Lakeside Charity of the Year

Lakeside Charity of the Year

We are now looking to select a new Charity of the Year at Lakeside

As we draw to the end of our partnership with Portsmouth Hospitals Charity, our Charity of the Year for 2024/25, we would like to thank everyone for their support, kind donations and for taking the time to understand the amazing work the charity does in supporting the local NHS Trust, enhancing patient care and supporting staff wellbeing.

We are now looking to select a new Charity of the Year at Lakeside, and we would love to hear from local charities who are interested in forming a meaningful partnership with us.

Each year, we partner with one charity to support through fundraising events, awareness campaigns, and promotional opportunities across the Lakeside community. Recent partnership activities have included Reindeer Runs at Christmas, Summer Festivals, Football Tournaments and Occupier Forum talks to name a few.

This is a great opportunity to boost your organisation’s profile and benefit from the support of our occupiers and visitors.

If your charity would like to be considered, please get in touch with us by emailing our helpdesk here and we will be in touch with further details. Closing date for submissions is Friday 18th July.

Want to work at Lakeside?

Looking for a new job?

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

New jobs…

If you want to come and join our thriving business community at Lakeside there are always plenty of opportunities within our occupier base. 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 with some of them:

Astute

Recruitment Partner – Contract Renewable Sector

Carrington West

Associate Consultant

Graduate Recruitment Consultant

Trainee Recruitment Consultant

Charles Taylor

International Nurse Coordinator

UK Ambassador to Japan visits Lakeside

UK Ambassador to Japan visit

Ambassador meets with local businesses

Lakeside were delighted to welcome the UK’s Ambassador to Japan, Julia Longbottom, to site, alongside the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Cllr. Gerald Vernon-Jackson, and Natalie Brahma-Pearl, Chief Executive of Portsmouth City Council.

Ambassador Longbottom met with local businesses as part of a first-of-its-kind UK-Japan roadshow, aimed at strengthening international ties and showcasing Portsmouth’s potential on the global stage.

She shared:

“It’s exciting to be in Portsmouth as part of this first-of-its-kind roadshow – going the extra mile to develop relationships that will help us supercharge growth to every corner of the UK.”

“Japanese companies are choosing to invest and create jobs in the UK because of our skilled workforce, our world-class innovation, and our deep, trusted partnership with Japan. Portsmouth has all of these, and it’s my job to put Portsmouth on the map in Japan.”

Lakeside are proud to be part of a community that’s driving innovation, sustainability and international collaboration.

Carrington West recognised as a top employer

Carrington West recognised as a top employer

Ranked within Top 10 UK Best Employers by the Sunday Times

Carrington West have been recognised within the Top 10 UK Employer list by the Sunday Times in a recently published article. They were also named Number 1 Medium Sized Employer in the Business Services Category.

To read more about this fantastic achievement, including praise from MP for Portsmouth North, Amanda Martin, and reactions from James Fernandes and Emily Christmas from Carrington West, visit the Carrington West website. Lord Mark Price, founder of WorkL and Zoe Thomas, Editor of The Sunday Times best Places to Work also explain the awards and their relevance.

The Carrington West team, who are based within Building 1000 at Lakeside, are immensely proud of their achievement and have been celebrating since finding out the news.

We would like everyone to join us in extending our congratulations to all involved.

 

Lakeside Cup 2025

Fifteen Teams Line up for the Lakeside Cup Football Tournament

Congratulations to the Winners – Team Astute

The Lakeside Cup Football Tournament returns for a second year and the winners are….

Congratulations to Team Astute for their win in today’s event which was held in partnership with the Hampshire FA, at the King George V Playing Complex, following the success of last year’s event. The event saw 15 teams of occupiers from some of the region’s top companies competing for glory.

After the group stages and then play offs, Team Lakeside and Team Astute kicked off in the final, with Astute taking the trophy on a score of 2-0.

It was a brilliant tournament and congratulations to all the Lakeside occupiers and teams who took part, including Astute, BTS, Carrington West, Charles Taylor, Checkatrade, Fairways, Hampshire FA, Hippo Waste, Markerstudy, Regus, SPB  UK and toob.

