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Please find below an overview of the latest business advice and guidance. In today's newsletter you will find news and updates including:
- Plymouth Net Zero Partnership
- Invitation to Register Interest in SWMAS Make it Net Zero Programme
- Ground-breaking partnership to provide Covid-19 support for Plymouth businesses and residents
- Council distributes millions in grants to Plymouth businesses
- Keeping lots more pounds in Plymouth
- Defibrillator Training Courses
- The Box shortlisted for number of awards
- University achieves success in Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022
- Plymouth charity Greenhook Fishing launches its first sustainable fishing boat
- Supporting Plymouth’s tourism, retail and hospitality sector
- Opportunities to join Kawasaki Precision Machinery
- Support for Hospitality, Retail and Health & Social Care
- Social Enterprise City Festival 2021
- Sustainable Design Talk: WASP
- Latest news from iMayflower
- Events
- Funding streams/competitions
If you have any specific concerns or are in need of support, please contact us.
In March 2019 a Climate Emergency was declared in Plymouth and a pledge was made to make Plymouth carbon neutral by 2030. Carbon neutral meaning that we aim to cancel out the carbon emissions that we produce; not always by reducing emissions, but perhaps by offsetting them through various reduction initiatives; such as supporting renewable energy solutions or planting trees.
The Climate Emergency Action Plan (CEAP) lists all of the actions that are being taken here in Plymouth, as well as listing other partners and stakeholders in the Plymouth Net Zero Partnership.
Businesses will play a huge role in achieving the goals within the plan and the Plymouth Net Zero Partnership are already pushing boundaries, facilitating rich conversations and engaging business leaders who want to add their voice in a collective and collaborative call for change.
We have all learnt many lessons over the last 18 months; lessons that have hurt, but also lessons that have empowered positive change. It’s ‘change’ that has played a central role in many of our minds; both in business and in life. As consumers, we have become increasingly aware of our role in driving change and are keen to live as sustainably as possible and really look at the choices we make. For business, many have looked at how they communicate with their customers. Our brains pay more attention to stories, and it’s stories that have the power to touch hearts and minds but also reinvigorate a business, reconnect it with its core values, customers and perhaps better prepare it for the future.
Find out more here
If your business has a story to tell about the work you are doing or planning to help get Plymouth to carbon neutrality by 2030, we would love to hear from you and feature you within the new web page launched on Invest Plymouth.
Please get in touch with us by emailing invest@plymouth.gov.uk with your story, pictures and any social media links so we can share across our channels.
SWMAS is a team of manufacturing and business development experts with a mission: to help transform south west manufacturers into world class businesses.
What is the SWMAS Make it Net Zero Programme?
Specialist programme of support for SWMAS clients to help them on their net Zero journey. Launching July 2021 running until at least March 2026.
What’s on offer?
- 1-1 Support from a SWMAS Net Zero Specialist
- Undertake a review including a tailored net zero diagnostic
- Facilitate your plan of action to tackle the priority areas for the business
- Help and support to capture your own company carbon footprint
- Help and support for your other Net Zero actions
Find out more and register your interest
Plymouth City Council is part of an ambitious cross-border project that will deliver a unique package of Covid-19 recovery support for local businesses and people.
The C-CARE (Covid Channel Area Response Exchange) initiative, funded by the Interreg France (Channel) England programme, is set to reach businesses and people that have been hit hardest in the pandemic.
Drawing on a range of expertise from local government, enterprise and tourism in the UK and France, the project will support people at risk of exclusion from the labour market and businesses at risk of closure.
C-CARE aims to reach 4,500 people and almost 2,000 businesses through its pilot initiatives which include skills training to help individuals find new routes into employment or starting a business, and advice and grants aimed at helping companies reset their business models in response to the pandemic.
Find out more here
£92 million in Government grants has been paid out to local businesses by Plymouth City Council since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, as part of a massive effort to keep businesses in the city going.
A huge team of 50 staff from several departments across the Council were involved in the largest business grant exercise the Council has ever done, supporting 7,440 Plymouth businesses.
There were 16 separate Government grant schemes to administer between March 2020 and July 2021, including the Local Restrictions Support Grant, Additional Restrictions Grant, Restart Grant and funding offered when the city was under tiered restrictions. A total of 19,435 payments were made during this time.
