Conference 2026 - Shaping Portsmouth

Join us at the Portsmouth Guildhall in January as we kick-start a year of celebrating the City’s centenary!

As part of the celebrations, we’ll be announcing the impact of all our Programme activities over the previous year, hearing an update from Portsmouth City Council, and presenting our Shaping Portsmouth Awards. Our networking and exhibition also returns, with the Shaped By Solent Shop expanding to take over The Lens.

Plus, we have a few more surprises up our sleeves…

To be sure not to miss the South Coast’s biggest business conference, book your tickets now!

Headline Speaker

Amanda Martin, MP for Portsmouth North

As a teacher for 24 years, Amanda has championed education and women’s rights rising to the post of national President of the teachers’ union the NEU whilst bringing up her three sons in the city. She is currently Chair of Portsmouth Labour Party.

Amanda has Portsmouth and its people at her heart. As a longstanding community activist, she has experience, knowledge and understanding of a wide range and of local issues and needs.

Also joining us on the stage will be:

Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council.
Jane Lamer, Business Pillar Director and Head of Economic Development & Skills at Portsmouth City Council.
Hayden Taylor, Education Pillar Lead and Co-Founcer & Chief Executive of Unloc.
Chris Hillman, Community Pillar Lead and Head of Empowering Employment at The Minstead Trust.

...and more to be announced!

“This year’s conference will be bigger and better than ever and has special significance as the first event of our city’s Centenary Year. 2025 has been a huge year for Shaping Portsmouth and we can’t wait to tell you about it. We’d love to see you there on the 16th January.”

Dave Humphries, CEO

Tickets

Early Bird (until 19th October 2025):

Standard Ticket:

Webcast:

All prices include VAT. Eventbrite fees will apply.

£24

£32

£18

Sponsorship Opportunities

Showcase your brand as a key partner in Portsmouth’s future by sponsoring the Shaping Portsmouth Conference, connecting you directly with influential leaders and innovators in the community.

Headline Sponsor

Live Stream Sponsor

Refreshments Sponsor

Exhibit at the Conference

Promote your organisation to more than 400 Portsmouth delegates at the Shaping Portsmouth Conference.

The exhibition will be open during the Conference opening and registration time, and the networking break.

Exhibit spaces are available for £350 + VAT each. Booking as an exhibitor includes entry for two people to staff the stand.

We give priority access for exhibition booking to our Partners.
Public bookings will launch on Thursday, 2nd October.

The Shaped By Solent Shop returns to the Conference, bigger and better than ever before!

This year, we will have products from 14 teams, and the shop will be based in The Lens.

The Shaping Portsmouth Awards

The Shaping Portsmouth Awards celebrate the work being done around the city in our key areas of Business, Education, and Community.

If you know of an organisation or individual who deserves to be celebrated, please complete the nomination form to tell us about them!

We are also taking nominations for the Shaping Portsmouth Armed Forces Community Award, which recognises outstanding support given by a Portsmouth business to our serving personnel, reservists, service leavers, or their families.

Nominations close at midnight on Sunday, 30th November.