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WHERE TO NEXT? WESTERN MORNING NEWS Thursday, October 22, 2020 Annual Business Guide 2020 3 Welcome from Bill Martin, Marketplace Publisher, Reach PLC ’s unique opportunity

£1 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2020 TrusTed news since 1860 £1 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2020 TrusTed news since 1860 CORNWALL £1 MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020 TrusTed news since 1860 CORNWALL £1 MONDAY, JULY 13, 2020 TrusTed news since 1860 DEVON

> The Goonhilly Earth Station in Cornwall will get > A pledge by Prime minister funding for a space institute Boris Johnson to invest in and manufacturing facility offshore wind farms has been bid To Pull uP a chair for welcomed by those behind ambitious plans for a floating turbine array in the Celtic Sea help flybe a £500 currys The PerfecT view As tens of millions workers of pounds are pumped winpc world voucher pAGE 15 into West building projects dEtAils & tokEn – pAGE 7 – from space engineering and mining to leisure centres and Bids in for cultural venues – it seems that finally... new school Time to deliver for in Cornwall wo separate bids have been submitted to the Gov- Ternment to open a new secondary school in Cornwall. Things are revealed last year that it was looking for a site for a new secondary school which See Pages 6-7 Great South West would be in the Perranporth area to ease pressure on places in and . Now it has been revealed that Greg Martin two bids have been lodged with the Government to open a free looking up school. one is for Perranzabuloe Academy and the other is for Per- ranporth Secondary School.

MARTIN FREEMAN Hall for Cornwall, Science » Full report: Page 3 [email protected] Park, skill centres and schemes to make social housing “greener”. INETEEN “shovel ready” pro- Karl Tucker, of the Heart of the jects in the South West are South West Local Enterprise Partner- Farmers in It’s time for the Ngetting almost £50 million ship, said: “This economic stimulus Turbo boost for Region calls for PM’s backing from the Government to get started will help our plans to restart, revital- and help the region’s economy re- ise and grow our economy.” plea on red cover from the pandemic shock. The cash injection earned cross- hE Great South West today is- ChARLOtte tuRNeR A space institute and factory at party support, although sued a united call for Prime [email protected] diesel duty Goonhilly Earth Station on the Liz- MP Luke Pollard said the South West TMinister Boris Johnson to back ard in Cornwall is among the needed more for a “fair share”. the region and help deliver unprece- and we urge the Government to take schemes supported by the Getting dented economic growth. up our challenge as part of its Level- ArmerS have urged the dawn Praises Building Fund. Others include the » Full report: Pages 4-5 SW wind energy Leaders of the Great South West ling-Up agenda and invest in our Treasury not to cut the low- Government to partnership – which unifies the region. Fer rate of fuel duty for red counties of Cornwall, Devon, Somer- “We’ve got a very strong partner- diesel in this week’s Budget. ’miraculous’ pledge by the prime Minis- WiLLiAm teLfORd in the sea, we will build windmills deployed at scale. This November set and – urged the Govern- ship of LEPs, local authorities, uni- Chancellor rishi Sunak is ter to build more wind farms [email protected] that float on the sea – enough to will see the formal submission of a wesTcounTry ment to make up for years of under versities, colleges and business. reported to be considering the wesT hosPiTal A could provide a huge eco- deliver 1gW of energy by 2030, 15 Cornwall-led £30 million-plus fund- investment in the region in this We’ve been asked by Government to move, which would raise £2.4 bil- nomic and environmental boost to farms in the Celtic Sea could support times as much as the rest of the ing bid for government investment week’s Budget. Mr Johnson pledged be ambitious, and we are. Our aim is lion for the Government, as well page 8 the South West, business leaders say. 3,200 jobs in the South West and world put together.” to accelerate the creation of a float- farming news, to back the region in a meeting with to be the first carbon-zero region in as help to achieve Britain’s goal of Boris Johnson wants the UK to and £682 million of spend in The energy pledge is being seen as ing offshore wind industry in the a Great South West delegation before the country, and be a net exporter of net-zero carbon emissions by generate enough electricity from off- the local supply chain by 2030, pow- a huge boost to floating offshore region as part of a £64 million pro- views and Christmas. energy, whilst building on our other 2050. Currently, an 11p per litre recognise region shore wind farms to power every ering hundreds of thousands of wind ambitions in Cornwall and the ject. And today Steve hindley, Chair of key sector strengths in the blue and duty is levied on red diesel, a low- home in the UK within a decade. homes. South West, which have been led by The South West Floating Offshore picTures the Great South West said: “Our green economy.” tax fuel widely used to operate According to a report commis- In his speech to the Conservative the lep for the past two years. Wind Accelerator project is being led common voice is increasingly being registered off-road vehicles and sioned by the Cornwall and Isles of party annual conference, which was Apart from , the Celtic by Wave Hub, the Cornwall Council- starts on heard in the halls of Westminster; » Full report: Pages 4-5 agricultural machinery. KEITH ROSSITER Scilly local enterprise partnership held online, Mr Johnson pledged: Sea is the only other part of the UK page 19 [email protected] MPs call on PM to grant recognition to the Great South West (lep), 1gW of floating offshore wind “We will not only build fixed arrays where floating wind turbines can be » Turn to Page 5 » Full report: Page 7

HE government is being urged supported by the three local enter- and that once again, the South West to move swiftly to recognise prise partnerships, all local authori- is being short-changed,” he said. Tthe four counties of the far ties and all MPs in the region. “We are writing to draw to your South West as a region in their own His letter to the Prime Minister, personal attention to the strength of Red Ruby Devon - The Supreme Native Breed Beef - REAL Red Ruby right. copied to the Chancellor, the Com- feeling across the region about this GET THE BEST OF THE WESTERN MORNING Veteran Devon MP Sir Gary Street- munities Secretary and the Chief matter, and to urge government to er has written to the Prime Minister, Leaders of the Back the Great Whip, asks for recognition of the release the full potential of the Great Sedgemoor Auction Centre, J24 M5, Show 10:30, Sale 12:00 with the backing of MPs from across South West campaign, which has Great South West region now and South West and the many benefits to laTesT TwisTs NEWS delivered straight to your inbox every day. Catalogue: Auctioneers 01278 410250 Cornwall and the , been spearheaded by the Western not after the White Paper on devolu- our constituents by granting recog- DCBS 01404 47863 www.redrubydevon.co.uk Devon, and Dorset. Morning News, met the Prime Min- tion has run its course. Sir Gary said nition immediately – even if this has when Tying Society Autumn Show & Sale His letter is prompted by the news ister in Downing Street in November that could result in a delay of up to to be fine-tuned once the White that the Government intends to last year and made the case for 18 months. Paper and subsequent legislation The knoT Sign up to receive our exclusive newsletter www.devonlive.com/western-morning-news Thursday 15th October, Registered Bulls, females and steers delay any decision until after the regional recognition for the four “There is a strong feeling in our has taken place.” The Red Ruby Devon - part of farming’s future forthcoming White Paper on counties. region that other regional groupings page 18 Devolution. Sir Gary said the campaign was have been recognised and supported » Full report: Page 5

£1 FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020 TrusTed news since 1860 DEVON £1 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 TrusTed news since 1860 CORNWALL £1 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2020 TrusTed news since 1860 CORNWALL £1 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2020 TrusTed news since 1860 DEVON fishermen sing wiTh The warning help naTure find covid fishermAn’s over farm – choose Boris backs siLver Lining friends Trade deals local food Full rEpOrt: pAGES 16-17 pAGE 7 FARMING STARTS ON pAGE 21 MARIO du pREEz: pAGE 16 the West in Julie Taylor Farming fights back ‘Train for a yard deal jOEl cOOpEr [email protected] aRmeRS, food producers, land- athwENNa irONs focus on, and give people the confidence owners and communities are be- [email protected] that positive change can happen.” RIME Minister Boris Johnson gave a fing called upon to help shape a Sue Pritchard, chief executive of the trade in the shot in the arm to Westcountry ship comprehensive rural action plan for the project, the events will explore topics Food, Farming and Countryside Com- pbuilding yesterday on a visit to North South West. such as climate change, investing in mission, also commented: “The South Devon. a week-long series of webinars host- natural capital and creating shorter, West peninsula has so many opportuni- On the day the mothballed Appledore ed by the Rural Business School (RBS) regional supply chains. ties to develop a truly vibrant, fair and yard signed a £7m deal with a new owner, Mr will virtually bring together a cross-sec- Robin Jackson, director of the Rural sustainable food and farming system. Johnson said the facility had a “massive his- tion of farming and country stakehold- Business School, said: “Food and farm- Bringing together this stellar selection of tory” and a “great future”. ers to build a consensus on the direc- ing are core to our region’s economy and experts will really help shape the conver- The PM, who also urged holidaymakers to tion of future travel for the region’s if we get it right, there will be economic, sations we need to have.” keep coming to Devon and Cornwall agricultural industry. environmental and social benefits. We post-Covid through the autumn and winter, said a » full report: Page 6 West ready to welcome Backed by the agri-Tech Cornwall need to look at what we can and should stream of contracts for Appledore would drive jobs and growth in Devon. And in a swipe at the BBC, the PM attacked any plans to drop the sing- ing of Rule Britannia at the Proms. world’ – PM back summer tourists » Full report: page 5

oris Johnson met stu- ANITA MERRITT issue an apology after giving dents at a Westcountry [email protected] incorrect advice on lockdown A LAST-MINUTE lifeline for the tour- KEITH ROSSITER BCollege yesterday – and rules in the North East, adding ism and hospitality industry will save [email protected] delivered a speech calling for an time skills guarantee” would to fears the rules are too compli- hundreds of thousands of jobs across end to the “bogus distinction” allow people to retrain with the cated. the Westcountry, tourism bosses said The relaxation is likely to be too lit- between a university degree and cost picked up by the taxpayer. He initially suggested the rule yesterday. tle, too late, to help every business. training in practical skills. “The British economy is in the of six did not apply in outdoor A widespread easing of Covid-19 The Theatre Royal in Plymouth said The Prime Minister (right) process of huge and rapid settings, later tweeting: “Apolo- restrictions from July 4 means hotels, yesterday that it was being forced to joined bricklaying and carpen- change, driven by the internet gies, i misspoke today. in the restaurants, campsites, pubs, cine- cut about 100 staff after the govern- try students at Exeter College to and the possibilities of remote North East, new rules mean you mas and hairdressers can reopen – ment announced that theatres and unveil a package of measures communication,” Mr Johnson cannot meet people from differ- providing they are “Covid-secure”. concert halls can open but cannot designed to make it easier for said. ent households in social settings Two households will be allowed to stage live performances. Nightclubs, young people to learn a trade. “But as old types of employ- indoors, including in pubs, res- meet indoors and stay overnight, indoor gyms and beauty salons also He said the coronavirus crisis ment fall away, new opportuni- taurants and your home. and weddings will once again be remain locked down. had speeded up changes in the ties are opening up with dizzy- “You should also avoid social- allowed – but only with groups of 30 economy and that huge num- ing speed – vast new sectors in ising with other households people. » Full report: Pages 4-5 bers of people would need to which this country already leads outside.” move jobs as a result. or can lead the world.” Under the plan, the new “life- But Mr Johnson was forced to » Full report: Pages 4 & 10 Ben Birchall Domestic and Commercial Exeter 01392 252262 | Launceston 01566 776886 | 01579 345543 | 01409 253275 www.staydryroofingcornwall.co.uk 20% discount • Leaks • Re-roofs *(77+(%(672)7+(:(67(510251,1* GET THE BEST OF THE WESTERN MORNING • Flat roof replacement (Felt, GRp Fibreglass, Rubber) Special Offer with this advert • Ridge an hip tile replacement • Gutters, Fascia, Soffits 1(:6GHOLYHUHGVWUDLJKWWR\RXULQER[HYHU\GD\ NEWS delivered straight to your inbox every day. For a 5* professional job and prompt service Call now for a free quotation 6LJQXSWRUHFHLYHRXUH[FOXVLYHQHZVOHWWHUZZZFRUQZDOOOLYHFRPZHVWHUQPRUQLQJQHZV Sign up to receive our exclusive newsletter www.devonlive.com/western-morning-news Tel: 01209 217705 • Mob: 07983 742000 • Email: [email protected] Selling Farms, Land & Smallholdings across the

t was only 16 months ago, but it and more than 100,000 people are year ago, the led a dele- feels like we were in a different The times may have changed but using Instagram to access our con- gation of South West businesses to Iworld. The last time business tent. All of these audiences are grow- Downing Street, and secured the men and women from all over Dev- together SW businesses will triumph ing. They are engaged, vocal, often backing of Prime Minister Johnson. on, Cornwall and Somerset gathered critical, but have given new rele- Progress since then has, frankly, to mark the launch of the Western over adversity, says Bill Martin vance and new life to regional jour- been slow but that led all South West Morning News’s Annual Business nalism. Circulation of our print titles, MPs to sign a letter to the PM in the Guide was in July 2019. Yes, Boris hosting a virtual gathering to discuss ing News and Francis Clark in this which collapsed in the first few days summer, urging him to recognise the Johnson was Prime Minister but that key learnings from this year’s guide year’s Annual Business Guide. This of lockdown, has come back strongly Great South West as an economic day at Exeter racecourse seems like a analysis as well as the region’s chal- gives the region’s publication signifi- and is now showing more stability region in its own right – like the lifetime away. Over the past 15 years, lenge in fighting back and re-emerg- cant national profile. than we have seen for some years. Northern Powerhouse and the Mid- the Annual Business Guide has be- ing from the chaos and confusion of The Western Morning News has a Increasingly our titles are working lands Engine. Despite the challenges come one of the bellwethers of the corona. Look out for those details. new editor – Philip Bowern has across all platforms on campaigns of the pandemic, the region remains region’s economic performance, and This year’s ABG gives us a taste of become just the 14th editor of the that stand alongside business and uniquely positioned to respond to the July launch date a significant the challenge ahead, as well as use- newspaper in its 160-year history. champion the aspirations of the the Government’s levelling up agen- date in the region’s business calen- ful insight into some of the resilience I have moved into a new role, that region. We led the call for tourists to da and play a key role in Covid-19 dar. The annual list of the region’s businesses in the region are show- of Marketplace Publisher for the #comebacklater at the start of lock- resurgence and the intention to Top 150 businesses is always much ing. To stay in the game, all of us are whole of Reach’s South division, down, and for the region to #Wel- ‘build back greener.’ anticipated – which was a principal having to adapt. The Western Morn- which includes our daily titles in comeback our visitors as soon as this All the indications in this guide are reason for us being determined to ing News, and its parent company Devon and Cornwall, as well as Bris- was possible. Thousands of busi- that the region’s businesses are will- publish this year’s list whatever coro- Reach PLC, have been in no way tol, Somerset and Gloucester, the nesses signed up to our #therewithy- ing to tackle the challenges head on navirus has thrown at us. This year’s exempt. The summer saw Reach South East and Cambridge. Our digi- ou campaign during the toughest with innovation and flexibility. I list is, as always, based on publicly embark upon a significant transfor- tal operation in the South West is months, and hundreds of thousands hope you enjoy reading it. available accounts, so the effects of mation plan that resulted in nearly now run by Audience and Content of people signed up to our Thanks A I look forward to seeing many of the Covid-19 pandemic remain to be 500 people leaving the business and director Jacqui Merrington. That Million campaign which saluted the you at our virtual event on Novem- seen, but we, and our headline part- a number of new business streams operation has become quite some- heroes in our NHS. Our Live sites in ber 4, and in the meantime would ners Francis Clark, were united in and verticals established within our thing. Our six Live websites now Devon, Cornwall and Plymouth this like to thank all of our partners who our belief that we should continue nationwide media operation. The command more than 70 million page year signed up to the Western Morn- have worked so hard to ensure the with this unique publication part- transformation has seen more views each month, generated by ing News’s ‘Back The Great South publication of the Annual Business nership. There will be no physical resource focused on our business 250,000 loyal users. They have more West’ campaign, which is now in its Guide 2020 goes ahead. launch event this year, but on the platform Business Live, which has than 1 million Facebook followers, in fifth year and still supported by our Particular thanks to Francis Clark, morning on November 4 we will be agreed to partner the Western Morn- excess of 400,000 Twitter followers co-founders, Pennon. Less than a and the team at Business Live. #1 auditors to top 150 businesses 4 Annual Business Guide 2020 Thursday, October 22, 2020 WESTERN MORNING NEWS PKF Francis Clark

>>St Ives is quiet as the government warns against people travelling to Cornwall during pandemic restrictions Greg Martin Many changes are here to stay

T’S often said that businesses steps to mitigate the impact of prospect of a no-deal . When loathe uncertainty, and in that re- Covid-19. you consider that the end of the tran- Ispect 2020 will be remembered In a time of so much uncertainty, Topping the list of concerns for sition period is fast approaching, this as an annus horribilis. those polled was the prospect of a goes to show what an extraordinary The challenges for those running the need for businesses to be second wave of Covid-19 or a local year it has been. businesses during the Covid-19 pan- lockdown. Now the dreaded second Amid all this uncertainty, activity demic are unlike anything in living alert and proactive is greater wave seems to be coming to pass, levels in the South West deals market memory. It is rare that all areas of a businesses will be watching anxious- have broadly reflected the decline business are under such pressure of than ever, writes Andrew Killick, ly to see if the measures to contain it seen across the UK. Experian Market constant change at once for so long, IQ’s M&A Review for Q2 2020 report- needing significant senior leader- partner and head of corporate Rather than waiting ed only 83 completed deals in the ship input. All business functions South West, a decline of 44% on the have been under strain, including IT, finance at PKF Francis Clark for the storm to blow prior year. By far the largest of these marketing, HR and finance, as well over, business leaders was ’s £4.2bn sale of as operational delivery teams. One of thanks in large part to the various Rather than hunkering down and Viridor, its waste management sub- the biggest problems is not knowing government support schemes. To waiting for the storm to blow over, are taking action sidiary, to a US private equity firm. when the crisis will end and we can date we have not seen a significant business leaders are taking decisive At PKF Francis Clark, we were move into the recovery phase. increase in business failures or huge action. Encouragingly, we found 75% Andrew Killick pleased to be ranked as the South For some sectors, particularly numbers of redundancies, but per- planning to review their strategy in West’s most active financial adviser tourism and hospitality, their ability haps the worst is yet to come. response to the pandemic – some- are tightened further during the in the first half of 2020, having to trade has been switched off or What’s clear is that many of the thing we are helping clients to do autumn and winter, and if so what advised on deals in a wide range of restricted at short notice. Retail and changes wrought by the pandemic through our Covid Business Review impact this will have on them. sectors, including energy, manufac- other services have also been severe- are here to stay. We recently con- process. The next most frequently cited turing, retail and IT. Our corporate ly impacted by reduced footfall in ducted a South West Business Resil- While 25% expected to make risks keeping business leaders awake finance team is seeing a growing town and city centres. ience Survey, which found only 14% redundancies, an impressive 48% of were customers going out of busi- appetite for transactions, particular- Despite the massive economic of respondents expected to return to respondents plan to launch new ness and weak consumer demand – ly as those quality businesses that shock of Covid-19, the South West business as usual. A third expect to products or services, showing that both linked to the economic impact are well-placed to capitalise on the business community appears to emerge from Covid-19 with a differ- South West businesses are seeking of Covid-19. ‘new normal’ look to press ahead have held up relatively well so far, ent business model. out opportunities, as well as taking Only in fourth place came the with their growth plans. Big enough to depend on WESTERN MORNING NEWS Thursday, October 22, 2020 Annual Business Guide 2020 5 Pennon Group plc Dawn of a new era for Pennon A new chief executive, a £20 million windfall for customers, the £4.2billion sale of Viridor, and, of course, the coronavirus crisis – it’s been some year for the Westcountry’s biggest business, writes William Telford outh West Water (SWW) may have taken a £10million hit Sduring the Covid-19 lockdown, particularly as some business de- mand drained away, but the compa- ny was expecting this and parent firm Pennon Group Plc promises it is on track to deliver “resilient” finan- cial results in 2021. The utilities giant sits at number one in the Western Morning News/ PKF Francis Clark list of the South West’s 150 largest companies, with a >>Mayflower Treatment pre-Covid turnover of £1.39billion Works, Plymouth, is operated and 4,853 employees. by South West Water Most of them continued working throughout the March 23-imposed lockdown and the firm has no plans to abandon offices, even though lion into the pension scheme.” had been keen to support staff dur- probably about 15% lower. In April some staff are working from home. Environmental improvements are ing the worst months of the pan- and May some customers in the lei- And it is looking beyond the cur- also high on the to-do list. SWW has demic contagion. sure industry were not operating. rent crisis, with big plans to invest, in a new Mayflower treatment plant in “I want to give a massive thank But demand is coming back.” new technology and environmental Roborough, Plymouth, which super- you to all our team that kept us oper- And the share offer to customers is improvements, and in its workforce, sedes the Crownhill operation, and ating since March,” she said. “They now under way, with Ms Davy and by using some of the proceeds of the firm is investing new technology, did a fantastic job. More than 95% of explaining: “We are not issuing new its Viridor sale to pay down debt and some now already in operation at the our operations have been continu- shares, we will buy them on the mar- bolster its pension scheme. new works. ing. Certain aspects we stopped ket. I’m really excited about it.” And then there is the £20million But there is always more to do, doing, meter reading for example. And that could spell a new era for handout to customers, a bonus from such as reducing leakage by 15% and “But during the hot dry spell the the company. Pennon already has the Exeter-headquartered firm’s work to get services “up to standard” team were keeping up with market about 20,000 shareholders, funds over-performance on its 2015-2020 in the Isles of Scilly. demand, and with people coming and investors, and now wants any of business plan, which customers can Ms Davy stressed the importance into the region. its one million customers to join choose to take as shares in the com- of the environmental goal and said: “I have been out and about meet- their ranks. pany or a £20 bill reduction. “We need to protect and enhance it. ing the teams and seeing the work “If we get more than 20,000 it dou- That is part of a scheme called We have more to do. We have great they have done,” she added. “We bles our register,” Ms Davy said. WaterShare+, a feature of SWW’s >>Susan Davy, the newly have been supporting people to “Customers would be more connect- 2020-2025 New Deal business plan, appointed CEO of Pennon Group We are looking for make sure they are safe and have ed with us. And, alongside the share and to be overseen by Lib-Dem peer taken measures to achieve that. scheme, we will have quarterly Lord Taylor. five-year plan and hinted at the pos- growth opportunities “The majority of staff in the fields meetings where the public can ask Other highlights of the New Deal sibility of acquiring more compa- in the UK water teams, labs and on the operational questions of the management team.” include lower bills, additional sup- nies, after the successful lassoing of side, came into work, but office staff She added: “We have been accru- port for those most in need, and Bournemouth Water in 2015. sector were working at home.” ing a pot of £20million and talked to more than £1billion of extra spend- “We are looking for growth oppor- However, the number returning to customers about how they wanted to ing to improve services, including tunities in the UK water sector,” she Susan Davy offices has been “ramping up” and receive that. Some said a rebate, but the biggest environmental improve- said. But when pressed on whether Ms Davy said: “The people want to a number of customers said they ment programme for 15 years. that did, indeed, mean more acquisi- stats around bathing water, but in come back. But we are mindful. We would quite like the offer of shares in So, a lot for new chief executive tions, she would only say: “We are some other areas, like pollution per- have 40% to 45% of staff in our offic- the company. So we looked at that a Susan Davy to get her teeth into. She going to do what’s in the best inter- formance, it needs to be better, and es because we are doing social dis- bit more and 77% of customers we took over at Pennon in the autumn, ests of shareholders in terms of we will be spending to make invest- tancing. Some of our call centre staff asked who said they would like the replacing Chris Loughlin, who being efficient with the proceeds ments.” have been working from home.” option of shares, did not have any stepped down after a four-year ten- from Viridor.” Pennon is also planning to In September Pennon’s trading shares already. ure. But Ms Davy is not new to the The sale of the recycling and waste become involved in the Govern- statement showed coronavirus had “A lot of customers did not know company, she has been with the disposal arm in July 2020, to invest- ment’s Kickstarter Scheme to help taken a large gulp, £10million worth, how to go about it, so we thought company for 13 years and stepped ment firm Planets UK Bidco, brought young people find employment. from demand during the lockdown we’d put in place this scheme to up from being chief finance officer. in £4.2billion and Pennon has a plan “We are looking at 50 placements,” months. allow customers to have share own- She is also not the only new face at for the cash, including shrinking its Ms Davy said. “We are hoping to This was mainly due to reduced ership and make it as easy as possi- the top. Gill Rider, a former head of £900million debt pile. support people back into work demand from businesses, and Ms ble for them to take up that option.” the civil service capability group in “We will be using the cash to make through that scheme. As a responsi- Davy said: “We have seen slightly And the offer could be repeated the Cabinet Office, also took over as sure we have an efficient balance ble employer in the South West we more demand from households with with Ms Davy saying: “For the next chair from Sir John Parker, who sheet,” Ms Davy said. “We will pay want to make sure we can do that.” people being at home, but from the five years we will run the scheme departed after five years. down £900million of our debt. We And responsibility to the work- business side there was about 15% again, it will be a continuing scheme, Ms Davy said she is looking for- have paid off about £580million so force is vital for SWW and Pennon, downturn in volumes and demand. when we do well we will add to the ward to getting stuck into the new far. And we will be putting £36mil- and Ms Davy stressed how the firm That has come back a bit now but is pot going forward.” Small enough to care 6 Annual Business Guide 2020 Thursday, October 22, 2020 WESTERN MORNING NEWS Devon

