Beyond tourism: How Cornwall is driving local manufacturing

Cornwall is widely known for its coastline, heritage and tourism industry, but beneath that reputation lies a dynamic and growing engineering and manufacturing sector. During a recent visit to members of the Cornwall Manufacturers Group, Enginuity CEO Ann Watson explored first-hand how businesses across the county are challenging outdated perceptions and building a strong, future-focused industrial base.

A region building skills and opportunity

Accompanied by Eric Nicholls, CEO of the Cornwall Manufacturers Group, Ann visited several member organisations to showcase the breadth of engineering and manufacturing skills across Cornwall:

• Watson-Marlow Fluid Technology Solutions: A world leader in niche peristaltic pump manufacture and associated fluid path technologies.
• Spiral UK: The UK’s leading manufacturer of spiral, helical and bespoke staircases.
• Teagle Machinery Limited: Market leading manufacturer and global distributor of robust, reliable and performance-focused agricultural machinery.
• St Eval: A premium, B Corp-certified candle company, specialising in hand-crafting high-quality, sustainable candles.
• The Cornwall College Group & Truro and Penwith College: A further education college in Cornwall offering apprenticeships, higher education, skills training and adult learning.

Sustainable growth and community impact

During her visit, Ann spoke with employees and leaders across the organisations to hear first-hand about their experiences, career paths, and the opportunities Cornwall offers in manufacturing and engineering.

At Teagle Machinery Limited, apprentice Arthur Holmes highlighted the value of hands-on learning and local career opportunities: “I’ve learned a lot about welding so far. Because everything is made from scratch here, rather than welding components from another company, you can really see the full process and how things come together.

“Welding isn’t something I would have chosen in secondary school, but I really enjoy it, and I’m glad I picked it. I was a little worried that I might have to move further afield than Cornwall to find a well-paid job but working with Teagle means I don’t have to.”

Harry Young-Jamieson, CEO of St Eval, emphasised the importance of sustainable growth and investing in people: “We’re a team of 70, and when I think about growth at St. Eval, I think about sustainable growth. We’re a family business, and we focus on the long term and having a positive impact on our community. We’re growing within our means and doing it the right way, so we can be here for the long term and continue creating great products for our customers.

“Manufacturing is a really important part of the UK economy, and being able to make candles here provides great jobs for people in our community. We also get to create very special products that go all over the UK. Here at St. Eval, UK manufacturing skills are essential, and being based on the North Cornish coast means we’ve had to invest significant time and energy into developing our people. We focus heavily on apprenticeships and developing local talent, creating our own pipeline of future leaders and technical experts.”

Changing the narrative

Ann Watson, CEO of Enginuity, commented on her visit: "When most of us think of Cornwall, we picture a holiday destination. But my recent visit with the Cornwall Manufacturers Group showed me a completely different side of the county. Walking the floors at Watson-Marlow, Spiral UK, Teagle Machinery, and St. Eval, I was struck by the incredible skill and quiet innovation happening every day.

"What stood out the most wasn't just the engineering, but the deep commitment to people. Seeing their focus on apprenticeships and long-term career growth proves that incredible opportunities are being built locally. Huge thanks to Eric Nicholls for organising such an eye-opening trip, it’s a great reminder of the strength of the UK's engineering and manufacturing sector."

Follow Ann Watson on LinkedIn