Celebrating English Tourism Week 2025: A week of exploration, learning, and growth in Plymouth

Welcoming Plymouth’s English Tourism Week programme provided an exciting and valuable range of activities for job seekers, students, and career changers! The week featured a series of visits and tours with a diverse group of Destination Plymouth partners, offering attendees the opportunity to engage in inspiring career conversations within the Visitor Economy.

Throughout the week, local residents were invited to discover some of Plymouth’s greatest assets through exclusive behind-the-scenes tours. These tours provided a fascinating glimpse into the tourism sector, which contributes £335,656,000 annually to the local economy. The events also provided an invaluable platform for participants to explore career paths and understand the essential roles that help sustain and grow Plymouth’s vibrant tourism industry.

The week in numbers…

• 74 people took part in nine events

• 14 visitor economy businesses participated throughout the week

• 16,580 steps counted across all tours, visits, and activities

• countless careers were discussed, from WHAM (wigs, hair, and makeup), head distiller, and tour guide, to greenkeeper, fly team, crew member, and brand manager — showcasing the diverse range of opportunities available!

  
  

The week kicked off with a selection of exciting tours at some of Plymouth’s most iconic venues. Visitors were given exclusive access to Theatre Royal Plymouth and Plymouth Gin, two of the city’s cultural gems.

Additionally, hospitality providers such as The Duke of Cornwall Hotel and Moxy Hotels showcased the high standards of service and hospitality for which Plymouth is known. These experiences gave participants a unique opportunity to witness the variety of roles and skills required to build and sustain Plymouth’s tourism industry.

A central focus of English Tourism Week was to highlight the career opportunities within the tourism sector. These activities also served to connect job seekers with employers, enabling attendees to learn about a wide range of roles, from customer service to event management and marketing. Participants gained valuable insights into the skills needed to pursue a successful career in this ever-expanding field.

Participants expressed their appreciation for the programme, with one sharing, “I wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank you for the backstage tour at the theatre yesterday. Both of us truly enjoyed it - it was a fascinating experience, and we are very grateful for the opportunity.” Another said, “I wanted to say thank you for the opportunity to tour the Duke of Cornwall Hotel. I came away so much more positive about the future, and I will be in contact with them again about future job opportunities.” Many noted the value of learning more about career paths, such as one participant who said, “I learned a lot about The Box that I didn’t know before, and was inspired to look into certain opportunities that they offer, both on their website and through the Plymouth City Council website.” A common theme in feedback was the value of “learning about operations, people management, and people’s journeys in their careers.”

As the tourism sector continues to expand, these events highlight the growing need for talent to drive Plymouth’s tourism industry forward.

Participating businesses were equally enthusiastic about the week’s success. Moxy Plymouth shared: “We were delighted to support Plymouth City Council’s Skills team and the wider visitor economy. Supporting such a proactive and engaged team is always a pleasure, and their focus on driving skills and growth in the visitor economy is incredible.

"Linking the activity with English Tourism Week gave real relevance to the aims and helped engage the local skills market and businesses in the city. A huge well done to James Blake (of Welcoming Plymouth) for his unwavering support and skill in pulling everything together.”

China Fleet Country Club added: “We were thrilled to be part of Welcoming Plymouth’s English Tourism Week activity, welcoming students and the public to explore our facilities and the exciting career opportunities we offer. It was fantastic to share our career journeys, showcase the diverse roles within our business, and engage with future talent in a fun and interactive way. The ‘Nearest to the Hole’ game on our adventure golf added a great competitive spirit, making the experience even more enjoyable for everyone involved!”

James Blake, Visitor Economy Co-ordinator, commented: “English Tourism Week provided an excellent opportunity for individuals to explore key sector stakeholder venues across the city and engage in meaningful career conversations with employers. It was fantastic to highlight the diverse range of careers available across Plymouth’s Visitor Economy. Tourism is vital to the city, and Welcoming Plymouth has worked hard, with the support of our partners, to showcase opportunities where both businesses and people can make a positive impact. A huge thank you to everyone who took part!”