A Guide to Office Space in Plymouth

Plymouth is a thriving coastal city in the southwest of England. Thanks to its excellent transport links and skilled workforce, the city has become a hub for businesses across a wide range of sectors.

Plymouth has a resilient and growing economy. It's now a recognised national centre for innovation in sectors like life sciences and advanced engineering.

The local council and university are particularly business-minded, and they have committed to helping local firms thrive. Companies based here benefit greatly from the strong culture of networking and collaboration in the city.

Plymouth is a great place to live and work. The cost of living and running a business is highly competitive. The culture, food, and entertainment here are excellent. Furthermore, there is stunning scenery and architecture.

It’s easy to see why locals love the city so much and voted it as the best place to live in England.

In this article, we will explore the benefits of renting office space in Plymouth and the opportunities that having a base in the city presents.

Geography of Plymouth

The city of Plymouth is on the south coast of Devon in southwest England. It's in one of the most attractive areas of the country, surrounded by national parks and stunning coastlines.

Plymouth has great transport links. You can get to Exeter, Bristol, and London quickly by road or rail. There are three airports nearby and a large commercial port with regular ferry services.

Plymouth is an important business destination, not only in the South West but also increasingly on the national stage. The economy is growing rapidly. The city has been highlighted as one of the UK’s top 10 most important manufacturing locations.

The city is home to many knowledge-led businesses in sectors as diverse as biosciences and software programming. Its economic strength and talented workforce attract businesses and investors from the UK and beyond.

Key business areas in Plymouth

Plymouth has an attractive, modern city centre that's popular with the public and businesses. As well as a great choice of retailers, you'll find leisure venues, beauty businesses, and professional service firms, among many more.

One of the reasons for the success of the centre is the work of the Business Improvement District (BID) organisation. Their role is to make coming to Plymouth safe, vibrant, and fun, and they’ve done an excellent job.

The city centre is not the only place where you can set up an office, though. Key destinations around Plymouth include:

• Plymouth Science Park: This is home to many businesses in the science, technology, and creative sectors. It has excellent on-site amenities and close ties to the University of Plymouth.
• City Business Park: City Business Park is a council-operated park offering a mix of office and industrial units. Various businesses have a base there, partly for the easy access it offers to the A38 and Plymouth City Centre.
• Eurotech Business Park: Eurotech is in the Ham district of the city and is a modern facility housing over 30 firms. It is two miles from the A386 junction onto the Devon Expressway.
• Millbay: This waterfront venue contains a business park and marina. There is also a retail arcade, bars, and hotels. Conveniently located, it's a 20-minute walk to the city centre.

5 businesses based in Plymouth

These are some of the best-known businesses with a presence in Plymouth:

• Pennon Group Plc: This environmental infrastructure business is a major UK leader in its field. Locally, it’s the owner of South West Water.
• RNO Limited: RNO is one of the world’s leading luxury yacht makers. The company has five boatyards in the Plymouth area.
• Mars Wrigley UK: More than four million packets of chewing gum leave the Wrigley factory every day. Their factory has been in the city since 1970.
• Vospers: Vospers is a major new and used car, van, and pick-up truck dealer in Devon and Cornwall. The company began trading in 1946.
• Succession Holdings: This is the city’s leading wealth management firm. Founded in 2012, the team has £9 billion of assets under management.

Why you should rent office space in Plymouth

From a thriving business ecosystem to an excellent quality of life, here are seven reasons to rent office space in Plymouth.

1. Local business support

The council and the local universities provide a whole range of support to local businesses and entrepreneurs.

Plymouth City Council has recently won funding through the Government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund. That enables it to provide a range of support for local firms, including setting up Net Zero transition programs.

The council has also helped launch a new online Employer Hub for local companies. The Hub helps firms find the right staff and identify training opportunities to upskill their existing employees.

South West Growth Hub offers free advice and support for startups. Additionally, local non-profit SWIG Finance offers established companies business loans of between £25,001 and £250,000 with a dedicated business manager.

The local chambers and the Federation of Small Businesses are very active in the city, supporting and lobbying for members.

Plymouth is a hub for collaboration and partnership, offering a wealth of opportunities to connect and grow your network. Unlock new possibilities by joining these important local business communities:

• STEM Plymouth
• Connected Plymouth
• Building Plymouth
• Plymouth Area Business Council (PABC)
• Plymouth Manufacturers' Group (PMG)

2. World-class connectivity

Plymouth has a thriving digital culture. Around 3,300 people work in ICT and digital technology. Many business leaders in the sector meet up once a quarter at the Digital Plymouth networking group, which welcomes newcomers.