The winners received the coveted Lakeside Cup and prize vouchers. The player of the tournament, Dan Grosvenor, goalie for the winning team was awarded the special Player of the Tournament prize trophy.

This event is supported by Lakeside North Harbour’s partners, Hampshire Football Association (FA) and their referees.

Simon Bateman, Asset Manager at Lakeside North Harbour, said: “We were very excited to once again unite the local business community here at Lakeside for this fun and competitive event. It’s a great opportunity for companies to connect, showcase team spirit, and enjoy some healthy competition. It was great to see the incredible talent and energy on display and congratulations to the winners.”

Isabella Pearson, Business Development Lead at Hampshire Football Association, added:

“Our partnership with Lakeside North Harbour continues to grow stronger, we were proud to host the tournament for the second time this year. Last year marked a milestone, with Lakeside hosting its inaugural occupiers’ tournament at the King George V Football Complex – an event that proved to be a great success.

“This ongoing collaboration has now firmly positioned the tournament as a key event within the local business community.”

Environmental Stewardship

Working in Partnership

With the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Trust

Corporate membership of the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust brings with it significant benefits to our site, and allows for amazing collaboration work and insightful knowledge from experts within the organisation.

The Trust have written this blog highlighting some of the fulling partnership work that has taken place to date, stating;

“Surrounded by greenspace that prioritises both wildlife and wellbeing, Lakeside North Harbour is an innovative and sustainable business campus that helps support our vision for a Wilder Hampshire and Isle of Wight by 2030.”

Lakeside have been Corporate Members since 2015 and have partnered more closely with the Trust since 2022. With over fifty businesses based on site, including other supporters – Southern Co-op and Eco Drift – the campus focuses on four core sustainability pillars: environment, transport, wellbeing, and wildlife.

The Trust host four seasonal wildlife walks, highlighting the flora, fauna and wildlife across the campus – with experts on hand to provide insight and learning to all who participate.

All occupiers are welcome to join the walks and find out more about the biodiversity on site. These walks provide a fantastic opportunity for discussion on the key issues surrounding nature protection and what can be done locally, corporately and individually to protect and enhance our environment.

A highlight on last year’s calendar was a joint partnership event, a Wildlife Family Day, inviting occupiers and their children to campus, to learn about wildlife and get involved with a variety of crafts and activities, such as building bug houses and planting pollinator friendly plant pots.  Watch this space for another wildlife event coming soon to site!

Alongside these events and activities, the Trust supports Lakeside with advice about protecting local wildlife habitats, providing survey data and baselining, to better understand how the site can be improved to cater for all aspects of nature, ensuring the natural environment and it inhabitants thrive on site.

The campus has also made impressive strides in becoming a fantastic example of sustainable practice. Recently developing a major solar power generation project, where solar panels across the car park now help to power the business park as well as providing benefit to the city of Portsmouth, you can read more about this project here.

Lakeside also champion water and waste efficient technologies and have recently planted over 200 additional trees on site.

Working in partnership together with the Trust, we will continue to enhance and protect habitats, support education and engagement, and lead in sustainable practice.

If your business is interested in supporting the Trust, please contact corporates@hiwwt.org.uk.

Meet The Team

Celebrating our Front of House Team

National Receptionist Day 2025

Getting to know them…

Receptionists are the unsung heroes of any workplace—welcoming visitors with warmth, ensuring smooth daily operations, and keeping everything ticking like clockwork. At Lakeside, we’re fortunate to have an exceptional Front of House team who bring professionalism, personality, and a sense of community to our workspace every single day.

On this National Receptionist’s Day, we’re shinning the spotlight on these fantastic individuals who make Lakeside such a welcoming place.

We sat down with our incredible Front of House team to get to know them a little better and uncover some fascinating facts along the way. From surprising celebrity encounters to secret talents and personal milestones, each of them brings a unique energy to Lakeside.

Here’s what they had to share…

Karen Meehan

Karen has been at Lakeside for seven years and two months, previously working as Head Receptionist at Solent Forts, a unique role in the middle of the Solent. She thrives on the community spirit of Lakeside, particularly enjoying team events and celebrations throughout the year. One of the most interesting visitors she has checked in? A famous footballer, who was married to a singer and now works on Sky Sports, you can guess who this is!

