01.10.07
Cornwall’s businesses share know-how

A meeting of some of Cornwall’s leading innovators last Thursday heralded the ongoing success of the KnowHow forum, first launched by Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) at the Tremough campus earlier in the year.

This, the second KnowHow event, was held at the Knowledge Spa in Truro and attracted representatives from local business, higher education and business support agencies from across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The CUC Business Development team initially recognised the huge value of pooling the knowledge and vision of Cornwall’s vibrant business community to enable new collaborative ventures to form and to spark innovation across and between sectors. Such was the success of the inaugural event in June that delegates supported an ongoing series of meetings.

The theme of Thursday’s event was ‘Dealing with Distance’ and consisted of a series of inspiring seminars and discussions highlighting how new ideas and technologies can be embraced to overcome the barriers of remote location. Subjects such as accessing finance for innovation, finding employees through successful recruitment and the use of innovative communication technologies were investigated, from the perspective of turning a potential hurdle into a positive opportunity. Time for informal networking also proved popular as established businesses mingled with graduates and entrepreneurs taking their first steps into the world of commerce and creation.

Dr Mark Scibor-Rylski, University of Exeter business mentor for Environmental Technologies based at the Tremough Campus was one of the respected speakers. He was joined by Allyson Glover, project manager of Unlocking Cornish Potential, CUC’s graduate placement scheme and Jon Stethridge, Director of digital design and communications agency, Unique Media Ltd which has offices in London, Bristol and most recently at the Tremough Campus in Penryn.

CUC Business Development Officer, Catriona Bell, who organised and hosted the evening, was pleased with the outcome commenting: “It is really encouraging that local businesses are so keen to engage with each other and with our academic colleagues. We started the forum knowing it had potential for entrepreneurs in the area but it has already started to pick up its own momentum – and that bodes really well for an expansion of ideas, partnerships and new ways of doing things in Cornwall that will help it to be at the forefront of innovation.”

Those interested in future KnowHow events or who would like information on research opportunities, funding options and/or general business support advice can contact the CUC Business Development Team on 01326 253632 or visit the website at www.cuc.ac.uk.

For further information please contact Emma Stallard, Combined Universities in Cornwall PR and Communications Officer on 07921 093166 or email emma.stallard@cuc.ac.uk.

The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has invested in the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC) project, both Phase 1 and Phase 2, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF).

Editor's notes:

The Combined Universities in Cornwall is a dynamic and visionary partnership that is one of the driving forces behind Cornwall’s economic renaissance. This partnership combines the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, University College Falmouth, The Open University, The College of St Mark & St John, and the Peninsula Medical School, with Cornwall’s Further Education colleges - Cornwall College, Truro College and Penwith College. It aims not only to provide the students of the future with more choice and greater opportunities, but also to boost the economic fortunes of the region for the benefit of one and all.

The CUC initiative has been invested in by the Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, the South West Regional Development Agency, Cornwall County Council and the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

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