Zurich
Located in north-central Switzerland, Zurich is the country’s largest city and a transport hub for the entire region, with great air, rail and road infrastructures. Despite a relatively small population, the city is rated as an Alpha- Global City, and is well-recognised as one of the world’s leading financial centres. More than a third of all Swiss banks have their headquarters in the Greater Zurich Area – including the two major banks, UBS and the Credit Suisse Group. It is one of, if not the wealthiest cities in Europe and regularly tops surveys that focus on the most liveable cities in the world. With low tax rates it is hardly surprising that companies such as IBM, who set up their European research lab just south of the city in 1962 and a nanotechnology site in 2011, and Microsoft who have a Development Centre in Wallisellen in the Greater Zurich Area, want to set up a base here.
The location
The city is divided into 12 districts, known as Kreis with various neighbourhoods within each of these. Kreis 1 hosts a lot of major corporates, especially from the finance sector. However, you can also find a number of large companies around the airport area and in Oerlikon, both of which benefit from easy access to the road network and the International airport.
Looking for an office in Zurich
Costs
The prices for serviced office space can range from between CHF 800 to 1,200 per desk, per month in the prime locations and CHF 600 to 800 in the peripheral areas of the city, depending on the requirements. However, it is worth keeping in mind that these costs usually cover amenities, which may include Internet, meeting rooms, kitchen facilities, reception services, AV equipment and parking.
Office sizes
The total size of the business centres in Zurich is smaller in comparison to other European cities, but within each centre you can find the usual mix of single and team offices. Instant offer a great variety of office types and sizes in Zurich, and are able to accommodate most enquiries, from one person through to 100 or more depending on the specifics.
Why choose Zurich?
While it isn’t the cheapest city in the world to live in, Zurich is often praised as one of the most habitable and prestigious cities and scores highly for work, housing, leisure, education and safety. High-levels of investment in education and two leading universities in the city provide companies with great access to top graduates, while a largely multilingual community adds to the benefits of the location. Zurich also benefits from a first-class infrastructure that enables it to manipulate its central European location.
Five things you probably didn’t know about Zurich:
- St. Peter Church of Zurich is the home of Europe’s largest church clock face
- The 2015 Mercer Quality of Living Survey ranks Zurich as the second best city in the world to live in
- Almost half the Swiss population live in the Zurich metropolis
- More than 2,700 trains service Zurich Hauptbahnhof every day, enhancing Zurich’s reputation as having one of the world’s busiest public transport systems
- The unemployment rate in Zurich is only 3.6%
A closer look at Zurich
Kreis 5
Known as Industriequartier, Kreis 5 contains the former industrial area of Zurich which has gone under a large-scale rezoning to create upscale modern housing, retail and commercial real estate. It is home to the largest manufacturer of chocolate in the world, Barry Callebaut, and music accessories company, Skullcandy.
Kreis 1
Zurich’s Central Business District and home to the financial centre, this district is the most prestigious to have a business address and provides access to financial institutions including Allianz Suisse, Zurich Insurance Group, UBS and Swiss Re. The main business address is the Bahnhofstrasse, while the district is also home to the Old Town and its beautiful architecture.
Kreis 2
Kreis 2 is home to Google Zurich and provides a major EMEA engineering hub for the technology giant. Along with the presence of major companies including IBM and Microsoft in Zurich and the surrounding area, it is no surprise that Zurich has often been dubbed the Silicon Valley of Europe.
Kreis 11
Made up of Oerlikon, Affoltern and Seebach, Kreis 11 is another area of the city that is popular with large businesses. It is the most northern and populous district within the city and is home to companies such as Rheinmetall Air Defence AG and the ABB Group, one of the largest engineering companies and conglomerates in the world.
Zurich Airport
The area around Zurich airport is also one that is very popular with businesses. Not only does it provide quick and easy access for domestic and international travel but is also a more cost-effective location compared with the city centre.
Want to find out more?
If you’re looking to move into the area, or simply require more information, contact Instant Offices' specialist local consultants.
Email our team or call us and we'll be delighted to help you.