduce price breaks on larger quantities.

Since introducing the laser cutter in October 2013 we have added three new employees to The Grain and expect to take on a new general apprentice within the next few weeks.

Did the BIG investment help to improve your long-term competitiveness and growth plans?

What actual measurable impact did it make?

YES, we achieved a growth rate to year end 2013 of 50% against the previous year, we had forecast 25%. The new laser cutting machine has been a significant driver for the growth achieved. We are competitive within our market sector and at the moment have a full order book for the next 3 months. Future growth will continue to be driven by streamlining our production methods and introducing improved production systems to ensure faster project turnarounds.

We are currently experiencing a 25-30% growth rate in our turnover to date in 2014 and we are confident of maintaining these rates in 2015 and beyond.

Seasalt

Suresense

funded by GBI (page 59)

Seasalt is a fashion brand based in Falmouth, Cornwall. The company has its roots in Penzance, and originally started when the Chadwick family walked into an Army and Navy store in Adelaide Street on a wet August day, looking for waterproof jackets. They bought the waterproof jackets, and in addition, the shop. The business sold useful and practical clothing to the farmers, fishermen and artists of the area.

Those early days shaped the look of their brand and Seasalt continue to have strong links to Cornwall’s maritime and creative heritage.

Their inspiration is reflected in everything they do – the collections, their catalogues, website, branding and their marketing.

Seasalt sell to around 300 stockists and are stocked in most John Lewis branches across the UK.

funded by SWMAS (page 62)

At the time of applying for ERDF investment, Seasalt saw an opportunity to grow its wholesale sales channel thanks to a shift in its competitors’ activity. When it was awarded, Seasalt’s turnover was £5.4m and the brand had ambitions to grow its turnover to £15m within 5 years. The grant enabled the business to take steps to create 23 new jobs as well as to relocate to larger business premises and to develop the company’s systems to improve efficiency and management information.

“The ERDF grant was awarded to us at a time where we saw a clear opportunity for growth but lacked the bridging capital needed to back our vision,” says Leigh Chadwick, Joint Managing Director. “By maintaining a clear focus on strategic essentials and promoting the culture and heritage of the area we live in, we feel that we can have a very positive effect on our local community - great for us and great for Cornwall.”

Suresense was launched in March 2012, and over the last two years we have advanced our solutions into three robust and innovative technologies which have already had international interest and success.

Because of the SWMAS grant that we have received, we have been able to fund product design, marketing and IP expertise that we may not have been able to do, or at least not in the timeframe we have. As a ‘start-up’ business Martyn saw our structured approach to growing our products and business generally and has really helped develop our thinking and methods.

Working with SWMAS has also been fantastic in helping us engage with other local manufacturers and we derive a lot of value in collaborating with the Cornwall Manufacturers Group that was introduced to us by Martyn.

From the partner marketing materials we have developed, we have been successful in striking a partnership with a number of new partners, one of which is the global electronics giant Hitachi and they are now in partnership with us to provide a bespoke product called ‘ProHestar’ to the energy saving market based on our technology.

This is a phenomenal endorsement of our technology and British manufacturing, and something we are very proud of here at Suresense. I think it’s important to note that in addition to our innovative smart product portfolio, our growth has been driven by our decision to partner with distributors, resellers and agents rather than direct sell to market ourselves. This is a far more scalable approach to developing our footprint globally.

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They repeatedly appear in the Top 100 companies in Cornwall and Devon and have approximately 300 members of staff which is a mix of ‘homegrown talent’ and those with industry skills and experience from across the UK.

All Energy 2013-14

Naturally Learning

All-Energy is the UK’s largest event devoted to all forms of clean and renewable energy.

Invest in Cornwall helped a number of Cornish companies have a presence at the event giving them access to an annual average of 8,000 industry representatives from over 50 countries.

Naturally Learning, a small group of nurseries in Cornwall applied to SWIG Finance for a loan under the Convergence European Development Fund in order to support the refurbishment of their Poltair nursery.

assisted by Invest In Cornwall (page 61)

In 2013 Invest in Cornwall led on the design and coordination of a large stand at the exhibition.

