[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":657},["ShallowReactive",2],{"news-\u002Fnews\u002Fyear-ahead-hampshire-networking":3,"site:reading-news-year-ahead-hampshire-networking":297,"news-rows":414,"site:og:\u002Fnews\u002Fyear-ahead-hampshire-networking":655},{"id":4,"title":5,"answeredBy":6,"atAGlance":6,"author":7,"blocks":6,"body":8,"date":243,"description":244,"events":245,"extension":252,"gettingThere":6,"image":253,"imageAlt":254,"imageCredit":255,"interview":6,"kind":256,"lifted":6,"means":6,"meta":257,"navigation":258,"now":6,"organisers":6,"path":259,"photos":6,"pick":6,"pull":6,"questions":6,"quote":6,"readMins":260,"scene":6,"seo":261,"source":6,"sources":262,"span":6,"standfirst":289,"stem":290,"steps":6,"tags":291,"town":6,"updated":295,"venues":6,"was":6,"__hash__":296},"news\u002Fnews\u002Fyear-ahead-hampshire-networking.md","The year ahead for Hampshire business networking",null,"hampshire.events",{"type":9,"value":10,"toc":232},"minimark",[11,15,20,31,39,42,46,55,78,82,91,100,109,113,127,136,140,143,165,168,172,207,211],[12,13,14],"p",{},"The January version of this article promised \"more events, more venues and more crossover between sectors\". It was optimism, not evidence. Ten months on, there is evidence to work with. Here is what changed in 2026 for businesses in Hampshire, and what it suggests for the year ahead.",[16,17,19],"h2",{"id":18},"a-new-layer-of-regional-government","A new layer of regional government",[12,21,22,23,30],{},"The biggest structural change was the creation of the Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority. The ",[24,25,29],"a",{"href":26,"rel":27},"https:\u002F\u002Flegislation.gov.uk\u002Fuksi\u002F2026\u002F595\u002Fmade",[28],"nofollow","regulations that set it up"," were made on 3 June 2026 and came into force the next day. Its four constituent councils are Hampshire County Council, the Isle of Wight Council, Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council.",[12,32,33,34,38],{},"The regulations give it powers over local transport planning and public transport, and allow it to use the general power of competence for economic development and regeneration, alongside the councils. They also provide for an elected mayor. The first mayoral election is set for ",[35,36,37],"strong",{},"4 May 2028",", and the mayor's own functions start after that.",[12,40,41],{},"So for 2027, the authority exists but its mayor does not yet. Expect it to be building its plans and its business engagement. If you want a say in how regional economic decisions are made, its consultations and business events are worth watching.",[16,43,45],{"id":44},"business-support-has-already-moved","Business support has already moved",[12,47,48,49,54],{},"This builds on a change from 2024. In August 2023 the government said it would ",[24,50,53],{"href":51,"rel":52},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gov.uk\u002Fgovernment\u002Fpublications\u002Ftransfer-of-local-enterprise-partnership-lep-core-functions-to-combined-and-local-authorities",[28],"withdraw core funding for local enterprise partnerships from April 2024"," and move their responsibilities to local and combined authorities. Hampshire's two partnerships, Enterprise M3 and the Solent LEP, were among those affected.",[12,56,57,58,62,63,67,68,72,73,77],{},"In practice, that means publicly funded business support in Hampshire now runs through the councils. The listings show it: the ",[24,59,61],{"href":60},"\u002Forganisers\u002Fsolent-business-growth-service","Solent Business Growth Service"," runs one-to-one business and skills clinics, ",[24,64,66],{"href":65},"\u002Forganisers\u002Fshaping-portsmouth","Shaping Portsmouth"," runs start-up and skills sessions, and ",[24,69,71],{"href":70},"\u002Forganisers\u002Fsouthampton-city-council-business-support","Southampton City Council Business Support"," runs workshops. Our ",[24,74,76],{"href":75},"\u002Fbusiness-support","business support"," page explains the kinds of help available.",[16,79,81],{"id":80},"more-businesses-on-the-register","More businesses on the register",[12,83,84,85,90],{},"In September 2026 the ONS reported that the UK had ",[24,86,89],{"href":87,"rel":88},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ons.gov.uk\u002Fbusinessindustryandtrade\u002Fbusiness\u002Factivitysizeandlocation\u002Fbulletins\u002Fukbusinessactivitysizeandlocation\u002F2026",[28],"2.79 million VAT or PAYE businesses in March 2026",", 1.9% more than a year before. Every