Providing business support to Portsmouth creatives

The collaboration will be launched this weekend (12-13 December) at the We Create Market, held in Handleys Corner, the former Debenhams store in Southsea. The market will showcase local artists, crafts, creators, designers, entrepreneurs and lots of other goodies.

Members of Portsmouth Creates, will now be able to access specialist training and support through Abri’s Employment team. This includes:

• Two years of support.
• Access to highly skilled business mentors.
• Regular business support clubs.
• Marketplace events.
• Continued training.
• A dedicated Facebook page.

Michelle Dawson, Abri’s Managing Director of Community Services Company, says: “It has been a tough year for a lot of people, especially small businesses. We want to do everything we can to support our communities and working with Portsmouth Creates means we can do just that. We are excited to start working with Portsmouth creative entrepreneurs, supporting their business to grow and thrive.

“This is part of our £15m commitment to invest in our communities over the next five years. We’ve already helped over 2,000 people into work or start their own business, and plan to help at least 2,000 more over the next five years.”

Tim Rusby, Chair of Portsmouth Creates, says: “Portsmouth Creates was started to bring together and support creative and cultural activity in the city. This collaboration with Abri is there to help the incredibly successful cultural and creative business community of Portsmouth, especially in this coming new economic horizon - a post-pandemic and bright 2021! SO GET STUCK IN! Get any business and financial advice, support, and training that you’d like to keep growing your success.”

You can find out more about Abri’s employment support and Portsmouth Creates at the We Create Market this weekend (12-13 December) at Handley’s Corner (the former Debenhams store in Southsea).

For more information on Portsmouth Creates, go to www.portsmouthcreates.co.uk