When Nick Powe was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at last year’s Torbay Weekly Business Awards, he didn’t even know he was in the running.
What the award did show, however, was that his tireless efforts in promoting Torbay as a UNESCO Global Geopark while running the family business at Kents Cavern had not gone unnoticed.
After decades of working in accounting, Nick Powe returned to Torbay to take over the management of Kents Cavern, which had been in his family for five generations.
It was at this cave that Torbay’s ancient heritage was first uncovered in 1865 by William Pengelly and Geoge Smerdon. Discoveries that were made here would help to reveal scientific proof for the antiquity of humankind.
In 1903, Smerdon’s son-in-law, Francis Powe purchased the caves, and the family would own the internationally important site for the next 120 years.
Nick took the helm in 2000 and instantly saw the significance not just of Kents Cavern, but of Torbay’s geology as a whole.
“I was presented with Kents Cavern as just another tourist attraction, but I soon realised that it was something completely different,” said Nick, “It’s an extraordinary place.
“Artefacts in the cave reveal a history of ancient human occupation in Devon that stretches back an incredible 500,000 years. How could we tell that story?”
After visiting caves that were open for tourism across the UK, Nick came across the Marble Arch Caves in Northern Island.
These caves formed part of a new designation known as a Geopark; a UNESCO-designated area containing sites of particular geological importance, intended to conserve the geological heritage and promote public awareness of it, typically through tourism.
Nick said: “I realised that this concept was perfect for Torbay. It would connect the area’s unique geology with Kents Cavern as well as all other aspects of what Torbay is about.”
After a failed bid in 2004, the English Riviera Geopark was declared in 2007.
Nick said: “We were accepted because this whole connection to people and urban environments was beginning to have traction. Geoparks aren’t just about a place's geology, but its connection to humankind.”
Sites such as Kents Cavern show how Torbay's unique geology has interacted with humans for millennia, and continues to do so.
In 2015, Geoparks were fully incorporated into UNESCO’s mission, putting them alongside Biospheres and the famous World Heritage Sites. There are now 213 of these sites across the world.
In 2016, Nick played a crucial role in organising the Global Geopark Network Conference in Torbay.
He said: “It was a spectacular event for the Bay, 700 people from 48 nations all gathered here. We had an opening ceremony of opera, all about the history of our local people, the planet and how we connect to the rest of the world.”
As the Chair of the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark, Nick continues to promote the designation and champion its importance in the Bay.
“The designation is a collective way of explaining how special and unique this place is. Not only do we think that, but UNESCO does as well. We're one of only 200 places in the world that have this designation.
"We need to all wake-up and realise that Torbay is extraordinary.”
While Kents Cavern has a tangible connection to the Geopark, there are so many ways to experience it, whether it be kayaking, going on a cruise boat, or taking in the views at Berry Head.
Nick sold Kents Cavern to new owners at the end of last summer, ending 120 years of Powe ownership.
“As a place that humans have occupied for thousands of years, it was a great privilege to be its custodian,” said Nick.
“I am pleased that the people I sold it to share that same ambition for the caves.”
Nick’s combined efforts with the Geopark and at Kents Cavern earned him the Lifetime Achievement in Business Award at last year's Torbay Business Awards, presented by Torbay Weekly Editor, Jim Parker.
Nick remembered: “It was obviously a big surprise. I really enjoyed the awards because they have a much wider remit than most awards. It’s all about inspiring stories, sustainability, and business achievement.
“When you’re in the middle of these projects, you can become quite blinkered and it can be quite difficult to stand back and look at what you’ve achieved. It’s only when someone calls you up on stage to say you’ve won a Lifetime Achievement Award that you realise that you are having an impact.
“It gives me an amazing sense of achievement and it’s a great honour to be recognised. I do it because I'm passionate about it and I feel it's good for the region. I want the next generation to be proud of this place we call Torbay”
Applications and nominations are now open for outstanding businesses in the Torbay Weekly Naturally Inspiring Business Awards.
If you think you know a business worthy of recognition, give them the opportunity to stand out by nominating them for an award at the upcoming Torbay Weekly Naturally Inspiring Business Awards.
To nominate a business, simply send an email to
julian.barnes@clearskypublishing.co.uk with the details and up to 100 words about why you're nominating them. You can choose to include yourself as the nominator or remain anonymous.
The entries closing date is now 12 noon on Friday, April 26 with judging day pencilled in for Monday, April 29.
The categories and sponsors are:
- Overall Business of the Year - Torbay Council
- Inspiring Employer of the Year - South Devon College
- Best New Business - Wollens
- Commissioner's Community Champion Award- Office of Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner
- Small Business of the Year - Torbay Business Forum
- Rising Star Award - Princess Theatre
- Tourism Business of the Year - English Riviera BID Company
- Greener Futures Award - Stagecoach
- Outstanding Apprentice of the Year - Inter-Line Building Supplies
- James Wright Award for Inspirational Leader (the 'Jimmy' award) Majestic Holidays
- Innovation Award
The glittering awards finals night at the Riviera International Conference Centre is taking place on Thursday, June 13.
For how to enter and book tables and tickets for the finals night go to
torbaybusinessawards.co.uk.