UK region grew, which the ONS said was the first time that had happened since 2017.",[12,92,93,94,99],{},"Hampshire followed. ",[24,95,98],{"href":96,"rel":97},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nomisweb.co.uk\u002Fdatasets\u002Fidbrent",[28],"UK Business Counts"," recorded 59,420 registered businesses in the Hampshire County Council area in March 2026, up from 58,650 a year earlier. Southampton went from 7,235 to 7,285 and Portsmouth from 6,020 to 6,095.",[12,101,102,103,108],{},"A different measure, which includes the smallest sole traders not registered for VAT or PAYE, points slightly the other way. The Department for Business and Trade estimated ",[24,104,107],{"href":105,"rel":106},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gov.uk\u002Fgovernment\u002Fstatistics\u002Fbusiness-population-estimates-2026\u002Fbusiness-population-estimates-for-the-uk-and-regions-2026-statistical-release",[28],"5.6 million private sector businesses"," at the start of 2026, 1.8% fewer than in 2025, but said the fall was small relative to the estimate's uncertainty and could not confidently be called a real decline. Read together: the number of established, registered businesses grew; the number of very small, informal ones may not have.",[16,110,112],{"id":111},"more-people-starting-up","More people starting up",[12,114,115,116,120,121,126],{},"The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor's UK report for 2025\u002F26, ",[117,118,119],"em",{},"Beyond the Unicorns",", found early-stage business activity rose ",[24,122,125],{"href":123,"rel":124},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.wbs.ac.uk\u002Fnews\u002Frecord-entrepreneurship-levels-highlighted-in-wbs-parliamentary-evidence\u002F",[28],"from 12.0% to 16.8% of UK adults in 2025",", driven by young people and women starting businesses. That is a national figure, but new founders are exactly the people who look for advice and contacts in their first year.",[12,128,129,130,135],{},"The government's small business survey shows how much room there is. In 2025, only ",[24,131,134],{"href":132,"rel":133},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.gov.uk\u002Fgovernment\u002Fstatistics\u002Fsmall-business-survey-2025-businesses-with-employees\u002Flongitudinal-small-business-survey-2025-sme-employers-businesses-with-1-to-249-employees",[28],"28% of small and medium employers"," sought outside information or advice. Business networks and trade associations were one of the sources they used.",[16,137,139],{"id":138},"what-we-expect-in-2027-and-what-we-dont-know","What we expect in 2027, and what we don't know",[12,141,142],{},"We won't forecast attendance or growth: we have no data to do it honestly. What the evidence above suggests:",[144,145,146,153,159],"ul",{},[147,148,149,152],"li",{},[35,150,151],{},"More first-timers."," If start-up activity stays near its 2025 level, more new owners will be looking for a first event. Start-up sessions and business clinics are likely to stay busy.",[147,154,155,158],{},[35,156,157],{},"More public business engagement."," A new combined authority building towards a mayoral election in 2028 will want to hear from businesses.",[147,160,161,164],{},[35,162,163],{},"Steady regular groups."," Repeating groups make up most of the calendar in our listings (see below), and nothing in the figures suggests that changing.",[12,166,167],{},"What we can measure is our own listings. From 12 November to 31 December 2026, hampshire.events listed 254 dated events across the county, 18 of them online. Of those dates, 160 belonged to series that meet more than once in those seven weeks, and the weekly referral chapters alone accounted for more than a hundred. If you want something to fit round the rest of your diary, a repeating group is the easiest place to start. We will keep saying what is listed, when we checked it, and where it came from.",[16,169,171],{"id":170},"what-this-means-if-youre-going-to-events","What this means if you're going to events",[144,173,174,185,195,201],{},[147,175,176,179,180,184],{},[35,177,178],{},"If you are new, start with support and a first event."," A business clinic and one open networking event in your first few months is a sensible start. See ",[24,181,183],{"href":182},"\u002Fguides\u002Fyour-first-business-event","your first business event",".",[147,186,187,190,191,184],{},[35,188,189],{},"If you are established, pick a regular group."," Repetition is how contacts turn into