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Innovation, exports and global partnerships to be key themes of City Deal
City Deal is not a panacea that will automatically transform the region's economy; we will have to work hard for this regeneration and be innovative and pioneering. To help us we will need progressive partnerships that are not only local but global.
Building these partnerships is what we have been busy doing since the recent announcement that Plymouth will be fast-tracked for the Government programme that will bring devolved economic and financial powers.
Innovation and the support for innovative ideas as well as tackling low productivity in all sectors of the economy are at the core of City Deal and in our early discussions with the Cabinet Office, who lead the City Deal process, we are demonstrating we mean to start as we finish by pushing the boundaries in everything we do.
For example, working between Plymouth and Whitehall is costly in travel, time and our carbon footprint so we will use utilise new technology to overcome issues with our geography. We will be unique among the 20 cities currently negotiating a City Deal by partnering global IT leader IBM to set up and run one of the most advanced collaborative communications platforms to work with on the deal.
The business plan we are now developing with Whitehall centres on devolved powers and a greater say in how we prioritise funding based on local needs.
While the focus of Plymouth's City Deal is on marine science, technology and renewable energy, it will also support other economic sectors. The programme extends across what is described as the functional economic area - a large swathe of Devon and as far as Bodmin in Cornwall. It is not just Plymouth's City Deal, but one for a significant part of the far South West.
Underpinning this reach is the Growth Acceleration Investment Network (GAIN), and its portal gaininbusiness.com, set up to fill the void following the demise of the Regional Development Agency and the retrenchment of the Business Link franchise.
It is very different from what was in place before. It is a network revolving around the knowledge base connecting universities and colleges, innovation spaces and science parks as well as research and development centres of expertise whether in the public, independent or private sectors with the business base. In effect, it provides the wiring to connect the innovation eco system.
GAIN's primary purpose is to connect people with ideas, ambitious businesses with investors and those interested or tasked in economic development or wealth creation more purposefully. It provides a neutral partnership space and ecosystem where we can all work together to support these ends.
Plymouth's distance from London and the UK markets is often described as a weakness, worsened by less than ideal transport.
Creating national and global visibility and critical mass is vital if we are going to fulfil the region's undoubted potential and a focus on exports and increasing our share of domestic sales will be one of the key strands of City Deal.
Plymouth Chamber of Commerce supported by the other partners is leading this project and it will be critical in generating regional growth.
To ensure success, Plymouth University and its strategic partner Doug Richard, former Dragons Den investor, founder of the School for Startups and one of the UK's leading Internet entrepreneurs will be piloting a concept called Web Fuelled Business.
Supported by a number of Whitehall departments including crucially, UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), this programme is designed to help businesses use the web efficiently to increase sales.
Other partners we will be bringing in will be global brands such as Google, eBay, Microsoft, PayPal, BT, and Virgin Media.
It stems from a challenge made on a visit to GAIN by Trade and Investment Minister Lord Green to double exports in the region. Exports help not only the growth of UK enterprises, but the national deficit.
GAIN is not all about bringing in outside expertise; it is about featuring, utilising and boosting the revenues of innovative businesses regionally.
One such company is ICO3 (ico3.com) based at Tamar Science Park who have used new technology to create an e-commerce platform for a range of clients to sell a range of traditional products from pet food to cut plastic sheeting.
Another within our own innovation ecosystem based at Pool Innovation Centre in Cornwall is NetBooster UK, an international marketing agency specialising in SEO, marketing, display advertising, analytics, data mining and mobile video and website development with clients such as Argos and talkSport.
It is our intention to put Plymouth on the UK and global trade map by encouraging such companies and helping them to grow. We will think local and connect global to achieve this.
Professor Julian Beer, Pro Vice-Chancellor Regional Enterprise, Plymouth University
Innovation and the support for innovative ideas as well as tackling low productivity in all sectors of the economy are at the core of City Deal and in our early discussions with the Cabinet Office, who lead the City Deal process, we are demonstrating we mean to start as we finish by pushing the boundaries in everything we do.
For example, working between Plymouth and Whitehall is costly in travel, time and our carbon footprint so we will use utilise new technology to overcome issues with our geography. We will be unique among the 20 cities currently negotiating a City Deal by partnering global IT leader IBM to set up and run one of the most advanced collaborative communications platforms to work with on the deal.
The business plan we are now developing with Whitehall centres on devolved powers and a greater say in how we prioritise funding based on local needs.
While the focus of Plymouth's City Deal is on marine science, technology and renewable energy, it will also support other economic sectors. The programme extends across what is described as the functional economic area - a large swathe of Devon and as far as Bodmin in Cornwall. It is not just Plymouth's City Deal, but one for a significant part of the far South West.
Underpinning this reach is the Growth Acceleration Investment Network (GAIN), and its portal gaininbusiness.com, set up to fill the void following the demise of the Regional Development Agency and the retrenchment of the Business Link franchise.
It is very different from what was in place before. It is a network revolving around the knowledge base connecting universities and colleges, innovation spaces and science parks as well as research and development centres of expertise whether in the public, independent or private sectors with the business base. In effect, it provides the wiring to connect the innovation eco system.
GAIN's primary purpose is to connect people with ideas, ambitious businesses with investors and those interested or tasked in economic development or wealth creation more purposefully. It provides a neutral partnership space and ecosystem where we can all work together to support these ends.
Plymouth's distance from London and the UK markets is often described as a weakness, worsened by less than ideal transport.
Creating national and global visibility and critical mass is vital if we are going to fulfil the region's undoubted potential and a focus on exports and increasing our share of domestic sales will be one of the key strands of City Deal.
Plymouth Chamber of Commerce supported by the other partners is leading this project and it will be critical in generating regional growth.
To ensure success, Plymouth University and its strategic partner Doug Richard, former Dragons Den investor, founder of the School for Startups and one of the UK's leading Internet entrepreneurs will be piloting a concept called Web Fuelled Business.
Supported by a number of Whitehall departments including crucially, UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), this programme is designed to help businesses use the web efficiently to increase sales.
Other partners we will be bringing in will be global brands such as Google, eBay, Microsoft, PayPal, BT, and Virgin Media.
It stems from a challenge made on a visit to GAIN by Trade and Investment Minister Lord Green to double exports in the region. Exports help not only the growth of UK enterprises, but the national deficit.
GAIN is not all about bringing in outside expertise; it is about featuring, utilising and boosting the revenues of innovative businesses regionally.
One such company is ICO3 (ico3.com) based at Tamar Science Park who have used new technology to create an e-commerce platform for a range of clients to sell a range of traditional products from pet food to cut plastic sheeting.
Another within our own innovation ecosystem based at Pool Innovation Centre in Cornwall is NetBooster UK, an international marketing agency specialising in SEO, marketing, display advertising, analytics, data mining and mobile video and website development with clients such as Argos and talkSport.
It is our intention to put Plymouth on the UK and global trade map by encouraging such companies and helping them to grow. We will think local and connect global to achieve this.
Professor Julian Beer, Pro Vice-Chancellor Regional Enterprise, Plymouth University
