Pictures from this quarter’s Devon & Plymouth Chamber and member events

City Conversations

Our September City Conversations event at Foot Anstey

We returned to Foot Anstey HQ in September for our latest City Conversations breakfast event which was also sponsored by our hosts.

Devon & Plymouth Chamber of Commerce’s flagship invitation-only event provides business leaders with strategic briefings on a wide variety of topics that are of interest to those in senior management roles.

It was amazing to see so many of you in the room, with everyone connecting and having great conversations.

Our exceptional line-up of speakers included Helen Hart, Projects & Commercial Opportunities Manager at the Chamber; Elaine Hayes, Plymouth Sound National Marine Park Interim CEO; Lucinda Brook, Low Carbon City Officer at Plymouth City Council; Cllr Rebecca Smith from the Council’s Violence Against Women Commission; and Simon Bird, Community Support Officer for Devon Communities Together.

Crunchy Breakfast

Our October Crunchy Breakfast at Crowne Plaza Plymouth was themed around the various benefits to organisations who support local charities such as raising team morale and employee productivity.

Our speakers on the day were John Naismith from Jeremiah’s Journey; Stephen Statham from St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth; John Hamblin from Shekinah; Daniel Silver from Dash of Silver; and Dwain Morgan from Argyle Community Trust.

Retain Open Day

Clare Baker from our Devon & Plymouth Chamber team enjoyed wonderful hospitality from the Retain Ltd team during their grand open day at their new offices in Estover in September.

There were loads of friendly faces - including Tom Martin from Plymouth Argyle Football Club and Johnny Mercer MP - as we discovered move about the three elements to Retain’s services: scaffolding, solar panels and roofing.

Fast growth and a fantastic local business - find out more about them here: www.retainlimited.com

Devon Business Brunch

Thank you to everyone who joined us at The Manor House Hotel in Okehampton for our Devon Business Brunch which has a strong focus around supporting the county’s hospitality businesses.

Our superb line-up of guest speakers included Sarah Jordan, Nature Tourism Officer and Biosphere Business Partner Co-Ordinator; Richard Forshaw–Smith, Founder at RFS Marketing & Communications Ltd; Louise Cusack, Commercial Sales Executive at Visit South Devon; Sarah Gunn, Business Engagement & Development at South West Coast Path Association (SWCPA); and Christina Moyle, Founder at Funky Media Agency.

County Conversations

We had a great time at Buckfast Abbey Conference Centre for our latest County Conversations breakfast event.

Huge thanks to our amazing hosts, guests, event partners Seetec Pluss and, of course, our speakers David Murray, Pennon, South West Water; Jim McNeill, Ice Warrior Project; Avril Banks-Fay, Seetec Pluss; Jon Beake, Wessex RFCA; and Matthew Hannigan-Train, Seetec Pluss.

South Devon College Skills Summit

South Devon College’s Business Solutions is a brand new service designed to help businesses develop skills for their workforce.

To launch the service and to set an agenda for continuous collaboration, the College hosted a Skills Summit to engage employers in a conversation around their needs for training and education in a fast changing landscape.

This agenda is aligned with the Government’s Local Skills Improvement Plans, which places employers at the heart of local skills systems.

Around 50 delegates attended from organisations including Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, Willmott Dixon, Cosmic, Persimmon Homes and Wollens.

They were joined by guest speakers from the South West Business Council, Heart of the South West LEP, TDA, Tech South West, Torbay Business Forum, the South West Apprenticeship Ambassador Network, and Devon & Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, whose CEO Stuart Elford presented about Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs).

Members of the Devon & Plymouth Chamber team were out to meet businesses in the marine sector and see how we can support them during a tour of Cattewater Harbour led by Captain Richard Allan, Harbour Master.

Millions of tonnes of cargo passes through the Harbour, bringing employment, trade and funds to Britain’s Ocean City, as well as taking hundreds of lorries off the roads.

Also on board for the trip, part of Maritime UK Week 2022, was Lord Mayor of Plymouth, Sue Dann.

Torbay Business Forum Business Festival

Pictures from the Torbay Business Forum Business Festival. It was great to see lots of friendly faces and members (and yet to be members!)

Plus, our friends at Paignton & District Chamber of Commerce & Brixham Chamber of Commerce.

Calancombe Estate Tour

Clare and Kelly from our Devon & Plymouth Chamber team visited the wonderful Calancombe Estate in Modbury to explore the vineyards, winery and restaurant - and also enjoy some delicious samples. Special thanks to our superb wine expert, Andrew Lofthouse.

