Portsmouth Business
Support Service
In partnership with:
Business Mentoring
Shaping Portsmouth can link you to a local Business professional to provide mentoring in the areas you need to help you succeed.
Small businesses are the lifeblood of our city, creating jobs and driving innovation. However, many entrepreneurs face challenges in starting and growing their businesses. A mentor can be a game-changer.
Did you know that businesses with mentors are three times more likely to experience high growth?
Small business owners who have a mentor are five times more likely to start a business, and these businesses are 20% more likely to thrive and grow in their first five years.
To find out more, please contact us.
See some of the business to have benefited from the scheme here.
Our Mentors
Below are just some of our mentors, currently supporting local businesses by sharing their expertise.
Interested in becoming a mentor? Find out more here.
Andy Sheppard
Eastleigh Borough Council
Andy is a passionate arts professional who has been managing marketing in the cultural sector for around 30 years, within both commercial and funded arts and cultural organisations across the South of England. She has headed up marketing at The Mary Rose Trust and the historically significant Phipps/Matcham, New Theatre Royal in Portsmouth, and is described by her peers as a bit of a ticketing & data geek!
Bill Sainsbury
Portsmouth City Council
Bill manages the marketing & communications for the Planning and Economic Growth teams at PCC. One of the council’s key priorities is to grow the local economy. Bill has developed a marketing plan to support Portsmouth’s businesses to start up, grow and thrive and attract inward investment. Current campaigns include Southsea Food Festival, Eat the Island, Christmas in Portsmouth, and Support Local.
Joe Taffurelli
Pulse Workforce Solutions
Joe is CEO of Pulse Workforce Solutions, with a career that’s taken him from government corridors to the chaos (sorry… the fun) of the private sector. Along the way, he’s picked up experience in just about everything, strategy, sales, HR, finance, ops, you name it, and loves using that mix to help people grow, develop, and thrive.
Jonathan Bird
Delivered Social
Jonathan is the founder and managing director of Delivered Social, a dynamic digital agency based in Portsmouth & Guildford. With a passion for helping businesses grow online, Jonathan has built a reputation for delivering innovative digital marketing strategies that drive results.
Lisa Gibbs
Philip Gibbs Insurance Brokers
With her qualifications and experience in insurance, online retail and education businesses, Lisa brings a strong blend of academic knowledge and practical expertise across business management and leadership. As a mentor, Lisa can provide valuable guidance and structured support to help others achieve their goals and reach their business goals.
Robin Lander Brinkley
Maxwell Communications
Robin has 25 years experience in Marketing and Public Relations, 20 years of which have been running his own business, a Masters Degree in Marketing from the University of Portsmouth, and won professional awards including ‘Best Freelance Practitioner in the UK’ from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.
Sarah Roads
SLR Recruitment
Sarah is founder and director of SLR Recruitment. Driven, knowledgeable, and selfless, she inspires her team to strive for excellence in everything they do. With her entrepreneurial spirit and kind heart, Sarah leads by example, guiding her team to uphold the highest ethical standards with integrity and honesty.
Tim Rampton
Tim Rampton Coaching
Over 40 years in financial services and personal development, Tim has coached and led numerous teams and individuals to achieve success. Through his professional experiences, he has developed a real ability to discover what is of importance to his clients and then walk with them to ensure they succeed.
Yvonne Clay
Landsec - Gunwharf Quays
Following a successful career in retail, buying, product management and marketing, Yvonne started working in Portsmouth for Landsec, based at Gunwharf Quays, 9 years ago. Yvonne was instantly impressed by the energy and passion that the people of the city have to offer, and was keen to do all I could to see Portsmouth thrive.