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

Portsmouth has such a distinctive energy - a coastal city with a real sense of pride, personality, and community. Walk down Albert Road, Gunwharf or Southsea seafront 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 here.

But with all that creativity and growth comes a shared challenge - managing the ‘people side’ of 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?

1. Finding and Keeping The Right People

Recruitment has become increasingly competitive across the South Coast. With larger employers offering attractive packages and hybrid flexibility, smaller businesses often feel they can’t compete - but they absolutely can.

The truth is, people don’t just choose jobs, they choose environments 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: trust, flexibility, belonging, and purpose.

2. 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 complicated. The key is balance and boundaries.

Clear expectations, honest conversations, and consistent processes help 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 calm and consistency - and shows your team that fairness matters.

3. 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 an 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 an hour of support can make you feel confident that everything’s in good order.

4. Creating and Maintaining a Healthy Workplace Culture

Portsmouth’s business community thrives on connection. That sense of community, of knowing your customers and caring about your people, is 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.

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 their voices matter.

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

5. Balancing Growth With Wellbeing

This is fairly common, especially with small independent businesses. When growth happens quickly, it’s easy to lose sight of wellbeing. The focus shifts to deadlines, staffing gaps and customer demand. But your people are your business, and supporting them supports your growth.

Simple things like regular communication, flexibility, and showing appreciation make a genuine difference. HR done well doesn’t add red tape - it creates the structure and trust that lets your people do their best work.

Need HR Support?

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’re a local business trying to navigate these challenges, BloomHR can help you create HR that feels human: supportive, sensible, and built around real people - not just policies. Because when your people thrive, so does your business, and that’s what makes Portsmouth’s local scene so special.

If you’re based in Hampshire and looking for HR support, working with us could make all the difference. You’ll get tailored advice, quick support and someone who genuinely understands your business environment.

We’re here to help. Contact us for more information.