Author: Digital Futures Cornwall

Chris Wright | Client Success Specialist
(Bluefruit Software)

Good things may come to those who wait, but the biggest rewards come to the ones who take action. Whether it’s navigating Cornwall’s rugged trails, or steering his clients’ next big project, Chris knows that success can come by taking a route less travelled. Pushing boundaries, setting new standards, always sprinting ahead, triumph isn’t about waiting for opportunities – it’s about creating them.

Find out from Chris how he got his start in tech in Cornwall.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Chris, I work at Bluefruit Software and I am a Client Success Specialist, which means I help onboard new clients, and find new clients as well. And I also sit on the Employee Ownership Trust Board.

Tell us a bit about your role.

I work in the sales and marketing team at Bluefruit, primarily in the sales realm, although my day to day flexes between sales and marketing. Essentially my job at Bluefruit is to find our clients and help them find the right teams for their software projects.

Bluefruit is an embedded software company and we provide outsourced software services to companies around the globe. Embedded software is a little bit different to what you might think of when you think of software, we don’t really do apps or websites. We primarily focus on electronic equipment. So all electronics have software inside of them and we help put high quality software into products across the world, that could look anything like an aircraft one day, a helicopter one day, another day it could be a surgical robot – and more and more we’re putting AI into small projects.

How does your role contribute to the tech sector?

My role contributes to the tech sector because I help bring new clients into Bluefruit, and therefore Cornwall, and we have clients across the world. Mostly our clients are in Europe and the United States which brings investment from those parts of the globe into Cornwall.

Tell us a bit about the tech landscape in Cornwall.

There’s a lot more to tech than just being a coder, personally I work in the sales and marketing team but all of these businesses are businesses at the end of the day, and they all need the functions of a normal business. There’s a lot of opportunity in Cornwall to join the tech cluster at different levels, be that HR, sales and marketing, finance, these businesses all need those functions to operate so there’s a lot of opportunity in Cornwall for people that want to be involved in technology but aren’t a coder.

How did you get into tech?

I got into the tech sector like possibly a lot of people. I was working a job, I wasn’t happy. It was a sales and marketing job and one day I thought to myself ‘where do I want to work?’, ‘what do I want to do?’. I noticed a lot of tech businesses coming to fruition in Cornwall and they all look like really great places to work, so I put myself out there. I approached a few tech companies, applied for a few jobs and then one day I was successful at Bluefruit and got into the tech cluster that way.

How big is tech in Cornwall?

Tech in Cornwall is growing at a rapid rate. I started five years ago and now there’s about 1,500 tech businesses in Cornwall and Cornwall’s now one of the fastest growing sectors in the South West.

Why don’t more people know about Cornwall’s tech sector?

More and more people are learning about the tech sector in Cornwall. Cornwall’s got a lot of nostalgia to it, mining heritage, fishing, tourism, but the tech sector in Cornwall is growing and growing. We’ve got satellites being launched, we’ve got marine technology businesses and we’ve got a lot of digital technology in Cornwall.

Tell us about the tech community in Cornwall.

There’s a real tech community in Cornwall, we’ve got a lot of businesses involved in that tech community and most of it’s run by Tech Cornwall which is a really great organisation that does lots of different events for getting people into coding – there are also events like Agile on the Beach for experienced coders and people that work in technology industries.

What do you love about Cornwall?

Cornwall’s an amazing place to live and work, there’s the obvious, there’s the beaches, there’s the outdoors, but one of the amazing things about Cornwall is the sense of community. Everybody in Cornwall wants each other to do well, they want Cornish businesses to do well and at Bluefruit we would always look to outsource for another Cornish business that can help us with what we want to achieve. I definitely think that the great sense of community is probably one of the best things about living here and not something I’ve experienced anywhere else.

Outside of work I love to do lots of different sports and outdoor activities. One of my main ways of getting out is getting out on the mountain bike and exploring the rural parts of Cornwall, getting away from the crowds in the summer and it’s a really great way to keep fitness up.

What do you love about your job?

