Round Foundry Media Centre’s new sister site, Tower Works, is now very close to completion. The historic Leeds landmark has been transformed into 18,000 sq ft of contemporary office space available on one year leases.

Designed for growing companies from 1 to 30 people the development is already 50 per cent let and is proving popular with creative technology companies from across the region keen to locate in one of Leeds’s most important redevelopment schemes close to the creative and technology community clustered to the south of the city centre.

New tenants include commercial photographer Tracey Welch, who is moving from her previous base in Sheffield and ‘Brightbox’, a cloud technology service which is relocating its 10-strong staff from Leeds Media Centre, bringing with it a global client base which includes Channel 4, Orange, ASDA, MTV and Amnesty International. ‘Re-Form Landscape’, specialists in landscape architecture and urban design already based in the city centre, will also join the new Tower Works community alongside branding and packaging designers ‘Robot Food’, which is relocating from Harrogate to take up two feature offices within the scheme. Tower Works also will be home to ‘NW Architects’, a four-strong team which specialises in retail, energy from waste (recycling plants), housing and student accommodation.

The creative companies moving into Tower Works compliment the burgeoning digital and new media industries that have grown up around the Round Foundry Media Centre, located in the Round Foundry at the heart of Holbeck Urban Village. Two further companies are expanding from the Round Foundry Media Centre into spaces at Tower Works: a global IT support company, ‘Olympic Support’, with offices in over 14 different countries and ‘Hodgetastic’ a technology events company and the brainchild of entrepreneur Dom Hodgson who launched ‘ClicknMix’ a new online confectionary retailer, in September 2011. Tower Works will be home to Dom’s first physical sweet shop as well as the entrepreneur’s third online company, advertising business ‘EmberAds’.

On completion in March 2012, Phase One of the Tower Works development will help to create an important link between Round Foundry and the award-winning residential and commercial waterfront location Granary Wharf, where the new southern entrance to Leeds Train Station will open in 2014.

Creative Space Management is acting as managing agent and sole commercial lettings agent for Tower Works, extending its role at the Round Foundry Media Centre and as commercial agent for Igloo Regeneration’s Round Foundry and Marshall’s Mill developments and ISIS Waterside Regeneration's Granary Wharf scheme. The company has a wealth of experience managing a number of multi-occupancy office developments across the UK which have a reputation for attracting digital and new media companies, including Electric Works in Sheffield and the newly opened Toffee Factory in Newcastle.

Paul Taylor from Creative Space Management commented “The response so far has exceeded our expectations in some tough market conditions and we’re pleased that so many tenants will be moving into the development as soon as it opens in May.  We predicted a strong demand for accommodation from companies that have outgrown their offices and who require flexible, attractive facilities and Tower Works offers this, but encased in a building full of historic charm. I urge any businesses looking for an office which combines original architectural character with modern, hi-tech facilities, to act now as we are seeing high demand.”

The redevelopment is designed by Leeds-based Bauman Lyons Architects as an exemplar in sustainable urban development. Construction and restoration of the listed site has been commissioned from Ilkley-based Quarmby Construction Company Ltd. Tower Works is funded and managed by Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) with additional funding support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) which has invested £1.9m into the project.
 

We’re not surprised but love to be reminded occasionally that our clients really do operate worldwide. Take Round Foundry Media Centre based Publish Interactive, for example - 17 of the world's top 25 financial firms and 24 of the world's leading 25 pharmaceutical companies access reports using their software.

The company, which provides e-publishing solutions for market research publishers, has just picked up a ‘Best Innovation’ award from the Best Business Awards. They’ve also recently launched a new version of their software to meet an increase in demand as a result of the recession. Existing users are being upgraded and the company hopes the launch will also attract additional customers.

Founder and CEO of the company, Daniel Lord, always aspired to have a successful, international business. He worked as a technology industry analyst until 2003, which gave him the expertise needed to build his software for research publishers. Daniel’s confident and determined approach to life has been with him from a young age - at 16, he wrote to Stephen Hawking after believing he had discovered flaws in 'A Brief History of Time'. He hadn't, as the professor kindly pointed out.

Round Foundry Media Centre is a natural homing ground for a recruitment agency specialising in the creative sector and we welcome Type Agency who have recently made their nest here. The new agency is led by director Kelly Davison, formerly with Purple Consultancy, who has set up the new business with Jamie Talbot, co-owner of construction recruitment firm Caval. Type Agency already will be known to several businesses in the area as the team has over 25 years’ combined recruitment experience and has worked with some of the leading regional agencies including Fuse 8 and Gratterpalm.

In their own words, as we couldn’t put it better ourselves:

“We know that the next account executive or junior designer could be the next client services director or creative director so confidentiality and discretion are key qualities of all our people. Most people like what they see and have used us in some fashion to help grow their business, team or enhance their careers. Whether you are looking for a new role, a new project, a new employee, a complete career change, a friendly chat or just want a nosy into the market, our Type doors are always open.”

When they find out how friendly/nosy their neighbours are, Type may need to close the door once in a while!