More than 120 Cornish business owners and managers are now part of the county’s biggest business selfie.

The photo was taken at Unlocking Potential’s Future Focus event at Heartlands in Pool. In a first for Cornwall, bosses from two world-leading brands were invited to share their experience and expertise with a sell-out crowd of Cornish SMEs.

Dan Germain, group head of brand at Innocent Drinks, and Gavin Jones, the IT innovation manager for the John Lewis Partnership, offered Cornish SMEs a glimpse of how large companies are finding new ways to seek tomorrow’s customer. To celebrate the ground-breaking event, Unlocking Potential programme director, Allyson Glover, snapped a selfie of the packed auditorium which has since been shared widely on social media.

Innocent’s brand champion Dan helped create one of the most engaging brands in the world, built on social media. He entertained the audience with stories of how the company inadvertently launched World Penguin Awareness Day, why putting hats on bottles is their most enduring marketing campaign.

Lucy Jewson, owner of Helston-based organic children's wear company, Frugi, said: I was really interested to hear how as Innocent have grown and enjoyed huge success, they continue to maintain the quirkiness to their brand."

With Dan’s focus on what goes on inside your business, Gavin focussed on responding to external demands. He advised delegates to move from surprise to anticipation when it comes to customer expectation in the future.

The event is the first in a series of inspirational events from Future Focus, fully-funded by the European Regional Development Fund. Allyson said: "The event was a sell-out because of the world-leading brands we were able to bring to Cornwall and our speakers really delivered, helping us to support and inspire more than a hundred Cornish SMEs, including the lucky 30 who enjoyed additional focussed time with Dan and Gavin, in our Future Focus Labs."

Anyone interested in attending the next event, planned for November 30, or who wants to know more about Future Focus Labs, should sign up to the Unlocking Potential newsletter for updates at unlocking-potential.co.uk.