Serviced Offices Aberdeen – Your Questions Answered
Demand for serviced offices in the UK has grown steadily over the past few years, According to Savills, UK enquiries for flexible office space were 206% above pre-Covid levels by mid-2024, and the market grew by 5.7% in 2024 alone. Aberdeen is no exception, with rising prices and falling availability indicating strong demand.
It's not hard to see why. The city's economy, built around energy, life sciences and professional services, runs on project cycles, contract work and businesses that need to scale up or down without signing a five-year lease. A serviced office makes a lot of sense for that kind of environment.
We get asked a lot of questions by businesses thinking about making the move, so we've put together honest answers to the ones that come up most often. If yours isn't here, give us a call. We're happy to talk it through.
Key Takeaways
• Serviced offices in Aberdeen typically cost £300–£450 per month + vat for a small office, with everything included in one monthly payment
• AEIP offers month-to-month terms as standard, with no long-term lease commitment required
• The monthly cost covers rent, furniture, utilities, internet, cleaning, maintenance and parking
• Aberdeen desk prices rose 52% between 2020 and 2023, reflecting strong and sustained local demand
• Bridge of Don offers quick access to the A90 and AWPR, with on-site parking included
• Both AEIP parks have outdoor space, meeting rooms, kitchen facilities and an on-site management team
Q: What is a serviced office?
A:
A: A serviced office is a fully equipped, managed workspace where you pay one monthly amount that covers everything: rent, utilities, furniture, internet, cleaning and building maintenance. You move in, plug in your computers, and get to work. There's no fit-out project, no separate bills to manage, and no long-term lease tying you in.
At AEIP, our serviced offices in Aberdeen come fully furnished, all have external windows with views onto the park and are ready to use from day one, with month-to-month terms as standard.
Q: What’s included in a serviced office at AEIP
A: The monthly cost covers:
Office furniture (desks, chairs, storage)
High-speed internet and Wi-Fi
Gas and electricity
Building maintenance and repairs
Cleaning
Access to shared kitchen facilities
Use of outdoor green space and walking areas
Parking and meeting room use is included in the monthly cost and can be booked via the AEIP online booking system.
One thing worth saying: there are no hidden extras or surprise invoices. One amount, one payment, every month.
Q: How much does a serviced office in Aberdeen cost?
A: It depends on the size of the space and what you need, but as a rough guide, serviced offices in Aberdeen typically range from around £300–£450 per month for a small single or two-person office up to £1,500–£2,500+ per month for a larger team space.
That sounds like a lot until you compare it to a conventional office lease, where you'd be adding up: rent, rates, service charge, fit-out costs, furniture, broadband, electricity, gas, insurance, cleaning contracts and building maintenance. For most small to medium businesses, the all-in monthly cost of a serviced office is lower than they expect, and far more predictable.
At AEIP, the best way to get an accurate figure is to check our current availability or contact us directly. Prices vary based on space size and configuration, and we'd rather give you a real number than a figure that doesn't reflect what's actually available. We can also put together a bespoke package based on your specific needs.
Q: What are the benefits of a serviced office?
A: The main practical benefit is simplicity. You're not managing a building. We are. If something breaks, you call us. Your internet goes down, you call us. You don't have to juggle five different supplier contracts or argue with an energy company.
Beyond that, the flexibility is significant. Month-to-month terms mean that if your team grows, you can move to a larger space without breaking your lease. If you need to downsize, you can do that too. For businesses working on project-based contracts, which in common in Aberdeen, that flexibility has real commercial value.
There's also something to be said for the environment. Both our parks at Bridge of Don have a genuine sense of community. Tenants from different industries working in the same space leads to conversations, referrals and the occasional collaboration that wouldn't have happened in an isolated office.
Q: Who uses serviced offices?
A: All kinds of companies, though a few types come up regularly at AEIP:
Energy sector businesses: particularly those working on specific projects or contracts where headcount fluctuates. Serviced offices let you scale without committing to infrastructure you might not need in 18 months.
Life sciences and tech companies: often growing quickly and needing professional space before they're ready to sign a long-term lease. We work with research and innovation-focused businesses who use our offices alongside our laboratory space.
Businesses opening a regional office: if your headquarters is in Edinburgh, Glasgow or London and you want a professional Aberdeen presence, a serviced office is the straightforward option. You get a real address, a proper workspace and local credibility without the overhead of setting up a full facility.
SMEs and owner-managed businesses: running an office is a job in itself. A serviced office removes that entirely so you can focus on the work that brings in the profits.
