In summary
What a soggy start to 2025! If the worst happened and the water came in, then do remember FSB insurance are there to help. We also have lots of brighter things to look forward to including the Festival of Tech, where you can learn about digital innovation, Expo West where you can actually taste what’s on offer and there’s news of how our friends at the Business Regulatory Service can ease you through all those regulatory hoops.
Featured news and events
Why not look afresh at our helpful FSB website?
You probably know that Cornwall has a rich history of innovation and is steeped in mining heritage that is still a prominent part of the landscape today. What you may not know, is that Cornwall also has one of the fastest-growing tech clusters in the UK. Cornwall is as innovative as it’s always been, but the innovations today look a little different. Cornwall is home to some cutting-edge technology companies, writing and designing software products that serve global clients, manufacturing goods that ship worldwide, and harnessing natural energy that’s healthy for the planet. The individuals who work in these industries are experts in software development, user-centred design, robotics, artificial intelligence, lean manufacturing, product design, data analytics, cyber security, project management, problem-solving and more. Cornwall’s Festival of Tech will celebrate all things tech, digital and software in Cornwall to connect people both inside and outside of the industry to inspire, teach, share, learn and collaborate for the good of everyone that lives and works here. Find out more here. So why not take the time to have a look at the website and then make sure you bookmark it to return on a regular basis as we constantly update it with the latest news and advice to help you and your business.
South West Women in Business Virtual Networking
Taking place at 10.30am on 22 February, this regular monthly networking event is open to all.
These female-focused events are a great option for those new to networking and looking for a friendly place to start, but also great for those with more networking experience who would like to grow their contacts within a community of inspiring women in business!
In other news
Come and see us at Expowest
Would you like to do better business in 2025? Are you looking for new products and new suppliers? Let Expowest Cornwall help you get ready for the seasons to come! The Expowest Cornwall trade show takes place on Tuesday 4th & Wednesday 5th March at The Royal Cornwall Events Centre, Wadebridge. Thousands attend the show each year to meet a wide variety of hospitality and catering suppliers. They come to sample the latest products and ideas for their businesses, and to help maximise their returns for the coming season. More importantly – they come to buy! Why not join them and take the opportunity to sample, test, taste, compare and contrast offerings. You can’t do that online can you? If you’d like to get a flavour of who’s going to be there, the exhibitor list is live, and growing all the time. The team at FSB Cornwall will also be on hand at the event, so do come to our stand for a chat, some useful insights, top tips and a goodie bag! To join us at the show, please register for your free trade entry badge now, and we look forward to seeing you in March.
Complying with Regulations Made Easy
The Business Regulatory Support (BRS) service team has many years of experience supporting businesses in Cornwall with regulatory matters. They offer businesses a single point of contact where you can speak with a friendly adviser making it quicker and easier for you to access their help. They have a range of business support packages to help you run a successful and compliant business. These cover many areas of regulatory compliance such as
- food safety
- health and safety
- licensing
- trading standards
- planning and building control
- fire safety and;
- environmental health
So whether you are starting up or are an existing business of any size, BRS in Cornwall can help you to cut through the red tape. The service aims to:
- help you get compliance right first time, saving you time and money
- help you to understand and apply the relevant legislation
- understand the issues, challenges and opportunities of trading in Cornwall
- help you to grow and compete
- offer a single point of contact
- have proven and up to date regulatory expertise
- offer a free signposting service and free regulatory needs assessment
- offer chargeable ‘support and advice’ packages. This is on a cost only basis (they do not make a profit from the service)
We think they do a great job in supporting small businesses but don’t just take our word for it. We have some testimonials from other businesses that have worked with them too. https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/business-trading-and-licences/business-regulatory-support/testimonials/
Still in the news
WorkWell Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
WorkWell Cornwall and Isles of Scilly is one of 15 pilots across the UK. Running initially until end of March 2025 the service pilot will also inform the wider work and health strategy and resultant investment and commissioning beyond then. WorkWell is an early intervention and support service offering participants an expert assessment of their health-related barriers to work along with a tailored plan to address these and will serve as a pathway to other local services to help people get the support they need. WorkWell can also provide advice and support to employers where appropriate; triage, signposting and referrals to clinical and non-clinical support including wider community provision, for example, financial advice.
Individuals can be referred to WorkWell through their employer, local services within their area, Jobcentre Plus and primary care network neighbourhood teams such as GPs, social prescribing workers, health and wellbeing workers, and themselves through self-referral. To be eligible for WorkWell people must be aged over 16; with the right to work in the UK; a CIOS address for either their home, their GP, or their local job centre; and a health-related barrier* to work which means that they are either:
- In-work, and either off sick or struggling in the workplace due to a health condition; or
- Recently out-of-work and requiring health related support to move into sustainable employment.
*A ‘health related barrier’ includes anyone with a health condition or disability, including mental health conditions.
Referrals can be made via email, telephone (8am-8pm) 01872 266383 or web form link.
Does your project qualify for a share of £47.3 million?
In light of the announcement from UK Government on the extension of the Shared Prosperity Fund for an additional year and allocation of £47.3 million for Cornwall and Isles of Scilly for 2025/26, the Good Growth Programme is inviting businesses from a number of targeted sectors to apply for investment support.
Projects are encouraged to come forward that can enable distinctive and core sectors to grow, seize new opportunities, contribute to net zero, and increase high-quality, well-paid jobs.
The distinctive sectors being targeted for investment are:
- Critical Minerals: Harnessing sustainable extraction and processing in Cornwall.
- Renewable Energy: Innovations in floating offshore wind (FLOW), deep geothermal, and biomethane capture.
- Data, Space and Aerospace: Exploiting physical, digital, and intellectual assets to address local and global challenges.
- Marine: Including emerging FLOW opportunities and decarbonising shipping and associated activity.
Projects that improve job quality, earnings, and business performance in core sectors such as Visitor Economy, Agrifood, and Creative industries (with a strong emphasis on digital & tech) will also be considered.
- Minimum grant award: £200,000
- Application deadline: 5pm on 27 January 2025
- Project delivery timeframe: April 2025 – March 2026
More news and activity near you
Get in touch
Your FSB Development Manager for Devon is Ann Vandermeulen. If you'd like more information about the topics above, or if you have news about this area that you'd like to share, please get in touch.
- email us: [email protected]
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