Fingers crossed for local firms as Business Awards approach

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1 Press Release Fingers crossed for local firms as Business Awards approach Companies across the local area are counting the days until this year s Cornwall Business Awards, after reaching the shortlist. The nominees will discover whether they have won the awards at a gala dinner on Thursday May 14 th, organised by the Cornwall Development Company in partnership with Business Cornwall Magazine and Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, to highlight business talent across Cornwall. CDC chief executive Suzanne Bond was impressed by the sheer variety of businesses making this year s shortlist, saying: For ten years, we ve found enterprising people from Bude to Scilly, who are succeeding in new and surprising ways. Once again, there are so many great stories for us to share. It s good to take a moment to acknowledge the nominees, because in a sense they re all winners. The standard of entries was exceptionally high, and every finalist should rightly be proud of their achievements. Penryn and Mylor Downs Penryn boasts a clutch of local finalists including a triple nominee, in MuTu System. The fast-growing online fitness programme is now being used by mums in 29 countries worldwide, earning nominations in Best Website and Best International Business, as well as Entrepreneur of the Year for CEO and founder Wendy Powell. The company will face competition in the International Business category from Mylor Downs-based BJ Sherriff, whose protective beekeeping clothing sells in ten countries. Wendy Powell commented: "We re on a mission to take care of women's tummies and undercarriages right across the world, and it all happens from here in Cornwall. I m thrilled to be shortlisted for three awards!"

2 Also in Penryn, Sea Communications could win Innovation of the Year for its new crowdsourcing platform Made Open, while Stranger Collective trained staff to write content driving a 137% increase in sales leads, resulting in a nomination for Best Digital Marketing. Nicola Robey, who led the project, said: We re thrilled to be shortlisted! We went bold by entering our content-led project in a marketing category so it s exciting the judges have acknowledged content s power in today s brand landscape." Redruth, Portreath and Pool Redruth s strength in the green energy market is underlined with two Pool-based companies both making the shortlist for Most Dynamic Growth Business. Biomass boiler pioneer Mi-Generation has seen turnover grown tenfold in three years is joined by renewables and energy-saving consultancy Happy Energy crowned Cornwall s Best New Business at last year s Awards. Happy Energy CEO Adrian Wright is also shortlisted for Entrepreneur of the Year. He said: "Winning Best New Business Award last year really helped put us on the map so we are delighted to have been shortlisted again. John Black, managing director of Mi-Generation, added: Our financial controller and general manager secretly submitted the application over a weekend without my knowledge, so to hear of the nomination was fantastic and further enhanced the pride that we all have in our business s achievements. There is also a local contender for Cornwall s Young Business Person of the year: Lyssa-Fee Crump, who manages sales, marketing and exports for stove specialist Avevay. She enthused: I love what I do and it feels amazing to be shortlisted for this award, especially alongside such brilliant candidates. I am also slightly excited by the menu yum! Up the road at Portreath, Gwel an Mor is again shortlisted for the Customer Focus award; a trophy the self-catering resort won in General manager Nico Descotes said: Our team are our greatest asset so we re delighted to be shortlisted for the Customer Focus award. We strive to exceed customer expectations every day, delivered by a friendly face. Truro, Perranporth and the Roseland Two local giants, facing each other across the Truro river, go head-to-head in this year s Best Employer category. Stephens Scown, named by the Sunday Times as one of the best places in the UK to work, is shortlisted alongside Cornish Mutual one of two double nominees, having also reached the final of the Customer Focus award. Robert Camp, Stephens Scown s managing partner said: Staff tell me they like working for us because we act on their ideas a staff choir, iphone App for clients and child-friendly meeting rooms for family law clients are just some of their great ideas we have introduced.

