Swindon doesn’t always get good press. It’s not a tourist destination like neighbouring Bath and Oxford, it’s not oldie-world like the Cotswolds, and it’s not a city like Bristol.
Yet this large town has so much going for it, that once you move here to work or locate your business, you’ll never want to leave.
Famous for the Magic Roundabout traffic system, and home town of the actor Billie Piper, Swindon really is the place to be if you want to start, grow or relocate a business.
Excellent Transport Links
A former railway town, Swindon has a train station on the main line between London to the East, right down to Penzance in the West Country. Thanks to rail electrification, you can be in the Capital in well under an hour. Bristol and Reading are also a relatively short journey away.
By road, Swindon is also ideally located for reaching the South West, the South East and the Midlands, thanks to its position right on the M4. Recent road upgrades are also creating a swift M4/M5 link, so it’s simple to travel north towards Birmingham and beyond.
Business Connectedness
Swindon is home to some very big business players. Nationwide is headquartered here, as are Intel and WH Smith. But not only that, beneath this blue-chip layer are hundreds, if not thousands, of smaller businesses – SMEs, many of them in the tech and cyberspace industry.
Rubbing shoulders with other businesses and forming relationships is simple, thanks to the plethora of business networking groups and events.
For example, there is a Swindon Chapter of BNi and a town branch of Sterling Networks. More local networking groups include Aspire and Business Focus Networking. The times of day they meet vary from breakfast, to lunch, to evening; some are face-to-face and some online, giving options for everyone.
Culture & Activities
People don’t usually associate Swindon with culture, but as champions of the town we know this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Swindon has a rich heritage, steeped in railway history, and you can find out all about this by visiting The Steam Museum, or taking a trip to the Railway Village.
The town also has a great theatre, in the Wyvern, with more fringe and niche performances at The Arts Centre.
Away from the cultural side, there is plenty to do in the daytime and evenings, for those who have relocated to Swindon or may be here on business.
For lovers of shopping, Swindon boasts the Designer Outlet, with designer names, high street brands, and an abundance of coffee shops and restaurants.
Sports fans can enjoy ice hockey from Swindon Wildcats or soccer with League Two side Swindon Town Football Club. And fitness fans can find any number of gyms which offer pay-as-you-go options as well as membership packages.
Versatile Office Accommodation
Of course, one of the best ways to meet other business owners is to be based in serviced office, like Rombourne’s Kingston House. Ours is a fantastic venue, offering a wide range of accommodation to suit businesses of all types, from start-ups to established companies. We’re very flexible, so as your team grows, so can your office space.
Located by junction 16 of the M4, we couldn’t be better placed for a business wishing to locate to, or have a presence in, Swindon.
For more about our serviced and virtual office accommodation in Swindon, please get in touch with the team. We have a great video here, so you can check out Kingstone House in advance.