Green Breakfast Networking

Pictures from our Green Breakfast Networking event at Venn Valley Vineyard and Winery in Barnstaple. Huge thanks to our event sponsors, YGS Landscapes Ltd.

Boom Battle Bar Plymouth Launch Event

We had a brilliant night at the Boom Battle Bar Plymouth launch event!

Axe-throwing, AR darts, beer pong, shuffleboard - they’ve got it all. Our CEO Stuart Elford got to demonstrate the perfect pool stance, and we even bumped into our friends at Elixel, too.

Plymouth Area Business Council Meeting

Excellent to catch up with members of the Plymouth Area Business Council (PABC) - a back-to-school feel after summer with plenty to discuss!

eBay Business Roadshow 2022

comes to China Fleet Country Club

eBay has long been one of the leading platforms for businesses looking to showcase their products across the globe.

This October, dozens of businesses and entrepreneurs headed to China Fleet Country Club in Saltash for the latest stop on the eBay Business Roadshow 2022.

The Roadshow is currently touring across 12 different cities in the UK - supported by British Chambers of Commerce and Small Business Britain.

It is aimed at people looking to do one of the following: • Start their own business. • Scale their own small business. • Network, sell more online and support others.

Devon & Plymouth Chamber of Commerce was proud to be a partner for this superb event which was jam-packed full of content dedicated to helping people start, scale and share their eBay business.

There were practical tips on launching, inspiration from local entrepreneurs, special guests and dedicated one-to-one support.

Guests were able to hear directly from a panel of eBay sellers about what their journeys have been like so far, which support programmes they have made the most of, and listen to top tips.

Speakers on the day were Sarah Bryant, Director of SMBs, eBay; Katherine George, Director of Oh So Social; Adam Bastock, Founder of Small99; and Josh McWilliams, UK Exports Lead, eBay, while Devon & Plymouth Chamber CEO Stuart Elford was also on hand to join the expert panel.

Sarah spoke about the must-have foundations of an eBay store, covering what makes the perfect listing, how to stand out when buyers search for your products, how to use Terapeak to do product research, and how to use all the tools at your disposal in Seller Hub.

Afterwards, there were dedicated sessions about eBay’s seller support programs run by senior experts from across eBay - on everything from eBay Fulfilment, to the Global Shipping Program, to Promoted Listings, and Working Capital.

Businesses got the opportunity to learn about eBay’s Start-up Scale-up initiative, a 12-week programme that pairs new businesses with Marketplace Advisors for free.

There was also a free bar, giveaways and access to local manufacturers and suppliers.

Stuart Elford said: “The Devon & Plymouth Chamber has a long and proud history of supporting local businesses of all sizes.

“The eBay Business Roadshow mirrors our own mantra of putting our members in front of potential clients and customers, opening new markets, and giving them extra expertise to help them grow.

“Our own events programme is packed with opportunities to learn, collaborate and build powerful new connections.

“We also have a number of resources available to businesses, including our Finance Finder and our Small Business Toolkit. Please do get in touch with our Chamber team to find out more.”

The eBay Business Roadshow will be visiting more locations across the UK in 2022 and 2023. Find out more here: www.cloud. forbusiness.ebay.com/ebay-roadshow

Dozens of QR codes launched at city venues

In the week that British Art Show 9 launched across Plymouth, residents and visitors are witnessing Quick Response (QR) codes pop-up all over the city.

Commissioned by Plymouth Culture and Made in Plymouth in partnership with Micronomy, Tap-in Plymouth is a new digital campaign based on the science of multiple amounts of microinteractions.

Making everything in Plymouth happen from an entertainment, art and cultural perspective, takes an immense amount of work, time, energy and funding. And the backbone of the city is the people, and the places, that put everything on for the public.

Now, Tap-in Plymouth provides a quick and simple way for everyone with a smartphone to help the collective effort, and to illustrate their enthusiasm for experiencing more of this across the city. Twelve key partners, many involved with British Art Show 9, are part of the initial pilot which will run until December 2022.

Tap-in Plymouth is based on the science of microinteraction: A small interaction repeated over time builds data and insight, showing support and demand. All people need to do to mark the power of their ongoing microinteractions, is quickly register by using their phone to scan the QR codes found online or at the partners events and venues around the city and tap-in a very small amount of information about themselves. Hannah Harris of Plymouth Culture has commissioned Tap-In Plymouth on behalf of city partners, and she visited some of the twelve organisations this morning, with a QR code on a bike, courtesy of Plymouth Zedify Plymouth, tapping-in at each via big QR posters within each venue and with some of the pop-up event organisers.

