Hampshire Growth Hub Partners with Catalyst

Southampton Science Park is pleased to welcome the Hampshire Growth Hub as a partner for its Catalyst business accelerator programme, run in association with SETsquared.

The Hampshire Growth Hub is a government-funded initiative delivered by Hampshire County Council. Established in 2024, its aim is to assist pre-start, start-up and growing businesses as well as those at the scale-up stage across the Council’s local authority area through the provision of high-quality business advice and support. The Growth Hub’s services aim to address barriers to growth, including access to investment and talent, and for businesses that are not investor-ready to help them prepare for the next stage of their business.

Catalyst will play a key role in the delivery of this goal. A highly regarded, proven business support programme, Catalyst has benefited over 100 companies, helping them to generate hundreds of new jobs and raise millions of pounds of inward investment for the south coast economy. Two cohorts of around ten companies join the scheme each year in the spring and autumn, facilitating highly personalised mentoring and close peer group working.

Hampshire Growth Hub joins fellow Catalyst partners, Health Innovation Wessex, the National Oceanographic Centre, the University of Southampton’s School of Healthcare Enterprise and Innovation and Test Valley Borough Council (through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund).

Lucinda Lamont, Business Development Director for Southampton Science Park, said, “We are very pleased to be collaborating more closely with Hampshire Growth Hub on boosting prospects for early-stage science and technology businesses through our Catalyst programme. Through this partnership, we hope to raise more awareness of the scheme across the County and encourage more innovation-led companies to participate and benefit from its proven model of success.”

Chris Burchell, Strategic Growth Manager of Hampshire Growth Hub, said, "We are delighted to partner with the Catalyst programme at Southampton Science Park. This collaboration aligns perfectly with our mission to support and accelerate the growth of innovative businesses across Hampshire. By leveraging the strengths of both our organisations, we aim to provide impactful support to early-stage companies, helping them overcome barriers and achieve their full potential."

The application window is open throughout May and June, in readiness for Catalyst’s autumn cohort. Early stage innovation-led companies are encouraged to apply online straight away to be in with a chance of selection. Pitch days will be held in July with the programme commencing in September.