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The Business Magazine’s journey over the past quarter- century has seen a number of step-changes


From starting out as a magazine publisher, we have grown to a multi-faceted media and events company and, for many of our clients, as an extension of their own marketing team – in some cases, as the outsourced team itself.


Our services now include events ranging from intimate private dinners and roundtable debates to breakfast seminars and full-blown awards dinners; listings that pull together sectors from manufacturing to technology; eNewsletters that keep thousands of business directors informed each week; and a website that has 20,000 unique visitors a month.


While the printed edition of The Business Magazine continues to be an important part of the mix, we recognise the digital focus that most of our readers and advertisers now have.


To that end, we are now adopting a ‘digital-first’ policy where companies that want to promote themselves through a feature profile will now see that editorial posted first on our website – and available to our fast-growing digital readership.


The promotion will also be tweeted and posted through other social media channels, giving a broad sweep of coverage across the region and beyond.


Our multi-platform offering allows our clients’ promotions to be seen by over 60,000 readers a month – and this focused approach, allied to our strong production values and insistence on quality, is the reason The Business Magazine is so much more than just a print edition.


• The conversion of old office stock to apartments and houses has led to a shortage in business space, especially for SMEs. Anyone looking for 2,000 sq ft of offices, for instance, would find it hard to discover much choice.


In the south, we are starting to attract the co-working and smart spaces that London businesses have long got used to. There is no doubt that more flexible office choices are needed in the Thames Valley and Solent regions – to breathe new life into the commercial property sector.


David Murray Managing director and publisher


4 businessmag.co.uk


Commercial property investment market resilient despite uncertainty


Following the general uncertainty seen in 2016, the year ended positively for the South Coast commercial property investment market, with over £330 million of transactions taking place in the industrial and office sectors in the region, according to Lambert Smith Hampton.


Key investors were UK institutions, local authorities and property companies, all of whom see the region as an area of growth.


In the office sector, £130m-140m changed hands in 12 deals, with major transactions including Columbia Threadneedle’s acquisition of Fusion, Solent Business Park, for £30m and Tristan Capital’s purchase of Forum for £40m, also on Solent Business Park.


Other notable deals of the year included Eastleigh Borough Council’s acquisition of New Court, Chandlers Ford, let to Blake Morgan for approximately £15.78m, and Henderson’s sale of Town Quay, Southampton, for £7.58m to RO Group.


The industrial and logistics sector saw transactions reach £200m in 2016 and this is by far the most popular asset class with investors, predominantly due to a


shortage in supply and with rental growth prospects supported by strong occupier demand.


Key transactions were Blackrock’s funding of Alpha Park, Chandlers Ford, for approximately £20m, DTZIM’s purchase of Railway Triangle, Portsmouth, for £31m, Hermes’ purchase of Fleets Corner in Poole and Paloma Capital’s acquisition of Interchange Park, Portsmouth, for approximately £10.5m.


Jerry Vigus, director of capital markets for Lambert Smith Hampton on the South Coast, commented: “2016 was a turbulent year following the Brexit vote in June which created uncertainty in the market. However, by September, activity returned and yields were restored to the levels achieved at the beginning of the year. There was a period between June and August where investors were able to take advantage of the retail funds selling assets.


“2017 has started how 2016 finished, with the majority of investors focusing on the industrial and logistics sector due to occupier demand, shortage of available buildings to let and rents still showing signs of increasing.”


£31m boost to create jobs and encourage growth for south


Communities secretary Sajid Javid has announced a government cash boost of £31.02 million for the Solent to help create jobs, support businesses and encourage growth.


The Solent LEP hopes to use £25.7m of the funding to bring forward Stubbington Bypass, a strategic investment which will transform connectivity of the Solent Enterprise Zone and wider Fareham and Gosport peninsula.


Solent LEP will also use Growth Deal funding to establish a Solent Productivity Investment Fund for the area, enabling the LEP to invest in local skills and infrastructure projects which enable productivity growth in the Solent.


Alongside the £31.02m Solent Growth Deal, Solent LEP will bring forward the next phase of development at Centenary Quay in Southampton. This investment,


which is separate from the Growth Deal, will unlock over £64m additional private sector investment and enable delivery of more than 340 new homes.


This latest award of Local Growth Funding is on top of £151.9m of Growth Deals funding already awarded to the Solent LEP. The total award could see 6,500 jobs created, 12,000 homes built and attract £600 million in additional investment over the next five years.


Javid said: “As part of efforts to deliver an economy that works for everyone, the Government is devolving powers and resources directly from Whitehall to local people who know their areas best.


“That is why we’re giving £31.02m new money to the Solent to give businesses the support and opportunities they need to achieve their potential – on top of the £151.9m we have already awarded.”


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH COAST – MARCH/APRIL 2017


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