How we've helped Barefoot Media

A small but powerful creative agency, Barefoot Media blends creativity with an analytical approach, alongside a love for all things content.  

With the changing nature of how we all now work, and with a shift in focus from several of Barefoot’s clients, the core business model from both an internal and external perspective has changed over the past 18 months.  

With a full-time return to the office looking unlikely, existing clients across hospitality and tourism moving to a more direct approach to their customers, and a desire to better connect with what their clients offer, Barefoot’s Managing Director, Jim Michell, approached the Skills Hub for work on adapting to his new normal.   

“Ian Watkiss [Skills Hub Skills Connector] grasped what we were looking for really quickly and was very productive. We had a good idea of the things that we needed help with, and I had a chat with everyone on the team here to see what they wanted help with, or training in.  

“One was specialist knowledge to help our clients, another was general business skills, and we also wanted to develop individual team members’ marketing specialisms,” Jim said.  

Barefoot’s skills needs have been quite specific, and incredibly interesting. Working with several drinks companies meant that a Level 1 Spirits course with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust would greatly benefit their knowledge of flavour profiles and assist in giving them a good handle on how their client’s products are made.     

Another skills intervention will improve their core business, expanding their knowledge across business management and leadership. 

Jim set out at the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic to see his business not only survive, but for it to thrive. And, despite taking a bit of a hit from their businesses exposure to the hospitality and tourism industries, the future looks bright. 

“Not being based in London is now less of a challenge for marketing agencies. The shift to home working democratises that, providing further opportunities for businesses who might not be based in the big urban centres. It’s a brilliant time to be in Cornwall,” he said. 

The Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Skills Hub from October 2017 - June 2023 was part funded by the European Social Fund and match funded by Cornwall Council and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership. The project  received £2,885,993 of funding from the European Social Fund as part of the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme in England.