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Digital
The Digital Economy in Plymouth is recognised a key strength and forms one of the five key pillars within the Local Economic Strategy.
“Plymouth is in the top ten highest growth Digital Clusters in the UK” Tech Nation 2017
View the Digital sector factsheet
Please note: The Sector Factsheets have not yet been updated to provide new details for each sector. This is due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the unprecedented events of the last year resulting in the Office of National Statistics (ONS) having to delay the release of a variety of data due to their work on tracking the outbreak. As such, we have been unable to update the statistics used within these Sector Factsheets. As soon as the data becomes available from ONS we will work to rapidly update all of the accompanying statistics and provide the complete picture. We really do appreciate your patience and urge you to sign up to the Invest newsletter; here we will update subscribers as soon as the new data is released.
Shared Workspace
"Plymouth has an increasingly forward-looking and supportive approach to start-ups in the digital tech space” Paul Wright, CEO & Founder, IOTEC
The largest Science & Technology centre in the South West is home to innovative technology, digital, creative, marine and science-based businesses all with a desire to succeed and grow. Plymouth Science Park offers flexible office space for rent for start-ups and growing businesses with bespoke business support and facilities.
University of Plymouth Formation Zone
With two locations, one on the University’s campus and one at Plymouth Science Park, Formation Zones nurture and develop new, high-value businesses by providing a dynamic environment encompassing the knowledge, facilities and resources to inspire and enable successful business ideas.
Formation Zone have an in-house support team and run on site business training and workshops with partners from across the region, as well as offering free monthly appointments with expert business advisors.
Modern vibrant workspace for co-workers makers and entrepreneurs in the city centre with shared workspace: free wifi, refreshments, open plan work space, meeting facilities, classes and events and even 3D printers.
Once refurbished the Market Hall in Devonport will be a world-class space for digital. The first of its kind in western Europe offering an immersive dome experience and providing space for people to learn, work, develop new ideas and have fun! The project is led by local social enterprise Real Ideas Organisation, in partnership with Plymouth City Council, the Institute of Digital Arts and Technology (i-DAT at Plymouth University), City College Plymouth and Devonport High School for Boys.
In addition to providing work, lab and teaching spaces, the Market Hall will also offer space for events and meetings, a range of education programmes and a digital arts visitor centre.
iMayflower is a £6m Cultural Development Fund project that is developing the use of immersive and digital technologies to drive growth in the local economy and pride in the city. It aims to support digital creative makers and doers, unlocking innovation and supporting a positive change in every sector whilst showcasing Plymouth as a leading light in all things creative.
“Plymouth is in the top 10 locations nationally for its spread of Superfast Broadband” Centre for Cities
Research, Skills and Innovation
The University provides a range of degree level programmes in creative and digital tech, including 3D Design, the Built Environment, Digital Media Design and Creative Media and Filmmaking. All programmes are currently for full time study with the exception of a degree level apprenticeship which is for employed digital trainees.
A research and design collective at the University. It co-creates and shares technological prototypes and practices, that push and challenge the boundaries of digital arts and creative media practice. Its main focus is on making ‘data’ tangible, playable and readily available as a material, to generate new meaning and inform participation, audience engagement and innovation in the arts. For more information, visit www.i-dat.org.
Full and part time degree courses with focus on digital media and broadcasting. Journalism students are based at The Workshop on the BBC campus and work with professionals in digital media and learn to tell unforgettable stories online.
The College’s Regional Centre of Excellence for STEM provides state-of-the-art facilities for the high tech and digital industries. With a wide range of apprenticeships and full and part-time digital courses on offer from level one to degree programmes, the College is well-placed to provide the skills and ongoing support businesses need for a sustainable, digital future.
One of the few remaining independent colleges of art and design in the UK with a history dating back to 1856.
Provides unrivalled specialist learning in a range of Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Pre-Degree study across Art, Design and Digital Media.
The college is a UK Advisory Council Member of the Creative Industries Federation, a Member of the Crafts Council Advisory Group and a Steering Group Member of the Cultural Learning Alliance. In 2019, Plymouth College of Art was granted Taught Degree-Awarding Powers, and conferred with International Baccalaureate World School status.
ATL offer a wide range of IT user based programmes at further education level. Alongside their fulltime offer ATL have suite of IT apprenticeships available.
A Private Cyber Security consultancy and international award winning IT and Cyber Security training provider; with their HQ in Plymouth they continue to expand with new offices in London and the East of England. BluescreenIT have been operating for over 16 years in the global market place and are proven innovators, having recently won CompTIA’s Global Innovation Award for preparing individuals for careers in technology. BluescreenIT have also successfully delivered a Government DCMS Cyber Security programme, backed by Amazon, National Crime Agency, Cisco and other partners.
Working with interested people, local digital talent and tech companies to explore how data and technology can help deliver services and solve problems in entirely new ways. Part of the city’s commitment to opening data, developing smart systems and processes, and encouraging new ways of working with data.
The South West Creative Technology Network (SWCTN)
The South West Creative Technology Network (SWCTN) is a £6.5 million project to expand the use of creative technologies across the south west of England. The network is offering three one-year funded programmes around the themes of Immersion, Automation and Data.
The Impact Lab is a partnership of seven world class Devon based organisations. The partnership comprises the University of Exeter, Exeter City Futures, the Met Office, the University of Plymouth, Plymouth College of Art, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, and Rothamsted Research. The Impact Lab is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
The heart of what the Impact Lab offers is resource for collaborative projects to help businesses solve a key technical challenge in the development of a new product, service or process. Project work is led by the core team of technical specialists and scientists, called the Innovation Support Team.
Co-operative Opportunities
Plymouth is a Social Enterprise City and is committed to supporting the growth of Social Enterprises and Co-operatives. The Digital sector is one of the Strategic Growth Areas where we have existing strengths and are targeting support. Email coop@plymouth.gov.uk for more information.
Networks and Meet Ups
Digital Plymouth Meetup, Digital Plymouth Conference, Plymouth Web Meetup, DATA Play, Future Sync Conference, Cybercon Conference, Creative Juices (University of Plymouth and Plymouth Culture), Women in STEM Plymouth, Connected Plymouth Steering Group, Plymouth Digital Policy Alliance, STEM Plymouth
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