>>A man passing a sign advertising the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme Dominic Lipinski Devon’s recovery is now gathering momentum

ike the rest of the country, The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has inevitably Devon’s hopes of a sustained Lrecovery are being hindered by left the economic landscape of Devon looking rising Covid-19 numbers, the threat of further lockdowns and subse- vastly different to that of 12 months ago, quent ongoing economic uncertain- ty. writes Howard Lloyd Coronavirus has already account- ed for well-known shops, restaurants and cafes, not to mention sounding the death-knell for Exeter-based air- scheme – and leave the UK economy impacted by the Covid-19 crisis and line Flybe – which was the largest still 9.2% smaller than before the benefiting from the opportunities regional carrier in the UK at the time pandemic hit. around home working, digital litera- of its demise. Figures suggest a mixed picture for cy, local purchasing and care Tourism – a mainstay for both the economy in Devon. The county’s demand that the crisis has created. Devon and the South West as a economy has contracted by 8% in An urgent £6 million economic whole – has taken a pummelling due terms of productivity, while unem- recovery programme for Devon is to travel restrictions, including the ployment has now gone above the also being discussed by county vital summer period. 6% mark – well above the national councillors to try and stabilise the and individuals. Together, we can lating new business start-ups and In total, 92% of businesses in the average of 4.1%. county economically over what grasp opportunities to build back also supporting individuals with tourism and hospitality sector were There has also been a rise in the Prime Minister Boris Johnson has better, to build a more resilient, redeployment and employment sup- affected by the crisis. universal claimant rate of nearly 5% said will be a ‘bumpy’ period until inclusive and sustainable economy.” port. All the while, the continued threat between March and August. Christmas. Mr Gilbert said the exact measures A small and medium business of a no-deal Brexit continues to lurk That makes for some glum read- It would provide help and support would depend on how the pandemic support package has also been in the background. ing. in four key areas – small and medi- developed, but would include sup- drawn up to help owners adapt their Nationally, a recovery of sorts is However, the recovery in Devon is um enterprises, employment and porting businesses to become more business models, with a particular well underway. Fresh Government gathering momentum. skills, the green recovery and the resilient and improve their digital focus on rural and micros businesses figures showed growth of 2.1% across Digital, health and care, social hardest hit towns and communities. skills, targeting key sectors such as and key sectors such as tourism, the UK. economy and clean growth sectors Devon’s cabinet member for econ- tourism, retail and health and care, retail and heath and care. However, those numbers were are among the sectors that are omy and skills, councillor Rufus Gil- helping hospitality businesses to A ‘Made in Devon’ scheme has below those forecast – especially as already showing signs of healthy bert, said: “This financial investment improve the skills of their workforce, been put forward to push the quality they include the boost given to the recovery and new growth following will support the economic recovery supporting farmers to diversify, of Devon produce, while a dedicated economy by the Eat Out to Help Out the downturn, having been less of our hardest hit places, enterprises improving skills and training, stimu- programme of support to farmers to Your ambition becomes our ambition WESTERN MORNING NEWS Thursday, October 22, 2020 Annual Business Guide 2020 7 Devon

>>A row of empty deck chairs beside a Devon beach savoilic

Now is the time to stop, pause and review your business

• Understand how your market is changing • Be agile in responding to the challenges ahead • Capitalise on emerging opportunities

>>Coronavirus sounded With a Covid Business Review, we’ll support the death-knell for you to make sure your business is fit for the future. Exeter-based airline Flybe Phil Dye help diversify their businesses is also The reality is that Devon is more Tourism – a in the works. susceptible to the impact of corona- Team Devon, a public and private virus than many other counties. A mainstay for both sector partnership drawing in exper- national report assessed Devon as Devon and the South tise from business, education, skills the fourth most vulnerable county in and public sector organisations, England. Every district, except Exe- West as a whole – shared have also pledged to rebuild the ter, was more vulnerable than the has taken a ambition county’s economy to be stronger, England average. more inclusive and sustainable. This means that the county does pummelling due to The programmes and projects list- face a rocky road as it looks to recov- ed in its prospectus have the poten- er from a pandemic that has had travel restrictions, tial to create 30,000 new jobs, 80,000 unimaginable consequences when it including the vital new training places and secure first appeared on UK shores less than investment of £550 million, generat- a year ago. summer period. In ing £2.8 billion of additional eco- However, Devon’s geographical total, 92% of nomic output. setting, versatility and economic These are encouraging steps, but prosperity in pre-Covid times – com- businesses in the with the recovery in the county bined with targeted local and nation- tourism and pkf-francisclark.co.uk/ expected to be slow until at least al government measures – all sug- covid-business-review 2023, they will by no means provide gest that the county can emerge hospitality sector a silver bullet to the ongoing chal- stronger once coronavirus is behind lenges Devon faces. us. were affected 8 Annual Business Guide 2020 Thursday, October 22, 2020 WESTERN MORNING NEWS Exeter

>>Artist’s impression of the proposed rebuilding of The Royal Clarence Hotel On track to become a net zero carbon city There can be no doubt that nothing has ever quite affected businesses in such a devastating way than the coronavirus pandemic, but Exeter intends to lead the way by continuing to be ambitious in its recovery plans and future offerings, writes Anita Merritt

xeter is firmly pressing our city responded to the crisis, and ahead with becoming a Net how we continue to respond, with eZero Carbon city by 2030, residents, communities, businesses along with the opening of a new and organisations all coming togeth- state-of-the-art leisure complex and er to support each other during the new Exeter Bus Station next year. most difficult times. Exeter City Council Leader Phil “Like many people, and many housing supply and a carbon neutral 90% and reducing the bills for house- couldn’t be more pleased. It is Bialyk said: “A lot has happened businesses, the council has been hit city. Put simply, we want to be at the holds. We are bringing forward 500 increasingly recognised that leisure since I contributed to the Western hard by the impact of Covid-19 and forefront of the UK’s recovery from council houses in the coming years will play a big part in increasing the Morning News Annual Business have had to make tough choices in the crisis. all built to that standard. sustainability of city centres, and Guide last year. order to balance the books, both in “For a long time, Exeter has long “We will be at the forefront of ret- Exeter is at the forefront of this. It will “Since then we have declared a the current financial year and in the been a city where businesses and key rofitting existing properties across be a catalyst for further redevelop- Climate Emergency in Exeter and set years ahead. organisations work closely together. the city to be highly energy efficient ment of the wider bus station site, as the ambitious target of creating a Net “In these difficult times, the easy This partnership approach has never and low carbon, great reducing fuel we bring forward our plans for City Zero Carbon city by 2030. This will thing to do would be to scale back been more important than it is now. bills and bringing clean growth to Point, a mixed use development shape everything we do going for- our ambitions for our city, but I will The collaborative approach we have Exeter, with good skilled jobs and including housing, retail and office ward. not let that happen. taken with our partners on the Place new apprenticeships in the technol- space. “We have, of course, also experi- “Exeter was thriving before the cri- Board is key to recovery. ogy of the future. “So there’s lots to look forward to, enced the coronavirus crisis. This is sis and I am determined that the “But we don’t simply want to “Our major investment in the city despite the uncertain times we find still very much an ongoing situation success we have all enjoyed over return to where we were; we plan to centre could not have come at a bet- ourselves in. Exeter continues to be with cases rising again across the recent years will continue. facilitate a sustainable recovery, one ter time. The success the city has an excellent and sought-after loca- country, and the virus continues to “As we continue our recovery from which helps to deliver a carbon neu- enjoyed over recent years has tion for businesses, with a first class have an impact on all of our lives in a lockdown it is crucial that we pio- tral future. We have a lot of plans. allowed us to fund a new state-of- city centre with a leading retail sec- way that would have been almost neer transformational programmes The buildings that we are creating the-art leisure complex and a new tor and thriving independent stores. impossible to imagine a year ago. to address active lifestyles, clean here in Exeter are to Passivhaus Exeter Bus Station in the city centre. “We continue to receive enquiries “I am extremely proud of the way growth, active travel, innovation, standards, reducing carbon by up to Both will open next year and I from top national operators who An integral part of your team WESTERN MORNING NEWS Thursday, October 22, 2020 Annual Business Guide 2020 9 Exeter

>>The city is pressing ahead with plans for a new state-of-the-art leisure complex and bus station

The easy thing would ient economy, a thriving tech sector, “In terms of the coronavirus pan- “Many businesses embraced “The redevelopment of the former is leading the way in sustainability demic, Exeter’s business community online trading for the first time, and House of Fraser and the confirmed be to scale back our and offers a work/life balance that has been fast to adapt. The strength they also started to reach out via purchase of the site of the Royal ambitions, but I can’t be beaten. of the city is evident as we see excit- social media, growing their online Clarence Hotel are huge successes “We are extremely proud of the ing new projects pushing forward audience. What was also noticeable for the city centre for 2020. New won’t let that happen independent business sector in Exe- including the much-anticipated bus was the community. People, busi- small businesses have been opening Phil Bialyk ter, the entrepreneurial spirit that station redevelopment. nesses, charities were wanting to during the pandemic, such as Soap- can be found across all sectors and “Exeter is not simply weathering work together to keep the morale up daze and How on Earth Deli, and the adaptability of all business that the pandemic but is actively contrib- and to get through things together. there are a few new ones coming to want to come to Exeter. Our city is ensures our strong regional econo- uting to the fight against it with the “Partnerships around the city were the Guildhall too. This supports the where businesses want to be. It is a my. Exeter is one of the top three UK recent news that the city’s Nightin- reconnected via online meetings, fact that Exeter City Centre is strong great place for business and we will cities for relocation as many people gale Hospital is being used to carry with recovery groups lead by the city and vibrant and worth investing in. be working hard in collaboration re-evaluate their living space post- out a vital Covid-19 vaccine study.” council forming and other groups “The footfall and car parking fig- with our partners to ensure that it Covid. We expect to see a large Reflecting over how businesses such as Exeter Chamber of Com- ures were hugely hit this year, but stays that way.” amount of growth throughout the have coped during the pandemic merce, Exeter City Futures, Exeter they have slowly recovered and are The same optimism is echoed by city over the coming months and Emily Gibbon, interim Exeter BID Homeless Partnership and our- now at 80% of the 2019 figures. Peo- Laura McFayden, Exeter Chamber years. The city also has a vibrant and manager said: “What came out of the selves, In Exeter, reaching out to sup- ple are coming to the city to enjoy its board director and employment and supportive eco-system of businesses first stages of the Covid Crisis stage port. With many of us working from offerings, be it culture, retail, leisure, HR partner, Stephens Scown. She that have proven themselves able to was the passion and determination home – this will undoubtedly con- for work or exercise. This is very pos- said: “Exeter has an incredibly resil- weather any storm. that small business owners have. tinue, but will be a positive thing. itive.” Dedicated to helping you succeed 10 Annual Business Guide 2020 Thursday, October 22, 2020 WESTERN MORNING NEWS

>>The new Epic centre in is an £8m high tech business centre at the hub of a bid to develop the ‘Silicon Riviera’ TDA Regeneration will help to boost the local economy The demolition of ’s massive Palace Hotel is symbolic of all that’s happening in Torbay in 2020 - it’s been a sad and savage year for many, but as the once-grand building has slowly been demolished, a luxury modern hotel is set to rise from the rubble, writes Colleen Smith

OVID-19 has slowed down the and lead Torbay out of the doldrums The purchase of Fleet Walk’s 32 pace of development but the of the early Noughties. shops and the multi-storey car park Ctide is about to turn in the Bay Meanwhile it’s out with the old are part of the council’s plans to with the long-awaited opening of the and in with the new at a string of regenerate Torbay’s ailing town cen- £35m Torwood Street development hotels which have been flattened to tres and help boost the local econo- within the next few weeks. make way for £150m-worth of hyper my. The finishing touches are now modern hotels by the Singapore- Steve Darling, leader of Torbay being added to the Hampton by Hil- based Fragrance Group. Council, said: “The purchase of Fleet ton 130-bed hotel. The site which has The developers have now demol- Walk Shopping Centre gives the Business Park has 40 units – 27 offic- resilience of fishing communities. been an eyesore since a fire in the ished the Palace Hotel plot at Babba- council an opportunity to regenerate es and 13 labs alongside other sup- “Much of the production of cuttle- 1970s will also include new offices combe, the prime seafront Corbyn and improve a major part of Torquay port facilities. fish, scallops, crabs and prime flat- and food and drink units on the Head Hotel spot in Torquay and the town centre. Nearby a £10m factory is being fish species sole and plaice is export- street level opposite Park Lane night- twin Park Hotel and Lighthouse “We are delighted that our deci- built at Paignton’s new Claylands ed to the Continent and further club, near the clock tower on the locations on Esplanade Road, over- sion to create the Economic Growth Business Park. The new facility will afield. harbour. The building will be fronted looking Paignton Green. Fund programme is having such provide 6,000m² of employment “Exports of crabs to China were by an exotic and emblematic five The Palace is expected to be com- immediate impact. space, and will be home to multina- halted in the early New Year as the metre tall Riviera palm tree growing pleted by 2023, Park Hotel in August “This purchase is not about mak- tional manufacturing company Cast- coronavirus caused widespread trav- through the front entrance canopy 2021, the Lighthouse in September ing money, it’s about regeneration ing Support Systems (CSS) Group el and business restrictions. on Torwood Street. 2021 and Corbyn Head will take and improving the economy.” which has been busy during the “As hotels and restaurants closed The double-headed Torbay Palm between 18-22 months to build The council also helped in the Covid-19 crisis, manufacturing prod- has already been bought and is ready when it gets started. In total, the four £1.3 million revamp of Harbour ucts for the pharmaceutical industry. is alive, to be planted as workmen finish con- ultra-modern hotels will provide Lights restaurant by Brew- Fishing structing the circular planter. The more than 600 rooms. ery. Torbay Council owns the Paign- Brixham tops the charts as Eng- kicking and preparing tree will grow from street level out- In another boost for Torbay a ton harbour site, which connects land’s most valuable fishing port, to thrive. I for one side the glass lobby, then up through string of local hotels have been voted Paignton beach and the harbourside. with a staggering £36 million worth a hole cut in the concrete canopy among the world’s best tourist The local authority invested £600,000 of fish landed in the last year and am very excited and it will be backlit by a two storey accommodation – with The 25 voted in the restoration of the listed build- plans for expansion are being laid for Jim Portus high LED window. the top B&B in the world for the sec- ing. next year. The development by the THAT ond year running and the Ascot Silicon Riviera Figures published in September by group – led by Peter Tisdale and Ray House is the UK’s best small hotel – The new Epic centre at Paignton – the Marine Management Organisa- their doors, so the flow of seafood to Kelvin, boss of fashion giants Ted many others are in the top 25 Tri- an £8m high tech business centre – tion showed the port was the our valued customers slowed to a Baker – includes a £9m commercial pAdvisor Travellers’ Choice 2020 and the nearby South Devon College nation’s number one in 2019. trickle.” loan from Torbay Council. awards. Hi-Tech & Digital building are the Jim Portus, the Brixham-based He also welcomed the govern- The council has invested heavily in Torbay Council is doing its all to hub of a bid to develop the ‘Silicon chief executive of the South Western ment’s Covid-19 support package the harbourside end of town – also protect the town centre, despite the Riviera’. Fish Producer Organisation, says the Fisheries Response Fund which purchasing Debenhams next door loss of major high street names The Epic centre (Electronic and Brixham is ‘alive and kicking’ despite had been rolled out to the fishing and Fleet Walk shopping precinct – including Boots, Starbucks and Pizza Photonics Innovation Centre) has the double jeopardy of Covid-19. and seafood sectors but, he said: “As both for undisclosed sums. There is a Express at the bottom of town, H&M been purpose-built for businesses in He welcomed the figures but with all schemes there were cracks vision to create a Mediterranean- in Union Street and Mothercare at the growing sector. warned: “The Covid-19 pandemic of through which some businesses fell.” style plaza around the harbourside Wren Park. The building in the White Rock 2020 will have tested to the limit the Domestic consumption of UK- Big enough to depend on WESTERN MORNING NEWS Thursday, October 22, 2020 Annual Business Guide 2020 11 Torbay

>>Lobster pots in Brixham harbour. Brixham is England’s most valuable fishing port with a staggering £36m worth of fish landed last year Lily Law

caught and landed fish had risen, cil has been given a £750,000 Gov- and the re-opening of bars and res- ernment cash boost to begin the taurants helped. Town Investment Plan. “The winter months are often The accelerated funding will allow bumper times, with cuttlefish being it to make a start ahead of a decision the regular ‘Black Gold’ of Brixham on the Town Deal, bid expected in for the past 20 years. If that market the coming weeks. fails to bounce back, there may be Schemes include improvements at some real and deep economic hard- Upton Park, Princess Gardens, Rock ship.” Walk illuminations along the sea Mr Portus said that Brexit negotia- front and links to the proposed new tions, in which fishing played a rail station near Torbay Hospital. major part, had brought uncertainty Paignton Crossways to the industry. At the same time a bid for £19mil- “This time we are heading for the >>Impression of the new lion from the Government’s Future door of EU exit and our status as an Crossways at Paignton, by the High Streets Fund will boost Paign- independent coastal state must not Architects Design Group ton town centre, including the con- be fettered by being shackled to the Guy Henderson version of the derelict eyesore Cross- terms of the Common Fisheries Poli- ways shopping centre into 90 cy that for decades has put our fish- affordable flats. Improvement ermen at such disadvantage. schemes are also planned for Paign- “I remain hopeful and optimistic kicking and preparing to thrive. Devon NHS Foundation Trust, ment at Torbay Hospital in Torquay ton Station Square, Torbay Road, that the outcome in just a few weeks “There are some wonderful plans which runs Torbay Hospital, will see a new smaller acute hospital Crossways and Victoria Centre, and will be for the great benefit of the UK already being considered for expan- employs around 6,000 people. for urgent and emergency care. bringing Paignton Picture House and will put UK fishermen on a sion and I for one am very excited for The trust said: “We will not just be There will also be a separate new back into use. sound footing for re-building our the future of the port and the region.” rebuilding Torbay Hospital. We are unit for planned specialist care and The council said in a statement: fleets and ports to the vibrancy they Torbay Hospital planning a fundamental review of surgery, known as ‘elective’ proce- “The Council has shown that Future once enjoyed. Medical and healthcare is well rec- the ways that we support the people dures. High Streets Funding of £19.2 mil- “These have been tremendously ognised and a new boost came with of Torbay and South Devon to live Torquay town centre regeneration lion would be matched by other pri- febrile times under the shadow of the recent Government announce- healthier lives and how we provide A new train station link at vate and public investment into Covid-19 and through the negotia- ment of a £400m investment at Tor- care when they need it.” Edginswell is part of £25m regenera- Paignton town centre totalling tions of Brexit, but Brixham is alive, bay Hospital. The Torbay and South The Government says its invest- tion plans for Torquay. Torbay Coun- £140m.” Small enough to care 12 Annual Business Guide 2020 Thursday, October 22, 2020 WESTERN MORNING NEWS Plymouth Plymouth, the Ocean City, is becoming the City of Culture It was supposed to be Plymouth’s year. The Mayflower 400 commemorations were expected to put the city front and centre of the world’s media and bring a wave of tourists. But that was before Covid-19 arrived in the UK, writes William Telford

ince the nation went into lock- down on March 23 the city, like Severywhere in the UK, caught an economic cold that left it feeling a little sorry for itself. Businesses have closed down, jobs have been lost, projects have been put on hold. And when the students quit their digs it left the economy short of £25.2million. In June it was revealed that 30,400 workers were furloughed on the Government’s Job Retention Scheme, and a further 8,200 self- employed people were claiming a combined £22.8million under the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme. In September, there were 11,403 people claiming Universal Credit, a 98% rise on a year earlier. The £48million The Box cultural centre was put on ice, the retail heart of the city closed save for a few “essential” retailers, pubs and clubs and restaurants shut, sport stopped, the curtain came down at Plymouth Theatre Royal, cinemas stopped showing movies with the Cineworld at the £53million The Barcode closed And it is a strong construction sec- the disappointment 2020 was for the was around at the time, and, indeed, trade. And he said a “triple wham- until 2021, and even some of the tor, and a powerful public sector and city, but also its potential to benefit it was perhaps felt that Plymouth my” of events could send the city largest employers, including Prin- manufacturing base, coupled with a from the capital and planning that was the next card in the deck to reeling. “At the end of the furlough cess Yachts, temporarily halted pro- future tourism draw and perhaps a went into it. receive investment when the crisis scheme (at the end of October), we duction. spin-off windfall from wealthy “The year was, of course, supposed struck.” will see significant redundancies,” he But the city didn’t die. It didn’t urbanites wanting to relocate, which to be a point in time when Plymouth Dr Brand said that subsequently said. even wind up on life support. Things are seen by many to be Plymouth’s celebrated its heritage on a global the city was left with abandoned pro- “Then there is the end of the tran- kept ticking over and by September, salvation at a time when other cities stage with the Mayflower 2020 cele- jects, and highlighted the BBC studi- sition Brexit period (in January with a little boost from Eat Out to are in a poorer state of health. bration,” he said. “Clearly, both pub- os that were due to be constructed at 2021). Businesses may not have time Help Out, the city was back on its Dr Steven Brand, associate profes- lic and private sectors had invested Sutton Harbour. But now a new plan, to react to whatever, deal or no deal, feet, and only a little shaky. sor of economics, at the University of significantly in relation to Mayflower for the immense Sugar Quay tower is coming. We still don’t know what The Box finally opened, to acclaim, Plymouth, said: “The austerity that 2020 years ahead of the Covid-19 cri- and other developments, are back no deal means. The transition period the £1million Mayflower Autono- followed the last global economic sis – and this investment will sadly on the cards. And Dr Brand said: was supposed to allow businesses to mous Ship was built and took to the shock hit Plymouth relatively hard as not have yielded its expected short- “There is no escaping the fact that prepare, but there is still no certain- water and will blaze a trail to the an economy dependent on the pub- run return – and probably will afford the year 2020 has been a disaster for ty. Brexit will cause frustration for States in 2021, and Antony Gormley’s lic sector. a lower expected medium-term the majority of businesses. However, exporters, they need more clarity. Look II statue was unveiled, leading “In contrast, a dependence on return. Neither too will the city ben- that is not something that is particu- Business can react to anything if only to a public debate on how much it public sector jobs is arguably some- efit from the wider legacy effects of larly pronounced in Plymouth rela- it knows what it is reacting to.” cost. Plymouth Sound was also thing of an advantage in relation to exposure on a global stage. tive to the nation.” And he said many Plymouth firms named as the site of the UK’s first the Covid-19 shock, as these jobs “Nevertheless, major projects such Stuart Elford, chief executive of will have taken on board Coronavi- National Marine Park. were more secure within-crisis, and as The Box and The Barcode have at Devon and Plymouth Chambrer of rus Business Interruption and All this helped put the city on the indeed, should be more secure post- least reached fruition – and indeed Commerce, is also clear about the Bounce Back loans and said: “Busi- map, and should reap future rewards crisis, relative to private sector represent significant assets in the impact the pandemic has had on nesses may struggle with repay- by attracting visitors and investors. employment. It, of course, remains portfolio of the city’s future destina- Plymouth. “The leisure, tourism and ments at a time of reduced demand.” And Plymouth City Council came to be seen whether there will be a tion-offer. hospitality sector has been severely He praised the firms that have up with its Resurgam plan, which further austerity drive in response to “If we set this in the context of the dented, and this will be a real knock continued despite the setbacks, and includes the city building its way out Covid-19, but I think that unlikely.” fall-out of the 2007 financial crisis, to confidence,” he said, adding that those that have adapted, diversified of recession, with a £1billion pipe- Dr Brand, who heads the universi- there was some sense that Plymouth businesses are stressing that they and found new markets. Neverthe- line of capital projects still very ty’s Department of Accounting, Eco- had lost out to cities such as Cardiff face an effective “three winters” in a less, he warned: “But there are those much on schedule. nomics and Finance, acknowledges in its share of the ‘slush money’ that row due to the loss of summer 2020 who through no fault of their own

