Lakeside Occupier Visitor Chat Turns 10

Lakeside Occupier Visitor Chat Turns 10

A decade since Visitor Chat started their journey…

This year marks a whole decade since Visitor Chat started their journey to transform the way businesses connect with their customers online. From their very first conversations to now supporting thousands of clients across the UK and beyond, it’s been an incredible ride filled with innovation, growth, and plenty of chats along the way.

Visitor Chat is a service driven Live Chat company that helps businesses to enhance customer relationships. They have been occupiers at Lakeside for 4 years and we, alongside the Visitor Chat team, can’t wait to see what the next chapter holds.

Over the past 10 years, Visitor Chat have:

  • Helped businesses of all industries and sizes capture millions of enquiries.
  • Grown into a trusted partner for over 2,000 clients.
  • Delivered a fully managed service that takes the pressure off sales teams while driving real results.

But what makes this milestone truly special isn’t just the numbers, it’s the people. The amazing team, their brilliant clients, and having supportive partners are the reason we’ve reached this milestone. Every conversation the Visitor Chat team have powered and every lead that has been generated is proof of what can be achieved together.

Here’s to the last decade and to the exciting future ahead!

Voi e-scooter and e-bike scheme

Voi e-scooter and e-bike scheme

The Voi e-scooter and e-bike scheme continues to prove successful at Lakeside

The Voi e-scooter and e-bike scheme continues to prove successful at Lakeside giving occupiers the opportunity to take advantage of the rental scheme that provides green transport across the region.

Voi is the sole provider of rental e-scooters and e-bikes in Portsmouth, providing sustainable ways to travel for all those who live, work, visit or study in our region.

The detail

  • E-scooters are available to rent between 4am and 10pm, and e-bikes are available 24/7.
  • Users need to be 18 years old and over and have at least a provisional driving licence, which they will have to upload to the Voi app when they first register.
  • The app is available for free on Apple App Store or Google Play.
  • Voi rental e-scooters will cost £0.99 to unlock and then £0.18 per minute of usage. Voi also offer a day pass at £10 (120 minutes) and a month pass at £39.99 (300 minutes) or £54.99 (750 minutes) subscriptions.

For further information visit Portsmouth City Council website.

To keep Lakeside safe for all visitors and occupiers, a reduced speed limit is in operation across campus, with the Voi rental e-scooters only able to use specified cycle paths.

*Privately owned E-scooters are not permitted on the Lakeside grounds.

Wedding Expo 2026

Hampshire’s largest one day Wedding Expo returns to Lakeside

18 January 2026

Register for tickets now!

Returning for the fourth year running, Hampshire’s largest one-day Wedding EXPO returns to Lakeside North Harbour, Portsmouth – Sunday 18th January 2026, 11am – 4pm

PMN Wedding Fayres Ltd (pmnweddingfayres.co.uk/ )

Firmly placed as the largest regional wedding event of its kind; there will once again be all the wedding planning ideas & inspiration, all under one roof.

More than 130 wedding business & venues will be exhibiting throughout various areas of Lakeside; from Dresses to Transport, Honeymoons to Jewellery, and everything in between – covering all wedding budgets & styles.

Don’t miss the WoW-Factor Fashion Shows taking place at intervals throughout the day, within the fabulous 200-seat Auditorium at Building 2000. Professionally produced & choreographed, they’ll feature beautiful Bridal dresses, dapper Menswear, Mother-of-the-Bride, Bridesmaids & much more.

***Tickets*** are now live and amazing value at just £9.95 for a group of up to eight (under 18’s Free) so why not bring family, friends, or your wedding day entourage!

Child friendly? They are most welcome of course (we just ask that they are supervised at all times, and respect exhibitor displays that are not to be touched)

EXPO Edition *Deluxe Wedding Gift Bag(s) available to *purchase on the day (limited supplies) Visit PMN website & follow us on socials for more information

Lakeside Job Vacancies

Looking for a new job?

Here’s a list of the latest new roles on offer

New jobs…

Whether you already work here or want to come and join our thriving business community at Lakeside, it really is a great place to work and there are some brilliant businesses on site to work for.

Here’s a selection of current jobs on offer:

 Astute

Recruitment Partner

 

Carrington West

Senior Recruitment Consultant

Recruitment Consultant

Recruitment Consultant

Graduate Recruitment Consultant

Trainee Recruitment Consultant

 

Charles Taylor

International Nurse Coordinator

Triage Practitioner

 

Checkatrade

Credit Control Agent

Customer Service Advisor (Home Support)

Customer Service Advisor (Trade Support)

Homeowner Support Operations Manager

Retention Specialist

Trust & Safety Operations Manager

Financial Accountant

FP&A Manager

Our Recycling Facilities

Where and What to Recycle on Site

Where to recycle on site

At Lakeside North Harbour, environmental responsibility is more than a value—it’s a commitment we live by every day and sustainability is embedded in the way we operate.  That’s why we’re celebrating recycle week and highlighting our numerous recycling facilities on site.

