As many traders as possible will be automatically allocated an EORI number to enable them to trade smoothly once the UK leaves the EU on 31 October. Every business will need an EORI number to move goods into or out of the EU after Brexit. HMRC is sending letters to all possible VAT-registered businesses over the next two weeks to advise them of their assigned UK EORI number. If your business is not VAT-registered, you still need to register for an EORI number. Getting an EORI number is an easy process that takes 5-10 minutes. Get started here

Funded through the DCMS Digital Skills Innovation Fund, the pilot project aims to encourage currently underrepresented groups in our digital workforce to embark on, or progress within digital careers. We are excited to be working with a range of delivery partners across the Heart of the South West region to offer free training and support for people with all levels of digital competency to upskill. To find out more click here. 

A new online tool has been launched by the Department for International Trade to make it easier for businesses to trade globally. The tool will enable businesses to report issues and problems which prevent them from trading globally, such as legal, regulatory or administrative requirements. Once an issue or problem has been reported, trade experts will assess the problem and work with other governments around the world to resolve it. To find out more click here

Plymouth has made the shortlist of the Future High Streets Fund, which could unlock more funding to help the city centre’s regeneration. The Council submitted its initial bid in March which focused on Plymouth City Centre and seeks funding to help deliver an ambitious regeneration agenda. The announcement on 27th August confirms that our expression of interest for Plymouth City Centre is one of 50 additional places nationally to be shortlisted for phase 2. The timing for the phase 2 bidding process is yet to be confirmed, but means that we could be in line for up to £150,000 initially to work up project business cases. Final funding awards could be up to £25m per place. To find out more click here

Plessey is disrupting the global display market with its proprietary GaN-on-Silicon microLED display technology. Plessey has had a highly successful year with the development of its microLED technology, and has received recognition from the electronics and display industry globally.  The business recently celebrated the opening of a new workplace area along with investment and further recruitment into the business which the council was very pleased to support.  To find our more click here

History will be made in Plymouth when key local, regional and national partners come together to create the UK’s first ever National Marine Park. Plymouth Sound National Marine Park will aim to showcase to the world the unique and fantastic assets that Britain’s Ocean City has to offer, including an estimated 1,000 different species of marine life, and help boost the economy, attract more visitors, enable funding for research and range of other benefits.For the first time ever city leaders, experts in the marine and maritime sector and other partners from the public, private, and voluntary sector will be signing to demonstrate their support for making the National Marine Park happen. To find out more click here

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to work at the interface between industry and academia to help drive the growth, productivity and resilience of the Creative Economy in the South West. You will play a crucial role in the successful delivery of iMayflower - a £6 million collaborative programme, designed to build Plymouth’s Creative Industries and nurture creativity across the city. Faculty/Directorate: Research & Innovation, Job Title: iMayflower Knowledge Exchange Manager (2 Roles),  Salary/Grade: Grade 7 (£34,189). To find out more click here

Get the right advice in time, first time. We offer expertise in food safety, health and safety, licensing, trading standards, environmental protection and pest control. Our team is part of Plymouth City Council’s Public Protection Service. We are uniquely placed to offer a range of services to help you.   Start things off with an email to public.protection@plymouth.gov.uk. We can often point you in the right direction for free. Our range of commercial services: environmental consultancy, food safety, licensing - services and fees, pest control, business advice from Trading Standards, hygiene and food safety courses. To find out more click here

Join us for the very first event on 26th September 2019, 6pm to 9pm. Plymouth University, Roland Levinsky Building. This special event is designed to showcase new ideas and entrepreneurs. Each founder hopes to learn and iterate their idea, find co-founders and also funding. Each company has 5 minutes to demonstrate their idea, business model or prototype and then 5 minutes for an open question and answer session with audience members who will be encouraged to ask, give feedback and support the founder in their journey. To find out more click here

