Students and alumni

Current students

Students at the University of Portsmouth who are running their own business or starting a business are entitled to free Hot Desk Membership at Halpern House.

The membership allows you:

Shared desk space
Access to the building during weekdays
Use of the building to register your business in Companies House, HMRC and business activities

You won't be able to use the building as an employee of other businesses, you must use it for your own business purposes as we want to support you.

The membership is from the beginning of the new academic year to the end of the academic year in July or until you are no longer a student at the University. Your membership can be renewed at the beginning of every academic year as long as you are still a student at UoP.

Enquire today

Book a tour

Students at Innovation Connect

Students at the University of Portsmouth who are running their own business or starting a business are entitled to free Hot Desk Membership at Halpern House. Access co-working spaces, expert support, events, workshops and networking opportunities with Innovation Connect. Meet new and exciting companies and access business groups in our spaces and get the most out of your business.

So my name is Leah Lewis and I am the President of the Entrepreneur Society.
So I definitely think that Innovation Connect is a good space for our entrepreneurial students.
It’s really good to come here and meet other students that are like-minded and they also have their own businesses, so it’s great to network and then also to have the support from other people who are doing the same things like you, and also it’s a great space to get into the professional mindset and step away from your house, or any other distractions you might have there.
If you want to do meetings with clients and stuff, you’re right in the city centre of Portsmouth, so there’s no place better to be really.

Hi, my name is Henry, I’m a student at the University of Portsmouth.
I’m Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2022, and I run a creative production agency called FarFly Media.
I’ve been a student for three years, and self-employed for two. Since being at Innovation Connect, I’ve been able to separate my personal life, my business, and my studies, and it has been monumental for FarFly.

The Innovation Connect Spaces are really good because they’re all open plan, which means you can very easily network with other people at surrounding desks with you, you, you can easily get supported by everyone around you, meet people in the kitchen, and it’s just a lovely, friendly, supportive atmosphere in the whole office, which is always nice.

I use the podcast studio quite a lot too. There’s two mics there so if I’m ever recording an interview or doing a voiceover for a video, I will always take my clients in there.
I’ve got to guarantee that the audio’s going to be perfect, and that was before they upgraded it.

You literally can do anything you would do in a normal office, whilst being a student at the university.
I definitely think it’s a very great service to have.

Honestly, I can’t recommend it enough, you know, I just wish I’d come here sooner.

Alumni

If you have graduated from the University in the past five years, we can offer you discounted workspace at Innovation Connect to help get your business growing.

You'll get access to:

Meeting rooms
Your own designated desk space
Internet access
24/7 access as soon as you join
Use of the building to register your business in Companies House, HMRC and business activities.

Get in touch to find out more!

Self Employed Placement (SEP)

University of Portsmouth students can take up a Self Employed Placement (SEP) year rather than going into industry for a placement year. During the SEP, you can take up a SEP membership at Halpern House to run your business from.

You'll have access to:

Meeting rooms
Your own designated desk space
Internet access
24/7 access as soon as you join
Use of the building to register your business in Companies House, HMRC and business activities.