Latest Business news and updates for Plymouth businesses

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Plymouth business news

11 June 2021


Please find below an overview of the latest business advice and guidance. In today's newsletter you will find news and updates including:

  • Plymouth’s Marine Tech Expo returns virtually in 2021
  • SailGP
  • Opportunity to work with us
  • Workplace Travel Grants
  • Plymotion Workplace Cycle Challenge
  • Outset Enterprise Coaching
  • Plymouth Science Park welcomes their latest tenant: X-FAB
  • Marine Research Plymouth launched
  • £44 million cash boost to cut emissions from buildings and help households save on energy bills
  • Calling all small businesses to lead the charge to net zero
  • Virtual events/webinars
  • Funding streams/competitions

If you have any specific concerns or are in need of support, please contact us.


Plymouth’s Marine Tech Expo returns virtually in 2021

Plymouth is hosting its third Marine Tech Expo on 12-13 July 2021, designed to demonstrate the South Coast's marine credentials to the world, aligning with the Mayflower 400 commemorations and world-famous SailGP event. The event will bring together the decision makers, innovators and enterprises involved in the latest advances in marine technology.

The first Marine Tech Expo was held in 2016 and was a sell-out success, with the second being held in 2018. This year’s event is free and will take place entirely online, opening it up to a broader international audience.

Find out more here


SailGP

Climate change digital education resource launched by Sir Ben Ainslie’s Great Britain SailGP Team

Created as part of SailGP’s Race for the Future commitment to champion a world powered by nature, the Great Britain SailGP Team and STEM Crew recently launched the first in a series of free education resources designed to educate young people on STEM subjects through the lens of climate change.

Download the resource or sign up your school now for free

SailGP Inspire continues its commitment to youth and community in Plymouth

Building its momentum to engage 10,000 young people by 2025, SailGP Inspire continues its mission to increase diversity and accessibility within the sport of sailing. SailGP will be activating its three program pathways at the Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Plymouth July 17-18 with a focus on Learning, Careers and Racing.

In addition to having two action-filled race days, SailGP’s Inspire program aims to give area residents and its youth an exciting agenda to use the power of sport for good while developing sailing as a sustainable sport.

Find out more here

Business Engagement

Visit the Invest Plymouth SailGP page below and find out how your business can benefit from SailGP, and don’t forget to download the SailGP assets available for business use!

Find out more here

Tickets

The Great Britain Sail Grand Prix takes place in Plymouth on 17-18 July. A limited number of tickets are still available at SailGP.com/GreatBritain. Additional tickets will be released in line with the Government Covid updates.


Opportunity to work with us

Are you motivated to help Plymouth’s businesses “build back better” following the COVID pandemic?

We have been awarded almost £950,000 from the Interreg France, England Channel programme for a 2 year project (to March 2023) to support individuals and businesses in Plymouth. We are looking for two Senior Economic Development Officers to engage businesses and manage delivery as part of a wider delivery team.  

As part of the C-Care project, you will be working with 6 partners from France and England to engage existing Interreg projects to understand what has happened to businesses over the past year and apply that learning to provide support programmes through a dedicated team in Plymouth. The project will also provide support for business recovery and provide business resilience in the wake of COVID.  

The project will implement the Resurgam Charter to ensure our economic recovery and strategic projects in Plymouth create a ‘fairer, greener future for Plymouth’.   

Closing date of applications is Sunday 27 June 2021.

Find out more here


Workplace Travel Grants

Applications are now being accepted for capital grants of up to £25,000 for local businesses for measures that help staff travel more sustainably to, from and whilst at work through Plymouth City Council’s Productive Plymouth Transforming Cities Fund Programme.

Fifteen companies were awarded grants in 2020/21 to deliver measures including improved shower facilities, electric vehicle charge points and pool bikes for staff to use either to commute or for trips during the working day.

Bids aren’t limited to these areas and the Council is open to innovative proposals that specifically reflect how the business operates. The maximum contribution from the Council is 75 per cent of the scheme costs.

Successful applicants include University Hospital Plymouth NHS Trust, Nash & Co Solicitors LLP, YMCA Plymouth and Primal Europe Ltd.

