Portsmouth City Council wins prestigious award for Lakeside North Harbour

Owners of Lakeside North Harbour have been named Commercial Landlord of the Year at the awards ceremony last night – continuing regional success and recognition for the south coast’s premier business campus.

The campus, owned by the Portsmouth City Council and managed on their behalf by Avison Young, scooped the award at this year’s South Coast Property Awards in recognition for its innovative approach to tackling challenges and attracting new occupiers in its thriving business campus.

Alongside this achievement, Lakeside was also a finalist in the ‘Workplace of the Year’ category this year, having won the award for the past two years. These awards and recognition celebrate an organisation’s commitment to inclusive work cultures, attracting and retaining occupiers which Lakeside North Harbour and Portsmouth City Council value highly.

Simon Bateman, Asset Manager at Lakeside North Harbour, said:

“We are thrilled that our team’s hard work has been recognised at the South Coast Property Awards yet again this year. This is a huge achievement and everyone involved in making this happen should be proud of the work done so far. 

 “Our space offers an inspiring and relaxing environment, creating a unique experience for everyone. This includes our commitment to environmental sustainability, with a 130-acre site that sets us apart, alongside modern facilities for all.

 “Lakeside is more than just a workplace; it’s a collaborative environment redefining the concept of where and how we work.”

If you’d like to find out more and look at Lakeside for your office space, click here.

Want to work at Lakeside?

Wednesday 8 May, is National Receptionist Day.

This day gives us an opportunity to recognise all of the receptionists who work for companies onsite, for all of their hard work juggling people, phone calls, paperwork and the valuable contribution they make to life at Lakeside.

Thank you to our front of house team, Karen M, Karen R, Karole and Gemma – who are always on hand with a smile to welcome our occupiers and visitors.

In recognition of this day we’re giving every receptionist a free hot drinks voucher to redeem in The Hub restaurant.

If you are a receptionist on site, or would like to nominate your company receptionist, please RSVP via My Lakeside and come along at 1pm to the Building 1000 Reception to redeem a voucher.

Don’t forget to say a big thank you to your receptionist and front of house team on this special day!

Interview with Ian, the Lakeside Senior Estates Manager

Lakeside is the new home to local NHS Trust Team

Lakeside, Portsmouth’s leading workspace, has announced a lettings deal with Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust (PHU) who have taken 24,500 sq ft on site, and moved in during March.

The campus, renowned for its operational flexibility, emerged as the sole provider capable of accommodating the relocation of some corporate services staff to free up space for increasing clinical capacity at the Queen Alexandra Hospital site.

This collaboration underscores Lakeside’s shared commitment to community health and well-being, benefiting residents of Portsmouth and beyond.

Simon Bateman, asset manager at Lakeside North Harbour, added: “We’re very pleased to have supported PHU with this relocation and to build on our relationship between the council and the NHS, to help better the local community and its needs.

“At Lakeside, we always go the extra mile to meet our tenants’ specific needs, and we look forward to seeing NHS staff benefit from our modern facilities.”

 Spread over 130 acres, Lakeside offers a stunning rural setting, alongside a 13-acre lake with woodland and an abundance of outdoor space.  The campus is not just a workplace, but somewhere with a thriving business community, enabling organisations to offer their employees a place “beyond the office.”

Click here for more information on available space at Lakeside.

Find out more about the nursery

The Tops Day Nursery is based opposite Building 1000 and the Central Square retail area at Lakeside North Harbour, just look for the green/living roof.  They provide early education and care for children from 3 months old until preschool age.

They offer a friendly and active nursery, with a team who love exploring the surrounding green spaces around us with the children, as well as utilising natural resources indoors. They also offer a variety of extracurricular activities like Tops Forest School and Tops Cooking School, so there is something your children can be a part of, whilst learning new skills.

Their children love to play in the big garden, especially In the mud kitchen, and inside they love to engage in messy play, storytelling and singing.

What makes the nursery unique?

Strong partnership with parents: The nursery values its partnership with parents and provides prompt support when necessary. Regular communication is maintained to keep parents informed about their child’s progress and next stages of learning.

Support for learning at home: The nursery provides parents with ideas to support their child’s learning at home, ensuring that the learning experience is holistic and continuous.

Quick communication and progress updates: Parents praise the nursery for its quick communication and sharing of information about their child’s progress, demonstrating a commitment to transparency and parental involvement.

Close bonds with staff – Children have close bonds with staff who understand and respond quickly to their needs, fostering a sense of security and trust.