#1 auditors to top 150 businesses WESTERN MORNING NEWS Thursday, October 22, 2020 Annual Business Guide 2020 13 Plymouth Plymouth, the Ocean City, is becoming the City of Culture

>>Visitors look around part of the 100 Journeys exhibit at The Box museum, a brand new multi-disciplinary arts and heritage space Finnbarr Webster

won’t be able to survive.” And he ty for Plymouth. For years we have Hospitality and leisure remains on said: “This was supposed to be Plym- seen Plymouth as a city with poten- life support, however. Cineworld has outh’s year – 2020, the year of May- tial, now it is realising its potential.” closed its expensive Barcode multi- flower 400 and the Box opening – the He said The Box, Barcode, the plex and Plymouth Theatre Royal, world was supposed to be in Plym- city’s medical and marine business along with other theatres and music outh.” sectors, the Oceansgate Marine venues, has no clear date for when it But he remains upbeat for the long Enterprise Zone, and the Smart can open economically due to social term and said: “There is a real oppor- Sound initiative driving research and distancing restrictions. tunity. Regionally we can position development of autonomous vessels, Adrian Vinken, the theatre’s chief the South West as a fantastic tourist were all “massive strengths”. executive, said the Eat Out to Help destination for 52 weeks of the year. “I’m excited about the opportuni- Out scheme in August helped the People won’t have foreign holidays ties,” he said. sector “bounce back very well”, and and we can offer safely distanced And the council’s Resurgam pro- this may even continue. vacations. So we need to adapt to gramme will play its part. The “The businesses lost 30% to 40% of offer all-seasons attractions and hol- authority’s leader, Labour’s Tudor turnover they would normally have. idays. It’s also a fantastic opportunity Evans, said: “Being a public sector But there has been a bounce back,” to show that we have excellent con- town, for years Conservative MPs he said. “Staycation means we have nectivity and you can base your said we were too reliant on the pub- been inundated. We want to extend business in the South West. Why lic sector, but that reliance has meant the shoulder of the season, and the commute for two hours of your day, we have not dipped as low as other indications are that that is happen- when you can be in the South West, places. Resurgam will save jobs and ing.” He said the Box, the Mayflower where you finish work and can be on create jobs. Trail, Gormley’s Look II would prove the beach 10 minutes later? If we “The next year or two will be rocky, their worth and added: “We have >>Sir Antony Gormley seize this opportunity this can be a there is no doubt about that. But the assets we didn’t have a year ago, all attends the official unveiling real positive for the South West. Resurgam programme is vital.” on the back of Mayflower 400.” of his LOOK II sculpture at “It also needs Plymouth to stop And he added that Plymouth’s And he stressed that the schedul- West Hoe Pier Matt Gilley being down on itself. We have an manufacturing base remains strong, ing of at least seven cruise ships to excellent quality of life and world- saying: “We are a marine superstar. visit the city in 2021, after scrapping class attractions and great connec- Those companies are starting to pro- their 2020 programme, was a major tivity. So this is a massive opportuni- duce. It’s important.” positive for Plymouth. Your ambition becomes our ambition 14 Annual Business Guide 2020 Thursday, October 22, 2020 WESTERN MORNING NEWS Rural Economy /

>>LiveWest, which manages 37,000 homes across the South West, has plans to provide 15,000 new homes in the region over the next 10 years Joe Giddens Smaller towns see benefit as people work from home

ike every town and city in the New research suggests some smaller town centres UK, emptied Lovernight at the start of lock- have had fewer reductions in footfall than larger towns down. The livestock market was can- and cities. Shoppers are preferring to stay local... celled, no-one set up their stalls in Market Square or Courtney Street. The shops remained closed, except public transport. lockdown, showing there is still for the supermarkets, chemists and A Reinventing the High Street for opportunity to be had, she said. other essential retailers. Covid-19 Recovery report by Sustrans But the issue of business rates But as shoppers started to return, recommends that capitalising on the remains a sticking point, she said. the town slowly but surely welcomed increased use of smaller high streets Until there is parity for bricks and new faces. is a way to economic recovery, along mortar retailers with the online said that many big employers will be Business rates need Sally Henley, town centre manager with reinventing high streets as plac- giants like Amazon – the high street looking at hybrid working arrange- said: “There has been much talk es for people and ensuring equitable will always suffer. ments for staff in the future that urgent reform if about the creation of ghost towns access for all ages and abilities. Dr Stephen Brand, associate pro- include time in the office and days at we are to sustain with the desertion of office workers. A recent survey suggested 59% of fessor of economics, agrees. home. That might be true of cities but we’ve consumers in Britain have used He said that the future of all high And this will bring opportunities our high streets seen the opposite in Newton Abbot. more local stores and services to street shops remains in question – for smaller towns and villages. Dr Stephen Brand “In Newton Abbot, we have never help support them during lockdown. and CV19 has been something of a And while there is evidence to sug- relied on office workers. Our core These trends are likely to continue red-herring, although nevertheless a gest that city workers are relocating customers in town are people who with reduced public transport very real effect to the majority of to rural areas because of new remote cation from urban areas to rural set- live and work locally so we haven’t capacity and government advice to businesses. working arrangements, there is still tings, low interest rates and the missed a swathe of office workers. stay local remaining in place. He said: “There is a far bigger issue huge pressure on decent, affordable stamp duty holiday. But we are in a “We have gained office workers Mrs Henley said: “People certainly – business rates – and this needs housing stock in the region. period of uncertainty because of who might have left Newton Abbot shopped local to begin with, using urgent reform if we are to sustain our Mr Crawford said that the Covid- Covid-19 and Brexit and the ques- to go to work. While they have been the butcher and the greengrocer, but high streets. The current arrange- 19 lockdown had halted work on its tion for us is, how do we continue to working at home, they’ve come in to that has slipped a bit with people ment is very outdated, arguably tied developments this year, with 700 build homes for sale, or shared own- grab a few bits and pieces, take a picking up their meat in the super- in to some very archaic rules. homes completed rather than the ership, in an uncertain housing mar- breather and have a coffee or use the market again while they’re there. “I would suggest that you need hoped for 1,300 homes. ket? parks for a bit of space.” “It’s a hackneyed phrase but we firstly to review business rates before Of these, 200 are shared owner- “We know that house prices are Research from the Centre for Cit- need people to shop locally. I think you can begin to build an active 21st ship, 80 on the open market and the rising and one of the challenges in ies suggests that some smaller town the lockdown has shown people the century high street.” rest for affordable rent. the South West is house prices are centres seem to have had fewer value of their small shops and the Paul Crawford, chief executive of He said: “We don’t have the stock 11-12 times the average income and reductions in overall footfall than value they have to the community as LiveWest, which manages 37,000 to meet the demand we are experi- that is not abating, in fact that is larger towns and cities. Shoppers are a whole.” homes across the South West, with encing. going to continue with continuing preferring to stay local while working And businesses have decided to plans to provide 15,000 new homes “At the moment, the housing mar- employment certainty in the region. from home and are keen to avoid open up on the high street during in the region over the next 10 years, ket is being propped up by the relo- For a lot of people, getting on the An integral part of your team WESTERN MORNING NEWS Thursday, October 22, 2020 Annual Business Guide 2020 15 Rural Economy / North Devon

prime minister’s visit a boost to north devon When the Prime Minister makes a shut sites down,” said Martin special trip to your region you Southam, marketing director at know there must be something to TDK-Lambda. “The US-China trade get excited about. war has led to setting up Boris Johnson did just that in alternative sites. We have two August when he rolled into North factories in Malaysia and we are Devon to herald fresh investment setting up a plant in Thailand by at the Appledore Shipyard, writes the end of this year and we’ve Paul Greaves. always had a dual manufacturing One of the world’s most famous strategy in TDK-Lambda and shipyards, Harland and Wolff, will localise more for Europe and even now have its name attached to the supply the US from here.” yard on the estuary of the River Another successful business, Torridge. The future for the site ’s Applegate also has an looked bleak in 2019 when eye on the future. The firm has Appledore was closed by previous been investing in research and owner Babcock after 164 years, development at the University of with the loss of about 200 jobs. Exeter’s Institute of Data Science Mr Johnson heralded a £7m deal and Artificial Intelligence, to reopen and rename the yard developing new machine learning H&W Appledore. The new technology. The partnership was company is looking to use the awarded £50,000 as part of a £40 North Devon shipyard for the million Government investment. construction of small and medium The result is a free, non-commercial sized vessels, which it says is a service to match demand and growing market. They have already supply for items such as PPE, held career open days and say up sanitiser and others needed to to 350 employees will be needed. address the pandemic. Not only “What we want to do is to ensure will it provide ongoing support that there’s a good enough stream through the current crisis – it will of contracts coming through to address supply chain disruptions drive jobs and growth here in caused by future crises. The Devon,” the Prime Minister said. partnership shows the practical And there can be no doubting benefits that collaboration the excitement – and relief - between academia and business generated by the new investment. can deliver. The rebirth of Appledore over Elsewhere, plans to transform a the next few years should be worth set of historic buildings into a seeing and will have a knock-on riverside shopping centre with effect for smaller businesses in the cafes and restaurants were area. unanimously approved by Having a skilled workforce to call planners. Acorn Property Group upon is important for any business and Wessex Investors’ scheme for looking to invest. That is being the regeneration of the Oliver addressed by a new training hub Buildings at Anchorwood Bank in for young people in Barnstaple. Barnstaple was supported by The facility at St Petroc’s College is North Devon Council. The site on a satellite of the new £170m South the south bank of the has West Institute of Technology been derelict for 10 years. The >>An artist’s impression of centred in Exeter. Diane Dimond, proposed scheme will see the how a transformed Newton principal and chief executive of existing buildings converted into Abbot could look Petroc said: “We are delighted to 47 apartments, shops and be part of this fantastic initiative restaurants, a new mixed-use for our region bringing specialised four-storey block, and a second facilities and exciting career building which will have a mix of enabling opportunities to northern commercial and residential space. Devon through new and Plans were also unveiled to offices and retail parks. innovative curriculum.” transform an unloved landmark “That’s not to say there haven’t The institute will offer top hotel in .The been lows this year. People are quality, higher level technical former Globe Hotel in the centre of uncertain about what their future education, comparable to going to Great Torrington has been closed holds economically and, of course, university. for three years. The council and its there is the additional worry about One of those companies which partners want to reopen it as a loved ones and staff at risk from the spearheaded the bid, TDK-Lambda, boutique training hotel and virus.” has also promised a huge co-working space. The town’s food and drink retail investment in its power supply It hasn’t all been positive of outlets diversified to offer takeaways manufacturing plant in . course. Tourism and hospitality are and home deliveries, and have, in The £11.5m injection will be big contributors to the North the process, continued to reach cus- staged over the next three and a Devon economy and for those tomers new and old in a different half years and boost production sectors it has been a tough year. capacity by 50 percent. The original Some attractions such as >>How it was: a packed crowd trading climate. “It has been heartening to see our factory was built over 50 years ago Watermouth Castle took the of buyers around the ring at with further expansion in the decision not to open at all for 2020. Cutcombe Market, wide range of businesses doing their best to understand and implement mid-1980s. The area also has a new rules, even when these have According to market research disproportionately high number of been introduced with very little company Omdia, the global power self employed, they’ve been notice. supply market is forecast to reach greatly aided by the Self- “It has also been rewarding to fur- almost $26bn in 2024, driven by Employment Income Scheme but housing ladder is going to be a chal- BID Manager Anna Pascoe said: ther extend BID’s support role by the rapidly expanding will be seeking sustainable forms lenge.” “We are lucky that our town mainly providing risk assessment templates, digitalisation of economies. “A lot of future activity, which for some In , one of the huge comprises small and medium busi- cleanliness charters and advice of our customers are realising they may not be the same as pre- strengths has been a sense of com- nesses and so isn’t suffering the about the grants and finance options need backup sites as Covid-19 can pandemic. munity spirit. ghost town effect of areas with large available.” Dedicated to helping you succeed 16 Annual Business Guide 2020 Thursday, October 22, 2020 WESTERN MORNING NEWS Cornwall

Golden days ahead for a greener Cornwall

s summer season hit, holi- Cornwall’s tourism and hospitality sector has taken a hours. Cornish Lithium uses modern extraction industry. It is among a daymakers ditched the quar- technology to evaluate the potential number of efforts in Cornwall mak- Aantine uncertainty of over- battering because of Covid-19 but a 21st century gold to responsibly extract vital battery ing the transition to a green econo- seas travel and headed in their metals in Cornwall, including lithi- my via renewable energy and battery droves to the Cornish coast. rush and the green economy is providing reasons to be um from the geothermal waters that power storage. The county has welcomed two mil- circulate deep beneath historic mine Last month’s pledge by the Prime lion visitors since lockdown restric- cheerful, writes Hannah Finch workings. Minister to create 1GW of floating tions were lifted in July and while the According to the Volkswagen offshore wind energy by 2050 is boom helped to mitigate some of the Group, lithium is the “irreplaceable being seen as a shot in the arm for worst effects of the total lockdown in wall was £750 million and if busi- And there is still confidence in element of the electric era,” which Cornwall’s green ambitions. the spring, tourism businesses are nesses had not been able to welcome Cornwall as a leading visitor destina- makes lithium vitally important for According to a report commis- still battling to survive the winter. guests again from July 4 it would tion. In July, The Pig Hotel group the future economy as the world sioned by the Cornwall and Isles of It remains a tough year for hospi- have been worse, Malcolm Bell, Visit opened its £13million The Pig at Har- moves towards renewable energy Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership tality – the 10pm curfew and rule-of- Cornwall’s boss told a meeting of lyn Bay, creating 80 jobs. The latest sources and away from a reliance on (LEP), 1GW of floating offshore six continues to pose a challenge for the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local offering by the boutique hotel chain fossil fuels. windfarms in the Celtic Sea could pubs, bars and holiday providers. Enterprise Partnership last month. has been so sought after that reser- As the UK aspires to be a leader in support 3,200 jobs in the South West And the downturn has led to some Mr Bell said that July and August vation staff took 1,000 bookings in the move towards electric vehicles and Wales and £682m of spend in big losses. Cornwall’s Eden Project had been good months for the the first three hours of declaring its and renewable power in order to the local supply chain by 2030, pow- announced in September that it was industry and September “has been opening date and it is already fully realise its net zero carbon ambitions ering hundreds of thousands of to lose 169 staff after the attraction stonkingly good”. But a reliance on booked for the coming months. by 2050, it will need significant homes. near St Austell lost £7m in the first tourism and leisure in Cornwall Elsewhere, one of Cornwall’s old- quantities of lithium in order to A Cornwall-led £30m-plus funding quarter of the financial year due to meant that the region is in need of est industries has been given a very build batteries for the domestic car bid for Government investment is the enforced three-month closure ongoing financial support. modern boost. industry. being made next month to kickstart a and subsequent restrictions on visi- One of the biggest positives has Mining company Cornish Lithium Cornish Lithium is one of several floating offshore wind industry in tor numbers due to the pandemic. been no increase in Covid-19 cases drilling for a “21st century gold rush” companies exploring in the county the region. In April, May and June the com- recorded as a result of the summer smashed through a crowdfunder tar- and aims to establish a sustainable Mark Duddridge, Chairman of the bined loss of the industry in Corn- visitor influx. get to raise £3million – in just a few and environmentally-responsible Cornwall and IoS LEP said that con- Big enough to depend on WESTERN MORNING NEWS Thursday, October 22, 2020 Annual Business Guide 2020 17 Cornwall

>>The Eden Project announced in September it was to lose 169 staff after the attraction near St Austell lost £7m in the first quarter The Eden Project

tributing to a national green recov- ery will create new jobs and provide new skills as the nation recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic. Cornwall has seen a third of its workforce furloughed since March – more than 84,000 people and the 13th highest rate in the UK. At 77%, it’s had one of the highest take-ups for the self-employed income support scheme. Universal credit claimants have almost dou- bled, to around 49,000 so far. More than 10,000 local businesses have taken out emergency loans. And almost 22,300 have received £251m in emergency grants. Mr Duddridge said: “If Govern- ment is serious about levelling up and tackling the economic impact of coronavirus, then it needs to work with us as partners in that process and start sharing its thinking about >>The Cornish Lithium the road ahead. We hope the prom- drill rig at the Gwennap ised Recovery and Devolution White test site Neil Williams Paper this autumn will give us that opportunity.” Small enough to care 18 Annual Business Guide 2020 Thursday, October 22, 2020 WESTERN MORNING NEWS Truro Lots to celebrate as funding helps to ease the way ahead Despite the obvious negative effects of the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown, the picture in Truro is looking far brighter than other towns and cities, writes Lee Trewhela

n the short-term, the Eat Out to Help Out scheme saw Truro’s res- Itaurants, cafés and pubs rammed throughout August with a significant tourism spend throughout the sum- mer. And while there are the inevitable shop closures, there are also the green shoots of new businesses either moving into the city centre or expanding into bigger premises. Perhaps the biggest positive for Truro – and one that could change the city’s fortunes forever – is the for- mation of the Truro Town Deal Board, which is bidding for £25 mil- lion of government money to revive the high street. The city recently received £750,000 for various projects. Despite around 30 shops remain- ing closed after lockdown was lifted, business managers in Truro say it’s by no means reflective of a city in decline. In fact, there is a lot to celebrate, with many businesses moving to big- ger premises and interest in such prime sites as the former Deben- >>Truro is bidding for £25m of hams site on Lemon Quay. government money to revive Alun Jones, Truro Business the high street, and the city Improvement District (BID) manag- recently received £750,000 er, said: “We realise that it’s a very for various projects difficult time for the high street eve- Greg Martin rywhere. However, even before coro- navirus, as with other towns and cit- ies, Truro saw a cycle of businesses opening and closing as well as some nish Vegan soon to be re-opening expansions. under new management,” added Mr “There were always around 30 Jones. “Truro also has some exciting businesses unoccupied in Truro, initiatives, like Manning’s Pop-up with fewer empty premises in the Secret Garden and the plans to run-up to Christmas because of pop- change the top floor of Lemon Street up shops. During April and May, we market into a dedicated food and did an audit which recorded 29 drink hall. In additional, we’re aware empty shops. Whilst it’s sad to see that there’s been some interest in the businesses close, we’re delighted to former Debenhams unit.” see a number of businesses expand- He said that the mood had ing to bigger premises.” changed in the last month and more These include Colours Café and locals – who had stayed away during Wellbeing Centre moving to New the summer – were back and shop- Bridge Street, No 3 Lash and Brow ping in Truro. House to Nalders Court, The Laser “There is a lot of talk out there of Room to Little Castle Street, Joli Bou- people bringing their Christmas tique to a larger unit in the Pannier shopping forward, which could Market and the Red Elephant Beer mean a preference for the high street Cellar to High Cross. rather than online. “We’re pleased to see 1981 Barbers “Our marketing line for Christmas occupy the former Colour Café is ‘Truro – Space To Shop’. We have premises already. There have been the luxury of wide streets which some changes in Kenwyn Street with other towns don’t have.” the Mandarin Garden Chinese res- Lucy Jones, co-chairman of Truro taurant moving to the downstairs Chamber of Commerce, agreed that premises, the new Thai and Asian it’s a positive picture in the city at the food store opening up and The Cor- moment. #1 auditors to top 150 businesses WESTERN MORNING NEWS Thursday, October 22, 2020 Annual Business Guide 2020 19 Truro Lots to celebrate as funding helps to ease the way ahead

>>Truro plans to bid for funds for regeneration projects, which could see a new harbour village and marina

Now is the time to stop, pause and review your business “I think that Truro, in comparison Where Truro excels is with other places, is not doing too with its independent • Understand how your market is changing badly,” she said. “The loss of some of • Be agile in responding to the challenges ahead those high street businesses is more shops, there’s a reflective of a national picture than it • Capitalise on emerging opportunities being Truro-specific. growing trend “People are going online for what With a Covid Business Review, we’ll support businesses like Next offer and Covid Lucy Jones you to make sure your business is fit for the future. has increased that. Where Truro excels is with its independent shops investment plan to bid for at least and there’s a growing trend for what another £25 million for regeneration they offer.” projects, which could see a new har- She added: “I actually think that bour village and marina. Truro is doing slightly better than a Truro is one of 101 towns to be number of similar places.” selected to bid for the £3.6 billion To add to the positivity, Truro has Towns Fund set up by the Ministry of been awarded an initial £750,000 Housing, Communities and Local from the government’s Towns Fund Government. for an array of projects aimed at Carole Theobald, chairman of shared regeneration and boosting economic Truro Town Deal board, said: “This ambition growth. first award of funding is incredibly Bike parking across the city, a welcome, and gives a flavour of the mobile stage, refurbished communi- further projects we’ll be bringing to ty centres and sports facilities are life in the coming weeks as part of among the projects approved for the our larger bid. Accelerated Capital funding. “We selected each of these suc- Inspired by the annual City of cessful projects for their ability to Lights community art project and strengthen our communities, >>The Truro branch of lantern parade, a festive trail of light- improve our city as a place to live Debenhams closed up installations across Truro’s shop and work, as well as drive footfall permanently following the windows this winter is another key and visitor numbers. pkf-francisclark.co.uk/ coronavirus outbreak project to be given a welcome cash “Several are set to be delivered by covid-business-review Cornwall Live boost. It’s the first funding to be con- the end of this year, so it’s exciting firmed as Truro Town Deal board is that this funding will have an impact busy shaping themes to form an on Truro very soon.” 20 Annual Business Guide 2020 Thursday, October 22, 2020 WESTERN MORNING NEWS Farming Farmers feeding the nation in time of need During these unprecedented times, the business of farming and producing quality, traceable food for the consumer has remained a constant, with the South West’s vibrant network of local farm shops and food producers really coming to the fore in our time of need. Athwenna Irons finds out more

ho doesn’t love a farm ery or collection since the Govern- shop? With a homely, rustic ment’s lockdown measures began. Wfeel, abundant selection of Rob Copley, chairman of the fresh produce and considerably low- Farm Retail Association, explained: er food miles on the clock, it’s a “The last few months have clearly world away from pushing a trolley up shown that farm retailers can react and down the squeaky clean aisles of nimbly to customer demands your nearest supermarket store. because of their size, independence Guaranteeing provenance and and direct relationships with local traceability, without the crowding farmers. and queues, it’s little wonder that “They have also shown that they many more people have discovered are proactive, supportive members the benefits of shopping locally over of their local communities. We have the past few months, at a time when members who prepare and deliver the fragility of complex supply chains ready meals to local community was exposed for all to see – with groups that support the most vulner- scenes of panic buying and empty able members of society. Others are shelves making the national news. donating produce to local school With the big retailers struggling to hubs, front-line NHS staff and other cope at the height of the lockdown, key workers. our local farm shops and food pro- “As well as going above and ducers were right there and ready to beyond in this time of crisis, farm respond, adapting quickly to meet a retailers are helping to keep the sudden and rapid increase in nation fed, offering easy access to demand. Research carried out by the fresh, nutritious and affordable Brit- Farm Retail Association (FRA) has ish food. They are demonstrating found that 92% of farm retailers that they are both caring neighbours reported a “significant” rise in new and viable alternatives to the super- customers coming through the doors markets, boasting shorter supply since the Government first enforced chains with lower carbon footprints.” restrictions in March. Varying in appearance, from huge The organisation, which champi- purpose-built barns to on-farm con- bakery goods, dairy, fish and home- As well as going shield and protect themselves, and ons the best farm shops and farmers’ verted sheds, with fridges full of produced meat. ultimately not burden the health ser- markets from across the UK, esti- freshly bottled milk or butchered Owner of the business, Giles Eus- above and beyond in vice.” mates that the country’s network of cuts of meat, the trend of increasing tice, said: “We were inundated with this crisis, farm At the other end of the size spec- farm shops has a combined turnover consumer demand has been felt people phoning and emailing from trum, The Meat Men, run by Somer- of more than £1.5 billion, including across the South West. all over the country – families in retailers are keeping set-based master butchers, Scott sales from farm shop cafés. Trevaskis Farm, run by the Eustice calling because they had the nation fed Cartwright and Edward Davies, took Some 79% of farm retailers polled family at Connor Downs near , elderly parents in Cornwall who advantage of the lockdown as an said they had introduced a click- was one such business to rise to the needed to isolate and they were des- Rob Copley opportunity to diversify and grow and-collect service because of coro- challenge of the pandemic, quickly perately worried that they wouldn’t their business by launching a free navirus, including in the form of launching a home delivery service to be able to get food. local home delivery service – keep- completely contactless drive-thrus. address the needs of its local com- “The immediate closure of the res- we said no, people need feeding. ing customers safe and removing the Another 67% said they had intro- munity. In the first two weeks alone, taurant was huge, it is a powerhouse We’re a family and farm shop that need for them to venture out to the duced home deliveries. the team handled over 2,000 orders, of the business and a substantial part has always been in the community, supermarket. As a result, farm shops across the providing elderly and vulnerable of our turnover, which went over- so we put ourselves right on the With no shop premises and book- UK have processed an estimated 1.4 customers with everything they night. The easy call would have been front-line and provided an emergen- ings for their ‘Somerset Steakhouse’ million-plus orders for home deliv- needed from fruit and vegetables to to shut the doors and furlough, but cy service. We allowed people to catering stand cancelling fast, as Your ambition becomes our ambition WESTERN MORNING NEWS Thursday, October 22, 2020 Annual Business Guide 2020 21 Farming

