This year's Portsmouth & South Coast Business Week comes in challenging times
This year's fifth annual Portsmouth & South Coast Business Week (#PSCBW) next month comes at a challenging time and the aim is it will benefit the South's small firms.
The event, designed by business for business, takes place across the region with sessions streamed on Facebook Live, from Monday, February 24 until Friday, February 28 this year.
It is championed by Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and partners from industry and the public and education sectors.
Over the last three years, the event has seen more than 3,000 delegates attend over 100 events and more than 30,000 individuals have been reached through daily Facebook Live videos.
"Now is the ideal time for local businesses, especially our SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises), to come together for mutual support, find solutions to the economic challenges we face and go for growth," said Ross McNally, Hampshire Chamber's chief executive and executive chairman.
"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."
Cllr Steve Pitt, cabinet member for economic development at Portsmouth City Council, added: "By fostering collaboration and innovation, we’re strengthening our region’s economy and equipping our workforce for the future.
"We encourage everyone to join the conversation and seize the opportunities this week presents."
The week will be officially opened on the Monday by the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Councillor Jason Fazackarley, at an event at The Queen’s Hotel in Southsea, which will include a series of business clinics run by industry experts.
Speaking at the launch will be 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. It is designed around four ‘i’s: inform, invest, interact and inspire," he said.
Among other events during the week are Wednesday’s ‘Open Doors for Business’ day, which will see various companies and organisations across Portsmouth, Southampton, Gosport and Fareham welcome visitors into their premises for a behind-the-scenes look.
On Thursday, businesses will also be 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.
In the latest business survey by the British Chambers of Commerce, the first since the autumn Budget, 75% of respondents cite rising labour costs, driven by the National Insurance increase, as one of their biggest concerns - up from 66% of businesses in the third quarter of 2024.
Overall, business confidence nationally has fallen to its lowest point since the aftermath of the 2022 mini-Budget, with only 49% of firms expecting turnover growth.
Fifty-five per cent of respondents say they are planning price hikes, and 24% are scaling back investment. The picture is particularly bleak within the manufacturing and hospitality sectors.
For more details on the event, see HERE.
