Fab City Plymouth Open Day

Fab City hubs across Plymouth are opening their doors! Drop-in to discover how we are working towards creating a more sustainable and collaborative city.

Plymouth is the UK’s first Fab City, joining a global network of cities committed to producing everything they consume by 2054. From beekeeping, sustainable food to digital manufacturing, projects across the city are working together for a more sustainable future. Drop-in to our Fab City hubs for a visit, a chat and see how together we can make Plymouth a Fab City.

From demonstrations to hands-on activities, business support to friendly chats, discover what's happening at our Fab City hubs below. Please note that this is a free drop-in event, so no booking is required.

Hub Map

Click on each hub to learn more about their activities, or find out more below.

Fab City Hub Information

Fab Lab Plymouth

Plymouth College of Art
Tavistock Place
PL4 8AT

Opening Time: 12pm-6pm

What's On

Join the Fab Lab and Smart Citizens team and discover how you can turn your ideas into reality through the power of digital design and fabrication. Fab Lab Plymouth is a fully kitted digital fabrication laboratory, providing access to the very latest in digital technology so you can unlock the power of making. The Fab Lab is open to everyone through the Smart Citizens Programme which provides free workshops and training, empowering a community of citizen makers and championing sustainable design solutions.

Whether you're a student, maker, entrepreneur or SME, pop by to discover the Fab Lab through informal tours and hands-on activities. You'll have the opportunity to meet the team, try out our 3D scanner and laser cut your own wooden coaster to take home.

Have an innovative idea you'd like to discuss? Chat with our team about how we can support your personal and professional projects and we'll also signpost you to funding and business support opportunities around Plymouth through the iMayflower programme.

Discover more about the Smart Citizens Programme here.

Digital Fabrication and Immersive Media Labs

Roland Levinsky Building 112
University of Plymouth
PL4 8AA

Opening Time: 12pm-6pm

What's On

The new Digital Fabrication and Immersive Media Labs present a step change in the delivery of teaching, research and innovation for the University of Plymouth and local community. Based within the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business the labs offer access to cutting-edge technology like motion-capture, augmented and extended reality and digital fabrication tools, enabling users to develop and prototype new products, services and experiences, create bespoke tools for complex and specialist research purposes and engage in innovative, interdisciplinary collaborations.

For the Fab City Open Day we’re excited to welcome you into the labs for the first time. Whether you’re just keen to see the potential or want to get hands-on and have a go with a 3D scanned portrait or laser cut creation, drop-in to find out more. We’ll be showcasing a range of applications for immersive media and digital fabrication technologies aimed at getting everyone involved in some creative learning and exploration.

For businesses, we’d love to discuss how we can combine access to these technologies with the knowledge of our world-leading academics in the field and hands-on support from our highly skilled technicians and current students, to help you develop your understanding of their value, implications and impact – and put this into practice with the training and opportunities we have available to help you innovate.

Learn more about this hub on their website.

Sustainability Hub

Sustainable Earth Institute
Kirkby Lodge
University of Plymouth
PL4 8AA
(See University of Plymouth campus map)

Opening Time: 12pm-6pm

What's On

Come say hello to the team at the Sustainability Hub, University of Plymouth. We have a range of projects to explore, including Low Carbon Devon, plus a sneak preview of selected outputs from our 2021 Creative Associates programme.

The Sustainability Hub is a living lab – a place where we research and test low carbon solutions, including our external and internal living (green) walls, power electronics (PV & LEDs), a building management system monitoring energy efficiency and occupant behaviour, and working with the creative industries on the low carbon agenda. Meet the team and find out more, including details on the Devon Net Zero Innovation Fund, offering funding of up to £7,500 to help Devon enterprises to develop new products or services for the low carbon sector, and our Future Shift internship programme placing University of Plymouth students or recent graduates within Devon SMEs to work on low carbon projects.

There will be lots to see, with the construction of a prototype cob research building currently underway next door to the Hub, plus a selection of creative outputs, including film, poetry, and artwork on display from recent collaborations between university researchers and creative organisations to promote research related to climate change.

Learn more about this hub on their website.

Precious Plastic Plymouth

Ocean Studios
The Factory Cooperage
Royal William Yard
PL1 3RP

Opening Time: 12pm-6pm

What's On

Precious Plastic Plymouth and Tavistock is a low-tech, artisan plastic recycling project. It is part of a global initiative. We take waste plastic, shred it and re-mould it, using a small injection moulder, currently into soap dishes, plant pots and buttons. It is engaging, creative, demonstrates how simple recycling plastic can be and opens up conversations around responsible use of plastic.

During the Fab City event we will be demonstrating our recycling machines, making new products from milk bottle caps.

Learn more about this hub on their website.

