Building a new business is a challenge and it is even more difficult during hard times. With that said, even though there was Brexit in 2019 and the Coronavirus in 2020/2021 which lead to lock-downs throughout the UK, more businesses actually formed in Hampshire.
Even though this is certainly difficult to understand, the statistics don’t lie. There were more than 15,000 new business registrations in 2019 which is a significant 6.5% increase from 2018. Then, in 2021, even more companies were registered – a surprising 15,534 businesses which is a 2.4% increase from the previous year. Basically, Southampton had the most new businesses with a whopping 2,180 new registrations. This was followed by Portsmouth who had 1,845 registrations and 1,814 new businesses in East Hampshire. This clearly shows how resilient and truly strong the economy is in this particular county. Hampshire had a £50 billion output which shows how well this economy performed in these trying times.
Once you’re considering starting your own Hampshire business, there are lots of great resources that you can access. Additionally, there are numerous business networking groups in Hampshire that you can join to find excellent mentors and a lot of quality support. We’ll now talk about our best picks.
Hampshire Chamber Of Commerce
This is a non-profit company that is made up of 2,000+ businesses that are locally owned. They are made up of private sector members and have a lot of great resources for companies that have now started as well as established businesses. They also offer members numerous benefits such as tax advice, HR advice, legal advice and more. Once you’re a member, you can gain access to lots of discounts on various services and even attend various trainings. Most of all, you’ll be able to network with lots of successful business owners which will help you to achieve great things with your own business.
Enterprise Business South
This particular organisation is completely dedicated to improving the region’s economy. It has lots of business leaders, professionals, educators etc which come together to help one another and ensure there is positive change in the region. This is an independent group that gives support to all types and sizes of businesses and is actually great for new ones. There is a free start up course that you may want to check out called Create that will help you to find funding as well as any coaching you may require. On their website there are also lots of resources that you can access freely such as press releases, templates, business plans, various accounting spreadsheets and more.
Government Start Up Loan
In order to start a business, you’ll need to get investments and do financial planning. Fortunately, you can access between £50 – £25,000 from the start up loan offered by the Government in order to initiate and grow any type of business. Do note that this is a personal loan that is unsecured and in order to access it, you’ll have to meet certain criteria. These criteria include:
- 18+ years old
- Own a business in the United Kingdom that has been in operation for under 2 years. You can also simply have a plan to do so.
- Must also live within the United Kingdom
Once you’re successful, you’ll get access to funding as well as mentoring for 1 year and assistance with your business plan.
No matter what you’re doing whether it is now starting a business or scaling one, it is quite challenging and scary. However, we at Planet World are committed to helping you especially with the digital aspects of what you’re trying to achieve. So, you should definitely give us a call so you can learn more about us and we can discuss how our offerings can help you achieve your goals. Do note that we can completely overhaul your digital footprint and handle your entire online presence. So, don’t hesitate to call us at 01252 852145 or simply send an email at info@planetwidecity.com.
