Hello, Autumn friends!
Cornwall’s summer season may be winding down, but what a scorcher it’s been! From bustling festivals to busy local businesses, it’s been a summer full of energy and opportunity. As we transition into the quieter months, let’s embrace this season to focus on growth, development, and preparation for the months ahead.
What’s Inside This Edition:
👋 A Note from Claire – Reflecting on a buzzing summer and preparing for autumn
🌞 Cornwall’s Summer 2025: A Season of Growth and Energy
📰 Cornwall News & What’s Next – Cornwall’s Fifth Nation Motion
🍂 Autumn Planning & Upskilling – Season slowdown = perfect time to train
🧠 Coaching & Business Support – Unlock Potential for Your Team and Yourself
💰 Cornwall’s Pioneering Living Wage Campaign Wins National Recognition
📋 Managing Seasonal Staff & HR Wrap-Up
📅 Join Us – Saffron Sessions returns
👋 A Note from Claire – Reflecting on a Buzzing Summer and Preparing for Autumn
As we move into autumn, it’s a perfect moment to reflect on Cornwall’s vibrant summer. The influx of visitors, many with their canine companions, brought energy to our communities. Now, as the season winds down, it’s time to focus on year-round teams. Upskilling and development boost retention and keep staff motivated through winter.
Let’s embrace this season to nurture our teams and prepare for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Claire Hall
Director, Saffron Academy
🌞 Cornwall’s Summer 2025: A Season of Growth and Energy
Cornwall’s summer of 2025 was nothing short of electric! From sun-soaked beaches to bustling streets, the region came alive with energy, and events like Boardmasters were at the heart of it all. The festival drew over 50,000 attendees, filling local cafés, surf shops, and hidden gems with a lively buzz. It wasn’t just about the waves. Boardmasters highlighted Cornwall’s unique cultural scene, from live music and art installations to food stalls serving the best of local produce. 🎶🍴
But it wasn’t just the human visitors making an impact; there was a noticeable rise in dog-friendly travel 🐶. More holidaymakers than ever brought their four-legged friends along, reflecting Cornwall’s growing reputation as a pet-friendly destination. Coastal walks, dog-friendly cafés, and even surf lessons for pups? The trend shows Cornwall is a place for the whole family to enjoy. 🐾
Cheers to community spirit—the Bowgie Inn’s Ale & Cider Festival raised a record-breaking £7,289.97 for Cornwall Hospice Care over the Bank Holiday weekend. Held from 22–25 August in Crantock, the four-day festival featured live music from local acts such as Rhys “The Night Church Pianist,” Acapella Sound, Black Velvet, The Claze, and the Indian Queens Band, alongside thirst-quenching tastings of Rattler, Tarquin’s, and Jolly’s. Families and friends enjoyed quizzes, face painting, garden games, and even a motorbike ride-out supported by the Celtic Crows MCC, plus a showcase of Cornish JDM cars. The celebrations wrapped up with a grand fireworks finale. 🍻🌟 This was the most successful festival yet and what a celebration of local flavour, community heart, and shared memories. Keep an eye out on their socials for all the other events and fundraising they are doing!
Meanwhile, Newquay Airport has undergone significant upgrades to enhance the travel experience. In July 2025, the airport launched next-generation security facilities, including Advanced CT X-ray Screening, which allows liquids and electronics to remain in hand luggage. These improvements boost capacity to 500 passengers per hour and expand terminal facilities, reflecting Cornwall’s growing connectivity and appeal to both leisure and business travellers.
The summer may be over, but the energy, memories, and connections created will carry through the autumn months, inspiring local businesses to keep thriving.
📅 Ready to turn that summer energy into growth? Let’s plan a coaching or training session to upskill your team for the months ahead.
Cornwall News & What’s Next – Cornwall’s Fifth Nation Motion
In July 2025, Cornwall Council passed a motion calling for Cornwall to be formally recognised as the UK’s fifth nation, alongside England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This historic decision has sparked widespread discussion and varying opinions across the community.
While some view this move as a symbol of Cornwall’s unique identity and cultural heritage, others express concerns about the practical implications and potential distractions from pressing local issues.
“45% of Cornwall business leaders consider the initiative for Fifth Nation status a distraction from more pressing issues; 52% say national recognition is not important to their own business, and 45% believe it would not benefit Cornwall’s economy.”
— Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, 2025
However, the motion has also garnered support from those who see it as an opportunity to celebrate Cornwall’s distinctive history, culture, and sense of place. As one respondent noted, “Identity will matter more and more as the windows on the world shrink. A unified presence with a distinct culture will support trade and investment without question.”
As Cornwall navigates this pivotal moment, the community remains engaged in discussions about the future of the Duchy and its place within the broader UK context.
How do you think Cornish independence would affect your business? Email us at hello@saffronacademy.co.uk
🍂 Autumn Planning & Upskilling – Season Slowdown = Perfect Time to Train
With the summer rush behind us, now is the perfect time to invest in your team. In Cornwall, where businesses often face seasonal highs and lows, autumn offers a quieter window to focus on training and development. Upskilling your staff now can improve retention, boost morale, and ensure your business is ready to thrive throughout the winter months.
