When people think of Newport, what often springs to mind is the passport office. So many of us have had to make an emergency dash for a last minute passport when we’ve found ours is lost, out of date, or been eaten by the dog, and Newport’s passport office has come to the rescue.
But there is far more to Newport than this. And, since the removal of the tolls on the Prince of Wales bridge over the River Severn, this city has become an even more attractive destination for businesses to relocate to.
Generally more cost-effective than neighbouring Cardiff, or (back over the bridge) Bristol, Newport is a well-connected location which has everything a new or growing business needs.
So here are just some of the reasons why Newport could be an ideal location for your business.
1. Connectedness
Newport covers 75 square miles and stands on the gateway between England and Wales. People often wonder which country it’s located in. It is in Wales, but there is an argument that it is (or, at one stage, was) part of England. This is because Monmouthshire, where Newport sits, has in the past had MPs sitting in Westminster.
But that aside, where it sits geographically gives it brilliant connections to both countries. Newport is on the busy M4 corridor – a magnet, in particular, for tech companies; the journey time by train to London is 90 minutes and there are more than 50 trains per day. Road and rail links to neighbouring Bristol and Cardiff could not be better.
2. Home To Big Business
Newport boasts some big players in the business world. Technology giant SPTS is based in Newport and has recently announced plans for a new $100 million, 200,000 sq ft R&D and manufacturing centre.
The general insurance division of Lloyds TSB is based in the city, and high street store Wilko has an 850,000 sq ft distribution centre there, serving not just Wales but the South and South West England.
Also based in Newport are insurance company Gocompare, the Office for National Statistics and the Intellectual Property Office.
3. A Great Place To Stay
Whether you’re looking for 5-star accommodation or a simple Airbnb, Newport has something to suit.
Probably the city’s best-known resort is Celtic Manor. This 5-star complex has played host to the Ryder Cup and a NATO summit! For any business owner looking for overnight accommodation while conducting a reccy of Newport, this could be the ideal location.
4. Plenty To Do
For anyone visiting Newport for work, there is plenty to do during leisure hours. We’ve mentioned Celtic Manor, which has an array of activities: six restaurants, three championship golf courses, two golf and country clubhouses, high ropes courses, adventure golf, laser tag and archery. But there is loads more besides… just check out Visit Wales for some more ideas.
5. Places Of Interest
Newport is a city steeped in history and culture. It has a cathedral, a museum and an art gallery, as well as the remains of castle. The poet WH Davies – who wrote the immortal lines, ‘What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare’ – hailed from Newport.
The beautiful National Trust property Tredegar House, with 90 acres of parkland, is in the city. Plus, the Morgan family who owned the house also built Newport’s famous transporter bridge, a true feat of engineering and just one of eight to survive in the world. The bridge was designed to carry cargo across the River Usk on a gondola borne on a rail, while beneath there was enough space for ships to continue to pass.
6. Back To Business…
Accommodation, culture, and leisure activities are important, but here’s the six million dollar question: is Newport a good place to locate a business? We’d answer with a resounding yes!
Based on an industrial past, Newport has seen major regeneration in recent years. The road infrastructure has been improved and the railway station expanded. With the recent electrification of the railway, journey times to London have been shortened.
There are plenty of business networking groups, which offer an ideal way of building relationships with the business community. These include the Dragons of Newport, City of Newport Business Club, and Uno Network Business Club.
7. Perfect Office Location
If you’ve decided Newport is the place for your business, where will you base yourself? We suggest you look no further than Rombourne serviced offices.
In The City, We Have Three Venues To Choose From
- Excalibur House, is a stunning contemporary building which can accommodate teams of anything from two to 50 people.
- Merlin House is furnished to the highest standard, and its stunning minimalist Japanese-themed reception area creates a fantastic first-impression. Again, it can accommodate two to 50 people per business.
- Galahad House is ideal for either start-up companies or established companies, and can accommodate teams of one to 80.
All are ideal Newport-based serviced office solutions, with ample onsite parking. You can take a virtual tour or, better still, come over to Newport and we will show you around.
We hope we have persuaded you of the virtues of Newport as a business location. Recently, the city was featured in an episode of ‘Mark Steel’s in Town’ on BBC Radio 4.
The premise is that the comedian, Mark Steel, records a show in a town or city which then becomes the star of the episode. While gently ribbing each location, he also shows its virtues – and he certainly did that for Newport. (You can listen here on BBC Sounds)
If you’d like to find out more about serviced office accommodation in Newport, or to book a visit, please get in touch with our team and we would be happy to help.
