The spectacular success of this summer’s Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Plymouth has put the city on the map as a global event destination reaching millions around the world and bringing a huge economic boost.
July’s event reached a total worldwide TV audience of more than 74 million in over 175 countries, showcasing the city’s stunning city and seascapes, and reaped an economic impact upwards of £10 million.
It also attracted almost 16 million video views on social media. And the ripple effect continues to be felt, long after the competitors and more than 31,000 spectators sailed off – representing 12 overseas nationalities – with ongoing benefits from the enormously popular weekend, which received a 100 per cent positivity rating for the city and the seal of approval from Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales.
The University of Plymouth is leading a £1.2million project to upgrade the offshore infrastructure of Smart Sound Plymouth.
The initiative, supported by funding from the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, will further enhance the unique proving ground for businesses to test, trial, prototype and commercialise new products and services.
The Smart Sound Connect Subsurface project builds on the Smart Sound Connect infrastructure launched in March 2022.
Working with Plymouth Marine Laboratory, it will install an underwater acoustic communications network that will be integrated with the existing private 4G/5G and wave relay mesh networks that provide connectivity more than 20 nautical miles offshore.
Combined, this upgraded network will reinforce Smart Sound Plymouth as a unique fully connected proving ground for businesses to develop advanced marine technologies across all domains; above, on and below the water.
Plymouth’s role as a cultural and arts hotspot has been endorsed with renewed Arts Council England investment of more than £12m into the city’s cultural organisations.
Arts Council England (ACE) today announced their three year funding deal for National Portfolio Organisations (NPOs) around the country. NPO status is awarded to organisations that create excellent cultural work and open up the arts to new audiences in exciting and engaging ways. There are eight in Plymouth, which will get £4,113,239 a year over the next three years, a total of £12,339,717.
The announcement comes at a challenging time for cultural organisations in the city and nationally. Rising costs and utility increases are adding to the financial burden of Covid, which is still having an impact on Plymouth venues’ audiences and earned income. NPO status gives organisations an ongoing contribution from ACE towards running costs and the development of new projects, but all remain reliant on additional commercial and fundraised income.
Plymouth City Council’s Cabinet is considering an urgent package of measures to address an unprecedented £37.6 million budget gap caused by issues that are impacting local authorities across the country.
The Council has already been grappling with a £15.5 million shortfall in this year’s budget caused by factors such as inflation, huge increases in gas and electricity bills and rising demand for critical social care services.
A report to Cabinet on 10 November says the same national factors are leading to a projected £37.6 million shortfall in its budget 2023/24.
The report sets out a range of proposals that would reduce costs by £26.2 million to help enable the Council to fulfil its statutory duty to set a balanced budget.
If all the potential savings are approved, the Council will still be left with a £11.4 million shortfall to be closed before a balanced budget can be set in February.
At the same time it needs to find another £6 million of savings in order to close this year’s gap.
Plymouth Marjon University has been shortlisted for the prestigious ‘Climate Action’ Green Gown Award. The awards recognise sustainability projects being undertaken by universities and colleges in the UK and Ireland.
Marjon has been recognised for its Marjon Zero project. The £5.3 million initiative has seen the installation of around 2,000 solar panels and one of the largest non-domestic Ground Source Heat Pump projects in England, driving the University forward towards its 2030 carbon neutrality goal.
The project funding was provided by the Salix Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, which funded the 98 boreholes and 55 ground source heat pumps across the University’s campus in Plymouth.
The University of Plymouth’s Cyber-SHIP Lab has staged its second Annual Symposium, bringing together many of the world’s leading maritime cyber security experts and innovators.
The 2022 event took place at the United Nations International Maritime Organisation London Headquarters, with up to 150 delegates attending on each of the two days.
Day-one of the by-invitation, in-person-only event provided a platform for nine actionable maritime cyber security research presentations selected via a call for papers. Day-two was focused around industry experience and discussion.
TechInvest: Investing across the UK is an all-new event series presented in partnership by UKBAA and British Business Bank to spotlight high-growth potential tech innovators from the UK's Regions and Nations in a series of London-based pitch showcases.
