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Success stories spotlighted at Cornwall Business Awards

An organic baby clothing company from the Lizard Peninsula has tonight been crowned Cornwall’s Business of the Year, as the Cornwall Business Awards shone the spotlight on success stories throughout the region.


Frugi, which employs nine people at St Martin, sells its unique clothes online, as well as through stockists in 28 countries worldwide. It has taken just four years from start-up to achieve the honour at a ceremony where it also received “Business Innovation of the Year” for its groundbreaking eco-friendly packaging, and founder Lucy Jewson was named “Entrepreneur of the Year”.

More than 300 guests from Cornwall’s top businesses and public agencies ensured a packed house at St Mellion, as a total of 11 companies were called forward to receive the coveted awards.

John Berry, of organiser Cornwall Enterprise, Cornwall County Council’s economic development service, said: “It warms the heart to see so many Cornish businesses leading not only the country but, in some cases, the world; and to witness their achievements being acknowledged so enthusiastically by hundreds of their peers.”

The event, which Cornwall Enterprise runs with support from the South West of England Regional Development Agency and Business Link, was opened in typically robust fashion by former TV Dragon and Yo! Sushi tycoon Simon Woodroffe, and judged by business celebrities including Tim Smit and Lord Eddie George.
St Columb medical manufacturer Pall (Newquay) enjoyed a particularly successful night, scooping three awards, including one for its Director Andrew Holland, named Cornwall’s “Business Leader of the Year”.

The Camborne-Redruth area was well represented, with awards for Gwel an Mor (Customer Focus) and CFP Software (Marketing Strategy), as well as Damian Lambkin of The Electronic Waste Company, who celebrated his 30th birthday by becoming Cornwall’s “Young Business Person of the Year”.

Other winners included Penryn audio specialist Allen & Heath (Best Exporter) and WH Bond & Sons of Trerulefoot (Best Diversification), while Helston’s Classic Cottages won the hotly contested new website category.

The Jamie Oliver-inspired Fifteen Cornwall was named Cornwall’s Best New Business, and former Business of the Year, Padstow’s TJ International, collected the “Business Improvement through People” prize for the second year running.

The year’s Special Achievement Award was presented to Falmouth engineering giant Fugro Seacore, in recognition of the company’s global standing and three decades of international success in marine and advanced engineering sectors.

Business Link chief executive Adam Chambers commented: “The winners' line-up paints a fabulous picture of the huge variety of companies that are now thriving in Cornwall. Here, it's possible to be both successful and ethical, and to reach international markets from the remotest locations.”

Stephen Bohane, Head of Business Development at the South West of England Regional Development Agency, added: “It is great to see such a range of businesses up for Awards. The investment by the South West RDA is helping to unlock business potential and these businesses are grasping the opportunity. This gives us a great foundation on which to build for the future.”

Cornwall County Councils Executive Member for the Economy Andrew Mitchell (Lib Dem) said: “The County Council is committed to developing Cornwall’s economy and the businesses we see here tonight are to be congratulated for leading the way in Cornwall’s economic renaissance”.

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Photos to follow ASAP. If you would like pictures of any of the winners in particular, please do not hesitate to contact David McGuire on 01326 312451.



General notes for editors:

Cornwall Enterprise is the economic development service for Cornwall County Council and its mission is to achieve sustainable prosperity for Cornwall. It provides a range of services to support economic growth, co-ordinates and enables partnerships and helped develop the county’s economic development strategy.

The Cornwall Business Awards are presented Cornwall Enterprise in partnership with the South West of England Regional Development Agency and Business Link, and supported by key sponsors Stephens & Scown and Robinson Reed Layton. They aim to showcase, reward and encourage the best of the county’s commercial practice, promoting Cornwall worldwide as a great place to do business.

