Plans to showcase Portsmouth’s high streets and local businesses are underway as part of a new Christmas campaign.
Christmas Lights Switch On events will take place as usual in Commercial Road, Southsea precinct and Cosham High Street. The We Shine Art & Light Festival and Portsmouth on Ice rink return alongside the city centre Christmas Market and Love Southsea Market. Local businesses are also encouraged to register seasonal specials on Portsmouth’s rediscoverportsmouth.co.uk website.
The We Create Market is also making a comeback to the old Sainsburys building near Commercial Road. Local makers and businesses are invited to apply for a pitch.
Portsmouth’s leading workspace, Lakeside North Harbour, has been named Business Park of the Year and Workplace Environment of the Year at the prestigious South Coast Property Awards 2022.
The Business Park of the Year award recognised the role the park plays in the region’s economy and celebrates the ability of the management team to create a sustainable and flexible environment. The Workplace Environment of the Year award honoured organisations that have used their property strategy to create quality working styles, increase productivity, innovative working environments and give rise to open, inclusive work cultures. The park’s continued high occupier engagement levels throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, a high return to office and its health and wellbeing strategy were particular focuses in the entry.
Portsmouth’s new businesses success
The Outset Start and Grow programme has helped 150 individuals and early-stage businesses from the local area to start-up or grow. It has achieved this through a blend of intensive training workshops, 1:1 coaching and grant funding.
Since January, Outset Start and Grow has had 80 entrepreneurs enrol to become their own boss. Of these, 32 successfully applied for an Outset Start and Grow business grant to start trading. It also helped 60 businesses that had been trading for less than three years to grow more sustainably. Grant funding helped 25 to purchase new equipment and offer new products or services. In addition, they could benefit from a bursary to fund an intern for up to three months.
The Outset Start and Grow Programme is now closed for new applicants. However for people looking to start a new business or to grow, contact our own Business Support team.
A free energy audit and report to the value of £1,500 pounds is available to eligible SMEs. The report will highlight potential cost and energy savings for your business. This free of charge audit is provided through the Emphasis3 project – a European Regional Development Fund initiative. The audits are carried out by leading energy consultant GEP environmental.
Led by the University of Portsmouth in partnership with the University of Winchester and delivered by Greentech South, the funding is available to SME’s. The goals of the project are to generate a 2,000-tonne reduction in CO2 emissions, drive a greater number of low carbon innovations and increase collaboration throughout the south.
Future Portsmouth returns as a face-to-face event on 10 February 2023 at the Village Hotel. This event will bring together Portsmouth businesses, education and training and public sector to encourage collaboration and innovation.
The theme of 2023 Future Portsmouth is sustainability with hear first-hand accounts from employers on the impact and importance of ‘Go Green’ with updates on the latest programmes and projects targeting skills and city regeneration plans.
The keynote speech by the Leader of Portsmouth City Council will provide the latest insight into Portsmouth’s key strategies and plans for the year.
10 February at Village Hotel
Show your support for the Armed Forces
The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly.
Portsmouth City Council is proud to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and supporting our Armed Forces Community is a part of our corporate plan.
Over 9000 businesses nationally have also pledged their commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant. We want as many Portsmouth businesses to show their commitment too.
