Google opens new digital initiative at Leeds Dock

GOOGLE is working in association with hotdesking enterprise HelloWork to launch its new ‘Digital Garage’ initiative at Allied London’s Leeds Dock development.

The Digital Garage project is a multi-million pound initiative that will help 200,000 British businesses learn digital skills, and use the power of the Internet to reach more customers and grow faster.

The Leeds Garage will be the first of its kind in the UK to provide advice on digital growth and  masterclasses based on Google’s own expertise.

Small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs are also invited to participate in events organised by local partners and take advantage of one-to-one mentoring sessions which can help any business become a digital business.

The project, which begins operation on March 30th, is situated at the heart of the development, overlooking the water and located alongside the soon to be created new Restaurant Boardwalk, and My Street a new shopping and café street.

The 150,000 sq. ft. of workspace at Leeds Dock is seeing increasing demand from businesses wanting to forge a new creative cluster here.

Mike Ingall, chief executive of Allied London, who own Leeds Dock, said: “As the development begins to take shape, we will soon be able to announce new bars and restaurants, as well as a creation to be known as ‘The Union’, where street food, retail and events experiences will combine daily to create a very urban food, drink and retail offer.

“This will be unlike anything seen before in the UK and will start to link the waterfront destination with the rest of the city.

“The news that Google has chosen such an innovative and creative space at HelloWork to pioneer the UK’s first Digital Garage is very exciting for us.”

Allied London’s HelloWork platform is already making big waves in Leeds and Manchester and, as a curator of spaces, it is acting as an Activity Cultivator in these cities, with a new London offering following soon.