Find out more here
We’ve smashed our own local spend target. As part of our COVID-19 economic recovery plan we committed to increasing our local spend by 10 per cent over two years. This target aimed to provide 280 additional jobs and generate an extra £8.20 million GVA (Gross Value Added) for the Plymouth economy.
But we have gone way past that and spent around £40 million more with local businesses over this last financial year compared to the previous year and put an additional £22.34 million GVA into the Plymouth economy.
This spend was also spread across an increased number of local suppliers, meaning we helped support numerous local businesses during these uncertain times.
We are also setting a brand new Social Value target, which is a term used for quantifying the additional benefits that the community will get from the money the Council spends; meaning more local jobs, more local skills and improving our local environment for future generations.
This coming year we want to achieve ‘Social Value’ of 20 per cent of contract value. It is an ambitious target but the Council aims to lead by example and encourage other public sector organisations to follow suit.
Plymouth City Council is offering more free training courses in how to provide CPR and how to use the new lifesaving automated external defibrillator equipment (AED), following the installation of five of the lifesaving devices along the waterfront. The training is aimed at Waterfront businesses and their staff, as well as wild swimmers.
The nationally recognised AED course will be run by The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS) and lasts 4 hours in total.
Each candidate will receive a certificate confirming their knowledge and ability to carry out CPR in conjunction with a defibrillator when they have shown their ability to an acceptable standard, which is valid for two years.
Two training sessions will take place, with 48 spaces available in total:
- Date: Tuesday 21 September 2021
- Location: The Waterfront Pub, The Hoe, Plymouth, PL1 3DQ.
- Times: 9am to 1pm or 1.30pm to 5.30pm
If you would like to attend this free course, please complete the enrolment form and return it by email to invest@plymouth.gov.uk, specifying whether you'd like to attend the morning or afternoon session. A new form is required for each attendee.
The course is available on a first come, first served basis and please apply by Wednesday 15 September.
The Box, Plymouth's new major museum, art gallery and archive, has been nominated for National Lottery Project of the Year for streaming archive footage into care homes during the height of the Covid pandemic.
This hugely prestigious national award will be decided by a public vote and we need your help in sharing the message and supporting The Box.
Find out more here
The process to vote takes just 30 seconds and can be done here:
Vote for The Box here
You can also vote via Twitter using the hashtag #NLATheBox
We have also been shortlisted for the following awards
The University of Plymouth’s expanding portfolio of world-leading research has been recognised in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022.
The University has been listed within the top 50 UK universities (and the top 500 internationally) in the rankings, which are based on 13 carefully calibrated performance indicators.
This year’s ranking analysed more than 14.4 million research publications and the University is now among the top 300 globally in the Citations category, which measures research influence and looks at universities’ role in spreading new knowledge and ideas.
It also features in the top 300 of the International Outlook category, which measures the ability of a university to attract undergraduates, postgraduates and academics from all over the world. That category also assesses the proportion of a university’s total relevant publications that have at least one international co-author.
Find out more here
Plymouth city charity Greenhook Fishing proudly launched the first of their sustainable fishing boats the Geoffrey Rowe, from their boatyard in Richmond Walk, near Mayflower Marina in Plymouth.
Greenhook Fishing is a charitable incorporated organisation that has been established to provide training and full-time employment in the boat building, fishing, and related industries.
The CIO works primarily, but not exclusively with ex-Services personnel who have fallen through the traditional resettlement net and have experienced difficulties in adapting to civilian life.
Greenhook Fishing recently held a naming ceremony for the Geoffrey Rowe and the launch of the fishing boat today is the next significant milestone for the charity. The launch marks the culmination of months of planning, training, and hard work by a team of Greenhook Fishing volunteers, which included ex-serviceman from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Airforce and Army.
Find out more here
A new campaign is working to address the recruitment challenge currently facing tourism, retail and hospitality businesses in Plymouth.
Destination Plymouth’s new ‘Geddon in Tourism’ campaign showcases the wide range of opportunities within the sector. It features a number of familiar faces from businesses across the city, including chefs Mitch Tonks and Chris Tanner, sharing how they got started in the business, became successful celebrities and the skills that they have developed.
