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Location Leeds: a better environment for business

Essential guide to the Leeds commercial property market, showcasing the city's premier business locations. Features out of town and city centre offices, retail and industrial premises. Published in association with Yorkshire Business Insider.

Leeds:The Facts
the key facts

Statistical overview of the economy of Leeds and the city region including information on key sectors, workforce, population and output.

Business in Leeds:
the key facts

Detailed information on the Leeds economy covering everything from financial services to the media, workforce and skills also providing an overview of the Leeds lifestyle including education, leisure and healthcare.

Holbeck Urban Village: a creative location for business

A fast developing location for creative and digital media businesses close to the centre of Leeds. Includes case studies of companies based in the area.

Government departments and agencies

Detailed report is available setting out the advantages of Leeds as a location for government departments and agencies. Includes case studies.

Shared Service Centres

Detailed report on advantages of Leeds as a location for shared services centres. Includes studies of shared services operations based in Leeds.

Making it in Leeds

Detailed report on the manufacturing sector in Leeds, including case studies on some of the city's leading manufacturers.

Conference Leeds

Guide to 290 venues for conferences, seminars and training events in Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, Wakefield and Pennine Yorkshire.

Business in Leeds

Why is Business in Leeds Booming?

Business in Leeds is thriving. The city has one of the UK’s fastest growing economies and Leeds has been identified as one of five UK cities best placed to ride out the effects of public sector cuts and enjoy a private sector recovery.

There are a number of reasons for this and why the European Cities Monitor has Leeds ranking strongly for a variety of reasons; most notably value for money when it comes to office space, access to markets, low cost and availability of qualified staff.

So why else is business in Leeds booming?

A Strong Foundation for Businesses in Leeds

Leeds is the UK’s largest centre for financial and business services outside of London with 30 international and national banks and just as many call centres serving some of the most established names.

This foundation has been a large factor in attracting and retaining business in Leeds. It also makes the city an attractive option for smaller finance and business services companies. The financial and business services sector accounts for approximately 25% of the city’s GPD and employment.

A Pool of Qualified Individuals to Choose from

In 2010, according to the European Cities Monitor, Leeds improved its offering of qualified staff. Some of this can be credited to having two major universities and also one of the largest teaching hospitals in Europe.

But the city’s thriving economy and employment opportunities also play an important role in attracting talented people to live, work and do business in Leeds.

It means any businesses relocating to or starting out in Leeds will be able to hire the right kind of staff.

Office Space Aplenty in Leeds

The selection of office space available is another reason that business in Leeds is booming. As well as having the best value for money office space in Europe there is also a wealth of choice.

New and refurbished city centre office developments mean there is a good supply of high specification office accommodation available from serviced offices  suitable for SMEs and start up companies through to large floor plate offices suitable for large corporate organisations.

As well as this there are business parks away from the centre combining a low cost alternative with all the benefits Leeds offers as a major business centre.

These combined factors are helping to grow business in Leeds and make it the North’s leading business centre.