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

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.