Growing firms move into new £2m business park
A NEW £2million business park in Cornwall has welcomed its first occupants with the arrival of two very different businesses.
Origin Coffee, one of the UK’s longest standing specialist coffee makers, and engineering company Porthleven Metalwork have relocated to the new Foundry Business Park.
The park, at Porthleven, is backed with £700,000 of investment from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
The move has allowed both businesses to expand their operations while remaining in the area and providing employment.
The project has taken a year to build and has been supported by the LEP using £700,000 from the government’s Local Growth Fund, with a further £1.3million coming from the Porthleven Harbour and Dock Company (PHDC).
The scheme has created workspace for about 40 jobs across three business units, helping to diversify Porthleven’s seasonal, tourism-led economy.
A third company will be moving to the business park this summer, with details to be announced soon. There are also 40 public car parking spaces and bike storage facilities, aimed at reducing congestion during the summer months when Porthleven welcomes large numbers of visitors.
The LEP’s investment is part of £78million it has secured from the Local Growth Fund in recent years.
Mark Duddridge, chair of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LEP, said: “This is a great development by the Porthleven Harbour and Dock Company that we have been pleased to support.
“It’s giving local businesses the modern workspace they need to boost their productivity and grow, and helps secure quality year-round employment for local people while helping to tackle congestion.”
Rob Moore, from the PHDC, said: “We are extremely proud to have completed the first phase of development at The Foundry and are excited to see how the project will facilitate the growth of enterprising businesses that are moving to the site. Porthleven has benefited over the years from a strong tourism led economy and while that has brought many benefits, we are also seeking ways to facilitate a greater degree of economic diversity which will bring year-round benefits.
“The Foundry represents an opportunity for businesses from a diverse variety of sectors to establish and grow in Porthleven.”
Origin Coffee is no stranger to Porthleven having opened its first coffee shop in the town in 2015.
The business has relocated from its current headquarters in Helston to a new purpose-built roastery and coffee shop at Foundry Business Park which opened on April 24.
Tom Sobey, owner and founder of Origin Coffee, said: “I am incredibly proud to be able to open the new roastery in Porthleven this spring.
“We opened our first Origin coffee shop in Porthleven six years ago, and it’s been incredible to watch the town flourish into a vibrant destination and we are all looking forward to joining the community.
“The new roastery will provide a space for our team to thrive, with access to a contemporary workspace, state-of-the-art roasting, quality control and training facilities. It’s the perfect space for them to enhance their creativity, fulfil their ambitions, create a culture of excellence and be part of a brand they can truly be proud of.
“We have exciting plans for the year ahead and I know that Porthleven will be the perfect place to continue our great work.”
Porthleven Metalwork has relocated from The Shipyard in Porthleven, allowing the space to be transformed into a new indoor market and community space for events and exhibitions.
Porthleven Metalwork is a familyrun business owned by Clive Christophers and his sister Susan Clark. Mr Christophers said: “The company provides custom made metalwork and also supplies major components for leading brand Spiral UK Ltd.
“The opportunity for better space has been grasped in the company’s decision to move the business to the first phase of the new Foundry Business Park.”