Hampshire Chamber of Commerce welcomed more than 100 business leaders to its annual Southampton Boat Show lunch, the signature networking opportunity on the membership organisation’s 175th anniversary calendar.
The maritime-themed occasion, held at the Novotel Southampton on the opening day of the show, drew parallels between navigating changing conditions at sea and the leadership skills involved in steering organisations through times of uncertainty and opportunity.
Keynote speaker Paul Adamson, founder of business training provider Lighthouse Training and a sailor of 25 years with a quarter of a million miles at sea, including a circumnavigation, shared insights from his personal story and his work with company founders, executives and leadership teams.
“I’ve built my talk around three phone calls that changed my life,” Paul told the audience.
“One that put me on the ocean, a chance call from the late Formula 1 legend Eddie Jordan, one that put me in the boardroom as a chief commercial officer, rebuilding the order book of one of Britain's great yacht builders, and one that put me in the examination room, with a blood cancer diagnosis I’ve since come through."
“What struck me was that getting through all three came down to the same handful of principles: the difference between being pushed around by the storm and becoming the fixed-point others navigate by.”
Paul explained that these principles became SHINE, the framework at the heart of a forthcoming book Be the Lighthouse, due out later this year.
Thanking him for his talk, Ross McNally, Hampshire Chamber’s Chief Executive and Executive Chair, said:
“Paul gave us plenty to think about. His message about staying focused on what you can control and providing a clear sense of direction is particularly relevant given the pressures faced by so many businesses today.”
Ross added:
“Our Boat Show lunch is always a much-anticipated highlight of the Chamber calendar, and this year it had an added significance as we celebrate 175 years of supporting and connecting Hampshire’s business community.£
“It was fantastic to welcome so many members and guests and to continue our long tradition of bringing businesses together to build connections, share ideas and create opportunities. The popularity of the lunch demonstrates that, while the business environment continues to change, the value of coming together in person remains as important as ever.”
As well as the talks by Paul and Ross, the lunch featured presentations from UK Export Finance Manager Ian Power and British Marine President Lyndsay McClay, alongside networking opportunities and a drinks reception.
The lunch was supported by sponsors UK Export Finance, Carpenter Box, NatWest, Air Copier Systems and British Marine.
Hampshire Chamber traces its origins back to 1851 and the establishment of a chamber in Southampton to support business in the port and the wider town. It was one of the first chambers in Britain, predating the formation of the City of London’s chamber by more than 30 years.
The Southampton International Boat Show, owned and operated by British Marine and running from 18 to 27 September 2026, is the UK’s flagship annual festival of boating, watersports and waterfront entertainment.
This year it features a purpose-built marina hosting more than 250 craft alongside paddleboarding and kayaking sessions and a dive tank experience.
