Jana Gibalova

Home to more Nobel Prize winners than any other city, today Cambridge is brimming with learning, culture and innovation. As a result, the city has developed an enviable reputation as a hub for technology, software development, electronics, and biotechnology. In fact, the Cambridge-based Silicon Fen is regarded as the UK’s answer to Silicon Valley, due to its large concentration of high-tech businesses.

Birmingham is the business hub of the West Midlands and one of the most important cities in the UK. Home to just under three million people, it’s bursting with some of the country’s best talent and exciting businesses operating in a huge range of sectors.

As a former European City of Culture, there is a lot going on in Liverpool. From its famous music scene to its beating nightlife and friendly, welcoming culture, Liverpool is an exciting place for any business – start-up or well established. You’ll have excellent networking opportunities with other major names based in the area, along with a big talent pool.

Central London is one of the most prestigious business areas in the world. Whether you work in media, financial services, technology or law, you’ll become part of a networking hub if you base yourself here. Being in the heart of the action also means you have fantastic transport links on your doorstep, world-class bars for team outings and the pick of top UK and, indeed, global talent.

A true hive of activity, Manchester is a bustling, yet charismatic hub of cultural variety. Steeped in history, it has played a huge role in the evolution of the UK, making it the powerhouse that it is today. Business truly flourishes here, and there's no shortage of exciting leisure activities, which demonstrate the city’s well-deserved, fun reputation.

The success or failure of a restaurant can often lie with the decisions you make long before the ribbons are cut on opening day. Customer satisfaction is not only shaped by what you’re serving, but where you’re serving it.

As we’re all well aware of by now, the office has been irrevocably changed by Covid-19. Now the pipe dream of remote work has become a reality for many workers, and office spaces are being used in entirely new ways. Gone are the days of coming to work with a cold and having to show that you were completely incapacitated to stay at home with your laptop.

Step away from the madness of central London and you’ll find a more leisurely pace of life in North West London. You’ll be surrounded by green space, from Hampstead Heath to Horsenden Hill, but it’s still within easy reach of key business districts. If you’re looking to be close to the commercial heart of many industries, without the tourists and premium rent costs, this could the ideal location for your business.

The leafy and lively area of South West London has a little bit of something for everyone. Nature lovers will feel at home taking a stroll around the many green spaces like Wimbledon Common, Richmond Park, Strawberry Hill and Kew Gardens. There are plenty of ponds to picnic by too, in places like Battersea Park, Clapham Common and Wimbledon Park.

After offices were forced to send workers home in spring 2020, businesses have had a chance to revaluate their workspaces. Are employees more productive at home? Is it more cost-effective to reduce office space? Can we offer home working as a perk? Hybrid working is a relatively new term, and it has a few meanings attached to it.

On the north eastern fringes of London are a number of towns that offer quick links to the centre, yet a slower pace of daily life. As the ripple effect from Central London continues to boost areas on the outskirts, towns across North East London are only set to increase in popularity. They can be excellent places for businesses that are looking for a location in the capital, but for a fraction of the cost.

Want to base yourself in the capital but don’t fancy getting caught up in the rush of the tourist traps? South East London could be the ideal area for your new office. You’ll have access to wide-open green spaces, slices of history and quaint residential areas within easy reach of key business districts in the north.

Serviced offices are becoming increasingly popular for businesses, big and small. These plug-in-and-go spaces were once the domain of start-ups and freelancers, but larger businesses are now beginning to see their appeal. But does a serviced office work well when you have 500-plus employees? Let’s weigh up the pros and cons.

North London is a prestigious location for a business. Brushing shoulders with the City of London and Mayfair, it has an upmarket feel and is closely connected to the key business districts. Stretching from Clerkenwell, which neighbours the City, up to the Hertfordshire boundary, North London encompasses many notable locations.

If you haven't found the time to tune into season two of our Commercial Property Pioneers podcast, don’t fret. Here are the key takeaways that we've gleaned from listening to some of the world's most respected property experts.

Make your way south of the River Thames, and you’ll immediately land on one of the most exciting parts of the capital: the South Bank. Here you’ll find everything from The Shard to the London Eye and the National Theatre. Venture even further south, and you’ll find all kinds of creative places to base your business.

West London is a great place to base your business, as it’s home to several handy amenities and has excellent transport links, both within the city and to other central business hubs across the UK. It’s an exciting place to live and work. If you’d like to know more about renting a serviced or flexible office space in West London, here’s everything you need to know.

Historically, London’s East End was located outside the city walls of London. Over time, small hamlets and villages began to spring up around the Roman road that led from Colchester to Essex. And as the Docklands began to develop, many were drawn to the area as new industrial opportunities arose. Even after their decline in the mid-to-late-20th century, East London had developed its own identity as the edgier side of the capital.

Most office-based workers have spent the last 18 months working from home. And while remote work has allowed people to stay safe and spend more time with their families, it has also left some feeling isolated, disconnected and burned out. As the world begins to cautiously move back to some sense of normality, will remote working get left behind with banana bread and zoom quizzes? Or will it become a mainstay of our working lives?

Stockton-on-Tees is bursting with growth potential, attracting many innovative entrepreneurs, start-ups and new businesses. This is reflected in the high levels of investment pouring into the area. In addition to being a great place to do business, Stockton was also voted as the 6th best place to live in the whole of the UK due to the fantastic quality of life and excellent range of amenities residents enjoy.

Situated on the Yorkshire coast, Scarborough is one of the UK’s largest and most famous seaside towns. While the town’s economy has traditionally been underpinned by the maritime, service and tourism industries, it’s fast growing into a digital and creative hub, which is playing a vital role in the area’s regeneration and competitiveness. Scarborough is also known for its focus on innovation, providing a warm and welcoming base for forward-thinking entrepreneurs, start-ups and new businesses.

Since the pandemic, businesses – from small start-ups to global corporations – have had to reassess the traditional office model and consider a more flexible, hybrid approach. And, while working from home has been a hit with many, there's still a need for a collaborative physical space. Somewhere remote workers can meet up with colleagues, but which doesn't entail a long, costly commute to head office. This is where satellite offices come in.