Some of the biggest names in businesses from across the South West have sat down with BusinessLive during 2023 to share their insights and predictions on industry, employment, and innovation in the region.
The likes of Dragons’ Den star Deborah Meaden opened up about how businesses can realistically implement environmental targets. While Spaceport Cornwall’s business development manager, Ross Hulbert discussed new projects that are set to see the region lead in the aerospace industry.
Long-form interviews are published frequently on BusinessLive , but below we have compiled a list of some of the best reads of 2023.
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Ross Hulbert, Spaceport Cornwall
There has been a lot of change at Newquay’s Spaceport this year. Head of Spaceport Cornwall, Melissa Quinn, announced she would be stepping down, not that long after Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit ceased operations after falling into administration. Virgin Orbit attempted the first space launch from UK soil at Spaceport Cornwall earlier this year, but it ended in failure when the rocket suffered an "anomaly".
BusinessLive caught up with business development manager, Ross Hulbert, about the future of the Cornwall-based enterprise. Mr Hulbert was excited by the team’s relocation at Newquay Airport alongside an array of new companies all under the same roof, doing exciting things in the aerospace industry .
Mr Hulbert explained: “We’ve just moved. We’ve got this new operations facility, so it's not just us, there’s all other space businesses in here now. It’s the first time we’ve been joined, other than when Virgin were here, this is the first time we’ve been outside of our spaceport bubble.”
In terms of launching again, although Mr Hulbert said Spaceport Cornwall didn’t need to, it is something that they are looking towards in the near future.
Avanti Communications
Also in Cornwall, provider of satellite technology, Avanti Communications, which works closely with the team at Goonhilly Earth Station and Spaceport Cornwall, spoke to BusinessLive about getting young people involved in aerospace.
Avanti's research found that 74% of children aged 10-18 in Cornwall would go to space in a Virgin Galactic flight if they won the opportunity to. The government's introduction of a new degree apprenticeship in space engineering is something that the technology company is embracing.
Paul Collins, director of spacecraft operations at Avanti Communications, said: "The progress we have made as a country over the past 12 months in the space sector has been incredible. The work going on at Goonhilly, by many of our colleagues and partners, is world-leading and we at Avanti Communications are incredibly proud to be a part of the Goonhilly Earth station.”
Chase Clark, Lush
In May, BusinessLive visited circular cosmetic retailer Lush’s new green hub at its Poole-based headquarters. Since opening its first green hub in 2015, the brand has continued to upscale, expand, and grow its understanding of the capabilities humans have to take responsibility for waste.
We spoke with manufacturing director Chase Clark about what the new premises means for the business and the wider community of Lush and Poole.
Green hub is part of Lush's wider initiatives, under its mission of "leaving the world Lusher than we found it ". It includes its wood shop where store furnishings are recycled and repurposed, repairs and maintenance that repairs equipment from across the business to prevent the brand buying new, and donations that ensure surplus products from manufacturing are distributed to charities nationwide.
Deborah Meaden
BusinessLive spoke with the Dragons' Den star ahead of her keynote speech at Bristol's Blue Earth Summit in October.
Ms Meaden supports ethical, fair practice both in business and in life, believing that taking care of the environment is essential for the future. She earned the nickname ‘Swampy’ from the moment she joined Dragons' Den , for her tireless promotion of sustainable practice in business.
She is actively involved in environmental charities, as a fellow of the WWF, a trustee of Tusk Trust, an ambassador for Mico-loan Foundation, Marine Conservation Society, World Horse Welfare and recently RSPB amongst others.
She told us: “Biodiversity is nature, it's things we walk through day after day, it’s trees, it’s animals and clean water and fresh air, it’s everything. Oddly we’ve got our minds wrapped round this thing that is difficult to get your mind wrapped round and we haven’t joined it together with this thing that actually should be much more obvious to us, and I think that once we understand that and start looking at the impact that we are having on nature and biodiversity then it’s going to be a key that unlocks the path to net zero, because if you get all that stuff right you get net zero.”