The city is home to a growing cluster of tech-related firms, including:

• Software
• Video games
• Electronic publishing
• Design
• Advertising

Plymouth has been ranked the eighth-best location for job growth in digital industries in the UK. This is possible not just because of the talent but because of the city’s status as one of the top 10 locations for high-speed broadband.

3. Attractive for startups

Approved Business Finance declared that Plymouth is the best city for launching a new business in the UK. Based on trading costs and local footfall, the city beat Edinburgh, Dundee, and Bournemouth to claim the top spot.

There are other strong commercial arguments for setting up in Plymouth.

Many entrepreneurs know how hard it is to find funding. SWIG Finance offers startup loans of between £500 and £25,000, targeted specifically for new ventures. Any business less than three years old can apply.

Startups also have access to free advice and support from Plymouth City Council and the South West Growth Hub. The Hub also offers a free grant search service to look for seed, growth, and R&D funding that doesn’t need to be paid back.

4. Science and tech hub

Plymouth Science Park has an international reputation. There are 120 companies that operate from here in the e-commerce, life sciences, and digital technology sectors.

Across the city, you'll also find leading defence, advanced manufacturing, and engineering firms. That’s why Plymouth is one of the UK’s top 10 most important manufacturing locations.

Part of the draw to the city is the University of Plymouth's Enterprise Solutions service. They work with companies, large and small, on R&D projects to drive innovation.

This service provides access to the talents of students and academics in subjects ranging from marine engineering to robotics. Partner firms can also use the university's state-of-the-art technical facilities and specialist equipment.

City College Plymouth is training the next generation of scientists at its Regional Centre of Excellence for STEM. The high quality of graduates from Plymouth gives businesses the certainty they need that they'll find top talent in the future.

5. Affordability

One major reason businesses choose to set up in the city is its affordability.

Salary costs in Plymouth are 26% lower than in London. Office costs in general are 35% less expensive than in the South East of England.

For employees, Plymouth offers greater value for their money. House prices are around 23% cheaper than the national average, and rental prices can be up to 30% less expensive.

The quality of life here in Britain’s “Ocean City” is exceptional. So much so that Plymouth was ranked as the best English city to live in. It’s also one of Britain’s safest.

6. Plymouth culture

Other qualities that make Plymouth such a desirable place to live and work are the people and the culture.

Plymouth has the country’s second-largest fish market, selling 6,000 tonnes of fish annually. The food scene, especially the seafood restaurants, is renowned across Devon. The South West is where you’ll find some of the UK’s best food and drink, much of which is locally made.

There’s a thriving arts scene here, too. The Barbican Theatre and the Theatre Royal both showcase a range of performances, ranging from comedy and music to dance. The local Cineworld has a giant IMAX screen, and the Plymouth Arts Cinema plays the latest independent films.

The city is surrounded by stunning countryside and some of England’s best beaches.

7. Travelling for business in Plymouth

Plymouth is a well-connected city that offers easy national and international access.

There are 24 trains a day to the city from London, with an average travel time of around three hours. The A303 road connects Plymouth to the capital, and the A38 Devon Expressway provides a direct connection to Bristol and the Midlands.

The Bristol, Exeter, and Newquay airports are close by as well. You can fly to over 100 European destinations from Bristol airport. There are also regular services to France and Spain from the Ferry Port.

How much are Plymouth office space rentals?

The cost of serviced offices in Plymouth starts from around £89 per person per month. Coworking office space costs start from around £85 per person per month. This compares well with other major cities in the UK.

For comparison, in Manchester, a serviced office suit costs from £165 per person per month, with coworking space at £159 per person per month. In some areas of London, private office prices can start from £355 per person per month, with coworking spaces costing £339 per person per month.

Office space for rent in Plymouth

Regus has three serviced office centres in Plymouth. Read more about our locations below.

The Range

A short drive from the M5 motorway is The Range, a state-of-the-art workspace. This business centre also offers excellent access to the A38, making it ideal for employees who need to travel to visit clients.

This stylish serviced office space features a choice of private offices and dedicated desks in coworking areas. Natural light floods into this fully furnished workspace, which is great for productivity.

