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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:
- Applications for Omicron Hospitality and Leisure business grant now live
- Boost: the new free digital upskilling programme for SMEs run by Cosmic
- Interim CEO of National Marine Park appointed
- New premium co-working space BLOCK opening at Royal William Yard April 2022
- Epic event line-up to enjoy in Plymouth this year
- Plymouth Armed Forces Day Sponsorship Opportunities
- Nautical Institute celebrates its 50th anniversary
- Creative Coalition Festival
- Outset Enterprise Coaching
- Fab Lab Plymouth Job Opportunity
- Events
- Funding streams
If you have any specific concerns or are in need of support, please contact us.
Plymouth hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses that have been impacted by Covid-19 will now be able to apply for financial support through Plymouth City Council.
The Government announced the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure grant on 21 December to support businesses in the sector in recognition of the impact that the Omicron variant has had over the Christmas and New Year period.
The primary purpose of this grant scheme is to support businesses that offer in-person services, where the main service and activity takes place in fixed rate-paying premises in the hospitality, leisure or accommodation sector.
See the Government eligibility criteria on the GOV.UK website.
Eligible businesses can claim the following grants, based on their rateable value:
- Properties with a rateable value of £15,000 or under on 30 December 2021 will receive a one-off grant of £2,667
- Properties with a rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000 on 30 December 2021 will receive a one-off grant of £4,000
- Properties with a rateable value of exactly £51,000 or over on 30 December 2021 will receive a one-off grant of £6,000
Businesses can apply through the Plymouth City Council website.
Applications for this grant scheme will close on 23 February 2022 and eligible businesses are encouraged to apply as early as possible.
Details of the second, discretionary grant scheme, known as the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) will be shared shortly.
When Microsoft 365 is mentioned, many people think of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, but it is so much more that this! Did you know that a wide range of other powerful tools and features are included?
If you’d like to learn how Microsoft 365 can make your life easier and more productive then why not join Cosmic as we demonstrate the host of untapped tools and features available to you, right now, within Microsoft 365.
Cosmic are running a series of free Microsoft 365 workshops from January 2022 where with the support of one of our skilled trainers, you will discover:
- SharePoint and OneDrive for effective cloud storage and real-time collaboration
- Lists, To Do and Planner for successful project and task management
- Teams for integrating people, content and communications
- OneNote and Lens for capturing and collating information and notes
- Power Apps, Power Automate and Power BI to build powerful data driven connections, processes and reports
- And much, much more!
To learn more, explore other available topics and secure your place visit Cosmic’s Eventbrite page.
Alternatively email the Support team on planning@cosmic.org.uk or call 0330 088 3005.
Plymouth Boost, the new digital upskilling programme delivered by Cosmic in partnership with Plymouth City Council and designed with small and micro businesses in mind, the programme offers a series of free digital training workshops and one-to-one sessions, presented in a friendly and collaborative way, to help your business reach new customers, increase online sales, promote its brand digitally and gain a competitive advantage in 2022.
Please note: this initiative is only available until March 31 2022 and is open to any business based in Plymouth.
An environmentalist with an outstanding track record of leading nature and conservation organisations will be at the helm of the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park.
Elaine Hayes has been appointed interim chief executive of the UK’s first ever National Marine Park.
She brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience working across the charity, government and the business sectors, both for conservation and the marine environment.
Elaine’s career has seen her involved in the development of marine legislation to protect the seas, she successfully lead the development of the Devon & Severn IFCA as Chair for eight years and as the former chair of Seafish – the Sea Fish Industry Authority – she is acutely aware of the challenges fishing ports such as Plymouth also face.
Find out more here
BLOCK is coming to Plymouth in the Spring of 2022 offering unrivalled workspace style while promoting community, wellbeing and collaborative working. The new co-working business launches in April 2022 and features both office and collaborative workspaces plus a state-of-the-art gym, café/bar and premium event space.
With a stunning location in the two hundred year old Melville building at the centre of historic Royal William Yard, BLOCK has created a hub that businesses can be proud to call their own, in an environment that inspires creativity and productivity.
BLOCK is also committed to ensuring a more sustainable, environmentally friendly and ethical workspace culture with strong core values agreed and assimilated by every member of the leadership team.
30% of the cellular offices have already been signed up by forward-thinking local businesses and enquiries are now being taken for office and co-working spaces. Interested parties can contact Drew Mason, Head of Sales at info@blockplymouth.co.uk or visit their website for more information.
