Platform for success as new building opens
LEEDS CITY centre’s new Platform development, which includes an ‘incubator’ for fastgrowing technology firms, was officially opened last night.
The first tech business to sign a deal to move into the site was digital design house LightStart.
The company is taking workspace in the tech hub which sits over three floors of the 13-storey building, and offers a collaborative environment for tech start-ups and SMEs (smalland-medium-sized enterprises)
LightStart’s new base at Platform is providing workspace and meeting space for its team. LightStart specialises in building digital products including mobile apps and web apps.
It has grown its client base significantly since it was founded 15 months ago.
Company founder, Simon Edwards, commented: “We are very excited to be the first tech business moving into Platform. There is a lot of buzz about the building throughout the city and it will be a great place from which to grow the business.
“We are looking forward to meeting and working with the other residents in what will be one of the most vibrant business communities in Leeds”.
LightStart also offers a programme of free digital networking events, which it plans to continue at Platform.
Mr Edwards added: “We are working with the Bruntwood team to put together an updated and extended events calendar which will see our signature events, such as the Leeds Digital Coffee Morning, relocating to the amazing spaces available at Platform.”
Craig Burrow, director of Bruntwood Leeds, said: “We are thrilled to welcome LightStart to Platform – a company perfectly suited to our tech hub, which has been purposely-designed to inspire creative thinking and collaborative working.
“Leeds’s tech and digital sector is expanding at a rapid rate and with the city’s digital economy showing no signs of slowing, we look forward to exciting times ahead with Platform at the centre of activity.”
Platform is a 120,000 sq ft, 13-storey Grade A office workspace.
The tech hub will provide businesses with access to finance and business support through Bruntwood’s partnerships. A proportion of desks will be discounted to support starting and growing businesses.
Simon Edwards, founder of LightStart We are very excited to be the first tech business moving into Platform.