What motivated the creation of your business and why is it in the St Just area?
Over 20 years working as freelancers in London gave us the experience & desire to do it for ourselves. We started in Soho in 1998 and along with having family locally, we had a colleague in St Just who set up a sister studio here and subsequently joined us as a director. We gradually moved the business to the Cornwall studio, seeing less need to be located in central London.

What is your business and what's special, unique or distinctive about it and/or your approach to it?
We produce 2d and 3d animation for TV and film, and are often approached for the added value we bring to productions, giving them a more hand-crafted feel. Our work has contributed to many award-winning films. Our relocation has also allowed us to price more competitively, which has enabled us to survive the more recent problems of much of the UK's animation work going overseas due to lower prices.

Who do you work with?
Our clients are largely based in London or internationally, and we are often able to send and receive work entirely via the internet. Last year we took on a sequence of a feature film which amounted to about 9 months work, where we never actually met the client. Similarly, although we try and source subcontractors locally where possible, for most of the roles necessary we are able to use anyone anywhere in the world, and have them send the work via the internet or by courier. Staff numbers are entirely project based and can range between 2 and 60.

What are you most proud of or found most challenging or exciting?
'Father & Daughter' won the 2001 Oscar and Bafta for Best Animated Short. And quite frankly the struggle to keep the company going in the current industry climate is challenging enough!

What are your plans for the future?
We would love to be able to get creative on our own shows & have been developing several projects in the hope of a commission. Our current favourite goes to the market place in September!

What motivated the creation of your business and why is it in the St Just area?
Having worked in the fields of Education, Creative Arts and Community Work for many years, I wanted to develop my passion for making Art and Drama more accessible and fun! All too often children grow up with a pre-conceived idea that 'I can't draw' or 'I'm no good at speaking in front of people'. Participating in Art and Drama can be a key pathway to extending a child's confidence and self esteem. The participation doesn't have to be in a formal, classroom-based environment to reap benefits. Much of my work is devising tailor made sessions for family parties, Fun Days, and Presentations. My Face Painting service is also a successful way to introduce younger children to a less formal type of artwork. Why St Just? Well St Just is an exceptional place to live and work. The people here are inspired, and inspiring! It is an ideal base for any business to flourish.

What is your business and what's special, unique or distinctive about it and/or your approach to it?
My main aim when starting up Funny Faces was to provide my clients with a thoroughly personal and professional service. Having research the local market I found a gap which I felt I could fill. Many potential clients wanting my Art and Drama services were reassured by my business like approach to what is normally seen as a more recreational type of activity.I am fully covered by Public Liability Insurance, and have an Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure, which I feel is vital when working with children of any age. In addition to my academic qualifications, I also have specialist training in Mentoring, Child Protection and Special Needs. This gives me a good all-round background in working with children and young adults, and devising individual programmes for their needs.

Who do you work with?
I am currently a sole trader, and my clients include private individuals, schools, community groups and businesses. I have recently undertaken work for The Wharfside Shopping Centre (Penzance), the Abbey Bank (Penzance), Community Energy Plus, and Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change.

What are you most proud of or found most challenging or exciting?
Since my family only moved down to Cornwall 18 months ago my major challenge was researching the local marketplace here, and making sure I developed a sound strategy for publicising and advertising my services to the right people. My budget for this was relatively smalI, as moving house took up the major part of our families funds. I put in a lot effort into networking, and meeting potential clients face-to-face. Thankfully this worked extremely well, and I am quite proud of the client base I have built up in a relatively short period of time.

What are your plans for the future?
I am currently working on my own Website - which I hope will be up and running in the not too distant future. From there I feel I need to expand my client base to as much of Cornwall as possible. I have already begun to work with different groups in Kerrier and Caradon, so hopefully my Funny Faces van will soon become a familiar sight throughout the County!

What motivated the creation of your business and why is it in the St Just area?
The Gem Shop, Mining Museum and Rock Shop were here when we moved to the old mining area of Pendeen in 1984.

What is your business and what's special, unique or distinctive about it and/or your approach to it? Our business is making jewellery – using local stone where possible which we cut by hand and set in silver (Cornish Amethyst-Serpentine –Tin). We also sell quality crafts, glass, wood, pottery, candles, cards and silk scarves.

What are you most proud of or found most challenging or exciting? We work on our own, making goods for customers who return year after year. Being self-employed, you have to learn to do most things. We make jewellery, sell it, paint the house and do the garden.

What are your plans for the future?
To put Pendeen on the map and to bring life back to the area.

What motivated the creation of your business and why is it in the St Just area?
Life Events is based in St Just because this is where I live, therefore I have a link with the local food producers and crafts people that are essential to the make-up of my business. The sheer volume and quality is staggering in and around the local area. My background is in weddings and corporate entertaining, however being part of this community has defined the personal aspect of creating an event; so as such it has been necessary to set up a business that functions at a far more personal level.

What is your business and what's special, unique or distinctive about it and/or your approach to it?
The business itself is based around creating an occasion that fits the personality and the mood of the client, whether it be a wedding, a funeral, or a party, I can source the relevant service provider and take the stress out of organizing such an event.

Who do you work with?
My portfolio of business people incorporates style with reliability (sourced as locally as possible), which is an essential combination when putting together an event. I also put together ready to eat dinner parties that are delivered to the door; the food comes from Yam Parlour and Cocos in Penzance, along with a bunch of fresh local flowers, and St Eval candles.

What are you most proud of or found most challenging or exciting?
This whole business venture is both exciting and challenging as there is no one providing this service in this part of the country, and so describing my role can be quite a new concept to some of my clients.