Flexible booking options – Every 15 minutes is important because your time is valuable which is why they offer flexible early education and care, so you only pay for the time you need. With long opening hours, from 6am-8pm including bank holidays, it means they are here when you need them. There’s also free settling-in sessions and they offer you a variety of funding options.

Famous menus – They offer no-added sugar meals including vegan and vegetarian options plus they recently introduced venison into their menus, which has gained the attention of national press and amazing feedback from the children and parents

Better rates for you – They also offer a subsidised rate for Lakeside occupiers.

Why Lakeside?

Being situated close to the lake and natural surroundings provides a serene environment that enhances the overall experience for the children. The park’s natural beauty offers a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of urban life, allowing children to reconnect with nature and enjoy outdoor activities such as picnics, walks, Tops Forest School and bird watching.

Tops Forest School encourages physical exercise which is important for a healthy balanced life and Lakeside offers the perfect environment to do so.

Why Portsmouth?

Having a nursery in Portsmouth, serves as a vital pillar within the community for several reasons. Firstly, Portsmouth is a vibrant and close-knit community, and having accessible childcare facilities ensures that families have the support they need while contributing to the overall well-being of the area. Secondly, the demand for high-quality, all-round childcare is ever-present, and they pride themselves in offering comprehensive early education and care services that cater to the diverse needs of families in the area.

By providing a nurturing and enriching environment for children to learn, grow, and thrive, we contribute to the development of future generations and the prosperity of Portsmouth as a whole.

Please feel free to pop in and visit the team at the nursery, as they would love to show you around.

Follow this link to our new site map which shows all of our sites facilities and amenities.

Click here.

Supporting the new King George V Football Complex

Hampshire FA has formed a partnership with Lakeside to both align and compliment the opening of the new and improved King George V Football Complex. The partnership presents Hampshire FA with an opportunity to promote its range of services, offers and the new site to the Lakeside occupiers who will also be offered opportunities to use the new facilities at the new complex.

As part of the partnership, Hampshire FA will host a networking event incorporating the park’s occupiers with the association’s own commercial partners, deliver presentations at the site to inform as many occupiers as possible of the new site and additionally will utilise its various digital channels to continue to highlight the availability of the local football complex and county FA services.

“The new King George V Football Complex is in a prime location for accessibility with easy access to the M27 links and more. The opportunity to join forces with the local business park, also means that we can target individuals as well as teams, promote the site as well as the competitive corporate offer provided as part of this partnership. This will in turn invite more people into the game, through the flexibility of booking during lunchtime slots on the site, encouraging the staff to make time for sport as part of their daily work schedule. This is in every way a mutually beneficial arrangement”

Neil Cassar, Hampshire FA CEO.

“We’re excited to be partnering with the Hampshire FA who are now our new neighbours. The wellbeing of our occupiers is one of our top priorities, ensuring we provide a great working environment with an array of amenities including sporting facilities. The opportunity to use the football complex and take part in a Lakeside tournament will further enhance the work life balance of all who work and enjoy life on site at Lakeside.”

Simon Bateman, Asset Manager, Lakeside North Harbour.

My Lakeside – marks one year following remarkable success…

Our occupiers wellbeing and environment are top priority for us at Lakeside.  One of the aims is to create a connected and thriving business community with clear communications and a high level of engagement, which is why last year on 14 February My Lakeside was launched.

Why we choose Equiem to help us?

Standing at the forefront of Proptech solutions, Equiem offers a comprehensive platform tailored to enhance the workplace experience for property teams and tenants.

Established in 2011, Equiem supports landlords, property managers, asset managers and real estate organisations in cultivating adaptable and dynamic office spaces and in 2023, Lakeside North Harbour teamed up with Equiem to launch an occupier digital platform to help support and better occupier experience.

Occupiers engagement with the app 

Since the My Lakeside app and digital platform was introduced, Lakeside has experienced remarkable growth and engagement within its community. With 1,553 users currently registered after the first year, accounting for around 60% of its current occupancy, the figures speak volumes about the campus and its business community engagement.

Platform providers, Equiem, benchmarked Lakeside against other national business parks, who launched in a similar timeframe. These similar sites reported an average of 44% of the population signing up, highlighting the exceptional performance of the My Lakeside app which has achieved a robust registration rate of over 60%.

The communication channels at the campus have thrived, with an impressive 36,490 communication reads, demonstrating a 33% open rate across 175 communications. This engagement extends beyond virtual interactions, with 892 RSVPs to on-site events, fostering a vibrant sense of community.

