Business funding and support

We partner with organisations to help with funding and other support for your business.

Solent Business & Skills Solutions

Free service providing a range of support measures to help businesses across the Southampton and Portsmouth areas to succeed. Find out more about how businesses are supported in this case study.

Visit Solent Business & Skills Solutions.

The Business and IP Centre (BIPC) Southampton

The Business and IP Centre (BIPC) Southampton is part of The British Library Business and IP Centre National Network. It provides entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises with free access to:

Databases
Market research
Intellectual Property information
Networking and business events

Find out more about the BIPC.

Solent Growth Hub

The Solent Growth Hub promotes and encourages the simplification of business support across the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, and Southampton. It provides programmes of expert support focused on growth and productivity to businesses based in those areas. It is funded by the Department for Business and Trade.

The Solent Growth Hub is a component of a wider business support programme delivered by Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, and Southampton councils.

Find out more at business support resources.

Eagle Lab Academy

Eagle Lab Academy is a digital learning platform to help founders start and scale their business. It covers the key aspects of launching and growing a business, with bite-sized lessons that allow you to learn at your own pace.

Visit Eagle Labs Academy.

Help to Grow

Help to Grow: Management Essentials is a free, online course that explains the essential business concepts required for growth. Through a series of practical, bite-sized videos and supporting resources, you will explore:

How to think more strategically about your business
Your target market
Your go-to-market strategy

Learn more about Help to Grow: Management Essentials.

The Rebel Business School

The Rebel Business School: Rebel on Demand gives you the information, inspiration, and practical help you need to get your business idea up and running. They have collected videos, podcasts, blogs, and other information from their live events to give you a service you can enjoy for free, every day, at any time.

Visit Rebel on Demand.

Solent Business Accelerator

The Solent Business Accelerator offers:

Custom-made one-to-one growth support
Access to expert-led workshops
Access to other business owners in a similar stage of growth

If your business is based in the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, or Southampton, has been trading for two years or more, and has a turnover of over £100'000, take advantage of the Solent Business Accelerator.

Defence Employer Recognition Scheme

The Armed Forces Covenant allows you and your business to show your support for the Armed Forces community. You can also show your support for defence through the Government's Employer Recognition Award Scheme.

Find out more about the Armed Forces Covenant and the Defence Employer Recognition Award Scheme.