Q: What's the difference between a serviced office and standard office space?
A: Standard office space is an empty unit. You take it on a lease, typically three to five years, and you're responsible for everything: fitting it out, furnishing it, arranging broadband and utilities, maintaining it and cleaning it. At the end of the lease, you usually have to return it to its original condition, which means a dilapidations bill.
A serviced office handles all of that. You're renting a ready-to-use workspace, not a shell. The trade-off is that you have less control over the look and layout.
If you're at a stage where you know exactly how much space you need, plan to stay for several years, and want full control over the environment, conventional office space might make sense. For everyone else, a serviced office is usually the more practical option.
Q: What’s the difference between a serviced office and coworking space?
A: Coworking space is a shared, open-plan environment where individuals work alongside people from other businesses. You pay for a desk: either a dedicated one that's yours every day, or a hot desk you use when you need it.
A serviced office is a private, enclosed space that belongs to your company during your tenancy. You can have your branding on the door, conduct confidential calls without concern, and use the space however your team needs.
Coworking suits freelancers, sole traders and people who want a professional environment away from home without paying for a full office. Serviced offices suit teams, typically from two people upwards, who need privacy, consistency and a space that feels like their own.
We have both at AEIP, and some businesses use a combination: a serviced office as their base, with coworking access for staff who travel or work remotely part of the week.
Q: What’s the best location for a serviced office in Aberdeen?
A: It depends on your team and your clients, but Bridge of Don is worth serious consideration.
It sits just off the A90, which connects to the AWPR, putting the airport, Westhill, Stonehaven and Portlethen all within half an hour. For businesses whose staff commute from across Aberdeenshire, or whose clients are spread around the region, that easy accessibility matters more than being in the city centre.
Parking is the other thing. City centre offices in Aberdeen come with parking headaches that cause real, daily friction for staff. Both our parks have on-site parking included, with enough spaces that it doesn't become a political issue.
There's also a cluster effect. Bridge of Don has a significant concentration of energy sector businesses, which means your clients, partners and suppliers are more likely to already be in the area.
Q: How flexible are the lease terms at AEIP?
A: Month to month. That's the standard arrangement for our serviced offices, and it's not a promotional offer. It's just how our serviced offices work.
If you want slightly longer terms for more security, that's an option we can offer too. Some businesses prefer the certainty of a fixed period. We offer flexibility as businesses require it, and we don't penalise you for needing to adjust your space as your business changes.
Q: Is there enough parking at AEIP?
A: Both our business parks have on-site parking included in the monthly cost. We know parking sounds like a trivial thing, until you're in an office where it isn't, and then it's suddenly all anyone talks about.
There are enough spaces at both the Energy Park and the Innovation Park that it doesn't become a source of conflict. If you have staff who cycle, we also have bicycle storage available for them.
Q: Is there outdoor space at AEIP?
A: The Innovation Park is set in a mature wooded area with walking routes that tenants use regularly, particularly useful if your team wants somewhere to decompress during the day or hold an informal outdoor meeting.
The Energy Park has green space and wooded areas, with outdoor seating at the Enterprise Centre and sea views from parts of the site.
It's one of those things that doesn't show up in a cost comparison with a city centre office, but makes a meaningful difference to the working environment day to day.
Q: What facilities does AEIP provide beyond the office itself?
A: Amenities across both parks:
- Meeting rooms available to book, suited to client meetings, interviews or training
- Kitchen and breakout facilities
- Shower facilities in some buildings
- High-speed internet
- On-site management team for any issues
- Free parking
- Electric Vehicle charging
- Cycle storage
Innovation Park:
- On-site pre-school nursery
Energy Park:
- On-site café
- On-site gym
- Virtual office packages for businesses that need an Aberdeen address and mail handling without a physical office
We also run networking events periodically that bring tenants together, useful if you're relatively new to Aberdeen or looking to grow local connections.
Q: Who else works at AEIP?
A: We have a wide range of businesses across both parks: energy sector companies, engineering firms, life sciences businesses, tech companies, professional services and more. You can see examples of who's here.
The mix matters. One of the less obvious advantages of a business park over a standalone office is proximity to other companies. The conversations that happen in car parks and corridors can lead to unexpected business opportunities.
Q: How do I arrange a viewing?
A: Get in touch and we'll arrange a time to show you around. We'd rather you saw the space and met the team before making a decision. It's the best way to tell whether it's the right fit.
You can also view our current availability online to see what sizes and configurations are currently free.