FEATURE:MADE IN DEVON Helping our region


directions and creatively overcoming the restrictions of operating in this unprecedented environment. And local organisations have also


been quick to provide the support systems desperately needed to guide companies through these most perilous of times. Here’s a summary of some of the


projects that have launched at the time of writing.


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usinesses across the region have responded to adversity by pivoting in new


cases, they are enjoying reconnecting with the traditional values provided by local, independent traders.” There’s a huge range of items


available to buy from Plymouth retailers. Enjoy a treat at home with a takeaway cream tea or freshly cooked pasties, or order wine and gin to your door. If you’re finding yourself with more free time during lockdown, you can even order art materials or plants to be delivered to you at home. The Shop 4 Plymouth website shop4plymouth.co.uk also lists independent shops selling fresh produce including fruit and vegetables, meat, fish and baked goods, offering a local alternative to supermarket chains.


Shop4Plymouth A new online marketplace is making it easy to shop local, support independent retailers and buy everything you need – from food and drink to gifts from the safety of your home. Shop 4 Plymouth showcases the


city’s local traders that are open and following Government guidelines or which have adapted to offer a delivery service instead. The initiative has been set up by


the Plymouth City Centre Company and Plymouth City Council, with support from Plymouth Waterfront Partnership, in response to the Covid-19 crisis. The website makes it easy for you to find what you’re looking for in three different categories: Food and Drink, Art and Craft and Home and Gifts. Steve Hughes, Chief Executive of


the Plymouth City Centre Company, which runs the City Centre Business Improvement District (BID), said: “Our independent businesses have been hit particularly hard by this crisis, so we wanted to take action and give them the helping hand they need. “Shop4Plymouth will give them


an online marketplace and the opportunity for shoppers to support their local traders by continuing to shop locally from the comfort of their homes. “People have had to change their shopping habits and, in many


20 Chamber Profile Summer 2020


Call4Fish Plymouth’s fishing industry has started a home-delivery service, taking the region’s best catches to the doorsteps of fish lovers everywhere. The fishing fleet merchants and Plymouth Trawler Agents have banded together to set up the Call 4 Fish website with the help of Plymouth City Council, offering deliveries of fresh catch throughout Plymouth. The service is being rolled out


across the entire country. The website www.call4fish.com


directs customers to suppliers who can deliver in their area and is updated daily. It is also on social media Twitter @call4fish, Instagram @call4fish and Facebook facebook.com/call4fish Dave Pessell, of Plymouth


Trawler Agents, said: "These are


The Government’s financial support packages have kept thousands of businesses afloat during the crisis – but help at local level is also keeping the heart of our regional economy beating.


difficult times for the fishing industry and the communities they serve. We hope Call4Fish will produce a win, win. Fishermen can continue to fish and provide for their families, and at the same enable people to have fresh and healthy fish and shellfish delivered to their door so they don't have to leave home. “It is great that our fishermen,


fish merchants, and fishmongers have come together over the past days in response to the crisis we all face. “This would have not been


possible without support from Fishmongers Hall and Seafarers UK that has enabled us bring in the support we required to get this up and running. “We are grateful too for Plymouth


City Council who have been providing direct assistance. It shows what can be achieved here in Plymouth when we all pull together.”


partnerships across the city. We need to harness the energy and expertise that we have built up - not just from within the Council - but across key business organisations and companies to work together to make sure Plymouth is ready to remerge from the lockdown. “We will be working closely with


the Plymouth Growth Board and all of our brilliant sector partnerships over the coming weeks to build a series of sector action plans that tailor our support specifically to the needs of each sector. “We will also be looking at how


the Council’s own economic footprint can help restart the economy through our procurement, capital programme and projects pipeline. If we can get these restarted quickly it will be an immediate and massive boost to the economy.” He added: “During this time an


incredible dedicated team of professionals have worked tirelessly to support our businesses from the very smallest to the very largest. “Through their endeavours we


have made a real difference to so many people at their time of greatest need. It has been an absolute delight for me personally to receive so many letters of thanks and compliments on their behalf.” The Council will build on this


Resurgam Plymouth City Council has pledged to lead from the front the city’s economic recovery programme out of the Covid-19 lockdown. Council Leader Tudor Evans


(pictured) has announced plans to help Plymouth’s businesses get back to work through Resurgam - a programme to oversee recovery across all sectors. The name is Latin for ‘I shall rise


again’ and the word became part of Plymouth’s history when it appeared on a wooden sign over the bombed out St Andrew's Church during the Blitz. Councillor Evans said: “Over the


last few years we have made huge strides in creating and sustaining jobs and prosperity. We have great


relationship and ramp up support for businesses across the board. More details will be unveiled for how Plymouth’s Resurgam project will swing into action. Before the lockdown there were


£300m worth of development projects being delivered with a pipeline of £1bn. The Council says it will build upon all of these existing opportunities. Developments approved in the last six years are worth £1.56bn, of which almost 70 per cent had been finished or under construction at the end of March.


Richard Stevens, Chair of Plymouth Growth Board and Devon & Plymouth Chamber of Commerce, said “Plymouth City Council’s plans to help kick-start


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