Green Minds Living Lab

The Meadow Cafe
Central Park
PL2 3DG

Opening Time: 12pm-6pm

What's On

Green Minds Living Nature Lab-Data is an important tool to help us understand what is happening in our natural environment and the impact of human activity. University of Plymouth is working in the city to use digital technologies such as sensors in our parks and green spaces that will monitor wildlife activity, air quality, temperature, humidity and the number of visitors.

Join us at Central Park to learn more about our sensors and how we are working with tech experts from The Data Place to collate and format the data for sharing on an open data platform.

Learn more about this hub on their website.

Pollenize CIC

The Meadow Cafe
Central Park
PL2 3DG

Opening Time: 12pm-6pm

What's On

Pollenize uses the power of community and science to fight against pollinator decline. Our mission is to promote and protect all pollinator species by bridging the gap between people and science to provide tangible solutions for our climate emergency. Our work involves extracting data from our beehives for the good of the natural environment whilst coordinating community beekeeping, citizen science and rewilding schemes. We inspire people to take responsibility for Plymouth’s potential to be the UK’s leading pollinator-friendly city, and with their support, our research on the honey bee will be used as a vehicle to green recovery.

Join us at Central Park to discover who we are and how you can get involved in our project. We'll have an empty bee-hive, leaflets and seed packets at our e-cargo bike stand for you to explore!

Learn more about this hub on their website.

The Plot

80-84 Union Street
PL1 3EZ

Opening Time: 12pm-6pm

What's On

The Plot is a shopping arcade of 15 small businesses run by social enterprise Nudge Community Builders, who bring empty buildings back into use along Union Street. You will find businesses from a radio station to a food court serving Nigerian & Ethiopian street food and coffee. Plus University of Plymouth, School of Art, Design and Architecture have created a tech and innovation hub in the greenhouse! Join us to celebrate the Fab City initiative, see a mini lab in a box in action and learn how it all works! There will also be 3D printing and tech demos on the day.

Learn more about this hub on their website.

Plymouth Scrapstore CIC

Union Street
Stonehouse
PL1 3HB

Opening Time: 12pm-6pm

What's On

Plymouth Scrapstore is the home of playful creativity, we save stuff destined for landfill and with your help turn it into loveliness. We provide affordable, accessible resources for art, play and creativity. As part of Fab City Plymouth Open Day we will be offering the opportunity to come and rummage and join us in your own playful creativity.

Learn more about this hub on their Facebook page.

Bikespace CIC

Unit 7
Riverside Business Park
New Passage Hill
PL1 4SN

Opening Time: 12pm-5pm

What's On

Bikespace is a not-for-profit social enterprise. We exist to improve our community and we have chosen to do this using the bicycle! Our core activity is supporting young people outside of mainstream education by providing vocational training.

We have also increased our offer to provide training opportunities for vulnerable adults and we partner with Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support to provide bicycles and support for refugees. Our commercial activities include operating a busy bicycle repair workshop and providing logistical support and sales related to Plymouth’s growing Cargo Bike market.

Join us on the Fab City Plymouth Open Day to learn more about Bikespace, have a chat about how you can get involved and explore our workshop.

Learn more about this hub on their website.

Food Plymouth

From 2-3pm:
Blockhouse Park
Stoke Village

From 3-6pm:
The Village Hub
67 Devonport Road
Stoke Village
PL3 4DL

What's On

As the city’s local food partnership, Food Plymouth is working to build a healthy, sustainable food system as part of the national Sustainable Food Places network. Working across a dedicated network of partners, enterprises and supporters across the city, we're on an exciting journey to help Plymouth put its 'best food forward' for all.

Join us for a foraging walk in Blockhouse Park from 2-3pm or head in to The Village Hub in Stoke from 3-6pm to hear all about our work and how you can be a part of it too.

Learn more about this hub on their website.

Ocean Studios

The Factory Cooperage
Royal William Yard
PL1 3RP

Opening Time: 12pm-6pm

What's On

Ocean Studios is Real Ideas’ hub of creative energy and a space for exhibitions in the city. It is home to a collective of resident artists, beautiful co-work space, amazing workshops, regular events, and a public café and courtyard.

On the Fab City Plymouth Open Day, pop by to discover a range of projects at Ocean Studios with a focus on design and making.

Learn more about this hub on their website.

Market Hall

Duke St
Devonport
PL1 4PS

Opening Time: 12pm-6pm

What's On

The Market Hall is a world-class space for digital innovation and learning situated in the heart of Devonport. Home to an awe-inspiring 15m immersive dome – the first of its kind in Europe – the Market Hall offers experiences at the cutting edge of immersive tech.

On the Fab City Plymouth Open Day, pop by to discover a range of projects at Market Hall with a focus on digital innovation and technology.

Learn more about this hub on their website.

This event is part of the iMayflower project and has been supported by The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, who fund the Cultural Development Fund, which is administered by Arts Council England.