Local businesses are being invited to a free breakfast event all about grants, incentives and the opportunities opening up in Portsmouth.
The Future Portsmouth event on Friday 7 March will also give employers information on how to develop their business and their workforce.
Topics will include:
- opportunities coming up thanks to the City Deal with government, which is set to give a multi-million-pound boost to the local economy
- new schemes for helping small and medium-sized businesses get advice and help
- new developments in the city, such as the Tipner and Horsea Island regeneration scheme, the transformation of the city centre and the seafront masterplan
- how apprenticeships can help businesses
There will be a chance to chat to experts and other business leaders over an informal breakfast.
Speakers will include Kathy Wadsworth, Portsmouth City Council’s director of regeneration; Maureen Frost, deputy CEO of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce; Cheryl Buggy, project director of Shaping Portsmouth; Alistair McDermott, director of innovation services at the University of Portsmouth, and Ian Smith, employer account manager at the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS).
Cllr Terry Hall, the council’s cabinet Member for Planning, Regeneration and Economic Development, said: “Businesses can often get confused about where to go for grants, advice and information. This event is designed to help them.
“There are so many opportunities for businesses coming up in our city, and we want to make sure they understand what developments are on the way and how they can make the most of them.”
A major focus of the event will be on apprenticeship opportunities. Almost 8% of Portsmouth young people aged 16-18 are not in education, employment or training and apprenticeships can be golden opportunities for young workers and employers.
Cllr Hall said: “Young people are tomorrow’s business leaders. Investing in them through the apprenticeships will pay off in dividends and can only improve Portsmouth’s economic future.”
The event is from 7.30am to 10.30am at Portsmouth’s Marriott Hotel. It has been organised by the chamber, the council, the NAS and the Association of Learning Providers for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Places for the event must be booked. To get more details, businesses can:
email [email protected]
go to www.hampshirechamber.co.uk/events
call 01329 242420
