A number of organisations can help you with developing your business case, financial planning and completing a successful application form to access funding.
Solent LEP Growth Hub
The Solent LEP Growth hub is a free business support service available to all Solent based businesses with advisors who are here to simplify and signpost you to opportunities, both locally and nationally.
Visit the Solent Growth Hub website or call 023 9268 8055
Outset Start & Grow Programme
Funded by Portsmouth City Council through the UK Community Renewal Fund, this programme supports micro businesses across the city to take up the new opportunities emerging following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Portsmouth entrepreneurs and companies have until the end of June 2022 to join in with the Outset Start & Grow
PCC – Shaping Portsmouth
Crowdfund Portsmouth is an innovative partnership between Shaping Portsmouth, Crowdfunder UK and Portsmouth City Council. We’re keen to support new business start-ups and SMEs looking to grow.
Visit the Crowdfunder website.
PCC Business Support
Friendly business support service: referrals to specific business advice agencies, funding support, premises search, support with other council services e.g. Planning permission, business rates, licensing etc.
Email business@portsmouthcc.gov.uk, call 023 9284 1641 or visit the business section on the council website.
Business Support Bank
(Shaping Portsmouth) Offers free peer to peer mentoring, advice and guidance on how to develop a business to recent start-ups and established businesses in the PO1 – PO6 postcode area.
Jamie.Kemp@abri.co.uk
0300 123 1 567
Portsmouth Central Library
Advice about IP, patents and business information.
Call 023 9283 4118, email business@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or find more information about Central Library’s business support on our website.
PCC Markets Team and Retail advisor
Advice about market information. Call 023 9284 1068.
PCC Business Update Newsletter
To receive bi-monthly PCC business electronic newsletter for alerts on business news, funding and events. Sign up on GovDelivery.
PCC Business Premises
Help with finding commercial property. Call 023 9282 6225.
PCC Business Rates Team
Advice and information about paying non-domestic rates. Visit our business rates page for more information, call 023 9268 8588 or email Businessrates.businessratesteam@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.
Enterprise Business South
Business Startup Advice and loans (part of Business South and part of Cavendish consortium of business advisers) are agents for the Virgin Start-Up loan scheme – £25,000 loan per director, up to £100k. Loans can be as little as £1k to qualify for 15 hours free mentoring from Virgin or Enterprise First for first 12 months.
0800 652 6254 or visit the Enterprise Business South website.
Enterprise Nation and Google
Enterprise Nation is partnered with Google to help small businesses across the UK access Mentors from Google to help them achieve their goals.
- Become more discoverable on Google Search
- Create a digital marketing strategy
- Set up a social media strategy
- Sell products more effectively online
- Understand Google Analytics access Mentors from Google
New Enterprise Allowance – Videos and promotional material about helping unemployed people become self-employed. Speak to your Jobcentre Plus work coach; they will explain how NEA could help you. They will also tell you about the support volunteer business mentors offer in the early months of trading.
View the new enterprise allowance campaign
Simply Business – How to write a business plan
This step-by-step guide explains more about how to make a business plan shine, helping you fill in each of those sections (and more)
Shaping Portsmouth – Business Digital Resilience
The Business Digital Resilience programme is empowering small businesses across the region to make smarter security decisions.
Business Support Bank (Shaping Portsmouth)
Offers free peer to peer mentoring, advice and guidance on how to develop a business to recent start-ups and established businesses in the PO1 – PO6 postcode area.
Abri
Offers business start-up advice. Visit the Abri website or call 0300 123 1 567.
If you’re interested in self-employment Consider Abri’s (formerly Radian) FREE self-employment training programme ‘Create’. They have new courses for their consideration online. Check out their new free webinar sessions for November 2021.
Federation of Small Businesses
Help self employed and smaller businesses to achieve their ambitions, providing business services and products to business owners.
NatWest – Business Builder
Whether you’re still in the idea phase or are looking to grow; our free Business Builder online course, packed with practical resources, can help you confidently take your next steps.
Manufacturing Growth Programme
A free business support service, providing guidance and funding exclusively to Manufacturing businesses.
Find out more.
University of Portsmouth Innovation Space & Biz School
Offers workshops, advice and workspace.
University of Portsmouth Business services
The University offers a wide range of services to help support and grow your business, including business events and programmes.
Visit the University of Portsmouth website for more information
Cathedral Innovation Centre
Offers advice and workspace. Email info@cathedralinnovationcentre.com.
Hampshire Chamber of Commerce
A not-for-profit business support and networking organisation, engages the voice, expertise and experience of thousands of businesses across the County, influencing decision-making and shaping practical solutions.
The GREAT Business Website
Government services to businesses. Visit the Gov.UK website for more information.
The Hive Portsmouth
Support Provided – Social Enterprise start up support, Charity information, Funding search, Workspace, Networks.
Visit the Hive Portsmouth website, call 023 9268 8880, or email info@hiveportsmouth.org.uk.
Department of International Trade
For support with international trade and exporting opportunities, free advice and support.
Access to DIT’s co-investment Internationalisation Fund.
Eligible SMEs can email info@tradesoutheast.com register for IF events via Newable – DIT – Internationalisation Fund
Access, for eligible businesses, to 1-2-1 advice from a network of expert international trade advisers, operating across 7 sector teams.
A range of free virtual ‘Export Support Series’ events and workshops to help SMEs develop the skills to export, these include workshops that help businesses research and select international markets; price exports for profit; win and deliver business internationally. Places can be booked via the government website and Newable – Events
DIT are scheduling several more of their successful series of ‘Explore New Markets’ events with expert speakers focussing on opportunities in a range of FTA markets. Details and links to the registration pages will be shared in due course.
‘Going Global in a Day’ – which provides access to DIT’s commercial teams overseas and international buyers – will return.
Support for companies to attend sector focussed events both virtually and overseas. Details and links to the registration pages will be shared soon.
Access to the DIT South East enquiry hub. Businesses can contact DIT South East via 0330 300 0012 or info@tradesoutheast.com for help with export enquiries, and onward triage to complementary DIT local and national programmes.