Whilst businesses are continually encouraged to look for out of town offices and work life balance through remote working and flexi office rent in the countryside, the Government still isn’t moving fast enough to remedy the growing divide between rural and urban broadband access.

Yes, they have pledged £750 million to upgrade everyone in the UK to a minimum of 2Mbps by 2012 (significantly lagging behind the likes of Korea, Japan and the rest of Europe) but this still won’t be enough to bring smaller businesses in line with their competitors in the cities.

The furore surrounding slow and nonexistent Internet began earlier this year when the Prince of Wales highlighted the amount of ‘not-spot areas’ (currently affecting 166.000 people) and ‘broadband deserts’ with speeds of less than 2Mbps (currently affecting 2.75 million people) in rural Britain (reported in the Telegraph 2009).

Whilst the scheme for rural roll-out of broadband asks for further public funding and the wait for cheaper Satellite broadband continues, it is clearly a situation that will not improve any time soon.

However, where slow progress holds some back, there are some pioneering rural entrepreneurs and leaders who are not prepared to wait but rather take the bull by the horns and forge ahead regardless of Government delays.

Liscombe Park Ltd, increasingly regarded as one of the more forward thinking commercial landlords in the UK countryside, has pushed forward with installing its own fast fibre optic cable to meet its tenants business demands.

‘We strongly believe, as many businesses do, that working out of town has unparalleled advantages for commuting, wellbeing, flexibility and aesthetics however technology has not been amongst them until now. We weren’t content to wait for the Government initiative because our clients need fast Internet access right now. We are delighted to be able to support our clients better with the infrastructure to feed high speed broadband throughout every one of our offices at Liscombe Park.’ Explained Liscombe Park’s Chairman, David Tonnison.

According to the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies (NFEA), 44% of online businesses in the UK are based in rural areas. If the Government is to support this growing talent in rural Britain they must move much quicker and take their lead from dedicated developers like Liscombe Park Ltd.

Liscombe Park is conveniently situated on the outskirts of Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire between Milton Keynes, London, Oxford and Luton. For more information on rural office space with high-speed broadband, plentiful parking and excellent accessibility please visit www.liscombepark.co.uk

Whilst the economy continues on the uphill struggle to recovery, optimism has been seen in one of the UK’s hardest hit sectors: commercial property. The Times reported in November 2009 that confidence is on the increase, with observations that the current level of demand is even exceeding the supply of prime retail property and office space.

One savvy developer in Bedfordshire is certainly echoing the trend with recent news that they have secured substantial planning permission for 18,000 square feet of office space on the highly desirable Liscombe Park estate.

Ongoing upgrading to Liscombe Park’s existing office buildings has secured the future at Liscombe of major multinational VWR International whose strong growth required a trebling of their office requirements which, through close cooperation between Landlord and Tenant, was delivered in less than 3 months ensuring continuity for this large multinationals export arm.
Continued interest from small and medium businesses looking for conveniently located, aesthetically designed property is being experienced.

Liscombe Park, based near Leighton Buzzard, has retained its positioning as one that provides flexible, easy rent office space so critical for businesses in the existing unpredictable climate as well as longer leases for those seeking greater certainty. As such, they have secured flexi-lease clients away from the more expensive, hard contract lettings in neighbouring town centres. Often these tenants grow and need more secure leases and larger premises which Liscombe Park is ideally placed to offer VWR International being a case in point.

David Tonnison, Managing Director of the business park, has strategically retained land with direct access to the new bypass for future development making the location even more suitable for those seeking a base near Milton Keynes, Luton, London, Oxford and Aylesbury. The setting provides an added bonus for those businesses that require an office that impresses clients and attracts the right staff.
We’ve managed to strike the balance between urban and rural working with all of the features of both”, explained Mr. Tonnison.

To find out more about future developments at Liscombe Park, visit www.liscombepark.co.uk

énergie Health Club at Liscombe Park are throwing several events this September that you may be interested in:

4th September - Salsa and Tapas Night - members and non-members welcome

8th September - Clothes Swapping Party

12th September - Family Open Day

For more information or to book, please contact Jacqui at énergie Liscombe Park (01296 682281) or Dawn at énergie Leighton Buzzard (01525 853000).

