Enterprising Britain 2008 – South West winner
Plymouth Chamber of Commerce
Plymouth Chamber of Commerce is the winner of Enterprising Britain 2008 for the South West of England, nominated by South West of England Development Agency.
For decades prior to the 1980s Plymouth’s major economic contributor was the Royal Navy. Generations of families left education to pursue careers in the Dockyard, with few formal qualifications and limited career options. In spite of subsiding naval activity evidence showed residents were relying on large institutions for employment. These factors shaped an under-developed, risk-averse business community short on skills, confidence, vision, entrepreneurship and investment.
During the 1980s Plymouth suffered from over-reliance on Government intervention, and grant schemes, self-perpetuating the characteristics above, and structural issues with manufacturing companies moving offshore and lack of investment in the service industry.
However, in recent years Plymouth has undergone a physical and economic regeneration. By 2006, much progress had been made in regenerating Plymouth but there remained a lack of confidence, with some sections of the community being left behind and Plymouth not moving fast enough to enable it to achieve the Chamber of Commerce’s goal of it becoming the enterprise capital of the South West.
In response, one of the tactics employed by Plymouth Chamber of Commerce was to focus their efforts on inspiring enterprise in the deprived Plymouth community of Devonport. A business advisor was embedded in Devonport providing support, advice and guidance to local people in 2006. This resulted in business start-ups in the small suburb of Devonport exceeding the number in the rest of Plymouth.
The Chamber of Commerce was also keen to boost enterprise by making Plymouth a desirable tourist destination from which to explore Devon and Cornwall. Plymouth’s hidden summer offering was coordinated and marketed through events, such as the Plymouth Summer Festival, and promotions, attracting an additional five per cent of South West tourism, which equates to over £29 million.
Another vital tack was their support for enterprise education to all ages, through initiatives such as The Entrepreneurs Bootcamp, a competition that identifies would-be entrepreneurs in the private and social sectors.
Nick Palfrey, 21, took part in The Entrepreneurs Bootcamp, having previously worked on a number of small business projects. This experience provided Nick with the enthusiasm to further his skills and put him in contact with local entrepreneurs and role models such as David Young, named Entrepreneur of the Year at the Herald Business Awards in 2007. In April 2007 Nick set up his own business, MooFu (taken from: More for You), which provides virtual learning resources for schools. The new technology he is designing and developing could put Plymouth schools and MooFu at the forefront of new technology in education.
MooFu has seen rapid development in the last 12 months and Nick has learnt a lot from the experience of The Bootcamp and the contacts made as a result of that experience. MooFu now employs 11 staff and two consultants and is located at the Airport Business Centre (owned by the Una Group, whose MD is David Young).
Nick is now an ambassador and encourages young people himself – he has recently been mentoring the University of Plymouth’s winning Flux team. He is a perfect example of what can be achieved if opportunities and encouragement are provided to young people.
Another local entrepreneur James Tanner, founder of Tanner Restaurants Ltd, has noticed the dramatic change to the business environment, he says:
“Apart from the obvious physical regeneration that is clear for all to see, there is a tangible change in attitude and we have witnessed activity designed to ensure Plymouth is the centre for excellence in the South West.”
Plymouth is overcoming huge cultural barriers and its previous history of apathy, through a city-wide embrace of enterprise and entrepreneurship. And the city is thriving with new jobs being created, a cultural renaissance and entrepreneurs being encouraged to take their ideas to the next stage. The changes taking place across the city are not only boosting the confidence of locals, they are also setting a positive example to others across the UK and internationally. Plymouth’s history of discovery now being translated into a future of enterprise and innovation.