Business Cornwall Awards: Best Places to Work 2025
On the 7th of April, the Active Plus team, all in uniform, descended onto Gyllyngvase beach in Falmouth for a photoshoot organised by Business Cornwall, conducted by the incredibly talented and charismatic Toby Weller. Why? Because, despite the tough competition and the extensive assessment process, Active Plus are delighted to announce that we have been awarded Cornwall’s Best Place to Work by Best Companies Group!
Cornwall’s Best Places to Work 2025 | Business Cornwall
Of all the incredible businesses within this beautiful County, we rank as THE #1 company to work for in 2025! Words cannot express how proud we feel…but, as always, we will try!
As a community Interest Company, we are acutely aware our work can only be deemed a success when we are engaging with the inspiring members of the community who entrust us with their time and attention. Our business is driven by a desire to help ourselves by helping others – that is our ethos. We deliver dynamic activities, teamwork and leadership courses, devoted engagement work – including the hosting of numerous Community Hubs – across the County each day with the view to supporting those who are in most need of support and advocacy.
It is this work that highlights the effectiveness of a tightknit team that consists of individuals who themselves have faced and overcome their own challenges and obstacles. Individuals who know how it can feel to have to function with adverse circumstances but who equally appreciate the benefits of being given a lifeline, understanding, empathy, help with seeing the bigger picture, pragmatic non-judgemental advice, and the practical support often required to make goals a reality.
The power of our 19-strong team stems from its collective lived experience. The knowledge that there is strength in asking for support or accommodations, and resilience in persevering regardless of challenges. Where one person may struggle, another will excel – and vice versa.
Inspiring Lead Instructor, Pete Jackson, – one of Active Plus’s longest standing and most experienced team members, expresses his appreciation saying,
“…credit goes to the…office team…at Active Plus, ensuring that my role, responsibilities and welfare have the support I require…and it’s comforting to know that, if I needed to, our Managing Director can be approached directly without prejudice.”
The true value of our team is in the sum of all its parts, as well as the individuals we work with, whether within collaborative projects or the local community. It works. We work. Together, we thrive.
Our Managing Director, Laura Truckle, states,
“Our unique team is made up of inspirational individuals who have overcome injury, sickness and challenges in life, many of whom are Armed Forces Veterans, so it feels great to demonstrate how true inclusion and community connection creates a happy and productive workforce.”
Anyone who was witness to our team photoshoot on the beach will have no doubt observed the genuine smiles of those involved. We are a team who support each other as much as the communities we work with.
Project & Compliance Manager, Terrie-Anne, summarises this perfectly as she explains why she loves working for Active Plus,
“I love working at Active Plus because every day brings the chance to make a real difference in someone’s life. I get to work alongside passionate, supportive people who care—not just about the communities we serve, but about each other too. It’s a place where I feel valued, where my experiences matter, and where purpose is at the heart of everything we do.”
We operate on a foundation of mutual respect, trust, transparency, loyalty, integrity, a passion for helping others, and a sense of fun.
The team spirit is consolidated through the regular Team Days which are predominantly held offsite and provide an opportunity for socialising, networking, and the sharing of good practice. Hard work is rewarded with additional free annual leave over Christmas and New Year.
Staff feedback has revealed that team members “feel listened to” and has resulted in expressions of appreciation such as,
“Everyone is so kind and friendly. Being able to work flexibly has relieved a massive life stress.”
“The autonomy and trust isn’t just spoken about, it is actively promoted.”
A recent assessment also produced some encouraging statistics and provided Active Plus with some high scores for a host of business criteria. Role Satisfaction, Work Environment, Relationships with Supervisors and General Engagement each received a score of 96%. Corporate Culture and Communications received a score of 98%, with 99% awarded for Leadership and Planning. These numbers are something we are of course incredibly proud of, but nothing beats seeing a cooperative, inclusive, and cohesive team who remain determined to help more community members and are devoted in a role that will inevitably carry the business forward positively in the years to come.
Operations Manager and Veteran Coordinator, Chris Kent, states,
“I’m very proud to be part the Active Plus Senior Leadership Team. The support, leadership and guidance we provide to the wider team has been instrumental to us achieving this amazing award.”
The efforts that Managing Director, Laura Truckle, and the Senior Leadership Team go to, to accommodate the varying needs of each employee, is key to the success of our team and ultimately results in the best possible productivity outcomes and high staff morale. Considerate compromise facilitates superb delivery, commitment, unity, and devotion to a shared mission. Active Plus truly does showcase the benefits of inclusivity and versatility.
Marketing & Communications Officer, Suzanne, says,
“I am so proud to work for Active Plus, not only because of the meaningful work it delivers – from a set of sincere and humble hearts – within the Community, but because it is led effectively from the centre – by a leadership team that has earned the utmost respect and who have a clear appreciation for the skillset each individual member brings. On a personal level, I have had the privilege of working within a range of areas of the business throughout my time at Active Plus, and I am happy to be recognised for the value I can bring, despite limitations. The same is true for each and every one of my colleagues, who never cease to inspire me. My role at Active Plus enables me to do what I do best, whilst providing variety, necessary flexibility, and a sense of belonging and purpose. Going to work is always an uplifting experience, and something I value hugely.”
Being recognised as Cornwall’s number one place to work is a fantastic acumen and huge honour. It is fair to say, anyone who has had the privilege of working with Active Plus will be happy to vouch for and validate such an award. The entire team know how lucky they are to be part of something so special and worthwhile.
We would like to congratulate fellow nominated, and equally noteworthy, businesses Phoneta, Solve Web Media, Coodes, Harland Accountants, Buzz Interactive, Sapphire Holidays and Naked Solar for sharing this prestigious recognition with us, having been chosen as the top eight companies from a much larger pool of Cornwall businesses.
It would be our wish that all businesses within Cornwall and across the UK as a whole, could see the value of flexibility, inclusivity and accommodating for individual needs, as necessary and where possible, so as to adopt a similar approach within their own workforce with a view to benefit the rewards of a highly motivated, dedicated and happy team.
Lead Instructor Pete Jackson represents the feeling of the whole team when he says,
“I’m grateful to be part of the Active Plus Team, … the best Organization I’ve worked for”.
Managing Director, Laura, summarises matters with the words,
“The Active Plus team are incredibly proud to have been recognised as one of Cornwall’s Best Places to Work,… Active Plus’s ethos is about helping ourselves by helping others, something that is epitomised everyday through our work across Cornwall. Showcasing how improving the lives of others has created a passionate, happy workforce is an exciting achievement. The accolade is certainly for all team members past, present and future who make Active Plus the unique place that it is.”
You can read the full article in the Business Cornwall Magazine here: Cornwall’s Best Places to Work 2025 | Business Cornwall
If you would like to find out about volunteering opportunities with Active Plus or would like to discover how we could support you in your next steps, give us a call for an informal chat on 01326 567174 or email [email protected].
Blog Post: Suzanne Body, Active Plus,
Photo Credit: Toby Weller Photography, Peter Blyth, Active Plus, Suzanne Body, Active Plus.