Growing companies at Liscombe Park has created a demand for larger offices requiring Liscombe Park Ltd to build new offices to satisfy the demand from these tenants. This has enabled us to remodel vacated offices which will be coming available over the next few months. All are featured on the website as follows:

No 5 Media Village is available from September 1st 2009. View at  http://www.liscombepark.co.uk/property.php

No. 16 Media Village will be available from November 2009. View at http://www.liscombepark.co.uk/property.php

N0.2 Liscombe East will be available from 1st September 2009. Details will be published soon for this recently completely remodelled 6- 8 person office.

Interested parties can contact David Tonnison on 07811 45 99 96 or 01296 68 18 18

Swimming Lessons at énergie Fitness Club Soulbury

Private and group swimming lessons taught by Pete Woodbridge and available to both members and non-members of énergie fitness club.

Pete is a former club swimmer who now teaches and coaches swimmers of all ages and abilities from complete beginners to experienced national level competitors. A qualified ASA Level 3 coach, Pete teaches private or small group lessons at énergie fitness club, Liscombe Park.

Qualifications:
ASA Level 3 (Club Coach)
ASA Level 2 (Teacher)
ASA Level 1 (Assistant Teacher)
NRASTC (Rescue and First Aid)
SCUK Child Protection
CRB Cleared

Available Lessons:
One to One 30 minute lesson
Small group (3 max) 30 minutes
Discount for course bookings
Summer crash courses
Other lessons by arrangement

To find out more:-
- call Pete on 07836 230 741
- contact the club reception on 01296 682 281
- visit www.swimcoach-uk.com

First Serve Tennis Coaching at Liscombe Park

Ross Neary is a qualified coach L.T.A Level 3 and is an instructor with the professional Tennis registry
Mini tennis sessions being held at Liscombe park during the summer holidays:

Dates: Monday 27th July - Friday 14th August
Age: children age 4 years up to 9 years
Times: 12 - 2pm -4-6 years / 2.15pm -4.15pm - 7-9years
Cost: £8per session
Any enquiries contact Ross Neary 01525 237325
Please pick up a booking form from energie Leighton Buzzard or Liscombe Park reception.

Here’s the dilemma:

Milton Keynes now has the second highest growth in the number of small businesses in the UK – equal to that of London according to new figures released from accounting group UHY Hacker Young.  It is without doubt, the place to do business.  Indeed, many high profile brands agree.  Abbey, Amazon, Dominoes, Argos, Traffic Master, Daimler Chrysler and Rightmove are just some of the household brands that have moved to the new city.

However, whilst growth of business is so promising, that brings with it high priced commercial property.  Alliance and Leicester have reported, in their 2009 Cost Monitor findings, that Milton Keynes is the second most expensive town to rent retail property space.  It makes perfect sense.  Where there’s demand, there is a price increase.

So, how does the small business take advantage of the opportunities Milton Keynes has to offer without being crippled by the over inflated property rates?  This is, after all, one of the most recession-proof towns in the country according to the Sunday Times.  Milton Keynes is a town to get in with.

Milton Keynes may strike up instant images of concrete and roundabouts.  And yes, there are a lot of both.  However, Milton Keynes is very fortunately located.  The town is surrounded by breath-taking Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire countryside. It is in a beautiful part of the UK. 

What this means is that small businesses have a choice.  Rural alternatives are popping up all around the city in contemporary business hubs offering something a great deal more pleasant than the expensive, congested concrete jungle.

Liscombe Park is one such business park.  Set in the idyllic, rolling hills of Soulbury, just 15 minutes from Milton Keynes town centre, this nest of offices gives the small business a flexible get-in, get-on work set-up without the hefty price tag. 

It’s not just the rates that make this property option appealing.

Liscombe Park developments have designed their offices with work-life balance in mind.  ‘Time to think, Time to Achieve’ is what they promise.  It’s easy to believe them as you journey up the grand, tree-lined driveway, passed the equestrian land with horses grazing, arriving at a community of converted barn-offices.

At Liscombe, you can hold meetings outside while you picnic.  You have free parking.  You have an exclusive, luxurious health club with pool and spa facilities next door with subsidized membership for tenants*.  There is no traffic.  It’s easy.  It feels calmly dynamic.  You get a sense that this is how working is meant to be.

