Leeds is the largest city in West Yorkshire, with great transport links and a thriving business community, and is the region’s foremost cultural hub. If you’re looking for a new home for your business, then a flexible office in the city could put you in the perfect position to connect with other businesses, potential clients, and new team members in the North of England.
The city itself has a population of just over 500,000, while the City of Leeds Metropolitan Borough has a population of 812,000. That’s an increase of 8.1% since 2011, higher than the average population increase of 6.6% for England overall. That means it’s a great place to be if you’re looking to grow your business, as there’s a wide talent pool to choose from in this diverse city.
In fact, according to the 2021 Census, this is one of the UK’s fastest growing cities, coming just behind London and Manchester. It’s also in the top ten cities in the UK for employment, with an annual employment increase of 3.5% in 2021. That was driven in part by the construction sector, but there’s a whole host of industries that are thriving in Leeds including technology and creative industries. There are 17 Leeds-based businesses on the North Tech Awards list of the 100-fastest growing businesses in the North of England, and the city is home to major international companies including Asda’s headquarters and First Direct Bank. So whether you’re a new or established business, you’ll be in good company with an office space here.
The city was recently named the best place in the UK to start a business by a study that looked at various factors including start-up costs, broadband quality and the talent pool in the area. What’s more, there are great transport links, with trains to London taking an average of 2 hours 26 minutes. The city also has a thriving cultural scene, and plenty of places to entertain clients with a business lunch or after-meeting drinks.
With all that in mind, could now be the perfect time to take advantage of everything the city has to offer with a brand new office?
The top business areas in Leeds
Whether you want to be right in the heart of the action, or are looking for an office outside Leeds city centre in the suburbs to help create the perfect work-life balance for your team, there are plenty of choices for every type of business. Here’s the lowdown on the key business districts you need to know about in Leeds.
The Civic Quarter
The Civic Quarter can be found in Leeds city centre, north-west of The Headrow and west of the Arena Quarter. The district has plenty of grand Victorian buildings that are key landmarks in the city, including the Magistrates and Crown Courts, the City Art Gallery and the City Library, and is home to several law firms.
Financial Quarter
Leeds’ Financial Quarter stretches from Park Row to The Headrow and Wellington Street and is, as the name implies, the home of many of the city’s biggest financial firms. Some of the global firms that can be found here include Aviva and Leeds Building Society.
Arena Quarter
Home to the Leeds Arena, you’ll find a range of businesses in this city centre district as well as residential properties and retailers. It’s also sometimes called the Skyscraper District, as it’s home to two of the city’s tallest buildings, Sky Plaza and Opal 3. Yorkshire Bank is headquartered here, along with a range of creative, tech and media businesses.
Leeds Dock
Leeds Dock is located by the River Aire and is Leeds’ most popular shopping destination. This centre is home to a range of creative and technology businesses, including Sky’s Digital and Technology Services Campus, where 650 staff work from three buildings.
Regus offices in Leeds
You can find the following Regus offices to rent in leeds:
● Park Row
Business travel in Leeds
As one of the key transport hubs in the North of England, Leeds is the perfect place for transport around Yorkshire, to neighbouring towns and cities like Bradford, as well as further afield to Manchester, Edinburgh and London.
Leeds train station is one of the busiest in the UK, with nearly six million passengers travelling through every year. There are regular trains to both London (less than 2.5 hours) and Edinburgh (less than 3.5 hours), so there’s no need to miss out on in-person meetings with clients and customers.
For trips further afield, Leeds Bradford Airport is just seven miles from the city centre and serves destinations across the UK and Europe. The location is also perfect for easy access to several major roads, including the M1 and A1 south to the capital and the East Midlands, the A1 north to Newcastle and the M62 heading west to Manchester and Liverpool.
Leeds’ entertainment
With plenty to see and do, Leeds, is the perfect place to base your business. It’s one of the cultural hubs of Northern England, with four major theatres, a leading arena and lots of independent venues for music, performance, dance and more.
There are also myriad places to take your clients out for a business lunch, whether you want to impress them with a meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant, or grab something quick and easy from an independent cafe or stall in Kirkgate Market.
How much is it to rent office space in Leeds?
A private office space in Leeds could be yours from as little as £159 per person per month. There are lots of great options for office rentals in Leeds, whether you’re looking for a workspace in a contemporary, purpose-built business park on the outskirts of the city, or want access to a flexible coworking space in LS1 where you can meet like-minded professionals.
How to find an office space in Leeds
There’s a great choice of offices to rent in Leeds. So how do you choose the perfect one for you? There are a few factors you should take into consideration when deciding where to base your business.
Location
Where do you need your office to be based? Do you want to be right in the centre of the city, surrounded by other thriving businesses? Is it important that you’re near the train station so you can easily get to client meetings in other cities? Or do you want somewhere closer to the suburbs so you can establish a better work-life balance for your whole team? Whatever you decide, we’ve got a great portfolio of office rentals in Leeds to choose from.
Facilities
What facilities do you need your office to have included? If you opt for a serviced office, you’ll get a furnished, private office that’s set up and ready to go - with facilities such as meeting rooms, coworking spaces and all the amenities a business needs. That’s especially important if you have a hybrid team, ensuring you can get seamless remote communication from day one.
Size
You might not be ready to expand your workforce yet, especially if you’re a start-up, but what about in the future? If you need space to grow your team, you might want to consider choosing an office space that can accommodate that now, rather than moving again in the future. Alternatively, consider a coworking space where you can easily add on desks, or new team members can drop in and hot desk.
Interesting facts about Leeds
● Once you’ve got your office set up, these fun facts are a great conversation starter when clients come to visit you in your new space.
● The city is home to the third highest number of ‘scale-ups’ (fast-growing firms) in the UK.
● Freeserve, the world’s first billion-pound internet provider, was founded here.
● One of the UK’s most recognisable brands, Marks & Spencer, was founded in Kirkgate Market in 1884.
● The technology sector accounts for 27% of the city’s high-growth companies.
● Over the next ten years, the city’s economy is set to grow by 21%.
Why you should rent an office space in Leeds
As one of the fastest-growing centres of employment in the country, Leeds is the perfect place to base your business. When you have a workspace here, you’ll be surrounded by both established and growing companies, meaning there are plenty of other like-minded business owners to network with - as well as a fantastic talent pool when it comes to growing your business. What’s more, the city has great transport links both within the city and further afield. So whatever type of business you have, you’re sure to find Leeds office space that suits your needs.
