Plymouth’s Armed Forces Covenant is launching a new theme group to help enable better access to local employment, skills and training opportunities for military service leavers, working-age veterans, military family spouses, partners and young people.
Last year, the Council renewed its commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.
The Armed Forces Covenant is a nationwide agreement between the armed forces community, the nation and the government.
One of the commitments from signing the Covenant, is to establish better job and training opportunities for members of the Armed Forces community.
National Apprenticeship Week 2025
National Apprenticeship Week is a week-long celebration of apprenticeships, and everyone involved in them.
From Monday 10 to Sunday 16 February 2025, employers, training providers and apprentices across the country will come together to shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships have on individuals, businesses and the wider community.
Here in the city, Skills Launchpad Plymouth has localised resources, including the latest Plymouth Apprenticeship Bulletin with over 300 opportunities, to help people better understand what vacancies are available locally.
Plymouth has it all for 2025
Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City is gearing up to make 2025 its best yet, with an exciting programme of events kicking off in May.
Home to the UK’s first (and only) National Marine Park in Plymouth Sound and recently rated as the ‘best place for quality of life ’in this year’s Demos-PwC Good Growth for Cities Index*.
Tech SW marine-focused acceleration programme, in association with Plymouth and South Devon Freeport
Plymouth and South Devon (PASD) Freeport are proud to sponsor and support the newest track as part Tech South West’s hugely popular Growth Forge programme, the Marine Tech accelerator. Designed specifically for South West marine tech businesses, the specialist track will provide ambitious scale ups in the sector with the support they need to accelerate their growth plans.
Devon Chamber’s 30 Under 30 campaign open
For the last two years, the Devon Chamber’s 30 Under 30 campaign has celebrated dozens of the region’s incredible young business people –nominations for 2025 are now officially open!
Young business people play a hugely important role in the future of our economy and our business community, so it’s crucial that we nurture and reward young talent.
If you know someone under 30 who has made a significant impact in the working world, make sure to nominate someone, or yourself, and help celebrate the next generation of business leaders.
Floating Offshore Wind (FLOW) - What does the South West need to do?
The Celtic Sea off the coast of South West England and South Wales has been earmarked as one of the UK's key locations for the development of floating offshore wind (FLOW). The Great South West has published a report, Harnessing the Power of the Celtic Sea, with contributions from the South West Infrastructure Partnership.
Join this interactive webinar to learn more about the report’s findings and discuss what the region can do to ensure the South West benefits as much as it can from the enormous opportunity of FLOW.
Thursday, 13 February 2024 (Online)
Time: 12:30 - 14:00
City College Plymouth’s State-of-the-Art Immersive Classroom Enhances Student Learning
City College Plymouth’s immersive classroom, located in the Nuclear Skills and Engineering building has become a transformative space for students, offering interactive, technology-driven learning experiences that redefine skill development through hands-on, collaborative methods that go beyond traditional classroom capabilities.
Working with I-Immersive, who supplied the technology, this innovative facility supports advanced, industry-relevant education that equips students with essential skills for the modern workforce. The partnership also includes tailored training for staff to ensure the technology is fully integrated into the curriculum.
Plymouth Active Leisure
Take a look at the latest newsletter from Plymouth Active Leisure, they've had a busy few months with lots of improvements to Plymouth Life Centre including a complete gym refurbishment.
On Course South West - Supported Internships
Supported Internships are now being offered by On Course South West, these are structured, work-based learning programs designed for young people aged 16-24 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
These internships combine real-world experience with personalised support to help interns develop valuable skills while contributing to your business.
Acronyms IT Report
Have you ever wondered how your IT performance compares to other businesses in the South West?
The Acronyms IT Report is here to help you find out. They surveyed hundreds of organisations from various industries across the South West to see how businesses are managing their technology.
Packed with exclusive data you won’t find anywhere else, this report gives you the opportunity to shine a spotlight on your organisation and assess whether your IT is among the best in the region or whether you have work to do.