relationships. See ",[24,192,194],{"href":193},"\u002Fguides\u002Fchoosing-a-networking-group","choosing a networking group",[147,196,197,200],{},[35,198,199],{},"Watch the combined authority."," Its business engagement will shape regional decisions on transport and the economy.",[147,202,203,206],{},[35,204,205],{},"Book the big dates early."," Awards, expos and festivals are listed ahead, and the listings below show the next ones.",[16,208,210],{"id":209},"find-the-next-one","Find the next one",[12,212,213,214,218,219,218,223,227,228,184],{},"The listings below mix the season's bigger events with business support. For the rest, see ",[24,215,217],{"href":216},"\u002Fthis-week","this week",", ",[24,220,222],{"href":221},"\u002Fchristmas-networking","Christmas networking",[24,224,226],{"href":225},"\u002Fformats\u002Fawards","awards"," and ",[24,229,231],{"href":230},"\u002Fgroups","groups",{"title":233,"searchDepth":234,"depth":234,"links":235},"",2,[236,237,238,239,240,241,242],{"id":18,"depth":234,"text":19},{"id":44,"depth":234,"text":45},{"id":80,"depth":234,"text":81},{"id":111,"depth":234,"text":112},{"id":138,"depth":234,"text":139},{"id":170,"depth":234,"text":171},{"id":209,"depth":234,"text":210},"2026-01-08","A new combined authority, a mayor due in 2028, more registered businesses and record start-up activity: what 2026 changed and what it means for 2027.",[246,247,248,249,250,251],"hampshire-business-awards-2026","venturefest-souths-10th-anniversary-festival-of-innovation","b2bx-farnborough-2026-farnboroughs-largest-b2b-expo-discovery-showcase","business-skills-clinic-portsmouth","so-you-want-to-start-a-business","fsb-connect-online-in-hampshire-dorset-and-isle-of-wight-november","md","https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1573132384450-05613acc76dd?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","Highclere Castle in north Hampshire","Andy Galbraith · unsplash.com\u002Fphotos\u002F4QkWB0o-Rqs","article",{},true,"\u002Fnews\u002Fyear-ahead-hampshire-networking",4,{"title":5,"description":244},[263,267,271,275,278,282,286],{"title":264,"publisher":265,"url":26,"date":266},"The Hampshire and the Solent Combined County Authority Regulations 2026 (SI 2026\u002F595)","legislation.gov.uk","2026-06-03",{"title":268,"publisher":269,"url":51,"date":270},"Transfer of local enterprise partnership (LEP) core functions to combined and local authorities","Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Department for Business and Trade","2023-08-04",{"title":272,"publisher":273,"url":87,"date":274},"UK business: activity, size and location: 2026","Office for National Statistics","2026-09-24",{"title":276,"publisher":277,"url":96,"date":274},"UK Business Counts: enterprises by industry and employment size band, 2025 and 2026","Office for National Statistics (via Nomis)",{"title":279,"publisher":280,"url":105,"date":281},"Business population estimates for the UK and regions 2026: statistical release","Department for Business and Trade","2026-11-05",{"title":283,"publisher":284,"url":123,"date":285},"Record entrepreneurship levels highlighted in WBS parliamentary evidence (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor UK 2025\u002F26)","Warwick Business School","2026-10-30",{"title":287,"publisher":280,"url":132,"date":288},"Longitudinal Small Business Survey 2025: SME employers (businesses with 1 to 249 employees)","2026-10-15","We first wrote this in January 2026 as a forecast with no figures in it. We have rewritten it in November with what actually happened: new regional government, more businesses on the register, and more people starting up, and what that means for the year ahead.","news\u002Fyear-ahead-hampshire-networking",[292,293,294],"Community","Networking","Industry","2026-11-12","mem144eKIKxbkPYQe2iYzeRX13f_Q05XYO65SAVI4NE",{"today":298,"events":299,"pick":6,"organisers":411,"venues":412,"town":6,"townEvents":413},"2026-11-13",[300,327,345,365,376,395],{"id":301,"series":247,"date":302,"href":303,"title":304,"start":305,"end":306,"day":307,"time":308,"endTime":309,"slot":310,"format":311,"town":312,"townSlug":313,"venue":314,"venueSlug":315,"organiser":316,"organiserSlug":317,"price":318,"isFree":319,"priceWords":320,"isOnline":319,"access":321,"checked":322,"checkedAt":323,"lat":324,"lng":325,"photo":326},"e6ed5b2d-a613-4069-a417-4a98eda520b6","wednesday-18-november","\u002Fevents\u002Fventurefest-souths-10th-anniversary-festival-of-innovation\u002Fwednesday-18-november","Venturefest