Successful applicants will be supported by the Council’s Plymotion at Your Workplace personalised travel planning team to help you get the maximum impact from the grant.

More details of the grant scheme, including application forms, along with details of the schemes delivered by successful companies are available on the Plymouth City Council Workplace Travel Grant page.

The closing date for applications for the 2021/22 programme is Tuesday 30 November 2021 and all schemes funded this year must be delivered by mid-March 2022.


Plymotion Workplace Cycle Challenge

Plymotion is excited to announce the return of the Workplace Cycle Challenge ‘Every Ride Counts’ for 2021. From 14 June to 11 July, record the most journeys on your bike to win brilliant prizes.

The aim of Plymotion is to encourage the people of Plymouth to travel using greener, cheaper and healthier options. Our cycle challenge hopes to encourage people to get on their bike!

Whether you are working from home or commuting, the challenge is open to you. Any journey you make by bike across the four weeks counts, whether it be for leisure, shopping or work purposes. Team up with your friends or compete individually, there are prizes for both.

Registration is open until Sunday 13 June. Find out more and sign up on the Plymotion website. If you have any questions about the challenge contact Billy from Plymotion via email william.bishop@plymouth.gov.uk


Outset Enterprise Coaching

Outset Enterprise Coaching delivers a fully funded support programme combining webinars, online learning resources and 1:1’s for individuals based in Plymouth. 

If you are thinking about starting your own business - we can help you do just that with our foundation workshop series from 22nd June covering all you need to know when starting out.  

Register your place for 'Intro to Starting your Own Business' at: https://bit.ly/3yldU5b 


Plymouth Science Park welcomes their latest tenant: X-FAB

 X-FAB is the latest tenant to join Plymouth Science Park.

Already established in Germany, Malaysia, France and the United States, X-FAB is a leading international semiconductor manufacturer and an expert in analogue and mixed-signal semiconductor technologies, which are used in automotive, industrial, consumer and medical applications.

Semiconductors are vital to the tech and digital sectors, which are the fastest growing area of the UK economy. X-FAB serves more than 350 customers around the globe supporting them from developing the concept of a new semiconductor device through to prototyping and mass production.

Find out more about X-FAB here

Find out more about Plymouth Science Park here


Marine Research Plymouth cements city’s reputation as the UK’s go-to location for marine science

Plymouth has seen its position as an international centre of excellence for marine research further enhanced after its three leading science organisations joined forces to launch Marine Research Plymouth.

The University of Plymouth, the Marine Biological Association and Plymouth Marine Laboratory already have world-leading reputations individually across a range of marine disciplines and have strong track records in delivering projects for governments, industry and research bodies.

Find out more here


£44 million cash boost to cut emissions from buildings and help households save on energy bills

The £44 million funding announcement comes ahead of the publication of the government’s Heat and Buildings Strategy, which will set out how carbon emissions in homes and workspaces will be addressed to meet legal commitments to climate change by 2050. The strategy is due to be published later this year.

The funding also helps deliver on commitments made in the Prime Minister’s 10 point plan to make the UK’s homes, schools and hospitals greener, warmer and more energy efficient, while creating 50,000 jobs by 2030, and the government’s ambitious energy white paper that commits to transforming the UK’s energy system and changing the way homes are heated.

Find out more here


Calling all small businesses to lead the charge to net zero

The Together for our Planet campaign encourages small businesses to pledge to cut their emissions to net zero by 2050 or sooner, while helping them grow, adapt and seize new opportunities.

Small businesses can use the hub to find practical tools, resources and advice to understand their emissions and develop a plan to tackle them, as well as providing ideas for steps they can take. Steps could include installing energy saving light bulbs, switching to electric vehicles and other cleaner forms of transport to reduce their carbon footprint, looking at environment-friendly packaging options, or introducing cycle to work schemes for employees.

Find out more here


Virtual events/webinars

For further information on the latest events, visit Invest Plymouth's event page.

If you have a Plymouth event you'd like promoted, you can submit your own events here

Ignite Festival of Creativity

University of Plymouth | Multiple dates

Connecting creative graduates, business and the public to spark employability, placemaking and new creative economy projects across Plymouth and beyond.