Well I think I probably have one of the best jobs at Bluefruit, if not one of the best jobs in Cornwall. I get to see all of these amazing new technologies from around the world coming to fruition, things like surgical robots or helicopters or things that are going into planes, there are a lot of things I couldn’t even tell you about.

Why stay in Cornwall to pursue a tech career?

I would definitely recommend staying in Cornwall to pursue a tech career. The industry is growing and growing, more start-up businesses are starting in Cornwall, but also more large companies are starting in Cornwall. It’s got some of the best working practices and some of the best company policies, it’s just a great sector to work in and in the future you have options to work remotely. There’s a lot of big technology businesses in Cornwall that people don’t really know about, so I would highly recommend going into the tech sector.

Lyssa-Fêe Crump | Head Of Digital

A woman’s place is wherever she wants to be, and Lyssa has certainly found hers. Whether she’s leading the way in digital strategy, exploring Cornwall’s dramatic landscape, or driving agile transformations, Lyssa makes sure every step is taken with purpose. Equal parts inquisitive and innovative, a true digital visionary consistently paving the way – for Lyssa the question isn’t who’s going to let her; it’s who’s going to stop her.

Hear from Lyssa about how she forged her pathway into the tech world.

Firstly, tell us about yourself.

I’m Lyssa-Fêe Crump, and I’m the Head of Digital at the Agile Communications Agency.

Can you tell us a bit about Agile and how it works?

Agile came out of the software development world. It’s primarily a project management technique based around delivering work in short, sharp bursts, something called iterations. It has a strong emphasis on collaboration and working out in the open; transparency is key, and these short, sharp bursts mean value is delivered quickly and often. I’ve been using Agile since 2012 in a non-software way, applying it to marketing teams. Back then, it seemed a bit rogue, but now it’s a lot more well-established—there’s even an Agile Marketing Manifesto, in addition to the standard Agile Manifesto. I think it helps any team; I haven’t seen an industry yet where I don’t think it can be applied. It fosters better teamwork and collaboration, especially when you’re working with external clients, as they have full visibility of the work being done at all times.

How does tech fit into your marketing role?

I call myself a data-driven marketer, which is different from traditional marketing in that it’s all based on analytics and metrics rather than just gut feel and experience. Don’t get me wrong—gut feeling and experience play a massive role in marketing communications, but I like to back things up with evidence, data, and facts. This allows us to look at how campaigns are performing and then make changes based on that information. If we need to change something that’s very creative, we can use the data and facts to support that assertion and make changes accordingly.

How did you get into the tech sector?

My career path was a bit unconventional. In college, I did performing arts and was accepted to do a dance and biology combined degree. However, I decided I didn’t want to pursue that anymore, so I started working at an e-commerce site, an online camping shop. I began in customer service, then transitioned to sales. There wasn’t actually a marketing department at the time, which sounds wild now, but I started picking up social media marketing when it was relatively new and very effective for free. From there, I fell in love with websites and learning about SEO and other digital marketing techniques.

What inspired you to start a career in tech?

I’m a child of the internet! I’m a massive nerd and love being online, so being able to apply all the knowledge I gained in my free time to my career was fantastic. I’m completely self-taught in marketing, and I’ve been doing it for over a decade. I’ve worked in e-commerce for quite a while and then transitioned to a tech company, which felt like the right place for me as a massive nerd. As a teenager, I even asked a careers advisor how I could become a web developer, and shockingly, they told me not to worry about it and just carry on being a dancer!

Where did that path take you when you got into tech?

From there, I transitioned to working at a health company, and then I set up my own agency, Kraken Marketing, specialising in working with tech companies, before joining the Agile Communications Agency. During that time, I’ve also tried to give back, becoming a STEM Ambassador, serving on the committee of Tech Cornwall for a few years, and being on the board of the Digital Skills Partnership.

What are the biggest misconceptions about working in tech?

