Business Bricks

StanB says:
Mmmmmm, interesting. What made you pick Glasgow, Brighton or Liverpool as ‘happening cities’ for business? Doesn’t it depend, at least a bit, on what business?

Brighton certainly has the reputation for being London by the sea, but in reality it has all the high prices of London with not much of the affluence or influence of London.
by StanB on 10 Nov

William Lee says:
I’d hazard a guess that they’re cities that host some of the more talkative Business Bricks readers ;) Depends what you mean by ‘happening’, Matt, and while we’re at it what really makes a happening city for business? I’m not really qualified to make a comparison between those listed above so I’ll leave that to others, but in today’s technological age should we restrict our views of business to localities?

Some of us Brickies are international, don’t you know!
by William Lee on 10 Nov

sheila mcfee says:
Leeds is great & you could come over to the Yorkshire dales for fun & hospitality… lots of walking too - if that’s your thing!
by sheila mcfee on 10 Nov

Allan says:
Munich - a city for all seasons and just look where you can get to in a few hours for the weekend. Venice, Milan, Prague, Vienna. Oh, and the Alps of course.
by Allan on 10 Nov

Mike says:
Unless your business happens to be in the finance sector or provides a service to that sector, I wouldn’t choose Edinburgh. I live there, and it is a nice (but expensive) place to live, but very rarely get business there.

Which raises the point that owning a small business is a life-style decision as well as a commercial one. So chosing where to locate your business is as much about where the work is as where you want to work.

If we were considering a location specifically for a web-based business such as business bricks I’d suggest that being in a city is not relevant and simply increases costs. A small town where you can get broadband and cheap office space might be more appropriate.

PS. I’m not convinced that Brighton is a city.

PPS. Ask Mint Digital to fix the text input box for comments so that the scroll bar is sliced in half (possibly the box-model fix is required for multi-browser support). And, when they’ve fixed that, they could also fix the tab order so that tabbing at the end of one field takes the cursor to the next input field.
by Mike on 10 Nov

Statsman says:
I suggest you have a look at the Major Cities Poll on http://www.lovemytown.co.uk to see what the general public feel.
by Statsman on 10 Nov

Alan Crockford says:
I quote from an HM Customs and Excise press release (Monday 26 July 2004)

“The South West has the highest percentage of self-employed people of all the English regions. We are very keen to help all businesses in the South West”

So there you have it. Go West, my son.
by Alan Crockford on 10 Nov

Rick Hughes says:
Whether it’s because it’s the centre of car crime in Europe, the highest Council Tax in Scotland, more murders per year than New York (or as Taggart would say ‘Murrrdurrs’), or the athletic street violence post Rangers/Celtic matches, I’d say Glasgow has a certain kind of charm!!
by Rick Hughes on 11 Nov

Bob Squirrell says:
Why not try Paphos, Cyprus like what I’ve done? With the wonders of the Internet and Skype you can run your business from almost anywhere in the world so why not got somewhere with plenty of sun, plenty of life, a happy atmosphere, lot’s of opportunity and no John Prescott?
by Bob Squirrell on 11 Nov

Neil Watson says:
Why a city? Why the usual suspects? Move to the country - better quality of life, lower prices, better local food.
by Neil Watson on 11 Nov

Lee Taylor says:
If you are in business, whether you plan to employ people has to have a bearing on the country you move to. If you are fed up with the current 3 “ternity’s” of this country (Maternity, Paternity and screw the small businessperson to Eternity), then you had better look before you leap as to whether you go anywhere abroad!
by Lee Taylor on 11 Nov

James says:
Happening cities, Hmmm well as someone who lives and works near Brighton i have to rule it out because the city is choked and needs money spending on the infrastructure, especially the dreaded A27, why cant a main arterial road be more than a single carriageway? Have you thought of Cardiff? mind you Dublin is good for the craic, look forward to the answer it might influence others.
by James on 11 Nov

