As part of her time with us, we asked her to put together a blog post about life and work in Cornwall. Emmie’s reflected on the contrast between busy city life and the calmer, coast-and-countryside lifestyle we’re lucky to enjoy here.
When people think about building a career or launching a business, their minds may often jump to major cities like London, Manchester, or Bristol. But Cornwall is a vibrant hub for innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship, and it’s proving you don’t need to move away to find brilliant opportunities.
In fact, Cornwall is home to some seriously impressive businesses and creative talent. From brands and businesses like Finisterre, Seasalt Cornwall, and Crowdfunder (to name just a few), the county continues to make its mark across fashion, tech, food, and beyond.
Cornwall is a place where startups thrive, freelancers connect, and people genuinely collaborate… and we do it from airy office spaces, creative coworking spaces, beachside cafes, and tons of Cornish hidden gems. Have you ever heard of net-swimming? You have now!
There is an incredible pool of talent here. You don’t have to tackle urban life to make it, Cornwall can offer everything you need to build a meaningful career and a lifestyle to match.
But enough from us, over to Emmie…
Words by Emmie Neave
Over the years, city development has increased and opportunities in cities have become more apparent, however, it is also important to remember the business opportunities in the countryside and by the coast.
Business opportunities here have increased. Cornwall, for example, has lots of rural areas, which means it has lots of opportunities and areas for people to either work outside, or have some me time out on a beach, or cliffside walk or take a walk through the many woodland areas.
The Great Cornish Outdoors site highlights the benefits of Cornwall’s coastal setting:
“There’s a real sense of community here. People take time to chat, help each other out, and generally look out for one another. It’s not unusual to be walking in the lanes or on the coast path and have a conversation with a stranger. That just doesn’t happen everywhere.”
“Sea air is cleaner and less polluted. According to science, the air in nature areas, like forests and areas of water, contains more negative ions, which can help reduce stress, boost mood, and improve overall well-being. Living by the sea, being surrounded by beautiful landscapes, and feeling connected to nature all combine to enhance both physical and mental health.”
Quotes taken from The Great Cornish Outdoors: 12 Reasons Why I Live In Cornwall and 8 Reasons Why Living by The Sea is Excellent for Your Health
The great outdoors isn’t just good for wellbeing, but for business too!
Job opportunities in Cornwall
Job opportunities in Cornwall can vary greatly from working in a popular tourist area like Newquay or Mevagissey to working in an office building in the heart of Truro. However, even working from an office in the centre of Truro, you are still only 40 minutes in either direction from a beautiful beach!
Truro city is, however, a lot different from a traditional city like London or Manchester. It is nowhere near as big and also has significantly fewer people.
Truro is also a popular tourist destination due to its Gothic cathedral that stands in the middle of the city centre. It also has a range of different shops and is home to many different types of business opportunities, from starting a small clothing shop or having your own baker, it will always attract tourists who have come down to visit Cornwall.
Working in Cornwall has improved many other people’s mental health, too, due to it being such a beautiful and rural place, and you are never too far from a beautiful sandy beach or a woodland walk. The fresh air is so nice to go out and walk in to be with nature and get some peace and quiet from busy tourist areas like Newquay (even though Newquay has the best beaches in Cornwall).
Starting your own business in Cornwall wouldn’t be too hard, as they have places where you could start a small business, like in a market somewhere, to start your business journey off. As your business grows and improves, there are many touristy places where you could build your business even further to gain a wider customer base, which can increase the popularity of your business even further.
Side note: did you know we have a podcast where we talk about all things business in Cornwall? You can listen or watch, here: Podcasts – Whyfield
Working at Whyfield
Whyfield is one of those very businesses that gets to thrive in Cornwall.
The office is just on the outskirts of Truro and that means that most of the time there is less traffic getting to work and because it isn’t in central Truro it means that it isn’t as touristy and there is never a lot of people around. Whyfield is also a very good business to work for as they are all a lovely and supportive team and are happy to answer any questions or inquiries that you have on the job.
Whyfield also has different job opportunities in their business. Whether you’re interested in marketing or payroll, there is always someone to help you out. Whyfield is also a good business because they have lots of opportunities outside of the office, like attending events or doing charity work to support the local area, like beach cleans or volunteering for other businesses.
As well as having amazing colleagues, you will also find lots of friends along the way, which you can then make TikTok with to help grow the business online, like on TikTok or Instagram, to help the business become more widely recognised. Whyfield also has a 4-day week so you have the opportunity to have a day of the week to reflect on yourself and have a day out of the office to go and enjoy the area around you.
I asked the team what they love most about living and working in Cornwall.
Here is what they said:
Meg Smith says–
“The FRESH AIR – God the air is clear down here!”
Megan Searle-Thomas says–
“I love living in the peaceful countryside, but being just a short drive from the nearest beach for a swim or a walk, or to a nearby town for restaurants, bars, and events (at any time of year). There is just something about the atmosphere and pace of life in Cornwall that you just don’t get anywhere else in the country.”
Sophie Jinks says–
“I love living in Cornwall because of the freedom and space to be outdoors and explore (outside of work).
I love working in Cornwall because it’s never a long commute to work!”
Amethyst Newman says-
“It’s just a beautiful place to live.
It’s a great place to raise the kids; the clearer air, lower crime rates, exciting places to explore and just the slower, more relaxed pace of life.
It feels like a real community, which I don’t feel you get as much in cities (I lived in Guildford/London for 4 years), and people just seem to be friendlier.
Although tractors 😂”
Charlie Metters says-
“I haven’t always lived in Cornwall, and spent a large part of my life living and working in a big city. The comparison between the two is second to none. I absolutely love the slower way of life, I enjoy being able to go straight to the beach after work and I feel extremely comfortable allowing my daughter to discover her independence in such a safe, friendly part of the UK.”
Kelsey O’Leary says-
“Living – Great coastal paths for running in the evenings (we have the best sunsets ever).
Working – good community of businesses, which feels very supportive of one another, as we are mostly small businesses”
That is just what some of the team had to say about living and working in Cornwall. I’m sure that many other people will agree with their statements about how living in Cornwall is a great career, living, and business opportunity.
Here is some artwork Emmie also created, linking to her blog post:
If you wanted to learn more about working with the team at Whyfield, you can look at their socials and their website.
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