Under the branding of the South West Marine Energy Park, seven Cornish companies joined forces with businesses from the wider South West to promote the region as a key location for Marine Renewable Energy. Cornish attendees were: Wave Hub, Fab Test, Armada Hydraulics, Mojo Maritime, KML, Fugro Seacore, University of Exeter (Falmouth Campus).

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Invest in Cornwall also organised a headlining seminar which took place on the first day of All-Energy. The topic was: ‘Meeting the Marine Energy Challenge – How Supply Chain Innovation is Enabling Early Array Deployment’. Invest in Cornwall engaged with the Cornish supply chain to find people able to speak authoritatively on the topic. The seminar was extremely well

attended by some 65 industry professionals.

The audience included device developers, university and research staff and other industry representatives. Feedback from the seminar was excellent and the event helped to raise Cornwall’s profile by focussing on our region’s expertise and the strength of our supply chain.

Stand attendees were very impressed with the quality of contacts they made and some large contracts were secured. One Cornish company generated over £500k worth of leads.

In 2014 Invest in Cornwall again orchestrated Cornwall’s presence at All-Energy. Designed and coordinated by Invest in Cornwall, The South West Marine Energy Park stand was an opportunity for Cornish companies, and those from the wider South West, to demonstrate the incredible array of testing facilities, expert advice and support developers can access in the region. Cornish participants were: KML, Mojo Martime, Armada Hydraulics, Wave Hub and Fab Test.

funded by SWIG Finance Finance (page 66)

Founded by Judith Chapman and Mandy Richardson, Naturally Learning started initially as a training company, delivering high quality training to Early Years Practitioners. Opening its first nursery in 2012, Naturally Learning now consists of three nurseries across Cornwall which practice a child led philosophy in natural, stimulating environments allowing the children to choose, learn, develop and thrive.

Judith and Mandy sought a loan to invest in the refurbishment of their Poltair nursery which would allow the increase in numbers from 40 to 64 children. Declined finance from the bank for the project, Naturally Learning applied to SWIG Finance for a Convergence European Regional Development Fund loan via the Small Loans for Business scheme and were

successful in receiving £50K. The investment has already resulted in four new full times posts, contributing back into the economy.

Business Director Judith Chapman said: “The funding from the Convergence European Regional Development Fund which we accessed through SWIG Finance was invaluable to us and without it we wouldn’t have been able to complete our building work.

“It enabled us to finance the project after the bank had refused to and as a result many young children in our care are benefitting.”

Newquay Forest School

White Gold

Jonathan Burfoot approached Outset Cornwall in late 2013 with an idea for creating Newquay Forest School, a supportive learning environment for children and young people, a place to help them overcome learning barriers and develop their confidence and social skills.

White Gold Cornwall CIC (WGC) was formed in April 2011 due to Government cut-backs which enforced the closure of White Gold Project which supported prolific young offenders.

With the support of senior members within the county, WGC established an office base at Cornwall Neigbourhoods for Change and with a positive commitment from team members, management and a newly formed Advisory Board, WGC offered support for vulnerable, at risk, young people aged 10-19 years across the county. The significant change for the service to sustain itself meant the referral agencies would have to pay for the service to support client-base, Social Care and Education being the main agencies.

“We are all born with unique gifts and talents, I wanted to create somewhere that helps children discover what they are good at, somewhere they can feel good about themselves; while simultaneously providing valuable support for parents, teachers or anyone that works with young people,” says Jonathan.

Through Outset’s Introduction to Enterprise sessions, Jonathan was able to examine his concept from various angles, develop practical plans for implementing his idea, with consideration given to market readiness, finance and marketing. The Outset team worked closely with Jonathan to help him to define his strategy and develop a clear business plan both through the workshop series as well as one-on-one mentoring.

Newquay Forest School is registered as a social enterprise and overseen by an unincorporated group of members, drawn from the local community and all passionate about supporting youth.

Jonathan claims, “If there is one thing I’ve learned from the Outset it’s to pick your team well and surround yourself with people who encourage you”.