Visit the new, follow BLOCK on Instagram, Facebook and Linkedln and sign up to be the first to receive the latest news and events here.
From pirates to pyrotechnics, live music to military moments and food festivals to family fun, Plymouth’s 2022 calendar is jam-packed with unmissable events.
The plan for 2022 includes the return of some beloved events on the waterfront and throughout the city centre, which haven’t been able to take place since 2019 due to the ongoing pandemic.
Each year, Plymouth City Council, Plymouth Waterfront Partnership and Plymouth City Centre Company work together to offer a buzzing events programme which includes supporting independent organisers to host events in the city.
Find out more here
More details about all these events will be shared in due course. All the latest details about what’s on in Plymouth, including information about smaller events taking place throughout the year, will be available right here on the Visit Plymouth website.
Event organisers can also promote their own events on the Visit Plymouth website by submitting the details on our event form.
Plymouth’s exciting Armed Forces Day will be returning to Plymouth Hoe, on Saturday 25 June. Each year Plymouth shows its support to the Armed Forces and celebrates their outstanding contribution to the city and UK.
It is expected between 40 to 50,000 visitors will attend throughout the day at this year’s hugely popular Armed Forces Day, on the spectacular Plymouth Hoe.
We have a range of advertising and sponsorship opportunities available at this fantastic event. Whether you are looking to promote recruitment opportunities, product sales or to raise the profile of your business to the local community and visitors, this is a great event to showcase your company.
Download the Sponsorship pack
Please get in touch if this is of interest by emailing sara.tapp@plymouth.gov.uk
In 2022 The Nautical Institute celebrates its 50th anniversary. They are marking this milestone by hosting a series of international events looking ahead to the next 50 years. These include their AGM, conference and dinner in Plymouth, UK in July and more technical seminars, networking and celebratory events across the world.
The theme for the 50th anniversary events is Maritime Leadership in a Changing World. They recognise that high quality leadership and excellent change management is essential in a time of accelerated development.
Join them in shaping the next 50 years by exploring how we can work together, sharing ideas and best practice to enable better leadership through professional development.
If you're a business and interested in supporting one of the main maritime events in the UK this year, providing an opportunity to be seen and heard on a world-wide stage, then please download the Sponsorship pack below and get in touch.
Download the Sponsorship pack
Based in Plymouth and thinking about starting a business or wanting some help to move your business forward?
Outset Enterprise Coaching is delivering a fully funded support programme combining webinars, online learning resources and 1:1’s for individuals who are thinking about starting a business and for existing businesses too - covering business strategy, marketing and finance.
Find out more here
Email: enterprisecoaching@outset.org for more information on the range of support that is currently available.
We are excited to share news of Creative Coalition Festival 2022 – Creative UK’s flagship virtual festival. Set over 3 days, with 50+ sessions and over 200 creative speakers, the festival celebrates achievements and addresses the most important questions facing the UK’s creative industries.
Experience inspiring talks alongside live performances, immersive experiences, and engaging workshop with opportunities to network and collaborate throughout the duration of the festival. Creative Coalition Festival is a key moment in the creative industries calendar when we come together as one to reimagine, reignite and redefine our collective future, driving real change.
Follow the link below for the full list of speakers and sessions.
The festival is open-access and free to attend, but spaces are limited.
Register now and secure your place
Plymouth College of Art is looking for a dynamic, highly-organised Project Coordinator to lead on the activities of the iMayflower Project’s Smart Citizens Programme based at Fab Lab Plymouth.
The successful candidate will be coordinating an exciting range of training, tech and business bootcamps, creative hackathons events and outreach to support local participants to develop digital fabrication and enterprise skills, prototype products and set-up their business and/or employment.
The Smart Citizens Programme is an established and highly successful programme that works with citizens, communities and businesses in Plymouth and the region to provide access to digital fabrication facilities, training in digital design, and manufacturing and support with sustainable entrepreneurship.
The closing date to apply for this role is Tuesday 25 January.
Find out more about the role on the Plymouth College of Art website.
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
Chamber Live Special: Repaying Government Loans
Devon & Plymouth Chamber | Online | 17 January
Hear from a number of excellent guest speakers about what support banks can offer, longer-term options and how to get your financial house in order to prevent liquidity issues.