South's 10th Anniversary Festival of Innovation","2026-11-18T09:00:00+00:00","2026-11-18T17:00:00+00:00","2026-11-18","09:00","17:00","all-day","conferences","Southampton","southampton","Utilita Bowl and Hilton Southampton – Utilita Bowl","utilita-bowl-and-hilton-southampton-utilita-bowl","Venturefest South","venturefest-south",50,false,"£50","Open to all","Checked 19 Oct","2026-10-19",50.924702,-1.320613,"https:\u002F\u002Fbusinesseventstack.lon1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\u002Fhampshire\u002Flisting-images\u002F3325ea21-1151-4122-836f-21c2e497bccd.jpg",{"id":328,"series":249,"date":302,"href":329,"title":330,"start":331,"end":332,"day":307,"time":333,"endTime":334,"slot":310,"format":335,"town":336,"townSlug":337,"venue":338,"venueSlug":339,"organiser":61,"organiserSlug":340,"price":341,"isFree":258,"priceWords":342,"isOnline":319,"access":321,"checked":322,"checkedAt":323,"lat":343,"lng":344},"c0a0bc84-b3f9-4e34-a749-035e5e22ae60","\u002Fevents\u002Fbusiness-skills-clinic-portsmouth\u002Fwednesday-18-november","Business & Skills Clinic Portsmouth","2026-11-18T10:00:00+00:00","2026-11-18T16:00:00+00:00","10:00","16:00","talks","Portsmouth","portsmouth","Victory Centre","victory-centre","solent-business-growth-service",0,"No ticket price",50.797884,-1.077628,{"id":346,"series":248,"date":347,"href":348,"title":349,"start":350,"end":351,"day":352,"time":333,"endTime":353,"slot":354,"format":355,"town":356,"townSlug":357,"venue":358,"venueSlug":359,"organiser":360,"organiserSlug":361,"price":341,"isFree":258,"priceWords":342,"isOnline":319,"access":321,"checked":322,"checkedAt":323,"lat":362,"lng":363,"photo":364},"4cbbb6ef-f1ac-4e92-9f6f-b9b498762a6a","thursday-19-november","\u002Fevents\u002Fb2bx-farnborough-2026-farnboroughs-largest-b2b-expo-discovery-showcase\u002Fthursday-19-november","B2BX Farnborough 2026 | Farnborough's Largest B2B Expo & Discovery Showcase","2026-11-19T10:00:00+00:00","2026-11-19T14:00:00+00:00","2026-11-19","14:00","day","expos","Farnborough","farnborough","Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre","farnborough-international-exhibition-and-conference-centre","B2B Expos","b2b-expos",51.276584,-0.762142,"https:\u002F\u002Fbusinesseventstack.lon1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\u002Fhampshire\u002Flisting-images\u002F3e64bfbf-265f-41ef-85b3-496e95e0867f.jpg",{"id":366,"series":251,"date":367,"href":368,"title":369,"start":370,"end":371,"day":372,"time":308,"endTime":333,"slot":373,"format":373,"organiser":374,"organiserSlug":375,"price":341,"isFree":258,"priceWords":342,"isOnline":258,"access":321,"checked":322,"checkedAt":323},"a88ecc40-5aa1-40d2-8e12-bc2c5aaf9ed3","friday-20-november","\u002Fevents\u002Ffsb-connect-online-in-hampshire-dorset-and-isle-of-wight-november\u002Ffriday-20-november","FSB Connect Online in Hampshire, Dorset and Isle of Wight – November","2026-11-20T09:00:00+00:00","2026-11-20T10:00:00+00:00","2026-11-20","online","FSB Hampshire, Dorset and Isle of Wight","fsb-hampshire-dorset-and-isle-of-wight",{"id":377,"series":246,"date":378,"href":379,"title":380,"start":381,"end":382,"day":383,"time":384,"endTime":385,"slot":386,"format":226,"town":387,"townSlug":388,"venue":389,"venueSlug":390,"organiser":391,"organiserSlug":392,"price":341,"isFree":258,"priceWords":342,"isOnline":319,"access":321,"checked":322,"checkedAt":323,"lat":393,"lng":394},"8e8e80bd-266d-4cfd-ab08-757b25bd02c1","thursday-26-november","\u002Fevents\u002Fhampshire-business-awards-2026\u002Fthursday-26-november","Hampshire Business Awards 2026","2026-11-26T19:00:00+00:00","2026-11-26T23:00:00+00:00","2026-11-26","19:00","23:00","evening","Liphook","liphook","Old Thorns Hotel & Resort","old-thorns-hotel-and-resort","Insider Media","insider-media",51.074864,-0.831922,{"id":396,"series":250,"date":397,"href":398,"title":399,"start":400,"end":401,"day":402,"time":403,"endTime":404,"slot":405,"format":405,"town":336,"townSlug":337,"venue":406,"venueSlug":407,"organiser":66,"organiserSlug":408,"price":341,"isFree":258,"priceWords":342,"isOnline":319,"access":321,"checked":322,"checkedAt":323,"lat":409,"lng":410},"303708d0-cea7-4c75-973e-2dc7949fe6b8","tuesday-15-december","\u002Fevents\u002Fso-you-want-to-start-a-business\u002Ftuesday-15-december","So You Want To Start A Business?","2026-12-15T18:00:00+00:00","2026-12-15T19:30:00+00:00","2026-12-15","18:00","19:30","after-work","Portsmouth Guildhall","portsmouth-guildhall","shaping-portsmouth",50.7975937,-1.0929897,[],[],[],[415,423,432,437,444,452,458,466,473,480,487,495,503,511,520,528,536,544,551,559,566,573,580,587,594,602,609,617,624,632,639,646,653],{"path":416,"title":417,"date":295,"tags":418,"image":420,"imageAlt":421,"kind":422,"readMins":260},"\u002Fnews\u002Fnovember-edition-2026","The November edition: ideas, expos and awards",[419,293],"Events","https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1711390811937-1b061eaf28ea?