Southampton: A Thriving Hub for Flex Workspaces
Southampton, a city steeped in maritime and military history boasts a diverse economy and a solid flexible workspace offer. With major employers across sectors like marine, healthcare, academia, and tech, the city offers a waterside environment for businesses of all sizes and sectors. As a student here in the 1990s, it's been great to revisit and see how this city continues to rise, transforming itself into a dynamic hub for business, innovation, and culture.
A City on the Rise:
- Economic Drivers: Southampton’s economy is fuelled by the bustling Port of Southampton, the UK’s largest cruise port, and a thriving maritime sector.
- Innovation Hub: The city supports a vibrant startup ecosystem, with two renowned universities, innovation hubs like Network Eagle Labs, and OVIC fostering a culture of entrepreneurship.
- Growing Demand: Increased consumer focus on sustainability and the need for high-quality office spaces are driving demand for flexible workspaces in Southampton. CRBE research highlights a shortage of A and B EPC-rated offices, creating a significant opportunity for flex operators.
Flex Supply and submarkets
It’s a compact city but has clear hubs of flexible space in the key business districts with over 15 operators in the city centre alone.
- City Centre:
- Central Hub: North of the park in prestigious locations such as Grosvenor Square is home to Regus, Headspace, Clockwise and One Dorset Street offer convenient access to the train station and a vibrant city centre and park on the doorstep.
- Coworking Options: Head to So Fourteen or NetworkEagles for a thriving startup community and support for small businesses and freelancers
- Focus on Service: The Arena, a short walk from the city center, specializes in providing exceptional service to its members.
- Convenience: Perfectly placed by train station FigFlex one of the newer members on the block in the Bulb development is revitalising this business district.
- Ocean Village:
- Waterfront Views: Enjoy being by the waterfront while working at flex spaces in Ocean Village, which houses UBC and OVIC.
- Waterfront Views: Enjoy being by the waterfront while working at flex spaces in Ocean Village, which houses UBC and OVIC.
A Collaborative Community:
Flexa’s recent forum shows that Southampton’s flex operators foster a strong sense of community. While the city offers diverse locations, operators often collaborate, referring clients based on their unique offerings and available space. This collaborative approach benefits businesses seeking the best fit for their needs.
In essence …southampton is functional and charming and an exciting city for businesses, offering a dynamic economy, a growing startup scene, and a vibrant community. The quality providers can lap up the increasing demand for high-quality and sustainable workspaces, flex operators are well-positioned to capitalize on this thriving market and provide businesses with the flexibility and support they need to succeed.
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With Zoe Ellis-Moore, CEO and Founder