Hannah Harris says: “There’s just so much happening right across Plymouth. EVERYTHING is going on, all the time. From the British Art Show to the awe-inspiring immersive dome, from local music concerts to live global events, every single day gives Plymouth residents a chance to soak it all up and have a great time, doing what they love the most.”

“It’s all right here, on our doorstep. The only challenge is fitting it all into our weeks and weekends! And now there’s a new way for the people of this great city to show their love, support and thanks for everyone that’s making everything happen.

“If everyone going to a show, exhibition, event or concert in any of these places taps-in, every time they go there, it’ll help that venue know and understand who its audiences are, and what people are most interested in seeing and experiencing.”

The Tap-in places are: The Arts Institute at the University of Plymouth, The Box, MIRROR at Arts University Plymouth, KARST, Take a Part, CAMP, Marjon Arts Centre at Plymouth Marjon University, Barbican Theatre Plymouth, Theatre Royal Plymouth, FLOCK, Leadworks, The Junction. Further info about how to get involved with Tap-in Plymouth is available on the website: www.tapinplymouth.co.uk

CHAMBER SOCIAL DIARY Popular RunDevon event raises nearly £19k for Young Devon

More than 70 runners took on RunDevon in September to raise money and awareness for the brilliant work of local charity Young Devon.

The event smashed the charity’s £15,000 fundraising target, raising nearly £19,000 to support young people at risk of homelessness, struggling with their mental health or those needing help to get into education and work.

This figure has far exceeded previous years, and shows that this event is growing year on year, in popularity and support.

The popular RunDevon festival of running celebrated the work of the local Devon-based charity, and gave runners of all abilities an event to remember! Set along the scenic Route 27 from Ilfracombe to Plymouth, participants were able to choose between a number of run challenges, from nine, 15, 25, 34 or an astounding full distance of 92 miles.

The well-organised event kept runners fed and safe, as they progressed along a scenic Devon route. Once completed, each runner was rewarded with a sustainable wooden medal, T-shirt and Young Devon water bottle.

Photography and drone footage (captured by Mike Lister Photography) recorded the event, and showcased Devon as one of the most beautiful places to run in England. Young Devon provides support to over 3,500 young people each year, with a range of services, including skills development, wellbeing support, mentoring and accommodation.

The charity is a vital lifeline for many young people, and the funding raised by RunDevon will help provide the extra support needed, as demand for services following the pandemic continues to be at an all time high.

Young Devon provides a holistic package, which enables young people to develop pathways to independence; helping them to create safe and secure shelters, and ensuring that young people gain the skills to succeed in adulthood.

Andrew Moreman, Chief Exec of Young Devon said: “The support for this event has been overwhelming. At Young Devon we are always grateful when local people and businesses feel passionate enough to donate to the work we do with young people and make a difference to young people living within our communities. Thank you!”

Ollie Jackman, sponsor and runner, added: “RunDevon has been a fantastic event to be involved with. The running is fun and rewarding, but the real joy is seeing a growing group of people enjoying themselves and helping ramp up the volume for Young Devon.

“The community spirit of the weekend is unlike anything else. I’m really excited to see RunDevon grow again next year!”

RunDevon would not be possible without the amazing support received every year from the local business community. The generous corporate sponsors this year were Devon & Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, JensonR+, Eloquent Technologies, YGS Landscapes, DCUK, Agile Comms, Cutec, Insight6, Mountain Top Accountants, Total Quality Recruitment, Sandler South West, Two Moors Finance, FUEL Communications and Nash & Co.

If you would like to support the work of Young Devon, donate to their services or be part of RunDevon 2023, please email marketing@youngdevon.org or call 01752 691511.

Alternatively, you can find out more about the local charity at www.youngdevon.org

Cyclists’ support helps keep wheels of local hospice care turning

More than 1,000 cyclists of all ages and abilities proudly donned their branded blue T-shirts this October and took to the saddle for St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth’s annual cycling challenge, Tour de Moor, in support of the vital care it provides for local families affected by terminal illness.

Located on the rugged wilds of Dartmoor, participants pitted themselves against the toughest, hill-filled terrain for 52km, taking it down a gear for the 30km route or opting for the more gentle, 11km ride along the tarmac paths of Drake’s Trail.