A fascinating fact? Karen used to dance ballet, tap, and modern styles, even taking a ballet class with Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet—an amazing experience.

Karole Anne Joyce

Karole has been a cornerstone of the Lakeside team for six and a half years, always greeting visitors with a smile and a helping hand. Before joining Lakeside, she worked as a receptionist and compassionate co-worker for 140 employees at Climax Studios in Gunwharf Quays. What she loves most about her role? Meeting new people and being part of a close-knit team. A particularly special visitor she checked in was Mark Wingett, an actor from Quadrophenia and The Bill—whom she hadn’t seen since school days in 1976!

Fun fact: Karole used to own a pub for three years in the mid-nineties, an experience that taught her valuable lessons in resilience and human nature.

Karen Rimmer

Karen joined Lakeside on June 27, 2016, meaning she’s been part of the team for almost nine years. Before stepping into the world of front-of-house work, she was a Department Manager for Grocery at Morrison’s Supermarket in Anchorage Park. Karen finds joy in the daily interactions she has with visitors and occupiers, appreciating the wonderful community feel at Lakeside.

One of her funniest moments, she once checked in Sir Ben Ainslie—without realizing who he was—and asked how to spell his name! A secret ambition, Karen has always wanted to take up Line Dancing—and it’s next on her list.

Gemma Abraham

Gemma is celebrating seven years at Lakeside this summer. She previously worked as an office administrator for a maintenance company before bringing her enthusiasm and warmth to reception. The best part of the job? Her colleagues, the visitors, and the laid-back yet professional environment—not to mention Street Food Thursdays.  A quirky talent, she has never found food too hot or spicy to eat, no matter how much she tries!

Each member of our Lakeside Front of House team brings something special to the workplace. Whether it’s their humour, dedication, or ability to make every visitor feel welcome, their contributions are truly invaluable.

To all receptionists, both our Front of House team and those who work for the businesses based here – thank you for being the heart and soul of every workplace.

Let’s take a moment to show them some appreciation today and every day!  Please give them a smile when you arrive and let them know how much they’re valued.

New Occupiers – Spectrum Workplace

Family run office design and fitout specialist moves in

Celebrating a milestone year!

Announcing our latest new occupiers Spectrum Workplace, a family-run specialist in office design, fitout and refurbishment.

Founded in 1975, Spectrum Workplace remains a family-owned and operated business. Now in its third generation of leadership, Managing Director Joshua Fidler is supported by his two brothers, with both his father and grandfather still actively involved in the company.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Spectrum has experienced significant growth in recent years, prompting the decision to establish its new head office and design studio at Lakeside. “We’ve built our business on trusted relationships and a commitment to offering honest advice,” said Joshua Fidler. “Family values are at the heart of everything we do, and this move represents an exciting new chapter for our team.

The relocation also carries special significance for the business: company founder David Fidler began his career in the finance department at IBM, which was formerly based in the Lakeside building—nearly 50 years ago.

Spectrum’s new design studio at Lakeside will also serve as a working showroom, supporting the Lakeside Real Estate team by showcasing workspace design ideas for vacant suites and offering free design consultations. The thoughtfully designed space gives potential tenants and clients a chance to experience Spectrum’s work firsthand and visualise the possibilities for their own offices.

With regional offices in Southampton, Bournemouth, and Reading, Lakeside offers an ideal central hub for Spectrum’s expanding operations and further strengthens its presence across the South Coast.

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

“It has been a pleasure welcoming Spectrum to Lakeside. As long time champions of the campus and whilst partnering many of its occupiers in creating the perfect workspace, it’s now exciting to see the team here on campus every day.

 With a strong commitment to Portsmouth and the wider South Coast, Spectrum’s values align perfectly with ours – from nurturing local talent to embracing innovation in the workplace. We’re proud to support their journey as they help shape the future of work right here at Lakeside.”

