Looking for Work-Life Balance? It’s Right Here in Ocean Village

Looking for Work-Life Balance? It’s Right Here in Ocean Village

The world has changed irreversibly since 2020. Covid-19 led to a huge shift in culture and attitude towards work, which has inspired many working people to prioritise their personal wellbeing and happiness, and seek to achieve better work-life balance.

A 2023 report by Hays found that one-third of workers consider work-life balance to be the most crucial consideration when looking for a job, while more than half (56 per cent) of employees are willing to accept a lower-paid job in exchange for a better work-life balance.

Another 2023 study by Total Jobs found that over a quarter (26%) of workers reported that a better work-life balance would encourage them to stay in their role.

This comes despite concerns over personal finances and a squeeze on the cost of living.

So if there’s one thing that employers can do to attract and retain the best talent, aside from offering higher pay, it’s to offer a working environment that encourages better work-life balance. One way to do that is to offer flexible work, which provides people with more choice over where and when they get their work done.

And what better place to do that than right by the coast?

UBC’s Enterprise House is located in Ocean Village, a vibrant waterfront location that’s not just a great place to live – it’s an inspiring place to work, too. 

It’s home to hundreds of businesses large and small, some of which operate in traditional maritime industries while many others are professional services firms, such as accountants, legal advisers, marketing agencies, and consultants.

Why do so many office-based firms choose Ocean Village when they could be in central Southampton, you might ask? It’s simply because it’s a great place to be. After all, wouldn’t you rather trade a busy street for a yacht-filled marina?

As enviable locations go, Ocean Village is hard to beat. The marina is the main draw, which was once the site of the city's first working docks. Today it’s home to numerous cafes, wine bars, restaurants, luxury hotels, and modern apartments. This elegant lifestyle combined with its proximity to Southampton attracts a mix of professionals alongside young families and retirees.

Naturally it has its fair share of boating and watersports enthusiasts, and is famous for hosting the start or finish of round-the-world yacht races.

One of them, the Ocean Globe Race, will start at Ocean Village Marina in September 2023 and conclude in April 2024. 

This spectacular race will see over 160 sailors depart from Ocean Village onboard 15 yachts to complete the four leg, 30,000 mile race around the world. The route will take in Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, Australia’s Cape Leeuwin, and South America’s notorious Cape Horn.

To make the race even more challenging, there will be no GPS, no high-tech equipment and no computers. Sailors will navigate using only a sextant, paper charts, and the stars.

Of course, while Ocean Village is best-known for its yacht-filled marina and waterfront lifestyle, it’s also a great place to work.

In recent years, there has been a surge in demand for flexible office space in Southampton. UBC’s Ocean Village office space provides an ideal destination for small businesses and professionals looking for a high quality and flexible workspace, combined with a fantastic lifestyle.

There is a symbiotic relationship between lifestyle and work, and many new developments happening in the Ocean Village area are designed to benefit both.

For instance, local authorities are investing in improving cycle networks under the Cycling Southampton 2017-2027 plan. This will see wide-ranging improvements to the cycling network to transform Southampton into a sustainable and thriving city.

Other developments include a new pedestrian bridge and improved transport links, making Ocean Village an exciting prospect for professionals and business owners who are already based here, or those who are looking to relocate to an area that provides a great place to live – and perhaps an even better place to work.

Interested in trying out the Ocean Village lifestyle for yourself? Visit our offices at Enterprise House for a tour, or experience the local vibe for yourself by booking a coworking desk for the day.