Leeds' flagship office building and a new approach to working

A fridge full of craft beers, a big screen on a roof top terrace to watch the World Cup and yoga at lunch time - this could be the most relaxed place to work in Leeds?

But as the city’s most radical approach to work space yet moves towards its first six month milestone, City Buzz finds out why the office perks are more than just a vending machine in the corner.

The Platform building at the train station has been radically transformed by property firm Bruntwood from derelict government offices into 12 floors of modern working space where businesses can take one desk or a whole floor.

Meeting Wendy Denman, the community engagement manager, with a coffee from the Nespresso machine in the communal lounge and a seat in a leather armchair overlooking the heart of the city, it feels more like being in a hotel.

Wendy Denman.

But it is this better sense of a work life balance that Bruntwood endeavour to create in a world of 24 hour working, never ending streams of social media and financial pressures.

Miss Denman said: “There is a balance and a need to adapt to the way that people work. They want to pick up the lap top and move around, they want 24 hour access to the building to fit work in around family and showers and on-site activities - all these extra things.

“We want to give businesses an inspiring environment and a high-end feel so the one man band feels comfortable having meetings with investors and representing their businesses.”

Part of her job is to organise events (there are some 350 in the diary already) for the business community operating from Platform like networking and socials (hence the North Brew beers) and also for external events to take place in the building. The recent Northern Powerhouse Skills and Education conference was held there as was a baking competition.

“We are really responsive to the customer needs and that has been fun to work with along the way. We have got room to have a screen on the roof terrace to watch the world cup and that is a nice thing to offer. We asked what beers people wanted and they said North Brew so I can imagine a pop-up bar from them in summer.

“There are lots of people working really long hours and there is a correlation between where you are and how you are so we are making it as comfortable as possible.

“Even the social events are networking and it is about meeting the rest of the people in the building and that connection is one of the most important things about having a shared workspace.”

Around 65 per cent of the building is already occupied, boosted by national law firm Shoosmiths who were among the first to sign up and have taken a full floor for its 80 Leeds based workers.

The £2m tech hub is thriving with a full floor of co-working space that is occupied by one and two person businesses and by summer the whole building is expected to be occupied with 1,000 workers.

Miss Denman added: “Bruntwood are already in Manchester and Liverpool and now Leeds and are focussed on making these great city regions greater. They will look at where there are gaps and we wanted to be at the heart of the city.“Leeds has such great potential and ambition. The 2023 bid showed that but there is lots we can work on and maximise on.”