If you're entertaining clients or investors, the meeting rooms here will impress. When interviewing new staff, the break-out areas around the centre are ideal. Your existing team members will especially appreciate the fully stocked, on-site kitchen.

The stunning Bircham Valley local nature reserve is a 15-minute walk away. Take in its beautiful meadows and woodland and sit by the stream on a sunny day.

There is also a good selection of retail outlets and eateries close to the offices.

Highlights include

• Meeting rooms
• Break-out areas
• Major transport links

Information about The Range

• Location: Unit 17 William Prance Rd, Plymouth PL6 5ZD
• Starting cost: Prices available upon request
• Opening hours: 24/7 for Private Office and Dedicated Desk members, reception hours for other members
• Nearby transport links: Peninsular Radiology Bus Stop (a one-minute walk away), Land Registry Bus Stop (a two-minute walk away), and Future Inns Bus Stop (a two-minute walk away)

Drake Circus

Drake Circus is right in the heart of Plymouth and ideal for companies wanting a prestigious central address. Very well served by local public transport, Plymouth Train Station is also just a 10-minute walk away. Our centre has secure underground parking for when you want to drive to work.

If you're looking for a small office to rent in Plymouth, Drake Circus has a great selection of office suites, including studios and one- to two-person units.

The centre caters to large businesses, too. We can configure a bespoke spacious private office for you to suit your specific needs.

If you're not ready for your own office yet, ask us about a dedicated desk within the coworking areas.

For meeting with clients and investors or when interviewing for new staff, book one of our stylish conference rooms by the hour or day. There's a great on-site restaurant here, too, if you need to refuel.

Drake Circus Shopping Centre is just on the doorstep. There are over 80 retailers, restaurants, and bars in the centre, great for daytime shopping and night-time celebrating. A five-minute stroll away is picturesque Sutton Harbour, excellent for a spot of lunch.

Highlights include

• On-site lunch restaurant
• Parking
• Meeting rooms

Information about Drake Circus

• Location: 1 Charles Street, Plymouth, Devon PL1 1EA
• Starting cost: From £89 per month
• Opening hours: 24/7 for Private Office and Dedicated Desk members, reception hours for other members
• Nearby transport links: Charles Street Bus Stop (a one-minute walk away), Charles Street (C1) Bus Stop (a one-minute walk away), and Viaduct B3 (Stop B3) Bus Stop (a two-minute walk away)

Sutton Harbour

Sutton Harbour is set in a stunning modern office building in the Barbican area of Plymouth. This historic part of the city is home to over 200 listed buildings, cobbled streets, and narrow alleyways.

Floor-to-ceiling glass bathes the private offices and shared workspaces in sunlight through this stylish centre. The views of the harbour are superb, and you can see the sea in the distance. Take it all in at the centre’s outside seating area and terrace.

This is an excellent place to work, entertain clients and investors, and interview staff. Book the state-of-the-art meeting rooms by the hour or day, or use one of the centre’s many break-out areas.

Getting here is easy. The public transport connections are extensive. There’s underground parking if you want to bring the car in. There’s also a bicycle storage area if you prefer two wheels to four. Freshen up when you want in the centre’s on-site showers.

There’s plenty to do around the centre. Wander around the harbour’s great range of pubs, cafes, and restaurants. There are also galleries and boutique shops. The idyllic and peaceful Plymouth Hoe is just a 15-minute walk away, and the city centre is nearby.

Highlights include

• Parking
• Bicycle storage
• Outside seating area/terrace

Information about Sutton Harbour

• Location: 6 North East Quay, Plymouth, Devon PL4 0HP
• Starting cost: From £185 per month
• Opening hours: 24/7 for Private Office and Dedicated Desk members, reception hours for other members
• Nearby transport links: China House Bus Stop (a four-minute walk away), St Johns Church Bus Stop (a five-minute walk away), and Lockyers Quay Bus Stop (a six-minute walk away)

Explore Plymouth office spaces with Regus

Plymouth has an excellent standard of living, a fast-growing population, and a booming economy. Locate your business here in a state-of-the-art Regus private office or dedicated desk within our coworking spaces.

As our client, you can apply for a Regus Day Pass if you’re a frequent business traveller. This gives you access to business lounges, private offices, and coworking desks across our network of 4,000 centres worldwide.

To speak with one of our team members about our offices to rent in Plymouth, get in touch with us today.