The first event in the series will focus on tech innovators from the South West. Businesses from start-up to scale-up that are raising investment in the range of £250k-£3m are invited to apply for their chance to pitch!
The deadline to apply is 24 November at midnight.
Join us on Wednesday 16 November 2022 for the Destination Plymouth annual conference, hosted at The Duke of Cornwall Hotel, Plymouth.
We welcome a group of exciting speakers from across the industry sharing expertise, updates and research across marketing, data, branding and sustainability, including
Lyndsey Turner Swift, Deputy England Director at VisitBritain/VisitEngland
- Andrea Nicholas, Chief Executive of Green Business
- Kate Doodson, Joint Chief Executive & Digital Transformation Consultant & Coach at Cosmic UK
- Jonathan Alder, Managing Director at Alder and Alder
- Matt Bassett, Senior Account Manager at Simpleview
- and plenty more!
Tickets for the conference cost £20 and include a buffet lunch and refreshments.
The Destination Plymouth Conference is proudly sponsored by City College Plymouth and PL1 Events.
Tech South West is working with Microsoft to enhance digital skills in the region by providing free training and resources for growing companies.
Via interactive learning sessions held throughout November 2022, Tech South West members and SMEs based in the region will have access to free opportunities to upskill their teams.
Topics include cyber security, cloud computing, data analysis and more. We would be grateful if you could share these opportunities with your network.
Tech companies in the region are invited to sign up for any upcoming training events which may be useful to them. All events can be accessed at https://www.techsouthwest.co.uk/events/
Having a roadmap for your business is a sure-fire way to ensure continuity and stability over the coming months.
Thrive offers a free 1-2-1 diagnostic and training service with up to 12 hours of tailor-made support that will enable your business to improve and grow. Thrive has a range of finance and business planning modules available for businesses to access.
 Plans to streamline the filing options for small companies have been proposed under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill, which will amend the Companies Act 2006. Small companies will be required to file both their profit and loss account and directors' report and will no longer be able to prepare and file abridged accounts. Micro-entities will also be required to file their profit and loss account but will continue to have the option not to prepare or file a directors' report.
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
Immerse Fulldome UK Festival 2022
Real Ideas | Market Hall, PL1 4PS | 4 to 13 November
Real Ideas, the organisation behind the recently renovated £7.6 million world-class immersive technology centre the Market Hall, and FDUK, the 10-year strong internationally renowned fulldome festival, have partnered to bring Plymouth and the wider immersive community Immerse Fulldome UK 2022 – a celebration of immersive experiences and technologies featuring the FDUK festival.
Celebrating women in business: FREE networking event with Laura Horton
Millfields Trust | Taylor Conference Suite, PL13 1NL | 16 November
Following the success of the previous women's networking events run by leading Plymouth social enterprises Millfields Trust and Social Enterprise Mark CIC, we are delighted to announce we will be running the event again on 16th November, as part of the Plymouth Social Enterprise City Festival. Come along to connect with fellow businesswomen and hear from inspirational female speakers.
Venaspace Business Networking
Venaspace | The Apex, PL6 5FL | 17 November
The Plymouth Business Community is invited to attend the first Venaspace Plymouth Networking Event! It is free for all to attend where there will be tea, coffee and nibbles provided. You will have the opportunity to speak with other people in the local business community in a relaxed atmosphere.
Destination Plymouth Tourism Conference 2022
Destination Plymouth | Duke of Cornwall | 16 November
Join us on Wednesday 16 November 2022 for our annual conference which we are delighted to be hosting at The Duke of Cornwall Hotel, Plymouth. Registration starts 9.30am and conference closes 4pm. Tickets for the conference cost £20 and include a buffet lunch and refreshments. Concessions / Students £10
How to Start Your Business - 2 day workshop
Outset Enterprise Coaching | HQ Building, PL1 3HQ | 23-24 November
Starting a business can be overwhelming - from planning and marketing to money and pricing often with a big dose of imposter syndrome thrown in there too. This 2 day in person workshop is designed to help you tackle each step in bite size chunks to build your knowledge and confidence to get you on your business journey.
