Staff at a luxury Cornish wedding venue have a new, fully equipped garden office, thanks to a grant from BIG Productivity and help from Access to Finance.
The team at Treseren, a beautiful Georgian house and grounds near St Newlyn East, had been managing the day-to-day running of the business from laptops at home or around a kitchen table. Owner Emma Caddis wanted to create a more professional office space and applied to BIG Productivity for a grant. Access to Finance supported Emma and her staff through the application process and grant of £24,951.27 was awarded last year.
The much-needed cash boost has gone towards funding a timber-framed office, supplied and built by local firm Garden Buildings Cornwall, based in Goonhavern.
Emma says having a separate space for her team to manage and plan events has been ‘hugely transformative’ for her growing business, which has gone from being a husband-and-wife team to having four employees, plus hospitality staff. “Having our new office means that we all feel connected to the business,” said Emma, explaining that her team used to meet around her kitchen table, or virtually on laptops, when they weren’t working to prepare the venue. This way, we can all be together and bounce ideas around. Having a dedicated space for work and planning just works for us in so many ways. The impact has been huge.”
Treseren’s team plan and coordinate up to three weddings a week during the venue’s busiest time of year.
Since it was launched by Emma and husband Paul in 2019, Treseren has won four gold awards for Wedding Venue of the Year in the Cornwall Tourism Awards and for the whole region in the South West Tourism Excellence Awards.
The venue is a go-to choice for couples who want an intimate wedding in luxurious surroundings. Up to 22 people can enjoy exclusive use of the 200-year-old country house and grounds, once home to the captain of the local mine.
The new, custom-built office is an ideal workspace, plus it provides a welcoming reception area for visiting photographers and videographers, who need to set up and recharge equipment. A dedicated laundry facility within the office has also been created, which has freed up space within the venue to create a valuable props area. In addition, the housekeeping team also use the office as a base, connecting the wider team together.
The timber building has been a much-needed addition to the business and Emma says the BIG Productivity grant, plus support and advice from Access to Finance meant it all came together sooner rather than later
“It accelerated a process that needed to happen,” said Emma, adding that having the extra financial help and guidance gave her the confidence to make the investment. “It’s kept our business growth on track. It’s been a real highlight on our journey as a venue and as a team.”
Lyn Newby, BIG Productivity’s Programme Manager, said: “We’re delighted that BIG investment has made such a difference to Treseren by providing modern workspace where Emma and her team can come together. Not only has it boosted the productivity of the business, it has helped accelerate growth and create jobs.”
Jackie George, Business Finance Specialist at Access to Finance, said: “The Access to Finance team, which provides impartial support to SMEs in Cornwall, supported Treseren to access funding aimed at increasing the productivity and efficiency of the business.
“After an initial meeting to discuss the needs and aspirations of the business, we worked closely with Emma and the team at every stage – explaining the grant application and procurement processes, supporting documentation requirements, and providing guidance on how to form the application into a successful submission. Securing this investment has made an incredible difference to the business and we wish the team every success in the future.”
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