Flags set to fly across Portsmouth in celebration of city’s first learning disability-led arts festival
Special flags will be flying across Portsmouth and the Spinnaker Tower lit up next week to mark Portsmouth’s first learning disability-led arts festival Pivot Fest. The flag, which features the wording ‘I’m A Portsmouth Thing’, has been designed by This New Ground artist Orlando Richardson*, to help celebrate the creativity, connection, community and inclusivity Pivot […]
No Such Thing as an Average Day
“What does an average day look like at Shaping Portsmouth?” It’s a question I was asked twice on just my second day, while interviewing a prospective new team member. The honest answer is that there isn’t one. In a team as small but mighty as ours, every day brings a different rhythm. My first week […]
Digital donations start going out to charities
Our Digital Enablement charity laptop bundles are making their way to their new homes! Thanks to a generous donation of laptops, monitors, keyboards, and mice from Portico Shipping, we were able to offer free tech bundles to Portsmouth-based charities and organisations. The first batch of these bundles went to Art Space Portsmouth, SHIFT Portsmouth, B.More, […]
Partnering with Negotia to launch two new PBSS Workshops
Shaping Portsmouth and Portsmouth City Council have partnered with Negotia to launch two new workshops as part of the Portsmouth Business Support Service. The first workshop, So You Want to Start a Business is a free practical 90-minute evening session designed for people who are exploring an idea, still in full-time work, or simply working […]
Guildhall Squared: A festival of entertainment in celebration of the City’s Centenary is coming to Guildhall Square!
A giant festival tent hosting a wide range of performances, events, activities, workshops and exhibitions will be coming to Portsmouth’s Guildhall Square from Tuesday 5th – Sunday 10th May as part of the city’s centenary celebrations. Presented by The Guildhall Trust, the charity that operates Portsmouth Guildhall, and supported by Portsmouth City Council, the Guildhall […]
Relaunching Explore Your Future – and a call for employers
We’re excited to announce the relaunch of Explore Your Future (EYF), employer‑led programme designed to inspire students in Years 7–9 and open their eyes to the world of work, local industries, and future opportunities. EYF provides young people with meaningful encounters that help build confidence, curiosity, and aspiration at a crucial stage in their development. With your support, […]
The Big Business Giveaway Returns!
Citrus Facilities Management and Shaping Portsmouth have again partnered for the 2026 Big Business Giveaway, but this year’s prize is even bigger thanks to the Portsmouth Business Community supporting our 2026 giveaway. Following on from last year’s success where Citrus Facilities Management and Shaping Portsmouth gave a prize valued at £2,500 to support business growth […]
Making plans from International Women’s Day
Last week, Charla, Marian and Suzan spent some time together reflecting on International Women’s Day. They talked about what it means to be women in business, about equality, the theme of give to gain and most importantly how we as a team could create something that supports lasting change. So often there is a spotlight […]
Personal Business Branding with Jodie Goodchild
Grow faster and spend less on marketing in 2026 The Portsmouth Business Support Service and Known For have partnered to offer a brand new masterclass exclusively for Portsmouth businesses. And it’s completely free. Led by award-winning marketing expert Jodie Goodchild, this session draws on nearly 20 years of experience in lead generation, sales, and marketing. […]
Welcoming a new partnership with Negotia
The Shaping Portsmouth team are pleased to welcome Negotia, who have come on board as an Associate Patron. Negotia trains founders to win business, equipping them with the commercial skills to sell change, negotiate confidently, and build predictable revenue. Paul Sims, Founding & Managing Partner at Negotia, said “Portsmouth has always shaped who I am, […]