With the school growing in popularity, Jonathan and his team, including his wife Anna, now plan to launch similar projects in other locations across Cornwall and hopefully expand their reach nationally, through a subscription scheme and resource pack for schools and other youth organisations.

supported by Social Enterprise Focus (page 68)

WGC has always worked in partnership with other agencies, but on this occasion, whilst developing the business plan and potential opportunities, it was apparent the organisation would need additional support. Fortunately, Social Enterprise Focus (SEF) was offering to support organisations such as WGC and we took full advantage of this offer. Key aspects to the development of WGC was to procure more work across the county with different contractual organisations. In addition, WGC supported a

full business review to ensure we were fit for purpose. As a result of the SEF support, WGC was in a much better position to provide an extended service to people aged 7-24 years, that need the most support which, therefore, benefits our county.

WGC recognises to sustain the organisation we need to diversify and also maintain our professional interest in our funding and, as a result, we have been able to contribute to the Safer, Stronger Consortium which hopes to provide Probation service due to their cutbacks. WGC has had significant support from Devon and Cornwall Police which has resulted in an information exchange protocol which is believed to be nationally exceptional. It is hoped this protocol will also support Safer, Stronger Consortium and other potential future developments.

WGC has instigated a pilot scheme, Trust 360, which offers support to offenders who are being released from Camborne Police custody. WGC has just secured a contract with Job Centre Plus and Learning Partnership 180 and it is anticipated there are other opportunities that will be coming on-stream very soon.

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supported by Outset (page 67)

Frugi

coached by Oxford Innovation (page 60)

Innovative developments were a feature of the programme including the development of Director Peer Groups, where like-minded individuals shared best practice and collaborative learning; the Greenhouse, a community of high growth start-ups and Agile Innovation, a unique methodology that accelerated product development, ensuring that resource investment was maximised to deliver cost effective, accelerated impact.

Businesses and individuals on a personal level recognised and appreciated the practical experience of the Oxford Innovation coaching team, benefitting hugely from their knowledge and first-hand involvement of running a business through both the highs and the lows.

The results spoke for themselves showing outstanding value for money ratios and widespread peer group recommendation for the work of the programme. A significant number of jobs were created or safeguarded by businesses in the region participating in this highly effective and successful programme.

Frugi

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In delivering the Coaching for High Growth programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

Seatricity

assisted by Wave Hub (page 47)

Oxford Innovation’s team of specialist coaches have worked with a diverse range of businesses from entrepreneurial start-ups to established firms looking to take the next step on their growth journey.

Wave Hub’s first customer is Seatricity, a UK-based wave energy developer that intends to deploy up to 60 devices at Wave Hub, generating enough electricity to power around 10,000 homes.

As no two businesses are the same, Oxford Innovation matches each client with the coach and programmes best suited to deliver sustainable results.

The company has developed a patented wave energy device called Oceanus 2. This involves an aluminium float on the surface of the sea that is tethered to blocks on the seabed. As the float travels up and down with the waves it operates a pump to pressurise sea water. This in turn drives a hydroelectric turbine, which produces electricity.

One of the established businesses to receive coaching and bespoke support in managing the complexities of rapid growth was Frugi, the designer and manufacturer of organic clothing for children and mothers. In addition to their regular dedicated coaching, company founder Lucy Jewson and her team joined Oxford Innovation’s Stepping Up programme, which places a particular emphasis on businesses experiencing exponential growth.

“Since our launch in 2004 we’ve experienced annual growth of almost 40 percent,” said Lucy.

“The Coaching for High Growth and Stepping Up programmes have been an invaluable source of support for our business as rapid growth requires very careful planning and management.”

Seatricity’s first Oceanus 2 device was made by ship repair company A&P Falmouth on the south coast of Cornwall and has undergone tests at Wave Hub. The company said it was delighted with some “highly encouraging” early data from the performance of Oceanus 2 in only moderate waves.

Peter Mitchell, Managing Director of Seatricity, said: “The technology is scalable so once we complete our testing at Wave Hub we hope to move quickly to a full array.