I think there’s a misconception that if you’re working in tech, you have to be coding, but there are so many other jobs in the ecosystem that are equally important. It’s really about finding the right fit for you. As I mentioned, I have a curious mind, which is why I love the internet world. I particularly enjoy learning about all the clients and the tech they’re working with. One of the first projects I did for Agile, while still at Kraken, was for a healthcare organisation that was using AI in medical imaging to help improve diagnosis and treatment. Learning about how that technology works, its applications, and the people it helps is fascinating. It’s one of my favourite parts of the job—getting to learn about what’s happening and how the tech is being used.

How big is tech in Cornwall?

The tech scene in Cornwall is surprisingly large, and consistently, we’re rated as one of the fastest-growing tech clusters in the UK according to the Tech Nation reports. There’s always been great evidence to show those who didn’t quite believe that the tech scene is flourishing down here, but it truly is!

Why don’t more people know about Cornwall’s tech sector?

I think the problem is that we’re not very good at promoting ourselves and the work we’re doing. Sometimes it feels like you keep turning over rocks and finding these incredible organisations doing really cool tech that you just didn’t know about. That’s why campaigns like Digital Futures Cornwall are so important, and why Tech Cornwall is doing such vital work in raising our profile and shining a light on what we do. We have companies doing global work from here, but people just don’t know it exists, and they’re often quite surprised. So, I think we need to do more to showcase how awesome we are; it’s a typical British thing not to want to boast about ourselves!

What do you love about Cornwall?

I grew up in St. Agnes, and as soon as I could, I moved away. I went to France and Wales and did the London thing like so many people do. I returned home once I realised I could have a good career down here and still earn great money. I love being outdoors and being able to go for a walk in dramatic scenery just on my lunch break.

How is the business community in Cornwall?

I think the business community is really important. There are so many wonderful events to attend, and every time I go, I come away feeling inspired and connected. I work from home remotely, which I love, but I also appreciate the face-to-face connections where everyone is so supportive, encouraging, and nurturing. There’s no feeling of competition. I feel like the Cornish business community, particularly in the tech scene, really embodies that. If you’re looking to get involved, I’d highly recommend attending one of the many awesome events happening.

What do you love about your job?

I love many things about my job, especially the clients I get to work with and learning about the amazing work they do. I just love being a sponge of knowledge. Tech marketing is changing rapidly; best processes and practices evolve, so I constantly have to learn new things, research, and read, which I find fascinating. Additionally, we have a great team of people. It creates such a lovely vibe, and the office is full of dogs, which is my favourite part! There are so many good things about my job that it’s hard to narrow them down to just a couple.

Why stay in Cornwall to pursue a tech career?

Cornwall is a great place to pursue a tech career! The established network is fantastic and ready for you to tap into. Everyone is very welcoming to newcomers who are transitioning and re-skilling, and there are many people around to help you do that. DigitalUPLIFT, run by TECwomen and Truro and Penwith College, along with other organisations, are helping women in particular learn new skills and transition into tech jobs. We have such a strong engineering history with mining, which continues today. Now, we have a different type of engineering with software engineering, and it’s really nice to see those parallels.

Tara Morgan | Software Tester

They say that curiosity killed the cat, but for Tara it’s the key to success. Whether it’s precisely scanning the horizon for the next perfect wave, or meticulously investigating every product, it’s in her nature to always be one step ahead. A problem-solver, a strategist, and professionally inquisitive, Tara is redefining success one project at a time.

We caught up with Tara to hear all about how she forged her career in tech.

Firstly, tell us a bit about yourself.

My name’s Tara, I’m a Quality Assurance Engineer and Software Tester. I test software to see if there are any bugs or defects in it, and make sure that the quality is good before it’s put out to customers.

You currently work for FinTech. What does FinTech do?

FinTech, full name Financial Technology, is trying to make people’s lives easier and better. The company tries to help people with their credit scores and improve them, and I think that technology is a huge part of that.

How did you get into the tech sector?

So, I kind of fell into software testing. It wasn’t something that I really knew much about, but I started working for a medical software company based in Cornwall as their customer and tech support. Through that I learned how to use the software, I got a really good, in-depth understanding of it, and they had a development department within the company so I asked if they would consider taking me on as a junior software tester and thankfully they agreed to do that. They trained me up, and from there I learned all about the company and how to be a software tester!

