Cornwall may be most famous for its beautiful coast, but there is more to the south-west corner of the UK than tourism and hospitality.

Those considering starting a business in Cornwall would be welcomed by a vibrant community of small businesses and plenty of resources to help them get started.

"The small business network here is very close and tight. Everybody is always willing to help each other," says Charlotte Parker, the founder of cleaning business Charlie's Angels. "There's a great community spirit. I work alongside lots of other small businesses and we support each other."

From a population of 500,000 there are currently 22,000 VAT-registered businesses. Nearly all of them are small and medium-sized. "All but 60 of these businesses are SMEs," says Kim Conchie, the chief executive of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce. "We estimate that there are at least as many small businesses below the VAT threshold, but there is no way of knowing exactly how many smaller businesses there are throughout the region."

Conchie says the business community in Cornwall is very broad. "Businesses range from the bedrock industries you'd expect to see in Cornwall, such as food and tourism, as well as those with mining heritage," he explains. "But we also have vibrant groups of more modern industries including knowledge-based businesses as well as those in marine renewables."

Plenty of talent

A growing graduate population means there is a rich talent pool and Cornwall is well above the national average in terms of qualifications held by its residents. Many graduates choose to stay in the region after completing their degrees.

"There's no doubt that Cornwall is an attractive place to live and work in, which, in turn, means there's no shortage of skills and talent in the county – particularly in growth sectors like IT, renewable energy and aerospace," says Alison Elvey de Rios, a manager at Invest in Cornwall. "The launch of the south west marine energy park earlier this year will consolidate much of the expertise we have in marine energy, helping Cornish businesses in the sector grow and expand into international markets. In the aerospace sector, the new Aerohub enterprise zone at Newquay Airport is set to create up to 2,500 jobs by attracting businesses that will benefit from a simplified planning system and business rate discounts."

One entrepreneur who has successfully taken advantage of Cornwall's hospitality heritage is Ben Hawkins, who launched bakery Da Bara with his brother last year. They have since scooped big clients including Jamie Oliver's Fifteen restaurant in Watergate Bay.

"My brother and I both have a background in the hotel and catering trade and we started our business specifically targeting that sector," he says. "We started out on a part-time basis baking at the weekend and test-traded that way. We set up a little industrial unit in our spare time and launched full-time six weeks after. It has gone really well."

Happier days

Cornwall has come through some bleak periods of high unemployment after the decline of traditional mining and fishing industries. Identified as an Objective One region by the European Union in 1999, the county received £350m in funding to revive its fortunes. Eight years later, in 2007, still deemed to have an economy below the EU average, the region was awarded Convergence status and received a further £415m to develop the local economy through investment in people and infrastructure.

This funding means that there is now a solid business-ready infrastructure in place. Already there is 97% broadband coverage and by 2014, the £132m Next Generation Broadband project will bring Europe's fastest broadband connectivity to Cornwall.

There are plenty of encouragements for prospective startups, with an array of organisations offering practical and financial support. "In the current economic climate, the financial help available to businesses locating in Cornwall is particularly compelling," says Elvey de Rios. "The county provides some of the highest levels of business support and grants in the UK, such as the Grant for Business Investment, which offers up to 50% matched funding."

Startup support

When launching Da Bara, Hawkins received startup support from Outset Cornwall, a free programme for people who have a business idea and need help to get it off the ground. "While we were doing the part-time baking, I went along to Outset Cornwall every week to attend their intensive startup course. It helped so much, especially with pricing our products. I think we'd have struggled without their help," he says.

He has enjoyed being part of the vibrant group of small businesses in the county. "It is very active. Our business is on a small estate and there are lots of very small businesses. There are no empty units here."

However, it is a competitive environment, he explains. "With a smaller population you have to try that little bit harder to bring in enough money."

On the upside, the smaller population also means that things move at a slower pace, which can be helpful for startups, says Parker. "If you are in a bigger place like London and Bristol it may be harder to get all the support you need because people don't have the time, they are so busy. But in Cornwall it is a lot more laid back and there is time for people to sit back and listen and give each other great tips," she explains.

Of course, it's impossible to talk about starting a business in Cornwall without mentioning the quality-of-life factor. Whether starting a new business or relocating an existing venture, Cornwall is bound to delight you with its 300 miles of stunning coastline and beautiful inland moors, combined with low rates of crime and more daylight hours than any other part of the UK.

Hawkins says the quality of life is a highlight of running his own business in the area. "The cost of living is fairly high, but Cornwall is a lovely place to be. It is nice and quiet and being able to go to the beach when you are not working is great," he says.

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