Find out more here

 

C-Care Workshops

C-Care Project | 21, 28, 30 June, and 2 July

C-Care (Covid Channel Area Response Exchange) is a new Interreg France-Channel-England capitalisation project which aims to tackle some of the socio-economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and support response and recovery efforts.

The C-Care partners are keen to learn about measures put in place to help businesses deal with and recover from the impacts of the Covid pandemic. Your expertise and input will be valued as they seek to establish what are the most effective business support tools and plan for future business support interventions.

 

Points-based immigration and EU Settlement Scheme Webinar

Heart of the South West Growth Hub | Monday 14 June, 11am to 12pm

This webinar will explore the EU settlement scheme and will be delivered by the Home Office Engagement Team and chaired by the NFU.

The session will cover:

  • EU Settlement Scheme
  • Skilled Workers
  • Employing a worker – Sponsorship
  • Right to Work Checks
  • Available resources
  • Seasonal worker route and Frontier Workers

Find out more here


Grants/Funding opportunities

Funding for England’s Businesses Taking on New Apprentices

Employers of all sizes in England can now apply for extra funding to help them take on new apprentices, in a drive to revolutionise the skills and training offer across the country.

Find out more here

 

Business Events Domestic Support Fund

The fund is available for not-for-profit organisations and charities hosting meetings, conferences and events in the UK from 21 June to 17 December 2021. Events from 100 to 500 delegates taking place in the UK are eligible to apply. The financial support available is based on the number of delegates attending with up to £15,000 available for each event.

Find out more here

 

Amazon Creates £2.5m Apprenticeship Fund

Amazon is launching an apprenticeship initiative as part of its commitment to support career opportunities and skills development across England. Using the company’s Apprenticeship Levy, the aim is to support small businesses selling on Amazon, Amazon Web Services (AWS) customers and smaller creative industry partners. These businesses will be able to upskill their workforce by taking on their own dedicated apprentices.

Find out more here

 

ISCF smart sustainable plastic packaging: business-led research and development

UK-registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £7 million for research and development projects with the potential to significantly impact the 2025 UK Plastic Pact targets.

Find out more here

 

Creative Industries Fund: fast start business growth pilot

UK-registered micro and small businesses in the creative sector can apply for a package of support to grow their business. This package includes ongoing support from Innovate UK EDGE and funding of up to £25,000 for innovation projects.

Find out more here

 

Young Innovators Awards 2021/22

Young people can apply for an award to make their business idea a reality, which includes a grant for £5,000, a living allowance, and tailored business support.

Find out more here

 

Biomedical catalyst 2021: early and late-stage awards

UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £18 million to develop innovative healthcare products, technologies and processes.

Find out more here

 

Addressing limitations in manufacturing nucleic acid therapeutics

Apply for funding to set up a research consortium addressing challenges in the manufacture of nucleic acid therapeutics.

Find out more here

 

Innovation in time dissemination and application

UK registered organisations can apply for support for business-led innovation in resilient time, frequency and synchronisation.

Find out more here

 

Hydrogen transport hub: demonstration

UK registered businesses can apply for a share of £2.5 million. This is to demonstrate how green hydrogen can be used to power transport solutions for end users.

Find out more here

 

Expression of interest: Automotive Transformation Fund round 11

UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £1 billion for capital-centric investment projects. The project must help industrialise the electrified automotive supply chain at scale in the UK.

Find out more here

 

Driving the electric revolution: supply chains for net zero

UK registered businesses can apply for funding to research supply chain development for power electronics, electric machines and drives.

Find out more here

 

Knowledge transfer partnerships: 2021 to 2022, round two

UK registered academic institutions, research and technology organisations (RTOs) or Catapults can apply for a share of up to £6 million to fund innovation projects with businesses or not-for-profits.

Find out more here

 

SBRI: Fusion industry challenges

Organisations can apply for a share of £2 million, inclusive of VAT, to develop solutions that accelerate fusion power plant design and reduce their fuel requirements.

Find out more here


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InvestPlymouth

Keep up to date with news and advice on our COVID-19 business support page 


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