“The final array of up to 60 devices will generate 10MW of electricity - enough to power 10,000 homes – and would be one of the largest wave farms in the world. This, plus the export potential, will also hopefully be good for the Cornish economy in which we hope to play a full part now that we have moved our HQ to Cornwall.”

Wave Hub’s other customers include Finnish multi-national utilities company Fortum, which has a stake in Finnish wave energy developer Wello Oy. Wello’s Penguin device is based on a floating vessel that captures the kinetic energy of the waves and converts it into electrical power with a generator.

Another customer is Australia-based Carnegie Wave Power which is planning to deploy its CETO 6 device at Wave Hub. This involves fully submerged buoys that move with the motion of the passing waves to pressurise fluid which is then used to drive hydro turbines and generators to produce electricity.

Developing digital gaming at Falmouth University (page 41)

Based at Falmouth University, the Alacrity Falmouth programme is designed to catalyse the growth of a major digital games industry within Cornwall.

The innovative programme places talented graduates in teams that incubate into incorporated, investible companies with national and global reach.

Over the course of a year, students work full-time hours on real briefs set by high profile industry partners. On completion of the programme, graduates achieve a Masters degree in Business Entrepreneurship and are ready to incorporate as a company.

The first cohort of 20 began their studies in May 2014, working with partners including Sony Computer Entertainment, Centroid Motion Capture, the BBC and Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station. The programme attracted widespread interest from regional, national and specialist news outlets, culminating in a series of student blog entries featured in the gaming title Develop.

Dr Maria Stukoff, Head of Academic Development at Sony Computer Entertainment comments: “The UK games industry is renowned for its highly skilled workforce, and Alacrity Falmouth is central to incubating the next wave of talented game creators to drive our industry forward.�

Alacrity is based at Falmouth University’s Academy for Innovation & Research. Harnessing a reflective learning programme, it helps the teams to overcome the humps that many businesses experience at the beginning of their life, priming them for success.

B Skincare

supported by Export Cornwall (page 65)

Headed by Chris Pearce and Sonya Gibbs, B Skincare is a Cornwall based family business of ten years, hand-producing natural, high quality, affordable skincare products. As a growing business, B Skincare has received support from the Export Cornwall service and UK Trade & Investment to expand into Europe and beyond via an enhanced e-commerce platform.

B Skincare has been receiving help from UK Trade & Investment International Trade Adviser, Neil Roach, and support from Export Cornwall over the last 12 months and has already seen a huge impact on business growth. Through the service, B Skincare has been able to secure funding that has taken the business from a kitchen-table enterprise to full business operations from its own dedicated workshop facilities and offices just outside Bodmin.

has expanded to seven people, enabling the company to operate on a larger scale, fulfilling bigger orders more quickly and scaling up to meet the demand of their expanding UK and international customer base. The company has also been able to purchase more equipment to enable them to upscale their production line, while still staying true to their ethos of handmade, natural, quality products.

B Skincare is now fully equipped to fulfil demand from overseas with ease. The company is expanding its horizons and is now taking orders from across mainland Europe, Ireland and the USA thanks to its new website and online order taking system.

The new facilities have transformed the way B Skincare is able to do business. The team

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Alacrity

Mobile tech collaboration

developed by European Centre for Environment and Human Health (page 38)

A revolutionary research initiative in Cornwall is using mobile technology to transform the treatment of a rare and poorly understood condition.

Bringing together the region’s leading academic and digital experts, the project is shedding light on how the symptoms of Ménière’s Disease can be mitigated and managed.

Ménière’s is an inner ear condition that profoundly affects the hearing and balance of around 160,000 people in the UK, yet there are large gaps in our understanding of how the disease is triggered and develops – and how it impacts patients' lives.

In a bid to transform how we treat this chronic illness, the University of Exeter Medical School has partnered with Cornish digital company, Buzz Interactive, to develop a mobile application that can record symptoms on a daily basis.

The team are creating a database of information on the disease to help in their analysis and are feeding results straight back to sufferers – empowering them to manage their own symptoms more effectively.

