Fareham's Business Newsletter
December 2025
Published by Fareham Borough Council, each edition delivers news, support and opportunities to businesses in Fareham.
M27 Christmas Closure
Please be reminded that the M27 will be fully closed in both directions from between Junction 9 (Whiteley) and Junction 11 (Fareham) from 8pm on 24 December 2025 to 4am on Sunday 4 January 2026. This scheme will improve motorway access for the whole area by creating a new motorway underpass west of Junction 10, three new slip roads and a new dual carriageway to link the existing roads network.
The timing of the closure has been chosen to coincide with lower traffic volumes over the holiday period, but significant delays should be expected - especially between 10am and 4pm when traffic is expected to be busiest. A signed diversion will be in place via the A27, which is mostly dual carriageway but expected to be busy.
Businesses are advised to avoid travelling during this period where possible, to encourage employees to work from home where that is an option and to consider informing customers that may be affected. For necessary travel, please consider alternative routes and ensure you leave additional time for travel.
Click here for more information and the latest updates: www.hants.gov.uk/M27-J10-xmas. 
Help us develop the place brand for Fareham Town Centre
Fareham Borough Council, in partnership with CTConsults, will host two interactive branding masterclasses to help develop a place brand for Fareham Town Centre. The masterclasses will be held at the Lysses Hotel on Wednesday 14 January 2026 at 3pm-5pm and 6pm-8pm.
Anyone that visits, lives or works in Fareham is invited (and encouraged) to participate.
Led by CTConsults, one of the agencies appointed alongside Hemingway Design to develop the town centre's branding, each masterclass is an interactive workshop that will last a couple of hours and help set out a clear path for Fareham's place brand journey.
Drawing on case studies from across the UK, these masterclasses are designed to capture local perspectives and help participants develop a shared understanding of place branding - what it is, what it isn't, and the benefits it can bring. Building on work already undertaken with the Council, CTConsults will guide discussions, challenge assumptions, and test ideas about Fareham. Together, we'll begin shaping what Fareham means to all of us and translate that into an agreed, shared place brand for the town centre.
Click here now to register as a participant for one of these masterclasses
Come along to Fareham's late-night shopping extravaganza!
Fareham Borough Council has announced that, on Thursday 11 December and Thursday 18 December, Fareham Shopping Centre will be open for late-night shopping until 8pm.
'Fareham's Festive Thursdays' will include late-night store openings with many of the shopping centre shops staying open until 8pm. There will also be a host of additional attractions such as free children's entertainment, a festive indoor market, food and drink and much more. There will also be free parking in all of Fareham's town centre car parks from 5pm.
In the heart of the shopping centre, the former Game unit will be transformed into a festive indoor market. Newly renamed 'The Courtyard', this pop-up market will be open every Thursday-Saturday from 10am until 5.30pm but will also stay open for these two late night events and will feature a range of stalls offering stocking fillers, crafts, food and gifts.
Free children's activities will include:
Mini Golf at the Ping Pong Parlour
Festive Storytelling
Activities at Santa's Grotto
Children's entertainer and magician
Face painting and glitter tattoos
Elf Workshop
There will also be roaming entertainers, music and dancing, and a range of festive food and drink stalls in Fareham's very own Winter Garden situated between the shopping centre and Fareham Live.
Portsmouth and South Coast Business Week returns 23-27 February 2026
Portsmouth and South Coast Business Week is the annual showcase and celebration of the Fareham, Portsmouth, Gosport and Havant business community, designed around the four words: inform; invest; interact; inspire.
Fareham Borough Council is pleased to sponsor the event again next year to help keep all events free to attend. We are also hosting two events here in Fareham as part of the week:
Since its launch by the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce six years ago, the Portsmouth and South Coast Business Week has welcomed more than 3,000 business delegates to over 100 events and reached 30,000 individuals through the daily Facebook Live sessions with the Portsmouth News. Each year, the week offers a broad range of inspiring events across Fareham, Portsmouth, Gosport and Havant with plenty of opportunities to network with like-minded businesses, informing the latest business thinking and prioritising investment in your team, your business and your future success.
The full programme of events will be circulated in the New Year.
Council's Trade Waste Service receives record customer satisfaction
Fareham Borough Council is delighted to announce that it's trade waste collection service, WasteSavers, has received a 93% satisfaction score in a recent customer satisfaction survey.
Fareham Borough Council has managed its WasteSavers service for businesses for over 40 years. Six months on from the introduction of Simpler Recycling, WasteSavers has been given a 93% satisfaction rate by its customers, with 65% giving it 10 out of 10 for service.
Customers also appreciated the reliable and cost-effective service, the care and attention the collection team give to putting bins back where they found them, the friendly and professional staff and the good communication from the customer services team.
Click here to find out more about WasteSavers
Dates for your diary
We have scheduled in business events until November 2026 to give people plenty of notice to save them into diaries and book places where necessary. More events will be added throughout the year as well as links to other local events and training opportunities available to Fareham businesses. Be sure to check back regularly for any recent additions.
Click here for list of Fareham business events and dates
Artificial Intelligence capability survey
The Solent Growth Partnership Artificial Intelligence (AI) Capability Survey is now live and the results will help map AI capabilities across the region and identify areas of strength, expertise, and opportunity.
The survey is open to public and private sector organisations across the region and will inform future investment, policy, and skills development as part of the AI Skills Partnership pilot - a region-led model aligned with national AI and skills strategies.
Click here for more information and to access the survey
Thank you for helping strengthen the region's AI ecosystem.
Limited company? Identity verification now needed by Companies House
From 18 November 2025, identity verification became a legal requirement for company directors and people with significant control (PSCs). However, this date is not a deadline. It marks the start of a 12-month transition period, giving your company time to make sure all directors and PSCs have verified their identity by their due dates.
Click here to find out more about Director and PCS identity verification
Feedback survey
Fareham Borough Council is keen to hear from local businesses about what is important to them and how we can improve our services. Please take a few moments to complete the short, anonymous survey below to share your thoughts and ideas, and let us know what you think. This survey will now feature in every newsletter giving you regular opportunities to give your feedback to the Economic Development and Regeneration team.
Click here to complete the short, anonymous feedback survey
Contact us!
Do you have a business-facing event or news taking place in Fareham? Are there any topics you would like to see in future newsletters? Click here to email economicdevelopment@fareham.gov.uk and let us know. Sent this newsletter by a colleague? Click here to subscribe.