Meeting the evolving needs of its occupiers, the digital platform’s content has garnered significant traction, with 32,899 page views. The interactive nature of the platform is evident in the 246 comments exchanged among community members, facilitating meaningful connections.

The impressive engagement metrics are further highlighted by Lakeside’s average Monthly Active Users (MAU) of 53% throughout 2023, surpassing industry standards. With Equiem’s average MAU for UK sites ranging between 30-40%, Lakeside’s performance stands out as “excellent”, exemplifying its commitment to fostering a thriving and interconnected community.

What makes My Lakeside app stand out?

Lakeside’s operational product adoption has been characterised by its impressive handling of visitor processing without issues. Occupiers have embraced the platform’s intuitive tools, evident in the high rate of pre-booking for visitor appointments and meeting rooms. This seamless integration of technology has streamlined operations, contributing to a positive user experience.

Its commitment to enhancing workplace experience through Equiem extends beyond operational efficiency. By prioritising occupier satisfaction and well-being, Lakeside aims to create a supportive and engaging workplace environment. This underscores Lakeside’s dedication to delivering the best possible experience for its occupiers.

Bronny Wilson, Regional Head of Europe, Equiem:

“We are so pleased with the success Equiem has achieved with Lakeside North Harbour in just a year! Over half the site’s population actively engages with the integrated technology platform we implemented, fostering an incredible sense of community. The platform is performing wonderfully and we look forward to building on this momentum. Lakeside North Harbour is truly realising Equiem’s full, transformative potential!”

Simon Bateman, Asset Manager at Lakeside North Harbour:

“We at Lakeside North Harbour have always taken pride in knowing what our occupiers’ needs are and then endeavour to deliver on these. We found an efficient way to communicate with our occupiers using the My Lakeside app. It has helped us keep our occupiers informed about the day to day on goings, events, access to amenities and instil a sense of community. Equiem are renowned for their community engagement and service offering and they have created an app that is used widely by everyone at Lakeside.”

Lakeside’s success in operational product adoption and sustained MAU reflects its dedication to enhancing workplace experience through technology. By continuously striving for improvement and prioritising occupier satisfaction, Lakeside sets a high standard for workplace solutions providers.

In case you missed it, here are some of our highlights from 2023…

New occupiers relocate office to help fulfil commercial growth plan…

Lakeside welcomes Charles Taylor, a global insurance services provider with a widespread presence across multiple countries, leases 12,169 sq ft of space.

Charles Taylor continues to grow as it relocates its 50-year-old Assistance business from Chichester to a new central location at Lakeside. This strategic move is driven by the company’s commitment to continued commercial growth and to providing an optimal work environment for its employees.

Lakeside has been chosen for its accessibility and excellent transport links, ensuring a smooth commuting experience and access to amenities for Charles Taylor’s employees and clients.

The decision to relocate to Lakeside was further reinforced by the access it provides to a wide pool of talent, facilitating Charles Taylor’s commitment of continuing to build a diverse and skilled workforce, and to foster staff retention.

Specialising in emergency medical and security assistance, travel risk management and insurance claims solutions, Charles Taylor Assistance operates 24 hours a day, all year round. Lakeside’s ability to offer 24-hour amenities, a great on-site staff presence and the option of hybrid working, fully supports Charles Taylor’s business model.

Simon Bateman, Asset Manager at Lakeside North Harbour, said: 

“At Lakeside, we are dedicated to helping our occupiers shape the future of work. We provide an environment that supports employee health and wellbeing while helping businesses bring in new talent and retain employees.

“Our values align with Charles Taylor’s in improving lives while benefiting the health and wellbeing of everyone on campus. We look forward to welcoming Charles Taylor to our dynamic blue and green business community.” 

 

Jody Baker, CEO of Charles Taylor Assistance, whose staff will be located at Lakeside, says,

“It’s been a momentous journey for the company over the last 50 years. We started in 1973 as CEGA, a family enterprise based at Goodwood, and went on to create a large local business in Funtington, Chichester. We soon developed into a global provider of medical and security assistance, travel risk management and insurance claims solutions.

“Now part of the Charles Taylor Group and serving the wider multisector insurance market, we’re at the next chapter of our growth; supported by Charles Taylor’s presence in over 100 global locations. I’m honoured to take the business forward and our new base at Lakeside is the next step in fulfilling our commercial growth plan.”

Image shows – Neil Heasman, Operations Director (left) and Jody Baker, CEO (right)