Meet the Energy Efficiency and Low Carbon Expert
Oceansgate/Meet the Expert | Endeavour House, PL1 4RW | 24 November
In this workshop, Martin Slocombe, Director, Commercial Energy advisor, 361 Energy CIC will explore ‘Understanding what Carbon and the Environment means to your business’, and will offer practical advice on how to survive today’s energy crisis volatility, environmental legislation change, and competitive pressures and how being ‘sustainable’ is no longer enough.
Developing Experiences & Becoming Bookable Online
Tamar Valley | Tamar Valley Centre, Drakewells | 30 November
If you run a hospitality, travel, or tourism business in or around the Tamar Valley, you'll know how important it is to develop new products regularly in order to capture that competitive edge in the busy tourism market. For all the answers to these and more, join Visit Tamar Valley's Tourism Consultant Jo Butler for a fascinating and informative workshop that will provide you with everything you need to know in readiness for 2023 and 2024 planning.
Meet the Business Growth Strategy Expert
Oceansgate/Meet the Expert | Endeavour House, PL1 4RW | 7 December
In this workshop, we will help you uncover suitable growth strategies for 2023, looking closely at key elements of your business – target markets, current performance, product, competitors, pricing & more to develop practical actions that pave a clear path to success.
Meet the Business and People Risk Experts
Oceansgate/Meet the Expert | Endeavour House, PL1 4RW | 14 December
In this workshop, Darren Butcher, Client Partner of Partners& and Caroline Wilson Business Protection specialist, will cover the importance of General insurance and Business protection, protecting the assets and your people… including yourselves!
Meet the Business and People Risk Experts
Oceansgate/Meet the Expert | Endeavour House, PL1 4RW | 18 January
In this workshop, Ian Pitchford, a leadership coach-consultant, TEDx Speaker and Director of Coaching at A Mind 4 Adventure Ltd, will cover ‘Developing Your Future’, a three-hour personal coaching and leadership workshop that will bring new insights to even the most experienced business owners.
Competition Launched to Improve Rail Passenger Experience at UK Stations
The Station Innovation Zone Competition is part of Connected Places Catapult’s Station Innovation Zone programme. The programme’s vision is to use trials to pave the way towards the ‘station of the future’. Connected Places Catapult aims to do this working with innovators to develop solutions that improve a passenger’s experience when travelling through stations and that enable more efficient, safer use of rail assets.
The deadline for applications is midnight on Sunday 13 November 2022.
Fund for Green Tech Start-ups Invites New Applications
Through the GreenTech Fund, Simmons & Simmons wants to tackle the climate crisis by encouraging innovative solutions from around the world. The Fund is seeking emerging green tech start-ups that are focused on using technology to mitigate the climate and biodiversity emergencies.
The fund will award £100,000 of legal support from across Simmons' network to four businesses that are innovating in an attempt to halt and reverse the climate crisis. Support will be tailored to the specific needs of each organisation.
The deadline to apply is 15 January 2023.
Global Start Up Energy Transition Award Opens for 2023
The Start Up Energy Transition Award is an international competition for start-ups and young companies worldwide that are working on ideas affecting global energy transition and climate change.
There are five categories, all with the aim of clean energy promotion.
The winner of each category will receive a prize of up to €10,000.
The deadline to apply is 16 January 2023.
IUK Announces Future Flight: Closing the Skills Gaps Competition
The Innovate UK (IUK) Future Flight Challenge is investing in projects to close aviation industry skills gaps. The aim of this competition is to create and deliver course content and materials that will support skills, talent and training across the future flight sector. The purpose of this is to build awareness of future flight emerging markets and fill key gaps in the UK's workforce talent and training capabilities. Up to £500,000 has been allocated to fund innovation projects in this competition.
The competition opens on 21 November 2022. The deadline for applications is 1 February 2023.
£200m South West Investment Fund Set to Launch in 2023
The South West Investment Fund is the first in a series of new Nations and Regions Investment Funds being launched by the British Business Bank which will deliver a £1.6 billion commitment of new funding to drive sustainable economic growth.
The Fund aims to tackle an identified funding gap across the South West and increase the supply and diversity of early-stage finance for smaller businesses.
A range of commercial finance options will be provided, with loans from £25,000 to £2 million and equity investment up to £5 million.
The Fund is expected to launch in Spring 2023.
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