Electric vehicle charge points could be popping up at business premises all over Plymouth, thanks to grant funding won by Plymouth City Council. The Council has been awarded £7.6 million Transforming Cities Fund to help change how people travel in and around Plymouth and it now wants to hear from businesses interested in a share of £200,000 available for getting charge points installed. Installing electric charge points will help businesses to reduce running costs from fuel and maintenance, cut pollution, improve air quality and enable businesses to take part in the development of new technology. Businesses or organisations interested should email dan.turner@plymouth.gov.uk 

Businesses with fewer than 250 employees (and less than €50million turnover) can recruit a graduate through an internship and receive an incentive payment of up to £3,600 with STEM Graduates into Business – a project part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and led by the University of Plymouth. Removing many of the barriers to recruitment, with no upfront recruitment costs and no need to go through job sites, you get access to skilled graduates within the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) fields. Your newest team member can help develop new products, introduce new services and grow your business. To find out more click here

The University of Plymouth, supported by the European Social Fund, can help businesses in Devon and Somerset to attract and retain the best talent, excel in leadership and embed succession planning via free Workplace Needs Assessments and a variety of free taster courses that include: Digital Skills for Managers, Getting the Best From Your Staff, Improving Your Team’s Performance, Management Accounting for Non-Accountants, Mastering Marketing, and Project Management. To find out more click here

An office of 217 square feet available to rent. Suitable for a maximum of four people. The price is £617 pcm, all inclusive.  That includes:  rent, rates, IT connectivity (20 mbs), heat, light and power, cleaning, security and parking for one car (plus visitors).  There is also access to a communal kitchen, breakout spaces, toilets and also a meeting room which is available to hire. The only additional cost is telephony, which we can provide at £19.80 pcm per line and handset, with unlimited calls to UK landlines and mobiles included. To find out more, email nick.byrne@devonchamber.co.uk

Are you looking for new business premises? Have you outgrown your current premises? PCC’s Economic Development Team has access to a property search tool and is able to produce property reports based on your search criteria. This can give you an insight into market availability and costs and provides contact details for you to follow up with the relevant agent. Contact the team at invest@plymouth.gov.uk for more information. 

We have a lot of useful information on our Invest Plymouth website to guide you in preparing for EU Exit. There is a helpful Government toolkit and latest publications. HMRC latest letter and sector factsheets.

We also have advice from the Growth Hub and EEF - The Manufacturers organisation.To find out more click here

A wealth of fully funded (yes free!), specialist support is available to businesses in Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay with aspirations to become the ScaleUp businesses of tomorrow.

We have categorised this support by the main challenges facing ScaleUp and aspiring ScaleUp businesses. To find out more click here

Attending overseas trade shows can promote your business overseas. Exporters can attend TAP's selected events, and get financial support to offset some costs. To find out more click here.

The voucher scheme has been changed from £3,000 to £2,500.

If you are a small or medium sized business, you may be able to get a gigabit voucher worth up to £2500 to upgrade your business broadband to a fast and reliable connection over gigabit capable infrastructure. Deadline: March 2021. Find out more click here.

Please visit our Invest Plymouth website for some more exciting business news articles here.

Did you know we are on Linkedin? Join us here for more regular updates.

To find out more about the exciting business events coming up soon click here

Find out more about all the funding options available to your business click here

Winning one of these prestigious awards in front of your industry peers can be a major boost for your company's profile. To find out more click here

To make the process of finding appropriate support easier for businesses in the city, Plymouth City Council Economic Development Service produce and maintain two booklets focussed on helping start ups and existing businesses to find support locally available. Please click here for Existing businesses and click here for Start-ups.

Business help, advice and guidance in growing and exporting your business. To find out more, click here

Free Adult Cycle Training, cycle groups and Walk and Talk. Plymotion is working with companies to promote sustainable travel and encourage staff to be more active on their journey to work. Have a look at our web pages and our latest business newsletter which you can find here.

Please follow this link to find Plymouth City Council owned land and property to rent or buy click here

Address: 34 Mutley Plain, Plymouth, PL4 6LD. Size available: 984 sq ft, rent £14,504.16 per annum.

To find out more contact the agents: Stratton Creber Commercial - Gavin Sagar 01752 907512 Gavins@sccplymouth.co.uk