Record occupancy at Portsmouth Technopole
RECORD OCCPANCY: From left, Louise Ogilvy and Carrie Banks of People Prospect Solutions, Stephen Brownlie of Portsmouth Technopole, Pram Nayak of Shape and Jayne Putnam of Lowcay HR Consultancy
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Record occupancy has been achieved at Fasset-run Portsmouth Technolopole within just nine months.
The landmark innovation hub by the city gateway M275, opened seven years ago, has seen levels double since regional technology parks operator Fasset was appointed last April.
More than 150 people are based at the centre, working for 42 registered businesses, with a further 21 virtual office tenants.
Centre manager Stephen Brownlie, from Fasset, said: “The Technopole has become a focal point for knowledge-based businesses, with a record 82% occupancy.
“This success story for the Portsmouth economy is all the more incredible when you consider that the UK has been in the severest recession of its kind since the Second World War.
“What we’ve seen is the growing trend for start-ups, early-stage firms and outsourced businesses to locate themselves in a supportive, easy-in, easy-out environment, where the package is all-inclusive and highly competitive in price.”
He added: “The business hub is thriving and our customers are starting to do business with each other as well, which reinforces internal investment and benefits the local economy through job creation.”
Portsmouth Technopole was officially opened on September 23, 2003, by Mandy Haberman, who invented a hit spill-proof beaker for toddlers.
The latest occupants include Shape, with 20 people in a 1,200 sq ft office, recruitment-to-recruitment agency People Prospect Solutions, with director Louise Ogilvy and colleague Carrie Banks in a 400 sq ft office, and Lowcay HR Consultancy, run by owner Jayne Putnam, in a 100 sq ft office.
Shape involves joint venture partners Morgan Sindall, VT and Wates, a consortium bidding for work through the Local Education Partnership (LEP) for Portsmouth’s £200m Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.
Shape is led at the Technopole by Bid Director Hugh Robinson and LEP Development Director Pram Nayak.
BSF is the largest single schools capital investment programme for more than 50 years and its aim is to rebuild or renew England’s state secondary schools estate during the lifetime of the programme, including ones in Portsmouth.
Pram said: “The Technopole is ideal for us, as we can flex the space if numbers of staff grow, and the location at the gateway to Portsmouth, next to the motorway, could not be better.”
Recent signings at the Technopole include UKILaw, Cellularfone, Victory Executive Travel and BDH Accountants.
Other occupiers include ships parts supplier Thornton & Davies, software development specialist AMT Data Technologies, skincare products internet trader Venkman Industries and Enterprise Cleaning Services Portsmouth.
Lease and rent details of the latest occupiers have not been disclosed.
The Technopole has nearly 20,000 sq ft of office space and is owned by innovation hubs company PTL.
PTL selected Fasset to run the hub because of the company’s proven track record in driving up occupancy rates at similar sites in the South and its strong links with local and regional networks.