Oxford Innovation Advice, the UK’s leading SME business support provider, has partnered with Cornish Lithium to pilot a new supply chain relationship management model focused on the Trelavour Lithium Project in St Dennis. Delivered as part of the successful Access to Finance Plus project, the pilot project marks the beginning of what has the potential to be a long-term collaboration between Cornish Lithium and Oxford Innovation to maximise the benefit of Cornish Lithium’s development projects to businesses across Cornwall.
Local supply chain development has the potential to deliver significant economic growth through scale-up of local businesses driven by increased contract value. Cornish Lithium and Oxford Innovation have worked on a model that supports suppliers to deliver maximum value to both parties, support scale up and provide local companies with a track record of supplying goods and services to major industrial projects. This experience will allow businesses across Cornwall to expand their activities into other potential markets.
Speaking of the new relationship, Andrew Finley, Commercial Director of Oxford Innovation Advice said: “This initiative will strengthen the critical supply chain for Cornish Lithium, reinforcing their commercial operations but also providing extensive support to help businesses maximise the benefit of this new revenue stream by exploring opportunities to supply other growing markets and sectors.
“In Cornwall, amongst others, these include offshore wind, geothermal and marine. This will help to build sustainable revenue and support growth, delivering multiple, enduring benefits for the economy of the Duchy. We are delighted to be working with such a forward-thinking organisation and look forward to scaling this initiative as their operations grow.”
Through direct engagement with local Oxford Innovation advisers, the project will support businesses to ensure their systems and processes are resilient and scalable whilst also exploring opportunities for both individual and collaborative innovation. The model will ensure a lasting legacy for the businesses and the wider economy of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
Mike King, Vice President of Southwest Business Development and Government Relations said:
“Cornish Lithium are delighted to promote and participate in the Supply Chain Initiative with Oxford Innovation Advice. Harnessing and developing the local supply chain is a centrepiece of Cornish Lithium’s growth aspirations and we look forward to building long term relationships with the local supply chain in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to create value and prosperity across the region”.
Local MP Noah Law, who also chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Critical Minerals, where he has raised the issue of building local supply chains, said:
“Local business and jobs in the supply chain in Cornwall are one of the key ways we ensure the spoils of this most promising of Cornish industries are shared widely within our communities, so I’m delighted to see Cornish Lithium and Oxford Innovation Advice partnering to take this challenge head on.”