>>The House family have diversified their Somerset dairy farming business, with the launch of Milk from the Moors Milk from the Moors

>>Master butchers Scott Cartwright (left) and Edward Davies (right) established their own business, The Meat Men, in November 2018. As a result of the coronavirus crisis, the Somerset-based duo have introduced a free local home delivery service The Meat Men

agricultural shows and events fell from the Moors’ vending machine there will be scope to build and grow victim to the virus restrictions, the and farm shop. Based at Fowlers Plot the venture further as time goes on.” pair had to act fast. Mr Cartwright Farm in Chedzoy, near Bridgwater, At this critical period of change for explained: “Within the first two the new venture gives customers the British and South West farming, with weeks, our home delivery service chance to pick up all their essential the Agriculture Bill set to be passed had been described by some cus- food and drink items in one place, in into law and Brexit trade negotia- tomers as “life saving”. the knowledge that they are support- tions continuing with countries “Due to our safe delivery methods ing local farmers and buying fresh, across the world, there has never and practice, along with contactless quality produce. been a more important time to high- card payment on the door, our They said: “The milk is sold in light the crucial role farmers play in orders doubled in the first two weeks branded glass bottles which custom- feeding the nation and caring for the and have increased by 30% each ers can re-use thereafter, so there is countryside. week thereafter.” zero waste, making this a sustainable So if you haven’t already, pay a >>Giles Eustice, owner of After being forced to pour surplus and environmentally-friendly enter- visit to your local farm shop, expand Trevaskis Farm in Connor milk away during the pandemic, the prise. The milk vending machine and your culinary horizons and support Downs, near Hayle Athwenna Irons House family in Somerset decided to farm shop have already been very the local farming community. You take action and open their own ‘Milk well received locally and we hope won’t be disappointed. An integral part of your team 22 Annual Business Guide 2020 Thursday, October 22, 2020 WESTERN MORNING NEWS Transport Restrictions on travel have had a huge impact When orders come down from the very highest level that you must stay at home, the entire economy is inevitably affected – none more so than the transport sector, writes Mike Smallcombe

efore the restrictions on Council, Cornwall Airport Newquay people’s movements had even has secured British Airways on the Bbeen enforced by the prime flagship Heathrow service, with daily minister, the South West’s connectiv- flights and global connections; it ity was severely impacted by the attracted Eastern Airways as another news in the early hours of March 5 new airline partner operating two that Flybe had collapsed into admin- new routes this summer and adding istration. an important year-round route to Exeter-headquartered Flybe oper- Manchester, starting later this ated routes from Cornwall Airport month. Newquay, Exeter Airport and Bristol New major airline partner Loga- Airport, providing vital connections nair has also confirmed five new to the rest of the country. destinations from the spring, includ- More than 2,000 jobs were imme- ing Manchester, Glasgow, Edin- diately put at risk, 400 of which were burgh, Newcastle and Aberdeen (via in Exeter. Newcastle). Loganair is also extend- Cornwall, from where a rail jour- ing its footprint from Exeter, ney to London takes five hours, lost although the popular Exeter to Paris its air link to the capital, which was route is yet to be reinstated. reinstated for the summer months Cornwall Airport Newquay chief by British Airways, Mr Downes added that Cornwall’s >>When Flybe collapsed, With the collapse of Flybe, Corn- Cornwall Airport Newquay lost wall Airport Newquay lost around We have been forced around 70% of its passenger 70% of its passenger operations over- operations overnight Hugh Hastings night, while the airline accounted for to make some very over 80% of Exeter Airport’s passen- tough decisions ger traffic. That was quickly followed by the to restructure lockdown, and both airports having Pete Downes to close its doors to passengers com- beat Covid-19, we will bounce back bourg to Poole. There are three “There is growing concern about pletely for more than three months. even more strongly than before with return trips per week from Plymouth the future viability of Brittany Fer- “The financial impact of this has enduring popularity as a visitor des- a more diversified range of airline to Roscoff until the end of October. ries,” Mr Biscoe told the meeting. “So been devastating,” said Pete Downes, tination, coupled with increasing partners and a renewed purpose in Plymouth to Santander is operating much of the Cornish economy does managing director of Cornwall Air- restrictions on international travel, serving Cornwall.” a weekly service until November rely on that link – that is goods going port Newquay. delivered a staycation boom over the Brittany Ferries, meanwhile, was 2020, increasing to twice weekly into Europe and people coming out “We have been forced to make summer and many of its routes also heavily impacted by the pan- from December 2020. The busiest of Europe, who support our tourism very tough decisions to restructure experienced much stronger demand demic, with passenger numbers route, Caen-Portsmouth, is unaffect- industry and so on. And it is incredi- our business and to request short- than seen at other UK airports. dropping to less than a third of nor- ed until the end of October. bly important that we have that link. term funding support from Govern- Mr Downes said: “There is no mal levels over the summer months. Brittany Ferries says it has a five- To be honest with you in commercial ment in order to weather the storm question that the aviation industry Several routes were cancelled, and year recovery plan and welcomed terms there would be very little point through what is certain to be the has been incredibly hard-hit by the the French firm received a €117m the promise of a further €85million in having a bridge across the river most difficult winter that the aviation pandemic and that it will take sever- loan from its government. from the Normandy and Brittany unless that link was there to open up industry has ever suffered.” al years to recover. The importance After some green shoots began to , both of which are share- opportunities for us.” However, it has not all been doom of Cornwall Airport Newquay to the appear in the early summer, Brittany holders in the company that owns Brittany Ferries CEO Christophe and gloom – in a very challenging regional economy means that it will Ferries was heavily impacted once the ships. Mathieu reassured passengers in a environment for aviation the region’s play a key role in supporting the more in early August, when the UK In a Cornwall Council meeting in letter on the firm’s website last airports have had a number of suc- region’s ability to mount that recov- government announced anyone September, independent councillor month that he is confident it will be cesses to celebrate as the airport ery. returning to the UK from France Bert Biscoe asked for immediate operating in 2021: “Next year is guar- teams work relentlessly to rebuild “To that end, work will continue to would have to isolate for 14 days. concerns to be raised with the Prime anteed. And I can assure you we are the route network and restore vital rebuild the route network, and we Cherbourg, Le Havre and Saint- Minister, demonstrating just how working hard to ensure we continue connectivity for the region. remain confident that once the UK Malo crossings to Portsmouth are important Brittany Ferries is to the to serve you all in 2022 – and In partnership with Cornwall starts to make progress in its battle to not currently running, nor is Cher- region. beyond.” Dedicated to helping you succeed WESTERN MORNING NEWS Thursday, October 22, 2020 Annual Business Guide 2020 23 Analysis Jobs diversity will see us through Top 150 companiesTop 150 companies in Devon and in Cornwall Devon and by sector Cornwall by sector Duncan Leslie, partner Top 150 companies in Devon and Cornwall by sector Agriculture, Fishing, Hunting & Forestry Education Electricity, Gas or Water Supply Agriculture, Fishing, Hunting & Forestry Electricity, Gas or Water Supply at PKF Francis Clark, Agriculture, Fishing, Hunting & 1% 1%Education Business Services Forestry Agriculture, Fishing, Hunting & 1% 1% Business Services analyses the top 150 list 3% Forestry Business Services Financial Services Education 3% 4% EngineeringBusiness Services 3% Financial Services Education 2% Engineering 3% and looks at what’s Electricity, Gas or Water Supply Wholesale & Retail 4% Health & Social Work 41% 2%2% changed since last year Electricity, Gas or Water Supply Wholesale & Retail Health & Social Work Engineering 41% Leisure & Tourism 2% 1% Engineering Leisure & Tourism nce again the top 150 Financialcom- Services panies headquartered in Dev- 1% Oon and Cornwall are rankedHealth & SocialFinancial Work Services by turnover. Encouragingly, 42% of these businesses have seen Leisuretheir & TourismHealth & Social Work turnover grow by 10% or more this Manufacturing year. Leisure & Tourism Manufacturing The most dramatic change in this 24% Media & Creative year’s list is the absence of Flybe. Manufacturing Long established as one of the larg- Manufacturing Mining & Quarrying 24% est employers in the region, the Exe- Media & Creative ter-based airline sadly ceased trad- ing in March after going Propertyinto & Construction administration. Having held on to Mining & Quarrying third place in last year’s list, withRenewable a Energy turnover of £752.6m and 2,159 Property & Construction employees, Flybe’s high-profileTechnology demise was undeniably a major blow Renewable Energy to the South West economy. Telecommunications This is part of a wider issue follow- Transport, StorageTechnology & Communication ing the collapse of Thomas Cook in Transport, Storage & Communication Media & Creative 2019 and Monarch before that,Wholesale so & RetailTelecommunications 1% not specifically a South West phe- 4% nomenon. This part of the travel sec- Mining & Quarrying Transport, Storage & Communication Telecommunications Renewable Energy tor looks to have some huge issues to 1% 1% Property & Construction 2% Media & Creative work through. I fear we are likely to Transport, Storage & Communication 9% 1% see more airlines succumb to the Wholesale & Retail 4%Technology global pandemic, though, on a more 1% Mining & Quarrying positive note, domestic tourism Telecommunications Renewable Energy Top 150 companies in Devon and Cornwall by turnover could prosper in the context of 1% 1% Property & Construction 2% Top 150 companies in Devon and Cornwall by turnover 9% £250m and above reduced international travel. Technology £20m - £29m The elephant in the room is, of Top 150 companies in Devon and Cornwall by turnover £250m and above 7% 1% 19% £100m - £249m course, Covid-19. Since the table is £250m and above £20m - £29m 8% based on the latest publicly available 7% £250m and above 19% £100m - £249m £100m - £249m accounts, the impact of the pandem- 8% ic remains to be seen in these£100m fig - £249m- £60m - £99m ures. Anecdotally, businesses£60m in -the £99m region have shown great resilience so far, helped by the Government£50m - £59m £60m - £99m £50m - £59m support schemes. £60m - £99m £40m - £49m 15% Notwithstanding the absence of £40m - £49m 15% Flybe, this year’s top 150 have£30m gener - £39m- ated a collective £13.9bn in turnover, only marginally down on £14bn£20m last- £29m £30m - £39m year. This highlights the huge impor- tance of these companies and their £30m - £39m £20m - £29m success to the economy of Devon 20% and Cornwall. Pennon – owner of South West £30m - £39m Water – retains its position at the top 20% of the list, with revenues of £1.39bn. £50m - £59m However, next year we can expect 9% this summer’s sale of Viridor, its waste management business, to be reflected in the group’s turnover. Completing the top three are Nor- ton Group Holdings, owner of The £40m - £49m £50m - £59m Range superstores, and Devonport 22% 9% Royal Dockyard. among this elite group – Scot Group are Wrafton Laboratories and Mur- of Flybe. At a sector level, wholesale Devon and Cornwall’s 150 biggest At the other end of the list, Cornish and Troy (UK). ray Holdings (SW), who join the list and retail accounts for 41% of the top businesses represent 17 different Mutual Assurance Company com- Total employment by the top 150 in 42nd and 47th place respectively. 150 firms, with The Range, industry sectors, highlighting the pletes the top 150, with revenues of stands at 77,000 (2019: 75,000), with For those interested in cross- Garages Group and Mole Valley diverse employment base which has £23.6m. the top 20 making up over half of this Tamar rivalry, 77% of the top 150 are Farmers leading the way. long been one of our region’s eco- There has been some movement figure. A fifth of the companies listed headquartered in Devon and 23% in Manufacturing firms make up 24% nomic strengths. in the top 20, notably Princess employ more than 500 people. Cornwall – an identical split to 2019. of the top 150 – with key players This has helped us to weather pre- £40m - £49m Yachts, Vospers of Plymouth, Grego- More than half of this year’s new However, Cornwall’s total turnover including Devonport Royal Dock- vious recessions and we remain opti- 22% ry Distribution and Cambium Net- entrants come from the wholesale contribution has risen by 4% to yard, Dunbia (UK) and Norbord mistic that it will stand us in good works all climbing at least two plac- and retail and manufacturing sec- £2.7bn, while Devon’s has decreased Europe – followed by property and stead once again in these uncertain es. There are two new entrants tors. The highest ranking new names by 2% to £11.2bn, reflecting the loss construction, at 9%. times.

#1 auditors to top 150 businesses 24 Thursday, October 22, 2020 WESTERN MORNING NEWS Top 150 Companies in Devon and Cornwall 2019 Company Name County Latest Accounts Date Turnover Number of Employees Sector Last available year Last available year 1 1 PENNON GROUP PLC Devon Tuesday, March 31, 2020 £1,389,900,000.00 4,853 Electricity, Gas or Water Supply 2 2 NORTON GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Devon Sunday, February 03, 2019 £942,679,000.00 10,089 Wholesale & Retail 3 4 DEVONPORT ROYAL DOCKYARD LIMITED Devon Sunday, March 31, 2019 £705,243,000.00 5,541 Manufacturing 4 5 HELSTON GARAGES GROUP LIMITED Cornwall Tuesday, December 31, 2019 £643,371,000.00 1,145 Wholesale & Retail 5 6 MOLE VALLEY FARMERS LIMITED Devon Monday, September 30, 2019 £492,945,000.00 2,073 Wholesale & Retail 6 7 DUNBIA (UK) Devon Sunday, December 30, 2018 £488,614,569.00 1,703 Manufacturing 7 8 NORBORD EUROPE LIMITED Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £387,783,000.00 735 Manufacturing 8 11 PRINCESS YACHTS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £340,260,000.00 2,865 Manufacturing 9 9 CWC (UK HOLDINGS) LIMITED Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £309,134,000.00 424 Wholesale & Retail 10 10 ACCORD-UK LTD Devon Sunday, March 31, 2019 £270,333,000.00 706 Manufacturing 11 12 MIDAS GROUP LIMITED Devon Tuesday, April 30, 2019 £259,341,000.00 537 Property & Construction 12 14 VOSPERS OF PLYMOUTH LIMITED Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £248,175,360.00 632 Wholesale & Retail 13 17 GREGORY DISTRIBUTION (HOLDINGS) LIMITED Devon Saturday, September 28, 2019 £238,894,000.00 2,492 Transport, Storage & Communication 14 15 IMERYS MINERALS LIMITED Cornwall Monday, December 31, 2018 £194,287,000.00 1,073 Mining & Quarrying 15 16 ST.AUSTELL BREWERY COMPANY LIMITED Cornwall Saturday, December 29, 2018 £179,645,000.00 1,519 Manufacturing 16 19 CAMBIUM NETWORKS, LTD Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £171,606,576.00 105 Telecommunications 17 18 CORSERV LIMITED Cornwall Sunday, March 31, 2019 £162,302,000.00 2,618 Property & Construction 18 24 SCOT GROUP LIMITED Devon Sunday, March 31, 2019 £145,518,000.00 1,791 Wholesale & Retail 19 25 TROY (UK) LIMITED Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £143,579,969.00 123 Wholesale & Retail 20 20 APPLEBY WESTWARD GROUP LIMITED Cornwall Sunday, September 30, 2018 £132,539,370.00 175 Wholesale & Retail / Transport, Storage & Communication 21 23 NEWCROSS HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS LIMITED Devon Tuesday, April 30, 2019 £128,298,731.00 3,388 Health & Social Work 22 21 DE VAN AUTOMOTIVE LIMITED Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £123,220,995.00 256 Wholesale & Retail 23 22 LIVEWELL SOUTHWEST CIC Devon Sunday, March 31, 2019 £122,309,320.00 2,396 Health & Social Work 24 26 PRO - DIRECT GROUP LIMITED Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £99,334,895.00 472 Wholesale & Retail 25 28 HAWKINS HOLDINGS LIMITED Cornwall Sunday, June 30, 2019 £88,828,054.00 246 Wholesale & Retail 26 34 GALPHARM INTERNATIONAL LIMITED Devon Tuesday, December 31, 2019 £85,960,000.00 67 Wholesale & Retail 27 31 CHARLES ROBERTSON (HOLDINGS) LIMITED Cornwall Sunday, December 30, 2018 £83,415,472.00 1,119 Wholesale & Retail 28 27 WAINHOMES (SOUTH WEST) LIMITED Devon Sunday, June 30, 2019 £82,379,000.00 120 Property & Construction 29 32 PENCARRIE LIMITED Devon Friday, December 28, 2018 £81,848,900.00 243 Wholesale & Retail 30 29 TOSHIBA CARRIER UK LTD. Devon Friday, November 30, 2018 £78,120,000.00 231 Transport, Storage & Communication 31 42 RITTAL-C S M LIMITED Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £77,081,000.00 447 Manufacturing 32 35 DAIRY LIMITED Devon Saturday, January 04, 2020 £74,485,000.00 145 Manufacturing 33 30 CENTRAX HOLDINGS LIMITED Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £74,379,974.00 304 Manufacturing 34 36 FTI MANAGEMENT LIMITED Devon Sunday, March 31, 2019 £72,462,409.00 354 Wholesale & Retail / Property & Construction 35 37 BANDVULC TYRES LTD Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £71,827,941.00 361 Manufacturing 36 55 CHAMPION GROUNDWORKS LIMITED Cornwall Monday, September 30, 2019 £71,646,192.00 358 Property & Construction 37 40 RIVERFORD ORGANIC FARMERS LIMITED Devon Saturday, April 27, 2019 £68,089,170.00 699 Agriculture, Fishing, Hunting & Forestry 38 53 SEASALT HOLDINGS LIMITED Cornwall Saturday, February 02, 2019 £65,657,312.00 903 Wholesale & Retail 39 48 ATLANTIC INERTIAL SYSTEMS LIMITED Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £65,278,000.00 266 Manufacturing 40 41 CAVANNA GROUP LIMITED Devon Friday, November 30, 2018 £64,808,133.00 124 Property & Construction 41 44 WATSON-MARLOW LIMITED Cornwall Monday, December 31, 2018 £64,595,689.00 338 Manufacturing 42 WRAFTON LABORATORIES LIMITED Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £64,250,000.00 523 Manufacturing 43 38 SEARCHFLOW LIMITED Devon Sunday, September 30, 2018 £62,638,520.00 105 Property & Construction 44 58 HELTOR LIMITED Devon Saturday, August 31, 2019 £61,689,068.00 79 Wholesale & Retail (Oil / Fuel) 45 43 PERCY R BREND & SONS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED Devon Sunday, March 31, 2019 £61,589,084.00 1,203 Leisure & Tourism 46 MURRAY HOLDINGS (SW) LIMITED Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £60,326,246.00 173 wholesale & retail 47 52 PENDENNIS SHIPYARD (HOLDINGS) LIMITED Cornwall Monday, December 31, 2018 £59,629,449.00 437 Manufacturing 48 57 ALLEN & HEATH LIMITED Cornwall Sunday, March 31, 2019 £58,232,000.00 116 Wholesale & Retail 49 49 DCM (CORNWALL) LIMITED Cornwall Monday, December 31, 2018 £57,621,360.00 125 Wholesale & Retail 50 LANDMARK INFORMATION GROUP LIMITED Devon Sunday, September 30, 2018 £57,444,202.00 362 Business Services (legal products and data supply) 51 54 KAWASAKI PRECISION MACHINERY (UK) LIMITED Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £57,017,036.00 266 Manufacturing 52 46 JOHN HEATHCOAT & COMPANY (HOLDINGS) LIMITED Devon Friday, May 31, 2019 £55,923,000.00 480 Manufacturing 53 62 MITCHELL & WEBBER LIMITED Cornwall Saturday, November 30, 2019 £55,602,770.00 86 Wholesale & Retail (Oil / Fuel) 54 82 CORNISH FARM DAIRY LIMITED Cornwall Tuesday, April 30, 2019 £55,280,551.00 234 Manufacturing 55 67 GOONVEAN HOLDINGS LIMITED Cornwall Monday, September 30, 2019 £52,422,447.00 470 Mining & Quarrying 56 79 CDF GROUP LTD Devon Sunday, June 30, 2019 £52,353,000.00 118 Technology 57 50 ROGER YOUNG LIMITED Cornwall Monday, December 31, 2018 £50,835,246.00 119 Wholesale & Retail 58 33 STILL MATERIALS HANDLING LIMITED Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £50,735,000.00 214 Wholesale & Retail 59 56 STOVAX HEATING GROUP LIMITED Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £50,429,120.00 321 Manufacturing 60 86 WESTCO PROPERTIES LIMITED Devon Sunday, March 31, 2019 £49,450,000.00 14 Property & Construction 61 59 MJL CORNWALL LIMITED Cornwall Sunday, September 30, 2018 £48,667,153.00 303 Property & Construction 62 64 BOTT LIMITED Cornwall Monday, December 31, 2018 £48,553,336.00 407 Manufacturing 63 73 ALLAN SICHEL LIMITED Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £48,535,140.00 141 Wholesale & Retail 64 75 HARPER’S HOME MIX LIMITED Devon Sunday, June 30, 2019 £48,411,661.00 72 Manufacturing 65 71 SNAPFISH UK, LTD. Devon Thursday, February 28, 2019 £48,145,495.00 92 Wholesale & Retail 66 51 STEVE HOSKIN CONSTRUCTION LIMITED Cornwall Sunday, September 30, 2018 £47,830,652.00 313 Engineering (civil) / Construction 67 63 WEST PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES CORNWALL LIMITED Cornwall Monday, December 31, 2018 £47,606,000.00 161 Manufacturing 68 87 GOODRIDGE LIMITED Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £47,380,000.00 403 Wholesale & Retail 69 72 FOOT ANSTEY LLP Devon Tuesday, April 30, 2019 £47,169,000.00 520 Business Services 70 102 COBELL LTD Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £47,053,325.00 50 Wholesale & Retail 71 84 A E STUART LIMITED Devon Sunday, March 31, 2019 £46,120,840.00 218 Agriculture, Fishing, Hunting & Forestry 72 83 CREDITON MILLING HOLDINGS LTD Devon Sunday, June 30, 2019 £45,760,349.00 72 Manufacturing 73 60 STIGA LTD Devon Friday, August 31, 2018 £45,623,174.00 47 Wholesale & Retail 74 68 PHILIP DENNIS FOODSERVICE (HOLDINGS) LIMITED Devon Saturday, January 26, 2019 £45,426,612.00 296 Wholesale & Retail 75 76 ASHFORDS LLP Devon Tuesday, April 30, 2019 £44,950,000.00 476 Business Services Big enough to depend on WESTERN MORNING NEWS Thursday, October 22, 2020 25 Top 150 Companies in Devon and Cornwall 2019 Company Name County Latest Accounts Date Turnover Number of Employees Sector Last available year Last available year

