Lakeside celebrates another year of growth
Published: November 10 2026
Five businesses have taken more than 42,000 sq ft at Lakeside North Harbour, highlighting continued business growth and investment in Portsmouth.
New arrivals and expanding businesses include Climax Studios, Watermark Group, CybaVerse, Carpenter Box and JBA Consulting. Together, they represent some of Portsmouth’s key and growing sectors, including video games, maritime, cybersecurity, professional services and environmental consultancy.
Portsmouth video games studio makes Lakeside its new home
Internationally recognised video games developer Climax Studios has moved its headquarters to Lakeside.
Founded in Portsmouth more than 35 years ago, the studio is part of Keywords Studios and has worked on major franchises including Age of Empires IV, Microsoft Flight Simulator and Assassin’s Creed.
Its move means the company continues its long-standing connection with the city while becoming part of Lakeside’s growing business community.
Maritime training returns
Watermark Group has also relocated its headquarters to Lakeside, bringing a maritime training simulator centre back into use in Portsmouth.
The company specialises in maritime consultancy, simulator training and crew management. Its new base includes a simulator facility providing realistic training environments for crews and operators.
The move adds to Portsmouth’s strong maritime sector and helps keep specialist maritime training facilities in the city.
Technology and professional services businesses expand
Portsmouth-based cybersecurity company CybaVerse continues to develop its business from Lakeside. The company recently announced a major rebrand as it shifts from a consultancy-led business towards an approach centred on its CybaOps cybersecurity platform.
The changes follow a period of growth which has included a £5 million Series A funding round and the acquisition of automation platform SecureAck. The business now employs more than 40 people.
Accountancy and business advisory firm Carpenter Box has moved into larger offices at Lakeside as it expands its Portsmouth operation. The new space gives its business and tax advisers more room as the company continues to grow its presence in the city.
Environmental and engineering consultancy JBA Consulting has also expanded at Lakeside. The employee-owned business first opened its Portsmouth office in 2022 to support local Environment Agency schemes. Growth across different areas of its business has now led JBA to take a larger, permanent office accommodating 16 members of staff.
The company highlighted Lakeside’s grounds, food and drink offer, transport connections and working environment as important reasons for remaining on the campus.
Businesses choosing to stay in Portsmouth
Lakeside has also retained Southern Co-op, Visitor Chat and Markerstudy Insurance Services, three key businesses, during the past 12 months:
The combination of new arrivals, growing businesses and existing occupiers choosing to stay underlines the continued appeal of Lakeside as a location for businesses in Portsmouth.
Simon Bateman, Asset Manager at Lakeside North Harbour, said:
“So far, it has been a year of exciting growth for Lakeside, with new businesses bringing a wide range of services and expertise to the campus.We are building on this growth and will continue to make Lakeside a go-to place for businesses looking for a flexible business campus with a focus on wellbeing and also for the companies that choose to stay on campus year after year.”