Graduate puts juice into cider business
Catie Parrott, Communications Executive at
Cornish Orchards
Location: Cornwall
ESF Funding: ESF Convergence
ESF Target Group: Graduates (Cornwall)
A Duchy of Cornwall farm that has been producing award winning apple juice and cider since 1999 has seen a dramatic sales increase in one year since taking on a graduate as Communications Executive.
Caitie Parrott, who graduated in Public Relations from University College Falmouth, was employed by Cornish Orchards, at Duloe, under the Unlocking Cornish Potential (UCP) scheme. UCP receives ESF Convergence investment. A Combined Universities in Cornwall scheme run via Cornwall College, it places graduates with businesses in Cornwall and offers support including valuable expert mentoring for up to one year
Since she started work in October 2011 her achievements, apart from the growth in sales, include significantly increasing Cornish Orchards’ social media presence; increasing its presence at trade shows and increasing the amount of media coverage. The business is also expanding the number of employees and the figure currently stands at 25.
Another aspect of her role was to raise awareness of the efforts that Cornish Orchards have made to become a carbon friendly business. As part of a two year investment plan the business has created a water-based apple handling system, to reduce the use of forklift trucks, and built two fully insulated warehouses. The project was supported by DEFRA.
Caitie said,
"The opportunities with Cornish Orchards have been endless. Over the last 12 months as new opportunities arose my objectives have evolved, for example, in June we won a nationally recognised award at the CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) Reading Beer Festival and as this was a fantastic opportunity we reacted with a national marketing campaign.
"The variety of my working activities has been so immense that I feel I have developed many new attributes and skills that will become useful, not only in my workplace, but also within my personal life. Each achieved objective has generated a financial value along with a reputational value to the business, assisting in its steady growth. Along with growing the business the UCP support has contributed in my professional and personal development. Through courses, mentoring and throughout my graduate placement I have acquired the skills to become a strong member of the marketing team and also maintained the enthusiasm to continue developing."
The UCP support ended in October (2012) and Caitie has been taken on permanently. She added,
"The role will evolve over the next few months as the marketing team welcomes two new members of staff – a business development manager and an assistant to the team."
Mark Yeoman, Head of ESF Convergence Communication, said,
"The ESF Convergence investment in Unlocking Cornish Potential is intended to support graduates to use their knowledge and to gain new skills and real life work experience to the benefit of companies in Cornwall. Caitie is doing just that – increasing her talents and boosting her employability whilst contributing to the growth of the Cornish Orchards business."
Louise Oldham, UCP Senior Business Development Manager, said,
"Caitie fitted in so well at Cornish Orchards from day one. She is excellent at developing relationships with people - just perfect for the role! Despite having a challenging role in PR and social media more recently Caitie relished the opportunity to exercise her selling flair to help develop business."
Cornish Orchards produces cider and apple juice from organic and traditional apples at Westnorth Manor Farm which has been part of the Duchy of Cornwall estate since the early 1950s.