Investment worth £100 million in the first two years, 3,500 jobs and putting over £400 million GVA into Plymouth and South Devon’s economy – that’s what the Freeport is expected to bring.
The only Freeport in the South West is moving closer to existence with the three councils Plymouth, Devon and South Hams District Council set to consider the full business case ahead of its submission to HM Government in April.
Public and private sector organisations including Babcock International, Princess Yachts, Langage Energy Park Ltd, the Heart of the South West LEP, the Universities of Plymouth and Exeter, the Ministry of Defence and port operators, have worked closely together to finalise the full business case.
City College Plymouth is the first college in the South West region to be awarded the prestigious Google Reference College status, which celebrates its innovative approach to digital learning.
‘Google Reference’ status is awarded for the outstanding use of technology to drive positive learning outcomes and recognises the College’s use of G Suite for Education.
This is the first time a further education college in the region has received the award, joining just eight others across the UK and firmly positioning City College Plymouth as a leading further education college in the country, having embedded technology at the heart of learning.
The new status means the College will act as a reference point for other education providers, sharing cutting-edge best practice and offering advice and guidance.
Plymouth Waterfront Partnership’s Business Improvement District (PWP BID) has appointed Jon Walton as its new Chief Executive.
Jon, who currently manages the Sovereign (Shopping) Centre and assists with placemaking and regeneration in Weston-super-Mare, has taken the position to help deliver the new 2022-27 BID and develop the role of the PWP in Plymouth.
One of Jon’s main tasks will be to develop strategic links with major stakeholders in the city. This will include involving the BID in the city’s regeneration plans, such as Plymouth City Council’s economic plan, Plymouth’s Visitor Plan for 2020-30 and the emerging Plymouth Sound National Marine Park.
Plymouth currently has two BIDs, Plymouth City Centre Company, which covers the retail heart of the city centre and PWP which covers four square miles of waterfront with its vibrant mix of hospitality, retail, leisure, office, accommodation and attractions. Together they represent more than 1,000 businesses in Plymouth and help to promote and manage regeneration schemes, events and street trading generating millions of pounds of investment.
We are looking for two to three people for a short, big-hitting piece of work to maximise the impact of a programme that empowers businesses who are committed to a “fairer greener future for Plymouth” 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. The project is implementing the Resurgam Charter which is being rebranded and empowers our businesses to contribute to delivery of a ‘fairer, greener future for Plymouth’.
We now have over 200 signatories to the Resurgam Charter and more than 10 roundtables addressing key challenges across the Spend, Upskill, Employ, Community and Environment themes.
These roles will lead high energy, big impact programmes to:
- Engage businesses with the Skills Launchpad Plymouth to create a proactive Employers Hub
- Integrate Skills Launchpad Plymouth Employers Hub and wider Resurgam Charter activity
- Use the Charter activity and work of the wider C-Care partnership to implement a Theory of Change programme for Inclusive Growth in Plymouth
You will have existing, well developed networks across businesses in Plymouth and be able to demonstrate the skills to innovate, empower and embed new, better ways of working.
The iMayflower project is working with partners across the city who are developing digital technology, such as 3-D printing, virtual reality or immersive technology to help the city expand its expertise in advanced manufacturing, robotics and digital making.
It is becoming clearer that these technologies can drive forward innovation, sustainability and growth in sectors like marine, health-care, manufacturing, culture, and tourism, too.
As a result, iMayflower partners have pulled together a catalogue of initiatives that could change the trajectory of your career or business.
The Waste Sharks are state-of-the-art Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs) that survey the surface of our seas, gobbling up litter, helping to keep our natural environment clean.
They have been introduced as part of our Preventing Plastic Pollution project and are being trialled first in Turnchapel, before operating in the wider Cattewater where litter is known to gather.
Working in collaboration with Plymouth-based robotics and artificial intelligence expertise MSUBS and Marine AI, the project will look at adapting and enhancing the technology of the basic Waste Sharks to work autonomously moving around the water to where the plastic waste is collecting.
The University of Plymouth will bring their marine plastic pollution expertise to this project and will be helping to collect and analyse the waste consumed by Waste Sharks.
The Cattewater Harbour Commissioners have kindly agreed to trial the project in their waters and are keen to work with us on the education and awareness programme involving local schools and communities.
All partners involved in the various Waste Shark projects are actively working together to share knowledge, experience and expertise to help cut plastic pollution and positively contribute to the Climate Emergency Action Plan for Plymouth.
The Smart Citizens Programme, based at Plymouth College of Art’s Fab Lab, are excited to welcome aspiring South West-based businesses and entrepreneurs to join their FREE Tech & Business Bootcamp, from 4 - 8 April.