With businesses struggling to recruit staff and facing an increase in demand now the summer season is underway, there’s high demand for people to fill vacancies across the sector. A huge variety of roles are available, from chefs to customer service staff as well as wider support roles including marketing, security, operations and finance.
Find out more here
Want to work for a Plymouth based, multi-national company offering competitive salaries, excellent career progression, training and a range of benefits?
With annual sales revenues of $15 billon from 96 subsidiaries employing 35,000 people around the globe, Kawasaki Heavy Industries is a leader in its fields of engineering and technology. Established in 1968 the Precision Machinery division of Kawasaki has been at the forefront of hydraulic technology and development for nearly 50 years. Today the Kawasaki brand is synonymous with quality and innovation in hydraulic pumps, motors, valves and complete systems across the whole spectrum of applications.
If you would like to be part of our continuing success, Kawasaki are recruiting for the following posts:
- Machine Setter/Operator – multiple vacancies, varying shift patterns available
- Assembler – multiple vacancies, varying shift patterns available
- Metrology Technician
- Process Engineer
See more details on each job here
For more information, go to their website www.kawasakihydraulics.com
Interested? Send your CV and cover letter to human@kawasakihydraulics.com
Businesses Skills Support for the Workforce (SSW) are providing funded training for selected businesses in the Heart of the South West.
For businesses in the hospitality, retail and health & social care sectors, SSW can support with challenges such as training new recruits, furloughed staff and staff retention.
For specific information about the support available to each sector, please contact our business advisers.
This year's festival has been designed and planned by one of PSEN's first Action Groups - a collection of members just like you who want to help make the festival a highlight in the city's calendar. The bigger and better event will run for two weeks from 15 November to 26 November, showcasing the sustainable development goals and picking up themes and discussions from the COP26. We believe that we need Local Action for Global Goals.
Are you working towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? Is your project, enterprise or organisation taking progressive action to put people and planet first?
PSEN’s upcoming Social Enterprise Festival for 2021 is aiming to highlight this and the amazing work being carried out locally. They are looking for local active projects, groups or organisations who are taking action towards one or more of the 17 SDGs to showcase what you are up to through running a workshop, event, talk or participatory session at this year’s Festival. This could be anything from a 1-hour event to a half-day workshop.
The holistic SDGs range from tackling poverty, hunger and inequality through to climate action on a thriving and healthy planet whilst focusing on good health, wellbeing and ensuring equal opportunities for all. For more information on the SDGs and to find out what all 17 goals are visit https://sdgs.un.org/goals
Find out more here
Italy’s pioneering specialists in 3D printing, WASP (World’s Advanced Saving Project), discussed the latest advances in 3D printing eco-homes at the Smart Citizens Programme’s Sustainable Design Talk, hosted online by Plymouth College of Art’s Smart Citizens Programme and Making Futures Research Group. Members of WASP, who were recently showcased in the World Economic Forum, discussed their new TECLA clay house; the first and unique fully 3D-printed construction based on natural materials and made with multiple 3D printers operating at the same time.
This activity is part of the iMayflower project and has been supported by The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, who fund the Cultural Development Fund, which is administered by Arts Council England.
Find out more here
Plymouth is a creative city with a proud track record and growing international reputation for creative digital and immersive tech. We have come together through iMayflower to ensure that Plymouth makes the most of this platform for the benefit of current and future generations living, studying and working here.
In case you missed it in our last newsletter, the latest iMayflower digest includes:
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Cultural experiences: Market Hall opening; Film Plymouth; SailGP and Marine Tech Expo capitalising digital and creative tech
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Business Support and Mentoring: Marine-focused Startup Weekend announced; Ideate opens doors for Seadream Education CIC; Crowdfunder offering free course and cash bonus
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Innovation and Sustainability: Community Meet-Ups with Smart Citizens; Inform Plymouth’s Immersive Future
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Strengthening Local Talent: Innovative Placements Scheme; Real Ideas’ Digital Badges; Smart Citizens Programme.
Read the full digest here
To receive regular updates about iMayflower, sign up here.
