Why you should move to Southampton

Southampton is perhaps best known as a university town, but in fact, it's one of the fastest-growing economies in the UK and therefore a great place to work or set up a business.

Each year, professional service firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) evaluates major cities in terms of their economic growth. Using data on average house prices (compared to average income), standards of health, employment levels and overall quality of life, PwC creates “The Good Growth for Cities Index”. This is a really useful list you should look at if you’re thinking of moving to a new city, especially if you want to find work, a decent wage and an affordable home.

There are two lists within the Index worth looking at: the Highest Ranking Cities and Top 10 Improvers... If you take a look at the most recent figures, you’ll see that Southampton ranks third in the country on the highest ranking list and fifth in the improvers list. Put simply, Southampton is a city that’s grown considerably and looks set to continue to grow.
 

What does growth mean?

Well, if a city is ‘growing’ in economic terms, it’s producing more. New businesses are being established, existing businesses are expanding: as a result, more jobs are being created and wages are rising. Great news if you’re looking for a job and are prepared to relocate to find the right one!
 

Why should you move to Southampton for a job?

Southampton is a port city located on the south coast nestled between two areas of natural beauty – New Forest National Park and South Downs National Park – so it’s a beautiful part of the country to move to anyway. But the copious number of potential employers (in the public and private sectors) coupled with the affordable housing and overall good quality of life means it’s a great place to settle.

Major employers in the area include:

- the Port of Southampton (which currently employs around 15,000 people)
- several major travel companies
- the tourism industry
- University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- the University of Southampton and Southampton Solent
- digital and tech industry
- banking and finance sectors

Whilst many of the major employers are within the service industry, (and therefore many of the jobs are at the lower end of the average pay scale) there are still decent wages available. Better yet, Southampton is a good place for startups.
 

Startup success in Southampton

The University of Southampton has partnered with SETSquared to provide tailored support for knowledge-based startups that have potential for solid commercial growth. This support has been put in place to encourage people who hold higher educational qualifications to stay in Southampton and up-skill the city. Techies and scientists (particularly marine biologists) are also highly valued here and the city is becoming known as a hub of tech and scientific expertise, thanks to the development of the Solent Zone. The University of Southampton also offers a startup programme called Catalyst which provides support and a cash lump sum to qualifying new science and tech businesses.

Startups specialising in international trade also do well here, with around 80% of small businesses doing business overseas. But perhaps the most prolific opportunities for startups come from the retail and tourist sectors, where businesses thrive thanks to the high number of tourists passing through on their way to or from the cruise ships that dock in the famous port.
 

Work-life balance in Southampton

There are excellent rail, road, air and sea connections to the city, making it an excellent place to work if you want to live in the surrounding rural or countryside areas and commute. Living in the city is affordable if you prefer, the average monthly mortgage figure of around £700 pcm is far below the average salary of £1900 pcm.

As a port city located so close to two national parks, you couldn’t ask for a more picturesque location. Southampton Common also offers a lovely mixture of open areas and woodland plus a wildlife centre. If you tire of the views there is plenty to keep you entertained in the form of art galleries and theatres (notably the Mayflower) and a thriving pub scene. If you're a football fan, Southampton FC play at the iconic St Mary's Stadium.
 
If you’re thinking of moving to Southampton, it’s a great place to visit for a few days anyway – so book yourself a room, get to know the city and enjoy its attractions. If you like what you see and decide to move to the area, we can help you to store your belongings safely and securely until you’re ready to move into your new home, and we can also store office and business fixtures and fittings if you plan to find a commercial unit to rent and kit out with your brand.

If you're currently a student at one of the city's universities, remember that we can store your belongings during the holidays to save you having to take them back home and avoid the risk of theft or damage in your absence. It's quick and easy to get a quote for any of your storage needs - just give us a call or click for self-storage in Southampton.