Funding
New Gunwharf Quays opportunity for small businesses
A new initiative from Gunwharf Quays has been launched to give independent businesses a new route to market. Loved By Gunwharf has been launched to champion independent businesses from …
August 26, 2026
Portsmouth submits landmark UK City of Culture 2029 bid
Portsmouth has officially submitted its bid to become UK City of Culture 2029. The submission marks the culmination of one of the largest community engagement programmes ever carried out in …
August 11, 2026
Theatre Royal Portsmouth benefit from £450k funding boost
Portsmouth Theatres has been selected as a recipient of £450,000 funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). This significant award will directly support improvements and initiatives at …
April 29, 2026
Portsmouth Match Fund funds another business to grow
Independent street food business Shroom Kitchen has secured vital funding from the Portsmouth Match Fund, enabling the purchase of its first mobile catering unit and marking a major step forward …
April 15, 2026
Portsmouth launches bold bid for UK City of Culture 2029
Portsmouth City Council, in partnership with Portsmouth Creates, has announced plans to bid for the prestigious UK City of Culture 2029 title to showcase the city’s creativity, heritage and ambition …
December 3, 2025
Region unites to deliver tailored employment support through Connect to Work
The Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, and Southampton have joined forces to launch a regionally tailored version of the Department for Work and Pensions’ Connect to Work programme, aimed at tackling …
September 10, 2025
Over £690K leveraged for Portsmouth’s creative sector
Portsmouth’s creative sector continues to thrive. Portsmouth Creates in partnership with Portsmouth City Council have shared the outcomes of its latest UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) match funding initiative. In …
July 22, 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
CIL Neighbourhood Fund supports new youth hub
A business unit in Fratton has been transformed into a dedicated multi youth community facility with funding from Portsmouth City Council’s CIL Neighbourhood Fund. Local youth charity Motiv8 now have …
February 3, 2025
Love Portsmouth Pop-Up Shop opening at Gunwharf Quays
Portsmouth City Council, in partnership with Love Southsea and supported by Landsec, today announced the opening of the “Love Portsmouth” pop-up shop at Gunwharf Quays. The shop, officially opening on …
January 13, 2025
A new vision for the region’s screen sector
A bold vision for driving growth and collaboration across the region’s thriving screen industries has been announced. The Film Office Feasibility Study outlines a collaborative route to enhance the area’s …
December 18, 2024
Youth-led creative venue to open in city centre
A previously vacant amusement arcade in Portsmouth’s city centre is set to be transformed into a vibrant community venue for young people. The initiative is led by Portsmouth Creates in …
November 12, 2024
New entrepreneurs showcase at HSDC Pop-up market
HSDC’s recent ‘Not Yet on The High Street’ pop-up market showcased the best products from Creative Enterprise UAL Level 4 Diploma students to fellow artists, local shop owners and general …
June 25, 2024
Funding success for creative sector
Portsmouth Creates has announced investment success following a partnership with Portsmouth City Council to manage a match funding pot of £30,000 from the council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, targeting the …
June 12, 2024
Announcing a new Portsmouth Business Support Service to grow Portsmouth’s economy
The council in partnership with Shaping Portsmouth have launched today the Portsmouth Business Support Service (PBSS) to help the city’s businesses grow and thrive. This is a new opportunity that …
January 17, 2024
Council announces a new business grant to support growth
Portsmouth City Council have announced today the Portsmouth Match Fund which is a new business grant to support businesses to start and existing small businesses to develop. This grant along …
January 10, 2024
Business opportunity to reduce carbon emissions and lower costs
An opportunity for Portsmouth’s businesses to reduce carbon emissions could be available for high consuming electricity businesses. The council is looking at the feasibility of installing solar PV panels for …
November 21, 2023
HSDC sponsor Portsmouth’s Christmas Lights Switch On Parties
HSDC have been announced as the lead sponsor for Portsmouth’s 2023 Christmas Lights Switch On Parties. The festive family fun begins with the city centre Christmas Lights Switch On Party …
November 15, 2023
Funding up to £4,000 for sustainable travel improvements
Businesses and organisations in Portsmouth are invited to make sustainable travel improvements by applying for grants of up to £4,000 aimed at enhancing workplace travel options. The funding, part of …