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
Smart Citizens Introduction Webinar
Smart Citizens | 4 October and 1 November
Whether you're looking to develop your skills in digital design and fabrication, get training for your business, or join a community of makers, Smart Citizens is here to help. Watch our introductory video at your leisure to find out how you can get involved in our programme of free online workshops, community meet-ups and training based at Plymouth College of Art's Fab Lab.
Find out more here
National Coding Week: Introduction to Electronics and Coding
Smart Citizens | Tuesday 14 September
Join this hands-on workshop for 11-15 year olds and take your first steps into electronics and coding! In this practical, step-by step workshop, you will take your first steps into to the world of electronics and coding and learn how to build smart devices with real-world uses. With the help of our friendly electronics expert, Lee, you will set up an Arduino kit which will include sensors and components such as LEDs, light sensors and microphones.
Find out more here
Smart Citizens Make a Solar Powered Artwork: 2-Part Workshop
Smart Citizens | 16 and 30 September
Create your own solar powered artwork in this free 2-part workshop. Through this workshop you will learn the fascinating skills of reverse glass painting, laser cutting and get hands-on with solar cells! Join us to illuminate your ideas and bring home your own sustainable artwork.
Find out more here
Smart Citizens Fab City Kit: 6-Week Training
Smart Citizens | 20 September to 25 October
Join the Smart Citizens 6-week course and assemble your very own Smart Citizen Kit to take home! Although sharing the same name as the Programme, the Smart Citizen Kit is a global open source project enabling ordinary citizens to gather information on their environment and make it available to the public on the Smart Citizen platform. Supporting communities and individuals to capture environmental data through their intuitive hardware, these kits can measure data such as air and noise pollution, humidity levels, CO2 levels and more.
Find out more here
'Meet the Expert' Social Media Masterclass
Meet the Expert / Oceansgate | Tuesday 21 September
The Social Media Masterclass will be delivered by Scott Grenney of Eddystone Media as part of the ‘Meet the Expert’ Business Support Programme and will offer practical advice and tools to boost your online business presence.
Find out more here
Defibrillator Training Courses
Plymouth City Council | Tuesday 21 September
Plymouth City Council is offering more free training courses in how to provide CPR and how to use the new lifesaving automated external defibrillator equipment (AED), following the installation of five of the lifesaving devices along the waterfront. The training is aimed at Waterfront businesses and their staff, as well as wild swimmers.
Find out more here
Fab City Plymouth Open Day
Fab Lab Plymouth | Wednesday 22 September
Fab City hubs across Plymouth are opening their doors! Drop-in to discover how we are working towards creating a more sustainable and collaborative city. From demonstrations to hands-on activities, business support to friendly chats, discover what's happening on our website below. Please note that this is a free drop-in event, so no booking is required.
Find out more here
Phase 3 of Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator Now Open
The Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator (IEEA) funds industrial scale demonstrations of novel technologies with the potential to reduce energy consumption, maximise resource efficiency and cut carbon emissions in industry.
Phase 3 of the programme will provide around £8 million of grant funding. Grants will be competitively awarded to projects that can install and test innovative energy efficiency technologies on an industrial site, to prove that they work at scale in a real industrial setting.
Grants of between £150,000 and £1 million will typically be available for each successful project. Successful applicants can typically expect to receive between 40-60% funding towards eligible project costs, with the remainder funded by the applicant(s).
Applications for Phase 3 Ideas are currently being accepted.
Find out more here
Launch of 2022 FutureX Startup Summit Competition
The FutureX Startup Summit Competition connects emerging UK technology leaders with innovators and founders in Silicon Valley. Start-ups will have the opportunity to win a place on the next programme.
Successful applicants will be invited to pitch at the virtual Startup Summit in front of an expert panel to win their place.
The deadline to apply to the 2022 programme is Wednesday 15 September 2021.
Find out more here
Launch of Instagram Small Business Mentorship Programme
Small Business Britain has partnered with Instagram to offer businesses an opportunity to benefit from their new UK Mentorship Programme.
Participants will learn about content creation, marketing and social commerce from renowned creators, successful founders and Instagram experts.
The deadline for submission of entries is 19 September 2021.
