Business leaders and a range of partners are gearing up for a week of free events at the third annual Portsmouth & South Coast Business Week. The popular ‘festival of business’ takes place at various locations, with sessions streamed on Facebook Live, from Monday 6 to Friday 10 February 2023.
#PSCBW offers a broad range of inspiring events, with opportunities to interact with like-minded businesses, inform on the latest business thinking, and help prioritise investment in your business.
Cllr. Steve Pitt Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Economic Development said:
“Portsmouth City Council are delighted to be supporting the third Portsmouth and South Coast Business Week. This week gives a great opportunity to showcase the strength and depth of business within the city and its outlying districts.”
Portsmouth is a top 25 GVA in the UK and growing at the fastest rate for any city in the South. However, now more than ever, we need to be focusing on supporting our businesses and ensuring their success. This week will enable you to interact with your peers through various networking events, to be informed of the funding and support available, be inspired with creative solutions for your business and offers opportunities to engage with leading skills providers to help develop your workforce.”
This year the event is supported by headline sponsor Catax and business sponsors Flude and Kier.
Last year, Portsmouth and South Coast Business week attracted a local and international audience of over 1,000 delegates who attended a timetable of 24 events.
Over its five days, #pscbw features an interactive series of presentations, visits and networking opportunities.
Activities kick off with a breakfast launch at the Queens Hotel in Southsea. Speakers include Aaron Butson, Assistant Principal at Havant & South Downs College and Chair of Portsmouth Business Strategy Group, and Councillor Steve Pitt, Cabinet Member for Economic Development at Portsmouth City Council.
Other sessions during the week focus on subjects such as how to stay successful once your business is launched, what the future of marketing for SMEs will look like, and how employers can best work with young people.
A wellbeing session on mental health and menopause in the workplace will be held at the City of Portsmouth College while Eastleigh College will host an event looking at the likely impact of Solent Freeport on job creation and the regional economy.
There is a Meet the Chamber business exhibition at Fratton Park, run by Hampshire Chamber and showcasing a wide range of business services.
And an open day on the Tuesday of the week will see around 20 businesses and organisations welcome visitors into their premises for a behind-the-scenes look. Participants include The Portsmouth Distillery, DTW Ceramics, Fareham Innovation Centre, Peter Ashley Activity Centre and the Parity Trust in Port Solent.
GetSet Solent will run a business support day on the Thursday at The Guildhall for businesses looking for funding to grow.
The week culminates on the Friday evening with The News Business Excellence Awards Dinner at Portsmouth Guildhall, hosted by BBC TV presenter Anjana Gadgil and supported by the University of Portsmouth Business School.