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Cornwall boasts a burgeoning and innovative digital

technology sector and working closely with the region’s private sector on co-created projects is changing the landscape of scientific research. Dr Jessica Tyrrell has led the Ménière’s study and believes its collaborative design has been essential to its success: “Working with Buzz Interactive has meant that our application hasn’t just been beneficial to researchers, but has also become a really useful tool for patients.

It gives them unique feedback on how their condition is changing and has allowed us to recruit and retain large numbers of participants. Without Buzz’s insight, that’s something that almost certainly wouldn’t have featured.”

Linking the mobile app with weather information from the UK Met Office, the research is also hoping to uncover associations between Ménière’s and meteorological conditions, a move that could see the tool used to send out early warning messages to people.

The collaboration has proved pivotal for Buzz Interactive, giving them invaluable experience in eHealth and spring-boarding their expansion into the

health and wellbeing sector. Lindsey Axten, Director at Buzz, said: “As a result of our work with the University of Exeter, Buzz is now well positioned to make a move into the eHealth sector. Our success with the Ménière’s application has highlighted how technology can improve patient health and wellbeing, and we’re really proud to be playing an integral role in this kind of collaborative research.”

Buttermilk Confectionery

Energising business growth

Buttermilk Confections is one of the oldest businesses that GetSet For Growth has worked with, celebrating their 50th Anniversary in 2014.

Source Energy, a multiple award-winning renewable energy company based in Grampound Road, is expanding rapidly thanks to a clear national growth strategy that Unlocking Potential helped turn into a reality.

Buttermilk Confections produce high quality Cornish fudge using high-end ingredients and traditional copper pans to create a distinctive, authentic and delicious taste. With their range of Cornish confections already proving popular in the seasonal and tourism markets, in 2010 David and Tracy McDonnell-Goad took on the business from David’s parents. David and Tracy had growth ambitions to move their business forward and wanted GetSet’s help to plan for the realisation of these ambitions.

Tracy explains, “It was great working with the team at GetSet as they are an energetic team brimming with new ideas and have a great breadth of experience between them” Buttermilk worked with GetSet’s Marketing and Sales Specialist team to exploring at a marketing approach for new products. Looking firstly at the viability of a multiple brand approach, Buttermilk settled on moving one solid brand name forward and worked alongside GetSet to establish what were the right products for the national market.

Karen Hoyle, GetSet Advisor gives an overview of her work with Buttermilk Confections, “It was a pleasure working with Buttermilk Confections, with every meeting they made progress. GetSet helped provide focus and ensure that the main objectives were always kept in mind, whilst looking at de-risking the piloting of products, developing clear packaging options and a pricing strategy in line with competition. We were delighted to award Buttermilk Confections our Marketing Growth Award this year as they have truly embraced and invested in growing their brand” Buttermilk Confections now intend to pilot their newly developed product range in an artisan coffee chain, to gather feedback and finesse the range before launching to a wider audience. They have ambitious turnover growth targets for the future and will also be opening a new factory in Bodmin during 2015.

unlocking potential.

After impressive regional success, Managing Director Ben Hodges has focused on business growth. The business, which specialises in ground and air-source heat pump technology has experienced impressive regional success.

Now Managing Director Ben Hodges is focusing on business growth, namely taking Source Energy’s successful business model to new markets around the UK with support from Fast Forward Groups. ‘We are at a key point, moving from a regional to a national business. As a modern company, we wanted to find and attract new customers and business opportunities’.

Ben spent three days with other business leaders who shared his aim of developing a robust online strategy for growth. Guided by a number of industry specialists, the group specifically focused on digital media strategy, leaving with the tools they needed to instigate change.

‘The group gave us a clear and effective strategy which we have been able to execute with the support of Unlocking Potential.’

Source Energy had previously worked with Unlocking Potential on a variety of businessrelated challenges that helped both Ben and his management team focus on taking the business forward and maximising opportunities. Ben found that the time he took out of the business with other leaders during the Fast Forward Group helped clarified his thinking.

‘It’s easy to get caught in a bubble, especially at the top. It can be a lonely role as you don’t get much feedback from the people around you.

Having independent, fresh eyes looking at what you’re doing or trying to do helps to refine your ideas’.

