A new managed workspace concept is opening its doors, this February, to Leeds’ most exciting creative, media, tech and digital businesses, promising to redefine the way we view work.
Department Leeds Dock, situated 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 design-led workspace is a place for work, wellbeing and social to coexist under one roof, and rewrites preconceptions of what a workspace is.
The four-floor location offers individual professionals, start-ups, and SMEs up to 200 people, space where people feel fulfilled from their working environment and businesses have the means to success.
Department Leeds Dock will offer hot desks, resident desks, private studios, premium suites, and a bespoke enterprise floor, as well as meeting rooms, breakout areas, content studios, a podcasting suite and space to host events for business and leisure.
The inventory of Department has been carefully considered to extend beyond the parameters of work, ensuring members’ wellbeing and work life balance are not just valued, but encouraged. On the ground floor, Department Store is an experiential social space with a bar, kitchen and lifestyle pop-ups, open to members and the public.
A destination to dine, drink, work, meet and connect with the creative community, which sets the workspace apart from any other. The first resident retailers are announced as Commonsense clothing and 2 Many Wines. Department Store will be celebrating its launch on Saturday 18th February with a day of brunch, lunch, dinner, DJs and masterclasses.
Department also 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. Members can fit workouts around their work commitments, while businesses can support their teams by offering membership as an added perk.
Those wishing to see inside the brand-new space and experience all that Department Leeds Dock has to offer are invited to come along to the open day on Thursday 16th February for complimentary hot desking, creative workshops and the opportunity to meet the team or tour around the available workspaces. Visitors can reserve a space via the Eventbrite listing.
Anthony Powell, managing director at Department, commented: “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. Our hospitality-led approach is at the heart of our workspace experience, with exceptional service, dedicated Community teams and member events to connect and inspire.”
The new workspace concept will also be home to Exchange, the tech scale-up support programme which is supporting the next generation of Yorkshire tech businesses, after three years of success in Manchester.
Applications are now open for the first Exchange cohort set to launch in April 2023. It will be based amongst hot desking members in Department Leeds Dock. The scheme has supported more than 450 people from over 102 tech businesses, creating over 140 jobs and raising more than £11m in funding in its three years and four cohorts. It is now setting its sights on achieving the same successes on the other side of the Pennines.
Alice Pickersgill, Exchange programme lead will also be in attendance at the Department Leeds Dock open day on Thursday 16th February, where she will host a Q&A and drop-in session for entrepreneurs interested in joining the scheme.
Leeds Dock’s district is already home to leading creative, media and digital companies, including Sky Digital, Channel 4 and Journey Further, and allows businesses to tap into the talent, infrastructure, and amenities the area offers.
If you would like to find out more about becoming a member of Department Leeds Dock or apply for the first Exchange cohort based in Leeds, please visit:www.departmentuk.com. To book a place on the Department Leeds Dock launch opening weekend, visit:https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/department-leeds-dock-launch-tickets-520398063617.