The Cornwall Blog

In January 2013, the government launched a scheme to provide free boilers with free installation to eligible applicants as part of the Energy Companies Obligation (ECO) – £1.3bn project to reduce our energy consumption and pull individuals out of fuel poverty. Part of the ECO is the Affordable Warmth Obligation scheme, which helps individuals who couldn’t otherwise afford it, to install more energy efficient systems. This should result in reduced energy costs through the use of for more efficient boilers than older models. Penryn based Blue Flame Heating Solutions are recognised installers for Cornwall and have already seen success in working with customers to help them review their eligibility, and then installing brand new boilers into properties in the area. They provide no obligation consultations to find out if a free boiler is available for customers, based on whether they are receiving certain qualifying benefits. Funding for the scheme ends in March 2015, so it’s import...

"My adventures cycling from Cornwall in the UK to Cape Town in South Africa by bicycle" This is the title of Sean Maher's blog reporting his experiences, trials and tribulations of cycling day after day in foreign lands. Sean himself confesses he is not a pro at cycling, and has never done anything like this before. His witty accounts, though, make the onlooker feel very supportive of his quest and routing for him to achieve his desired goal. Sean took on this cycle ride because he was out of university and didn't have a job to go to, so he decided to make the most of this opportunity and 'ride out the recession'. He did not just do this for his own experience though, but raised money for some very worthy charities - Pump Aid who work with communities in southern Africa, UNICEF who look after children in mainly developing countries, Wooden Spoon a charirty working to enhance underprivileged children's lives and the Robert John's Leukemia Fund. ...

Archive article: This post was originally published before the West Country switched from analogue to digital television. The advice, contact details and deadlines in the original article are now obsolete. At the time, research from Digital UK suggested that many hotels, guest houses and other tourism businesses across the West Country were not yet fully prepared for the move to digital television. Only 40% of the hoteliers and bed and breakfast owners surveyed had converted all the televisions in their guest rooms. A further quarter had partly completed the work, while more than a third were still relying entirely on analogue television. Holiday lets were reported to be the best prepared, while holiday parks and caravan parks were among the least likely to have completed the change. The campaign encouraged tourism businesses to plan ahead, particularly because the switchover was due to take place during the busy summer season. At the time, reliable television and inte...

If you were watching the breakfast news on the BBC this morning, you would have seen the clip included above; very positive news for those in Cornwall, and especially B&B owners. It is rarely good news when we hear that the Pound is weak against the Euro, but it has caused a flood of Europeans to visit their island neighbours. Cornwall will benefit a great deal from the foreign visitors - with much of the economy based in the tourist trade - and along with those from across the seas, many are choosing to stay in the UK for their holidays. All of the accommodation owners I have spoken to have mentioned that their bookings are up, with many visitors choosing to stay for two weeks instead of one as they previously had. The news report also mentioned the advantage of web based advertising to reach these visitors. Having a website for your business is now considered essential, the greater majority of consumers look for a business online first, even if only for contact details. In th...

The Rutherford Group has recently been featured on the BBC news, their managing director, Ian Rutherford, interviewed regarding the new requirement for door attendants to have passed an exam. Although based in Cornwall, they offer security training and services nationwide, covering all of the UK. BBC News Interview They have also launched a new website recently, focusing on their security training Cornwall. This will feature up to date information on what is happening in the company, and also give visitors an idea of what to expect.

Stella Artois has found that up to 83% of us will get frustrated when trying to get home after a night out, due to not planning our journeys home in advance. They are encouraging people to make a plan to ‘get home safe’, which builds upon Stella Artois’ commitment to responsible drinking. This initiative is lead by former Olympic rower and gold medalist James Cracknell. James is certainly a man who all too well understands the importance of planning, especially as he is about to set off on a race to the South Pole with Ben Fogle. “From my experiences I know the importance of making a plan and getting home safe so I was really excited when I was asked to lead the Stella Artois campaign. It doesn’t matter if you are heading to the South Pole or East Finchley this Christmas everyone should make a plan to get home safe.” Gender seems to play a big role. 45% of men as opposed to 25% women will find themselves caught short with no way of knowing how they will get home. This is because, ...