White Rose Office Park 2018 Round-Up

As the sun sets on 2018, Leeds has seen yet another year of substantial growth in the business sector. As the UK’s fastest growing city, Leeds’ economy is forecast to grow by 21% over the next decade, and the “Capital of the North” boasts over 32,000 VAT-registered businesses, well above the national average. 2018 saw many highlights for Leeds and White Rose Office Park, and we have put together some of our favourite moments over the year.

January – White Rose Office Park Turns 30

We started 2018 by celebrating 30 years of operation at White Rose Office Park. Opened by HRH Princess Royal, the previously named Arlington Business Centre officially opened for business. Ever since, our site has become a northern hub for some of the biggest companies in the UK, including O2 and HSBC.

In 2001, we changed our name to White Rose Office Park along with a cracking rebrand led by owner David Aspin. Since then, we have been proud to be a frontrunner in showcasing just how powerful Leeds is as a business hub in the UK, continuing to grow and be successful alongside our fantastic city. For further information, read our 30th-anniversary blog.

March – MIPIM 2018

In March, Leeds City Region took to the biggest stage to showcase the best of our best businesses at MIPIM 2018. Travelling over to Cannes for the annual three-day event, the City Region’s presentation did not disappoint. As the Yorkshire Tea band played loud and proud, some of the world’s biggest investors, authorities and professionals got a first-hand glimpse at what Leeds is all about.

Discussions also took place about how Leeds City Region and London can work together to promote growth for other cities like Bradford and Wakefield in the future.

Leeds City Region used the event to project just how promising the future is for the area, looking to compete with the biggest cities in the world. For more information on MIPIM, read our 2018 MIPIM review.

April – White Rose Office Park Becomes Fully Let

We were delighted to announce in April this year that global digital sports content and media company Perform Media would be taking up the grade A 40,000 sq ft office space at White Rose Office Park as their global HQ. It was also revealed that this meant White Rose Office Park is now fully occupied.

With our site now full of fantastic global businesses, our focus continues to be promoting the area of urban regeneration known as ICON (International Centre of New Technology), an area covering 74 acres, including White Rose Office Park.

We look forward to continuing to provide excellent office space for some of the biggest global companies. For more information, read our blog about Perform Media’s move.

October – Channel 4 Moves to Leeds

Leeds took centre stage regarding digital business developments at the end of October, as it was announced that the city would be the new home of Channel 4’s head office, as the big name broadcaster looked to move away from London.

Leeds beat campaigns from major UK cities like Manchester, Birmingham and Sheffield to secure the broadcaster, with approximately 300 of its 800 staff making the move up north next year, with many critical decisions set to be made outside of the capital.

The move highlights just how strong Leeds is as a digital hub, and suggests that the city can become a figurehead for digital business in the north, attracting more businesses away from London.

The future of Channel 4 in Leeds looks bright, with a big name broadcaster looking to develop its stature matched with a city looking to achieve the same thing. For more information, read our blog welcoming Channel 4 to Leeds.

November – Our Onsite Intranet Website Launch

In November, we launched our new and improved intranet website, offering White Rose Office Park employees exclusive on-site discounts, benefits, and updated on-site amenities. It is now easier than ever for workers to engage with the platform, with regular updates being posted online and directly via email. Members can also partake in competitions that run throughout the year.

2018 has been a fantastic year for both Leeds and White Rose Office Park. We can reflect on successes and take our development through to achieve even more next year. We are incredibly excited about what 2019 holds for our brilliant city.