The 15-Minute City: Balancing Business and Lifestyle in Southampton

The 15-Minute City: Balancing Business and Lifestyle in Southampton

Imagine a city where everything you need is within a 15-minute reach – your workplace, local markets, parks, entertainment, and relaxing outdoor spaces.

This is the concept of the "15-minute city," a vision of urban living that's gaining traction around the UK and the rest of the world.

Add a fantastic coastline into the mix, and Southampton stands out as a shining example of this ultimate model of work/life balance.

Located on England’s scenic south coast, Southampton is a city that needs no introduction.

But since it’s home to a superb flexible workspace operated by UBC, it’s only right that we give you a little glimpse into work and life at this famous maritime city.

Discover Southampton

Southampton thrives not only as a hub for business and entrepreneurship but as a great place for a balanced and fulfilling lifestyle.

One of the cornerstones of the 15-minute city is accessibility. Since Southampton is affectionately known as the "Gateway to the World," it’s considered far more accessible than most - and not just because it’s home to one of the country's busiest and most successful deep-water ports.

Away from the water, Southampton is well-connected by road and rail. The M3 and M27 motorways enable travel around the southeast region, while Southampton Central Station enables direct links to London in around 1 hour 30 minutes.

A Hub for Business

The city nurtures a culture of entrepreneurship and is home to thousands of start-ups and established businesses.

The University of Southampton, renowned for its research and innovation, plays a significant role in fostering this entrepreneurial culture. It also provides a pool of talent and skilled graduates who are ready to contribute to the city's business ecosystem.

For businesses, the city is home to various incubators, accelerators, and research centers that support start-ups and established companies alike. As for flexible workspace, UBC’s Enterprise House at Ocean Village Marina offers a supportive, high quality environment in which small businesses and independent professionals can thrive and grow.

Enterprise House, flexible workspace for SMEs and startups

From virtual offices for remote businesses, to coworking memberships and flexible day passes, to private office suites for growing businesses, Enterprise House accommodates all types of startups and SME businesses employing up to 20 people.

Our clients come from a wide range of business sectors including recruitment, professional services, marketing, supply chain, technology, and of course maritime businesses.

Healthy Lifestyle by the Coast

The 15-minute city isn’t all work and no play - far from it!

Whether you love waterfront walks, wild swimming, watersports, or peacefully watching the world go by in seafront cafes, Southampton - especially Ocean Village Marina - has it all.

This part of the world naturally encourages an active lifestyle. Access to the coast provides a retreat from fast-paced business life and the perfect place to unwind and recharge.

At UBC, we’ve worked with countless businesses and people over the years. We’ve always found that businesses thrive in environments where employees enjoy a high quality of life.

Southampton's coastal setting, cultural attractions, and connectivity create an attractive environment in which to live and work, which enhances employee satisfaction, happiness, and loyalty.

All things considered, Southampton's ‘gateway’ location, excellent connectivity, skilled workforce, and leisure amenities make it the perfect destination for businesses, and the ideal model for the 15-minute city.

Why not try out this vibrant location for yourself? Pop in for a tour of our workspace at Enterprise House at Ocean Village Marina. Better still, book a hot desk in our friendly coworking space and spend the day getting acquainted with this beautiful part of the world.