3 Paul Mahon, head of business development at Cornish Mutual, said: We are thrilled that all the hard work that Cornish Mutual puts into delivering outstanding customer service through the development of our people has been recognised by the Cornwall Business Awards panel with this double nomination. The area s other double nominee is Treliske-based Ultramed, whose application, MyPreOp, lets hospital patients complete their pre-operation assessments before leaving home. The system is shortlisted for Business Innovation of the Year, as well as Most Creative Use of Design where it faces competition from another Truro firm, ISO Spaces, a company that turns shipping containers into modular buildings. ISO Spaces director Ben Treleaven said: Cornwall is full of creativity. Design is the core of our business. We ve won business awards before, and we hope to add this one to the ISO Spaces mantelpiece. A very unusual, Threemilestone-based company could be named the Best New Business in Cornwall. Bubble Football South West stages football matches where the places are encased in inflatable zorbs with hilarious consequences. Director Kevin Vines revealed: I m Anxious at the potential cost of the Missus dress but otherwise elated! The application was completed in bed with my 3yr old son, and basset hound, with minutes to spare. Meanwhile, on the Roseland, Hidden Hut chef and owner Simon Stallard is among the nominees for Cornwall s Entrepreneur of the Year. He responded: "I m humbled to be shortlisted for Cornwall s Entrepreneur of the Year, and proud to be representing the county s vibrant hospitality sector for this award. When I moved to Cornwall as young chef 10 years ago, I never dreamt that a decade later I would be running my own successful business, and going to work on my favourite local beach! Perranporth-based Natural Generation is nominated for the second year running, for Best Use of Superfast Broadband. The company runs over 100 wind turbines as far afield as Scotland, and monitors and maintains them online. Ivor Thomson, managing director, said: This is the second time we have been nominated so we have our fingers crossed for a win! It s great that we can represent the renewable energy sector in Cornwall through these awards. Helston and the Lizard Peninsula Helston could be home to Cornwall s Young Business Person of the Year. 25 yearold Rob Carey, who started Green Gen UK when he was 21, now provides work for 14 people and was named among this year s finalists. Also locally, multiple award winner Shelterbox is again shortlisted for Best Third Sector Business, while at Manaccan, Clayworks is nominated in Most Creative Use of Design for an environmentally friendly clay plaster that mimics the effect of polished concrete.

4 A full list of the award nominees can be found online at - ENDS - For more information, please contact: Lynn File at Brand Innovation Photos attached: Wendy Powell of MuTu System, the online fitness programme used by mums in 29 countries. Stranger Collective have worked with Investors in People to develop new content creation skills. Happy Energy CEO Adrian Wright is shortlisted for Entrepreneur of the Year. Lyssa-Fee Crump, of Redruth stove company Avenay, could be Cornwall s Young Business Person of the Year. Gwel an Mor s Nico Descotes: delighted to be shortlisted for the Customer Focus award. Robert Camp shows Stephens Scown s new iphone app; one of many staff suggestions the firm has implemented. Staff at double awards nominee Cornish Mutual ran the South West call centre on Red Nose Day. ISO Spaces turn shipping containers into buildings, and are shortlisted for Most Creative Use of Design. Threemilestone-based Bubble Football South West could be named the Best New Business in Cornwall. Hidden Hut owner and chef Simon Stallard is shortlisted in Entrepreneur of the Year. Ivor Thomson of wind turbine company Natural Generation, nominated for Best use of Superfast Broadband. FULL LIST OF NOMINEES: Young Business Person of the Year Rob Carey, Green Gen UK; Lyssa Fee-Crump, Anevay; Tom Matthews, Cornwall Air Ambulance. Best New Business in Cornwall Bubble Football South West; Harwood Southwest; (sponsored by CORMAC Solutions Ltd) (sponsored by Truro & Penwith College)

5 Harbour Assist. Best Third Sector Business Bosence Farm Community; Cornwall Air Ambulance; Shelterbox. Customer Focus Cornish Mutual; Gwel-an-More Resort; Schoolcomms. Employer of the Year Cornish Mutual; Cornwall Air Ambulance; Stephens Scown. Best Use of Superfast Broadband Harbour Assist; Natural Generation; St Agnes Boating. (sponsored by The Eden Project) (sponsored by First Great Western) (sponsored by Cornwall College Business) (sponsored by Superfast Cornwall) Most Creative Use of Design (sponsored by Alacrity Falmouth, run by Falmouth University) Clayworks; ISO Spaces; Ultramed. Best Website Ann s Cottage; Isles of Scilly Steamship Group; MuTu System. Best Digital Marketing Bowgie Inn; Fluid Branding; Stranger Collective. Most Dynamic Growth Business Happy Energy; Hydra Group; Mi-Generation. Best Family Business Ann s Cottage; Chris Sedgeman Scaffolding; South West Play. Best International Business BJ Sherriff; Ideal Foods; MuTu System. (sponsored by University of Exeter) (sponsored by Niddocks) (sponsored by Oxford Innovation) (sponsored by Francis Clark) (sponsored by Tulip)

6 Business Innovation of the Year Sea Communications; Ultramed; Harbour Assist. Entrepreneur of the Year Wendy Powell, MuTu System; Simon Stallard, Hidden Hut; Adrian Wright, Happy Energy. (sponsored by Cornwall Innovation) (sponsored by Plymouth University) Notes to Editors: Cornwall Development Company is the arm's-length economic development company of Cornwall Council. It provides a range of services to support economic growth and contributes to the delivery of Cornwall s economic development strategy. For more information, please visit For information on this year s Cornwall Business Awards, please visit