With growth in mind Ben added ‘working with the Fast Forward Group has meant were able to generate some key new ideas which we are implementing as part of our national growth strategy’. So it’s all eyes to a bright future for Source Energy.

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GetSet For Growth

Beneficiaries and partners The ERDF Convergence Programme wouldn’t have been possible without our beneficiaries and partners: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

A&P ltd Acorn Developments Ltd Apple Aviation Ltd Arts Lottery Balanus Assets Ltd BBCB Ltd Bromleighs Ltd Brownfield Investments Ltd BT Group PLC Building Research Establishment (BRE) Ltd Calidus Engineering Ltd Carleys Ltd Chenoweth Business Park Ltd Clear Flow Ltd Clickety Books Ltd Coastal Marine Ltd Cornish Crabbers LLP Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust Cornwall College Cornwall College Skills Funding Agency Cornwall Council Cornwall Development Company (CDC) Cornwall Neighbourhood For Change Cornwall School for Social Entrepreneurs Cornwall Sustainable Building Trust Council of the Isles of Scilly CUC

• Dartmouth Wave Energy Limited and Ecotricity Group Limited • DB Gilbert • DECC • Dental School Capital Funds • Department for Transport • DP Engineering Ltd • Duchy of Cornwall • Engineered Arts Ltd • Environment Agency • European Springs and Pressings Ltd • Exeter University • Falmouth Harbour Commissioners • Falmouth University • Fortdown Developments Ltd • Goonvean Ltd • Green EFW Investments Ltd • Hallenbeagle Estates Ltd • HCA • Headcast Ltd • HEFCE • Hendra TC & CP Ltd • HG Sites Ltd • Higher Education Funding Council for England • Historic Building Preservation Trust • Homes and Community Agency

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Hydramaster Ltd Income from Businesses supported Indian Developments Ltd Insider Knowledge Ltd Jarrang Ltd KEO Energyshare Ltd Kernow Coatings Ltd Krowji Ltd Learning Skills Council Mark Product Ltd Marlin Properties Ltd Metalcraft Cornwall Ltd Mi-Generation Consultancy Ltd Mojo Marine Ltd My First Day Ltd National Growth Point Nature Paint Ltd Network Rail NHS Dental School Capital Funds Pall Manufacturing UK Ltd Pendennis Shipyard (Holdings)Ltd Peninsula College of Medicine & Dentistry Plymouth University Polymermedics Ltd Practical Developments Ltd Priority Sites Ltd R M Developments

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Real Ideas Organisation Robotmother Ltd Rustlers Yacht Ltd Sea Change International Seasalt Ltd Serco Regional Services Ltd South Kerrier Alliance Community Interest Company Spiral Construction Ltd St Agnes Island Hall & Reading Room St Austell Print Co Ltd Strategic Health Authority SWRDA Single Pot SWRDA Single Programme Teagle Machinery Ltd Thorne Developments Ltd Truro and Penwith College UKTI University College Falmouth University of Exeter Walker Threemilestone Ltd Watergate Bay Hotel Watson Marlow Ltd Wheal Harmony Ltd Woodskou Ltd WPD Property Investments Ltd

Find out more... www.erdfconvergence.org.uk Photography used with kind permission from: Simon Burt Stewart Girvan Kirsten Prisk Paddy Bradley Collection Steven Haywood Mark Yeoman Toby Weller Jones Millbank Dronescope Light Colour Sound Alex Walker Cartel Photos Mike Searle Sanna Fisher-Payne Matt Jessop Artur Tixiliski Natalie Legg

While every effort has been made to ensure that information is correct at the time of going to print, ERDF Convergence cannot be held responsible for the outcome of any action or decision based on the information contained within this publication. The publishers or authors do not give any warranty for the completeness or accuracy of this publication’s content, explanation or opinion. No part of this publication and may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without prior consent of the Publisher. Š ERDF Convergence 2015. All rights reserved.

Published March 2015

Cornwall Council Economic Development and Culture Economy, Enterprise and Environment Directorate Cornwall Council 4th Floor, West Wing New County Hall Truro TR1 3AY

www.erdfconvergence.org.uk