Consider areas such as customer service, conflict management and mental health first aid. Training helps your team feel confident in their roles, reduces the likelihood of underperformance, and prepares everyone to adapt when workloads fluctuate.
Even small improvements in skills and knowledge can make a huge difference in staff engagement. Addressing potential challenges proactively—rather than waiting for issues to arise, creates a positive, resilient team that’s ready to tackle the slower season without stress.
📅 Use the autumn slowdown strategically: schedule coaching sessions, run workshops, or introduce short, targeted training programs.
Your team will feel valued, more capable, and motivated to give their best when the peak season returns.
💬 Let your team shine from the inside out. Ask us about training today.
🧠 Coaching & Business Support – Unlock Potential for Your Team and Yourself
Whether you’re a manager looking to develop your team or a business professional wanting extra support and learning, Saffron Academy’s coaching and business support services are here to help. Our tailored programmes combine personal and professional development with practical business solutions—giving you and your team the skills, confidence, and tools to thrive.
We offer support in key areas:
💪 Confidence & mindset coaching – Overcome challenges like imposter syndrome, perfection paralysis, and boost self-belief.
📱 Social media strategy & content creation – Learn to create Reels, graphics, Canva templates, and plan content effectively.
🌐 Digital presence & branding – Optimise LinkedIn profiles, audit your digital presence and strengthen business and personal branding.
📝 Admin & HR – Streamline processes, contracts, filing systems, grievances and day-to-day operations.
🛠️ Outsourcing – Access done-for-you services to manage practical business tasks efficiently.
💻 Delivery Model
🧠 Learn It – Develop skills through workshops, training, or coaching sessions.
🛠️ Outsource It – Let us handle practical tasks for you with our done-for-you services.
Whether you’re growing your team or building your own business, our coaching and business support services help you unlock potential, stay organised, and achieve results. 🎯
🎯 Got a particular challenge? We can create a bespoke training programme just for you
💰 Cornwall’s Pioneering Living Wage Campaign Wins National Recognition
Cornwall has been nationally recognised for its commitment to fair pay, winning two prestigious accolades at the Living Wage Foundation’s Champion Awards held in Newcastle on 3 July 2025. The Cornwall Living Wage Place (LWP) campaign received the ‘Campaign of the Year’ award, while Cornwall Council’s Good Growth Programme and Truro Foodbank were named joint winners of the ‘Local Champions’ award.
Launched in 2023, the Cornwall LWP campaign aims to increase the number of local employers paying the Real Living Wage—the only wage rate independently calculated to reflect the cost of living. The initiative began when Truro Foodbank reported a growing number of working individuals relying on emergency food aid.
“30% of households using Truro Foodbank included someone in work—often on the government minimum wage or in insecure roles with unpredictable hours.”
— Cornwall Living Wage Place, 2023
Thanks to the collective efforts of business leaders, community organisations, and Cornwall Council, the campaign gained momentum. In February 2025, Cornwall became the first area in the UK to be officially recognised as a Living Wage Place, joining 17 other cities and boroughs already accredited by the Living Wage Foundation.
Simon Fann, Chair of the Cornwall LWP Group and Manager at Truro Foodbank, expressed pride in the achievement: “Cornwall’s success reflects the strength of community and shared commitment to tackling one of the defining social and economic challenges of our time. This recognition is a tribute to every individual, business, and organisation that joined forces to make a real difference.”
These awards underscore Cornwall’s leadership in promoting fair pay and highlight the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing low and insecure wages.
📋 Managing Seasonal Staff & HR Wrap-Up
As summer and seasonal contracts conclude, it’s crucial to manage the transition thoughtfully to maintain good relationships, ensure compliance, and prepare for future recruitment.
Key steps include:
✨ Exit interviews – Gather feedback from outgoing staff to learn what worked well and where improvements can be made.
✨ Transition support – Offer guidance on references, future employment opportunities, or internal redeployment where possible.
✨ Contract review – Ensure seasonal and fixed-term contracts are properly closed out, with final pay and documentation completed.
✨ HR policy check – Use this period to review HR practices, update policies, and ensure compliance with employment law, particularly for temporary and seasonal staff.
✨ Future planning – Identify talent you may want to rehire next season and note any skills gaps to address through training or recruitment.
A smooth wrap-up not only protects your business legally but also enhances your reputation as a fair and supportive employer—helping with staff retention and morale.
➡️For detailed guidance, HR audits, or support with seasonal contracts, contact Claire at HRServices@saffronacademy.co.uk or visit the HR Support section on the Saffron Academy website.
☕ Join Us at Saffron Sessions
Want to meet new people or just chat some more about something in this newsletter?
Come and join us for relaxed networking, learning, and lots of coffee at The Celtic Lounge, Newquay.
📍 Saffron Sessions are all about connection, growth, and sharing practical ideas.
💻 There’s even a live countdown to our September event on our website — perfect for those of you who love a bit of suspense and planning your month around important dates.
👉 [Click here to check the countdown and book your place!]
💬 Final Words
Thank you for being part of the Saffron Academy community.
We’re here to help you grow, succeed, and thrive — this season and beyond.
➡️ Stay connected and follow us on social:
📲 LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram
Saffron Academy Limited - Training and HR Services 
Leave a comment