New £2m tech hub set to be launched in Leeds city centre

A new, £2m technology hub is set to open in Leeds later this year, delivering a major boost for the sector in the city region.

Bruntwood, the largest regional property developer and operator in the UK, has secured a £2m funding award from Leeds City Council to open a Tech Hub aimed at digital startup companies and tech entrepreneurs.

The Leeds Tech Hub will be located within Platform, which is Bruntwood’s new flagship building situated at the city’s mainline rail station.

More than 1,000 new jobs will be supported by the Leeds Tech Hub, which will be operated in close partnership with the city council and organisations across the full spectrum of the city’s digital community.

In addition, the Tech Hub will provide an incubation environment of fully fitted-out space with one GigaByte connectivity available.

Facilities will include an independent cafe-bar, event, demonstration and meeting spaces to support an events programme and a variety of flexible workspaces combining hot desking, co-working and studio suites.

The Tech Hub will also have access to a roof garden and terrace with views of the city and surrounding areas.

Chris Oglesby, chief executive of Bruntwood, said: “We are delighted to have been chosen to be Leeds City Council’s partner to deliver this exciting and strategically important new Tech Hub for the city region.

“Leeds has a vibrant and fast-growing digital economy, which will be enhanced by the Tech Hub, offering a truly supportive environment for digital entrepreneurs to thrive by accessing high quality business growth support and an extensive network of funding partners.

“We have a long-term commitment to Leeds, which is one of the cities driving the Northern Powerhouse economy forward.

“The fact that we will also be operating the Manchester Tech Hub this year means that we can drive meaningful connectivity and valuable collaborations between these two Northern tech clusters for mutual benefit.”

Mr Oglesby added: “We are committed to working in collaboration with partners across the Leeds tech ecosystem. Our consortium has considerable experience in successfully growing tech businesses and job creation, securing inward investment, leveraging the local knowledge and talent base and attracting leading accelerator brands.

“We believe delivering a Tech Hub to such a high specification in a prime city centre location, with its connections to the city region, across the North and direct into Kings Cross and London’s tech community will provide a beacon for the City’s aspirations in this sector.”

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