Steve Plater says:
Hull - this could be the boom city for the next 10 years. It has all the ingredients for tremendous and exciting progress - an underdeveloped waterfront that if just opening up, great historic buildings and a welcoming population. It also has the best dinosaur museum in Yorkshire (but I am biased!).
by Steve Plater on 11 Nov

Paul Lakeman says:
I’m suprised you haven’t taken Google’s example and thought of Manchester. They have obviously done their research and found this an ideal place to open their offices.
by Paul Lakeman on 11 Nov

Brian Hill says:
It’s not just because I was educated there or run the Edinburgh Techniques on my website or indeed that I have lived there and did great business there but it is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and just about the right size for getting around in. I would definitely go for Edinburgh. Its also the 3rd European city for finance after London and Frankfurt. Merchiston is like Kightsbridge, Morningside like South Ken, Leith is the new (as in modernised) happenning area. Trinity, Newington, Murrayfield are just a few of the better areas to choose from. Go Edinburgh.
by Brian Hill on 11 Nov

Susan Heaton Wright says:
With technology as it is, the location of the city is less relevant. I would be inclined to choose a smaller town where travelling to your main source of business is relatively straight forward, but use email etc. for communications as well. Do you really need to see people face to face all the time?
by Susan Heaton Wright on 11 Nov

susan spencer says:
If you were going for the easy option Brighton would be the one, but Leeds is a happening city, did you consider it? Dublin is very wealthy right now, but it’s “Europe” in peoples psyche, so Liverpool is the one for me. The north is growing fast.
by susan spencer on 11 Nov

Andrew Redman says:
What about living on a boat? You could then move your whole life, house and business to wherever you fancy going next. Depends if you want a garden I suppose! Mind you, at least there wouldn’t be any need for a garden shed.
by Andrew Redman on 11 Nov

Paul says:
Matt, it has to be Liverpool, what with Capital of Culture year coming up in 2008 and the home of Ideopolis promoting the city of ideas, and within 20 miles of the team that is chasing Chelsea at the top of the premiership!
by Paul on 11 Nov

Adele says:
Swansea is now officially the ‘healthiest’ city in the UK (must be all those surfing beaches…). Developments at SA1 Swansea Waterfront are attracting international software businesses and the world’s biggest computer is about to be installed at the University’s medical research school.Award-winning interactive solutions companies (CDSM) and animation companies (i-create) are located in the city. You’d fit in well. Best of luck, Adele.
by Adele on 11 Nov

Alex says:
As a Scot I would prefer not to agree with Mike and Rick but wearing my neutral hat, I have to agree with them. Inverness, however, has a lot going for it as has Newcastle. I was in the latter in September for the Great North Run and enjoyed the buzz. We met up with friends who moved from one of the leafier suburbs south of Glasgow to the North-East a few years ago and they love it.
by Alex on 11 Nov

Jon Marris says:
Ignore the bad press (most of it is completely unfounded) and contemplate Nottingham. You can travel anywhere from Manchester to London in an hour and a half, and the city centre boasts the largest investment & development plan of any city in Europe. For a web based business, its also the wireless capital of the UK, most public areas in the city centre now being wireless hotspots. Dont come for the football though…
by Jon Marris on 11 Nov

susi oneill says:
I’ve just moved out of London - what an overated and hideously competitive dinosaur! The Midlands is my bet - great location for national clients (never more than 3 hours from anywhere!), good airports, good transport links to London (especially from Birmingham) - low cost of living, friendly people, plenty of talent. I’m in Nottingham BTW which is not the gun crime hell the media make out and is actually a charming and thriving mini-metropolis! Better transport and less traffic here than I’ve seen anywhere of this size in the UK,
by susi oneill on 11 Nov

Cathy says:
Having moved from London to York a year and a half ago I would definately recommend it as a wonderful city in which to live and work. Its a good scale of city with lots going on and where everything is within walking or cycling distance. In addition it has good train links to London (less than 2 hours), Scotland, Leeds and Manchester… and with the North Yorkshire moors on the doorstep what more could you want…
by Cathy on 11 Nov