76 SUCCESSION WEALTH MANAGEMENT LIMITED Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £44,903,000.00 ? Financial Services 77 121 BURTS SNACKS LIMITED Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £44,440,190.00 289 Manufacturing 78 103 GCP STUDENT LIVING PLC Devon Sunday, June 30, 2019 £44,410,000.00 124 Property & Construction 79 70 STYLES & BROWN LTD Devon Tuesday, April 30, 2019 £44,146,123.00 286 Wholesale & Retail 80 81 FRANCIS CLARK LLP Devon Sunday, March 31, 2019 £44,111,000.00 615 Business Services 81 80 BARDEN CORPORATION(U.K.)LIMITED(THE) Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £43,785,106.00 391 Manufacturing 82 106 WILTON BRADLEY HOLDINGS LIMITED Devon Tuesday, December 31, 2019 £43,666,221.00 222 Wholesale & Retail 83 105 NEAT EXPERTS HOLDINGS LIMITED Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £43,270,453.00 69 Property & Construction 84 101 FLATCABLE LIMITED Devon Thursday, October 31, 2019 £43,055,710.00 29 Wholesale & Retail 85 92 WHITE ROSE UK LTD Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £43,045,403.00 1,183 Wholesale & Retail - Fast Food 86 66 VI - SPRING LIMITED Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £43,016,000.00 232 Manufacturing 87 WFC CONTRACTORS LIMITED Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £42,531,740.00 59 Property & Construction 88 85 H R JASPER & SON (HOLDINGS) LIMITED Cornwall Sunday, March 31, 2019 £42,087,034.00 105 Manufacturing 89 95 TDK-LAMBDA UK LIMITED Devon Sunday, March 31, 2019 £42,077,000.00 313 Manufacturing 90 89 GM COACHWORK LIMITED Devon Sunday, September 30, 2018 £41,141,886.00 156 Wholesale & Retail 91 94 F W S CARTER & SONS LIMITED Devon Sunday, March 31, 2019 £40,854,000.00 173 Agriculture, Fishing, Hunting & Forestry 92 88 SPAREX LIMITED Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £40,848,604.00 178 Wholesale & Retail 93 90 MVV ENVIRONMENT DEVONPORT LIMITED Devon Sunday, March 31, 2019 £39,528,366.00 32 Renewable Energy 94 93 H.TEMPEST LIMITED Cornwall Monday, December 31, 2018 £39,502,050.00 812 Media & Creative 95 98 MICHELMORES LLP Devon Tuesday, April 30, 2019 £39,395,000.00 453 Business Services 96 131 CMOSTORES GROUP LIMITED Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £38,640,604.00 80 Wholesale & Retail 97 78 SHARP’S BREWERY LIMITED Cornwall Monday, December 31, 2018 £38,159,857.00 139 Manufacturing 98 96 TWOFOUR BROADCAST LIMITED Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £37,725,000.00 176 Media & Creative 99 110 JMC-GROUP LTD Devon Thursday, May 31, 2018 £37,275,770.00 39 Engineering 100 100 A.E. RODDA & SON GROUP LTD Cornwall Sunday, March 31, 2019 £36,848,000.00 153 Manufacturing 101 114 DEVON DOCTORS LIMITED Devon Sunday, March 31, 2019 £36,565,308.00 594 Health & Social Work 102 CLASSIC 14 HOLDINGS LIMITED Devon Sunday, March 31, 2019 £36,450,865.00 86 Property & Construction 103 97 ZEBRA MTD LIMITED Devon Thursday, January 31, 2019 £35,623,154.00 132 Wholesale & Retail 104 135 TOLCHARDS LIMITED Devon Tuesday, December 31, 2019 £35,478,654.00 121 Wholesale & Retail 105 77 WILLIAMSBUILD MANAGEMENT LIMITED Devon Wednesday, July 31, 2019 £35,057,419.00 129 Property & Construction 106 91 VISTGATE LIMITED Cornwall Friday, November 30, 2018 £35,024,692.00 149 Agriculture, Fishing, Hunting & Forestry 107 111 WW (UK) LIMITED Devon Tuesday, April 30, 2019 £34,643,741.00 126 Wholesale & Retail 108 141 WORLDS APART HOLDINGS LIMITED Cornwall Monday, December 31, 2018 £34,073,941.00 63 Manufacturing 109 107 FIRST SOUTH WEST LIMITED Cornwall Saturday, March 30, 2019 £34,021,000.00 734 Transport, Storage & Communication 110 118 XYZ MACHINE TOOLS (HOLDINGS) LIMITED Devon Tuesday, April 30, 2019 £33,989,927.00 90 Wholesale & Retail 111 99 FALFISH (HOLDINGS) LIMITED Cornwall Sunday, March 31, 2019 £33,875,585.00 136 Wholesale & Retail 112 150 AMBERON LIMITED Devon Tuesday, April 30, 2019 £33,636,000.00 548 Wholesale & Retail 113 104 ROWES GARAGE LIMITED Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £33,594,575.00 122 Wholesale & Retail 114 149 HARRIER PRINT LTD Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £33,459,331.00 ? Wholesale & Retail 115 119 COXCO HOLDINGS LIMITED Cornwall Monday, December 31, 2018 £32,538,161.00 41 Wholesale & Retail 116 13 WRIGLEY COMPANY LIMITED(THE) Devon Saturday, December 29, 2018 £32,524,448.00 70 Manufacturing 117 117 E. & J. W. GLENDINNING (HOLDINGS) LIMITED Devon Tuesday, April 30, 2019 £32,367,429.00 231 Mining & Quarrying 118 116 EMBLEM HOLDINGS LIMITED Devon Sunday, March 31, 2019 £32,075,435.00 32 Business Services 119 69 TOMY UK CO., LTD. Devon Sunday, March 31, 2019 £32,050,000.00 80 Wholesale & Retail 120 115 MARSH HOLDINGS LIMITED Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £31,796,846.00 74 Wholesale & Retail 121 120 E T HOLDINGS LIMITED Devon Sunday, March 31, 2019 £31,761,012.00 250 Transport, Storage & Communication 122 127 MASONS FARM AND COUNTRY LIMITED Devon Sunday, March 31, 2019 £30,869,390.00 91 Wholesale & Retail 123 CASTLE AIR LIMITED Cornwall Saturday, November 30, 2019 £29,151,152.00 84 Leisure & Tourism 124 123 HOME HARDWARE SOUTHWEST LIMITED Devon Sunday, June 30, 2019 £29,036,874.00 168 Wholesale & Retail 125 VAPORMATIC U.K. LIMITED Devon Wednesday, October 31, 2018 £28,688,000.00 100 Wholesale & retail 126 136 RODGERS OF PLYMOUTH LIMITED Devon Tuesday, December 31, 2019 £28,425,210.00 99 Wholesale & Retail 127 126 SC GROUP-GLOBAL LIMITED Devon Saturday, August 31, 2019 £28,314,085.00 231 Manufacturing 128 129 M.J. BAKER FOODSERVICE LIMITED Devon Tuesday, December 31, 2019 £28,235,667.00 120 Wholesale & Retail 129 124 ROADFORM CIVIL ENGINEERING COMPANY LIMITED Devon Wednesday, October 31, 2018 £28,158,461.00 196 Engineering (civil) 130 133 MOLE AVON TRADING LIMITED Devon Sunday, June 30, 2019 £27,877,000.00 162 Wholesale & Retail 131 122 Victoria Group Holdings Limited Devon Sunday, September 30, 2018 £27,707,000.00 249 Transport, Storage & Communication 132 137 KABA LIMITED Devon Sunday, June 30, 2019 £27,498,842.00 118 Manufacturing 133 KANDYTOYS HOLDINGS LIMITED Devon Friday, November 30, 2018 £27,475,429.00 66 wholesale & retail 134 108 LONDON & DEVONSHIRE TRUST LIMITED Devon Tuesday, December 31, 2019 £27,445,701.00 76 Property & Construction 135 125 SCC (HOLDINGS) LIMITED Devon Monday, December 31, 2018 £27,158,661.00 90 Wholesale & Retail 136 144 3T’S LEISURE LTD. Devon Thursday, October 31, 2019 £27,065,375.00 83 Wholesale & Retail 137 130 KINGDON HOLDINGS LIMITED Devon Saturday, August 31, 2019 £26,982,196.00 137 Wholesale & Retail 138 112 HEMSLEY FRASER GROUP LIMITED Cornwall Monday, December 31, 2018 £25,428,046.00 154 Education 139 138 NEWBERY METALS LIMITED Devon Sunday, June 30, 2019 £25,357,003.00 51 Wholesale & Retail 140 140 BARRETT PARTNERSHIP LIMITED Devon Monday, September 30, 2019 £25,329,224.00 70 Wholesale & Retail 141 143 ARMADA INVESTMENTS LIMITED Devon Sunday, March 31, 2019 £25,067,296.00 23 Financial Services 142 JOHN FOWLER HOLDINGS LIMITED Devon Thursday, October 31, 2019 £24,445,804.00 304 Transport, Storage & Communication 143 ROTOLOK (HOLDINGS) LIMITED Devon Friday, May 31, 2019 £24,412,454.00 332 Manufacturing 144 CARLING TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED Devon Tuesday, December 31, 2019 £24,344,150.00 27 Manufacturing 145 TOR CURRENCY EXCHANGE LIMITED Cornwall Sunday, June 30, 2019 £24,250,000.00 86 Financial Services 146 SILICON SENSING SYSTEMS LIMITED Devon Tuesday, December 31, 2019 £23,958,000.00 14 Manufacturing 147 WESTCOUNTRY FOOD HOLDINGS LTD Cornwall Saturday, December 29, 2018 £23,871,378.00 188 Wholesale & retail 148 DALTER UK LIMITED Devon Tuesday, December 31, 2019 £23,737,893.00 9 Wholesale & retail 149 SOUTHERN ENGLAND FARMS LIMITED Cornwall Friday, May 31, 2019 £23,713,161.00 270 Agriculture, Fishing, Hunting & Forestry 150 146 CORNISH MUTUAL ASSURANCE COMPANY,LIMITED Cornwall Monday, September 30, 2019 £23,649,128.00 110 Financial Services Small enough to care 26 Annual Business Guide 2020 Thursday, October 22, 2020 WESTERN MORNING NEWS League Table: Top 10 charities in the South West Charities also hit by pandemic Charities have also been hit by the pandemic, and their priorities have been brought sharply into focus

ike all sectors, charities have been hit hard by the pandemic L– and perhaps no more so than the front line care sector, writes Han- nah Finch. Yet, Cornwall Care – which this year tops the list of charities in the region (see box below) – says that despite the challenges, the pandem- ic has brought into sharp focus the priorities for the organisation. The charity had coronavirus out- breaks in four of its 16 homes and at a time when most staff were being confronted with the very human dilemma of running away or step- ping up, that physically remote but mentally close connection proved hugely therapeutic. Cornwall Care employs 1,500 staff and looks after around 650 elderly and vulnerable people in 16 care homes, together with another 500 in the community. Its current turnover is £42million. By necessity, the crisis led to improved skill levels, encouraged mutual support and increased pub- lic understanding of what those in social care do and incentivised crea- tivity. Technology has come into its own and, whilst never replacing human relationships, has an impor- tant part to play in maximising >>Volunteers from Cornwall resources. Care, Eden Project and Cornwall Like most crises, coronavirus has College Group work together to had its more positive aspects. From spruce up the garden at the 10-year-old Mia Richardson who Trevern care home in Falmouth managed to raise more than £18,000 Cornwall Care for residents at Blackwood home in Camborne by running the equiva- lent of Land’s End to John O’Groats on her family’s cross trainer, to fur- loughed volunteers from The Eden number two of the region’s biggest across the UK, the theatre has been open its main Lyric auditorium from the Arts Council in July. Mr Project devoting their free time to charities, Eden announced it was forced to cancel shows and re-think under the current restrictions. Vinken said at the time that this cash transforming Cornwall Care gardens. cutting 169 jobs after losing £7mil- its short term future unless social The theatre put 100 jobs at risk in bought the venue “vital extra time” The Eden Trust – which operates lion this year. distancing rules are relaxed. June 2020 after the coronavirus lock- but now says hard decisions will The Eden Project – has had its own Third on the list is Theatre Royal Chief executive Adrian Vinken down wiped out income, but was have to be made before the end of challenges this year. Coming in at Plymouth, and like arts venues said it is not economically viable to rescued by an £806,000 lifeline grant the year if audiences can’t return. top ten Charities

Latest Turnover Number of Employees 2020 2019 Name R/O County Accounts Date Last available year Last available year 1 1 CORNWALL CARE LIMITED Cornwall 12/31/2019 35,415,000.00 721 2 2 THE EDEN TRUST Cornwall 3/31/2019 30,247,000.00 461 3 3 THEATRE ROYAL (PLYMOUTH) LIMITED Devon 3/31/2019 17,617,000.00 104 4 4 THE DARTINGTON HALL TRUST Devon 3/31/2019 16,887,000.00 270 7 5 PLYMOUTH MARINE LABORATORY Devon 3/31/2020 16,416,000.00 163 5 THE EXETER DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE Devon 12/31/2018 15,334,000.00 51 6 7 CHILDREN’S HOSPICE SOUTH 3/31/2019 13,840,227.00 281 8 6 SOUTH WEST ENVIRONMENTAL PARKS LIMITED Devon 10/31/2019 13,027,798.00 265 >>Theatre Royal Plymouth is lit in red to highlight the 9 8 SHELTERBOX TRUST Cornwall 12/31/2019 12,554,000.00 126 plight of the arts during the 10 9 DEVON & CORNWALL AUTISTIC COMMUNITY TRUST Cornwall 3/31/2018 11,263,999.00 473 pandemic Your ambition becomes our ambition WESTERN MORNING NEWS Thursday, October 22, 2020 Annual Business Guide 2020 27 St Austell Brewery Brewery ‘on the long road back to recovery’

>>Kevin Georgel, St Austell Brewery’s chief executive St Austell Brewery

o say 2020 has been a tough While production levels have gone much-needed boost for consumer year is possibly the under- It’s been an extraordinary year for St Austell Brewery, back to pre-lockdown levels, there confidence.” Tstatement of the decade and remains a lot of uncertainty ahead, While St Austell Brewery acquired one Westcountry company which which was hit hard when the pandemic took hold in March especially if further lockdowns, local, two iconic Devon pubs and hotels this has felt the squeeze these past 12 regional or even national, come into year, it said further growth of its pub months has been St Austell Brewery. the brewery as retail director for two the government’s Coronavirus Job force, and additional restrictions are portfolio is now on hold while the The business was entering into a years, became the managing director Retention Scheme which – at one imposed on pubs, hotels and restau- Covid-19 crisis is not under control. new chapter in its history and num- of pubs, inns and hotels. stage – enabled us to furlough 90% of rants such as early closing time, or The spokesman said: “While we’re bers were looking good when the “When the coronavirus crisis hit, our people. The scheme has been a full closures. not ruling out any pub acquisitions, pandemic hit back in March and put and our pubs first closed, our vital support for the hospitality sec- He said: “Since reopening on July it’s not our focus at this moment in a lot of things on hold. income fell by 90%,” said a spokes- tor and enabled us to protect the reg- 4, we have worked tirelessly to adapt time. We’ll be looking to invest in our Before the lockdown was imposed man. “During the first half of 2020, St ular income of all of our teams, while to new government guidelines and current collection of managed pubs, on the nation on March 23 by Prime Austell Brewery’s turnover was sig- pubs remained closed.” made significant investments to inns and hotels, to ensure that we Minister Boris Johnson, St Austell nificantly lower than the same time Ironically there was a peak in ensure our pubs are safe, regulated continue to offer the best possible Brewery saw Kevin Georgel join the period in 2019. While trade was up at demand for packaged beer during environments for our teams and cus- experiences for our customers.” business as chief executive following the start of the year, our income fell the lockdown with consumption at tomers. It is not all doom and gloom how- the retirement of James Staughton, by 90% for the three months that home, either purchased from super- “We’ll continue to ensure this and ever and he believes that if Covid is who had led the business for 20 years. pubs were forced to close.” markets and local shops or through look forward to extending a warm fairly under control come Easter Kevin, who was previously chief St Austell Brewery has been an mail orders, rocketing. welcome to our locals and those vis- 2021, events and festivals start again, executive at Admiral Taverns, had advocate of the furlough scheme and The spokesman added: “During iting the Westcountry, throughout and the staycation trend continues also been a non-executive director at other government support packages lockdown, there was a record the colder months and into next on its current growth trajectory, 2021 St Austell Brewery for four years. from the start as it feared many busi- increase in demand for our pack- year. could be a boom year. And as the In February, the family-owned nesses would go under if they were aged beers. Due to the uplift in “However, we need more support tourist season extends longer into independent brewery, which also forced to close without any help supermarket sales, and orders that specifically targets the hospitali- the winter months, the recovery owns Bath Ales, announced the from the Government. through our online shop, we experi- ty sector, which has been hit harder could start now. acquisition of two iconic hotels in The brewery said production had enced substantial year-on-year and for longer than other industries. “Tourism has always been vitally Devon – Dartmouth’s Royal Castle continued throughout lockdown, growth in the off-trade. However, our If the government’s latest restrictions important to the economy in the Hotel and the Royal Seven Stars, in focusing solely on packaged brands. overall own beer sales still fell signif- are to remain in place for six months, South West – particularly during the , as part of plans to strengthen It meant that brewing staff were kept icantly during the first half of the we need the VAT cut and business summer months. This year, due to and expand the firm’s managed pub on while non-brewing staff were fur- year because there was no market for rates holiday to be extended the rise in staycations, the region has estate across the South West region. loughed. our cask and keg beers, while pubs throughout 2021. become even more of a popular des- In March, Andrew Turner joined The spokesman added: “With remained closed.” “Cutting beer duty would also tination. the business in the newly created increased precautionary measures in He added: “We are now on the offer wet-led pubs the urgent sup- “Cornwall alone has attracted over role of managing director of beer place, we continued to brew our core long road to recovery having reo- port they need, to keep their doors two million visitors since lockdown and brands. Having previously beers – including Tribute, Proper Job pened our pubs in July and recom- open.” restrictions were lifted in July. We’re worked as trading director for Korev – for supermarkets nation- menced cask production. However, He added: “The Eat Out to Help hoping to see this level of footfall Heineken UK, he now leads St Aus- wide. We also delivered beers to cus- we will still make a significant loss Out scheme was a great success dur- again in 2021, and for people to con- tell’s own beer and wholesale drinks tomer’s homes across the UK, via our this year and know that there will be ing August, so we would also wel- tinue booking Westcountry stayca- business. online shop service. further challenges ahead for the hos- come a similar scheme next year, to tions throughout the autumn and Steve Worrall, who had worked at “We have been very grateful for pitality sector.” help attract footfall and provide a winter.” An integral part of your team 28 Thursday, October 22, 2020 WESTERN MORNING NEWS Food & drink Restaurants and pubs do their best to stay in business

Like everywhere else in the country, it has been a challenging year unlike any other for the food and drink sector in the South West, write Lee Trewhela and Tianna Corbin

uring difficult times, the hospitality industry has Dfought back. During a curtailed summer – the government’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme no doubt saw the economy get a much-needed boost. However, many businesses and trade leaders argued that it came at the wrong time for a region that had no trouble filling dining spaces at the height of the summer season. As a result, there is now a call for a new, flexible version of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme. Kim Conchie, chief executive of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, and Visit Cornwall chief executive Malcolm Bell are championing the idea and are lobbying Parliament. Mr Conchie said: “It has been very busy in the hospitality sector and >>Belinda Fuller, Mark Sear and there have been people out spending Sarah Sear from the Golden Lion Inn money, but whether enough to make at , which won a national business owners hold their nerve Great British Pub Award for with the prospect of winter in store, I providing over 2,500 free meals to simply don’t know. NHS staff and key workers “What Malcolm Bell and I would St Austell Brewery like to see is a more agile manifesta- tion of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, so that the business owner can decide when and where the pro- renowned chefs as Jack Stein and with the Prime Minister, who lis- people have changed their priorities will be make or break,” she said. motion applies, rather than the blan- Paul Ainsworth providing meals for tened to his concerns about the food and coronavirus will leave a legacy of “That final push will be vital to get us ket Monday and Wednesday.” the people of and sur- sector in the rural regions of the UK. enhanced focus and care in all our through the shoulder months of Jan- Some Cornish businesses have rounding areas, Ben Quinn and his After deliberating, they came up operations. Covid-19 has given us a uary, February and March, so it taken it upon themselves to intro- crew at Canteen in St Agnes feeding with a way to help their suppliers chance to try new things, some we would be great for the lockdown duce their own version of the NHS staff at Treliske, or pubs like the who had nowhere to send their pro- got right, some we got wrong.” support we received to continue at scheme. Customers at eight pubs in Victoria Inn and the Rising Sun in duce, and created weekly markets in “In some ways, coronavirus has Christmas. the Helston, Lizard and Falmouth Truro introducing ingenious takea- which people went directly to the become a watershed to consider and “It is about supporting local busi- areas were given an automatic 20 per way services, it all made a difference quay. They became ‘events’ for the re-prioritise and also remind us of ness and local jobs.” cent discount off food throughout to people’s lives. locals to look forward to. our fragility not only in business but Ruth, who set up the Great Cor- October, through their Back to the Two Cornish pubs were even rec- The restaurants were then allowed of ourselves too.” nish Food Store beside Waitrose in Local scheme. ognised at this year’s Great British to re-open and Mitch had to ensure Now all eyes are on the immediate Truro four years ago, believes the Matt Ferguson, landlord of the Pub Awards – the Golden Lion Inn & his sites were all Covid-19 safe and future, and that means Christmas. signs are good, pointing to support Queen’s Arms at Breage and the Lakeside Restaurant in Stithians for meet regulations set out by the gov- The festive period could be make or from residents and holiday-makers Three Tuns at St Keverne – who came the way it supported front-line work- ernment. break for food and drink businesses continuing in the months ahead – up with the idea – said: “The Eat Out ers, and the Bowgie at Crantock for “We needed to win customer con- which have survived the coronavirus but admitted it had been tough. to Help Out campaign from the Gov- ensuring the welfare of its staff dur- fidence, which we did,” he added. pandemic so far. Her own business has been forced ernment was very successful but a ing the pandemic. “This was further helped by the Eat So says Ruth Huxley, managing to adapt and review its strategy as lot of the feedback from it was that Mitch Tonks, the owner of Rock- Out to Help Out scheme, which director of Rockfish in Truro. the pandemic took its toll – 25% of the locals and the regulars didn’t fish, managed to save all 274 jobs Rockfish took part in. The businesswoman and passion- the workforce were laid off, the café necessarily get a chance to enjoy it in across his restaurants along with “Within 48 hours of our email to ate Cornish food supporter – who and toilets were closed, the store was August. having a video call with Prime Minis- say we were partaking, we took once ran the Cornwall Food Festival rearranged and its range of products “The goal for Back to the Local is ter Boris Johnson to raise concerns 20,000 reservations at Rockfish from on the city’s Lemon Quay – believes was reviewed. that everyone gets a chance to bene- of the food industry in the South people wanting to take advantage of the sector has been struck like never “I found pressing the stop button fit from a discount.” West. He said: “My mantra was to Rishi Sunak’s generosity, it was before and, while there have been quite cathartic, in a way,” she added. One of the most heartening thrive and survive at all costs whilst crazy. I know this is the same for winners and losers, even those who “It was a moment when we took aspects of the coronavirus pandemic maintaining our reputation, includ- many others, too, I don’t think I have emerge on the other side of a fraught stock of our business. I think a lot of was seeing so many people in hospi- ing that of all our staff and suppliers.” seen Brixham, Torbay, Dartmouth, season could be hit harder still if people have done the same. tality rallying to help their local com- Wanting to help others in the more Plymouth, Poole and Weymouth so support is not there at Christmas. “Some businesses who had per- munities and front-line NHS work- rural areas such as the South West, busy in my lifetime.” “I think, for many businesses in haps been fragile before Covid-19 ers. Whether that was such Mitch had an hour-long video call “Out of this will come some good, the food and drink sector, Christmas will have gone under. It probably was Dedicated to helping you succeed WESTERN MORNING NEWS Thursday, October 22, 2020 29 Food & drink Sharp’s Brewery strives hard to thrive during tough times

