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).

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.

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

énergie Liscombe Park is holding a Wine & Wisdom Evening at the club from 7.30 pm on Friday 30 January.

The event costs £5 per person and includes a glass of wine and light refreshments. Teams are to be made up of a maximum of 6 people with prizes for the first three teams.

Please contact Scott or Jacqui at the club on 01296 682281 as soon as possible as places are running short.

Two small offices, ideal for between 1 and 4 people, will soon be available at Liscombe Park.

Both with private w/c and allocated parking you’ll enjoy the serenity of a country location close to Leighton Buzzard (10 mins); South Milton Keynes (10-15 mins); Aylesbury (20 mins). See map at http://www.liscombepark.co.uk/contact.php

Leases are flexible allowing you to get in and get on with undue delay or expense.

Apart from it’s beautiful location in the Liscombe Park Estate, just off the new Leighton Buzzard by pass, you can also access leisure facilities a few steps from your office door at the on site Health Club operated by energie fitness or for the horsey types stable your horses or hire them for an hour or day at the Liscombe Park Equestrian. Centre.

Interested? Then call David Tonnison on 01296 68 18 18 or 07811 45 99 96.

Sunday 8 February sees Liscombe Park holding its first wedding show between 10am and 4pm.

Set in the idyllic 300 acre Liscombe country estate the show will showcase not only Liscombe Park as a beautiful wedding venue, but also some of Leighton Buzzards premier wedding suppliers.

Exhibitors include Leighton Buzzard based companies Lightdraw Photography, Fogarty Formal Hire, Let Them Eat Cake and J’Adore lingerie as well as Bedford based Creation Flowers.

The event is organised by Jacqui Garrad and Scott Wiseman of the énergie Fitness Club Liscombe Park and will be staged in a marquee provided by Castle Marquees. Entry costs £2.50 per person and light refreshments will be provided.

Liscombe Park is situated off the wing Road between Soulbury and Wing and easily accessible from the Leighton Buzzard by pass. For more details please contact Jacqui or Scott on 01296 682281.

The typical journey to work is plagued with stress: Rushing for the train; sitting in traffic jams; shouting at half-asleep drivers; finding a parking space…that’s a lot of anger to face first thing in the morning and a lot of pressure to deal with before the day has even begun.

Don’t underestimate the stress this has on a business. More and more companies are leaving their offices in the towns and cities and moving out to the country. Relocation to the trendy rural suburbs is big news.

The draws for working out of town are many; price being the greatest reason for moving office. The cost of rural commercial property is significantly less than city based offices, as is the price of parking – in fact, parking is free and there’s plenty of it to go round.

Towns like Milton Keynes are struggling to provide parking spaces not just for visitors to the city but, more importantly, for employees of local firms. Free spaces are rare; convenient parking is at a premium many businesses simply can’t afford. Spaces are available on a first come, first served basis for many workers in the city, while those that don’t get there early enough are forced to brave the windy, rainy walk to their office building from a parking space blocks away. The real frustration for many companies comes when, despite their enviable M1 location, they still can’t tempt their clients to visit due to the sheer inconvenience and expense of parking.

So, where are these businesses moving to?

Forward thinking companies are planting their roots in the outskirts. These peaceful, countryside locations make the most of the Milton Keynes, Luton, Cambridge and Oxford arc and are often only minutes away from the city centres by car. Ironically, many of these rural sites have become much more accessible by road than those in the city centres.

There’s something rather serene about starting the day on clear, traffic free roads, driving through beautiful scenery that inspires rather than angers. Fresh air instead of exhaust fumes; cows instead of concrete, trees instead of traffic lights, free parking spaces on your office doorstep…and no more Milton Keynes roundabouts! There is an abundance of benefits to doing business in the sticks.

Working in the city is no walk in the park…but there is a working solution that is…

Of the various new commercial developments that have appeared on the scenic landscapes of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire, Liscombe Park is one that has taken the work/life balance concept one step further. Not only do they offer flexible office space in attractive properties that can accommodate businesses of any size, but they’ve managed to throw in a health and leisure complex on-site; equestrian activities and land for horse owners; beautiful park walks and outside meeting/picnic areas.

Located just 15 minutes from Milton Keynes, 15 minutes from Aylesbury and 25 minutes from Luton Airport, you can certainly see the appeal of relocating to Liscombe Park and working in the country. Rural working is cheaper, more convenient and more pleasurable – what’s not to like.