Havant Borough Council launches business growth programme

Havant Borough Council has announced the launch of a new six-month programme aimed at equipping local small businesses with the tools and knowledge to scale up.

Delivering the programme for the borough and surrounding postcodes on behalf of the council will be Aspire4Business.com, which has a track record of supporting businesses through council initiatives.

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The programme will provide tailored support for businesses with less than 249 employees and participants will benefit from in-person workshops and one-on-one mentoring sessions, with the option to access digital resources and online training.

The course, which will support 20 companies, which have been operating for over 18 months, will also explore the integration of AI tools and measure growth over 12 months.

Beverley Poole, founder of Aspire4Business.com said: "It’s an absolute honour to design and deliver this structured business curriculum directly with Havant Borough Council, we will be offering two distinct pathways for early-stage businesses and those ready to scale up.

"It is designed to help businesses rethink their culture, strategy, and growth potential.

"Our aim is to equip participants with the insights and innovation needed to overcome obstacles.

"With as many as 60% of businesses struggling to reach their third anniversary, we need to understand why and provide the necessary support to improve their chances of success. It’s no longer a job, it’s a business."

Councillor Gillian Harris, cabinet lead for regeneration and communities, added: "We've seen considerable success with previous local business support initiatives and would like to develop this further with a formal and structured programme.

"Our other similar programmes have had a positive impact locally and we want to build on the momentum and encourage businesses to acquire the skills to be dynamic and enterprising."

For more information or to apply, people are asked to contact: [email protected]