THE year 2020 has undoubtedly brand, which has grown its share of been hugely challenging for the beer the cask beer category to 11% (an industry, and for cask ale in particu- increase of 0.8%). This growth is lar. symptomatic of customers seeking Cask ale is a unique, live product the reassurance of trusted, success- which is only found in pubs, bars ful well-known brands. and restaurants and, in the case of Investment in the site at Rock con- Cornwall’s Sharp’s Brewery, tinues and, in September, the brew- accounts for the majority of their ery team installed a new Pilsner malt brewing output. silo, enabling them to increase pro- The closure of pubs during the duction of Offshore pilsner in line national lockdown, plus reduced with demand, which has been grow- capacity on reopening and ongoing ing exponentially in the On Trade uncertainty, has meant that the busi- (some weeks have seen an increase ness has naturally been through of 20% versus 2019). some testing times. While the brewery’s strategy of >>Ruth Huxley, founder of the There have also been several highs focusing on their core portfolio of Great Cornish Food Store in Truro this year, however. Most recently, the beers (Doom Bar, Offshore and Great Cornish Food Store team were delighted to have been Atlantic) has been a success, it has awarded six medals at the coveted meant that production of smaller, World Beer Awards, including limited-release beers has been tem- ‘World’s Best’ in its category for Sea porarily put on hold. This is the area Fury. Head Brewer Aaron McClure in which brewers can get most crea- the final straw for them. It is sad as it said: “These awards are an enor- tive, so the team cannot wait to get means that people will have lost mous achievement showing that our back to innovating and experiment- their jobs, but for many others it has brewing practices and procedures ing with brewing a fuller range of provided an opportunity to rethink are world class”. beers in the near future. their business.” In the summer, Sharp’s launched Another impact of the pandemic Sara Pla-Berenguer, from Small their first non-alcoholic beer, Doom this year is that Sharp’s usually World in Torquay, said that their Bar Zero, following two years of packed events plan has been deci- establishment was shocked at how brewing trials. The first 0.0% scale mated, with all planned public busy they had been since reopening amber ale in the UK market, Doom events being cancelled. Events such in July. She said: “We’ve actually put Bar Zero has already won a silver as the Padstow Christmas Festival loads of different flags in between medal at the World Beer Awards and are normally highlights in the brew- tables instead of the generic boring enjoyed strong sales performance, ery calendar and the team are look- plastic ones. It’s some fun and adds a being the second-biggest seller in ing forward to support local and bit of colour to the restaurant and I the no and low alcohol category national events again as soon as they quite like it. where it is sold. can. “I was so paranoid that I was even The performance of the brand’s While there have been some tough wearing two masks at the beginning, flagship beer, Doom Bar, has also times this year for the whole brewing it was horrible but now I’m used to been strong in the Off Trade, with a industry, a huge positive for Sharp’s it. Wearing a mask is part of me.” value increase of 14.9% this year ver- is the strength of its brands and its “Usually we’d be closing at mid- sus 2019 in single bottle, and 8.4% people. While the switch from drink- night and even still taking bookings increase in six-pack. ing in pubs to drinking at home had at 10 pm, but now we can’t. As a In the On Trade (pubs, bars and an impact on cask beer sales, Sharp’s business, the curfew isn’t good, but, restaurants), overall volume is of saw online beer orders increase by a with our mental health, it’s a lot bet- course down, due to the forced hos- huge 639% on average from March to ter. pitality closures during lockdown. September. “It’s important to always look on Cask beer is also more vulnerable The flexibility and agility shown in the bright side. We need to remem- than other packaged beer (bottle, the face of the challenges to brewery ber that we’re all in this together and >>Rockfish boss can and keg) due to its short shelf- operations has been inspiring, and no one is 100% truly safe. It’s not just Mitch Tonks life and uniqueness to pubs. Sharp’s are in a strong position to one person’s job or responsibility, On the upside for Sharp’s, there is head into 2021 with all the tools to it’s all of us,” Sara added. huge strength in the Doom Bar bring continued success.

#1 auditors to top 150 businesses 30 Thursday, October 22, 2020 WESTERN MORNING NEWS Tourism Financial packages keep tourism afloat...

OLIVIER VERGNAULT looks at an industry which is praying for a bumper 2021 in order to recoup the losses of a ‘devasting’ year for the region’s tourism sector

ornwall and Devon’s made. The reason we’re not all jump- beaches, national parks and ing off a cliff, though, is that the vari- Cattractions may have been ous financial packages from the gov- packed to the rafters this summer, ernment such as the furlough but the influx of tourists we have scheme or reduced VAT rate have seen flocking to the region since the really helped keep businesses afloat.” coronavirus lockdown was eased off Sally Everton, Mr Bell’s counter- and hotels and restaurants were al- part in Devon agrees, adding that lowed to reopen, cannot hide one outdoor attractions have fared better fact – 2020 has been a devastating than indoor ones which were further year for the tourism sector. constrained by restrictions and ‘Challenging’ and ‘devastating’ are social distancing measures to be the key words heard muttered by Covid-19 safe. tourism industry chiefs in Cornwall She said that despite the financial and Devon, as hoteliers, restaura- help from Whitehall, three hotels in teurs and attraction owners catch the county went bust and many their breath after a few manic sum- more jobs have been lost. Only in mer months and take stock – or rath- September, Eden Project announced er look at their empty pockets. that it was making 169 redundancies, According to Visit Devon and Visit while Paignton Zoo announced 130 Cornwall, the annual estimated job cuts, with the Minack theatre turnover loss for the year is £1.3bn in also announcing 19 job losses. Many Devon and £800m in Cornwall. In more hotels and restaurants have the Duchy that’s about 40% down on done the same. Many attractions and a normal year. hotels have lost more than £1m in “It’s been devastating,” Visit Corn- turnover year on year. wall chief executive Malcolm Bell Mrs Everton said: “The loss of >>The Watergate Bay said. “Even with an extended season business over the summer across all Hotel hopes to return to and efforts made by all of us to the tourism and hospitality sector being packed out again encourage visitors to come down in has been immense, and despite the Lewis Harrison-Pinder-@pindygr the autumn and winter, the sector is press saying that Devon and Corn- unlikely to recoup any of the losses it wall were bursting at the seams, it Big enough to depend on WESTERN MORNING NEWS Thursday, October 22, 2020 31 Tourism

Greg Martin staycations way forward for holiday parks

Business was going really well for we were completely shut down. Covid-19. The three and a half John Fowler Holiday Parks – it had Our call centre went from taking months that we were closed, we been investing heavily in new bookings to issuing refunds. will never make that money back accommodation and had expanded “Luckily a lot of loyal customers but we are more fortunate than its portfolio with the purchase of just wished to postpone their most. If we can keep out parks Llanridian Holiday Park on the holidays but anyone who wanted a running then we will be quite Gower peninsula – bringing the refund was able to do so. content. number of parks to 12 across “Thankfully, because of the “We think staycations are here to Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and government support, all of our 500 stay, especially for the short term Wales. staff were kept on furlough while but I think a lot depends on the Managing director John Fowler the core staff on the parks kept sector stepping up to deliver a explained: “We really felt the them maintained and tidy.” quality park that people want to business was moving forward and The parks re-opened again on return to. advanced bookings were up by 8% July 12 but some aspects of the “This year, a lot of people will on the previous year. It seemed that business, like entertainment and have tried a park holiday for the the domestic staycation market was amusement arcades, remain closed first time and we want them to quite buoyant and there was a lot though swimming pools have come back again and again. of interest in the service that we reopened. “It has got to be good enough to offered, and there still is.” Mr Fowler said: “Demand has rival a holiday abroad.” Figures for this year’s Annual been really good and as soon as He said that bookings at the Business Guide: Top 150 Businesses in shutdown lifted, our business moment remain strong for next Devon and Cornwall show that John resumed immediately. Bookings year and all staff are back and Fowler Holdings’ turnover for 2019 have been good and the main working. was £24,445,804 – making a debut thing people want is our holidays in “Our priority is to ensure that we on the list at number 142. our lodges and caravans, which are ready to react to the demand “But then lockdown hit,” said Mr naturally mean that people can get that should come back for next Fowler. away, but still social distance to season, we need to be able to deal “One minute we were busy, open comply with the Covid restrictions. with all the enquiries and make and taking bookings and the next “We invested heavily prior to sure are parks are ready to go.”

>>John Fowler Holiday Parks say bookings are strong for next year and all staff are back working

was but with much less capacity down here because they want to be than haemorrhage it out like it’s restrictions or whether there will be Devon and Cornwall – at a time that (some as low as 50%) to enable social in Cornwall and share the county been the case since March 23. a recession, 2021 is indeed shaping is generally cheaper. distancing and it is estimated that with us who live here, not because Christmas could be make or break up to be a fully booked season. He Both Mr Bell and Mrs Everton are the annual turnover loss in Devon is they couldn’t go to Benidorm.” for food and drink businesses that said: “Bookings for next year are calling on the government to keep £1.3bn. It’s eye watering.” He admits that lessons need to be have survived the coronavirus pan- already 20% up on the same period the VAT threshold down to 5%, as it Both counties may have seen an learnt and all in the tourism sector demic so far – and they will need our last year.” was this summer, until August 2021 influx of day trippers, but local resi- will be working more closely with help. That’s the view of Ruth Huxley, The prominent hotelier believes as a way to make the region even dents have largely stayed away from local authorities, the police, the managing director of the Great Cor- the season will extend longer into more attractive early on and encour- their own counties for fear of the health services and RNLI to ensure nish Food Store. the autumn and winter months as age even more people to book their tourist throngs bringing the corona- the mistakes made in 2020 do not The businesswoman and passion- demand for UK holidays has rocket- next year’s holidays early. They are virus in with them. happen again in 2021. ate Cornish food supporter, believes ed this year in view of the various asking for the furlough scheme or Numbers for locals are down by as Mr Bell added: “Next year could be the sector has been struck like never restrictions on foreign travel brought something similar to be extended much as 40% for some attractions a bumper year indeed but there is no before and, while there have been on by Covid-19. throughout winter to help retain key while seasonal income, during the guarantee. In an ideal scenario winners and losers, even those who “Let’s all be honest about this. We staff full time, an extension of the school holidays, also massively Covid-19 is under control, people emerge on the other side of a fraught had a devastating loss of revenues business rate holiday, an extension reduced as attractions, restaurants come here because it is their first season could be hit harder still if this year but whatever we think or of the repayment terms on the and hotels were forced to shrink choice and those who would rather support is not there at Christmas. make of the government, the level of bounce back loans, and an extension capacity due to social distancing be Spain are in Spain, and there is no “I think, for many businesses in support in place for the tourism sec- to the Eat Out to Help Out scheme in measures and regulations. recession.” the food and drink sector, Christmas tor has been excellent and has gone October and November to cushion Two summer storms did not help There are a lot of ‘ifs’ to ensuring will be make or break,” she said. a long way to helping the whole the blow for restaurants and pubs. and greatly reduced the days of trad- that 2021 is not a crippling year again “That final push will be vital to get us industry get back on its feet. By the “We’re working on a campaign to ing for outdoor attractions, at a time for the tourism sector, but should we through the shoulder months of Jan- end of the year we will still be down attract visitors to Cornwall in the when indoor attractions were at continue to manage the pandemic, uary, February and March. in revenues but it could have been a winter months,” Mr Bell said. “It’s all maximum capacity and could not capacity in hotels and restaurants “So it would be great for the lock- lot worse. Many businesses could those 50 things you can do any day of take in the slack. will go back up to 100%, events such down support we received to contin- have gone under.” the week in October, November and There have been many grumblings as weddings and music festivals will ue at Christmas. It is about support- What the industry is asking for is all the other shoulder months. in the industry about who came on happen again and trade across the ing local business and local jobs.” the help that was promised by the “It won’t make up the losses made holiday to Devon and Cornwall and sector will pick up. Will Ashworth, owner of the government to continue into the this year but if by March next year how these visitors behaved. More food, more booze and more Watergate Bay hotel outside New- New Year, as well as encouraging the sector can claw back £200m it Mr Bell said: “We want people to ice creams, pasties and cream teas quay, believes that while there are a people to come in the winter months will give us the necessary start to get come to Cornwall on holiday of will be consumed and the industry lot of ‘ifs’ in the equation, especially when there are still many things that ready for what could be, if all goes course. But we want visitors to come will make some money again rather surrounding future coronavirus can be done and enjoyed in both well, a very good year.” Small enough to care 32 Annual Business Guide 2020 Thursday, October 22, 2020 WESTERN MORNING NEWS Universities and Colleges

>>City College Plymouth City College Plymouth Universities and colleges investing in future of region

hile the coronavirus pan- demic this year has certain- Education providers in the region are leading the way Wly had a huge impact on all industries, and has slowed-down when it comes to investment, research, innovation and some planned new-builds and ex- pansion works in the region, there inspiring students and staff, writes Molly Dowrick are lots of developments to look for- ward to in 2021, thanks to Devon and edge Engineering and Design facili- Once completed, the building will Cornwall’s universities and colleges. ty, a state-of-the-art space full of house top-of-the-range inter-profes- University of Exeter has also And work continues on the Col- The region’s education providers flexible teaching spaces and “inno- sional clinical skills facilities and be invested millions in a new project lege’s long-term £70m masterplan to have really put their money where vative research-enabled resources,” used to train future nurses, mid- with Famouth University to improve improve education provisions in their mouth is, with some investing aimed to inspire creativity and col- wives, paramedics, physiotherapists and enhance the Cornwall campus- Exeter, including an epic extension millions of pounds in new facilities laboration on its city centre campus. and other health professionals. es. With match-funding from Fal- of the College’s Construction Centre. for students and learners, while oth- University leaders envisage creat- Vice- mouth University, the two universi- With the introduction of the new ers have upped their student support ing an environment that supports Chancellor, Professor Judith Petts ties are investing £11.7m into ‘T Level’ qualifications – which have services in the wake of Covid-19. “forward-looking teaching pro- CBE says the new building plays an world-class research facilities on the been launched by government to In Plymouth, plans for an innova- grammes” that attract greater num- important part in the University’s Cornwall campuses, and developing help improve the teaching of techni- tive new Engineering and Design bers of motivated students and meet plans to “transform” its campus and the Penryn campus’ infrastructure, cal education and enable students to facility show the University of Plym- the future needs of industries across reimagine university teaching and teaching facilities and social spaces. directly enter the work place after outh’s investment in its students and the UK. research spaces for the 21st century, Meanwhile in the further educa- finishing their course at college or its future, while University of Exeter’s Head of the School of Engineering, while “making a significant invest- tion sphere, Exeter College has great sixth form – Exeter College’s Con- ambitious programme of upcoming Professor Deborah Graves OBE says: ment in educating tomorrow’s health developments on the horizon. struction Centre has been expanded developments are set to support the “This new building will offer a state- professionals for the region and The new Digital and Data Centre, and upgraded to help the college University’s aim of being a glob- of-the-art setting to inspire the engi- beyond.” set to open in early 2021, comes as offer more technical courses to its al-100 research university. neers of tomorrow, giving us the ulti- At University of Exeter, leaders part of a wider South West plan to students. In Cornwall, Falmouth University mate place to bring together have invested £6.5m in the refur- revolutionise technical education Exeter College is currently the only and the University of Exeter are students, academics and industry in bishment and equipment at the Uni- across the region. education provider in Devon offer- investing in shared spaces at Penryn an environment that not only bene- versity’s new “Harrison” engineering The new £10.3million complex has ing T Levels, with courses available Campus to improve and increase the fits them but also society as a whole.” building and an additional £13.5m been match-funded by the college in Construction, Digital, and Educa- provisions on offer to learners. Plus, the multi-million pound on its maintenance work. and will focus on providing educa- tion and Childcare. And in the further education transformation of Plymouth Railway Set to be completed by December tion opportunities in the digital sec- Learners at City College Plymouth sphere, City College Plymouth and Station is underway near the Univer- 2021, the new building will see tor, including employer-led curricu- are also benefitting from continual Exeter College are investing thou- sity campus, incorporating the con- improvements to workshop space, lum programmes and courses investment in facilities and opportu- sands in enhanced facilities and struction of a brand new home for facilities and equipment, and the around cyber-security, software nities. opportunities for students. the University’s Allied Health Profes- remodelling of laboratory spaces to development and data analytics, In March 2020, City College Plym- The University of Plymouth has sions and nursing and midwifery support the delivery of the newly while providing a nationally signifi- outh committed to working with shared its vision for a new cutting- departments. redesigned Engineering curriculum. cant “digital learning centre”. Google to provide online learning Your ambition becomes our ambition WESTERN MORNING NEWS Thursday, October 22, 2020 Annual Business Guide 2020 33 Universities and Colleges

>>The Roland Levinsky building at the University of Plymouth campus Lloyd Russell

opportunities and a range of world- with local employers. leading technologies, including The College’s new Marine Autono- Google Meet, G Suite and Google mous Vehicle foundation degree and >>The Penryn campus at Enterprise, to enable students and a new Higher National Certificate for the University of Exeter staff to connect, collaborate and the manufacturing maintenance Exeter University share their ideas and knowledge in a sector will benefit from the new digitally immersive and inclusive facilities, while new degrees in environment. applied computer science and game As well as this, the college has design have also been rolled out at become a member of the recently the college. formed South West Institute of Tech- Plus, the college has secured nology (SWIoT) and received a £2.1 £350,000 from the government’s Get- million investment from the Insti- ting Building Fund for a new Weld- tute, enabling City College Plymouth ing Centre for Excellence, has been to expand the courses and appren- awarded over £52,000 from Maritime ticeships it offers in higher-level Research and Innovation UK for new technical skills, with a particular marine hybrid power and propul- focus on STEAM subjects (science, sion systems, £146,000 of funding to technology, engineering, arts and empower college leaders to become mathematics) and its up to the min- ‘digital leaders’ – and over €500,000 ute facilities and opportunities for this year for students and staff to learners. take part in fully-funded projects to Not only is the college investing in develop their skills abroad through new purpose-built, state-of-the-art the Erasmus+ scheme. facilities at the Oceansgate Marine With so many projects on the hori- Enterprise Zone in the heart of Plym- zon for Devon and Cornwall’s educa- outh’s marine industry, but it has tion providers in 2021, it’s clear lead- also devised innovative new univer- ers and learners have a successful sity-led programmes in conjunction year to look forward to. An integral part of your team 34 Annual Business Guide 2020 Thursday, October 22, 2020 WESTERN MORNING NEWS Public Sector Balancing the books during time of crisis

Local councils say they are facing an ‘unprecedented financial challenge’ this year, with the uncertainties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the economic recession and Brexit, writes Charlotte Becquart

s well as maintaining their next 12 months will be health, usual services, councils have homes and infrastructure, connect- Ahad to deal with the coronavi- ing people, a cleaner and greener rus pandemic in the last ten months Cornwall and more devolution. – liaise with other agencies, make The council also plans to save £58 rapid decisions about resources, pro- million over the next four years. tect the most vulnerable and try to “This year, we have faced one of keep businesses in the retail, hospi- our biggest challenges yet, the tality and leisure industry afloat. Covid-19 pandemic,” a budget report The financial impact of the virus to the Cabinet reads. “The council was such that, in Cornwall, council- has risen to this challenge, but it has lors had to draw up what they brought into focus the need to make described as one of their “toughest sure our priorities as a council are budgets” ever. going to help Cornwall and its resi- Cornwall Council is looking to cut dents move forward and not just 200 jobs out of its 5,500 staff mem- back to the way things were.” bers as well as increase its share of The draft budget for 2021/2022 is the council tax by 1.99% – the maxi- now under public consultation. Cllr mum currently allowed without hav- Paynter said: “This budget includes ing to hold a referendum. some really hard choices we have Councillor Adam Paynter, deputy had to make while we face these cur- has spent an many of our staff could continue to “County council leader John Hart leader of the council and portfolio rent financial demands. extra £47 million on measures relat- provide services for the people of chaired Team Devon, which brought holder for Resources and Finance, “Our highest priority will always ed to Covid-19, with £3 million of Devon whilst working remotely at together district, town and parish said: “We don’t want there to be any be our residents, especially those this not being covered by Govern- home. Our front-line staff continued councils with other partners to co- compulsory redundancies. We are who are most vulnerable and have ment grants. to operate in the community looking ordinate a swift and comprehensive planning to have natural turnover been most affected by the pandemic. “It’s impossible to divorce the after the old, the young and the vul- response to the people most affected where people retire or move into a This budget reflects that, making Covid-19 pandemic from the rest of nerable. The vast majority of our by the pandemic.” new job and not filling vacant posts.” sure the money is prioritised to those our operations,” a spokesperson for schools stayed open throughout The council, which employs 4,094 Cornwall Council spends over £1 services.” the council said. “We had already lockdown to care for the children of full-time equivalent staff, is forecast- billion annually. Its priorities for the Meanwhile, across the border, invested heavily in IT, which meant key workers and the vulnerable. ing a £4.5 million budget deficit for How the Cornwall Skills Hub provides the tools to grow your business

Starting a new business is a aims to do the heavy lifting for those that saw him approach the Cornwall up my own Facebook group to try year, so this period has been both daunting prospect at the best of interested in either buying or and Isles of Scilly Skills Hub for and direct people to my Facebook good and bad,” he added. times. Starting a new business while renting a property in Cornwall. From assistance. page, but what I need now is to take With a new business, new skills in the middle of a pandemic, well, his base in Camborne, Michael is With independent, impartial and my business to the next level and and an increased digital presence, that certainly bucks the trend set by Cornwall’s Phil and Kirsty in one, expert support, the Skills Hub can new skills can help do that,” Michael Michael is feeling extremely positive the majority who battened down showing clients through potential act as the critical friend for your said. regarding the future of Cornwall the hatches. options before negotiating either business needs, allowing their The demand for people looking to Property Consultancy. “It’s getting Michael Kleinman not only started the lease or sale, recommending expert team to find a tailored make the move to Cornwall has the message out that I am here. That his new venture, Cornwall Property solicitors and mortgage companies, training solution that fits just right. sky-rocketed during the Covid-19 is the thing that I need help with Consultancy, while on furlough before finally liaising with all parties “I have many years of work skills period, as many look to shift away most,” he said. during lockdown, the savvy through to the handing over of keys. as an employee, but I have no from larger cities and towns in a Does your business need help in property specialist has seen his This is knowledge and a set of experience in running a business or world where working remotely is adapting and pivoting to this new business thrive in its first months of skills that Michael already had. managing financials. I’ve got the quickly becoming the norm. “One way of working? Call the Skills Hub operation. However, it was the business nous basics in a Facebook page, estate agent I was speaking to says on 01209 708 660 or visit www. Cornwall Property Consultancy and digital marketing know-how Instagram and website and have set their enquiries were up 71% year on ciosgrowthhub.com/the-skills-hub

Dedicated to helping you succeed WESTERN MORNING NEWS Thursday, October 22, 2020 Annual Business Guide 2020 35 Public Sector