Find out more here
Outset Business Support workshops
Outset | Online | Multiple dates
Outset Enterprise Coaching delivers a full support programme combining modular business workshops, rich online learning resources and 1:1 support. It’s open to all Plymouth residents, and fully funded by Plymouth City Council and the European Regional Development Fund. See the full list of workshops here:
- Legal Essentials for Start-Ups: Taster Session
- How PR can help your business: PR Taster Session with Jurassic Creative
- Top Tips for Facebook Marketing
- Understanding Social Media for Business
- Introduction to starting your own Business Webinar (Foundation Module)
- Introduction to Marketing your Business Webinar (Foundation Module)
- Introduction to Business Finance and Funding Webinar - (Foundation Module)
- Accountancy Essentials for Start-Ups - taster session
- Business Mindset - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
- Time Management for Entrepreneurs
Find out more here
Digital Boost Plymouth
Cosmic | Online | Multiple dates
Digital Boost Plymouth offers free, fully funded digital skills training to all businesses based in the Plymouth City Council area, until March 31 2022.
A broad range of high-quality, digital skills training is available right now.
Future workshops include:
- 19 Jan – Making the most of Microsoft 365 Plymouth Manufacturing Group
- 27 Jan – Introduction to Paid Online Advertising
- 10 Feb – Facebook & Instagram Ads
- 1 Mar – Understanding GDPR & Cyber Security
- 17 Mar – Instagram: Next Steps
- 23 Mar – Facebook: Next Steps
Find out more here
Selling via e-commerce to Japan
Department for International Trade | Online | 20 January
Are you looking to grow your business overseas using e-commerce? Join Japanese market specialists in our free online webinar to learn more about this lucrative market and the fantastic export opportunities available.
During the webinar learn how to sell effectively to Japan using cross border e-commerce as well as developing your understanding.
Find out more here
One Stop Shop for Business Support
Plymouth Social Enterprise Network | Online | 21 January
Plymouth Social Enterprise Network will be hosting an online event bringing together a wealth of expert business support for entrepreneurs in Plymouth and the surrounding areas.
Whether you are thinking about starting your own business or have been running for years there will be something on offer to support you to grow, be resilient and navigate the ever changing landscape for businesses.
Find out more here
Industrial Solutions Materials & Manufacturing
Plymouth Electron Microscopy Centre (PEMC) | Online | 25 January
These quarterly Industrial Solutions events will show how different sectors (including those highlighted in the UK government's Industrial Strategy Fund) can benefit from working with PEMC and will focus on priority areas for the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (HotSW LEP).
The series will also support the establishment of an Analysis & Imaging Network of previous beneficiaries of PEMC's industry support, intended to promote knowledge exchange and collaboration between industrial, technical, and academic stakeholders.
Find out more here
Introduction to the Plymouth Roads Project
Department for International Trade | Online | 27 January
Attendees will learn about the unique properties of the Plymouth Roads Project, which is being proposed by Serco, and the possible interaction with King Abdullah's University in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. There will be a discussion surrounding the implications of the project from a marine life and commercial perspective.
You'll also gain insights as to how the project will operate within the Plymouth Freezone, which aims to harness the power of the marine sector to deliver clean growth in the region through innovative services produced by Smart Sound Plymouth.
Find out more hereFind out more here
Home Office Announces Industry Engagement Activity on Small Boats
Home Office | Online | 27 January
The Home Office will be holding a Maritime Capability (Small Boats Clandestine Channel Threat Command) Industry Event.
The purpose of the event is to present to the market the Home Office's key operational challenges in securing the UK border in the English Channel from small boats and to seek; industry insight and expertise to solve these challenges; and to gain an understanding of experiences elsewhere in the world.
Find out more here
Business Loans for the South West
SWIG Finance provides viable SMEs and start-ups with access to finance through dedicated business loan funds in the South West, including:
- Start Up Loans (Trading under 2 years) £500 – £25,000
- Business Loans (Trading over 2 years) £25,001 – £250,000
Find out more here
Launch of IUK’s Driving the Electric Revolution - Building Talent for the Future 2: EoI Competition
The Innovate UK (IUK) Driving the Electric Revolution Challenge is now investing in projects building talent for the future. The aim is to fund several ideas that quickly fill immediate gaps in skills, talent and training for the PEMD industry.
The deadline for applications is Wednesday 2 February 2022.
Find out more here
Geovation Accelerator for Tech Innovators Opens for Spring 2022 Intake
The aim of the Geovation Accelerator Programme is to help UK-based start-up entrepreneurs develop and launch innovative new prototype ideas that relate to location information or technology.
A grant of up to £20,000 over 12 months is available, alongside workshops and mentoring, marketing and PR.
Applications for the spring intake, which starts on 21 April 2022, are now open. The deadline to apply is 28 February 2022.
Find out more here
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