Creative workspace concept aims to turn convention on its head
A new managed workspace concept is opening its doors in Leeds this month to creative, media, tech and digital businesses.
Department Leeds Dock, in the former waterside casino, has been transformed into a community for modern businesses that need more flexibility, amenity and experiences from their working environment.
The four-floor location offers space for individual professionals, start-ups, and SMEs of up to 200 people.
It features hot desks, resident desks, private studios, premium suites, and an enterprise floor, as well as meeting rooms, breakout areas, content studios, a podcasting suite and space to host events for business and leisure.
On the ground floor there is social space with a bar, kitchen and lifestyle pop-ups, open to members and the public.
The first resident retailers have been confirmed as Commonsense clothing and 2 Many Wines. Department Store will be celebrating its launch on 18 February with a day of brunch, lunch, dinner, DJs and masterclasses.
Department offers members access to Condition, a premium fitness and wellbeing concept based in the Leeds Dock district, offering training studios, multidisciplined classes and personal training for individuals and groups.
Anthony Powell, managing director at Department, said: “The way we work has changed considerably over recent years and that means our workspaces should too.
“Life is too short to be unfulfilled by what we spend the majority of our waking hours doing. So, we have created a destination for people to feel enjoyment from their place of work and where businesses can thrive.
“We bring human nature to business and with that an understanding of how modern businesses and their teams work.
“Leeds is home to many exciting businesses in the creative, media and tech industries, and we want to welcome them to Department Leeds Dock to join the likes of We Love This, Bobble Digital, Living Walls and Glean who we’re delighted to have join our community already.”
The new workspace concept will also be home to Exchange, a tech scale-up support programme which is supporting the next generation of Yorkshire tech businesses.
Applications are open for the first Exchange cohort set to launch in April 2023.
Alice Pickersgill, Exchange programme lead will be in attendance at a Department Leeds Dock open day on Thursday 16 February, where she will host a drop-in session for entrepreneurs interested in joining the scheme.
The open day will include complimentary hot desking, creative workshops and an opportunity to meet the team. Visitors can reserve a space via the Eventbrite listing.