 Business Spotlight: Plymouth Arts Cinema
The Invest Plymouth Team recently sat down with Anna Navas, Director, Manon Le Tual, Operations Manager and Charlotte McGuinness, Marketing Manager to find out more about the Plymouth Arts Cinema.
Plymouth Arts Cinema, based in Arts University Plymouth’s main campus, has been uniquely providing an independent cinema in Plymouth for almost 50 years. Open five days a week, it specialises in independent, foreign language and British films.
 Video: Spotlight on Pushed
The Invest Plymouth team is thrilled to kick off a new series of short videos spotlighting Plymouth businesses!
In our very first episode, we sit down with Dave and Karen Meadows from the award-winning animation and video production company, Pushed.
Cosmic FREE Website Healthcheck
Your Website Could Be Costing You Sales—Without You Even Realising!
In today’s digital world, your website is more than just a page—it’s your storefront, your salesperson, and your first impression.
Cosmic are offering a FREE Website Health Check to help you turn things around.
Here’s what you’ll discover:
1. Performance Insights – Find out what’s slowing your site down.
2. Security Risks – Identify vulnerabilities before they cost you.
3. Mobile Optimisation – Make your site shine on every device.
4. Conversion Boosters – Expert tips to turn visitors into loyal customers.
Claim Your FREE Website Audit Now
Tech South West AI - Join the free community
Join AI South West for the latest insight into the changing world of AI and machine learning.
Whether you're a tech leaders, entrepreneur, educator, investor, student or tech hobbyist - if you've got an interest in how this technology is destined to impact our lives, this group is for you.
AI South West is free to join and includes online discussion, a Linkedin group as well as regular meetups held throughout the region. Increase your knowledge about topics such as how to use AI to improve productivity, what metrics can be used to measure its development and the ethical and legal considerations that must be considered as the technology progresses.
You don't have to be an AI expert to join. Whatever your level of knowledge, join the group to learn new things and get insight into the exciting world of AI.
Barcley’s Eagle Lab Raising Capital Courses
Together with Capital Enterprise Barclay’s Eagle Lab have developed a range of FREE modules Raising Capital course that walks you through the essentials, including:
1. Getting ready for investment
2. Understanding the types of funding available
3. Applying for grants
4. How to value your business
Whether you're pitching to your first investor or preparing to build a valuation, these courses are for you.
Explore the course now, for free, on Eagle Labs Academy
From Zero to AI: Introducing Generative AI for Everyday Business Tasks
The Growth Hub invites you to this free event, tailored for business owners in Devon inc Plymouth and Torbay. (Businesses from Somerset can also attend)
Join this FREE workshop, delivered by Scott Quilter from Techosaurus and Lisa Lessware, Growth Hub's Digital Business Adviser.
This hands-on workshop will demonstrate practical AI applications that you can start using straight away—no tech expertise required!
By attending this interactive session, you’ll learn:
- How Artificial Intelligence can support HR, Sales, Marketing, and Finance functions.
- How it can help you streamline tasks, enhance productivity, and give your small business a competitive edge
- Ways to create engaging social media posts, re-engage clients, and even build robust pricing strategies using AI tools.
- Practical strategies for integrating AI into your daily business operations to save time and boost results.
Date: 20th March 2025
Time: 09:20 – 13:00 (Registration & networking from 9:30am, workshop starts 10am. Teas, coffee & light refreshments provided)
This event is exclusively for small & medium sized businesses (SME's), Micros, and Sole Traders in Devon, Somerset, Plymouth and Torbay.
 Microsoft AI National Skills Initiative
AI skills are in high demand globally, and Microsoft is dedicated to helping people and organisations develop the tools and abilities needed to succeed in this AI-driven economy. If used well, AI can help lower the barriers to entry for many professions, and providing people with entry-level AI knowledge will help us accelerate change that makes a difference.