Rahim says:
I think the suggesttions thus far are well deserved, but consider growth potential and shifting patterns, and in the next few years fast will be shifted to cities like Dubai, Shanghai, and Mumbai.
by Rahim on 11 Nov

Linn says:
Bristol then you get the advantage of city and country and sea, city advantages with small town feel great connections, internally and international with the airport, good business support, great new office opportunities and moving from London can buy you a great place to live….and it’s closer to Cornwall!
by Linn on 11 Nov

Tania M C Lewis says:
The former mill towns surrounding Manchester are FANTASTIC. They offer excellent access to the Manchester Orbital (M60)and onwards in any direction - and competitive rates with all the advantages of being close to the UKs second city. Equidistant between Manchester and the beautiful Pennine Moors, Oldham is a particularly good choice as it has a University College, diversity of workforce and a wide range of premises in urban and rural settings. Take it from a Southerner who moved up here 25 years ago and wouldn’t think about bringing up her children anywhere else!
by Tania M C Lewis on 11 Nov

susie says:
Glasgow is definitely where it’s at!!!! Super city in every way and great for the entrepreneur….see you in Glasgow Matt.
by susie on 11 Nov

James says:
I can definately see why Sydney makes the grade, I was there for a few months in 2004 and it just has this buzz about it that I haven’t found anywhere else. The weather helps a lot too. You can get home from work @ 7-8 o’clock and you can still go out and have an enjoyable evening. Yep, its definately got something to do with the weather everyone is just so much happier than in the UK!
by James on 11 Nov

Richard Downey says:
Cities are so last century! Use the internet and work from home or wherever you are, network with colleagues via phone,email IM etc. and meet up once in a while for a brainstorming session. It’s the answer to congestion, high rates, high energy consumption and delivers a better quality of life, not to mention higher productivity as it removes the temptation of having too many meetings!
by Richard Downey on 11 Nov

Craig says:
Liverpool!
by Craig on 11 Nov

William Lee says:
“Brighton i have to rule it out because the city is choked and needs money spending on the infrastructure”

Liverpool is doing a lot of spending on the transport networks in preparation for 2008 (when the world will try to visit the city?). Unfortunately, it all seems to be happening at the same time so the roads around the city centre are choked due to the massive spread of roadworks and construction - erm, I mean investment and improvement!
by William Lee on 11 Nov

Russell House says:
Dublin is lovely and I have happy memories of a balmy evening, eating an ice cream cornet walking down O’Connell St at 1130pm. But while it is super for a break it is a bit off the beaten track.

However, surely of you wish to get out of London and yet have easy access to literally anywhere, you have got to think of somewhere in the Midlands. Rugby, Coventry, Birmingham, Telford, Leicester, Northampton, Milton Keynes (if you must). All that fresh air, small conurbations surrounded by green fields with real cows etc. Excellent technical universities, good conferencing facilities, NEC, NAC, NCC and theatres galore. You could think of Oxford, Cambridge, but they are a bit pricey.
by Russell House on 11 Nov

Rupert Elliott says:
International airport, new developments in terms of business parks, city living and infrastructure, international standards of dining and accommodation (although not many examples) less than two hours from London if you must…

Nottingham
by Rupert Elliott on 11 Nov

Geoff says:
Let’s be controversial. I wonder if the European cities have ever been visited by the hacks in Fast Company mag? Helsinki? Drab, cold, wet and the people are so dour. Oh and expensive. Happening? I don’t think so. Dublin - reputed by many to be a great city to party, though not a patch on London in my view. Happening businesswise? Many of the US companies that went there on the back of tax breaks are packing up and re-trenching back across the pond.

The others? Who knows?

