Many growing companies are considering having an office space in Portsmouth. With its rich maritime and trading history dating back centuries, it has long been considered a commercial hotspot within the UK.
Today, this is still the case with its continuous business growth and good employment prospects, which draw many companies to the city. In fact, an impressive 1,845 new companies launched in the Portsmouth area in 2020. This figure then grew to 1,970 in the following year.
These career opportunities, paired with the area’s affordable office rental costs, make it an attractive location for any business. Here, we will explore the many benefits of a serviced office in Portsmouth, as well as the many opportunities the city offers.
Why you should consider doing business in Portsmouth
Portsmouth is an attractive location for businesses. This is due to the diversity of industries that are based there and the many economic opportunities it has to offer.
The city has well-established industries across the marine, aerospace, filming, creative and retail sectors. It also provides many opportunities for growth thanks to its convenient location, economic growth and affordable office rental costs.
If you’re looking for office space to rent in Portsmouth, here is everything you need to know about the city’s many benefits for growing businesses.
Top business sectors in Portsmouth
Portsmouth has a thriving business community across many sectors. It is particularly well-known for its marine, aerospace, filming, creative and retail sectors.
Marine
Portsmouth has a strong marine sector thanks to its history as a major British Naval base. Its marine sector is made up of defence, recreational, fishery and transport sectors.
An estimated 13,300 people work for 800 organisations in the marine sector in the wider city region. The city is also home to the National Museum of the Royal Navy.
Aerospace
Portsmouth has a well-established aerospace industry and is home to three major aerospace companies. These are Portsmouth Aviation, H+S Aviation and Airbus.
The surrounding areas are also home to the Farnborough Aerospace Consortium (FAC) and the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC).
Filming
Thanks to its historic dockyards and architecture, Portsmouth has been a filming location for a variety of films and TV shows. Some of the films and TV shows that were shot in Portsmouth include Les Miserables, Tomorrow Never Dies, and Mansfield Park.
Creative Industries
Portsmouth is also the location of a thriving creative scene.
This is led by, in part, by the University of Portsmouth’s Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries. This department offers courses and supports growing businesses within this industry.
ArtsSpace Portsmouth is also a key cultural hub in the city. It offers exhibitions, artist studios and classes to help burgeoning creatives develop their skillsets and portfolios.
Retail
Portsmouth has a booming retail industry, including both mainstream brands and independent retailers. Gunwharf Keys, as a premier shopping centre offering major designer discounts, is the lynchpin of this thriving retail sector.
Meanwhile, nearby Southsea offers a variety of independent shops and eateries alongside well-known brands. Cosham on the north border of the city offers over 200 retail businesses to shoppers.
5 businesses based in Portsmouth
As well as a huge variety of independent shops, Portsmouth is the location of many global businesses. Below are five Portsmouth companies that form a major part of the city’s business community.
● BAE Systems: A major defence and security company that manages the Portsmouth Naval Base and repairs and maintains ships
● Brittany Ferries: The transport company has a well-established port in Portsmouth that provides ferries to Spain and France
● Airbus: A defence and space company that has been developing and testing scientific equipment in Portsmouth for over 50 years
● IBM: Portsmouth is home to one of the American tech company’s UK offices
● Pall Corporation: The chemical purification and filtration company has its UK office space based in Portsmouth
Why you should rent an office in Portsmouth
There are many reasons why businesses are drawn to the city when looking to rent office space in Portsmouth. By establishing your organisation here, you can take advantage of its:
Prime location
Portsmouth is a thriving city that offers both access to the coast and all the benefits of a modern metropolitan area. The city’s status as an international port makes it known globally. In addition, it is close to many major UK cities and has good transport links.
Industry diversity
Renting office space in Portsmouth will put your company among a diverse range of other industries.
Portsmouth’s key sectors include the maritime, transportation, manufacturing and engineering industries. The city is also home to hundreds of retail businesses and a thriving creative business scene.
Choosing office space in Portsmouth will put your industry at the centre of this diverse mix of companies.
Entrepreneurial environment
Portsmouth is a hugely entrepreneurial city, with a boom in new businesses since the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 2020, Portsmouth was at the top of the list of UK entrepreneurial cities, with the number of new businesses launched in the city increasing by 33% that year. That beat major cities such as London, Leeds and Manchester.
Choosing offices for let in Portsmouth puts your company right at the centre of this entrepreneurial location.
Affordable office space
Office space in Portsmouth offers a huge price benefit compared to cities such as London, where renting a desk can cost as much as £500 a month.