The AI Skills Navigator is a tool designed to help individuals and organisations find the right learning path for every level, role, and learner. It uses generative AI to guide learners to the best resources for them. By making AI skills accessible to everyone, we can unlock opportunities for people at every career stage, in every role, and in every country.
The Microsoft AI Skills Initiative includes new, FREE courses developed with LinkedIn, such as the first Professional Certificate on Generative AI in the online learning market, new training on generative AI, and greater access to free digital learning events and resources to improve AI fluency.
Using Canva for your Marketing
A hands-on, FREE interactive session, showing you how to use Canva.
During this hands-on, interactive session, Business Information Point will show you how to use Canva. A user-friendly graphic design tool that makes creating custom graphics easy whether using your phone, desktop, or laptop.
Learning Objectives:
- Get to grips with how to use the design tools in Canva
- Learn how to create social media posts and graphics that engage
- Develop brand designs and explore different types of visual content
Benefits to Businesses:
- Create a strong visual brand and identity for your business
- Practical, hands-on experience to help create fresh new content for social channels
- Get the tools to develop professional-looking flyers, posters, business cards etc to showcase your business
Date: 11th February (Online)
Time: 10:00 – 12:00
Leveraging AI for Small Business Success
This FREE online session will introduce you to the world of artificial intelligence (AI) and how it can transform your small business. You’ll learn about various AI applications, such as understanding speech, writing content, suggesting products online, and even controlling driverless cars. Additionally, Business Information Point will discuss the potential environmental impacts of AI, both positive and negative.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the basics of AI and its applications in business.
- Learn how AI can help predict market trends, create customer-specific products, and streamline operations.
- Discover the environmental impact of AI, including both the benefits and potential concerns.
Benefits to Businesses:
- Enhanced decision-making and efficiency through AI-driven insights.
- Improved customer service and personalised experiences.
- Streamlined operations and reduced manual workload.
- Understand the potential negative impacts of AI
Date: 26th February 2025 (Online)
Time: 09:30 – 11:30
Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition 6: Pre-deployment trials
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £30 million for innovative clean maritime technologies. This funding is from the Department for Transport.
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Competition closes: Wednesday 16 April 2025 11:00am
BridgeAI Innovation Vouchers
The Innovation Vouchers programme, from BridgeAI’s strategic partner Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Hartree Centre, is offering vouchers up to £15,000 which can facilitate up to 31 days of support from technical experts in data science and artificial intelligence technologies.
This voucher can be used for various purposes, including:
- AI integration advice.
- Data review.
- Feasibility studies.
- Proof-of-concept projects.
- Digital roadmap development.
- Short feasibility studies into using data science or AI to solve a given business problem.
Innovation Vouchers are designed for organisations in the agriculture, construction, creative industries and transport sectors who are looking to gain access to expert technical support in data science and AI, allowing you to explore the benefits of integrating AI into their operations.
Registration Closes: 25 February 2025
Win a small business grant today!
Apply for the Monzo x Enterprise Nation small business grant to win up to £10,000 and accelerate your business idea, product or growth strategy.
Applications Close: 28 February 2025
£2m Grant Scheme to Boost UK Offshore Wind Supply Chain
The Offshore Wind Growth Partnership (OWGP) has announced a £2 million Development Grant programme to support UK supply chain companies in scaling up their operations and enhancing the country’s global position in the offshore wind market.
Applications Close: 28 February 2025
£3m Rising Stars Competition Opens for Early-stage UK Tech Start-ups
Tech Nation's Rising Stars Competition, a national initiative for early-stage business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-business-to-consumer (B2B2C) tech start-ups, is now open for applications. The competition aims to support start-ups with strong growth potential by providing tailored support, national exposure, and the opportunity to secure significant investment.
Applications Close: 2 March 2025
Grants for UK Innovators Developing Climate Solutions
The Future Frontiers Fund supports the creation of innovative ideas, technologies, products and services aimed at addressing challenges related to climate change, protecting the environment, and achieving a net zero future.
