South: Solent Growth Hub launches for region's businesses

A one-stop shop for businesses in the Solent is launching today with the aim of helping them to become more successful and to create jobs and growth in the local economy.

The Solent Growth Hub will provide advice and guidance on matters relating to business growth, ranging from finding partners or funding through to identifying new opportunities or commissioning business analyses.

It will offer face-to-face consultation, a telephone advice service, personalised industry growth audits and matched industry investment funding. It will also provide as much or as little advice as a business may need.

The Solent Growth Hub is being operationally delivered by the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce and the University of Portsmouth. The idea was conceived and driven by a collaboration that includes: University of Portsmouth with Portsmouth and Southampton City Councils, Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, Isle of Wight Council, Hampshire County Council, University of Southampton and Southampton Solent University.

The initiative is being funded by £2.6 million from the Regional Growth Fund, which became available when the Solent region obtained City Deal status from the Government earlier this year.  City Deal facilitates Portsmouth and Southampton to develop key areas in both cities, and provide jobs, homes and economic growth.

Alistair McDermott, director of innovation services at the University of Portsmouth, said: “We are operating in a global competitive market place and in the UK we are fortunate to live in an entrepreneurial and imaginative work culture.

“Companies are crying out to grow and generate new jobs.  Often all that’s needed is a new connection or the right piece of information at the right time – the Solent Growth Hub aims to make sure that businesses know where to go for that information when they need to.

“UK PLC is investing in industries but many businesses don’t know just how much funding is available from different sources and how many willing partners there are. The Solent Growth Hub aims to solve that problem by helping them navigate a course that brings together all the pieces of the puzzle.”

Later this year the Hub will launch a website portal that will increase its reach to more businesses in the region.