On average, businesses can expect to pay less than £200 a month per person for office space in Portsmouth.
This is especially true if you acquire your serviced office space in Portsmouth with us, where we offer industry-leading workspaces for as little as £145 per person per month.
This will free up a significant of funds that can be invested in other areas of your business.
Tourism support
Tourism is a key part of Portsmouth’s economy. The city has many attractions for tourists such as Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth Historic Dockyards, HMS Victory and the Mary Rose Museum.
The tourism sector drew an estimated 11.4 million visitors to the city in 2021, generating an estimated £535 million in revenue.
Economic growth
Portsmouth looks set to experience economic growth over the coming years, with the city announcing a £2 billion investment plan in 2019.
A 2020 report by law firm Irwin Mitchell also predicted the city would have the second fastest growth of any economic area in the country. The city was forecast to achieve year-on-year acceleration of economic growth thanks to its naval port and trade.
Access to talent
Portsmouth is home to the University of Portsmouth, which enrols over 20,000 students across its courses. Graduates from its humanities, technology, science and business courses allow companies in the city to tap into a huge range of graduate talent.
Convenient business travel
An office space in Portsmouth gives your business a prime location between the South coastline and major cities.
Portsmouth is just two hours and 20 minutes away from London by train or car. The city is also just a 30-minute drive away from Southampton and the nearby Southampton airport.
Office spaces in Portsmouth
Regus provide a variety of serviced office space in Portsmouth, with options to suit every business size and budget.
Read on for more information about our available offices to rent in Portsmouth.
1000 Lakeside Building
1000 Lakeside Building is one of the south coast’s leading business centres. These modern offices to rent in Portsmouth are housed in a bright, modern building. The campus is located just a 15-minute drive from Portsmouth and Southsea Station and offers a free shuttle bus service for all workers.
Our other Regus spaces in Portsmouth are already home to numerous businesses across the automotive, maritime, professional services and technology sectors. This site joins them, whilst also offering a range of convenient amenities, including a cafe, supermarket and nursery.
Highlights include:
● Outside Seating Area/Terrace
● Bicycle storage
● Daycare facilities
● On-site supermarket and dining options
Information about 100 Lakeside Building
● Location: Western Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO6 3EZ
● Starting cost: Private offices from £189 per person per month
● Opening hours: Private Office and Dedicated Desk access is 24/7 access; Memberships access during reception hours.
● Nearby stations: Events Parking North Harbour bus stop (a one-minute walk away), Cosham Train Station (an 18-minute walk away)
Aerodrome Road
Aerodrome Road offers a professional office space near the town centre of Gosport.
The area is ideal for businesses in the aerospace sector. The surrounding region is already home to aerospace businesses such as Standard Aero and Vector Aerospace. Aerodrome Road is located just a five-minute walk from amenities such as supermarkets, a gym and a park.
This office space in Portsmouth is conveniently located a 15-minute drive from the M27 exit by Fareham and a 30-minute drive to Portsmouth city centre.
Highlights include:
● Break-out areas
● Fully equipped meeting rooms
● Vending machines
Information about Aerodrome Road
● Location: Aerodrome Road, Gosport, Portsmouth, PO13 0FQ
● Starting cost: Private offices from £145 per person per month
● Opening hours: Private Office and Dedicated Desk access is 24/7 access; Memberships access during reception hours.
● Nearby stations: Frater bus stop (one-minute walk away)
Harts Farm Way
Harts Farm Way offers a range of flexible office spaces in Portsmouth for a range of business sizes.
The office can accommodate small, two-person offices as well as large office spaces. The site also offers a managed reception, an on-site support team, breakout areas and bookable meeting rooms.
This office space in Portsmouth is a short drive from three local train stations. It is also located just ten minutes from facilities such as supermarkets and fitness centres in Havant town centre.
Highlights include
● On-site parking
● Disabled facilities
● Showers
Information about Harts Farm Way
● Location: Harts Farm Way, Havant, Portsmouth, PO9 1HS
● Starting cost: Private offices from £165 per person per month
● Opening hours: Private Office and Dedicated Desk access is 24/7 access; Memberships access during reception hours.
● Nearby stations: Bedhamptom Train Station (a 20-minute walk away). Woodbury Avenue (a 21-minute walk away), Havant Train Station (a 30-minute walk away)
How to find an office space in Portsmouth
Regus provides a variety of high-quality office spaces to suit businesses of any size in Portsmouth and the surrounding areas.
Get in touch with us today to find out about Regus’ bespoke office space solutions.