SME
Published: January 24, 2025 | Updated: 24th January 2025
The fifth annual Portsmouth & South Coast Business Week (#PSCBW) takes place next month, helping local firms access advice and build relationships with education providers, local authorities and fellow businesses.
Designed by business for business, the week will feature free-to-attend presentations, networking sessions and behind-the-scenes visits.
It’s championed by Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and partners from industry and the public and education sectors.
Events are scheduled for Portsmouth, Havant, Gosport, Fareham and Southampton from Monday 24 to Friday 28 February, with sessions also set to be streamed on Facebook Live.
It comes at a crucial time as business confidence waivers in the wake of the recent budget announcements.
Ross McNally, chief executive of Hampshire Chamber, said: “Now is the ideal time for local businesses, especially our small and medium-sized enterprises, to come together for mutual support, find solutions to the economic challenges we face and go for growth.
“That’s exactly the focus of the week.
“We offer a well-designed, interactive programme of events celebrating and championing the potential of businesses in all sectors across our region – and it’s all free.
“If you want to explore funding advice, discover the latest thinking on technology and business practice, be inspired by fellow entrepreneurs and engage with skills and training providers, this is your chance.”
#PSCBW will be officially opened by the lord mayor of Portsmouth, Cllr Jason Fazackarley, during a launch event at The Queen’s Hotel in Southsea.
It will include a series of business clinics run by industry experts from law firm Blake Morgan, Flude Property Consultants, SLR Recruitment and Liberty HR Recruitment.
The Tuesday itinerary features business workshops delivered by Solent Business and Skills Solutions and Shaping Portsmouth, in collaboration with the South Hampshire College Group, Havant & South Downs College and City of Portsmouth College.
Attendees at the workshops, to be held in Fareham at the Civil Engineering Training Centre, will focus on subjects such as bid writing, skills funding, change management, SEO, cybercrime protection, green growth and practical applications of AI.
Wednesday’s ‘Open Doors for Business’ day will see various companies and organisations across Portsmouth, Southampton, Gosport and Fareham welcome visitors into their premises for a behind-the-scenes look.
The day includes a Chamber Connects! session at Southampton Solent University, which will offer facilitated networking to help businesses make connections.
At the same time, the Spring Arts & Heritage Centre in Havant will host sessions devoted to the power of third sector partnerships and investing in people and innovation.
Thursday will incorporate this year’s Fareham Business Expo, providing more networking opportunities at Fareham Leisure Centre in association with Everyone Active.
Businesses are also invited to Lakeside North Harbour in Cosham for a LinkedIn Local session at which mentor Ian Dickson aims to deliver 20 ‘low-cost, easy-to-apply’ growth tips in 20 minutes.
Friday will see an ‘alternative recruitment’ day run by Havant Borough Council, giving jobseekers the chance to showcase their skills and talents to employers keen to meet potential recruits.
Among the speakers at The Queens Hotel launch is Aaron Butson, assistant principal at Havant & South Downs College and chair of Hampshire Chamber’s Portsmouth Business Strategy Group.
“I urge business leaders to find out more about what the week can offer them,” said Aaron.
“It’s designed around four ‘i’s – inform, invest, interact and inspire.
“It’s all about making the right choices for your business, developing thought leadership, finding creative solutions to challenges and providing purposeful networking.”
Likewise, Cllr Steve Pitt, cabinet member for economic development at Portsmouth City Council, said the week will offer “an invaluable platform for our region’s businesses to network, learn and grow”.
“By fostering collaboration and innovation, we’re strengthening our region’s economy and equipping our workforce for the future,” he added.
“We encourage everyone to join the conversation and seize the opportunities this week presents.”
The last three years of #PSCBW have seen more than 3,000 delegates attend over 100 events and open-door sessions and reach more than 30,000 individuals through daily Facebook Live videos.
