How we've helped Boddington's Berries

Established following World War II in the 19402, the Boddington family name is synonymous with fresh produce production in the Mevagissey area. With a focus on strawberries, and through the production of a range of conserves and marmalades, Boddington’s Berries is now into its third generation of family leadership.

Kate Pilkington is part of that family tradition, steering Boddington’s through all that the past 12-months have thrown at the business. Things have been busy though, and despite COVID-19 there has been no slow-down to Cornwall’s hunger for strawberries.

“We’ve been quite busy, working a lot more with hamper companies than we ever did before,” Kate said.

Kate attended a webinar held by the Skills Hub toward the end of 2020, recognising that leadership and management skills were something that could benefit both her and the business.

Having recent handed in her final assignment for the Leading Your Team course, Kate can testify to the fact that it’s never too late to learn new skills.

“I found the course really interesting. It was well put together and I enjoyed doing it for the six weeks,” she said.

With Kate now equipped with new skills and the polytunnels planted with the first of this year’s strawberry crop, would she recommend working with the Skills Hub?

“I really enjoyed working with the Skills Hub. They found a number of courses and webinars for me, and they have been so helpful. The fact that they are independent and not working for a particular company is the thing that I enjoyed most,” she 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.