Office space in Edinburgh

While London is widely regarded as the financial capital of the UK, Edinburgh has firmly positioned itself as the second largest, with over 90% of all Scottish fund managers working in the region.

Demand for office space is now higher than ever, with everyone from the largest corporations, right through to  new start-ups, looking to use the city as their commercial base. In response, the amount of flexible office space in Edinburgh is set to double by 2025, with a number of new sites either in the early stages of development or ready to accept lease requests.

Leith remains one of the most popular areas to rent office space in Edinburgh, and the extensive redevelopment the district has enjoyed in recent years has created numerous commercial opportunities for businesses of all sizes. It is one of the city’s most desirable places to live and work in and is also home to the Scottish Government.

On the western side of Edinburgh is South Gyle, which is where the city’s leading business centre, Edinburgh Park, is located. Some of the world’s most famous financial and insurance powerhouses can be found here, with extensive transport connections on-hand via plane and train.

A broad range of businesses operate in Central Edinburgh, encompassing everything from banking and travel, to retail and legal sectors. Companies that set up shop here benefit from the strong transport links that keep thousands of tourists moving along each day.

Edinburgh airport is the busiest in Scotland and the sixth busiest in the UK, with over 14 million people passing through its terminals every year. It supports well over 200 routes to over 150 destinations, so businesses have no issue travelling into Europe, the US or further afield, if required.

The main railway station in the city is Edinburgh Waverley, which offers a direct connection to King’s Cross in London (which takes just over 4 hours) and countless mainline destinations across the UK. Commuters can also use the Borders Railway to travel between Edinburgh and Tweedbank, and it is the longest new line built in the UK for over 100 years.

On the roads approximately £140m is being spent on the new A720 city bypass and to upgrade transport improvements across the west side of the city.

Economy

Studies conducted in 2019 by some of the leading national property consultants revealed that Edinburgh was the highest ranked UK city with the best prospects for economic growth.

This was based on a number of key factors, including education, affluence, productivity and growth. It reflects the growing demand for commercial property in the city and offers a positive outlook for employment growth over the next decade.

The long-awaited City Deal will deliver over £1 billion in investment right across the city, including over 21,000 new jobs and £300m for new data innovation centres.

Edinburgh has long produced one of the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita in the UK outside of London. This is due in large part to the strength of the services sector, with banking, financial services, higher education and tourism leading the way.

The Bank of Scotland was established in the city back in 1695 and is recognised for its strength in the investment and insurance industries. As a result, Edinburgh regularly appears in the Global Financial CentresIndex top 50.

The city remains the most popular tourist destination in Scotland, adding over £1.5 billion to the economy and supporting over 30,000 jobs. Edinburgh is also the UK's most popular conference destination, receiving more visitors than even London.

Which businesses operate in Edinburgh?

Banking and finance lead the way in Edinburgh, closely followed by tourism, although there are a diverse range of industries that play a vital role in the city’s continued growth.

Edinburgh is gaining a reputation as one of the most attractive places for tech businesses to set up operations. Between 2014 and 2017, digital jobs in the city increased by over 3 times the UK average.

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe has been running since 1947 and is established as the world’s largest arts festival, encompassing over 3,500 shows. In terms of global ticketed events only the Olympics can claim to be bigger. The creative industry also extends into film production, console game development, writing and media.

The Edinburgh BioQuarter and Midlothian Science Zone house some of Europe’s leading science-related research facilities, with the likes of Moredun Research Institute and The Roslin Institute all located here.

Edinburgh Rental Guide

The cost of renting flexible office space in Edinburgh ranges from £100 - £350 per person, per month. This depends on the office type, location, and facilities.

Below is a breakdown of the average cost of renting a flexible office  space in Edinburgh city centre*

*Guide prices per person per month, excl. vat.

Offices to Rent in Edinburgh

If you’re looking for an office to rent in Edinburgh, get in touch with the Prime Office Search team today. Alternatively, you can browse our available office spaces in Edinburgh online.

Our independent experts are ready to assist you with your Edinburgh office search; we provide a personalised and tailored service, working with businesses of all shapes and sizes, offering an effortless way to find offices to rent in Edinburgh.

Whether you’re an Individual, a start-up business, SME or a large organisation looking for serviced offices, coworking space, virtual or managed office space in Edinburgh, our team of experienced consultants can work closely with you, to find the ideal Edinburgh office solution.

Our portfolio comprises over 2,500 types of office space and meeting rooms available to rent in Edinburgh and across the UK, all available on all-inclusive, flexible terms. Our service is 100% free and impartial, with no obligation.