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KEO digital announces expansion plans and new centre in Cornwall

The team behind River Cottage reveals plans to set up new world class digital hub and aim to create new skills and expertise in Cornwall.

Award-winning multi-platform producer, KEO digital, has announced that it is expanding its operations beyond London and is setting up new digital innovation centre in Cornwall, reinforcing its commitment to the West Country, and creating 20 jobs in the Region.

The team behind rivercottage.net, fishfight.net, landshare.net, energyshare.com, peoplefund.it - and most recently cornwalltogether.com - has made a significant investment in Newquay, opening a new beach side office and employing a raft of predominantly Cornish media talent, creating a UK-leading pool of skilled jobs and expertise.

"As a company we're highly committed to the West Country, and we want to create a digital production and communications hub in Cornwall where we can attract and grow local talent - and share our cutting edge digital media marketing skills," said Rob Love, Executive Director, KEO digital.

"We've recently got more involved in projects in Cornwall and the South West and have found partners like Cornwall Council and Plymouth University share a similar vision and ambition for the region. We're excited about the opportunity to get involved in the community here and make a positive difference."

KEO digital is the multi award winning digital powerhouse behind some of the UK's most well known broadcast work, including River Cottage and Fish Fight, made by KEOfilms.

KEO digital began after a meeting with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall led to the creation of rivercottage.net, which, eight years later, has established itself as one of the most respected and largest online food communities in the UK.

A series of high profile digital initiatives followed: Chicken Out, Landshare and then came Fish Fight. Launched to support Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's BAFTA winning fish discards campaign, Fish Fight transformed the Nation's attitude to fish - influencing the EU to review its policies and winning Broadcast Digital Awards' Best Multi-Platform Project.

More recently KEO digital projects include energyshare, the community energy platform, which has helped to deliver Cornwall Together, the new collective energy buying initiative, in partnership with Cornwall Council and the Eden Project, and now the new UK wide version of the energy buying initiative, UK Together.

In 2012 peoplefund.it launched and formed a partnership with Plymouth University, and is now, following a merge with crowdfunder.co.uk, the UK's leading crowdfunding network.

The KEO digital core team has a track record of high growth and award-winning success. It was the original team behind Victoria Real, the UK's leading experts in interactive TV, e-commerce, and web. In March 2002 Victoria Real became the fastest growing company in the UK and chief executive Rob Love, became a finalist in the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of The Year.

Their online projects, produced by Creative Director Simon Deverell, included Big Brother, UEFA and The National Lottery, winning multiple awards, and worldwide accolades.

Simon Deverell said: "We've always set ourselves the challenge of delivering world class projects that create lasting effect and notable change. We are really excited about building on and complimenting the creative industries in Cornwall. We want to encourage talent to stay and develop in Cornwall and deliver fantastic work."

With the move to Cornwall the KEO digital team has been strengthened by the addition of Cornish-based Communications Director, Dawn Bebe, 1997 PPA Magazine Editor of the Year and previously MD of the Hachette Emap Media Limited portfolio which included Elle, Elle Deco, New Woman, Red & Reddirect.com. Dawn was also development director of the UK edition of fashion weekly, Grazia.

Dawn said: "When I decided to live in Cornwall, it was because my experience of media and technology told me that it was now possible to create brilliant work from anywhere in the world. To work next to a Cornish surf beach, helping create an exciting media business with really talented people is a fantastic opportunity for everyone at KEO digital."

Newquay MP, Stephen Gilbert, PPS to Ed Davey, Secretary of State for Climate change said: "We are delighted to welcome KEO digital to Newquay and Cornwall. It's very exciting to see such a talented team choose Cornwall as their base, with an ambition to create jobs and deliver world class projects. With companies like KEO digital in the County there's no need for some of our best people to leave. They can stay and do their best work here - and help drive the Cornish economy. We wish them the very best of luck."