Page 58 • The HERALD • 28th August 2025 v THE NEXT HERALD IS OUT ON 18TH SEPTEMBER v ASK A PROFESSIONAL LJM Bookkeeping Services I provide a range of accounting and business services to individuals, partnerships, charities and small businesses. I am licenced through the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers for the following services. Bookkeeping, Computerised Accounting Software, Final Year End Accounts, Payroll Management, CIS, VAT, Self Assessment Tax for Individuals and Construction Industry Scheme, Statutory Accounts for Small Businesses including Corporation Tax and related submissions, Holiday cover can also be provided for, hourly rates charged. Please contact Lynda McIntyre Email: ljmbookkeepingservices@gmail.com Telephone: 07774 790543 Solent Freeport Launches Regional Business Roadshows Solent Freeport is launching a series of regional roadshows to talk to business leaders, gauge growth ambitions and explore what help and support is needed. e fact- nding drop-in sessions will take place in early autumn at venues across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. e freeport has partnered with leading business organisations to deliver the ve roadshows – in Fareham, Havant, Cowes, Marchwood and Eastleigh – to Solent businesses. e freeport, designed to be a catalyst for economic development and inward investment in the wider Solent region, is basing the project around the platforms of skills, international trade, innovation, decarbonisation and business growth. Latest data from Companies House and the O ce for National Statistics (ONS) reveal that in 2024 there were a record 127,564 registered companies in Hampshire and 6,739 on the Isle of Wight. Brian Johnson, chair of Solent Freeport, said: “Businesses, particularly small to medium enterprises (SMEs) are the lifeblood of our region – and we want to find out what makes them tick and how we, as a freeport, can get involved to offer help and support. Our drop-in sessions are designed for businesses in the Solent to discuss their growth ambitions and what support they may need to achieve this, particularly around skills, international trade, innovation, decarbonisation and business growth. It is important for us to offer a listening ear, take the business temperature and understand the ongoing requirements of directors and business leaders in order to formulate our own policies going forwards.” e roadshows: • Fareham: Fareham Innovation Centre – 24th September, 8am-1pm • Havant: Havant Civic Centre – 1st October, 8am-1pm • Isle of Wight: Building 41, Cowes – 8th October, 8am-1pm • New Forest: Marchwood Village Hall – 16th October, 8am-1pm • Eastleigh: Eastleigh Football Club – 21st October, 8am-1pm Solent Freeport is one of twelve UK special areas that have been created by government to boost investment into parts of the country that have historically missed out, bene tting from a generous package of incentives. It aims to accelerate the creation of high-quality employment space, with investment speci cally targeted at state-of-the-art growth sectors and ground-breaking approaches to decarbonisation and green innovation. Freeports bene t from tax reliefs, simplified customs procedures, streamlined planning processes to promote regeneration and innovation, and seed funding for skills training. ey operate with both ‘tax’ and ‘customs’ sites. In the Solent’s case, land earmarked for tax sites includes the Navigator Quarter near Southampton Airport, a development site in Southampton’s Western Docks, the Dunsbury Park business campus just north of Portsmouth, and locations along Southampton Water and the Fawley Waterside. e main customs sites are Solent Gateway on Southampton Water and Portsmouth International Port. For more information visit: solentfreeport.com BUSINESS ROADSHOWS: Solent Freeport is hosting five regional roadshows in the autumn to find out what help and support the region’s businesses need and to hear about growth ambitions
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTIyNzI=