A display of 1,000 red balloons soared over Truro on Friday in celebration of businesses in Cornall working together to explore new opportunities.
Convergence-funded project Partner to Succeed released the balloons from Newham, to represent more than 90 businesses across the county working together in collaboration.
The event took place during European SME Week 2010, which recognises the value of small and medium-sized businesses in building a strong economy.
The balloon to travel the furthest will win a business a trip in a real hot air balloon.
Helen Trudgeon, programme director of Partner to Succeed, which is run by business development company YTKO, said: “Our programme recognises that by working together, businesses can take advantage of new markets, be more efficient, share resources and ultimately be more competitive nationally and internationally.
“The balloon release is a really colourful and engaging way of celebrating how business collaborations are proving successful in Cornwall.”
The launch took place at Silvertree Engineering on Heron Way, Newham; just one of the businesses to have taken part in a business collaboration with Partner to Succeed.
Robin Proctor, sales and marketing manager at Silvertree, said: “Partner to Succeed’s support has helped us and our partner QES get a long-discussed project off the ground. We hope the project will be as high flying as the balloons!”
Partner to Succeed is being delivered by business development company YTKO. The project has been financed by £1.35 million from European Regional Development Fund Convergence together with £150k from the South West Regional Development Agency.