What are the most interesting parts of your tech career so far?

The medicare company that I worked for did patient care. We had devices that tested people’s blood and checked the rate at which blood clots, or we looked at people’s blood for COVID for example, switching our devices around to test for that instead which was really interesting, and something none of us expected to do. It just shows how technology can flip around and be used whenever you need it.

What do you love most about your current job?

I love the fact that my job still involves a little bit of investigation! I’m trying to find issues and problem-solve. You have to be curious and I love learning all the time. You’re constantly learning, it never stops and I love that.

What did you do before working in tech?

Before working in tech I worked for a radio station in Cornwall, and before that I was actually a Detective Constable in the police for seven and a half years. I completely changed my career and diverted to a different path but I absolutely love it and I’m glad I’m in the tech world.

Tell us about the tech world in Cornwall.

Tech is a lot bigger in Cornwall than people realise – there are a lot of software companies down here and a lot happening. We’ve got the FibreHub in Pool where a lot of software companies go to work. We’ve got TECGirls that has been started up to help support girls coming through school and going into technology and being able to understand what careers and possibilities there are for them out there. There’s a lot happening in the South West in terms of technology, I just think people aren’t necessarily aware of it, there are a lot of opportunities and a lot of options down here.

Why aren’t people aware of Cornwall’s tech sector?

I don’t think people know about Cornwall’s tech sector because maybe it’s not publicised enough. There’s not that much media coverage on it. A lot of people don’t understand the opportunities that there are, they think that maybe there are developers and that’s it, but actually there is so much more than that.

There is so much more scope in technology for people to have careers like testers, or product owners, product managers, product designers, there are all sorts of things that people could do and they just don’t realise. I think more could be done in schools to promote that and for kids to understand what’s out there. I think tech is a really great sector, especially when you can work anywhere in the world with it.

What do you love about Cornwall?

I love everything about Cornwall! I love the beaches, I love the coast paths, I love surfing but I also love running and walking. I love the community down here, I think we have an amazing community – everything that happens in the summer is great but actually over the winter there are so many events and things going on.

Cornwall is a really great place to be and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I want to stay down here because I love the outdoor lifestyle. Tech gives me the opportunity to live down here and still have a great career, which is absolutely perfect for me.

What do you love about surfing?

I love surfing because I love the feeling that you get when you catch a wave. It’s like you’re in meditation, everything else stops, you don’t think about anything else, you don’t think about any other problems. It’s just you and the wave and enjoying it.

Tanuvi Ethunandan | Ai Product Manager

The early bird may catch the worm, but the dedicated one builds a legacy. Whether it’s nudging the needle on her team’s tech, creating a company from the ground up, or gliding a gig across open water, she has everyone pulling in one direction. A founder, a trailblazer, a community champion – Tanuvi knows that the best way to predict the future is to invent it.

Hear from Tanuvi about how she forged her pathway into the tech world.

Firstly, tell us a bit about yourself.

My name’s Tanuvi, I’m a product manager at an AI company based in Cornwall called Hertzian, and I’m a previous founder of a tech company.

How did you get into the tech sector?

I moved down to Cornwall to be part of an incubator programme which was absolutely fantastic. I founded a business called Data Duopoly where I used geo-location technology to understand visitor flow and optimise it using data. Since then I’ve stayed within the tech sector here in Cornwall, and I’m now with Hertzian, working on AI semantic and sentiment analysis for the games industry and exploring new market options.

What made you choose a career in tech?

I actually started off life as a chartered accountant in London at the Big Four, and I moved into tech because I was really passionate about how digital technologies can be used to make people’s lives better. I founded a tech company using location data to help people explore more and I was really excited about being in such an interesting space, and I’ve stayed in the tech sector since.

Why is it so important that Cornwall has a tech scene?

It’s so important that Cornwall has a tech scene because it brings together so many people and it develops new technologies. I think actually one of the many things that are forgotten about Cornwall is that it’s always been at the forefront of tech and telecommunications, with the Marconi site leading the way and that’s a natural progression for Cornwall – to solidify its role in technology in England.

