12.06.03
Objective One investment helps bring new wave of visitors to Cornish shores

Objective One investment through Truro-based South West Investment Group is helping an exciting new venture introduce a continual flow of London-based weekenders to Newquay and the surrounding areas - and bring additional income to several other local businesses as a direct result.

Big Friday Limited (www.bigfriday.com), set up by two keen female surfers, has been created to help Londoners 'wave goodbye to the city' and make the most of their weekends in North Cornwall.

Big Friday brings its clients to various properties in and around Newquay and arranges surfing lessons and other adrenalin-pumping activities for them with local surf schools and adventure providers. The team also recommends top quality bars and restaurants and the best shops for their clients to visit during their weekend stay.

With ongoing support, advice and guidance provided by Grayburn Owen at Mid Cornwall Enterprise Trust (MCET), who helped secure the Objective One finance from South West Investment Group, Big Friday is flourishing and is about to hit its hundredth booking.

One of Big Friday's Directors, Rhona Gardiner, says, "It's still very early days for us but we're meeting an undeniable demand for Londoners who want to get out of the city, head down to the beach and make the most of their precious weekend time. We cut out the hassle for them ensuring all of the details of their trip are already organised and directing them straight to the very best accommodation, activity, service and retail providers in and around North Cornwall. All of our clients thus far have loved the area and everything we've organised for them and are very keen to come back again and again.

"We wouldn't have got so far so quickly if it wasn't for the input of the Enterprise Trust and South West Investment Group, in particular the funding which allowed us to print marketing materials, take strategic counsel and buy invaluable computer equipment. It's extremely rewarding for us to now see this investment coming back into the local economy."

South West Investment Group has so far invested £1.3m into 149 Cornish businesses, and agreed a total of £1.8m with 175 firms since its Objective One business funds were launched in May 2001. Most of the 'not-for-profit' investment company's finance takes the form of interest-free loans.

John Peters, Fund Manager at SWIG, comments, "The aim of our funding is to provide help to those businesses that have great potential but lack enough capital or security to go ahead with a project without a bit of extra help. Big Friday is a great example of just such a business that is helping to boost other local businesses at the same time."

Editor's notes:

For further information about SWIG contact:

John Peters
01872 223883
john@southwestinvestmentgroup.co.uk
www.southwestinvestmentgroup.co.uk

For Big Friday information and photographs contact:

Rhona Gardiner
07740 410052
rhona@bigfriday.com
The entire Big Friday range of experience can be found on www.bigfriday.com

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

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