Expert Office Advice

Vital facts and key information for businesses considering relocation to or setting up an office in Portsmouth.

Considered to be UK’s premier waterfront destination, Portsmouth has miles of sea views and is home to the world’s oldest dry dock. One of the main tourist attractions, Spinnaker Tower, is however just a relatively new building located in Gunwharf Quays. The city of Portsmouth is also UK’s one and only island city.

Population
186,800 (Census 2001)

Migration, immigration, ethnic diversity, basic population demographics
• Majority of the population fall under the 30-44 age bracket (22.9%)
• Ethnicity: White (94.8%), Mixed (1.4%), Asian or Asian British (4.4%), Black or Black British (0.5%), Chinese and Other (1.4%)
• Religion: Christian (68.1%), No religion (20.0%), Muslim (2.1%)

Unemployment/employment rate
• 64.7% are employed
• 3.1% are unemployed
• The rest of the population are either students, retired, homemakers or disabled.

Average income/salary
• £28,600 per annum (2005 estimate)

Location within the UK and closest major location
• Located in Portsea Island right where Solent meets the English Channel

Transport options to and within
• Being an island, Portsmouth isn’t as well connected or as easily accessible as other cities, especially since it doesn’t have its own airport.
• Portsmouth is connected to the mainland by three roads and is also accessible by ferry.
• Within the island there is no existing rail system but the bus service is pretty good.

Closest airports with average distance from town/city centre
• Southampton Eastleigh International Airport - 15.33 miles
• Bournemouth International Airport - 33.22 miles
• London Gatwick Airport - 46.11 miles

Dominating sectors / industries
• Wholesale & retail trade; repair of motor vehicles - 15.2%
• Manufacturing - 13.2%
• Real estate; renting and business activities - 12.0%
• Public Administration and Defence - 11.1%
• Health and Social Work - 11.0%
Source: Census 2001 - Key Statistics for Portsmouth

Large companies that have headquarters or major branches in the location
• EADS Astrium
• IBM UK
• Pall Europe
• McLaren Composites

Areas that are considered to be prime business locations
• Gunwharf Quays
• Commercial Road
• Cascades Shopping Centre
• Ocean Retail Park
• Bridge Centre

Awards
• Best New Building Award 2006 awarded to Spinnaker Tower
• Best Landscaping Award 2006 awarded to the Nelson’s statue’s relocation
• Best Restoration Award 2006 awarded to Angel drinking fountain in Canoe Lake

Other
• Opening of Cosham to the Hampshire Farmers’ Market for the first time ever.

Restrictions
• Smoking ban (effective July 2007)

Special business benefits/dispensations
• Unoccupied property rates
• Partly occupied property relief
• Small Business Rate relief
• Charity and registered community amateur sports club relief
• Non-profit making organisation relief
• Hardship relief

3 best things about the location
• The presence of Gunwharf Quays, which is considered to be UK’s premier waterfront retail, leisure and office development.
• Numerous regeneration projects underway with some already near completion.
• Being the only island city it is a very popular tourist destination.

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