Soho is superb location for post-production and media companiesWe recently spoke about commercial property for creative industries and the best places in London that media-related firms can find suitable office space, workshops and studios. One of the names that cropped up was Soho in the West End of London.

Starting in the early 20th century Soho has developed a reputation for being at the forefront of the British film industry and has established a number of business links that allow it to offer unrivalled benefits to companies working in this sector. In addition the area has a number of post-production companies that work directly with film studios across the country.

Soho benefits from Sohonet, a combined rooftop communication network and underground fibre optic network that connects companies in the region with locations around the country including Pinewood and Shepperton studios, and to major production centres abroad.

In addition Soho is a culture-rich and diverse area that features:

• An extensive array of nightlife including clubs and bars
• Restaurants to suit a variety of tastes and budgets
• Superior transport links to central London and beyond
• Nearby London's famous theatre district

Soho is also due to benefit from future initiatives that will increase its viability as a business and leisure district, including plans for the City of Westminster to deploy high-speed wireless broadband throughout the area.

Workspace Group has a number of cost-effective commercial properties in Soho that offer scalable opportunities for small and medium sized enterprises looking to relocate. Archer Street Studios, for example, has in recent years become a thriving hub for creative businesses offering a suitable working environment in addition to a range of on-site amenities that facilitate efficient and profitable operations. The property is just off Shaftesbury Avenue, one of the area's most important thoroughfares.

Businesses looking to relocate to the Soho area should contact Workspace Group for more information. We can advise on the most appropriate properties and location for your needs. Please call 020 7369 2389.

Clerkenwell workshops offer creative businesses a fashionable baseIf you run a creative organisation looking for commercial property in London, your ability to connect with your chosen industry can be enhanced by the location and type of building that you choose. Nowadays London is a thriving centre for creative businesses offering a diverse range of available properties that feature unique facilities to improve the efficiency of key operations.

London has always been a centre for traditional media companies - historically many of the major newspaper publishers had offices on 'Fleet Street,' and the term became synonymous with the British press as a whole. Although many of these companies have moved on, London is nowadays home to many new media and creative industries including Internet startups, publishing and fashion. Clerkenwell is particularly well known for its links to the publishing industry, whilst Soho has become known for its concentration of movie and film-related companies that benefit from Sohonet, which links the area to London's film studios via high-speed optical fibres.

Whilst there are no hard and fast rules, many creative businesses in London are concentrated around the following areas:

• Clerkenwell - publishing, traditional literature
• Soho - film, TV, post-production, special effects
• Notting Hill - print, fashion, design, graphics
• Shoreditch - web technologies and start ups

In terms of properties, creative industries may want to look for the following features that might fit in well with their business goals:

• Bright, open space
• On-site cafes and restaurants
• Open-plan floors
• Superior transport links
• Goods lift

With NESTA analysis suggesting the creative industries will grow 4 percent by 2013, there's never been a better time to pursue aggressive growth strategies and position yourself in one of London's leading business districts.

Please contact Workspace Group on 020 7369 2389 for more information.

The Animal Farm is a music company based in London, England. They offer record production, mixing and songwriting services. Through their record label, music publishing and artist management companies, they look after a growing roster of UK based artists. 

With their wide range of longstanding personal relationships with music executives around the world they are well placed to open doors, to get you into the building. They believe in developing artists and building careers.

Click here to listen to the interview