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","Visitors walking between stands at a trade show","article-edition",{"path":424,"title":425,"date":426,"tags":427,"image":428,"imageAlt":429,"kind":430,"readMins":431},"\u002Fnews\u002Fchristmas-business-networking-2026","Christmas networking 2026: festive dates across Hampshire","2026-10-21",[419,293],"https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1511988617509-a57c8a288659?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","A group of friends laughing together","article-season",3,{"path":433,"title":434,"date":435,"tags":436,"image":420,"imageAlt":421,"kind":256,"readMins":260},"\u002Fnews\u002Fhampshire-business-show-2026-guide","Hampshire Business Show: getting the most from an expo","2026-10-20",[419,312],{"path":438,"title":439,"date":288,"tags":440,"image":441,"imageAlt":442,"kind":256,"readMins":443},"\u002Fnews\u002Fintroducing-hampshire-events","Introducing hampshire.events: one checked list",[292,293],"https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1579045846121-299dc925c614?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","Boats moored at Southampton",5,{"path":445,"title":446,"date":447,"tags":448,"image":450,"imageAlt":451,"kind":256,"readMins":260},"\u002Fnews\u002Fsustainability-on-the-business-agenda","Sustainability on the business agenda: figures and meet-ups","2026-10-08",[449,419],"Sustainability","https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1719962865624-e3196c1e1206?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","Steps leading into the gardens at Mottisfont, near Romsey",{"path":453,"title":454,"date":274,"tags":455,"image":456,"imageAlt":457,"kind":256,"readMins":260},"\u002Fnews\u002Fhampshire-business-awards-season-2026","Awards season: Hampshire's business awards this autumn",[419,292],"https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1587825140708-dfaf72ae4b04?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","A speaker on stage in front of a large audience",{"path":459,"title":460,"date":461,"tags":462,"image":464,"imageAlt":465,"kind":256,"readMins":260},"\u002Fnews\u002Fbreakfast-groups-back-september","Hampshire's breakfast groups: how they work and why","2026-09-03",[293,463],"Tips","https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1604881988758-f76ad2f7aac1?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","Two people holding mugs of coffee at a table",{"path":467,"title":468,"date":469,"tags":470,"image":471,"imageAlt":472,"kind":256,"readMins":260},"\u002Fnews\u002Fautumn-business-calendar-2026","Hampshire's big business days this autumn","2026-08-13",[419,294],"https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1540575467063-178a50c2df87?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","An audience seated in rows at a conference",{"path":474,"title":475,"date":476,"tags":477,"image":478,"imageAlt":479,"kind":256,"readMins":260},"\u002Fnews\u002Fnetwalking-business-outdoors","Netwalking: why business conversations are moving outdoors","2026-07-23",[293,292],"https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1486579425215-d11603200406?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","A walker on a forest track in the New Forest near Lyndhurst",{"path":481,"title":482,"date":483,"tags":484,"image":485,"imageAlt":486,"kind":256,"readMins":260},"\u002Fnews\u002Fsummer-networking-hampshire","Summer networking in Hampshire: keeping in touch","2026-07-09",[293,463],"https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1592118829208-de1511706a02?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","Fields and trees outside Winchester on a summer day",{"path":488,"title":489,"date":490,"tags":491,"image":493,"imageAlt":494,"kind":256,"readMins":260},"\u002Fnews\u002Fbreakfast-networking-in-winchester","Breakfast networking in Winchester: what's really on","2026-06-18",[293,492,292],"Winchester","https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1749490129703-56790a541757?