Will Hayler, Wavelength Media
In June, Spring Classic festival returned to the clifftops of Woolacombe in North Devon for the second year in a row. Wavelength Media is also the organiser of Blue Earth Summit, which brings together 5,000+ decision makers, industry pioneers, thought-leaders, sustainability trailblazers, solutionists, and start-ups.
The 42-year-old surf publication has adapted over time to establish itself as an event leading, environmentally active business.
BusinessLive spoke with founder and chief executive Will Hayler, ahead of the Spring Classic (June 1 - 4) event. Mr Hayler said: “I think it’s no surprise to see the media diversify. How do you keep a heritage surf title in print as well as being online and it’s about engaging with the audience in the way they want to be engaged with, and I think the ultimate engagement is experience. So we always wanted to do an event alongside Wavelength.”
Tom Kay, Finisterre
Also making huge waves in the surf industry on the South West coast is St Agnes-based surf brand and outdoor clothing company Finisterre. BusinessLive visited the Cornish brand at its headquarters on cliffs overlooking Trevaunance Cove.
Founder Tom Kay said: “In regards to what we do in business has always been about making the best product you possibly can while mitigating impact.”
Earlier this year Finisterre launched its Yulex wetsuits on fashion rental platform Hirestreet . The B Corp company recognises that wetsuits as one of the least circular products on the market with traditional neoprene coming from fossil fuels.
Mr Kay also told BusinessLive how he has been working with the University of Exeter to create a fully recycled wetsuit and revealed the brand’s plans to launch in the US.
Sir Tim Smit KBE, Eden Project
South West business leaders are passionate about their environmental targets and acting sustainably.
Co-founder and executive vice chair of Eden Project Tim Smit detailed the influence of big finance on the green movement and our interest in natural capital and carbon offsetting .
We spoke with Mr Smit about the biggest challenges facing businesses when they try to enact change. Mr Smit said the ideal is to “create wealth by imagining growth out of what isn’t waste as opposed to consuming more”.
Mr Smit has coined the phrase ‘muscular localism’ to express his solution. He explained that you can only have what you have in a major city only if it's being made locally and is being owned by the people who are your neighbours.
Ololade Adesanya, Deloitte
Businesses are also passionate about increasing diversity and inclusion. BusinessLive discussed how women have changed the business landscape in the past decade.
Director at Deloitte, Ololade Adesanya was the president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) West of England in 2022 and 2023 and recently stepped down from the role. However, she remains active within the ICAEW in driving the diversity and inclusion agenda as a voice for the profession.
Over the past decade the former ICAEW president has mentored many people from a range of backgrounds, including those from Black and ethnic minority heritage, young people and women.
Mrs Adesanya told us: “People have come up to me to say, ‘we are so proud to see a Black woman at the top, we’ve not seen this before, it’s fantastic’.”
Gillian Ridley Whittle, Peachaus
Another woman rising through the ranks is ex-Topshop fashion director Gillian Ridley Whittle who launched lifestyle-loungewear label Peachaus in March 2022 with Michael Kors chief executive Cerdric Wilmotte.
Ms Ridley Whittle, who now lives in Chippenham, has held roles with large high street names, including Topshop and prior to that was trading director for lingerie and beauty at Marks & Spencer.
She told BusinessLive that it was always her plan to launch her own fashion brand. Ms Ridley Whittle conceived Peachaus as an “antidote” to the current fashion system and has an “ambitious vision” to expand the brand beyond underwear and clothing.
Black South West Network
The Beyond Diversity Report uncovered that there are only 0.24% of Black founders and 0.02% of Black Female founders in the UK.
It is harrowing statistics like these which have guided Black-led racial justice organisation, Black South West Network, to challenge systemic barriers and drive racial equity in the UK society’s dimensions of research, policy, innovation, socio-economics, and health.
BusinessLive spoke with enterprise development manager Derek Tanner and the chair of BSWN and partner at Knights, Martino Burgess, about the work of the Bristol-based organisation.
Using the example of green skills, Mr Tanner described how the network has partnered with the University of the West of England to deliver a programme for 150 Black and minoritised students, covering the built environment, tech, robotics and construction skills.