October 31, 2023
Portsmouth receives £1.1m funding package to grow creativity and culture
The people of Portsmouth are set to benefit from a £650,000 funding investment from Arts Council England. Award recipient Portsmouth Creates is a not-for-profit community organisation dedicated to growing the …
October 24, 2023
Council supports HSDC’s creative enterprise students
HSDC has partnered with the council, who will be supporting this year’s Creative Enterprise UAL Level 4 Diploma class by giving each student a financial contribution to further support the …
October 18, 2023
BAE Systems donate £500,000 to boost Portsmouth’s youth services
BAE Systems has donated £500,000 to boost Portsmouth’s youth services by creating a new educational facility in Stamshaw. The donation has been given to Portsmouth City Council for the design, …
June 27, 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
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
Crowdfunder partnership renewed to support business and community projects
The partnership between Crowdfunder UK has been renewed for another year by Portsmouth City Council to support business and community projects over the next year. The partnership helps to make …
December 21, 2022
Portsmouth’s first indoor skatepark and community hub opens
It was a dream in the making since he was a teenager but after years of planning and many obstacles overcome, Jacob Stanley was proud to have finally opened the …
December 20, 2022
Portsmouth businesses to benefit from share of £30m energy fund
A new £30 million low-carbon projects energy fund has been approved by the council. This investment in renewable energy could help businesses across the city improve their energy efficiency. Funding …
July 27, 2022
Cash injection for SME business growth projects
Solent and Portsmouth based businesses can get a share of £700,000 grant funding from GetSet Solent to support business growth projects. Eligible projects with costs between £4,000 up to £100,000 …
June 7, 2022
Work starts on port’s terminal extension
Portsmouth International Port’s terminal transformation has begun on a new carbon neutral terminal extension. This project is one of the UK’s first Levelling Up projects to get underway and will …
May 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
Portsmouth City Council supports greening projects
Two city areas have been transformed into new Green and Clean community spaces to improve greening, air quality and health for residents with funding from Portsmouth City Council’s CIL Neighbourhood …
March 24, 2022
Crowdfunder upgraded coaching offer
Crowdfunder have upgraded their coaching offer to provide better support for community project owners and to help get the message out. Online courses are available, from introductory courses to get …
March 23, 2022
Portsmouth’s successful £1.6M UK Community Renewal Fund projects get underway
Three Portsmouth economic development projects, that received funding of just under £1.6M from the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund, are now underway. Portsmouth City Council was the …
February 16, 2022
Portsmouth City Council announce grant to support Leisure and Hospitality business impacted by Omicron
Portsmouth City Council have announced that applications are now open for the Omicron Leisure and Hospitality Grant (OHLG). This is a one-off grant that has been designed for leisure and …
January 14, 2022
Portsmouth City Council announce new Resilience Grant to support business impacted by Covid-19
Portsmouth City Council have announced today a new ARG Business Resilience Grant to help businesses that have continued to be severely impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. This additional grant is …
December 21, 2021
Crowdfunding Portsmouth
Not sure what crowdfunding is? Come along to the Victory Business Centre on 22 September 2021 any time between 10am – 3pm to find out more. Portsmouth City Council and …
September 1, 2021
Success for the Solent’s ambitious £2billion freeport bid
The Solent’s ambitious bid for Freeport status has been confirmed by the government in the 2021 budget. This bid, led by the Solent LEP, includes both Portsmouth International Port, and also Dunsbury Park, a major …
March 4, 2021
£10,000 for projects that matter in Portsmouth
To celebrate the launch of Crowdfund Portsmouth, Crowdfunder, Portsmouth City Council and Shaping Portsmouth have teamed up to run a crowdfunding competition in the city. Thanks to funding from Portsmouth …
March 9, 2020
Reminder: Free apprenticeship training for city businesses
Portsmouth businesses are being offered thousands of pounds worth of free training for apprentices or employees looking to boost their skills. Portsmouth City Council is using National Apprenticeship Week 2020 …
February 5, 2020