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","Winchester Cathedral behind the trees of the Close",{"path":496,"title":497,"date":498,"tags":499,"image":501,"imageAlt":502,"kind":256,"readMins":260},"\u002Fnews\u002Fsouthampton-maritime-business-connections","Southampton's maritime economy and who it meets","2026-06-12",[312,500,294],"Maritime","https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1613423468841-f8d8ca10bf3f?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","Boats moored on the Hamble near Southampton",{"path":504,"title":505,"date":506,"tags":507,"image":509,"imageAlt":510,"kind":256,"readMins":260},"\u002Fnews\u002Fbni-chapters-in-hampshire","BNI in Hampshire: how the weekly chapters work","2026-06-05",[293,508,292],"BNI","https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1740506700638-01aba0ffbbc0?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","A group meeting over breakfast at a long table",{"path":512,"title":513,"date":514,"tags":515,"image":518,"imageAlt":519,"kind":256,"readMins":260},"\u002Fnews\u002Fstarting-up-in-eastleigh","Starting up in Eastleigh: what the figures say","2026-05-28",[516,517,292],"Eastleigh","Startups","https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1534432295314-d934309ea09d?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","A cappuccino beside a laptop",{"path":521,"title":522,"date":523,"tags":524,"image":526,"imageAlt":527,"kind":256,"readMins":260},"\u002Fnews\u002Fportsmouth-tech-sector-networking","Portsmouth's tech sector: the figures and where to meet","2026-05-21",[336,525,294],"Tech","https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1666294380353-8cd2f6b0d3bd?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth, at night",{"path":529,"title":530,"date":531,"tags":532,"image":534,"imageAlt":535,"kind":256,"readMins":260},"\u002Fnews\u002Fbasingstoke-quiet-powerhouse","Basingstoke: the quiet powerhouse, in figures","2026-05-14",[533,294,292],"Basingstoke","https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1759329657243-ab14296df12f?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","The Basingstoke Canal under summer trees",{"path":537,"title":538,"date":539,"tags":540,"image":542,"imageAlt":543,"kind":256,"readMins":260},"\u002Fnews\u002Fwomen-in-business-networking-hampshire","Women in business: the groups meeting across Hampshire","2026-05-07",[541,293,292],"Women in business","https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1758599543122-36252c317fd9?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","Two businesswomen talking outside an office",{"path":545,"title":546,"date":547,"tags":548,"image":549,"imageAlt":550,"kind":256,"readMins":443},"\u002Fnews\u002Fcoworking-spaces-hampshire","Co-working spaces and the people who meet in them","2026-04-30",[294,292,517],"https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1497366811353-6870744d04b2?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","A shared workspace with long tables",{"path":552,"title":553,"date":554,"tags":555,"image":557,"imageAlt":558,"kind":256,"readMins":443},"\u002Fnews\u002Fhampshire-hospitality-2026","Hampshire hospitality in 2026: what the figures show","2026-04-16",[556,294,292],"Hospitality","https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1517833969405-d4a24c2c8280?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","Breakfast at Lime Wood, Lyndhurst",{"path":560,"title":561,"date":562,"tags":563,"image":564,"imageAlt":565,"kind":256,"readMins":260},"\u002Fnews\u002Fpetersfield-market-town-business","Petersfield: business in a South Downs market town","2026-04-09",[294,292,293],"https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1646248374516-5938b47c0b34?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","The view from Butser Hill near Petersfield",{"path":567,"title":568,"date":569,"tags":570,"image":571,"imageAlt":572,"kind":256,"readMins":260},"\u002Fnews\u002Ffareham-gosport-networking-by-the-coast","Fareham and Gosport: business by the harbour, in figures","2026-04-02",[294,292,293],"https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1693132773626-4613e489d947?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","Gosport waterfront looking across to the Spinnaker Tower",{"path":574,"title":575,"date":576,"tags":577,"image":578,"imageAlt":579,"kind":256,"readMins":260},"\u002Fnews\u002Faldershot-enterprise-growth","Aldershot and Rushmoor: the business picture in figures","2026-03-26",[294,292,517],"https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1560079266-8bc6529e983c?