The owner of a small business in Truro has been selected as one of the faces of a campaign to persuade small business owners to vote Remain in next Thursday's EU referendum.

John Carley, founder of Carley’s Organics, which has become one of Europe's leading manufacturers of raw organic nut and seed butters and raw organic chocolate spread, will be one of a group of selected small businesses from around the UK to be featured in the EU Small Business campaign.

The company’s sales to and purchases from the EU represent a large proportion of its turnover, and it benefits from the level playing field of common organic standards across the EU. The company has expanded from three to nine employees following a European Regional Development Fund funding scheme, which has allowed it to build a new purpose built, low-energy factory.

“I believe very strongly that we should stay in Europe at the referendum,” John said, “at the moment we have access to this huge market that we can buy from and sell to as easily as we can to customers in this country. We will be stronger in Europe, our voice will be heard more clearly and small businesses especially will benefit. The paperwork alone will be horrendous if we come out.”

John Carley’s position has received support from the Secretary of State for Business, Sajid Javid, who said: "A quarter of our small businesses export to the EU or supply companies that do.