The HR Challenges Portsmouth Businesses Face (and How To Handle Them)

Portsmouth has such a distinctive energy. If you didn’t already know, it’s a coastal city with a real sense of pride, personality, and community. Walk through any part of Southsea alone and you’ll find people who’ve built something of their own: Cafés, creative agencies, family businesses and growing tech start-ups. There’s a real entrepreneurial heartbeat.

But with all that creativity and growth comes a shared challenge - managing the ‘people side’ of a business. HR isn’t just policies and paperwork, it’s about shaping the culture that holds your business together. And when you’re a small or growing company, that responsibility often sits on the shoulders of the owner or manager - usually alongside everything else.

So, what are the biggest HR challenges I see Portsmouth businesses facing, and how can they be managed in a practical, people-focused way?

Finding and Keeping The Right People

Recruitment has become increasingly competitive across the South Coast. With larger employers offering attractive packages and hybrid-working flexibility, smaller businesses often feel like they can’t compete - but they absolutely can! The truth is, people don’t just want to choose any job, they want to choose an environment where they feel seen and valued.

Independent businesses in Portsmouth already have a big advantage here - personality. When you show your story, your values, and the people behind your brand, candidates are drawn to that authenticity. Focus less on flashy perks and more on what makes you you.

Managing Flexible and Hybrid Working

Since 2020, the world of work has changed dramatically and Portsmouth is no exception. Many small businesses now blend in-office, remote and flexible schedules, which can be wonderful, but also somewhat complicated. The key is balance and boundaries.

Setting clear expectations, having honest conversations, and ensuring consistent processes help to prevent resentment or confusion. It’s not about saying “yes” to every flexible request. It’s about being fair, transparent and people-minded in how you approach them.

A simple flexible working policy can bring transparency and consistency, and shows your team that fairness matters.

Staying Legally Compliant

Employment law moves quickly and if you’re not an HR professional, keeping up can be daunting. I often speak to Portsmouth business owners who feel unsure about contracts, documentation, or new legislation, and it’s completely understandable. A little proactive work here can save a lot of stress later.

Set aside time each year for a HR health check to review your contracts, update your policies and make sure training is up to date. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes just a few hours of support can make you feel confident that everything’s in good order.

Creating and Maintaining A Healthy Workplace Culture

Portsmouth’s business community thrives on connection. That sense of community where you know your customers and care about your people - it’s what makes local businesses so special. But as teams grow, culture can start to feel stretched or diluted. Culture isn’t built once - it’s nurtured over time and it’s a journey.

It’s in the way you communicate, the way you listen and how you respond when things go wrong. Celebrate small wins, hold regular check-ins, ask for feedback and make sure people know that their voices matter.

A positive culture isn’t about being perfect, it’s about being consistent and genuine.

Balancing Growth With Wellbeing

A good conversation always ends with a plan. Summarise what you’ve both discussed, agree on what happens next and set a date to follow up. This helps to avoid any confusion and shows your genuine commitment to helping each team member improve.

Following up keeps accountability ongoing and proves that the conversation wasn’t just a one-time ’telling off’. It’s about progress, not punishment.

Need a hand?

Every Portsmouth business has its own story, but they all share something in common: People who care deeply about what they do. HR shouldn’t take that spark away, it should help it grow stronger.

If you’d like support building a people-first culture or navigating those everyday HR challenges with confidence, BloomHR can help. We offer thoughtful, practical HR guidance designed to help Portsmouth businesses and their people thrive. Get in touch with us today to understand how we can help.