Four more companies grow at Southampton business hub

The team at Ocean Village Innovation Centre, Southampton. From left, centre support assistants Hannah Fray and Caroline O’Neill with centre manager Stephen Deller and assistant centre manager Jess Williams.

Four companies at a flourishing business hub in Southampton have upsized on site due to expansion.

James Fisher Prolec, Provision Events, Benz Travel and Foresight Data are the latest businesses with additional floor space at Ocean Village Innovation Centre (OVIC).

The thriving business hub is now almost full, with 92% of space taken up by 46 innovative early-stage companies.

OVIC Centre Manager Stephen Deller said: “We’ve never known so many firms upsize their workspaces in such a short period, saving themselves considerable time and money in searching for new locations elsewhere in the city region.

“There are up to 300 people at OVIC at any one time, with fantastic exchanges of ideas, tips and recommendations between occupiers, some of which trade with one another as part of a flourishing business ecosystem.”

James Fisher Prolec, which supplies machine productivity and safety systems for construction equipment, now has an office for up to 20 people.

Headquartered in Poole, Dorset, the company arrived at OVIC only 10 months ago with a four-person office.

Since then the company has gone from strength to strength, and demand for its systems continues to rise.

Provision Events, which conceives, designs, builds and manages sports event space for large international brand clients, doubled the size of its space to 14 desks within six months of arriving.

Co-founded by Nick Clemens, an ex PGA golf professional, and Konrad Brochocki, Provision Events also offers a broad range of ready-to-hire sports simulators, including golf, tennis and football.

Benz Travel, with a head office in London, has also doubled its footprint. Within two months of arrival the tour company has grown to a five-desk office due to the continued growth of opportunities relating to the UK’s £9 billion cruise industry.

The final company, Foresight Data, doubled work stations to four within a year. Run by Managing Director Dave Scott, the consultancy business specialises in forecasting and customer insight for companies who have a recurring relationship with their customers.

Working with clients primarily in the publishing industry, Dave and his team have built and developed a suite of highly accurate forecasting and lifetime value products which have become increasingly popular, requiring Foresight Data to expand its team.

Stephen said: “The innovation taking place here at OVIC is inspirational – occupiers are constantly challenging themselves to be at the forefront of their respective markets. It makes for a business hub where enterprise thrives and is celebrated.”

Managed by Oxford Innovation, OVIC provides offices and meeting facilities for start-ups, early-stage firms and outsourced businesses in a supportive easy-in, easy-out environment, with all-inclusive packages, competitive prices and in-house business support by Innovation Director Richard May.