What is the City Growth project?

City Growth is a private-sector led initiative, putting business at the centre of inner city regeneration. It is based on a model developed in the USA that supports the formation and growth of business clusters.  These clusters were chosen for having existing strength and potential within a particular city .  The emphasis of the strategy is to build on what is currently positive and has potential for future growth. City Growth Portsmouth has been in existence since 2005 and published its detailed strategy document in early 2006 following considerable consultation that involved several hundred local companies  For Portsmouth the key clusters identified were in Information and Communications Technology (ICT); Retail, Leisure & Tourism; and Marine.

The strategy also identified a number of cross cutting issues that were seen as potential barriers to successful growth.  These issues are transport, city image, support for knowledge based industries, enterprise and social enterprise.  The strategy is seen as flexible and able to respond to changes and opportunities in the economy.  In this way creative and cultural industries have become part of the strategy through the work of the South Coast Design Forum. 

Following the publication of the strategy, the board, cluster and issue groups have worked  towards achieving a number of key objectives through networking, economic planning, lobbying, events and other activities.

City Growth Board

The City Growth Board is made up of key private sector representating some of the biggest and most dynamic companies in the Portsmouth including VT, IBM, Astrium and Land Securities.

Many other local companies are respresented on the many cluster and issue groups.