The Shaping Portsmouth Podcast

Dave Humphries has a chaotic chat with Lulu Whitmore, founder of Love Southsea, about growing up in Portsmouth, the origins and growth of the Love Southsea Market, the Love Portsmouth pop up shop in Gunwharf Quays, and her plans for what's coming next. The post Episode 72: Love Southsea first appeared on Shaping Portsmouth .

Dave Humphries talks to Gemma Nichols, CEO of Portsmouth Creates, about her history working in Culture and how it led her to Portsmouth, joining Portsmouth Creates, and her passion for supporting the creative sector. They also discuss some of the projects Portsmouth Creates has been running, the variety of creative industries they support, and the impact they've had across the city. The post Episo...

In this episode, Charla Grant talks to Nadia Arab, Founder of Road From Karachi, about growing up in Portsmouth, her mother launching a cookery school in the 80s, rediscovering her recipes and publishing them with her own contributions in Road From Karachi, and the amazing charity work that came from it,running workshops in the city and donating clean water pumps across the world. The post Episode...

In this episode, CEO Dave Humphries speaks to Sally Spicer, Co-Founder of Talent Included, about working in Recruitment, founding Talent Included with Natalie Clark, the importance of EDI (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion), and how Portsmouth Businesses can help and benefit. The post Episode 69: Talent Included first appeared on Shaping Portsmouth .

In this episode, CEO Dave Humphries speaks to David Knight, CEO of the Royal Maritime Hotel, about his career in hospitality, the Hotel's charity status and work supporting Veterans and the Armed Forces Community, the history of the hotel, the services they currently provide, and their partnerships around Portsmouth. The post Episode 68: Royal Maritime Hotel first appeared on Shaping Portsmouth .

CEO Dave Humphries speaks to Rob Cunningham, Leisure & Business Development Director at BH Live, about how he got into the Leisure industry, BH Live's work in Portsmouth and the South Coast, redeveloping the Pyramids and Mountbatten, and how the charity helps residents lead a healthy lifestyle. The post Episode 67: BH Live first appeared on Shaping Portsmouth .

In this special Trustees' Week episode, Charla Grant is joined by Tony McCarthy from HIVE Portsmouth to discuss the role of trustees and benefits of being one, the need for more trustees, and how we're working together to fill those vacancies. The post Episode 66: Trustees’ Week Special first appeared on Shaping Portsmouth .

In this episode, Operations Manager Steff Jones chats with Charla Grant about her role as Programme & Partnership Support, her previous career and work with the LOOKUP Portsmouth Street Art Festival and the importance of creativity, community, and wellbeing. The post Episode 65: Charla Grant first appeared on Shaping Portsmouth .

As it was the Spinnaker Tower's anniversary this weekend, CEO Dave Humphries sat down with General Manager Richard Hale to talk about the celebrations, the logistics of running the tower, abseiling, becoming an icon of the city, and plans for what comes next. The post Episode 64: Spinnaker Tower’s 20th Anniversary first appeared on Shaping Portsmouth .

Amy Cusack chats with Lauren Bumstead and Kev Sadler from Portsmouth City Council about their roles in the Careers & Progression team, supporting Care Experienced young people and NEETs, launching Employability Academy in partnership with Shaping Portsmouth, and the positive impact it had on those who attended. The post Episode 63: Employability Academy first appeared on Shaping Portsmouth .

Andy Moss, Co-Lead of our Armed Forces Community programme, talks to Tim Jones, who leads the AFC programme Service Leavers pillar, about his career in the military, his transition into comms work in the civilian world, and his work with service leavers. The post Episode 62: Armed Forces Community – Tim Jones first appeared on Shaping Portsmouth .

Dave Humphries speaks to Joe Weston-McDowell about his journey to settling in Portsmouth and his previous work at Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, his current role at Motiv8, and the work Motiv8 is doing to create life chances for young people in Portsmouth. The post Episode 61: Motiv8 first appeared on Shaping Portsmouth .

Dave Humphries speaks to Luca Frederick about founding and launching LocalLinked, linking students to their community, getting support through the Portsmouth Business Support Service, volunteering at Spark Community Space and being beaten at Scrabble! The post Episode 60: LocalLinked first appeared on Shaping Portsmouth .

Dave Humphries speaks to Steve Bailey, Managing Director of Bailey's Buses, about how the family business was founded, the challenges they've faced as they've adapted to the changing cruise industry to grow into their role in the city, their plans for the future, working with the Portsmouth Ambassadors for the Cruise Meet & Greets, and celebrating their 25th anniversary. The post Episode 59: Baile...

Dave Humphries speaks to Jacqui Scott from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation about her role there, how they're funded, and how community groups can access those funds to help support their projects. The post Episode 58: Hampshire & IoW Community Foundation first appeared on Shaping Portsmouth .

Andy Moss, Co-Lead of our Armed Forces Community programme, talks to Sue Oatley, who leads the AFC programme Charity & Support pillar, about growing up as a forces child and its effect on her and her families lives, how she's contributing to the AFC programme, and starting the Aftershock Project. The post Episode 57: Armed Forces Community – Sue Oatley first appeared on Shaping Portsmouth .

CEO Dave Humphries chats with Yvonne Clay about her career, the history and future of Gunwharf Quays, and the upcoming Clipper Race, which starts from Gunwharf on 31st August. The post Episode 56: Gunwharf Quays first appeared on Shaping Portsmouth .

It's our Podcastiversary! Podiversary? In this extra-special episode, Dave Humphries and Steff Jones look back at our first year of podcasts, chat about how it got started, pick some clips from their favourite episodes, and even tease our Conference in January 2026. The post Episode 55: Podcastiversary! first appeared on Shaping Portsmouth .

Steff Jones talks to Tiff Gaskell and Shola Hood from Victorious Festival about how the festival has grown over the years, how they came to be working in their roles, the challenges and impact of the event on the city, and what's coming up at the festival this summer. The post Episode 54: Victorious Festival first appeared on Shaping Portsmouth .

CEO Dave Humphries speaks to Rod Sessions, Commercial Director at Hampshire Flag Company, about the company and their family business ethos, both internally and in the community, in particular supporting Portsmouth Pride and UK Pride and being a Patron of Shaping Portsmouth. The post Episode 53: Hampshire Flag Company first appeared on Shaping Portsmouth .

In this episode, Steff Jones talks to Chris West from Solent Mind about improving workplace wellbeing with The Five Ways to Wellbeing, and joining the team as our new Workplace Health & Wellbeing Programme Lead. The post Episode 52: Solent Mind first appeared on Shaping Portsmouth .

In this episode, Shaping Portsmouth's Pillar Leads, Marian Glover, Suzan Win Latt, and Amy Cusack, take over the podcast to chat about their roles, what their programmes have been up to recently, and champion their amazing Programme Leads. The post Episode 51: Shaping Portsmouth Pillar Leads first appeared on Shaping Portsmouth .

Dave Humphries talks to Brian Harpur, Managing Director of GRP Solutions, about his journey to Portsmouth and founding the business, their community focus, and the Naomi House Big Five Challenge. The post Episode 50: GRP Solutions first appeared on Shaping Portsmouth .

David Humphries talks to David Wickes, Headteacher of The Portsmouth Grammar School, about his career, the history of the school and blending the old with the new, and working in the community. The post Episode 49: Portsmouth Grammar School first appeared on Shaping Portsmouth .

CEO Dave Humphries talks to James Fernandes, Managing Director of Carrington West, about founding the recruitment business, being recognised as one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2025, and how they give back to Portsmouth. The post Episode 48: Carrington West first appeared on Shaping Portsmouth .