The major redevelopment of Leeds Media Centre has been successfully completed, creating extra business space and new opportunities for entrepreneurs in the city
Unity Enterprise, a not-for-profit subsidiary of housing association Unity Homes and Enterprise, delivered a £1.8m scheme in partnership with Leeds City Council.
The project was part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund. The funding includes support for professional advisers to mentor young businesses in the creative, digital, and media sectors.
The project received up to £929k of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.
Leeds Media Centre is a diverse space for business
Leeds Media Centre is a hub for independent media and music companies, education providers, and community projects.
The centre offers managed workspace for media-related projects, conferencing facilities, and media training and education facilities, such as recording studios and post-production for music and video.
Construction on the Leeds Media Centre began last autumn. Scaffolding was erected around the building in Chapeltown to install a new roof and windows.
Extensive internal work has also been completed to remodel the ground and lower ground floors, creating 12 new business units and a specially designed business hub with modern virtual facilities.
“It is incredibly satisfying to see the building phase of this transformational project completed on time and on budget. Anticipation is already building around what the new facilities will achieve for enterprise in Chapeltown and beyond,” said Cedric Boston, Unity Homes and Enterprise chief.
“As a housing association rooted in the local community, Unity is passionately committed to helping individuals improve their life prospects by setting up their own business, finding employment or accessing training and education,” he added.
Celebrations scheduled for later in the year
The refurbishment of Leeds Media Centre will be celebrated with a community gathering in September. Another event will be held in October to celebrate the new business hub.
Leeds Media Centre is owned by Leeds City Council and managed by Unity Enterprise on a long-term lease.
“We are grateful to our key partners, Leeds City Council and the European Regional Development Fund, for working closely with us to get this innovative project across the line,” Adrian Green, Unity Enterprise manager.
“Having been onsite almost every day since building work commenced, I feel greatly inspired by the potential that Leeds Media Centre now offers to aspiring entrepreneurs to develop themselves and their business ideas,” he continued.