There’s only a limited number of spaces remaining, so book soon to secure a place! Please find further information and booking links below.
Tech & Business Bootcamp | 4-8 April
Make your business dreams a reality through the Smart Citizens’ free Tech & Business Bootcamp.
Over 5 days of workshops and mentoring delivered by industry experts, you’ll learn key technology, prototyping, and enterprise skills. Ready to kickstart your business ideas?
Only a few spaces remaining, book your place via the below.
Outset is delivering intensive fully-funded support in the city for the rest of this month featuring 1:1s with local business and marketing advisors.
Register for their Digital Marketing and Business Strategy Bootcamp on Wed 30 March by clicking the button below.
For more details, email enterprisecoaching@outset.org to make an appointment or call 0800 0286 754.
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
Green Edge Training
Destination Plymouth | National Marine Aquarium | 30 March
The one-day Green Edge training course gives managers and owners in all types of business a better understanding of green tourism and how it impacts on their organisation. It enables participants to develop clear plans to cut costs, improve sustainability and reap the environmental, marketing and bottom-line benefits of embracing green tourism.
Marketing Green Action
Resurgam Charter, Plymouth City Council | Online | 7 April
65% of people would like to work for an organisation with a strong environmental policy while 82% of consumers are making more sustainable purchase decisions but how do you market the environmental action that you are taking? What are marketing green actions and how do you avoid greenwashing?
Our ‘Marketing green action’ event will answer these questions for you and highlight the wider benefits your business can gain from taking environmental action
Free Smart Citizens training
Smart Citizens Programme | Plymouth College of Art | Multiple dates
These events will support local people and students to grow their businesses and careers by supporting them to develop key CAD, business and technology skills.
Third Sector Workshop
University of Plymouth | Rolle Marquee, University of Plymouth campus | 7 April
The half day workshop is designed to show how Plymouth Business School’s expert academics and students are able to help your operations. Speakers will offer advice and insight on key current issues facing the Third Sector, and explain a wide range ways in which our staff and students can engage and support you in your operations.
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.
SWMAS - Make it Net Zero
SWMAS | Online | Multiple dates
SWMAS design, deliver, and support Net Zero events, workshops, and training opportunities that are tailored to meet the needs of manufacturers - and for small and medium-sized manufacturers across the South West, the cost can be fully funded through their range of support programmes.
Launch of £60m Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund
The Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund will provide capital grants for businesses investing in the manufacture of human medicines (drug substance and drug product), medical diagnostics and MedTech products.
The fund will operate across two phases, with monthly deadlines to submit applications. The first deadline to apply is Thursday 31 March 2022.
Innovate UK Launches £25m Loan Fund for Innovative SMEs
Innovate UK (IUK) is offering loans to help micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) overcome barriers to their innovations becoming a successful, commercial reality. The aim is to make a considerable economic impact which results in significant, sustainable business growth.
Funding will be allocated across a series of four competitions. The first competition is now open with a deadline for applications of 13 April 2022.
Nokia Bell Labs Prize for Global Tech Innovators Launched for 2022
The Nokia Bell Labs Prize is a competition for innovators from around the globe. It seeks to recognise innovations that solve the key challenges facing humanity and provides selected innovators the opportunity to collaborate with Nokia Bell Labs researchers to help realise their vision.
The deadline for applications is 22 April 2022.
Launch of IUK’s Driving the Electric Revolution - Building Talent for the Future 2 Competition
Electric and hybrid vehicles, domestic appliances and other applications are creating a considerable need for next-generation power electronics, electric machines and drives (PEMD). For the UK to be able to design, develop and manufacture these products, it requires skilled people across all levels.
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 27 April 2022.
IUK Launches Demonstrator and Feasibility Competitions for Innovation in Time Resilience, Dissemination & Application
Through these competitions, Innovate (IUK) is investing in innovation projects that contribute to resilient time, frequency and synchronisation (TFS) and its dissemination and application.
The competition has two strands; a Demonstrator strand for projects undertaking late stage industrial research or experimental developmental projects; and a Feasibility strand for projects undertaking early stage feasibility studies.
The deadline for applications is 1 June 2021.
Government Announces Extension to Plug-in Van and Truck Grants
Businesses across the UK are being supported to switch to electric transport following a government commitment to a two-year extension of its Plug-in Van and Truck Grants.
This intervention is expected to support the purchase of tens of thousands of greener vans and trucks, helping make the UK less reliant on imports of foreign oil, improving the security of energy supply and reducing vulnerability to volatility in global energy prices.
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