July 2025 Edition

Welcome to the July Business Newsletter from Havant Borough Council's Economic Development Team. 

If you would like to contact our Economic Development team to discuss your business needs and how you can build partnerships and access support locally, please email economic_development@havant.gov.uk

Open for business

We're excited to announce the opening of The Recovery Hub, now based in Greywell Shopping Centre in Leigh Park.

The Recovery Hub is a juice bar and cafe offering fresh juices, healthy food and hot and cold drinks.

The juice bar is now open for business thanks to Havant Borough Council's Vacant Shop Scheme grant, currently available for Expression of Interest in unites in Leigh Park until 30 September 2025.

We would also like to give a warm welcome our latest short-term tenant, Loftrobe, to our Waterlooville Pop Up Shop in Wellington Way.

Loftrobe is a furniture storage solutions company, creating customised elevated furniture that utilises space and storage in homes.

The business will be based in our high street pop up shop until the end of August.

Looking to recruit locally? We can help

If you are in the process of hiring, particularly roles at entry-level, and are looking to locally recruit, Link Up Youth Hub has a diverse, ready-made talent pool to introduce to you.

We're passionate about connecting employers and young people, matching candidates to business needs.

Let us help promote your role on our community jobs board, free of charge.

Havant's youth employment service highly commended at LGC awards

We are thrilled to share that Havant Borough Council, in partnership with the Department of Work and Pensions, was highly commended at the recent Local Government Chronicle Awards in the Economic Development category for our work at the Leigh Park Youth Hub.

A fantastic recognition of the passion and dedication of our team, who are committed to making a real difference for young people in our communities. The team have supported over 300 young people into employment, offering 1-2-1 support to reduce the challenges that they face and develop the skills needed to begin their career journeys. The service works closely with local training providers, health partners and community organisations to help move young people towards employment.

Special thanks to Comserv (UK) Ltd for sponsoring our entry, your support is hugely appreciated.

The service also works with other Havant businesses who support our events and programmes. If you'd like to help with the hub's future projects, please send an email to linkuphub@havant.gov.uk .

From vision to venture: The dos and don'ts of raising capital

As part of Venturefest South's Rumble event series, Barclays Eagle Labs, British Business Bank, Blake Morgan and Openshaw & Co have teamed up with Shipshape VC and Innovators Uncensored to bring you a straight-talking, insight-packed session on securing investment.

You’ll hear:

• Daniel Sawko (CEO, Shipshape VC) on what’s working in today’s funding landscape
• Investor horror stories from Daniel and Richard Lee (Innovators Uncensored)
• A brilliant expert panel including Angel investor Sam Simpson, alongside legal, IP and finance specialists

If you’re raising capital now, or planning to in the next year—this is the practical guidance you won’t want to miss.

What: From Vision to Venture: The Dos and Don'ts of Raising Capital

Where: Southampton

When: July16th, 5pm-9pm

🎟️ Free to attend, but spaces are limited

Youth employment week: expert webinar

Youth Employment Week takes place from 7th - 11th July to celebrate young people and employers.

This year, Youth Employment UK are inviting employers, educators and supporters of young people to attend the Keeping The Talent Tap On webinar to discuss youth employment strategies.

What To Expect

As the employment landscape continues to evolve, creating space for the next generation isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s a smart investment in future workforce sustainability. Together, we’ll consider how employers can respond to the current youth employment landscape and take practical steps toward future-focused attraction and retention.

Speakers:

• Laura-Jane Rawlings MBE DL, CEO of Youth Employment UK
• Lauren Mistry, Deputy CEO of Youth Employment UK

We’ll also be joined by guest speakers from the sector who will share their expert insight into what really works.

When: 7th July 2025

Where: Online via Zoom

Time: 12PM - 1PM

Subscribe to Havant's sustainability for business newsletter

Havant Borough Council has recently launched a quarterly newsletter covering all areas of sustainability for businesses. Catch up with the first edition of the newsletter and let the council support the transition to be a greener economy. Every quarter, we are looking to celebrate businesses across the borough who have begun their journey to sustainability. We hope to build a network of business peers to share and learn from one another. If you're a Havant business who has recently accessed a green scheme or actioned a green intervention, we'd like to hear from you. Examples of this could be the installation of PV solar panels to support with business savings or access training to upskill your staff. If you'd like to share your experience with us, please send an email to Economic_Development@havant.gov.uk .

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