Left to right - Kim Conchie, Carolyn Cadman & Mark Duddridge

Growing Cornwall’s profile as a leader in ‘Green Business’ growth

Cornwall’s business community is working with leading environmental charities to pioneer ‘green business’ growth, according to business leaders and university experts.

During a ‘Wild Business Networking Event’ organised by Cornwall Wildlife Trust and Tevi, a project run by the University of Exeter in partnership with Cornwall Council and Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Mark Duddridge Chair of the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) highlighted that:

"Valuing, protecting and enhancing our environment alongside business growth is core to modern business and the more distinctive we can make Cornwall the better. The Government needs to see there is benefit in investing in Cornwall and we need to encourage business to use Cornwall and Scilly as a test-bed for 'Green Business' growth."

Carolyn Cadman (CEO Cornwall Wildlife Trust) said:

"Today we’ve heard from mainstream Cornish businesses who are embracing nature in how they work and the decisions they take and we are pleased to be able to help them share best practice for both Cornwall's wildlife and for their businesses growth."

Kim Conchie (CEO Cornwall Chamber of Commerce) presented at the event attended by businesses across the county. He added:

"We have fantastic collaboration between the business, academic and public sector that can help to strengthen 'Brand Cornwall' and extend it to other products. The business community are proud to live and work in Cornwall and we can also act nimbly to change, these are values that underline business success in the 21st century."

Dan Bloomfield (Tevi Project Manager) outlined that Tevi is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and supports Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in two ways. “The first is to support businesses to become more sustainable by adopting what is known as a ‘circular economy’ approach, minimising waste and reusing and recycling where possible. The second is by growing Cornwall’s natural environment through planting and wildlife protection.”

Caroline Caroll (Local Industrial Strategy Manager for the LEP said “Our natural capital is a key economic driver for our region, from agri-food and tourism to the best solar and geothermal resources in the UK. That’s why our Local Industrial Strategy sets a course for a decarbonised and sustainable future.”

Date: 31 October 2019