Distinguished by its strong public sector, Bristol is a rapidly developing business hub that has seen significant increases in the professional, scientific and technology sectors in the last five years. An interesting, historical region of the UK, Bristol offers a cultured city environment for new businesses to make a home.
Which business sectors does this area attract?
A hugely popular location for start-ups, typically from the tech and media-related industries, Bristol city center’s Paintworks district offers new tenants an intimate, cultured street scene in contrast to business parks.
With premier organizations such as the BBC already employing around 2,500 staff here, the area is set for even more development in the coming years.
A 70-hectare project at Bristol Temple Meads represents one of the UK’s biggest regeneration projects and is expected to create 17,000 jobs over a 25-year timeframe. That said, over 300 businesses already call the area home.
Bristol’s business scene is particularly varied with well-established names such as Barclays, BDO and EDF Energy already housed within the Grade A Bridgewater House. After all, the city’s Finzels Reach mixed-use scheme has taken great strides in attracting a growing number of professional firms and residential buyers.
Transport Links
One of the UK’s biggest rail interchanges, Bristol Temple Meads train station is merely a 10-minute walk from the city center with regular connections into London. Elsewhere, Bristol Airport – a 25-minute car journey away - operates flights to many European capital cities with the 2017-launched MetroBus network also improving links to and from the city suburbs.
Amenities
With two universities also located in the city center, Bristol unsurprisingly features a respectable range of restaurants and bars across the casual – sophisticated spectrum. Stop by Tube Diner in Paintworks for a hearty breakfast while The Ox and Chomp represent excellent options for dinner.
What does this area have to offer?
The tech industry is also prevalent in the western reaches of Bristol around the affluent suburb of Clifton. The iconic Avon Gorge provides a striking backdrop to an area that houses Bristol Zoo. Over a quarter of the world’s wildlife programs are made in Bristol, with the BBC Natural History Unit also close by.
Lined by pretty Georgian townhouses, there's always a strong demand for office space in Clifton. After all, Bristol is the UK’s fifth-largest city with business growth having increased consistently here since 2011.
Transport Links
Boasting excellent bus connections into the city center, Bristol’s outer suburbs and North Somerset can be reached by car across the spectacular Clifton Suspension Bridge with panoramic views of the Avon Gorge. Clifton Downs railway station is part of Network Rail, while Bristol Airport can be reached in just 20 minutes.
Amenities
While the city center amenities aren’t so far away, Clifton boasts its own selection of fine restaurants such as The Ivy Clifton Brasserie and Wallfish Bristol.
What does this area have to offer?
An increasing number of creative industries are springing up around Bristol Harbourside, with Spike Island containing an international center for the development of contemporary art and design.
An up-and-coming area with more tech-facing businesses moving in, this interesting location has already been targeted for significant redevelopment. Projects such as Baltic Wharf, The Point and Perretts Court will create prime dockside housing in a historic location.
Several dock areas now operate as cultural points of interest with Brunel’s SS Great Britain famously sitting in dry dock as a museum ship beside Bristol Marina.
With so much to see and do close by, inviting clients to this intriguing area of the city adds another dimension to the business liaison.
Transport Links/ Amenities
Only a ten-minute drive from Bristol Temple Meads station, Bristol Harbour actually contains its own localized railway service that runs the entire length of the island. With both Bristol Parkway station and Bristol Airport under half an hour away, connections to onward travel are plentiful and varied.
Outside the area’s maritime-themed attractions, there are a wide variety of alternative pursuits close by. Bristol Aquarium and the M Shed museum can also be found here while the o2 Academy Bristol and Bristol Hippodrome feature great live entertainment all year round. The prominent Bristol Cathedral and the Brandon Hill Park also sit north of the River Avon.
Which businesses are located in this area?
Home to some of the UK’s largest organizations from the manufacturing and aerospace realm, the Bristol suburb of Filton and surroundings is already home to businesses such as Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems and Airbus UK.
Located on Bristol’s northern fringes with ample access to the M4 motorway, a new 65-acre business park is set to occupy a site formerly belonging to the Rolls-Royce East Works. The Horizon38 development is expected to cost around £120 million and will feature commercial, warehousing and industrial space.
Acting as a catalyst to attract car dealerships, trade counters, accommodation and self-storage businesses to the area, new residential and retail developments will supplement the site at the opposite end of the A38.
Transport Links
Just under a one-and-a-half-hour journey from London by rail via Bristol Parkway station, the M4 and M5 motorways connect Bristol with the UK’s capital and the second city of Birmingham. Despite sitting on the opposite side of the city, Bristol Airport is still only 35 minutes away from networking opportunities abroad.
Amenities
While most of Bristol’s attractions are located nearer the city center, one of the UK’s premier out-of-town shopping malls - Cribbs Causeway - is situated beside Junction 17 of the M5. Featuring over 130 shops with a large John Lewis and Marks and Spencer stores on site, retail therapists can spend entire weekends here.
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