 Plymouth to bid for UK City of Culture
Plymouth has announced its intention to bid for the title of UK City of Culture 2029, with £10 million of funding for a year-long celebration of arts and culture awarded to the winning city.
Babcock and University of Plymouth sign Memorandum of Understanding
The partnership will support skills development, innovation and sustainable economic growth for Plymouth and the wider South West.
Theatre Royal Plymouth delivers major boost to South West economy
Theatre Royal Plymouth generated a record £53.3m economic impact in 2024/25, led by hit shows like Hamilton.
Mayflower Autonomous Ship returns home to Plymouth
This return marks the beginning of an important new phase in Mayflower’s operational life, as preparations get underway for a series of significant, long-range at-sea missions planned for the spring and summer.
Plymouth Pavilions rebrands as Plymouth Arena
The rebrand to Plymouth Arena represents a significant milestone in the South West’s largest indoor arena evolution.
Innovative Plymouth distillery gains national recognition
Plymouth-based distillery Vault 53 gained national attention this weekend, as its Prickly Pear & Pink Grapefruit Rum took the spotlight on ITV’s Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh.
Mentors Wanted: Marine Sector Experience
Tech South West is calling for experienced mentors – particularly those with marine, maritime or ocean-tech expertise – to support innovative businesses through its Growth Forge programme.
Looking for further business news? Visit our news section on Invest Plymouth to read more.
 Hydro Energy Group
Our spotlight features Hydro Energy Group who are a Plymouth-based specialist recruitment firm that connects local talent with global opportunities across the offshore energy, construction, science and subsea cable industries.
 The Bambooster Programme
Bamboo-Growth’s Bambooster Programme offers tailored mentoring and coaching to help small businesses clarify strategy, strengthen leadership and drive sustainable growth. Modular support across strategy, sales and marketing, operations, finance, and people and communications is delivered through workshops, one-to-one mentoring and practical implementation support.
The Small Business Growth Awards
The Small Business Growth Awards are free to enter for small businesses and sole traders across the UK. Winners and finalists receive profile‑raising promotion, celebration events, mentoring opportunities and other benefits such as FSB membership and national‑level exposure.
AI and Cyber Security on-demand course
This AI and Cyber Security course aims to facilitate an understanding of the new data and cybersecurity landscape and provide actionable guidance and best practices for companies to adopt.
Santander Open Academy
Santander is offering a variety of short courses with unlimited places on the most demanded skills in the jobs market. They are free to sign up for and will help with both your professional and personal development.
Looking for further business support and training? Visit our section on Invest Plymouth to read more.
 Nature Recovery Fund
South West Water’s Nature Recovery Fund provides small and large grants to local community groups across the South West to deliver community‑led projects that improve nature, biodiversity and water quality within catchments. Fund closes on 31 January.
Maritime Connected funding offer
Lloyd’s Register Foundation is inviting organisations and communities to apply to its new Maritime Connected funding offer, as it looks to fund projects and initiatives aimed at connecting parts of the maritime system in relation to current or future safety challenges. The closing date for applications is 6 February.
Stelios Awards Support Young Entrepreneurs Across the UK
The awards focus on young start-up entrepreneurs who are seeking additional capital and formal recognition as they work to scale their businesses and create new jobs in the UK. They are intended to recognise individual entrepreneurs alongside providing capital that can be directed towards business expansion, operational costs or activities linked to scaling up. Applications close on 23 February.
The eBay Circular Fashion Fund
The eBay Circular Fashion Fund is back to reward bold businesses advancing the circular economy and the future of fashion. Applications close on 8 March.
Innovate UK DRIVE35 Fund
Innovate UK has launched a second round of two competitions under the DRIVE35 Innovation Fund, which forms part of the UK Government's DRIVE35 programme aimed at accelerating the transition to zero emission vehicles and a net zero automotive industry. Applications close on 11 March.
Great British Energy Supply Chain Fund
The Offshore Wind and Networks programme provides capital grant support to expand UK manufacturing capacity for constrained components used in offshore wind and enabling electricity networks. Applications close on 31 March.
Looking for funding opportunities? Visit our section on Invest Plymouth to read more.
 Plymouth 2029 City of Culture: Community Pop-Up Sessions
Community pop-up events are taking place across the city this month to gather local views for Plymouth’s UK City of Culture 2029 bid. Residents are invited to drop in, share what they enjoy in Plymouth, what they would like to see more of, and what City of Culture could mean to them; no booking is required.
- Saltram National Trust, Café Courtyard – Sunday 25 January 2026, 11am–4pm
- The Beacon, North Prospect (Plymouth Community Homes) – Friday 30 January 2026, 11am–4pm
- Drake Circus, The Atrium (near Primark entrance) – Saturday 31 January 2026, 9am–6pm
Plymouth 2029 UK City of Culture Sector Briefing
Plymouth is bidding to become UK City of Culture 2029, creating a major opportunity to celebrate the city’s creativity, heritage and communities. Artists, creatives, freelancers, producers and cultural organisations are invited to attend briefing sessions to learn more about the bid and help shape its vision. Taking place on 29 January.
Rocket Duck Startup Meetup
Rocket Duck is Digital Plymouth’s new event series designed to bring students, early-stage founders, and emerging entrepreneurs together to find collaborators, learn from experienced founders, and take those first steps toward launching a tech start-up. Taking place on 29 January.
Meet Plymouth
Organised by Meet Plymouth, this is a high‑visibility business‑events showcase where over 20 local venues and suppliers in Plymouth exhibit their offerings for conferences, meetings, and events. Excellent opportunity for business event planners, local suppliers, and venue operators to network and build partnerships. Taking place on 3 February.
Connect to Work
Join Connect to Work on 10 February to discover how local employers are able to hire candidates through their employment programme, how making opportunities more accessible can boost attraction and retention, and the many ways your organisation can benefit from getting involved.
Climate Mingle
Join Climate Connections for the first Climate Mingle of 2026 to hear more about the Net Zero projects delivered by Plymouth City Council. Taking place on 11 February.
Developing a Research Skilled Workforce in the South West
Organised by the University of Plymouth, this one-day conference is aimed at health, social care, and scientific professionals. The event showcases progress in embedding research culture across the South West, with panel discussions, poster presentations, and networking. Taking place on 25 February.
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships business information sessions
The University of Plymouth together with Enterprise Solutions are hosting a series of free, business information sessions. These online events will show how different businesses can benefit from a Knowledge Transfer Partnership project and explore other services for business that are available from the University. The next session is taking place on 27 February.
Connected Places Summit
The Connected Places Summit is the UK’s leading event for innovation in transport, the built environment, and place leadership. The summit on 18-19 March features insights from more than 200 thought leaders across eight themed conference spaces, exhibitor showcases, and networking opportunities. Academic, SME, government, and industry delegates can attend in person or virtually.
Find more details on each event, as well as our full event list on our website.
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