How Portsmouth Business Support Service helped PortsMed
From workshops and mentoring to networking and marketing support, PortsMed shares how the Portsmouth Business Support Service helped the business grow during its first year. Portsmouth Business Support Service (PBSS) …
August 24, 2026
Natty’s Jerk: From market stall to Uber Eats Restaurant of the Year
Portsmouth’s own Natty’s Jerk has become a local legend, serving up authentic Jamaican flavours, community spirit, and entrepreneurial inspiration. Founded by Nathaniel Crutchfield, better known as Natty, the business has …
July 6, 2026
Pauline Macarons expands in Portsmouth
A Portsmouth small business success story is taking its next step, as artisan bakery Pauline Macarons expands into a commercial kitchen at Victory Business Centre. Founder Pauline has moved out …
June 24, 2026
SLR is making waves in marine and local recruitment
From a dining room table to two thriving offices, SLR is a Portsmouth-born business that’s become a national name in marine recruitment, while staying deeply rooted in its local community. Founded …
June 22, 2026
How Smoke and Mirrors became a standout Portsmouth restaurant
Tucked away in Old Portsmouth, Smoke and Mirrors has quickly become one of the city’s most distinctive dining experiences. Co-owner and Chef Patron Jordan Thompson set out to create something …
Harwin the Portsmouth powerhouse, driving innovation and growth
A family legacy, a global impact Harwin is a world-leading specialist in reliable and high-performance technologies for demanding applications. Space, avionics and subsea manufacturers count amongst their main customers. Founded …
December 12, 2025
Celebrating 25 years at The Lawrence Arms
This year marks a major milestone for Southsea’s beloved The Lawrence Arms. Landlady Alison Wearn is celebrating 25 years working at the pub and 15 years as its owner. From …
November 26, 2025
From Fort to Fortune: Portsmouth Distillery’s growth
Starting a business takes vision, resilience, and a willingness to adapt, qualities that Vince Noyce, co-founder of the award-winning Portsmouth Distillery, embodies. Nestled in the historic Fort Cumberland in Portsmouth, …
June 5, 2025
Clarence Pier celebrates 80 years
Clarence Pier, Southsea’s beloved seaside attraction, is gearing up to celebrate 80 incredible years since it was rebuilt by the Manning family after World War II. Since 1945, the pier …
April 16, 2025
Councils’ joint green skills and training project benefits businesses
A Green Skills upskilling project offering free and subsidised courses designed to support the move to NetZero in the region has been hailed as a great success. 180 qualifications were …
April 15, 2025
Revolutionising medical and dental training with UNI SIM’s cutting-edge technology
UNI SIM is at the forefront of innovation in medical and dental training through advanced technology for teaching. Based in Portsmouth, UNI SIM specialises in haptic and virtual reality (VR) …
February 24, 2025
Portsmouth Business Support Service free workshops
The Portsmouth Business Support Service (PBSS) offers a comprehensive range of free resources, which includes business mentoring, workshops, and advice. Delivered in partnership with Shaping Portsmouth, several free business support …
February 12, 2025
Space South Central’s impact on the UK’s Space Sector
It has been over a year since Space South Central officially became the UK’s largest and most diverse space cluster – and what a busy year it has been! The …
February 5, 2025
The Parenting Network’s vital role
The Parenting Network, a cornerstone charity situated in the heart of Portsmouth at Fratton Bridge Centre, plays a critical role in empowering families throughout their parenting journey. Through a diverse …
December 10, 2024
Griffon Hoverwork: Pioneering the future of marine engineering from Portsmouth
Griffon Hoverwork is at the forefront of marine engineering, offering innovative nautical engineering design consulting services. Having been involved in the manufacture and operation of hovercraft since they were first …
November 28, 2024
Sweet transformation of Macarons to a thriving business
Pauline Macarons, a beloved home bakery based in Portsmouth has been delighting customers with its exquisite French pastries. Founded by the passionate Pauline Genevet, this local business has steadily grown, …