>>Press preview at The Box, Plymouth. September 22,

>2020.>The Box Picture: attraction Matt hasGilley/ givenMatt Gilley Plymouth’sPlymouth profileLive. a big boost Matt Gilley/Plymouth Live

the 2020/2021 financial year. Budget recovery and towns and hardest-hit pledged to lead from the front the monitoring reports for the position places,” the council spokesperson city’s economic recovery programme at month four went before the coun- continued. out of the Covid-19 lockdown and cil’s cabinet last month. “We are buying the former Flybe announced plans to help Plymouth’s County Treasurer Mary Davis said Training Academy and working with businesses get back to work through that, if the over-spend materialises, Exeter College to provide skills and Resurgam – a programme to oversee then it can be accommodated by not training opportunities. We are also recovery across all sectors. making the 2020/21 planned contri- committed to being carbon-neutral Cllr Evans said at the time: “This is bution to reserves of £4.5 million, by 2030 and are leading engagement the biggest economic challenge this but she added that it was against her with our communities and resi- city has faced since the Blitz, but I instincts to carry a negative reserve dents.” am certain we can rise to the chal- that is growing, but it was what cen- In Plymouth, the city council is lenge. tral Government continued to tell proud to have seen several of its big “Over the last few years we have them to do. projects coming to fruition despite made huge strides in creating and Ms Davis’s report added: “The the pandemic. sustaining jobs and prosperity. We level of uncertainty and pressures Council leader Tudor Evans said: have great partnerships across the being faced by the public sector this “While Covid-19 has changed the city. We need to harness the energy year are greater than ever before. The timescales, it has not changed what and expertise that we have built up – projected forecast of break-even is we are doing. We’ve had an incredi- not just from within the council – but welcomed but there remain signifi- ble couple of weeks in spite of Covid: across key business organisations cant far-reaching risks associated The Box opening, Look II being and companies to work together to with the impact of the pandemic unveiled, the Mayflower autono- make sure Plymouth is ready to which could be financially destabi- mous vessel launch, but we’ve also re­emerge from the lockdown. lising.” done lots of other work to get to this “We will also be looking at how the Devon County Council is already point. This work is not just about vis- Council’s own economic footprint planning how it can lead the eco- itors, it is about helping families here can help restart the economy >>The Mayflower nomic recovery. “We are launching a enjoy our fabulous city and learn through our procurement, capital Autonomous Ship was £6 million economic recovery plan more about its amazing history.” programme and projects pipeline. If introduced to the public that will target four key areas, sup- The council also has plans to we can get these restarted quickly, it in Plymouth this year port for small and medium enter- jump-start the local economy and will be an immediate and massive prises, employment and skills, green regenerate the city. In May, it boost to the economy.” #1 auditors to top 150 businesses 36 Annual Business Guide 2020 Thursday, October 22, 2020 WESTERN MORNING NEWS Manufacturing ‘Brexit deal essential to protect jobs and firms’ With Brexit kicking in on January 1, deals being seemingly reneged on, and of course the uncertainties surrounding Covid-19 and a possible recession looming, it does not look great for the region’s manufacturers, writes Olivier Vergnault

ccording to Make UK/ tions, with talk of a V shaped recov- BDO Manufacturing Outlook ery nothing more than fanciful. AQ3 survey, investment inten- “Having emerged from three years tions fell by a balance of -31% in the of political uncertainty at the end of last quarter of the year. last year, increasing talk of a final ‘no The average SME in South West deal’ exit from the EU would be a has lost 38% of their income as a final nail in the coffin for many com- result of Covid-19. Many SMEs in panies. Devon and Cornwall are reporting “If we are to avoid this, and the significant losses due to Covid-19, avalanche of job losses that would with 32% seeing a decrease of more follow in already hard hit areas and than 70% of their income. Mean- sectors, it is essential that the first while 14% of SMEs in the region have step towards a fuller recovery is pro- said the health of their business has vided by a comprehensive trade already been damaged long-term. agreement with the EU.” While not reaching the levels of Businesses however have wel- cutbacks seen during the financial comed the announcement by the crisis as yet, the trend downwards is Chancellor Rishi Sunak in his Winter following a similar pattern to that Economy Plan at the end of Septem- seen at the time and reflects the dif- ber, which aims to find an alternative ficult picture for the aerospace sector to the furlough scheme that was due in particular which accounts for a to come and an end in October. fifth of regional output. The new Job Support Scheme, Looking forward, given the impact starting in November, will mean the on the sector, Make UK is now fore- government will pay part of workers’ casting that manufacturing output wages who have lost hours while a will fall by almost 11% (10.9%) this VAT cut to 5% will remain in place year while it has downgraded its until next Easter. forecast for recovery in 2021 by more The cut in VAT to 5% for the hospi- than a full percentage point from tality and tourism sector will be 6.2% to 5.1%. GDP is forecast to fall extended until 31 March and that too by -8.5% this year before recovering has been welcome to promote by +10.1% in 2021. demand and help business rebuild However, the national manufac- their cash reserves through the turers’ body has warned that given tough winter months. the uncertainty surrounding the Kim Conchie, chief executive of Brexit negotiations and the very real Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, possibility of ‘no deal’, the combina- said the future ways to doing busi- tion of that outcome with the contin- ness will suit Cornwall better than ued impact of the pandemic could the old 20th century model and cause further damage to investment while we are going through tough prospects in the latter part of the times now, there is hope for future year. growth too. Jim Davison, region director for Eric Nicholls, the chairman of the Make UK in the South West, said: Cornwall Manufacturing Group, said “Manufacturing has begun to climb it has been a mixed picture for its away from the abyss that it stared members with manufacturers sup- into earlier in the year. But, make no plying the aeronautic and automo- mistake it is going to be a long haul tive industries suffering the most back towards normal trading condi- when those supplying the health and Big enough to depend on WESTERN MORNING NEWS Thursday, October 22, 2020 Annual Business Guide 2020 37 Manufacturing ‘Getting a good Brexit deal... will help protect tens of thousands of businesses across the region’ Deborah Fraser, CBI South West Director

hospital sectors ‘working flat out’. cavalier attitude to a deal we have He said 80% of the members had signed. Our standing in the world made use of the furlough scheme could be damaged by this and that and would do so again if it is pro- doesn’t fill businesses with confi- posed in another form by the Chan- dence. cellor of the Exchequer. “Some precision manufacturers in However he admitted that it had the Duchy who export all over been tough and 60% of members Europe are worried about the impli- had made redundancies with one in cations of Brexit, especially if it leads 10 jobs lost in the sector in Cornwall to countries like France or Italy since the start of pandemic. deciding to do their own. Mr Nicholls said: “It has been a “If Covid-19 is kept under control I challenging year but not as bad as think the tourism industry could see some sectors like tourism, leisure or a bumper year next year which is hospitality. Our members are saying good for Cornwall. Brexit may actu- they have reduced order books and ally help on that front as people will that’s a concern. Any furlough 2.0 look to staycations again. scheme will be helpful in retaining “I have no doubt that the hospital- staff even on a part-time basis so ity industry will once again push the order books can be fulfilled. boat out to offer a first class service “I think going into next year could to visitors next year.” be tough especially its impact supply He said the service sector had also chains. As for Brexit, a lot of the shown signs of having adapted details are still missing but most remarkably well to the ‘new normal’ firms are prepared as much as they and seemed unaffected with estate can by now so it shouldn’t be the agents for example enjoying a boom problem we thought it would be a time. He added: “I’m not expecting a year ago.” cliff edge at the end of October when For Mr Conchie added: “We are a third of people will lose their jobs. looking better in Cornwall than the But I think the furlough scheme national average. Cornish businesses needs to be applied with greater agil- are naturally resilient and used to ity.” run on thin margins rather than fat Mr Smith believes supporting the cats. Our SMEs are well embedded British manufacturing, innovation in their communities and will do and continued investment, will be what they can to avoid redundan- key in the coming months, especially cies. as we head into further unknown “People have been looking at with Brexit. He said: “Backing British innovative and creative ways to work manufacturing is definitely a strong differently or even create new busi- message for all our stakeholders, nesses to avoid any recession. I think particularly with Brexit looming. We if our local businesses can hold their will block and tackle those things nerves until next spring we should outside of our control, but we are be OK.” accelerating our efforts for the things Some businesses have been forced we can control. I would like to think to operate at 60% or 70% capacity by the end of 2021, we start to get because of social distancing regula- back to 90% of pre-Covid volumes. tions while others have still not reo- Matthew Sewell, Head of Manu- pened. facturing at BDO in the South West One such business to have seen echoed the sentiment, adding: production stop overnight was Bott “Other countries do provide good in which speacialises in work- examples of consistent long term place storage solutions. On March support to their manufacturing sec- 24, production was shut down and tors. The UK should look to adopt a only gradually reopened in May. similar approach.” CEO Nick Smith said: “We are a Deborah Fraser, CBI South West family company with a resilient bal- Director, said without an agreement ance sheet. When we announced with the EU, UK firms could face tar- the shut-down, we decided to top up iffs of up to 16.4%, burdening them the furlough payment until the end with extra costs and paperwork. of May. This will divert company resources “Unfortunately, with the clear vol- from investment planning and ume reduction, we had to ‘right size’ spending for growth, to managing the business and sadly we will have and mitigating red tape. lost 41 employees. At the start of the She said: “Getting a good Brexit lockdown, furlough clearly helped, deal would be an immediate boost to but we took the difficult action early. confidence in the South West. It will I do fear for those ‘zombie’ business- help protect tens of thousands of es who have used furlough to drag businesses across the region already out the inevitable.” under huge pressure from the pan- Mr Conchie believes businesses demic, not least in industries like >>Manufacturing, already need to remain confident, which advanced engineering and manufac- worried about Brexit, was may be easier said than done in view turing, green technology and digital dealt a double whammy by of the situation with the pandemic and cyber technologies. Getting a the pandemic Ben Birchall and faltering Brexit negotiations. deal requires political leadership He said: “We are at an unprece- and compromise from both sides, dented moment in history when which is needed urgently in the after giving our word we show some coming weeks.” Small enough to care 38 Annual Business Guide 2020 Thursday, October 22, 2020 WESTERN MORNING NEWS Princess Yachts Plotting profitable course through troubled waters

>>Princess Yachts can boast a growing range of vessels Princess Yachts

Plymouth-based Princess Yachts International Ltd, the UK’s largest yacht maker, has launched a trailblazing new vessel and is already planning an equally stylish sister ship as it bounces back from the coronavirus lockdown, writes William Telford

rincess Yachts has complet- board cinema and, of course, a Sky- ed sea trials for the X95, and is lounge. Pnow working on unleashing The X80 is due to take to the water the slightly smaller X80. in 2021, becoming the second mem- The company, which employs ber of the X Class Superfly family. more than 3,000 workers in the Princess toasted international Ocean City, said it has “re-written sales of £263.8 million in 2018 – and the rules” on yacht design with the has been growing exports at an aver- X95 – and now has done it again. age of 33% per year over two years, Princess Yachts has stressed its on total sales of £340.3 million. “aggressive investment strategy”, and In 2018, the company launched six the company’s record financial posi- new models, including the carbon tion and full order book are the rea- fibre R35 sports boat. It announced sons it has been able to create such record profits of £30 million in June, high-spec new yacht designs. 2019, and set records for yacht sales The manufacturer sent 98% of staff and employment. home and carried out a “controlled In January this year, it enjoyed shutdown” in March after coming “unprecedented stand visitor num- under increasing pressure from the bers and levels of sales” across its workforce and public to cease opera- range throughout the eight-day Boot tions. Düsseldorf 2020 show in Germany. The company began returning to At that time it had an order book production in early May and is now of £0.6 billion, and it was reported working on fulfilling its order book the company had brought in advis- for 2020 and 2021. ers so it can obtain a cash infusion At the start of June, it launched the from shareholders and keep up with X95, which came with its own on- mounting orders. Your ambition becomes our ambition WESTERN MORNING NEWS Thursday, October 22, 2020 Annual Business Guide 2020 39 Babcock International Group PLC Babcock battles hard to keep core business in sound shape

>>Devonport Dockyard, which is owned by engineering giant Babcock Western Morning News

he defence and aerospace It has been another stormy year for engineering giant company Babcock, which op- >>Appledore Terates the huge dockyards at Babcock International Group PLC, which scrapped its Shipyard Devonport in Plymouth and Rosyth was closed by in Scotland, said the coronavirus dividend after seeing revenues decimated during the Babcock last year pandemic had caused underlying revenue to fall for the first quarter of coronavirus pandemic, writes William Telford 2020 by 11% compared with 2019. Part of this was due to the compa- ny’s 2018 loss of the Magnox contract 40% lower than in 2019. About half of had to fend off a hostile merger plan with the Government to clean up this profit reduction was due to from outsourcing rival Serco. It also nuclear reactor sites, and weakness lower levels of productivity in the revealed an extra £10 million tax hit in the firm’s land adjacent market core business and the company said due to Brexit and the restructuring of short-cycle businesses, including uncertainty around the duration and its aerial emergency services busi- South Africa. extent of the impact of Covid-19 on ness. That was after it was extruded Covid-19 also had a “significant productivity, margins and pipeline from the FTSE 100, in 2018, with Just impact” on the financial results in development meant the board made Eat gobbling up its place. the period, the firm said. Necessary the “exceptional” decision not to pay Chairman Mike Turner left the safety constraints on close-proximity a final dividend for the financial year firm after 11 years as chairman and working had a significant impact on ended March 31, 2020. Ruth Cairnie, a former Royal Dutch costs and efficiency, directly impact- The firm did, however, point to an Shell executive, became the first ing margins and profitability. order book at June 30 of £17.3 billion chairwoman of the FTSE 250 firm. Restricted access to customer and a bid pipeline of about £17 bil- It has a new chief executive now, sites, complex safety measures, lion and orders in the quarter were with David Lockwood taking over in reduced numbers of staff on site, £0.7 billion, and in July the company September from Archie Bethel, who changed shift patterns and addition- secured about £500 million of new stepped down after 16 years with the al costs led to slower progress on contracts in its aviation business, company. Mr Lockwood, aged 58, some work streams, which impacted helped by the delays in bid decisions was previously chief executive of margins on some of Babcock’s long- beginning to clear. Cobham Plc, running one of the UK’s term contracts. In 2019, the company shut its largest defence companies and a It meant underlying operating Appledore shipyard, in North Devon, leading global technology and ser- profit for the first quarter was about saw share prices tumble, and twice vices innovator for three years. An integral part of your team 40 Annual Business Guide 2020 Thursday, October 22, 2020 WESTERN MORNING NEWS Retail SW retail sector in ‘strong position for recovery’

ong-standing businesses The retail sector has been plagued with doom and such as Edinburgh Woollen LMill, Marks & Spencer and De- gloom during 2020, with streams of famous names benhams have all faced uncertainty, with store closures, redundancies plunged into financial crisis, writes Katie Timms and job losses looming. John Lewis also announced it would permanently close eight of its Mr Hughes added: “I think in stores for the first time, but its Sid- terms of recovery, Plymouth is doing well Street shop in Exeter survived quite well. Although footfall is down, the cuts – despite fears it would not people seem to be spending a bit reopen again. more. The closures of Laura Ashley in “I think that may be due to the Plymouth, Exeter, Barnstaple and pent-up demand. So, you know, half Truro and the Cath Kidston Stores in the people came out of lockdown. Plymouth, St Ives and Exeter, also hit They thought, ‘I need to buy some the South West hard. new clothes’, or ‘I’ve been so bored, I Both brands blamed the impact of need to go out for a meal’. So I think coronavirus for tipping the compa- that report seems to indicate that nies over the edge. we’re actually doing a bit better than Other huge retail losses across the Exeter at the moment, in terms of region have included Café Thorn- emerging from Covid. tons, Lawsons, Brighthouse, Pets at “Exeter is suffering a bit more than Home, M&Co, Clintons, Carphone >>MD Liz Lawson and her father us. Plymouth so far has been very Warehouse and Skinny Dip. John. The firm has closed its lucky, because the infection rate Many small and independent branch in Plymouth remains very low compared with businesses have also been forced to other areas of the country. cease trading, including Steckfen- Plymouth ranked in at number 10 “So, we obviously haven’t been hit sters in , which earned for the areas with the highest recov- in the way that places like Newcastle, glowing reviews and articles in Time ery spending rate, with data showing Manchester and Leeds have been. Out, The Guardian and The Times, as more people are travelling from out- “You know, that could change well as featuring on television pro- side the city than they were before tomorrow, it could change next grammes. lockdown – but many are still shop- week, or hopefully, we might get In total, more than nine billion ping online. away with it.” pounds has been lost in fashion, The British Retail Consortium said Mr Hughes said he believed Plym- home and non-food retail sales so far the coronavirus pandemic accelerat- outh is “in a really strong position”, this year, with the Centre For Retail ed the trend of people moving to with many visitor attractions open- Research finding nearly 14,000 shops online shopping, due to stores clos- ing, such as The Box, the £60million across the UK had permanently ing during lockdown. Plymouth Cross hotel and student closed. A South West BRC spokesperson block and the new stores going into However, things are beginning to said: “Prior to coronavirus, the pro- the Barcode, which in turn will bring look a bit more positive for retail. portion of retail sales made online more people into the city centre. On the day of writing, the BRC- had grown from 5% in 2008 to 19% There is still an uncertainty around KPMG Retail Sales Monitor showed by March 2020. a further lockdown impacting the that during the month of September, “Coronavirus accelerated this retail industry if non-essential stores financial investment will support the Regeneration budget with the agree- total sales increased by 5.6%. change. When many stores were are asked to close again. economic recovery of our hardest hit ment that the money is paid back by Helen Dickinson, chief executive forced to close, online retail became Devon County Council last week places, enterprises and individuals. the BIDs by 2022. of the British Retail Consortium a lifeline for us all, with one in every unveiled its urgent £6million eco- “Together we can grasp opportu- Richard Wilcox, Falmouth BID (BRC), said: “September saw a big three pounds – from food to fashion nomic recovery plan to support busi- nities to build back better, to build a manager and Co-Chair of the Corn- improvement in retail sales growth, – spent online in May.” nesses, in response to the effects of more resilient, inclusive and sustain- wall BIDs group, said: “This is very however sales over the last six Plymouth City Centre Manager, the coronavirus pandemic. able economy.” good news and we are pleased to be months are still down on the previ- Steve Hughes, explained that during Devon County Council leader Mr Gilbert said the exact measures working alongside Cornwall Council ous year.” the height of the lockdown, Plym- John Hart said: “Clearly we are still in would depend on how the pandemic to provide extensive further support The BRC-KPMG report revealed outh was 80% down on footfall. a battle with coronavirus as the ris- developed but would include sup- to our Cornish businesses and towns the strongest monthly sales growth This has now improved and the ing number of cases in Exeter has porting businesses to become more at this crucial time. for retailers since December 2009, as city is 31% behind the footfall figures shown this week. Rates across the resilient and improve their digital “A collaborative approach is what’s like-for-like UK retail sales grew by for 2019. rest of Devon remain low and we skills, as well as targeting key sectors needed and this news acknowledges 6.1%. “I think we are doing better than must all pull together to keep it that such as retail. the integral part that BIDs will play The figures also revealed a 4.2% many cities and hope we are in a way and to keep people healthy and Cornwall Council also announced in the extensive recovery and revital- increase on the amount being spent strong position for recovery,” Mr safe. help during the lockdown, with isation plans that are being formu- on clothes as shoppers bought more Hughes said. “But we also have to take urgent Cornwall’s Business Improvement lated for our communities. items online during the month. The Centre for Cities report steps to address the economic health Districts offered a council cash flow “I’d like to also highlight the work The Centre for Cities high street showed that Exeter is recovering at a of our county, our communities and support by way of an interest free of my colleagues across Cornwall; a recovery tracker also showed the slower rate than Plymouth, but is our people and to plan for the loan, up to £600,000, to aid the really good example of the town areas in the South West were begin- improving at a faster rate than bigger future.” recovery of town centres. management industry in the region ning to recover from the effects of cities such as Birmingham, Cardiff Devon’s Cabinet member for the Funding will come from the coun- working productively together to the coronavirus lockdown. and Bristol. economy, Rufus Gilbert, said: “This cil’s £4m ring-fenced Town Centre help secure this funding boost.” Dedicated to helping you succeed WESTERN MORNING NEWS Thursday, October 22, 2020 Annual Business Guide 2020 41 Retail

>>Seasalt was named last year as the 14th fastest growing retail store in Devon and Cornwall CHS UGC

closures despite sales surge Cornish fashion brand Seasalt Ltd channels for the five weeks to closed three of its South West January 4, 2020. stores, even though it is in profit Online sales leaped 13% and UK and saw a sales surge over stores saw a 15% sales increase Christmas. year-on-year. International sales The company, named last year as were also up, by 43% over the the 14th fastest growing in Devon Christmas period. In November and Cornwall, closed its outlets in 2019, Seasalt announced pre-tax in Devon, Clarks Village profits had jumped to £2.5million in Somerset, and Guernsey in the with a turnover growth of 29% to Channel Islands. £66million. But it has opened a new store in In June 2019 it opened its first St Andrews, Scotland and a international store in Clonakilty, >>John Lewis announced it would sustainable concept store in Ireland. In addition, online sales permanently close eight of its stores Norwich. jumped 35% with strong growth in for the first time, but its Sidwell Street Seasalt has around 70 UK and Germany and the USA. There was a shop in Exeter survived the cuts Ireland stores and an online site. 21% hike in active online BRIDGET BATCHELOR The company had positive sales customers too, attracted by 12 growth over Christmas across all collections over the year.

riverford’s veg boxes take off Demand for Riverford home Riverford became employee deliveries went through the roof owned in May 2018, a move that its when lockdown hit, with the CEO Rob Haward said at the time Staverton-based business has given the company a “huge reporting sales akin to the forward momentum” and Christmas rush. increased engagement with Riverford was forced to close its customers, media and employees, shop to new customers, now co-owners. But with Brexit concentrating on its core ever closer on the horizon, registered customers and Riverford is planning for short term simplified its range to meet disruption but should fare well demand. because of its direct and long-term The trend of ethical buying relationships with suppliers, the remains strong and big news this location in the South West means it >>Riverford experienced a year for Riverford is becoming can benefit from the low-freight ‘Christmas rush’ for its certified B Corp. B Corp is a trusted route between Plymouth and organic veg boxes during symbol for ethical businesses that Roscoff and the veg box concept lockdown uphold the highest social and meaning supply can vary weekly Riverford environmental standards. depending on availability.