Tell us a bit about your current role.

I’m currently a product manager. I’m trying to work with users to understand what they want, to develop the product to be as good as it can be. It’s really exciting, I get to speak to clients and users, I get to do a lot of market research to identify new opportunities. Ultimately I’m figuring out how we can use tech for good, to make the biggest social and positive impact.

What would you say to someone thinking of entering the tech world?

What’s really interesting about the technology space is that it’s so collaborative and it’s burgeoning on new technologies, and there are so many exciting roles. I actually think tech applies to almost every single industry. In this day and age, even service-based industries like legal firms and accounting firms are becoming tech firms – they’re using data to achieve what they want. So it’s not a question of ‘do you want to enter the tech sector?’ it’s ‘how do you want to apply tech in your chosen field of impact?’

What would you say to someone looking to take part in the Digital Futures Cornwall programme?

What’s really exciting about the Digital Futures Cornwall skills programme is that it’s actually putting Cornwall on the map. It’s cementing and highlighting the Duchy’s approach to technology, and the opportunity it provides to people in the area, and I think that’s so exciting about the upskilling that’s happening, the training and the awareness of the opportunities available here in Cornwall.

How were you able to transfer your skills to the tech space?

I started off in the accountancy sector, and I think what I was able to bring was my data-driven mindset. That’s something that’s so important is that you can bring your existing skills and apply them to the tech sector which is so exciting. It’s a growing sector and it’s really cementing what can be achieved here in the South West.

What are your experiences of being a female in tech?

Being a female entrepreneur and a female in the tech sector, I think especially here in Cornwall, doesn’t make a difference. It’s been so open and collaborative and I’ve felt so welcome here, but I also think what’s really exciting is how many organisations support females to enter the tech sector. There are fantastic ones through the Digital Futures Cornwall programme that people can get involved with, but also there’s a lot of support, there are communities, there are meetups and that makes it really easy to get involved.

What are the advantages of working in Cornwall?

You don’t need to move out of the county to have the opportunities at your doorstep. I think an unexpected advantage of working in tech in Cornwall is the fact that you’re not in a big city where you’re one in a number. Here it’s actually community-driven – it’s large enough that there is innovation happening and a lot of opportunities, but small enough that people know each other, support each other, and it also means you can move a lot faster.

What made you choose Cornwall specifically?

Very stereotypically, I had been in Cornwall on a half term break and then I chose to move down here. I’ve stayed for about five years already and no plans to leave any time soon! I think the reason that it made me stay is that you have the opportunity to work in cutting-edge technology, but you also have the sea right in the background. You can get involved with other activities – myself, I love gig rowing. What’s really unique about Cornwall is that you have fantastic opportunities in technology, but you also have the opportunity to explore what the countryside has to offer.

What do you love about gig rowing? Why do you put yourself through the pain!?

Honestly, it’s a lot of fun! There’s a real sense of camaraderie in the gig rowing team, people here are so friendly and it’s a great way to get to know people, and Mevagissey Rowing Club has been absolutely fantastic. The reason I stay is the people, and that’s true across Cornwall whether it’s personal or professional, the clubs and societies you can get involved with are absolutely fantastic and so warm and welcoming.

Are there any parallels between gig rowing and your work?

I think the key parallels between being a product manager and founder and gig rowing are three things.

Resilience to keep going. Gig rowing can be extremely tough, especially when you’re in a race. Your hands are aching, your legs are aching and you’ve got to keep going, your team’s pulling you through. That’s exactly the same with a product or being a founder, that drive to make things better and keep going.

The second thing is having a fantastic team around you. You can only go so far by yourself, but you can go so much further as a team. That’s the same in rowing, you’ve got to be in time with the people around you, identifying your own strengths and weaknesses to find people to support you.

And finally, it’s just showing up – taking one step at a time and always learning. Whether it’s developing new techniques for rowing, and also developing new and innovative ways to drive the product forward in my line of work. In technology, being a product manager or even being a founder, it’s all about how you drive that product forward.