Business Cornwall

A series of ESF Convergence launch events have been organised by Jobcentre Plus to explain what support is available for people out of work in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly.

A Launceston couple who run a teddy bear company, has outperformed hundreds of entrepreneurs and been named a Regional Winner in the 2008 HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards.

Business confidence across the nation's businesses has shown a marked downturn over the past year according to the latest National Business Survey conducted by the leading research company Ipsos MORI on behalf of England's Regional Development Agencies.

A project to place graduates with businesses in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has received approval for a £4.25 million investment from the European Social Fund Convergence Programme.

BUSINESS owners from across Cornwall can receive an hour of free, intensive and confidential business and training support to lift them to the next stage of their development in a series of events being held throughout the county.

More than £4.7 million of ERDF Convergence investment has been approved for the next phase of the first new dental school in the UK for 40 years.

Clifton Asset Management research reveals that SMEs feel “abandoned” by Government and banks. Falling pension and property values leave many owner-managers reliant on their business as a financial cushion.

Financial and legal experts from across the South West have joined forces to host the first ever seminar in the region by the UK’s newest stock exchange PLUS, which is dedicated to the needs of growing companies.

A virtual party hosted over the internet by Cornish based web developers, UKNetWeb, attracted a crowd of nearly fifty people last week as they launched their new corporate website and a free guide to using emerging technology to survive a recession. The innovative party was planned by the company to demonstrate how businesses can use emerging technology to cut business running costs while adding new and exciting ways of promoting their businesses.

A report by MPs into the consequences of rising energy bills is most welcome but the timing of the report has raised concerns for the Federation of Small Businesses, Cornwall Regional Committee.

One of Cornwall’s largest architectural practices is celebrating the first anniversary of its move to a larger base in Truro with further expansion and an optimistic assessment of the county’s business climate.

Pan-European digital marketing agency, Guava, has added another prestigious name to its client portfolio by signing a search marketing deal with FMCG giant Mars Drinks.

A recent survey has revealed that 84% of Insolvency Practitioners in the south west have seen increased business insolvencies in the last three months - and cited the economic slowdown as a major contributor to 79% of the business failures in the region in that time.

The Learning and Skills Council (South West) is urging Cornwall employers to commit to training their staff to celebrate the first anniversary of the Skills Pledge.

Dozens of new offers of finance, support and free training Cornish companies will find it easier to net the help they need to overcome the credit crunch, after 30 more organisations were added to a free online service helping businesses to find financial and practical support.

Orecon, the South West wave to energy developer, has announced a major new addition to its team bringing the company’s total combined offshore experience to nearly 200 years. The appointment of Clive Adshead as Director of Marine Operations continues Orecon’s tradition of recruiting world-class marine managers with real hands-on experience of offshore operations.

St Austell Brewery has signed a sponsorship deal to support Exeter City Football Club through the Brewery's flagship Tribute Ale brand.

British Shops and Stores Association (bssa) has announced the latest set of results from its quarterly Sales Monitor, which shows clear evidence that independent retailers are feeling the effects of the downturn to a greater degree than multiples, with three month like-for-like sales down 1.83% compared with a BRC figure of down 0.03% for the same quarter this year.

Penryn based communications consultancy SEA are working with Bristol’s Knowle West Media Centre in exploring how digital media can aid social inclusion and reduce environmental impact.

Four teams from Stephens Scown in Exeter, Truro and St Austell are celebrating their success in completing the Three Peaks Challenge in record-breaking times.