October 10, 2024
Solent Sewing Machines grow from brilliant mentoring
Melanie Jenkins third generation co-owner of Portsmouth family business Solent Sewing Machines Ltd sells industrial and domestic sewing machines. She shares her experience of attending the University of Portsmouth’s fully …
October 2, 2024
Portsmouth Pop-Up: Goly Natural shares valuable experience
Local Portsmouth business, Goly Natural, has recently completed a successful stint as the first tenant of the Portsmouth Pop-Up Shop scheme. This initiative by Portsmouth City Council aims to support …
August 20, 2024
5 top tips to land a manufacturing and engineering job in Portsmouth
Here are 5 top tips for getting a job in Portsmouth’s flourishing advanced manufacturing and engineering sector. Portsmouth boasts a dynamic ecosystem of established and growing businesses positioning it as …
August 12, 2024
Tea Mountain brews up success in Portsmouth
Local entrepreneur Alexis Rendell is passionate about bringing high-quality, ethically sourced tea to Portsmouth, and reviving the city’s rich tea history with his company, Tea Mountain. Alexis shares his journey …
July 12, 2024
From home kitchen to nationwide success: How Spice Island Chilli found its fire
Spice Island Chilli, a range of premium and versatile chilli sauces, is a testament to the power of passion and perseverance. Founder Liam Coleman’s journey began in his home kitchen …
July 9, 2024
University strengthens community ties through local sourcing
The University of Portsmouth’s catering service is working with local and regional suppliers to meet the growing demand from its customers for more sustainable food provision. By addressing challenges strategically …
June 12, 2024
HSDC student is first ever apprentice to be promoted in company’s history
Jordan Richards, who is studying a Laboratory Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship course at HSDC’s South Downs Campus whilst working at Wickham Micro Ltd in Fareham is the first ever …
April 10, 2024
Portsmouth’s first Pop Up shop Q&A with Goly Natural
Portsmouth’s first Pop Up shop with Goly Natural Portsmouth’s first Pop Up shop business is local business Goly Natural who sell a range of natural organic skin care products. Goly …
February 14, 2024
From T level to apprentice site manager
Macey Blackman from Portsmouth has become the Degree Apprentice Site Manager at Morgan Sindall, working on their current development in Cosham. Macey began her journey with Morgan Sindall as a …
January 17, 2024
Space South Central going beyond for business
Space South Central is the UK’s largest regional space cluster, and their base is here in Portsmouth. Dr Louise Butt, Director of Space South Central Enterprise Network, explains how businesses …
December 13, 2023
Yarty on growing from kitchen table to exporter
Yarty is a small business now based in Portsmouth that has grown from the kitchen table to exporter of premium cordials, vinegars and oils. Owners Jayne and David Mugridge handcraft …
December 5, 2023
From market stall to shop via Love Southsea
The story of the inspiring journey of local Love Southsea market traders who transformed their passion from market stall into thriving shops or restaurants. Once upon a time, in the …
November 27, 2023
Why being small and independent is the secret behind Southsea Deli
As the only independent classic deli in Southsea, Southsea Deli brings another dimension to the food industry on the south coast with the creation of simple, yet delicious food made …
November 22, 2023
Secrets behind Shenanigans in Southsea
As the only Irish bar in Portsmouth, Shenanigans brings a little bit of Ireland and a pretty good pint of Guinness to Southsea. Owner Iain Kirby shares some secrets behind …
August 9, 2023
Clare Seek’s mission for a sustainable Portsmouth
Clare Seek is on a mission for a truly sustainable Portsmouth in 50 years’ time. She recently launched Portsmouth Library of Things and Repair Café Portsmouth at Cascades shopping centre …
June 6, 2023
Starting up with SLR Recruitment Solutions
Please tell us about yourself and your company My name is Sarah Roads, and I founded SLR Recruitment five and a half years ago. I decided to start my own …
May 3, 2023
HYYPA is hyped up for its business’ future
