With benefits including productivity, wellbeing and safety, Hampshire is the perfect place for businesses to set up a satellite office and get teams back together for ‘business as usual’.
Business Hampshire has launched a campaign to highlight the many benefits of working locally to encourage London-based businesses to establish satellite offices in the county.
Councillor Rob Humby, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Economy, Transport and Environment at Hampshire County Council, said: “The COVID pandemic has transformed the way many people work, with many re-thinking the need for a long commute five days a week.
“In Hampshire, as we emerge out of lockdown and enter recovery, we are moving towards a greener and more digital working future. Offering satellite business offices in this way is just a first step to recognising our county as an even greater place to do business, in the light of the accelerating change arising from the pandemic and with all its existing advantages as a flagship green economic powerhouse and international gateway.
“Hampshire’s beautiful countryside, vibrant market towns, excellent connectivity and proximity to the capital make it the perfect location for London-based companies to set up satellite offices and keep their business going, while offering an enviable and attractive work-life balance for their employees.”
The campaign – Make Hampshire work for you – has been devised by the County Council’s Economic Development service, Business Hampshire, in collaboration with local authority partners, and invites London commuters to Work Smarter – Live Happier – Commute Closer.
Councillor Humby continued: “We’re committed to doing all we can alongside our partners to help Hampshire recover from the pandemic – supporting and promoting our local economy is key to our future prospects and quality of life.”
Research and views of leading economists suggest that many businesses are rethinking their property requirements and want to be able to provide a better work-life balance for their employees. Before the pandemic more than 25,000 Hampshire residents regularly commuted to London, and many have been working at home for the past year.
The campaign showcases flexible office solutions across key locations in Hampshire including Basingstoke, Farnborough, Hart, East Hampshire and Winchester.
Supported by key stakeholders including commercial property specialists Lambert Smith Hampton and Vail Williams, the opportunity in Hampshire is clear to see.
Andy Hodgkinson (MRICS) Director in Office Advisory at Lambert Smith Hampton added: “Replacing the grind of the daily commute with time to focus on health and wellbeing has been a huge positive to come out of lockdown. We’re seeing an increase in business focus on productivity, wellbeing and workforce safety. Adopting a hub and spoke approach with an increase in regional office space will remove the long commute, facilitate collaboration, and support employee connection to their employer brand. Hampshire has all the ingredients to meet this demand and deliver a desirable location for business to expand or relocate.”
Russell Mogridge (MRICS) who is the lead partner for the business space team at Vail Williams commented: “To say that 2020 has altered our world of work would be an understatement. The approach Business Hampshire are taking is backed by data and business intelligence and is a great initiative. We are seeing clients based in London reassess their real estate strategies with a push to the regions such as Hampshire to cope with the economy returning to normal.”