Happening place in Europe? For my money Aix en Provence - beauty, food, wine, close (ish) to the Med plus a thriving business environment. Wonderful.
by Geoff on 11 Nov

Daniel Dearing says:
If we’re drawing parallels with cities around silicon valey and the Bay Area, Cambridge is a good candidate. Of all the VC money that was invested in the whole of Europe in 2004 some 8% of it came to the Cambridge region. The region attracted 25% of all the VC money invested in the UK in 2004. It has good links with London and is close to Stansted airport. It also has arguably the best university in the country and some great business networking (see www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk)
by Daniel Dearing on 11 Nov

Stephen Powell says:
2 years ago i moved from london to thanet in the south east. since moving an airport , a shopping centre new roads , schools and big high street names have moved this way. thanet in the 60s was the place to be. then it nose dived into one of the poorest slums in Britain. So its potential growth prospects are enormous. I paid 142 for my large home with beautiful beaches. 240 now. thats growth. Planet thanet is fast becoming the place to be. oh and PS the property in margate for example is very much at a premium. oh and a good place to be if your kicking off in business and ……..i could go on but believe me only a fool wouldnt check this place out.
by Stephen Powell on 11 Nov

Mick Moor says:
What’s so good about any city? Work in the countryside and make a contribution to the rural economy, the surroundings are always pleasant and most businesses tend to “shop local”.
by Mick Moor on 11 Nov

Anastasia says:
Just move where your heart takes you. It doesn’t make any difference where you move as long as you are happy with your decision!
by Anastasia on 12 Nov

Mike Turner says:
Brighton is a lovely place but murder to get around during peak times. I live 20 miles north of there and feel I have the best of both worlds. A rural setting but with the convenience of getting into either Brighton in less than 30 minutes or London in less than an hour. If it wasn’t for my wife’s business though I think I’d like to move further west. Salisbury’s a great little city and so are Bristol and Exeter.
by Mike Turner on 12 Nov

Christine Todd says:
Glasgow is the most amazing city - never a dull moment, something for everyone. They have an interesting approach to driving/parking (and this is a Geordie saying this) but that’s part of the charm! I worked freelance there for a few years and the small business community is fantastic.

Or Newcastle! I worked freelance there, too. Very supportive for small busineses. And with both cities, drive half an hour and you’re in the countryside. Aberdeen is nice, too. They still have a traffic problem but it’s getting better. Forget all the talk about oil running out and Aberdeen turning into a ghost town. Nobody’s told Aberdeen this and it’s going from strength to strength - vastly improved city in the last 10 years. I live in Surrey now due to personal circumstances but would be back living in Scotland given the choice.
by Christine Todd on 13 Nov

Ian Herring says:
I gave up ‘fast’ a couple of years ago and haven’t looked back. For me our local city, Angouleme in the Charente region of south-west France, has just the right pace and I dread the thoughts of ever having to return to the UK. Can you imagine it - 2 years and I haven’t been stuck in traffic once!
by Ian Herring on 14 Nov

Anne Francis says:
Come to Norwich - A fast changing, rapidly developing, ancient and charismatic city….Dare to do different and challenge the stereotypes.
by Anne Francis on 14 Nov

Clare Lunt says:
Does it matter where you move to if you’re an internet based company? As long the place satisfies what you want, ie amenties, city or rural location, close to family etc..
by Clare Lunt on 14 Nov

jason Woodford says:
It has got the be Brighton!! It has excellent support infrastructure for small and media companies, speedy / cheap transport to London and elsewhere and loads of like minded businesses to bounce ideas off.
by jason Woodford on 14 Nov

Iain Bennett says:
Lancaster. Big ICT cluster and lots of business support from Creative Lancashire and Lancaster University. Rural (Lakes/Lune Valley/Trough of Bowland/Dales), coastal (Morecambe, Urban Splash’s next locus) and urban settings, skilled workforce, on the West Coast mainline (London 2hrs 40 mins, Glasgow about the same or less) and a skilled and constantly renewed workforce.
by Iain Bennett on 16 Nov

Dave Ph says:
Dublin is slow. Well, the traffic is at morning and evening rush hour. Bus to the airport? Better leave 3 hours before your flight. Crosstown taxi? Quicker to go round the orbital motorway.
by Dave Ph on 1 Sep