In Cornwall, there are always those that go above and beyond to help businesses, organisations and the people that make up our wonderful communities. Cornwall Marine Network is one such company, a jewel in Falmouth’s crown.
In the last 20 years, Cornwall Marine Network (CMN) has supported the local marine community to go from strength to strength, helping to put tens of millions of pounds into the local economy and supporting people of all ages into work and apprenticeships that will benefit the county for years to come.
Falmouth Life caught up with CEO Paul Wickes at their office on Falmouth Business Park.
“First and foremost we are a community-focused company that exists to support the whole of Cornwall,” he said. “Marine businesses are generally clustered around ports, so they create a local marine community in their own right. We’re working with these businesses to improve the local economy, with a main focus on employers but also enabling employers to support local people.”
Cornwall Marine Network was formed in 2002 by Roger Graffy, owner of Mylor Yacht Harbour, who came together with a group of likeminded marine business owners. Starting out fairly small, it was given the nickname, ‘The Club’, with one main aim being clear for all members: to give identity to marine businesses and the sector as a whole.
CMN had 35 members in its first three years, giving these members the chance to use a logo for an annual fee. It was when Michael Brougham, ex-commander of the Royal Navy and CMN director, wrote an application for European funding so the company could start making revenue, that things really took off.
Michael won more than £1 million and CMN began offering marketing mentoring and grants to businesses, so they also decided to invest in skills support. This is where Paul was brought in, in 2005, as CMN’s very first employee. The CMN Club then developed as a private limited company, owned by the members.
“We had one business mission,” Paul continued. “To improve the economic prosperity of our members. We are here to make money for our members, not out of our members.”
Since CMN was formed in 2005, the sector has doubled in size. As would be expected, 60% of the Cornwall marine sector is linked to the visitor economy and leisure marine, heavily invested in boats, yachts and ships - that includes the building, repairs, maintenance and more - and of course, coastal towns such as Falmouth are at the centre of this marine economy.
Paul said: “The beating heart of the local marine economy is the Port of Falmouth. We have 805 marine businesses here in Cornwall, of which 370 are in Cornwall Marine Network’s membership and 42% are based around Falmouth’s docks. So this allows us to work with local marine businesses at the heart of the local marine community.”
In their 18 years of trading as Cornwall Marine Network, the company has won a total of £42-million of funding which has then been deployed in employing the Network’s team, offering support to members through skills and training, marketing support and help in innovation and productivity improvements to encourage growth.
Marking their 20th anniversary this year, the team at Cornwall Marine Network have a lot to celebrate. They have helped to create more than 3,700 new jobs and over 1,500 apprenticeships here in Cornwall, and have supported 850 unemployed people into work. They have also contributed more than £500-million of added value to Cornwall’s economy.
“Cornwall Marine Network’s biggest focus is on skills and training,” Paul said. “We help set up more apprenticeships with small businesses, as 92% of these businesses had never employed an apprentice before. The beauty of the marine sector is that you can work anywhere in the world! From working with employers, we have learnt that a lot of young people are not prepared for their interviews, so we can advise them on how to conduct themselves to improve their prospects of gaining jobs.”
The Network has been recognised for its work with young people, with the European Alliance of Apprenticeships holding their model as the the best in the whole of Europe at engaging small businesses in apprenticeships back in 2018.
Falmouth is a key location for those in the maritime industry. The port is the first and last port in the English Channel, and is the third largest natural deep water port in the world. It also happens to be the destination for up and coming, as well as current, watersports stars and marine innovators, with some of the best sailing waters in the world.
Cornwall Marine Network’s work, and the innovation in the Falmouth area, has been celebrated recently with a shortlisting for the Maritime UK National Coastal Powerhouse Award.
“The Coastal Powerhouse shortlisting is huge recognition,” Paul said. “Just to be shortlisted is recognition of what we’ve been doing for 20 years. We are present and active in our local communities but we are also shaping them.
“If you work hard, you get lucky - and our team works really hard to help others to improve. I am proud it is little CMN, waving the St Piran’s flag for Cornwall, but making a difference to the national marine sector, and we are very happy to continue to do that!”
For more information about Cornwall Marine Network and how to become a member, visit www.cornwallmarine.net
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