The cohort of Cornwall’s 30 under 30 Class of 2023 has been revealed.
The awards, now in their eighth year, celebrate Cornwall’s brightest young business talent and were organised by the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce and Business Cornwall magazine, in partnership with Whyfield, Pirate FM, Truro & Penwith College and Coodes Solicitors.
The quantity and quality of the applicants this year was greater than ever and the judges had a tough time whittling down to the final 30.
Chamber CEO, Kim Conchie, said: “We had entrepreneurs, change makers, prosperity creators and eco-warriors from a huge cross section of businesses and business support, all adding to the magic that makes living and working in Cornwall so special.”
A special 30 under 30 supplement, featuring profiles of all the winners, has been published alongside the May issue of Business Cornwall magazine.
A winners’ ceremony will be held at The Alverton on May 18.
30 under 30 Class of 2023
LEXIE WILLIAMS (Stephens Scown)
- “Undoubtedly one of the region’s brightest and best future lawyers”, Lexie Williams became the first solicitor apprentice in Cornwall in 2019 when she began her apprenticeship with Stephens Scown.
EMMA NORTON (Prima Bakeries)
- “The oil that allows the Prima Bakeries’ engines to run”, Emma Norton has been with Prima Bakeries since 2012, working her way up through the family business from part-time shop assistant to her current role as general manager.
ABIGAIL HOBBS (The Cornish Larder)
- As co-founder of The Cornish Larder, Abigail Hobbs is “absolutely integral to all the success the business has achieved over the past few years”.
ALEX RODDA (Rodda’s)
- It’s not just the Cornwall’s 30 under 30 judges who have been impressed with Alex Rodda’s track record. Last year he was named by industry bible, The Grocer, as one of the six best rising stars in the dairy industry.
ALICE HARPER (Harper’s Health)
- Nutritionist Alice Harper is on a mission to help people achieve a healthier diet and lifestyle, in a world dominated by fast and convenience foods.
BEN CLEMENTS (Peaky Digital)
- Ben Clements is senior growth executive at Falmouth-based digital marketing agency, Peaky Digital, working on new client acquisition and the growth of existing accounts.
BETH PERKIN (Cornish Spliced)
- Beth Perkin started Cornish Spliced two years ago aged just 14 after asking her grandad Frank (a retired fisherman) to make her a dog lead from a piece of his old fishing rope using his heritage fishing skills of splicing.
CHLOE LINGARD (TSAP Travel)
- Falmouth University graduate Chloe Lingard founded her ‘voluntourism’ business, TSAP Travel, after spending five weeks in Madagascar, as a volunteer English teacher.
DAN HUGGAN (The People Hub)
- Dan Huggan’s journey starts similarly to many college leavers in Cornwall – going into a low-paid, unskilled job but developing into an exceptional trajectory that will see him go far.
ED SMIT (Here Now Films)
- After graduating in marine biology from Falmouth University, rather than a career in science, Ed Smit opted to pursue a lifelong passion in film.
ELLA DAVIS (Wildanet)
- “A CEO of the future”, Ella Davis has been “an outstanding addition” for Wildanet, playing an active role in the rural broadband provider’s growth trajectory
ELLIE TSWEI (Krav Maga Cornwall)
- Ellie Tswei has just led her self-defence school, Krav Maga Cornwall, to its most successful year yet.
FRAN ROWSE (Fran Rowse)
- Fran Rowse is a 24-year old award winning photographer and curator, born and bred in Cornwall.
FRANKIE THOMAS (Frankie Thomas Photography)
- Frankie Thomas only took up photography during lockdown, when she bought her first digital camera.
GEORGE FRENCH (Citizens Advice Cornwall)
- Despite being diagnosed with a long-term health condition aged 15 and being told it was unlikely she should ever be well enough to work, George French has shown great determination in forging a successful career.
HARRY DENNIS (Waterhaul)
- Harry Dennis wanted to do something he felt he could make a real difference in, so in 2019 he quit his full-time job to found his social enterprise Waterhaul.
JAMES CAVANAGH-SHADDOCK (Truro & Penwith College)
- James Cavanagh-Shaddock has become a recognised name and ‘go-to’ contact for hospitality businesses in the county looking for workforce development opportunities.
JESSICA CROOK (Whyfield)
- Described as a “trailblazer”, Jessica Crook is Whyfield through and through having originally joined the accountancy firm as its first-ever employee.
MICHAEL WOODWARD (Goonhilly Earth Station)
- Having joined Goonhilly as one of its first graduate intake cohort, Michael Woodward has quickly become a key member of the Goonhilly Deep Space Communications team.
SAM CAIN (Voice Communications)
- As PPC executive at Voice Communications, Sam Cain has been fundamental to the agency’s digital marketing success.
SOPHIE CURTIS (The Greenbank Hotel)
- “A true perfectionist”, Sophie Curtis works full time for sister hotels The Alverton and The Greenbank as assistant marketing manager, while also studying her Chartered Institute of Marketing Diploma.
BENJAMIN PECK (Thought Quarter)
- Although his skillset “wasn’t in the right area”, Thought Quarter identified “great potential” in Benjamin Peck when joined the Pool-based software company in 2019. And that potential is now being fulfilled.
ISABEL CUDE (Thought Quarter)
- In a sector that has previously had a reputation of being male-dominated, Izzy has confidently and quickly learned new skills, all while championing being a woman in tech.
CHRISTIE HARVEY (Vickery Holman)
- “An exceptional young person” and “true team player”, Christie Harvey joined Vickery Holman in 2019 as a graduate surveyor and has rapidly risen through the ranks.
TOM MARMOY (The Wave Project)
- “I’m not sure, you would have to ask Tom,” is a daily utterance in The Wave Project office. In the three years Tom Marmoy has been with the surf therapy charity, he has become a “lynch pin”.
JOE TURNBULL (Bull & Wolf)
- Joe’s leadership at Penryn-based video production company Bull & Wolf has led to further growth this year, with the team expanding from four to seven and a 60% rise in sales.
ALEX SMITH (Freelance copywriter)
- Alex Smith went full time as a freelance copywriter and comedy writer shortly before lockdown and managed to keep his business afloat throughout.
REUBEN HOLMES (Pocketful of Stones)
- Reuben joined Pocketful of Stones team a couple of years ago as its tour and tasting guy on a Saturday. But the independent distillery quickly recognised his passion and creativity and today he is a valuable part of the production team, creating new products regularly.
SAMUEL DAVIES (Atlas Film)
- Documentary filmmaker, fervent surfer, and founder of Newquay-based production company Atlas, Samuel Davies is passionate about telling intimate stories that “resonate on an epic scale”.
ABIGAIL LUGG (Genus ABS)
- Abi Lugg has been in and around farming and agriculture most of her life. Since a small child, she spent time with the family herd of traditional breed pigs and is an accomplished pig keeper.
