As a contractor, you will be used to working and staying in cities like Cardiff and Newport while working on projects in South Wales. Sometimes, your contractor accommodation will be sorted out and paid for by your employer, but often you’ll need to book your accommodation yourself. In these situations, you’ll want to find accommodation with all of the creature comforts you are used to at a price that doesn’t blow your budget.
Below we run through some tips on finding the right contractor accommodation in Cardiff & Newport, but these tips can easily apply to any town or city.
What’s important when booking accommodation in South Wales?
Location
As a contractor looking for accommodation, planning a trip for work purposes, it is important to find a place to stay near your place of work or easily commutable. You don’t want to wake up every morning and have a long journey to work. So you are always advised to research options close to your office or site so that you can easily commute back to your room whenever necessary.
High-Speed WiFi
Every contractor looking for accommodation wants to book accommodation which has reliable high-speed Internet. This will enable you to work from your accommodation and relax with your favourite Netflix series. So, look for contractor accommodation which offer free high-speed WiFi.
Onsite Parking
Parking is important, especially if you drive between contractor sites during the day. Also, you don’t want to be searching for a parking space and have to pay additional parking fees just so that you can park nearby
Budget
You want to set a budget and look for appropriate rooms for contractors within it. Once you have a list of contractor accommodation within your budget, compare them with each other to find the most suitable accommodation that meets all your requirements.
Facilities
Depending on the type of accommodation you are staying in, you’ll have different requirements. In Propertri serviced apartments, you’ll find:
- A fully equipped kitchen, usually with a dishwasher and washer/dryer
- One or more separate bedrooms
- A living area
- A bathroom
- TV, Wi-Fi and the latest in-room technology
- All utilities included, i.e. water & electricity
Why does Cardiff attract contractors?
As the capital city of Wales, Cardiff is the main driver for the Welsh economy, with around 90,000 people commuting into Cardiff daily. It has one of the most advanced digital infrastructures in the UK, a world-class university, Cardiff University is ranked 6th in the UK, and the Principality Stadium is Europe’s biggest covered arena, best known as host to a range of international rugby events.
Cardiff attracts contractors from a range of industries, including the financial and professional services sector, which makes up 19% of the Cardiff economy, energy and environment 11%, tourism 9% and construction 7%.
In addition, the city is host to over 65,000 higher education students. It has a strong TV and broadcast sector, a high concentration of ‘reg-tech’ and cyber security skills, a competitive fin-tech and digital start-up community, emerging technology clusters, including compound semiconductors as well as an internationally recognised life sciences businesses
Major companies include:
- Admiral Group, with 7,000 employees split between the company’s main offices in Cardiff, Newport and Swansea.
- Welsh Water owner Dwr Cymru employs more than 3,000 people. Headquartered in Treharris, 30 mins from Cardiff
- Arriva Trains Wales operates the Wales and Borders franchise, employing more than 2,200 people, with the HQ at Cardiff Central.
- S.A. Brain, the Iconic Cardiff brewer and pub owner, employs nearly 1,800 people. The company also owns the growing Coffee#1 chain of cafes.
- Principality Wales’ largest building society – and the sixth largest in the UK – employs a little over 1,100 people. The main branch is on Queen Street in Cardiff
- Finsbury Food, the Memory Lane cakes owner, employs 850 in Cardiff
Why does Newport attract contractors?
In recent years Newport has seen significant investment in infrastructure, including new commercial and residential developments. This creates opportunities for contractors in various construction and development projects.
The presence of business parks and innovation hubs, such as the Celtic Manor Resort and the International Convention Centre Wales, attracts contractors for both new projects and maintenance work.
Newport’s strategic location with excellent transport links, including the M4 motorway, rail connections, and proximity to Cardiff and Bristol, makes it accessible and attractive for contractors. As a gateway city to South Wales, Newport provides a convenient base for contractors working on projects across the region.
Ongoing urban regeneration projects funded by both public and private sectors provide continuous work for contractors as well as local government initiatives aimed at boosting economic development and job creation often include incentives for contractors.
Compared to major cities like London and Cardiff, Newport offers a more affordable cost of living, which can be attractive to contractors and their employees. The city’s scenic surroundings, including parks and proximity to the coast, provide an appealing living and working environment.
Major companies include:
- Alcatel-Lucent, a global telecommunications equipment company with significant operations in Newport.
- Next Generation Data (NGD), one of Europe’s largest data centres, providing critical infrastructure for a range of tech and data-driven businesses.
- IQE, a leading supplier of advanced wafer products and services to the semiconductor industry.
- Lloyds Banking Group, operates a significant office in Newport
- Admiral Group, although headquartered in Cardiff, Admiral Group has operations in Newport, focusing on insurance services.
- Amazon operates a large fulfilment centre in the region.
- Office for National Statistics (ONS). The main office is in Newport, making it a major employer in the public sector.
- Intellectual Property Office (IPO). Another significant public sector employer, headquartered in Newport.
- University of South Wales. With a campus in Newport, the university is a major institution for higher education and research
- Gocompare.com, a well-known price comparison website headquartered in Newport.
Types of accommodation in South Wales for contractors
Serviced Accommodation for Contractors
You’ve got a few options for accommodation when working away. The first that springs to mind is serviced apartments. The benefits include:
- Space: serviced apartments offer lots of space to work, cook, relax and sleep.
- Amenities: they are a ‘home away from home’ with private cooking facilities and, usually, laundry facilities with a proper table to work – rather than resorting to a laptop in bed.
- Flexibility: You can come and go as you wish and have your own schedule.
- Cost-effective: more cost-effective than alternative accommodation, especially for longer stays.
- Self-contained: serviced apartments are self-contained environments with fewer communal areas and contact-free check-ins.
Discover 5 Reasons to Book Contractor Accommodation with Propertri.
Hotels
Cardiff hotels range from luxury to budget, including the Future Inn, Cardiff Bay, the Ibis Budget, Cardiff City Centre and the Mercure Cardiff Holland House Hotel & Spa
Bed & Breakfast
Sometimes an independent bed & breakfast is a good option. You may be able to negotiate a long-stay discount with them, and the rooms will generally be a bit more homely. There are pitfalls, of course. Wifi and decent TV channels are unlikely, and some B&B owners are oddballs who may be over-friendly.
Other options
Some contractors invest in campervans and stay in them throughout the week. So, if you are comfortable with the idea of sleeping in a deserted layby, that is an option. Some people have stayed in a tent whilst on contract, but that’s not ideal if you want to be located in the centre of Cardiff.
Read our blog post about the best areas to stay in Cardiff & Great Pubs to Visit in Newport
As a contractor, travelling to different parts of South Wales, such as Cardiff and Newport, is common. While travelling to South Wales, you can use the tips discussed above to book the best contractor accommodation. Or browse through the options at Propertri to book your hassle-free accommodation.