Equifax set to take further 15,373 sq ft at Wellington Place

Consumer and insights business Equifax is expanding its Leeds operation by taking an additional 15,373 sq ft of office space at Wellington Place.

Equifax already occupies space in 6 Wellington Place and the latest expansion by the firm take will see it take additional space at 1 Wellington Place. The expansion is part of the firm’s wider European growth strategy, which will see its Leeds operation positioned as a key site for its IT, data and analytics operations.

The firm said that in addition to accommodating its growing team, the extra space would allow for a more fluid approach to the working environment, helping the firm to adapt to changing workplace trends by facilitating a greater level of flexibility, which in turn will aid in the attraction and retention of the next generation of tech sector employees.

John Garside, HR Director for Europe at Equifax, said: “It was the best choice for us to remain at Wellington Place when it came to expanding our Leeds operation. Being part of one of the city’s leading business hubs, allows us to attract a diverse talent pool and recruit the best that the city and surrounding area has to offer.”

Wellington Place is being built by developer and manager MEPC and is funded through a joint venture between Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and Hermes Real Estate.

James Dipple, Chief Executive of MEPC, added: “We’re delighted that Equifax have chosen to expand its offices here at Wellington Place. They are an incredibly important part of the community here and we’re pleased that our wider development initiatives have played an important role in that. We endeavor to create a harmonious working environment where our customers can grow, and it’s great to see that we are succeeding in this area.

“We hope that Equifax’s expansion continues to bring the company success, as they continue to grow with the development.”

Once completed, Wellington Place will boast a total of 1.5 million sq ft of commercial, retail, leisure and residential space. Last month, international accounting and advisory firm Mazars announced it is to move into the newly built 3 Wellington Place in Leeds later this year. Investec Wealth & Investment’s is also set to move to 3 Wellington Place, taking 20,500 sq ft of space.

HMRC and NHS Digital have also secured a 380,000 sq ft pre-let at Wellington Place.

Wellington Place has a number of blue chip customers occupying its already completed buildings: 1, 2, 5, 6 and 10 Wellington Place, including: Allianz, Equifax, Shulmans LLP, Sky Betting and Gaming, Irwin Mitchell and Willis Towers Watson.

4 Wellington Place has also received full planning consent and is due for completion in 2020.