Find out more here
IUK Announces Digital Regulatory Navigation Platform (Health Products) SBRI Competition
Through this Innovate UK (IUK) competition, businesses can apply for funding to develop a digital regulatory navigation platform for health product innovators.
A total of up to £3 million is allocated to this competition. Phase 1 feasibility study R&D contracts will be awarded from £250,000 to £1 million inclusive of VAT, for each project for up to five months. IUK expects to fund up to five projects.
The deadline for applications is 20 September 2021.
Find out more here
Red Diesel Replacement Competition - Expressions of Interest Invited
The Red Diesel Replacement (RDR) Competition aims to support the development and demonstration of low carbon fuel and system alternatives to red diesel for the construction, and mining and quarrying sectors. The competition will support the decarbonisation of these high-impact sectors that will be affected by the partial removal of the entitlement to use red diesel and rebated fuels from April 2022.
Interested parties should submit their EoI by 24 September 2021.
Find out more here
Details of New Industrial Fuel Switching Competition Published
The proposed new Industrial Fuel Switching Competition will support innovation in the development of pre-commercial fuel switch and fuel switch enabling technology for the industrial sector, to help industry switch from high to lower carbon fuels.
A total of £55 million will be competitively awarded to projects that can help develop a wide range of industrial fuel switching solutions. Funding will be awarded through SBRI (Small Business Research Initiative) contracts, providing 100% funding for pre-commercial solutions, via a two-phase process – feasibility and demonstration.
Potential applicants may register their interest in the competition by 4 October 2021.
Find out more here
Tech Nation Announces Rising Stars 4.0 to Boost UK Tech Firms
Rising Stars 4.0 is a competition for innovative, early-stage tech start-ups, with a prize package designed to take successful businesses to the next level. The programme provides an opportunity to connect start-ups with mentors, investors and influencers, and raise the profile of participant businesses.
The deadline for receipt of applications is 20 October 2021.
Find out more here
Upcoming IUK Competitions - Future Flight Challenge Phase 3 Strands 1 & 2
The Future Flight Challenge is a £300 million programme in three phases that aims to deliver the 2024 vision of the Future Flight
IUK has allocated up to £65 million to fund innovation projects.
The deadline for applications will be 3 November 2021.
Find out more here
IUK Partners with Ofgem to Launch Discovery Phase of Strategic Innovation Fund
Funded by the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) and administered by Innovate UK (IUK), the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) seeks to support energy network innovation that contributes to the achievement of Net Zero, while delivering real net benefits to network consumers.
A total of up to £3 million is allocated to the Discovery phase. Discovery phase projects must last two months and have total eligible costs up to £150,000.
The deadline for receipt of applications is 17 November 2021
Find out more here
IUK Announces Healthy Ageing Challenge Competition - Designed for Ageing
Through Innovate UK (IUK), the Healthy Ageing Challenge is funding service-led innovation projects designed to support healthy ageing. These projects should deliver a clear game-changing service-led innovation to help people as they age, positively, actively, independently and with dignity. IUK has allocated up to £14.4 million to fund innovation projects in this competition
Applications are accepted from 20 September 2021 until 17 November 2021.
Find out more here
TechX Clean Energy Accelerator Opens to Applications
The TechX Clean Energy Accelerator aims to help innovative clean energy start-ups develop their technologies and grow their business.
The programme offers an intensive 15-week full-time experience, with benefits that include expert technology and business support, mentorship, prototype development, the opportunity for field trials with some of the largest companies in the energy industry and a £100,000 grant.
The deadline for applications is 28 November 2021.
Find out more here
Government Issues Advance Notice of the Net Zero Hydrogen Fund (NZHF)
The Net Zero Hydrogen Fund (NZHF), announced in the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution, will be delivered between 2022 and 2025. The aim is to support the commercial deployment of new low carbon hydrogen production projects during the 2020s, ensuring the UK has a diverse and secure decarbonised energy system fit for meeting its ambition of 5GW low carbon hydrogen production by 2030, and commitment to reach net zero by 2050.
The Government intends to launch the NZHF in early 2022. Further details and guidance will be provided when they become available.
Find out more here
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