23.06.03
Business Task Force praises work and vision of Caradon

The latest development of industrial units in Callington has won the praise of Cornwall's Objective One Business Task Force, not only for the development itself but also for the tenancy conditions.

Work officially started on Friday (20 June) on a £393,229 scheme to provide environmentally friendly workshops and offices at Callington's Moss Side Industrial Estate. The project is being invested in by Caradon District Council and Objective One, a long term integrated investment programme to regenerate Cornwall's economy.

Speaking at the official start of the development, Richard Newman, Chairman of the Objective One Programme's Business Task Force, said: "Support for the right type of business that can provide quality jobs with higher salaries is critical in directing investment for the Objective One Programme.

"Caradon District Council's Business Resource department deserve praise for their vision and for taking a courageous step in planning and providing this workspace to serve businesses in South East Cornwall. Whilst discussing the terms of the tenancy agreements with Lindsey James, CDC's Business Resource Officer, it is obvious that they have listened to businesses and are providing exactly the right conditions to attract businesses to their portfolio of 145 workspaces.

"In particular, the 'Tenancy at Will' aspect is particularly attractive to business start-ups. There is no minimum term or prohibitive initial financial commitment. The main cost is one month's rent, excluding VAT, which also acts as a 'damage deposit'. This is a very attractive scheme and both the Business Task Force and the Federation of Small Businesses agree that such schemes will attract business enquiries."

Another CDC business support activity that impressed the Business Task Force was that of client referral. When a business (the client) approaches the Business Resource Department with a query the team 'take possession' and, rather than pass the client on to a third party, they research the information and provide the client with the relevant information.

"By adopting this pro-active approach the team relieve businesses of a very frustrating and time absorbing process of business support research," Richard Newman said. "With over 40 providers of business support in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, is there any wonder this is one of the most predominant issues that we, as a Business Task Force, come across as a barrier to growth? Caradon District Council deserves to be rewarded for its business-caring philosophy."

He added: "The matter of client referral between the 40 plus business support providers is being investigated on a Cornwall-wide basis by the Business Task Force and a mechanism to deliver this vital service has been identified. The next step is to develop the project and identify match funding."

Editor's notes:

The members of Caradon District Council's Business Resource department are:

• Neil McCulloch, Manager

• Lindsey James, Business Resource Officer

• Emma Taylor, Business Resource Assistant

Their contact number is 01579 324111.

There are over 2,600 businesses in Caradon and 94% employ 10 people or less. This is the highest rate of micro businesses in Cornwall (91%) and higher than the National average (87.8%).

The Business Task Force is made up of people running or managing businesses and comprises of:

Richard Newman - Chairman and responsible for Business Support
Thelma Sorensen - responsible for the Marketing programme
Carol Wells - responsible for the Existing Businesses programme
David Handley - responsible for the New Businesses programme
Michael Beadel - responsible for the High Growth business programme
Michael Buhagiar - responsible for Business Task Force Strategy
John Baker - responsible for Business Task Force Communications

The Business Task Force Strategy and action plans are available in pdf format:

BTF Strategy:
Click here to access the BTF Strategy document.

BTF Action Plan:
Click here to access the BTF Action Plan document.

The Business Task Force is the champion for SMEs within the Objective One Partnership Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. It regularly reports to the Cornwall Business Partnership, the umbrella group for private sector business organisations in Cornwall.

Members of the Business Task Force also sit on the following project steering groups:

Finance Cornwall - David Handley
In Cornwall You Can - Mike Buhagiar and David Handley
actnow - Carol Wells
Well Cornwall - Richard Newman
Combined University of Cornwall - Mike Beadel
Constructive Cornwall - Thelma Sorensen

Each steering group defines its role for the particular project, however in the main they:

• Provide advice on strategic direction to the project team

• Agree key issues

• Review progress (Identify substantiated concerns and redress)

For further information please contact:

Richard Newman
Chairman
Objective One Programme
Business Task Force
Tel: 01579 383291
Mobile: 07870 918085

John Baker
John Baker Communications
PO Box 5
Saltash
Cornwall
PL12 4YW
Tel: 01752 849839
Mobile: 07710 147395

Jason Clark
Communications Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Tel: 01872 241379
Fax: 01872 241388
jason@dclark.co.uk

back to top