#1 auditors to top 150 businesses 42 Annual Business Guide 2020 Thursday, October 22, 2020 WESTERN MORNING NEWS Profiles

>>Tom Roach, partner at PKF Francis Clark, and Malcolm Bell, chief executive of Visit Cornwall, launching the Share a Smile campaign at the Eden Project Toby Weller

DAWSON’S THE RANGE IS BOOMING Doing our best to take Retail magnate Chris Dawson, a former market trader now among Britain’s most recognisable business faces, kept his The Range empire trading during the lockdown, saying stressing the stores sold good care of our clients essential items such as groceries, cleaning products, non- prescription medicines and T IS always a source of pride to Our colleagues in FC Payroll Solu- toilet roll. see many of our clients feature in tions and FC Financial Planning This received some criticism Ithe Western Morning News’s Glenn Nicol, partner and head of have likewise been working hard to from the public, but probably prestigious list of Devon and Corn- support clients throughout a turbu- not The Range’s thousands of wall’s top 150 businesses. These dy- corporate services at PKF Francis Clark, lent year for employers and inves- customers, who continued to namic businesses are the engine of tors. To take one example, the Coro- use more than 175 stores, our region’s economy, and we thrive reflects on an eventful year for the firm navirus Job Retention Scheme has including three in Mr Dawson’s on working closely with our clients – been a lifeline for many but inevita- home city, Plymouth. whatever their size – to achieve their bly created extra administrative bur- In early 2019, he gave ambitions. a comprehensive assessment of your gramme, as well as making a num- dens. Our payroll teams helped by Plymouth the third of those, a £2 I’m particularly pleased to report existing assets, analysis of how your ber of senior appointments and taking care of complex calculations million superstore at Derriford that we now audit more than a quar- marketplace is changing and a fun- promotions to strengthen our teams. to ensure that thousands of our cli- which created 80 jobs. The ter of the firms on the top 150 list. damental review of how your assets Accountancy has faced its share of ents’ employees were paid correctly Range, which Mr Dawson once With 39 audit clients among the top and skills could be used to exploit disruption during the pandemic, and on time every month. described as “a poor man’s John 150 – up from 36 last year – we have new opportunities. In this way, we albeit not to the same extent as some More recently, we were excited to Lewis”, now employs more than the largest market share of any have helped clients to restructure sectors. Fortunately, our significant launch the Share a Smile campaign 10,000 people and has a accountancy firm, including the Big their businesses and access the to support South West leisure and turnover that has risen from Four, and three times that of the next funding they need. ‘We were excited to tourism businesses. With many cli- 2019’s £869 million. It made regional firm. As one of the largest professional ents in the sector, we know that lock- £101 million in profit in 2019. Our holistic service to clients services firms in the region, PKF launch the Share a down and subsequent restrictions Sitting at number 67 in the extends far beyond audit work, Francis Clark has itself climbed one Smile campaign to have had a major impact on a vital Sunday Times Rich List, with a important though this is. In times of place to 80th in this year’s top 150 part of our region’s economy. By fortune of £2.05 billion, Mr great upheaval like the current pan- list, with turnover having grown 7% support South West encouraging people to recommend Dawson, or more accurately his demic, the role of trusted advisers is to £44.1m. With 615 staff across our leisure and tourism’ their favourite local businesses on wife Sarah, saw their wealth rise critical in helping owners and man- eight offices – in Exeter, Plymouth, Instagram and Twitter – using the by £60 million pre-pandemic. agement teams to plot a course Torquay, Truro, Taunton, Bristol, hash tag #ShareaSmileSW – the cam- That is because Mr Dawson through stormy waters. Poole and Salisbury – we are the investment in IT over recent years paign aims to help drive footfall dur- has followed the lead taken by With our Covid Business Review 25th largest employer on the list. We enabled us to move swiftly to remote ing the quieter autumn and winter his compeer Sir Philip Green by service, we’re working with busi- are proud to play our part in creating working, so we have been able to months. signing over the discount giant nesses and charities both to over- quality employment opportunities continue supporting our clients All of the above emphasises our to his 57-year-old wife, who is come immediate financial pressures within the region and supporting seamlessly. An important part of our ongoing investment in the region based in Jersey. The couple met and ensure they have the right busi- our people to achieve their career role has been helping business lead- across many initiatives to help ena- when he sold her an £8.99 watch ness model to succeed in the post- ambitions. Recently we have contin- ers to navigate and access the wide ble the South West to thrive in these for a bargain £5 outside a pub. pandemic world. This process entails ued to recruit to our graduate pro- variety of support schemes. unusual times. Big enough to depend on WESTERN MORNING NEWS Thursday, October 22, 2020 Annual Business Guide 2020 43 Profiles Staying in the global market Leading player in Cornwall’s china clay industry adapts and reacts to challenges of extraordinary year

espite some obvious chall­ enges, one local business Dcontinues to make headways on global markets. The UK operations of Imerys have managed to keep their head above water despite tougher trading condi- tions brought on by Covid-19 restric- tions and uncertainties around the world. Despite the months of lockdown and disrupted supply chains, Imerys has continued to be a key part of what is a global business of more than 16,000 employees spanning more than 250 sites in 50 countries. In Devon and Cornwall, the busi- ness employs close to 1,000 people, making it one of the largest employ- ers in the region, with 80% of pro- duction exported to more than 75 countries worldwide. Imerys operates 18 active quarry and industrial facilities in Devon and Cornwall and pumps an estimated £100 million into the local economy annually. Based at Par Moor, near St Austell, >>The planned second phase the firm’s activities in Cornwall focus of the West Carclaze Garden on kaolin (china clay) extraction and Village in St Austell processing, with the UK being the world’s third largest producer and exporter of kaolin after Brazil and the USA. China clay from Cornwall scape and lives of people living and highly skilled scientists and techni- Ashley Shopland, Imerys UK Gen- important role in the lives of the peo- supplies the ceramics, performance working in the Mid Cornwall area. cians exploring new and emerging eral Manager, said: “This year has ple who live and work here and con- minerals and refractory markets and The world-leading company has markets and end uses for locally pro- presented challenges for families tinues to make a highly significant the paper-making industry. Every- successfully re-positioned its Cor- duced china clay products, as well as and businesses across the world and contribution to the Cornish econo- day materials that we use like table- nish product portfolio to reflect the other minerals Imerys has interests we have all had to adapt. We have my. ware, sanitary ware and paint con- changes in lower demand in Cornish in globally. been able to keep all operations “We work with local communities tain china clay. clays from the paper-making indus- Where land is no longer required open throughout the period despite and charities and actively support The china clay industry has a try, and focused more on the ceram- for mining use, Imerys is carrying the constraints we are all under, and local businesses and organisations, hugely important part in the history ics and performance minerals mar- out award-winning restoration a market that has fallen significantly, annually spending almost £40 mil- of Mid Cornwall, dating back almost kets (such as paints, rubbers, schemes and supporting the regen- but hopefully temporarily, through lion with around 200 suppliers with a 275 years, with the area being affec- polymers and cosmetics). eration of clay country through the the period. base in Cornwall. When added to tionately known as Clay Country. The internationally acclaimed sci- West Carclaze Garden Village pro- “As a very local company with the what we pay to our employees and Today, it remains a globally impor- ence and technology function based ject, as well as providing land for key benefit of a major global parent pensioners, this amounts to around tant industry which continues to at Imerys’s Technology Centre-UK, infrastructure projects such as the behind us, we remain incredibly £100 million being injected into the play a key role in the economy, land- at Par Moor, employs more than 50 A391 improvement at Carluddon. proud of an industry which plays an local economy annually.”

GREGORY TRUCKS ARE ON RIGHT ROAD >>Gregory Distribution Limited has GREGORY Distribution (Holdings) Limited BCT, which was one of its clients. The facility shown its own way of acknowledging celebrated its centenary year in 2019 after will be used by Gregory for the storage and front-line workers this year starting life in , Devon, with a distribution of up to 12,000 pallets. Gregory Distribution single Model T Ford Truck, writes William The firm has a fleet of more than 750 Telford. vehicles and 1,200 trailers, and has more than Like most firms, Gregory has been hit by the 400 customers ranging from local companies Covid-19 downturn, announcing in May that it to large, multi-national organisations, and lists had to make 100 redundancies. It is still one of many national brand names amongst its the region’s biggest employers, operating 36 customers. Its vehicles cover 75 million miles depots across the UK. every year. Its latest acquisition is the 75,500sq ft Chief executive John Gregory, aged 62, runs high-bay warehouse at PowerPark 38, the new the company, which was started by his name for the former British Ceramic Tile grandfather. In 2018, it acquired ARR Craib factory in Heathfield. BCT went into Transport Ltd, whose headquarters are in administration with the loss of 300 jobs in Aberdeen, with additional operations in 2019 and the site had been vacant since. Cumbernauld, Stockton-on-Tees and Great At the time, Gregory said it was making 30 Yarmouth. It also acquired the Scottish firm staff redundant became of the collapse of Highland Haulage, based in Inverness. Small enough to care 44 Annual Business Guide 2020 Thursday, October 22, 2020 WESTERN MORNING NEWS Construction Building industry picks up the baton The construction trade has been doing its best to shed a tarnished image and emerge as standard-bearer in the post-pandemic economy. By William Telford

he South West’s construction “Most sites closed for a week or industry is emerging, like NHS two and put in place social-distanc- Tstaff and centenarian fund- ing measures, but, once they were in raiser Sir Captain Tom Moore, as a place, were able to return to work.” Covid-19 era hero. He added that, pre-pandemic, the Building firms rallied to create sector had an image problem but its Nightingale Hospitals in Plymouth work on essential projects won the and Exeter at double-quick time and nation over and even “put it on a the sector is leading the nation’s pedestal”. fightback against recession. “The major obstacle was public Although Westcountry housing perception, but we were considered developments temporarily stopped, a vital industry, particularly for our other business and infrastructure work for health and education,” he sites were soon back in action fol- said. “Until Covid, public perception lowing the March 23 lockdown was not that good, but the way we decree, and continued to provide came together and delivered the jobs and an shot in the arm for the Nightingale Hospitals put construc- ailing UK economy. tion on a pedestal.” Now Prime Minister Boris Johnson He said the industry has now wants the UK to “build back better” emerged as a united front, and is and will boost spending on infra- able to lobby the Government effec- structure as he plans to “level up” the tively. “We have never seen the UK nation economically. construction industry more joined That will be good news for the up, right through to ministers and Westcountry, where key industry fig- Government. Post-Covid, we should day out. We will see a lot of city-cen- has changed, and he added: “Fortu- dation on which so much economic ures are confident the sector will be a not be the same industry that went tre office locations made into nately, from what many of our mem- activity is built,” he said. post-pandemic pulse-raiser. in,” he added. accommodation, and that will be a bers have been telling us, there is “The sector has proved resilient in They point to important and ongo- Mr Carpenter said that process refurbishment opportunity for many evidence of a bounce-back for the the face of Covid-19 but there remain ing large-scale developments, led by will include a push for net-zero car- companies.” sector in the South West as we move longer-term issues, including an the Hinkley Point C nuclear power bon targets, a move towards greater He feels suburban ‘hubs’ for work- into autumn, with pent-up demand ageing workforce and the need to station in Somerset, the quality and safety, post-Grenfell, and ing and business could become a driving building activity near to upskill as the climate emergency and Cranbrook housing schemes in opportunities in new areas such as new feature, along with the need for capacity. drives rapid changes in technology. Plymouth and Exeter, and others in off-site construction, the creation of more e-commerce warehousing. “However, FMB builders in the “Our focus is on working with the the pipeline such as the planned elements such as modules and pan- “There will be the creation of South West are reporting difficulties industry to help address these chal- A303 upgrade. els in factories. hubs,” he said, “and we are also in the supply of some key materials, lenges and opportunities so that it The industry is also likely to “The leading exponents are in the going to see an increase in ware- with further concerns surrounding continues to support a prosperous emerge from the Covid-19 period South West,” he said. “Cornwall is houses, and distribution depots are the availability of supplies once our and sustainable economy across with a focus on greener and even rife with timber frame.” going to be a growth area. exit from the EU completes at the Cornwall and Scilly.” higher-quality construction. That is Then there will be the changes “The whole of construction in the end of the year.” Among the key firms working in not to say there are no challenges, wrought by the coronavirus pan- South West is very rosy going for- He said the FMB welcomed the the region’s construction sector, the with some firms concerned about demic, such as the need to repur- ward,” he concluded, “and, if you Government’s Green Homes Grants consultancy Ward Williams Associ- supply chain issues, particularly with pose buildings in city centres where look at Boris Johnson’s Build Back scheme, which will support further ates has been involved in many high- full Brexit looming, and the fear that retail and office space may need a Better, he is saying the construction activity within the sector, and also profile developments, including the local procurement may be over- fresh future. industry will bring us out of this.” “encourages the formulation of a new The Wave inland surfing desti- looked. “Are people going to go back into The sentiment is shared by the deeper national retrofit strategy that nation near Bristol. But, overall, the industry remains shops? Not to the same degree,” Mr Federation of Master Builders, which can support continued and stable It highlighted major projects in the upbeat and buoyant ,with Construct- Carpenter said. “So the other thing said the initial lockdown saw con- investment in the longer term.” region that have continued despite ing Excellence South West chairman that will create jobs is the regenera- struction work across the region Mark Duddridge, chair of the the challenges of Covid including Andrew Carpenter saying: “We are in tion of city centres. drop by 40%. Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local several in Cornwall such as the Car- a really good position.” “We have seen the move away By May, this left more than 60% of Enterprise Partnership, also high- lyon Bay redevelopment (developer He explained: “Construction prob- from office working in the city cen- businesses reliant on Government lighted the importance of the sector, CEG), the West Carclaze Garden Vil- ably recovered better and faster than tres, though it will come back to a support, such as the Coronavirus Job but has some concerns too. lage (developer ECO-BOS), and any other sector. We are nearly back degree. But many people now work- Retention Scheme under which “The construction industry has a major housing projects at Newquay, to 100% for infrastructure and hous- ing from home will not want to travel workers were on furlough. But Phil vital part to play in supporting and Launceston (developer ing. Productivity is very high. back into Plymouth or Exeter day in, Hodge, FMB South director, said that growth and is quite literally the foun- Treveth). Your ambition becomes our ambition WESTERN MORNING NEWS Thursday, October 22, 2020 Annual Business Guide 2020 45 Construction

“Communication has always been a key factor in the delivery of successful projects, right now it’s probably the most important,” the spokesperson said. “We are con- stantly heartened and encouraged by how the South West construc- tion industry has responded to the pandemic, camaraderie in the true sense of the word. Another leading company, Plymouth’s Service Design Solu- tion, also had to react rapidly when Covid arrived in the UK. A spokesperson said: “Lock- down was a worry for our business as well as the rest of the industry. Overnight, many clients and our peers were working from home, or on furlough, making communica- tion more challenging. “We had a strong pipeline of work and our investment in tech- nology allowed for continuity of the delivery of projects, taking us >>The inside of the NHS through the initial stage of lock- Nightingale Hospital down.” Exeter taking shape The firm’s expertise in healthcare engineering, and the depth of its resources, meant it was ment funding, or ‘shovel-ready’. In national debt that has been caused approached to work on NHS Night- addition, there was funding by the pandemic. We see the con- ingale, in Exeter. released for further Covid response struction industry as an enabler to “This required a significant facilities at a number of the invest in cross-cutting themes, cre- amount of resource to develop the region’s hospital estates. Our expe- ate new jobs for young people, and design of the building’s mechani- rience at Nightingale demonstrat- offer opportunities for decarboni- cal and electrical engineering sys- ed our expertise in delivering com- sation of building stock. tems,” the spokesperson said. “At a plex projects of this nature. “The South West has many tal- similar time, the Government sug- “We currently see a positive ented and skilled construction gested that construction should upturn in work until the end of the businesses. We would welcome carry on and act as the accelerator year. However, our concern would Government initiatives to make to kick-start the economy. be with the Government’s long- these companies preferred suppli- “This has resulted in clients term strategy and investment in ers, to develop and support our returning to us with projects which construction when considered in local economy and keep work and have received additional Govern- the wider context of the huge jobs within our region.”

>>The new town of Sherford is helping to keep the construction industry busy Penny Cross

But the firm, which has seven South proactive in getting back on site quickly West offices, including in Plymouth and and safely. Regional initiatives in the Truro, is just hoping the bounty from a public sector, such as Plymouth City national building boom filters down to Council’s Resurgam programme, have local levels. sought to encourage local procurement “As an industry and as individual and support recovery. The fruition of businesses, we have faced unforeseen these initiatives will be critical to South Are you challenges in the past eight months,” a West-based SMEs, and in many cases WWA spokesperson said. “But the con- the make or break. struction community in the South West “The merit of using local suppliers confused by has been united in remaining positive has been evident on many projects and supporting each other to ensure including Market Hall, in Devonport; the government the sector remains strong and resilient. and The Box, also in Plymouth. “The Construction Industry Council “The Nightingale Hospital in Exeter (CLC) quickly issued Site Operating was delivered within an incredibly short incentive Procedures during Covid-19 which programme including WWA, Stride have been regularly updated as the situ- Treglown, Service Design Solutions, ation has developed. TClarke and BAM Construction. minefield? “Buildings and infrastructure “We are still seeing large Government schemes that were on site have largely construction-related frameworks such continued, in some form, to be con- as Crown Commercial Services Con- structed.” sultants Framework requiring appli- We can help! But WWA said that there is a concern cants to provide national coverage. about the lower number of new starts “Any framework that requires nation- Our expert Business Engagement on site and the commissioning of new al coverage will be problematic for projects in the early stages of concept SMEs. With new Social Value legislation team can help you access the right and design. due in January, 2021, we are promised “The pipeline of new projects is a that the new approach will mean more grants to support your organisation worry for all construction businesses in opportunities for SMEs and social the South West, particularly the smaller enterprises to win Government con- businesses,” the spokesperson said. tracts.” CityPlym 01752 305026 “Although the Government is promot- WWA has maintained a core Covid ing the Build Back Better ethos, we are response team that continuously moni- Business [email protected] not seeing many of these ‘big spend’ tors the Government and industry projects in this region and certainly not advice. The team has assessed and Engagement @cityplymbiz | accessible to smaller, regional business- communicated the potential impact of es. any changes to staff, clients and fellow “Our public sector clients have been professionals. 46 Annual Business Guide 2020 Thursday, October 22, 2020 WESTERN MORNING NEWS Technology Rapid digital transformation brought about by pandemic If there is one sector which does not seem to have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, it is our region’s varied and agile tech industry, writes Olivier Vergnault

or many businesses, having to find new ways to do business, Fwhich in many cases has in- cluded offering new contactless and online forms of payment, upgrading their website or pivoting their busi- ness entirely to full e-commerce, South West tech businesses have not only avoided the Covid crunch – but may well have saved many others too. Dan Pritchard, Tech South West co-founder, believes the regional tech cluster, which has more than 2,000 business members, from the Isles of Scilly to Bristol, is best placed to reap the benefits of rapid digital transformation brought about by the pandemic. He believes new opportunities and innovation are well underway. Dan said: “Technology has saved businesses. Uncertainty leads to opportunity and it’s already happen- ing; companies pivoting, shifting their offering, finding new markets.” According to Tech South West, some 4,170 online shops opened in the South West during the pandem- ic, more, in relation to the total num- ber of businesses in the region, than any other part of the UK. With a new £5m innovation centre set for Taunton, expansion at Exeter and Plymouth Science Parks, the breakthrough of more tech startups from Falmouth University’s Launch- pad programme, the new Centre of Technology and Innovation Excel- lence in North Devon and Gravity “Farming has been innovating for Alongside helping clients to adapt, SMEs has just been completed. ation or automotive industries have development at Junction 23 of the centuries and you can see it now Exeter-based IT and tech strategy Julian adds: “Looking at the early also suffered. M5, the long term future looks bright with the emergence of agritech. and support specialists Timewade results, investment in technology is Kate Doodson, joint chief execu- for the region’s tech industry. Investment and innovation needs to were already running a free technol- going up and there are new chal- tive of ’s Cosmic, said: Toby Parkins, chairman of Tech accelerate if we are to really thrive ogy group for South West businesses. lenges. Cyber security and data con- “Many people rely on colleagues or South West and co-founding director economically.” Covid-19 changed everything. trol are priorities, areas that probably an IT department to get through a of software firm Headforwards in Despite the pandemic, 2020 has Managing director Julian Wills slipped during lockdown but are standard day and now they are work- Pool, said: “Tech companies are been a good year overall for the sec- launched the Technology for Success imperative to business resilience, ing from home they have been really making big decisions. tor and many tech service compa- group in late 2019 after running a especially with remote and blended struggling. There is suddenly a reli- “Many have realised they don’t nies have never been busier. regional tech survey. working here to stay. ance on technology that there hasn’t have to be in London paying premi- Paula Byers, founder of cloud app “It was startling. There was a clear “When you are relying on home been before.” um rent. It’s the perfect fit for the integration firm LimeCloud and tech divide between companies consider- broadband and various kit, new The tech sector has been the fast- South West. We’re not talking big cluster Digital Northern Devon, said: ing technology across their whole solutions are needed.” est growing part of the region’s econ- industrial units that impact the land- “The service side has been inundat- business, and those who definitely He added: “Electronic trading is omy for several years now. But there scape. Clean tech is low visibility, ed. Digital transformation has were not. Now we’re seeing that play now a priority and 80% have already have been ‘winners and losers’. high pay and rapid growth.” advanced hugely. It’s not just tech out to full effect.” identified new opportunities. We are Paula adds: “It is very much feast Paul Coles is BT Group English firms. Unsurprisingly, those taking a having to think differently. How and famine. Aspects of advanced Regions Director and on the Tech “All sectors – NHS frontline servic- more strategic approach were seeing business leaders embrace the right engineering in aviation have strug- South West steering group. es, manufacturing, retail and many the greatest productivity benefits. technology solutions will be key to gled. For some, it has been dire. “We rightly talk about investment more – have been adopting digital Lockdown saw Timewade expand so much in the months ahead.” ”But overall tech is agile and resil- for the region but need to put digital solutions, not least of course, for the free support for SMEs, launching However it is not the perfect rosy ient. In the long term, we have an skills at the forefront. Farming, fish- remote working. That’s highlighted a webinar series and SME Business picture for all tech companies and amazing opportunity. Our expertise ing, food and tourism are staples of the vulnerability of rural broadband Summit with partners including many fear that further growth could in clean tech fits perfectly with our our economy, yet Covid has shown in many areas.” Bishop Fleming and Stephens Scown be hampered by a lack of investment National Parks, coastline, Areas of they are vulnerable. We have to be In a turbulent year companies LLP, and ramping up free resources in infrastructure and digital skills. In Outstanding Natural Beauty and innovative and creative across every have moved quickly to adopt tech- on a new technologyforsuccess.co. addition, some tech firms support- UNESCO Biosphere. If we really sector. nologies to support their operations. uk website. A 2020 tech survey of ing struggling industries such as avi- want to rebuild the economy in a Dedicated to helping you succeed WESTERN MORNING NEWS Thursday, October 22, 2020 47 Technology Rapid digital transformation brought about by pandemic

>>Exeter-based IT and tech strategy and support specialists Timewade were already running a free technology group for South West businesses Timewade

>>Plymouth Science Park way that least impacts our environ- CEO Michael Maltby said: “We live Tony Cobley Photography ment, it has to be through the tech ‘tech-driven’ lives. There is an sector.” increased requirement for more effi- Digital infrastructure for the South cient and faster broadband, particu- Region’s science parks light the way ahead West is considered essential in help- larly since the pandemic, with UK ing to close the productivity gap with data consumption rising on average Underpinning much of the customer research and Dr Sally Basker, CEO of Exeter other UK regions. And it’s not just by 21% every year. region’s innovation, and with a track development. Close to 100 Science Park, said: “We’ve been cities that are the focus of major “The South West has long lagged record of attracting companies from organisations now operate from working hard to create a upgrades. behind the rest of the UK for fibre-to- beyond the South West, Plymouth what is the region’s largest science demonstrably safe and pleasant Backed by £250million invest- the-premises availability, and our and Exeter science parks continue park, with more to be announced in working environment and ment, Exeter-based Jurassic Fibre is aim is to create a major step change to evolve in unprecedented times. the coming months. community space for our staff, on target to provide world-class in daily Internet use for people living Over the summer, Plymouth Ian McFadzen, CEO of Plymouth tenants and guests. This includes broadband connectivity to over and working in the region. Science Park welcomed a number of Science Park, said: “The pandemic launching Exeter Science Park 300,000 premises across the South “A migration has started from specialist firms to the park’s has shown just how vital cutting- Connect, the digital hub for the West by 2024. towns and suburbs, convenient for growing tech, academic and edge science and technology is to Science Park allowing tenants and In the last year, the company has five-day office working, to areas in medical cluster. every part of our economy. These visitors to connect, collaborate and recruited over 150 employees and the South West offering a higher all Israeli medical-technology are tough but exciting times. The access services virtually. We’re completed a state-of-the-art network round quality of life, underpinned by start-up Eye Control uses artificial collaboration and knowledge pleased to be welcoming back covering 15,000 residential and busi- the availability of fibre-to-the-prem- intelligence-powered eye-tracking exchange being facilitated by both tenants and guests to a Covid- ness premises in and vil- ises Internet connectivity. and technology to help locked-in us and Exeter Science Park with our secure environment. lages to the East of Exeter. “As the roll-out of the railways in and ventilated patients universities and other key partners, “As we look ahead, we’ll be They are now extending their net- the 19th century defined the winners communicate through eye will be instrumental in delivering a completing work on the 20,000 work to Taunton and , as and losers for the next one hundred movements. Modus Laboratories, resilient economic resurgence.” square foot Ada Lovelace Building part of a five-year plan to introduce years, the roll-out of fibre-to-the- relocating from the Thames Valley, Exeter Science Park has reopened in early 2021, and beginning work full-fibre ultrafast broadband to vil- premises networks will do the same are a contract research company for to tenants and guests, transforming on a third Grow-on Building. We’re lages and towns across Devon, Som- in the 21st century. Our intention is the oral healthcare industry, the site into a Covid-secure continuing to provide high quality erset and Dorset. the SW will be one of the winners.” combining scientific discovery with environment. office and laboratory spaces.”

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