Applications Close: 3 March 2025
Amazon's Sustainability Grants for UK Start-ups - 2025 Round Open
The Amazon Sustainability Accelerator is inviting applications from UK start-ups focused on driving sustainable innovation. The equity-free programme aims to support entrepreneurs in developing their skills and scaling their businesses to maximise climate impact.
This initiative continues Amazon's commitment to fostering sustainable innovation across industries.
Applications Close: 7 March 2025
Deutsche Bank Awards for UK Creative Entrepreneurs
The Deutsche Bank Awards for Creative Enterprise (DBACE) help creative entrepreneurs turn their ideas into reality. Aspiring individuals who want to go into business in the creative industries and require practical and financial support are being targeted.
Applications Close: 31 March 2025
APCUK: ARMD4 Advanced Route to Market Demonstrator 4
UK registered businesses can apply for a share of up to £25 million for late stage R&D projects that help accelerate the UK transition to zero emission vehicles and towards a net zero automotive future.
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Competition closes: Wednesday 2 April 2025 11:00am
Find a grant
Find a grant is a service that allows you to search government grants.
You can use this service to:
- access government grant funding
- search and filter to find a grant that matches your needs
- find out if you are eligible to apply for a grant
- find out how to apply for a grant
MUKSW Offshore Wind drop in Session
The Offshore Wind drop in session offers a quarterly coffee morning type drop in session. This is aimed at businesses, research and government operating in offshore wind to come together, raise a hand and discuss a topic of their choice.
Every quarter the session Chair Kevin Forshaw, Director of Marine Business Development at University of Plymouth and MUKSW Vice Chair Matt Hodson, Chief Operations Officer at Celtic Sea Power will kick off the session with short presentations and then it is over to the audience to raise a hand and get involved.
Date: 11th February 2025
Time: 13:00 – 14:30
Get ready to Dazzle! Devonport’s Festival of Light, Creativity and Heritage
This spring, Plymouth’s Devonport will come alive with a unique free-to-access festival that will take families, residents and visitors on a captivating journey through 200 years of local history.
Building on experience delivering Illuminate and a significant £246,000 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Real Ideas is bringing an area of Devonport to life between the 27th of February to 2nd of March 2025 with the Dazzle event; a festival of light. It is the culmination of a series of projects marking the bicentennial of the area’s renaming and honouring its incredible transformation over the centuries.
Virtual Devon Chamber Connect
This FREE online event where you can connect with like-minded professionals from anywhere, while also learning more about the valuable benefits of Chamber membership. Each session will spotlight one specific benefit, and in this session, they be diving into Swoop, the online Finance Finder for all your funding needs. There will be time for your to introduce your services to other business owners and make new connections all from the comfort of your own desk, sofa or garden.
Date: 5th March 2025 (Online)
Time: 12:00 – 13:00
FSB Devon Virtual Networking
This friendly networking gives you a chance to network and make new contacts as well as the opportunity to add your details to the chat box. As usual, the host will be Jonathan Keable, FSB Volunteer from Plymouth.
This FREE FSB virtual networking is open to all businesses.
Date: 5th March 2025 (Online)
Time: 10:00 – 11:00
Digital Plymouth March Meetup
Join the first Digital Plymouth Meetup of the year! There will be an exciting lineup of speakers which will be revealed soon. In the meantime, register now to save your spot and add it to your calendar
Date: 6th March 2025
Time: 18:00 (Free food—first come, first served!)
Location: Market Hall, Devonport
LinkedIn Local- Plymouth
University of Plymouth’s annual LinkedIn Local event is back!
Reconnect with old friends and make new acquaintances where connecting with people is more important than looking for leads or doing business.
Date: 20th March 2025
Time: 17:30 – 19:30
Location: Babbage Building, Babbage Cafe Level 2 Plymouth PL4 6EQ
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