Sponsored by local company Print Copy Scan Ltd, Tour de Moor helps support the specialist services we provide free of charge to our patients, reaching across Plymouth and into rural areas, including Tavistock, Dartmoor and the South Hams.

Among the sea of cyclists were many taking part in tribute to a loved one looked after by St Luke’s at the end of their life.

But it is not all mud, sweat and hills, Tour de Moor also has a more gentle 11km family route along Drakes Trail. Making it a family day out was English folk singer, songwriter Seth Lakeman and his son Morley.

Seth, cycling in memory of a good friend, said: “It is so important to support a charity like this, St Luke’s have touched people in so many different ways. I can’t imagine a Devon without St Luke’s, the end of life care and what they achieve is almost hard to fathom.

“I think these sort of moments when you are pushing yourself physically I felt quite emotional crossing the line and thought of those people who aren’t around anymore and how St Luke’s have helped them”.

And, with 2022 marking 40 years since we welcomed our first patients, in 1982, for each and every Tour de Moor participant there was the pride of receiving a special commemorative medal on their completion of the challenge.

St Luke’s Head of Fundraising, Penny Hannah, said: “It was incredibly moving to see so many cyclists turn out in support of our charity’s compassionate care for families going through the toughest of times. “All our Tour de Moorers should feel incredibly proud because it is their support – and that of everyone who fundraises and volunteers for us – that will help us keep doing what we do for the next 40 years and beyond.

“Huge thanks to everyone who took part in this year’s challenge, our volunteers, Dartmoor National Park, Maristow Estate, David May Motor Services, The Hire Shop, Appleby Westward and Rapid Relief Plymouth all for whom we could not put on an event of this scale. You have done your community proud!”

Become a Devon & Plymouth Chamber Champion

Your business deserves to be part of something bigger. Sign up and discover the benefits of Devon & Plymouth Chamber of Commerce’s new ‘Chamber Champions’ scheme.

Devon & Plymouth Chamber has launched a new scheme which will allow more businesses to gain access to a host of benefits, advice and services aimed at helping them to connect, grow and succeed.

The Chamber has a long and proud history of supporting companies of all sizes, putting its members in front of potential clients and customers, opening new markets, and giving them extra expertise to help them thrive.

Members of the Chamber are three times more likely to survive in business thanks to its ability to connect companies and provide them with first-class support.

Chamber Champions works on a tiered basis and is the latest step in a plan to build a bigger and better Chamber for all.

Here’s how it works and how it can benefit your business. www.devonchamber.co.uk/chamberchampions

How Chamber Champions works

If you know someone who would be interested in joining Devon & Plymouth Chamber, all you need to do is refer a new paid member to start enjoying the incredible incentives.

You can either invite a non-member interested in finding out more as your guest to one of the Chamber’s events.

Use the ‘bring a non-member’ initiative and get two tickets for the price of one, so you or the new member can attend for free. Simply email Kelly Smith at kelly.smith@devonchamber.co.uk to register them for the event. If they then join as members, this will count as a new paid member referral.

The other way to become a Chamber Champion is to introduce a non-member business interested in joining to the Chamber’s Membership Experience Manager, Clare Baker via email introduction here: clare.baker@devonchamber.co.uk. If they then join, this will count as a new paid member referral.

Here are the incentives on offer for being a Chamber Champion:

One signed-up member

All receive: • Chamber Champions pin and e-badge for your e-signatures • Shout-out in #ChamberBytes, e-certificate and digital Chamber

Champion badge (top fan)

Three signed-up members

All receive Chamber Champions car sticker and social media shout-out, plus a choice of one of the following: • Boardroom free half-day hire • Social media feature • Chamber branded water bottle or travel mug

Five signed-up members

All receive social media shout-out, special ‘Doug the Bug’ and Chamber Champions presentation event at the Chamber offices, plus a choice of one of the following: • Free boardroom full-day hire • 15% discount of annual membership fee • free member branded e-shot to member database • Chamber Champions fleece

10 signed-up members

All receive listing on the Chamber website as ‘Chamber Champions’, plus a choice of one of the following: • Free place at our Chamber Awards • Opportunity to be a podcast interviewee • Half-page Profile editorial

Meet the new Chamber Champions

Paul Philpott from Fresh Air Studios in Plymouth has become one of the first Devon & Plymouth Chamber Champions.