What are your plans for the future?
As far as future plans go I would just like to keep on expanding the service without losing the personal touch that is integral to Life Events. Also I am hoping to be branching out into unusual food hampers that will be available for the many outdoor events that take place in and around the area,; and perhaps even flying the hampers and the dinner parties out to the Scilly Isles, (all this is work in progress)!

What motivated the creation of your business and why is it in the St Just area?
I have run the Yew Tree Gallery for 30 years in other parts of the country – always in rather out of the way spots which were themselves attractive to visit. The old farmhouse and derelict outbuildings at Keigwin near Morvah which I found 5 years ago seemed an ideal new venue for the gallery and for undertaking organic growing of herbs and saladings on a larger scale than hitherto possible. This site has proved to be appealing to visitors too, much to my delight!

What is your business and what's special, unique or distinctive about it and/or your approach to it?
In the new gallery buildings I organise several themed exhibitions each year, showing work which I think will excite and interest visitors. I seek out professional artists working in a variety of media who I feel put their soul into their work, and often express an awareness of our interdependence with the natural world. I have also started hosting a few workshops in the gallery buildings between exhibitions. Sculpture is shown in two of the gardens and I encourage visitors to wander through these and the potager with its little paths between beds of herbs and vegetables and a wildlife pond. We also have ducks which amuse the children! My intention is that people who come will enjoy the whole place, and not least the views of surrounding moors and sea.

Who do you work with?
Artists are sourced from Cornwall and beyond; to me it is the work that counts rather than where the artists live. Many are nationally and some internationally known, for example painters Rose Hilton and Breon O’Casey (also a sculptor); potters Robin Welch, James Campbell; jewellers Wendy Ramshaw, Guy Royle; sculptors Barry Mason, Peter Fluck, David Kemp. I employ two part-time assistants in the gallery (who are also artists in their own right) and also part-time help (mainly weeding!) in the gardens. All these people live locally.

What are you most proud of or found most challenging or exciting?
The whole enterprise down here has been a challenge! However, what is most exciting is that the vision I had when I first saw the place is gradually taking shape and becoming a reality. It seemed impossible in those early days that half an acre of wasteland at the edge of the field could ever become a sheltered potager producing salad vegetables and herbs, but a mere three years after the hedge was planted and the beds laid out this is what is happening, despite the howling winds from east and west! This is essentially a good growing area once shelter belts are established, and in the walled, sunken garden many quite exotic species grow with ease. The main challenge to the gallery is getting it known to people seriously interested in art, who frequent the well established galleries in St Ives and elsewhere. So promotional costs have been high and we are still building up our mailing list.

What are your plans for the future?
I hope to arrange further courses on organic growing, permaculture, herbs etc in the future.

Zennor Wayside Museum (Bob and Sara Priddle 01736 796945)

What motivated the creation of your business and why is it in the St Just area?
The Wayside Museum was established in Zennor about 80 years ago by an amateur archaeologist who was attracted to the area because of its fascinating pre-history and rich industrial past, all of which is set amidst some of the most beautiful scenery in the British Isles.

What is your business and what's special, unique or distinctive about it and/or your approach to it?
The Wayside is essentially a folk museum, and contains over 5000 artefacts representing life in West Penwith and the Lands End peninsular. The museum has a well-deserved reputation attracting thousands of people each year, many from abroad as well as regular visitors. The exhibits are housed in 14 themed areas, such as mining, domestic life, a water mill, blacksmiths forge and school classroom. What is unique about the museum is that visitors can not only see and touch many of the exhibits, but can also read numerous stories and descriptions that illustrate what daily life was like many years ago in this region. The Wayside has a unique appeal and many visitors comment that after visiting the museum, they feel a true understanding of the past and sense of place. Our personal approach to this business is to continue to add value in order that the museum surpasses visitor expectation in terms of interest, content, value for money and customer service.

What are you most proud of or found most challenging or exciting?
As owners of the museum, we are proud of the fact that we own a business with such a rich history and good name. The Wayside has been featured many times on national TV and radio as well as in national newspapers and magazines and this naturally speaks for itself. Our most challenging aspect is to continue to improve the business in terms of adding interesting exhibits, but also investing in the fabric and infrastructure.

What are your plans for the future?
Our plans for the future include a more professional approach to marketing and advertising in order to attract larger visitor numbers. This will then provide further revenue for re-investment in the business.

Bosavern Farm (Guy and Jo Clegg 01736 786739)

What motivated the creation of your business and why is it in the St Just area?
A strong belief that locally produced organic food is best for the consumer, for the environment and for us as farmers. A large proportion of people living here appreciate the natural beauty of the area and are therefore committed to supporting small local businesses/projects which work hand in hand with the environment. Our shop is open on Saturdays 10am - 2pm on the St Just to Sennen road, a 10 minute walk from St Just via public footpath.

What is your business and what's special, unique or distinctive about it and/or your approach to it?
Bosavern Farm is a mixed organic farm producing in season organic vegetables as well as organic Hereford beef and free range pork and eggs. All our produce is marketed through our farm gate shop and local restaurants, providing the local community with healthy, fresh, locally produced, ethical and tasty food!

Who do you work with?
We are a husband and wife team, with occasional help from summer volunteers through the international organisation WWOOF (WorldWide Opportunities on Organic Farms).

What are you most proud of or found most challenging or exciting?
Proving that, despite common assumptions, it is possible to make a modest living from 36 acres.

What are your plans for the future?
To keep supplying the local community, while enjoying what we do and believe in and improving our production techniques.