Office space in Edinburgh

Edinburgh has firmly positioned itself as the second-largest financial centre in the UK, with over 90% of all Scottish fund managers working in the region. This is one of the reasons demand for office space in Edinburgh is now higher than ever, with everyone from the largest corporations to new start-ups looking to use the city as their commercial base. In response, Edinburgh's flexible office space is set to double by 2025, with several new sites either in the early stages of development or ready to accept lease requests.

The Top Business Areas in Edinburgh

In recent years, many leading international businesses have chosen Edinburgh as their base of operations. The area has proven extremely popular with tech start-ups and global corporations looking to set up a head office in Europe.

Find Offices in Central Edinburgh: A broad range of businesses operate, 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.

Find Offices in Leith: The area remains one of the most popular areas to rent office space in Edinburgh. 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 and is also home to the Scottish Government.

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

Edinburgh Office Space Rental Guide

The cost of renting flexible office space in Edinburgh ranges from £100 - £350 per person per month, depending 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.

The Diversity of Offices in Edinburgh

Whether you're a solo entrepreneur or part of a growing enterprise, Edinburgh's office spaces provide the perfect environment to thrive and succeed. Each type of office space in Edinburgh is designed to accommodate the unique needs of businesses, including but not limited to:

Coworking Spaces in Edinburgh: Ideal for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small teams, offering a dynamic and collaborative working environment. These spaces often include hot desks, where individuals can work in a shared area, and dedicated desk spaces, providing a more permanent spot in a communal setting. The flexibility and networking opportunities in these spaces make them particularly appealing to those in the creative and tech industries.

Private Offices in Edinburgh: Providing the perfect balance for businesses seeking a blend of privacy and community. These offices provide a dedicated space for your team while allowing access to shared facilities, like lounges and kitchens. This setup is especially suitable for small to medium-sized businesses looking for a professional environment without isolation.

Serviced Offices in Edinburgh: These are perfect for businesses that require fully equipped workspaces with minimal setup time. Serviced offices in Edinburgh offer a range of options, from small individual office spaces to larger private suites, often accompanied by services like reception support, mail handling, and IT infrastructure. These offices are ideal for companies that need flexibility and convenience, with short-term leases and all-inclusive pricing.

Short-Term Leased Offices in Edinburgh: Edinburgh understands the evolving nature of business. Short-term leases provide an ideal solution for companies undergoing rapid growth or those working on a project basis. These leases offer the flexibility to scale up or down as needed without long-term commitments.

Meeting Rooms in Edinburgh: These are well-equipped for presentations, client meetings, or team brainstorming sessions, providing a professional backdrop for essential discussions.

The City’s 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 several 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 UK's highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita 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 in 1695 and is recognised for its strength in the investment and insurance industries. As a result, Edinburgh regularly appears in the Global Financial Centres Index top 50.

The city remains Scotland's most popular tourist destination, contributing 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 London.

Which businesses operate in Edinburgh?

Banking and finance lead the way in Edinburgh, closely followed by tourism, although there is 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, the number of 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. 

Hiring the Best Talent in Edinburgh

In the heart of Scotland's vibrant capital, Edinburgh's academic landscape is a fertile ground for hiring top-tier talent. Home to prestigious institutions like Queen Margaret University, renowned for its modern approach and diverse student body, Edinburgh Napier University, twice recipient of the Queen's Anniversary Prize, Heriot-Watt University, boasting Scotland's most prominent business school and a historic textile program, and many others, the city is a hub for ambitious and skilled graduates.

For businesses setting up in Edinburgh, this means access to a rich pool of high-potential employees, well-equipped with the latest knowledge and innovative thinking, ready to drive your company forward in this dynamic city.

Connections to Edinburgh

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 upgrading transport improvements across the city's west side.

Looking for Offices to Rent in Edinburgh?

Contact the Prime Office Search team today if you’re looking for an office to rent in Edinburgh. 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, and offer 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.