The iconic Small Business Saturday campaign, which supports small businesses across the UK and encourages people to shop small, is gearing up for its return this winter!
It will soon open applications for its SmallBiz100 – a line-up of 100 of the UK’s most inspiring small businesses from across the UK that will be spotlighted as part of this year’s campaign.
For the last decade, the SmallBiz100 have not only received exposure on Small Business Saturday's social media channels and in the local and national press, but also joined the Small Business Saturday team in London at receptions in Downing Street and the House of Lords.
If you run a fantastic small business and would like to apply to be part of this years’ SmallBiz100, click below.
The Devon & Plymouth Chamber of Commerce Awards 2023 at The New Continental Hotel in May provided an unforgettable night of celebration as the county’s leading businesses and entrepreneurs were honoured.
The unsuspecting winners were revealed throughout the ceremony by hosts, Nadine Mashingaidze from the University of Exeter and Fresh Air Studios’ Paul Philpott, who kept everyone entertained throughout.
Thrive is back! We are delighted to announce that the Thrive business support programme has now been extended until the end of July 2023.
If you are new to the programme or have just attended any of our Thrive workshops, you are entitled to a FREE one to one support session with a Business Advisor. Be quick though, as this is a popular project and spaces are limited.
Thrive supports sole traders, micro businesses or limited companies in Devon, Plymouth, Torbay, and Somerset (excluding BANES). Whether your current business challenge is looking for ways to grow your business, increase your turnover, getting to grips with social media or writing a business plan, Thrive is here to help.
Free Digital Leadership training for small and medium businesses (SMEs) across Devon, Plymouth, Somerset, and Torbay, is now available. Business leaders who operate in the following sectors: Manufacturing, Clean Growth and Health and Adult Social Care, and who have 250 or fewer employees are eligible to apply for this free training opportunity.
Businesses can receive up to 32 hours of tutor led digital leadership training with the aim of embedding digital transformation within their business. Two training opportunities are available, these include driving digital transformation and driving digital business.
Get in Touch quoting 'Driving Digital Business' to find out more and sign up.
Give your employment skills a boost with one of Learn Devon’s new virtual, self-directed courses. These courses are ideal if you're seeking employment, looking to gain new skills or wanting to offer some CPD opportunities to your employees.
- COSHH training
- Barista skills
- E-safety
- Fire safety
- Customer service skills and more
All courses and completely free and delivered online in a flexible format. These courses are only available until August 2023, so don’t miss out.
The MSc Business, Enterprise, and Management programme at Plymouth Marjon University is a fantastic opportunity for students from a range of backgrounds to enhance their skill development and launch themselves into a management or leadership role within their chosen context.
Whether you have studied a contextual UG degree, such as sport development and coaching, outdoor adventure education, or even something like SEND or English, this programme will expose you to the world of business and equip you with the necessary business and graduate employability skills. This programme may appeal to students who are considering portfolio or entrepreneurial careers, as students have the opportunity to develop a business idea and plan as part of the course, or those returning to education who are looking to upskill themselves for career development and progression.
Alongside a programme of study, students will also be able to take part in The Enhancement Series, which has been designed specifically for this programme. This series allows students to participate in skills development, professional network development, gain business mentoring support, and hear from industry experts, all structured alongside their academic studies.
The programme benefits from a range of practical assessments and throughout the programme, students will be given the opportunity to report and reflect on an industry of their choice, gaining valuable insights into the drivers and barriers to success within that industry. In addition, students will participate in an innovation task, where they will design and promote a new product. They will also work with real-world organisations to apply their knowledge to offer solutions or innovate for business success.
A recent study by London Economics and partners revealed that international students studying in the 2021/22 academic year benefitted the UK economy by approximately £41.9 billion (gross).
The study conducted by the Higher Education Policy Institute, Universities UK International, and Kaplan International Pathways looked at how bringing international higher education (IHE) students benefitted the UK economy.
The report found that for every 20 IHE students, the benefit to the economy equated to £1 million, and on average, per each parliamentary constituency, IHE students benefitted the economy by £58 million.
The study showed that in the 2021/22 academic year, 66% of IHE students in their first year of study in the UK were enrolled in taught postgraduate courses, 25% were enrolled in their first undergraduate course, and 4% were enrolled in postgraduate research programmes.
Latest News
Work will start imminently on the much-anticipated Derriford District Centre following an investment deal to close a funding gap.
The decision, worth just over £1 million has been signed off this week, will unblock the project which has been hit by rising construction costs.
Big-name brands have already been secured – Marks and Spencer (M&S) who plan to build a new Foodhall – which will be twice the size of the current store on the other side of Tavistock Road. Supermarket Aldi and Costa Coffee café have also signed up and there’s plans for a gym operated by PureGym and a Pets Corner pet shop.
There will also be 12 electric vehicle charging points and a bus, cycle and walking route connecting William Prance Road with Derriford Hospital via Derriford Business Park.
Key landmarks across Plymouth’s waterfront are getting some TLC as part of the National Marine Park’s ambition to encourage more people to use them.
Important heritage features at Tinside Pool, Mount Batten and the Garden Battery at Mount Edgcumbe Park will receive significant but sensitive makeovers designed to reinvigorate these amazing waterside locations and show off these stunning buildings and open them up to a new generation of users and uses, all thanks to National Lottery players.
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
Cost Reduction through Sustainability
Business West | 31 May | Online
Join this online workshop to find out more about how to reduce costs and your carbon footprint.
Digital Marketing Workshop
University of Plymouth Events Team | 7 June | Rolle Building, Drake Circus, PL4 6EQ
Plymouth Business School are offering a short Digital Marketing Workshop to help organisations improve their use of digital technologies.
A Deep Dive into... Cybersecurity - latest trends, challenges and actions
PKF Francis Clark | 23 June | Online
This session will discuss the latest trends in cybersecurity as well as some of the challenges that organisations are facing.
SBRI: UKAEA Fusion industry challenges prototype development
Organisations can apply for a share of up to £5.6 million, inclusive of VAT, to develop solutions for fuel cycle services which use Lithium.
- Competition opens: Thursday 25 May 2023
- Competition closes: Wednesday 19 July 2023 11:00am
Commercialising Connected and Automated Mobility: Mass Transit 2
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £900,000 for feasibility studies into the use of connected and automated mobility as a mass transit solution. This funding is from the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles.
- Competition opens: Thursday 25 May 2023
- Competition closes: Wednesday 19 July 2023 11:00am
UK-South Korea Digital Health CRD
£3 million is available for UK registered SMEs and eligible partners from Innovate UK and Medical Research Council for business led R&D projects, delivering industrial innovation through academic collaboration in Digital Health, for the UK and South Korea
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Competition opens: Monday 19 June 2023
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Competition closes: Wednesday 2 August 2023 11:00am
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