HYYPA is a video-based e-learning company whose goal is to support the growing number of adults with ADHD in the UK waiting on a diagnosis and lacking treatment. They aim …
March 23, 2023
Behind the scenes with Portsmouth’s DVMISSION
Portsmouth’s DVMISSION has been running film challenges in the city for 18 years. This challenge is a fun event but also a vital skills development opportunity for filmmakers, project managers …
February 14, 2023
Building surveyor apprentices share their stories
As part of Apprenticeship Week 2023 we are delighted to share a few words from the building services apprentices here at the council. They talk about what it is like …
February 3, 2023
A little bit extra to start up a new business
Caron Howe has a passion for baking and customer tastes and trends. She shares her story of starting up a new business in Portsmouth and how our business support programme …
January 13, 2023
The best fries in Portsmouth. Fries Love share their story
Portsmouth independent business Fries Love opened a restaurant in Portsmouth’s city centre earlier this year. From starting up in 2018 with a potato shaped food trailer and inspired by the …
November 30, 2022
Solent Sky Services from start up to sky’s the limit
Passionate about video production and drones, after 15 years working in the surveying world, Mike Woods traded in his company car and big salary for a drone and went on …
November 29, 2022
Starting up South Coast Bagel Company
32-year-old Jack Rose aka @doyouknowthebagelman started South Coast Bagel Company just as the country was coming out of national lockdown and 18 months later has become one of Southsea’s hottest …
November 22, 2022
Sustainability leads to business success
Sustainability has led to business success for Cheryl Hadland, managing director and founder of Tops Day Nurseries and recent winner of the Queen’s Enterprise Award for Sustainable Development 2022. She …
October 25, 2022
Get Set Day: Easy access to business advice
The Get Set Day, part of Portsmouth & South Coast Business Week, was an overwhelming success. Over 70 micro, start up and growth businesses visited us across two venues, the …
May 10, 2022
GetSet Boogie Mites
GetSet Solent can support ambitious SMEs from all sectors, backgrounds, business models and sizes, provided they have the potential to grow and expand and are registered within the Solent LEP …
Boosting employment opportunities for local people
Portsmouth City Council’s employment programmes support individuals and local business to boost skills and employment opportunities. We are currently working in partnership with the Industrial Services team at PSI Global …
April 26, 2022
Abri’s Create training inspires new wine tasting business
A SOUTHSEA wine enthusiast who posts wine reviews on Instagram plans to open her own shop after qualifying as a sommelier. Lucy Reynolds, 34, from Southsea, previously worked in corporate …
March 10, 2022
Local pallet company plans to be most sustainable in industry
TICPI Group is a family-run pallet company based in Portsmouth. They supply pallets nationally to a range of customers, including high street retailers and online distributers. The company is committed …
Hotwalls Studios
Transformation of former military barracks in Old Portsmouth, into 13 creative studios alongside a deli-style eaterie was completed and opened in July 2016. Dating back to the 15th Century, Hotwalls …
March 9, 2022
New city centre location for Turkish Cafe
Turkish Café the Lokum Factory’s story has been inspirational. As the café opens its second town centre location in a year we look back on their success to date. Lokum …
July 27, 2021
Boutique in the heart of Southsea offers exclusive occasionwear
Lisa Dawson founded her shop on Marmion Road in the heart of Southsea in September 2020 after being made redundant due to the Covid pandemic. The shop was previously a …
May 26, 2021
Northern Road bridge replacement
Northern Road is a major transport route in the city it was built originally built in 1927 but was nearing the end of it’s working lifespan and needed replacing. An inspection revealed …
November 10, 2019
The Hard Interchange
The Hard Interchange, Portsmouth’s re-vamped transport hub, opened to the public in May 2017. The Hard is hugely important to Portsmouth as a transport interchange. It is a site where …
November 7, 2019