Member Article

Citu’s Climate Innovation District to create 100 Leeds jobs

Leeds-based sustainable urban developer Citu has launched a recruitment drive to fill 100 new jobs as it ploughs ahead with the construction of its Climate Innovation District.

Set to open next year, the District - based on Leeds’ South Bank - will stand as the largest sustainable development in the UK.

The developer, which currently employs 70 staff, is more than doubling its workforce, recruiting across a range of sectors including manufacturing, construction, digital and sales.

This includes a major opportunity in the role of Operations Director who will oversee every element in the manufacture and construction of its revolutionary timber-framed ‘Citu Home’ which will be produced in its state-of-the-art on-site factory, Citu Works, with a further 10 jobs in the factory operation.

As part of the company’s ongoing drive to improve efficiency and quality within the construction sector, instead of contracting external suppliers the developer is recruiting seven ‘Citu Squads’.

Each squad will be made up of a team of eight skilled workers including plumbers, electricians, joiners and timber-frame specialists who will be permanent employees of Citu. There will also be twelve apprentice positions recruited in partnership with the Leeds College of Building.

The teams will work together day-to-day on the Climate Innovation District as well Citu’s award-winning Little Kelham scheme in Sheffield, and on future ground-breaking schemes across the company’s growing portfolio.

The Climate Innovation District will include 515 new one, two, three and four bed low carbon homes alongside leisure, offices and climate-resilient public realm in the heart of the city’s landmark South Bank Leeds regeneration project.

Chris Thompson, Managing Director of Citu, explained: “[The project] offers a major opportunity for those working in the housing industry to be a part of creating the UK’s first zero-carbon neighbourhood.

“Every employee will benefit from ongoing training and development, learning new skillsets in low-carbon construction.

“It’s a sector which is set to grow over the coming years if you consider the fact that the UK’s buildings account for almost half of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, and the Government is looking to reduce emissions by 80% by 2050.”

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