Whether the knock-on impact of Dragons Den, The Apprentice and similar or the emergence of the “social media influencer”, digital marketer or side hustle, there’s no doubting the global and local rise of the entrepreneur.

So much so that last year NatWest Group reported that “just under one in three UK adults (30%) now either run their own business or plan to start a business within the next three years.”

But what about Plymouth? Where do we fit in in this entrepreneurial revolution?

Truth is, we’re doing pretty well.

In March this year, Plymouth City Council announced an exciting new plan to cement our reputation as the region's powerhouse with 8,000 new jobs, 10,000 new homes, and 1,000 new businesses.

We’ll skip over whether the 10,000 new homes city-wide are the same 10,000 promised for the city centre but what’s of greater interest is the desire for 1000 new businesses.

Plymouth already boasts 6300 small businesses (under 49 employees) that between them employ nearly half the city’s workforce.

In addition, 11,900 self-employed people mean that, in one way or another, the fate of 18,000 entrepreneurs has a considerable part to play in the city’s economy.

These are the builders, garage mechanics, solicitors, accountants, hairdressers, consultants, marketers, retailers, restaurateurs, bar owners, artists, artisans, baristas, hoteliers, holiday accommodation operators, market traders and more who collectively fuel Plymouth’s “powerhouse.”

And yet

They so often don’t get the recognition they deserve.

Which is nuts when you consider the small businesses that have started locally and gone on to great things.

From Chris Dawson’s market stall, now boasting over 200 “The Range” stores nationwide, to Steven Bartlett’s growing global media empire or older established businesses such as Vospers, which started life as a small independent motor business 80 years ago.

But that’s about to change.

With over 40 years of experience running my own or other people’s small businesses, I have a deep-rooted desire to see entrepreneurs succeed.

It’s what led me to set up the Six O’Clock Club as an after-work business network in 2014. Until its demise with the advent of forced lockdowns in 2020, it brought together as many as 150 business owners on a regular monthly basis in the city.

It’s also what led me to return to university to take a Master's Degree in Entrepreneurship to brush up on the latest skills and practices. It’s what’s led me now to promote a series of new monthly events in Plymouth to support small business owners, offer them the opportunity to network, and, more importantly, offer real support to nurture and grow business in Plymouth.

The first of these takes place on Monday 19th May at the News Café in the Royal William Yard, itself a new independent business and offers the opportunity to meet over breakfast and stay after to take advantage of a unique space to co-work with fast wi-fi and great coffee.

It’s free to attend; simply turn up, pay for your breakfast and enjoy the best networking in Plymouth.

You can find further details on Eventbrite

Next month, we’ll add a lunchtime and evening event, a business mastermind, and a regular co-work space in conjunction with WorkBus, another great Plymouth-based startup.

So, if you’re in business or considering starting one, make sure to subscribe to WOW Plymouth. If you’d like to get involved in supporting small businesses in the city, drop me a line.

We’re “open for business”