Since the beginning of this year, over 60 tonnes of rubbish has been collected from Lakeside by our contractors Hippo Waste and 100% of it has been either recycled (20 tonnes) or processed for energy by them, helping to generate electricity and reduce landfill impact.

After the Simpler Food Recycling scheme was introduced earlier this year, and food waste was separated out in offices by our occupiers,  we have collected over 3.6 tonnes that is fully recycled. It has been transported to a recycling facility to be processed through anaerobic digestion, producing biogas and fertilizer or composting, creating nutrient-rich soil.  Thank you to everyone who has helped and participated in this initiative.

Our recycling infrastructure across the campus is designed to make it easy for occupiers to contribute to a greener future.   We encourage everyone to make use of our facilities to recycle where possible – here’s a list of where to do this on site;

Recycling Rooms – Building 1000

(West Wing next to the goods lift on the 1st, 2nd & 3rd Floors) 

These rooms are dedicated to dry mixed recycling only, including:

  • Paper
  • Cardboard
  • Aluminium cans
  • Recyclable plastics

Recycle Centre at the Loading Bay – B2000

Located at the loading bay, this area accepts:

  • Dry mixed recycling (same as above)
  • Glass bottles and jars only (no crockery)
  • Food waste (food only, no packaging)
  • WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment)
  • Toner cartridges

Special Recycling Services

  • Furniture Recycling
    Handled by an external supplier who will collect any unwanted furniture and assets, keeping them in use for longer by either re-using, donating or recycling. Please note: this service incurs a cost to the business using it.
  • Clothing Donations
    Support the Ukrainian Charity onsite by donating and recycling clothes.
  • Battery Recycling
    Available in recycling rooms in Building 1000 on the 2nd Floor and 3rd Floor West.
  • Book Swap Station
    Located in the Winter Garden Café, Building 2000 and also next to the Amazon Lockers—a great way to share and discover new reads.

 

We encourage everyone on site to make use of these facilities and help us maintain our commitment to sustainability. Every item recycled is a step toward a cleaner, greener future.

If you have questions or suggestions about our recycling programme, feel free to reach out to the site management team via the Helpdesk.

 

 

 

 

World Photography Day Competition

Winner chosen from some amazing entries

World Photography Day was the perfect opportunity to test our Lakeside occupiers photography skills. We hosted a competition asking for images of site to be sent to our judging team who were not disappointed.

Lindsey from Viking MSA was chosen as our World Photography Day competition winner with his image ‘Fishing view with a guest’.

Our judges thought ‘Lindsey captured the lake brilliantly and from a perspective not seen by many. Managing to pick out the colours of the dragonfly adds further detail to what is already a strong black and white image full of leading lines, sharp angles in the reeds and contrasting softness in the foreboding sky.’

We would also like to thank our other entrants; the image below from Alisha being another stand out photo showing Lakeside from a different perspective.

Waterside Office Suite

Over 18,000 sq. ft of prime office space

The Waterside Suite is a flexible, south facing office suite with an impressive waterside location nestled in the heart of the Lakeside campus.

Spanning over 18,000 sq ft, the Waterside Suite is a unique, flexible, ground-floor office space that offers a fantastic layout ideal for collaboration and innovation. The suite features a single floorplate, meaning there’s ample opportunity for your team to come together in an open and connected environment. It is designed for flexibility,
allowing you to create the space you need while enjoying the benefits of a beautiful, peaceful waterside location.

The Waterside Suite comes equipped with everything your team will need to succeed. This includes a fully integrated
kitchen to cater to all your staff’s needs, a series of dedicated meeting rooms for client calls or brainstorming sessions, and an amphitheatre-style presentation area that can accommodate up to 100 people.

In addition to its functional interior spaces, the Waterside Suite offers direct access to a spacious outdoor terrace
with spectacular views over the tranquil 19-acre lake. The serene setting makes this space perfect for outdoor meetings, a walk to refresh after a busy morning, or simply to relax and recharge in between tasks.

Here’s a guide to the space.

Or take a look at our main brochure.

To organise a viewing of this prime office space contact Vail Williams or Lambert Smith Hampton.

New Occupiers – Houlder

Lakeside welcomes a leading consultancy with new lettings deal

Lakeside North Harbour, Portsmouth’s leading workspace, has announced a new lettings agreement with Houlder, a leading consultancy in marine engineering and vessel design.

The business, which previously operated from offices in Chichester and Portsmouth, made the strategic decision to relocate its specialist teams under one roof in order to support their ongoing growth.

Their new space at Lakeside spans over 3,000 sq ft and is now home to 28 employees.

Houlder continues to invest in the future of the maritime sector, working closely with the University of Southampton, Maritime UK, and a range of partner organisations to encourage young talent into the industry through education, outreach and early career support.

