City council heads have agreed for £1.5 million to be invested in the base, which is called Network, and they are now looking for a management company to oversee the process. Ellandi, the firm which manages the Marlands, is providing additional funding.

 

The plans include reception rooms, a shared open-plan space and meeting rooms. 

 

The business base will help grow companies which use the space, and will facilitate access to funding, technology and business networks.

There will be a dedicated entrance from Portland Terrace, installing new lifts and replacing windows.

 

Council leader Chris Hammond said: “There is so much to be proud of in Southampton and I am really excited about the contribution that Network will make towards unlocking the entrepreneurial talent in the city.

 

“It will support and retain local talent and attract entrepreneurs to Southampton, which will benefit everyone.”

 

“Through investment and regeneration, the council is providing conveniently located, modern and affordable space in the heart of the city.

“Network will offer competitively priced, flexible membership and facilities that are tailored to the needs of creative, digital and knowledge based businesses. Ensuring that we are defining the future economy.”

 

A council spokesperson said the authority looked elsewhere, but the Marland’s space “proved to be the best opportunity in the city centre”.

 

They added: “We were able to secure this high profile space a cost that makes the refurbishment and operational costs financial viable and great value for money.”

 

Ellandi asset management director Jonathan Robson said: “Ellandi is delighted to be working closely with Southampton City Council to deliver this creative co-working space at the Marlands.

 

“Our partnership is delivering an innovative concept that is a leading example of re-purposing retail accommodation.

 

"Its location is perfectly placed in the heart of the city centre to take advantage of public transport services, the range of nearby restaurants, bars and retail outlets, the new Cultural Quarter and the residential offer that is developing in the city centre.

 

“It’s great to see Southampton and Ellandi leading the way with what is becoming a national shift in the composition of our city centres.”

 

Network is set to open at the start of 2019.

 

A large complex used by many different businesses needs to have a great visitor monitoring system. Nobody wants people wandering into the wrong office, or accidentally interrupting important meetings because their meeting room is right next door to yours. 

 

Time and Attendance Southern offers the Management of Contractors and Visitors Software to help everyone be in the right place at the right time. This network-based application allows you to advance book visitor appointments and pre-book on site contractors. 

 

These bookings can be made either via the PC based application or a user’s Internet browser. As soon as an appointment is booked, notification emails are sent to both the visitor and their host informing them of the appointment’s date, time and location.

 

If there is no reception area in your workspace, or if there is not a designated receptionist, we can also offer you the MCVS Unmanned Reception Console, which enables visitors to check themselves in for appointments using a touchscreen. This can send an email directly to the person who will be hosting them. 

 

If the appointment is for a visitor or contractor who needs to go around alone, MCVS provides a Welfare Check page to set up welfare notification reminders. These reminders (an on screen popup or an email) prompt the host to perform a safety check on the lone worker.

 

This means that you are kept up to date and there can be no ambiguity about location. A history of checks performed and acknowledged is also recorded for audit purposes.