He says: “Fresh Air Studios has collaborated on a number of exciting projects and events including their ‘In Conversation With...’ podcasts, Net Zero Live, Access To Finance Live and, of course, the ground-breaking Devon Business Show - with many more in the pipeline.

“Chamber Champions isn’t just about enjoying incentives, it’s about building a bigger and stronger Chamber for all our members.”

Other Chamber Champions include Kathryn Askew Smith (CityFibre), Paul Burton (pbmedia), Ollie Jackman (Agile Comms), Lesley Anderson (Hedgerow Marketing), Tom Lavis (YMCA Plymouth), Pete Deeley (BCNS), Poppy Lea Price (The Sign Maker), Rebecca Day (Rebecca Day 360), Serena Willis (GA Solicitors), Steve Warren-Brown (YGS Landscapes), Caroline Wilson (Partners&), Linda Middleton-Jones (International Trade Matters) and Jonathan Keable (Business Success SW).

Other Chamber Champions so far are Kathryn Askew Smith (CityFibre), Paul Burton (pbmedia), Ollie Jackman (Agile Comms), Lesley Anderson (Hedgerow Marketing), Tom Lavis (YMCA Plymouth), Pete Deeley (BCNS), Poppy Lea Price (The Sign Maker), Rebecca Day (Rebecca Day 360), Serena Willis (GA Solicitors), Steve Warren-Brown (YGS Landscapes), Caroline Wilson (Partners&), Linda Middleton-Jones (International Trade Matters) and Jonathan Keable (Business Success SW).

Pictures by Amy Stanford

How to get involved with Chamber Champions

Clare Baker, the Chamber’s Membership Experience Manager, says: “Your business deserves to be part of something bigger, and our Chamber Champions scheme is all about building a better Chamber for all.

“Being part of our Chamber family means getting opportunities to learn, collaborate and build powerful new connections.

“As well as an extensive events programme throughout the year, our members also have access to a number of resources including our Finance Finder, our Wellbeing Hub and our Small Business Toolkit.

“So, if you’re an advocate of our wonderful county and an advocate of business, get involved today and connect with more than 70,000 individuals in Devon.”

Visit the dedicated #ChamberChampions page to find out more: www.devonchamber.co.uk/chamber-champions

Biggest ever marketing event in the South West as Building Brands returns

Just six months after their first conference, Building Brands has set records, running the South West’s biggest ever marketing event. The conference was held at the University of Exeter in November 2022, selling out with 400 people buying tickets.

Building Brands is a community for marketing professionals living in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. It was established in January 2020, just before the Covid pandemic hit. It was set up by Dave Briggs, Marketing Manager for Nash & Co Solicitors in Plymouth.

“I never imagined it would be this successful and certainly didn’t think it would create such a fantastic buzz,” said Briggs. “The reaction following the event, both in person and on social media has been mind-blowing.

“I try to bring marketing experts from around the South West to talk and deliver really engaging workshops in the morning – and then follow that with some big names with huge experience delivering the afternoon key notes,” added Briggs.

“We’ve just started to add some networking sessions to the conferences, too, enabling attendees to meet and get to know each other better. The Exeter conference was the first to incorporate our ‘After Dark’ networking session, and the next conference in May 2023, will include the ‘Morning Meetup’ networking, too.”

Hard-hitting content

At times, the workshops at the Exeter conference were so busy that you literally couldn’t get any more people into the room – the seats had all been taken and even the standing space had all gone, too.

Experts from around the South West lead workshops talking about digital marketing strategy, social media, marketing automation, and employer branding. The list of workshop speakers read like a who’s who of marketing experts from across the area.

Viral success

All marketing people know how to use social media to tell a story, and it was hard to miss the reporting of the Exeter conference on linkedin in particular. Within 2 days, there were 600+ posts, 28,000+ reactions and 17,000+ comments, all about the event, the speakers and the sessions that they had attended. One post had been seen by over 130,000 people with another seen by more than 50,000.

The future

The good news for marketing professionals is that the Building Brands team are already working towards the third conference, this time, back at the University of Plymouth on 23 May 2023.

“It’s not going to be quite as big in terms of attendee numbers as Exeter was, but we’re improving the events each and every time,” said Briggs. “We have some big plans – for the next event, and lots more that we’re planning on delivering. If you’re in the marketing industry in the South West, make sure you’re subscribed to Building Brands to stay ahead of the news. You can sign up at www.buildingbrands.co.uk/subscribe