Houlder is actively supporting clients with engineering expertise, project delivery, and sustainable maritime solutions, helping to strengthen the local maritime economy and accelerate the transition to cleaner technologies.

Simon Bateman, Asset Manager at Lakeside North Harbour, said: “The flexibility of Lakeside’s offering that blends traditional leasing with hybrid workspace options makes it an ideal choice for companies embracing flexible working models. Lakeside meets specific needs while remaining both scalable and environmentally responsible.

 “With a strong commitment to the region and the wider South Coast, Houlder’s values align closely with ours – from nurturing local talent to prioritising sustainability.” 

Jakki Hill, Director of Operations, People & Culture, added: “There are so many positive aspects to Lakeside, which made for a very easy decision for it to become our main people hub. It is the ideal space and location for us, in addition to all of the great amenities offered, events held on a regular basis and in particular the sustainable credentials. We have definitely benefitted from the recycling in and out! Sustainability is important to us as a company, not just in the work we do but also in our day-to-day operations.

 “Since being at Lakeside, an aspect which has stood out for us is the real feel of community. The facilities staff and other residents have all been incredibly friendly and supportive from the start, which makes you feel welcomed and at home”.

Smart Technologies at Lakeside

Smart Technologies at Lakeside

Transforming the workplace experience by introducing smart technologies

Here at Lakeside we continue to transform the workplace experience by introducing smart technologies that enhance cleanliness, responsiveness, and comfort across the campus. This includes introducing smart bathrooms and sensor innovation throughout the washrooms on site.

These innovations are being delivered in partnership with Eco Drift, using their proprietary Proximetrix platform- a real-time sensor and data system custom-built to improve hygiene and operational efficiency without increasing costs.

Campus Locations with Active Sensors

We’ve installed sensors in the following areas:

  • 1000 West – Ground, First, and Second Floors
  • 2000 Building – Ground, First, and Second Floors
  • 3000 Building – First Floor
  • 4000 Building – Ground and First Floors

To expand coverage, we’ll need to add more cloud connectors. We’re also trialling signal extenders, which may help strengthen connectivity in selected locations.

Soap Dispenser Sensor Trials

Working with Eco Drift’s in-house technology team, we’re testing a custom sensor design retrofitted into soap dispensers to monitor usage in real time.

Trial units are currently installed in 1000 West Ground Floor Ladies and Gents. If successful, these sensors will trigger alerts when soap levels run low — helping us maintain supplies proactively and avoid empty dispensers. A broader rollout will be subject to validation and cost analysis.

Smarter Cleaning Through Sensor Feedback

Our facilities team, in collaboration with Eco Drift, now uses real-time data from Proximetrix sensors to adjust cleaning dynamically based on usage. The washroom sensors operate on usage thresholds, automatically alerting the cleaning team when footfall reaches a specific level — allowing them to prioritise where attention is needed most.

In the 1000 West Ground Floor Gents, a case study combining sensor tracking and hygiene swab testing identified an ideal cleaning pattern:

  • Quick clean between 7:30–9:00 am
  • Full clean around 1:00 pm

This new schedule is already in place — with no additional cost to Lakeside — thanks to smart scheduling. Early feedback from campus occupiers has been very positive.

Encouraging Better Hand Hygiene

One key insight from the case study was around hand hygiene. Swab testing on the internal door handle highlighted the importance of encouraging thorough hand washing after toilet use.

As a result, we’re exploring the use of friendly reminder signage in washrooms — possibly on the doors — to help promote good hygiene habits and support a cleaner, healthier environment for all.

What’s Next: Building a Smarter Campus

Proximetrix has the capacity to support thousands of sensors across the site — not just in washrooms, but for broader environmental and operational monitoring:

  • Temperature and humidity levels
  • Air quality (CO₂)
  • Leak detection
  • Desk occupancy and motion
  • Door and window status

With more trials and case studies planned for September, we’re excited to keep innovating and shaping a smarter, more responsive Lakeside.

Lakeside Giant Garden Games Fest

Lakeside Giant Garden Games Fest

Lots to enjoy at the Lakeside Giant Garden Games Fest 2025

Occupiers were invited to join us and participate in the 2025 Lakeside Giant Garden Games Fest last week on Thursday 17th July.

Competing against one another at giant versions of retro table top games, some of which came with a new twist, everyone was in it to win. Games included Connect 4, Jenga, buzz wire and Snakes and Ladders to name a few. There were even oversized space hoppers for people to bounce on, and inflatable basket ball hoops and penalty shoot out games.

Our Street Food Thursday vendors were on hand to keep everyone fed and watered, and they were joined by Jakes Flakes ice cream van, with those occupiers lucky enough to RSVP on the My Lakeside app receiving a free ice cream.

The Lakeside, in house band, ‘Lakestock’ performed a variety of rock and pop classics to entertain the crowds, with a few guest performers joining in along the way.

Lakesides current Charity of the Year, Portsmouth Hospitals Charity, were also in attendance raising awareness and funds for their amazing cause.