 

Joshua Fidler, Managing Director at Spectrum Workplace, added:

“Our move to Lakeside is a key step in our journey. We’re proud to invest further in our team and continue our long-standing commitment to the local area.

Lakeside is one of the premier business campuses on the South Coast, and we’re excited to partner with them as an onsite showspace for prospective tenants. Over the years, we’ve had the pleasure of supporting more than 20 clients within the building— particular highlights are the workspaces we have created for Lead Forensics and Charles Taylor. We’re excited to now be part of the Lakeside community ourselves.”

Lakeside Cup 2025 Football Tournament

Let the games begin…

Following on from the inaugural Lakeside World Cup 2024 where we saw Lakeside North Harbour occupier, Carrington West emerge as champions, this year will we see new contenders enter the playing field to challenge for the title, will old rivals push for glory or will Carrington West retain the title. Only time will tell.

Occupiers are getting ready for some more friendly competition and loads of fun at the Lakeside Cup 2025 Five-a-Side Football Tournament on Wednesday 4 June from 12noon to 4pm at the King George V Football Complex — next to Lakeside.

The Lakeside Cup is the perfect opportunity for everyone working at the Lakeside Business Campus to come together, whether they’re on the pitch playing or cheering from the sidelines. Companies are invited to assemble their best five-a-side teams and compete for the prestigious Lakeside Trophy. That’s not all—there are also cash vouchers up for grabs, all players will receive a free lunch and the player who stands out the most will be awarded the Player of the Tournament prize!

The tournament is open to mixed teams of all abilities, so there is no pressure if players are not football pro’s — everyone is welcome to join in the fun. This year will see an updated knockout style tournament with each team playing at least three games. We are encouraging all occupiers to come along and support their colleagues. The more, the merrier!

Best of all, this event is completely free for all of our Lakeside occupiers and staff.

Don’t miss out on this fantastic event—let’s make the Lakeside Cup 2025 another one to remember.

Thanks to our partners Hampshire Football Association for supporting this event.

UK’s largest solar parking canopy project completed

Over 8,500 Solar Panels Installed

Across Buildings and Car Parks

A landmark project which sees 8,545 solar panels installed on the buildings and car park canopies on site has now been completed.

It is one of the largest car park solar panel and battery storage installations in the country.

This innovative initiative comprises rooftop solar PV arrays on four buildings and newly constructed solar car park canopies in three car parking areas, equipped with accompanying battery storage. The full network of solar panels is set to generate approximately 4,000MWh per year. This is a huge amount of energy and is sufficient to power over 1,300 average three-bedroom houses for one year.

The energy generated will meet around 40% of the entire site’s electricity usage and will mean, on very sunny days and weekends, excess power can be released to the grid. The project is estimated to prevent more than 900 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

The completion of the solar panels and battery storage installation marks a significant milestone in Lakeside’s and Portsmouth City Council’s journey towards sustainability and greener energy, in line with the Council’s Net Zero ambitions.

The Energy Services and Building Projects teams at Portsmouth City Council have been working with solar panel installation contractor, Custom Solar, to get the panels up and running at Lakeside.

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

“This is an excellent opportunity for Lakeside businesses to benefit from the council’s Net Zero target at no direct cost to them. We are committed to creating a sustainable and environmentally responsible workspace for the businesses based here, the largest of its kind in this region. We recognise our responsibility to reduce environmental impacts, enhance sustainability, and contribute positively to the community and economy.

“This solar project will enable us to have a green electric supply for all 60 businesses at Lakeside. The environment is a fundamental core value at Lakeside – from creating the right atmosphere for our occupier community to driving sustainability and efficient use of our valuable resources.”

Cabinet Member for Greening the City and Climate Action Cllr Kimberly Barrett said:

“We are thrilled to have reached the final stage of this groundbreaking project! All teams have been dedicated and relentless in their efforts towards completion. It’s truly inspiring to see another solar project land at Portsmouth and make a huge step towards greener energy and our Net Zero goal.”

 To keep up to date on their projects, follow Lakeside North Harbour on LinkedIn.

To keep up to date on the council’s energy and building projects, follow the Portsmouth City Council building services on LinkedIn.