 A record number of traders have signed up to attend this year's Southsea Food Festival which returns on 15 & 16 July. Over 70 traders offering food and drink will be on show to the annual event that attracted around 58,000 visitors last year.
Councillor Steve Pitt, Leader of the council with responsibility for economic development said:
"Southsea Food Festival is now in its 15th year and is an important catalyst for our local economy. The event has launched businesses over the years and helped them to test their products and develop their brands. "
Food lovers will be able to browse, sample and buy a wide range of products including sausages, macaroons, ice cream, fresh pasta, local beer and Portsmouth gin.
 A new partnership between the public, private, academic and research communities designed to spearhead the Solent in becoming a leading centre for low carbon investment has been announced.
The Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has established The Solent Cluster to grow the local economy, protect skilled jobs, and create new employment opportunities in the energy technologies and industries of the future.
The LEP has also been successful in securing more than £1.2m from the Department for Education to support skills bootcamps in the region which will focus on areas including digital marketing, software development, maritime transport and logistics, care services, creative business management and administration, green skills and catering and hospitality.
 Macmillan Cancer Support is the new partner for Portsmouth’s iconic Spinnaker Tower. Abseilers have been in action at the council owned attraction, painting the charity's logo onto one of the Spinnaker’s legs.
The partnership is intended to raise awareness of the help available to people affected by cancer and also presents an array of fundraising opportunities for the charity. Every visitor to the tower will be asked if they would like to donate a small sum to Macmillan alongside their ticket purchase. The agreement will also generate income for the council, which will be directly invested in services that support local residents
 A new podcast from the University of Portsmouth, Accelerating Women’s Enterprise - Stories from the front line has been launched. It features a wide range of business owners, community leaders, charity directors, mentors and entrepreneurs who have been part of the Accelerating Women's Enterprise (AWE) project.
This project has trained over 750 entrepreneurs and launched more than 100 businesses in the UK and France. The free podcast covers topics including overcoming challenges, developing personal resilience and gaining newfound skills from AWE training.
 Portsmouth can now operate as a fully functioning Freeport, following approval for a customs site at Portsmouth International Port complementing the tax site at Portsmouth City Council's Dunsbury Park business development.
Authorised businesses can import certain goods to the port's customs site with simplified customs documentation, and without paying tariffs. Also, authorised businesses operating inside the customs site can store or manufacture goods using imported raw materials. By doing this, they can add value before exporting them again and, where certain conditions are met, they don’t need to pay import duties. Domestic goods can also be held in the customs site and used in any processing activity.
 Save the date! Join our Business Support team at Portsmouth's Business Expo, the region’s biggest business to business exhibition. With over 300 businesses attending, this is a brilliant event to gather new contacts that could benefit your business.
The event also offers free workshops and speed networking opportunities to inspire.
14 September at The Village Hotel
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