A Great Place to do Business

Test Valley accounted for 70,400 jobs and its economy was worth £3.4 billion in 2022. In the decade to 2019 there was rapid growth in employment, particularly in professional services, transportation, and administration and support services.

Excellent connections

Andover provides easy access to southern England, the Midlands and London through the A303 and A34 trunk roads. The south of the Borough borders the M27, the M3, and the city of Southampton with its port and airport. The city of Salisbury is just to the west of the Borough, and the city of Winchester is just to the east.

Test Valley District - Google Maps

Good company

Test Valley is home to many famous names including

Andover is also home to the British Army’s new headquarters, which employs more than 2,000 personnel, and is located at Marlborough Lines.

Testimonials:

Ocado

'For Ocado, we have been thrilled with the quality of people that we have been able to attract to various roles at the CFC including Operations, Engineering and Service Delivery. As a business with a great brand and reputation for quality and service we pride ourselves in how we look after our employees. It is satisfying to know that we can offer local people an innovative and technology led working environment where they have genuine development and progression opportunities and superb benefits that significantly exceed what is on offer elsewhere in the local area.'

J & J Carter

'For J&J Carter, moving to Andover has been a great success. The transport network with the A303 within minutes, as well as the A34 and M3 not too far, is perfect. For anyone considering Andover as a place to work and operate their business you will not find anywhere more friendly and accommodating. The local businesses and residents will welcome you with open arms.' 

Lynx UK Ltd

'We are a telecommunications company, specialising  in the management of network assets on behalf of network operators and owners. Being based in Andover, with its proximity to London - the main UK telecoms hub, we have easy access to top carriers and network operators… Andover is a great geographical location from which to operate as it has fast rail links, is sited close to major trunk routes, and has easy access to ports and airports.

In addition to its location, we were attracted to Andover by the type and range of business premises available; the favourable cost of premises and business rates; excellent local service providers and suppliers and skilled local workforce.

TVBC works hard to support its business community and they have also contributed to our growth through access to funding initiatives such as the Andover Skills Fund' 

Choice of premises

There are numerous business parks and industrial estates in the Borough with manufacturing companies concentrated around Portway Business Park and Walworth Business Park in Andover, a cluster of transport and storage companies at Nursling Industrial Estate and at the Andover Business Park (goodman.com), and the University Hospitals Southampton Health and Innovation Campus by Adanac Trade Park. The Borough is also home to the University of Southampton Science Park which offers premises for tech start-ups through to large companies.

Andover Business Park Maps | Test Valley Borough Council

As the landowner of Walworth and Portway business parks, the Council has the ability to negotiate directly with potential tenants. In particular, where we have a landlord-tenant relationship, we have on-going engagement. The Council is the landlord at Walworth Enterprise Centre (WEC), which offers easy in / easy out short-term licences for a range of business units and offices, and of Basepoint Business Centres in both Andover and Romsey which offer a range of units for varying purposes. The Council also owns and manages the Chantry Centre in Andover town centre.

Help with Training

Andover College is very keen to work with employers to meet skills needs.  The Council manages a £500,000 Andover Skills Training Fund which offers grants to help smaller businesses in Andover raise the skills of local employees.

Council Support

The Council offers a number of small grants detailed on its website: Grants & Funding | Test Valley Borough Council and a small business support service. The website contains advice on a range of issues including licensing and regulation, recruitment, education and skills, business rates, and decarbonisation. It produces a monthly business newsletter and maintains a diary of local business events held by groups across the Borough.

Gallery

  • Aerial photo of Coop Warehouse
  • The new Coop megashed
  • Walworth
  • Local business
  • Stannah
  • Army Headquarters
  • Twinings
  • Andover Basepoint Business Centre
  • Aerial photo of Vitacress
  • Simplyhealth, Alan Child House
  • New Unit 5, Andover Business Park