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","Modern glass office buildings",{"path":581,"title":582,"date":583,"tags":584,"image":585,"imageAlt":586,"kind":256,"readMins":260},"\u002Fnews\u002Fwhy-networking-matters-for-small-business","Why networking matters for small businesses","2026-03-19",[463,293,292],"https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1531058020387-3be344556be6?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","People talking at a business event",{"path":588,"title":589,"date":590,"tags":591,"image":592,"imageAlt":593,"kind":256,"readMins":443},"\u002Fnews\u002Fhampshire-green-economy-networks","Hampshire's green economy: the figures and the networks","2026-03-12",[449,294,292],"https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1579729131238-2444987e8de9?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","Woodland in the New Forest National Park",{"path":595,"title":596,"date":597,"tags":598,"image":600,"imageAlt":601,"kind":256,"readMins":260},"\u002Fnews\u002Fandover-growing-business-district","Andover and Test Valley: makers, movers and a new theatre","2026-03-05",[599,294,293],"Andover","https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1594996663101-8ab435009d2e?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","Farmland near Romsey in the Test Valley",{"path":603,"title":604,"date":605,"tags":606,"image":607,"imageAlt":608,"kind":256,"readMins":260},"\u002Fnews\u002Fsolent-digital-businesses","The Solent's digital businesses: what the numbers say","2026-02-26",[525,294,312],"https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1682976967209-91219ab68a68?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","Boats on the water at Southampton",{"path":610,"title":611,"date":612,"tags":613,"image":614,"imageAlt":615,"kind":256,"readMins":616},"\u002Fnews\u002Fnetworking-etiquette-friendly-guide","Networking etiquette: a friendly guide","2026-02-19",[463,293],"https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1638262052640-82e94d64664a?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","Two people shaking hands over a wooden table",6,{"path":618,"title":619,"date":620,"tags":621,"image":622,"imageAlt":623,"kind":256,"readMins":443},"\u002Fnews\u002Ffreelancer-to-founder-hampshire-stories","From freelancer to founder: what the numbers say","2026-02-12",[517,292,293],"https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1704770064557-416292d1f4bd?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","Working on a laptop at a wooden table",{"path":625,"title":626,"date":627,"tags":628,"image":630,"imageAlt":631,"kind":256,"readMins":443},"\u002Fnews\u002Fhampshire-manufacturing-in-figures","Hampshire's manufacturers: what the figures show","2026-02-05",[629,294,292],"Manufacturing","https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1720036236855-9a1a2e4d3f26?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","Machines on a factory floor",{"path":633,"title":634,"date":635,"tags":636,"image":637,"imageAlt":638,"kind":256,"readMins":260},"\u002Fnews\u002Fcharity-and-business-giving-back","Charity and business: what the giving figures say","2026-01-29",[292,293],"https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1560220604-1985ebfe28b1?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","Volunteers in matching shirts",{"path":640,"title":641,"date":642,"tags":643,"image":644,"imageAlt":645,"kind":256,"readMins":260},"\u002Fnews\u002Fwinchester-vs-southampton-networking-cultures","Winchester and Southampton: two cities, two business mixes","2026-01-22",[492,312,293],"https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1701168400976-9408ef7ef692?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","Trees against the sunset in Southampton",{"path":647,"title":648,"date":649,"tags":650,"image":651,"imageAlt":652,"kind":256,"readMins":260},"\u002Fnews\u002Fvenues-powering-hampshire-events","The rooms behind Hampshire's business events","2026-01-15",[556,294,292],"https:\u002F\u002Fimages.unsplash.com\u002Fphoto-1770816307817-2fa6131e3a9b?auto=format&fit=crop&w=1600&q=70","A modern room with long tables, ready for an event",{"path":259,"title":5,"date":243,"tags":654,"image":253,"imageAlt":254,"kind":256,"readMins":260},[292,293,294],{"file":656,"alt":6},"\u002Fog\u002Fnews\u002Fyear-ahead-hampshire-networking.png",1794577422777]