Business tenants of these outskirt locations to Milton Keynes truly get the best of both worlds.  In quarter of an hour they’re in the bustling centre, networking with their neighbours.  In quarter of an hour they’re back out, able to breathe and do business in a way that feels far less stressful.  My advice: Do it now before the herds follow.

For more information on Liscombe Park, visit www.liscombepark.co.uk.

* Subsidised Health Club Membership can be negotiated for new tenants at Liscombe Park.

Local beauty spot, Liscombe Park is giving frustrated businesses in the larger towns of Milton Keynes and Luton a new choice in commercial property with the launch of it’s office & land development plan for 2009.

At a time when small businesses are either looking to downsize or cut their spend on office space and rent, Liscombe developments have created a hub of new flexi-rent, contemporary offices away from the congestion, minutes from the traffic-free bypass connecting the major towns in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

The stress free features of the park’s work environment are carried throughout the development. With flexible contracts, ready-offices and a strong work-life balance philosophy offering all tenants a healthy way of working, Liscombe is much more than a low risk property solution.

This innovative new offering from the renowned historical park includes ‘Get In/Get On’ rented offices with free broadband and a complete office-ready set up for workers to hit the floor running. The development plans also allow for easy expansion of office space to suit the changing business needs of each client.

For those who are looking to take advantage of the recession to purchase land and build assets, Liscombe has various investment opportunities available. Over the past 12 months, the savvy developers have gained planning permission for commercial, equestrian, leisure and agricultural construction on their 300 acres of available land at the park and they’re offering it to interested investors.

Visit www.liscombepark.co.uk for gallery images, videos and further information.

Liscombe Park Ltd is offering for sale 138 acres of farmland. Situated close to Leighton Buzzard and easy driving distance from Milton Keynes and Aylesbury this is a parcel which rarely becomes available. Currently entirely arable the lease will expire in October 2009 giving vacant possession. Go to http://www.liscombepark.co.uk/files/lp-land-details.pdf for details.

Continuing on from our last blog on the pros of renting, we explore the benefits of purchasing commercial property in the current climate.

Clearly, buying premises should only be considered if you have the capital behind you to support such a purchase. Whilst a commercial mortgage is the more common means of funding such an investment, being in a stable position financially is vital in this unpredictable economy.

Purchase of land or property for commercial use is a long-term asset for a growing business and is a wise decision to make at a stable point in your business lifecycle. As we have seen recently however, this kind of asset can depreciate (as opposed to better times historically when commercial property managed to push through any downturns) so don’t hedge all your bets on this particular investment.

Buying property gives you the flexibility to expand and evolve that workspace over time, as you want it – providing you have planning permission. If this is your aim, make sure you find out as much as possible about the future allowances and plans affecting your land, building and surroundings.

The downside to owning your property is of course that you become responsible for all maintenance and repair however, on the plus side, it gets done when and how you want it to!

Purchase ultimately gives you control and provides a worthwhile asset in your business. Currently, deals can be found so, if your business or industry is one of those few that are booming in the recession, taking advantage of lower property prices and land for sale could be a savvy move.

Top tips: Look to buy in those towns deemed as growth areas by the government and earmarked for investment, employment initiatives, new infrastructure and residential plans. It is less likely that your property will go down in value than in other, more mature or decaying areas. Look around; compare properties, consider location, access, proximity to amenities and benefits for staff. Visit www.liscomepark.co.uk for more information and excellent land-for-sale opportunities.

localizeIT has now moved to the Media Village at Liscombe Park , near Leighton Buzzard. After 5 years of successful trading resourcing and placing high caliber candidates in the IT, Telecom and Localisation fields. The offices and environment at Liscombe Park offered the  perfect solution to our business needs.  2009 is shaping up to be a challenging year, yet we still expect to retain our current customers and develop new accounts with a view to increasing our workforce over the coming 12 months. With current requirements ongoing for Project Managers, Business Development Managers, Engineers and Support Specialists it is always worth taking a look at the vacancies page on our website.

We wish you all a prosperous 2009.

Vincent Scorza, Company Director