Leeds startups set for boost in business space

Small businesses and startups around Wortley, Leeds, will be given the opportunity to secure their first commercial premises, after the creation of six new purpose-built units.

The offices at Bizspace’s Photon House business centre on Percy Street are designed specifically with new companies in mind.

The development comes after the success of the centre’s startup hub, featuring 16 small offices, which opened at the end of 2014.

Hayley Waudby, the business centre manager at Photon House, said that the work was in response to increasing demand from start-ups in the area, needing an affordable sized office.

She commented: “Work is currently underway for our new spaces and we’ve pre-let three of those already.

“This area of Leeds is becoming a hot-bed for new business talent and by converting this large unit into six smaller ones, we’ll be able to allow more entrepreneurs to get their companies off the ground in style.”

The offices range from 140 to 626 sq ft. A new CCTV system will be installed and kitchen refurbishment undertaken as part of the project.

One of the companies to move into the startup hub is Saladmaster, run by Marilou Cortez, who opened her unit at the business centre in April 2015 and has now agreed to take on a second office.

Marilou, who owns the Saladmaster dealership, which trains sales representatives in how to use the company’s range of healthy cookware products, said: “We will use the office for all our admin, and our larger unit for training.

“The nature of the business is cooking, so we needed somewhere that was flexible enough to accommodate that. This is perfect as we have parking space, a door where people can access our unit directly, and 24-hour secure access.”

Emma Long, Bizspace’s sales and marketing director, added: “It’s fantastic to see so many exciting new companies taking residence alongside the larger, well established businesses at Photon House. If any companies or pre-start-ups would like any advice have any questions about moving into their first premises, we’ll be happy to explain the process and show them around.”

Bizspace’s Photon House is currently home to a mix of industries including a housing charity, training provider, video production firm, utility company and several startup businesses.

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