The full list of winners follows below…

For more information, please contact:

David McGuire Lynn File
01326 312451 01208 821787
david@jkc.co.uk lynn@brandinnovation.co.uk



Cornwall Business Awards 2008:
THE WINNERS…




Cornwall’s Business of the Year:

Winner of Winners Award for Business of the Year
sponsored by Business Link;

Business Innovation of the Year
sponsored by the Combined Universities in Cornwall; and

Entrepreneur of the Year
sponsored by Stephens & Scown

Frugi and its Managing Director Lucy Jewson St Martin

John Berry, Managing Director of Cornwall Enterprise, said: “Not content with the most unique and ethical product, Frugi has now broken new ground with its packaging. Likewise, far from resting on her laurels, Lucy has worked tirelessly to take her growing company to new heights. Frugi embodies the best of Cornish business, and I applaud the company’s achievements.”



Best Use of Technology
sponsored by BT;

Growth Strategy of the Year
sponsored by SWRDA; and

Business Leader of the Year
sponsored by NatWest

Pall Newquay and its Director Andrew Holland St Columb

John Berry: “At Pall’s Newquay premises, Cornwall boasts technology that genuinely leads the world. The company is growing rapidly by focusing on immense quality and expertise, and is a wonderful example of what can be achieved in Cornish manufacturing.”

And, about Andrew Holland: “Businesses who talk about passion are ten a penny these days, but it’s quite another thing to really show it in your work. Andrew is a dynamic leader within Pall, and also a priceless advocate on behalf of manufacturing and, indeed, business in Cornwall.”


Customer Focus
sponsored by HSBC

Gwel an Mor Portreath

John Berry: “By placing values of generosity, warmth and kindness at the heart of its business, Gwel an Mor is offering the traditional Cornish welcome in a modern, high quality setting. It sets the tone for tourism in Cornwall in the 21st Century.”


Best Exporter
sponsored by UKTI

Allen & Heath Penryn

John Berry: “Cornwall’s business community is fortunate to have such a genuinely global player among its ranks. While some other exporters were reeling from the American credit crunch, Allen & Heath concentrated on expanding markets in China, India, Latin America and Japan, with impressive results. It’s inspiring stuff.”


Best Website
sponsored by actnow

Classic Cottages Helston

John Berry: “As an established and successful company, it was a difficult decision for Classic Cottages to uproot their marketing approach so fundamentally. I’m delighted to see a bold move so richly rewarded and making such a contribution to our economy.”


Marketing Strategy of the Year
sponsored by Ginsters

CFP Software Redruth

John Berry: “CFP’s approach is based upon a really in-depth knowledge of their customers’ challenges, wants and needs. It’s no surprise, then, that this campaign has reinforced their position as leader in a very competitive market.”


Best Diversification
sponsored by Robinson Reed Layton

WH Bond & Sons Trerulefoot

John Berry: “It takes a special kind of company to respond to challenging times by expanding into new areas, but that’s exactly what WH Bond has done. It’s an instinct that sees this established family firm growing rapidly despite difficult markets in its traditional core business.”


Business Improvement through People
sponsored by Cornwall College Business

TJ International Padstow

John Berry: “TJ International has an older workforce than many companies, and its continual investment in training has enabled that wealth of experience to be harnessed as a driving force for quality. To win this award two years running shows true commitment to people, and the company is seeing tangible business benefits from this approach.”


Best New Business in Cornwall
sponsored by Cornwall Pure Business

Fifteen Cornwall Newquay

John Berry: “Forget its celebrity founder: Fifteen Cornwall is fast establishing itself as a star in its own right. This is the latest in a string of Awards for a young company which has, in some ways, become an emblem for the optimism and free-thinking approach that’s welling up among Cornwall’s business community.”


Young Business Person of the Year
sponsored by First Great Western

Damian Lambkin of The Electronic Waste Company Pool

John Berry: “Damian has already demonstrated an enviable ability to spot a great business opportunity, pursue it fearlessly, and turn it into a success. I’m sure we’ll hear plenty more from him, and from his Electronic Waste Company, in the years to come.”


Special Achievement Award
sponsored by Worldwide Financial Planning

Fugro Seacore Falmouth

John Berry: “Seacore is a world leader, firmly in the lineage of great Cornish engineering companies. With strong ties to Cornwall’s marine and mining heritage, and a highly skilled, well paid workforce, it is a great example of building upon our unique identity and traditional strengths to achieve future prosperity and a global reputation.”