International law firm sets sights on Leeds as a platform for 'billion dollar' startup

Bruntwood’s Platform has welcomed another international company, underlining the city’s burgeoning inward investment appeal.

Described as a ‘billion-dollar startup’, Reed Smith Global Solutions has taken around 5k sq ft and is initially creating 30 new posts, with the ambition to expand its Leeds operation to as many as 100 staff.

Other companies that have chosen to enter the city, taking space at Platform, include Rradar, a legal advice and business solutions company which expanded into Leeds from Hull; and Julius Baer, a Swiss-headquartered private bank, extending its operations outside London.

Platform’s tech incubator has welcomed, among others, global sports analysis company, Hudl; digital agency Cyber-Duck and identity and access management systems integrator, IC Consult.

Roger Marsh OBE, chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, said: “Platform has been a real success story and very attractive to new investors we have worked with, particularly global law firm Reed Smith and US digital sports software company Hudl.

“Our region benefits from excellent connectivity to the rest of the country. It is two hours from London by train and Platform couldn’t be closer to the train station. Its convenience is attractive for expanding businesses.

“Over 100,000 people work in the digital sector in our region, and it keeps growing. We’re keen to accelerate this growth which is why we’ve launched the Digital Inward Investment Fund to attract new businesses here, whilst supporting existing firms with initiatives through our growth service.”

Platform is now home to a total of 82 companies, 73 of which are in are based in the tech incubator, taking the building to 95 per cent let or under offer since its launch just 10 months ago.

The organisation responsible for inward investment, Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership has acknowledged that Platform is having an impact in attracting new names to the city.

Tamara Box, managing partner of Europe and Middle East at Reed Smith said that there are multiple factors that brought the company to the city: “Leeds has all the right ingredients for a startup to be successful.

“There’s a progressive culture, an ecosystem of professional, financial and peer-related support, as well as a deep talent pool and leading universities and great transport connectivity.

“This culture is encapsulated in Platform which has very quickly established itself as a prestigious location because of its high quality workspace and its collaborative, supportive ethos, making it the perfect fit for what we want to achieve.”