Owners and directors of some of Cornwall’s fastest growing and most influential businesses met recently to discuss past and future plans for supporting business growth in the county.
Clients of the ERDF funded Coaching for High Growth programme, delivered by Truro based specialist business coaching company, Oxford Innovation, met with senior representatives of the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and government at a celebratory dinner event at the Cornwall Hotel, St Austell.
They shared thoughts on the success of the programme while business owners offered perspectives on what had worked well under the ERDF Convergence Programme and how lessons learned could be used to enhance future business support activity and maintain momentum.
Guests heard that the current Coaching for High Growth programme, had created over 2,000 new jobs in Cornwall and generated in excess of £41million in additional gross value added (GVA).
Andrew Farmer, programme director at Oxford Innovation, said: “We have some business gems in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. With the help of this programme and our experienced coaches, local businesses are stepping up to develop and grow their potential.”
Chris Pomfret, chair of Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LEP, outlined the organisation’s key priorities for the next five years, confirming that high growth businesses were an essential element in the continued growth of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly economy.
Speaking about the event, Pomfret said: “Boosting the productivity and competitiveness of our businesses, as well as creating the conditions for them to thrive, are priorities for the LEP and the insights of local businesses are always invaluable in helping to shape our work as we focus on the challenges and opportunities ahead.”
