Creative sector flocks to Tower Works

THE redeveloped historic Tower Works development has reached 80% capacity following a flurry of lettings activity.

The site was launched last July as a home to the creative industries and has enjoyed rapid take-up of its services and office space.

The development is now home to 17 start-up and SME companies which have moved into a range of spaces designed specifically for growing businesses from one to 30 people.

The new lettings have all signed to flexible letting terms, a key component in attracting fast-growth businesses in the current climate.

New tenants include BAFTA-nominated computer game software developer and publisher, Double Eleven, which was founded by Lee Hutchinson and Matt Shepcar in 2010.

The digital duo chose Tower Works as the location for the company’s second office, following the continued expansion of its team, which has its headquarters in Middlesbrough.

Double Eleven’s 45-strong team, which includes seven members of staff at the new Leeds office, works exclusively for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.

Digital design agency Kaeto, which launched in January 2012, and specialises in e-commerce websites; Sum, a consultancy company which offers project delivery, cost management and dispute resolution services to clients across a variety of sectors including arts, culture and heritage, luxury fashion, education, and sports and leisure, relocated their 13-strong team to the development; and Sodium, a film-making and photography company run by Rob Booker and Phil Barber, are due to move into their new office space next month.

Other occupiers include Ben Donnelly, who runs the Leeds satellite office of Betgenius, a London-based provider of data-driven software for the global sports betting and lottery sectors, and Made by Tall, an online marketing company run by Guy Utley

Other creative tenants include IT services company Octari, social media consultancy Brilliant Social Media, and graphic design company The Archipelago.

The new lettings were facilitated by Creative Space Management (CSM) which is sole commercial lettings agent for Tower Works, extending its role at the Round Foundry Media Centre, and is commercial agent for Igloo Regeneration’s Round Foundry and Marshall’s Mill developments.

CSM is also the managing agent of Tower Works on behalf of owner, Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

CSM’s Paul Taylor said: “This cluster of new lettings and the success of the scheme in just seven months is testament to the fact that the proposition we’ve created here is working. 

“The flexible leases we offer are ideal for start-up companies and SMEs, operating in changeable market conditions.

“The original, heritage architecture combined with modern, hi-tech facilities, have proved a winning combination, and this is boosted by its convenient location within Holbeck Urban Village which, once again, is a thriving creative community and the heart of a movement which is spreading across the city.”

Tower Works is funded by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) with additional funding support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) which has invested £1.9m into the project.

Tower Works has just three offices remaining, ranging between 200 and 1,500 sq ft.

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