Member Article

Former Leeds belt factory will be 2nd site for Munro House workspace entrepreneurs

Leeds creative workspace Duke Studios, based at Munro House, has revealed that it is opening a second creative workspace in a former belt factory as early as January 2015.

Duke Studios has grown 45% year-on-year and Duke Studios in Munro House has a combined turnover of £1.75 million.

The 10,000 sq ft space is to be named Duke Studios Sheaf Street will house a suite of meeting rooms plus a large dedicated events space. Several new jobs will be created.

Duke Studios began three years ago as the brainchild of entrepreneurs Laura Wellington and James Abbott-Donnelly.

The business has grown at a steady rate and they now have two employees full time in Clint Sheldon and Rosanna Martlew.

Their current home, some 6,500 sq ft in the self proclaimed Arts Quarter of Leeds and Munro House soon filled up. Offering a mix of coworking, single desk rental and a mix of different sized studio offices.

Duke Studios now has over forty-five businesses ranging from digital agencies to architects, copywriters and even an acting agency, which has acquainted in a combined turnover of over £1.75 million.

Laura said: “A second site will mean we can offer a variety of sizes of studios and facilitate business growth in the city.

“Sheaf St will become the next stage for companies outgrowing the current space as well as attracting larger companies.

“Over the last three years at Munro House and looking at the market we feel that there is a need to still network and look after growing companies before they then move on to take their own spaces across the City.

“The time where companies are growing up to 15 people can be a fragile one and we want to ensure that the companies will grow in a sustainable manner to ensure that they then go on to become large thriving companies that will contribute to the growth of the economy in the City of Leeds as well as adding more kudos and vibrancy to the sector.”

A spokesperson for Duke’s landlord King & Co said: “King & Co are delighted to be assisting Duke Studios with their expansion. We share a common vision of a changing market place.

“Light-footed, tech savvy industries are growing at a rapid pace. The practical requirements of a physical base are now secondary to a customer that prioritises inspirational space and a comprehensive service.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .