Office Space to let Leeds

Number 2 Wellington Place is now fully let following an additional 4,190 sq ft expansion by global professional services firm, Towers Watson.

Towers Watson located to Number 1 Wellington Place in 2001 and has over this time has doubled employee numbers to 170, reflecting its strong business performance.

The firm has now taken the additional space at Number 2 Wellington Place, a 120,000 sq ft, seven-storey Grade A office building. Towers Watson now occupies 19,750 sq ft in total at Wellington Place.

Andrew Barlow, Managing Director at MEPC, said: “We are delighted to announce that Number 2 Wellington Place is now fully let. This is an exciting milestone for us, and a great demonstration of the continued confidence in Leeds. Towers Watson is an important customer of MEPC and we look forward to continuing our support for them.”

Slavica Sedlan, head of Towers Watson in Leeds said: “We’re very happy to be taking extra space at Wellington Place. Our location at Wellington Place means that we can attract the top talent in our industry, as this is a great environment to work in. Wellington Place is a lively and vibrant business community, one that ideally reflects our young and dynamic team while at the same time maintains the professionalism that our clients are looking for.

“As a global organisation we need office space that reflects our brand and is representative of the standards we set in our work, and the quality of Wellington Place reflects those very well.”

The letting follows the recent announcement of an additional 10,000 sq ft letting by BSkyB, who have added to their existing 14,500 sq ft at Wellington Place.

BSkyB and Towers Watson are joined by RSM Tenon, Irwin Mitchell and Regus at Number 2 Wellington Place.

Office Space to let Leeds

To see what Slavica Sedlan said about Wellington Place click here

Offices To Let / Rent Leeds

Are you looking for offices to let or rent in the Leeds area? Are you looking for high quality office space with the flexibility to meet your companies future needs?
If so then here at Wellington Place we're confident we can help you secure the accommodation you need to help you concentrate on growing your business.

MEPC Wellington Place Secures 10,000 sq ft Letting with BSkyB

MEPC, developers of the Wellington Place business quarter, has secured a 10,000 sq ft expansion for the Sky Betting and Gaming division of BSkyB.

The letting follows a strong year for Sky Betting and Gaming which has seen a 30% increase in revenue since locating to Number 2 Wellington Place one year ago.

Sky Betting and Gaming also estimates that both employee productivity and retention has increased since locating to Wellington Place.

Richard Flint, Managing Director at Sky Betting and Gaming, said: “We have now passed our first anniversary of being located at Wellington Place and already the impact of the sense of space, quality of accommodation and central location has had a noticeable impact on employee wellbeing. Over this period, our revenue has shot up 30% and we very much consider that the positive environment here at Wellington Place has been a strong contributing factor.”

Sky Betting and Gaming currently occupies 14,500 sq ft at Number 2, Wellington Place – a seven-storey, Grade A office building in Leeds city centre.

MEPC has recently invested £1m to turn the Wellington Place site into an award-winning community hub with urban gardens and five-a-side football pitch to create a unique, dynamic business estate with a strong focus on sustainability.

Andrew Barlow, Managing Director at MEPC, said: “We are delighted that Sky Betting and Gaming has decided to take on additional space and hope that the next 12 months and beyond will be equally productive and profitable. Despite the climate, there is clearly confidence in Leeds.

“From our British Military Fitness sessions to five-a-Side football, allotments and free bike hire - we invest a great deal in ensuring that the Wellington Place environment is one which supports employee productivity. It is clear that a wide variety of businesses can see a direct benefit to their bottom line by investing in quality office accommodation which forms part of a vibrant business community.”

Eamon Fox, associate director at DTZ who with Jones Lang LaSalle acted for MEPC, said: “The fact that Sky Betting and Gaming has extended their space is testament to the high quality of the accommodation and excellent customer service provided by the MEPC team.”

Sky Betting and Gaming is joined by Towers Watson, RSM Tenon, Irwin Mitchell, Allianz and Regus at Number 2 Wellington Place.

Wellington Place to host the festival of business and arts 2012

The internationally renowned Yorkshire International Business Convention (YIBC) are planning a major revamp for next year’s event.

The renamed Yorkshire Business and Arts Festival will bring together four world-class events which will be spread over five days next June, while relocating from Harrogate to Wellington Place, Leeds.

The proposals, which are still in the early stages of development, include a new-look Yorkshire International Business Convention, an evening with the Northern Ballet and an event with Northern Broadsides as well as a performance by a world-renowned brass band and an Edinburgh Tattoo-style event with the Yorkshire Regiment.

Traditional and innovative “new-technology” activities will be arranged at the site for younger people and families, and a Leeds United Legends football tournament is also being planned for the event.

Previous keynote speakers at the convention – which has been going for the past 16 years – include Mikhail Gorbachev, Bill Clinton, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Bob Geldof, Neil Armstrong and the inspirational blind speaker Miles Hilton-Barber.

England cricket captain Andrew Strauss and web inventor Sir Tim Berners-Lee headlined this year’s event in June.

The YIBC’s founder, Mike Firth, said the plans, which have the backing of Leeds City Council chief executive Tom Riordan, provided a great opportunity to bring people from throughout Europe to a festival that would celebrate business and the arts in “our wonderful county’s capital city”.

He added: “We are determined to deliver a range of events that will appeal to businesses and the wider population including younger people – all designed to engage, educate and entertain the thousands we hope will want to attend.”

YIBC has traditionally been held in Harrogate, but it will relocate to MEPC, Wellington Place Leeds, and will be held between June 15 and June 19, next year.

For more Information please visit www.ybaf.biz

'It’s a Leeds Knockout’ at Wellington Place

Top businesses from across Leeds battled it out at Wellington Place in the 'It’s a Leeds Knockout’ competition to raise money for the Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice in Headingly.

In an action-packed afternoon, teams from firms across Leeds fought their way through water, foam and inflatables in an attempt to win It’s a Leeds Knockout.

The team from Towers Watson came out on top in the wild and wacky competition to scoop the first prize, with HSBC taking second place and Ellbee in third.

Dominique Simcox, spokesperson at MEPC said: “We’d like to thank all the businesses that took part in the day, as well as those who cheered them on and donated. It has been a real pleasure to host a fun event like this and raise much needed funds for the hospice”

Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice is a specialist palliative care unit enriching the quality of life of those living with or affected by a serious illness.

A donation of £25 pays for an hour of physiotherapy for someone with a life changing illness; £100 pays for six bereavement sessions for someone who has lost a loved one; £600 pays for the cost of running an inpatient bed for two days and £1,000 pays for a nurse to care for people in their own homes for a week.

It’s not too late to donate. Simply visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/wellingtonplaceallstars to make a contribution.

Click here to view images from the day or to watch a video of the day click on the link below or the image above.

View Video

Wellington Place Summer BBQ 2011

This years Wellington Place summer BBQ was bigger and better than ever!

500 Wellington Place customers came together to enjoy delicious food and great music in the sunshine.

Local talent from the Leeds College of Music supplied the sound track for the day in the form of singer Matt Belmont (http://www.myspace.com/mattbelmontmusic) and the glorious weather provided the perfect conditions to enjoy a game of mini golf and sample the free ice cream.

Dominique Simcox from MEPC said, “Every summer we look forward to getting all our occupiers together and this year the number of people attending was our best yet. I am thrilled to have had such a great turnout and we would like to thank everyone who helped to make the day a great success.”

Click here to view images from the day.

For more information about what's happening here at Wellington Place, keep subscribing to Parklife or contact Dominique at dsimcox@mepc.com

Wellington Place Receives a Blue Plaque

The Historic Wagon Hoist at Wellington Place receives a Blue Plaque from the Leeds Civic Trust.

The Leeds Civic Trust has chosen to honour one the city’s oldest surviving pieces of railway architecture in an event held at Wellington Place.

The plaque, unveiled by the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Rev’s Alan Taylor marks the historic wagon hoists’ role in the industrial heritage of the city.

Built in 1850s there were originally two wagon hoists which were used to hoist huge wagons from the viaduct down the goods yard. The surviving (north) tower was known as the Gravity Hoist.

Kevin Grady, Director of Leeds Civic Trust, said: ‘Leeds has a great railway heritage extending from the creation of the Middleton Railway in the eighteenth century. The Trust is delighted to be able to include the Central Station Wagon Hoist in our blue plaques scheme.’

Wellington Place Summer BBQ 2011

Wellington Place Summer BBQ 2011

• What Free BBQ and Hog Roast for all Wellington Place Employees
• When Thursday 14th July 2011, 12noon – 2pm
• Where Wellington Place
• How Entrance by ticket only – to request your ticket please visit www.wellingtonplace.co.uk/BBQ
• Who Entry tickets only available via online registration and only available to employees based at Wellington Place.

*A vegetarian option will be available

Repair Works to Historic Lifting Tower

Stonemasons have begun work to repair the south side of the historic Lifting Tower which sits in the centre of Wellington Place.

The Lifting Tower was built in the 1850s and was one of a pair which stood either side of the old viaduct running into the Leeds Central railway station. Steam power and giant chains were used to hoist huge wagons from the viaduct down to the goods yard.

Dr Kevin Grady, director of Leeds Civic Trust, said:

“It’s remarkable that it has survived. “It is one of the oldest surviving pieces of railway architecture in the city. We’re delighted it is in the hands of a developer that has a long-term interest in the future of the site.”

Phil Clifford, Estate Manager at MEPC, Wellington Place said: “ Due to the harsh winter the south side of the tower has started to erode, work is now underway to repoint the tower and prevent further deterioration.

Football Marathon

On the 25th June a team of 16 will be taking part in a marathon game of 5 a-side football at Soccer Central, Wellington Place. Their aim is to play constantly for 24 hours to raise money for the Foundation for Prader-Willi Research (FPWR).

Prader-Willi Syndrome occurs in approximately 1 in 15,000 children. Early symptoms are slow muscle development and various other symptoms which occur during childhood and adolescence. At some point, usually between the ages of 1 and 6, the child will develop insatiable hunger. Just imagine never feeling full! This can lead to severe childhood obesity and all of the health risks associated with it, as well as the additional risks of a permanently hungry child eating anything within reach.

Being a reasonably unheard of condition means that it does not receive as much attention and funding as other childhood conditions or illnesses and this is what FPWR want to change. Every small development in research takes doctors and patients one small step closer to understanding the condition that is effecting their child.

The team would really appreciate it if you could spare some of your hard earned money in order for them to reach their target and help raise money for a rare condition that currently has no cure. To donate please visit http://www.justgiving.com/James-MacLeod1

For further information on Prader-Willi syndrome please visit www.fpwr.org

Leeds It's a Knockout Challenge at Wellington Place

09 July 2011

1pm - 5pm at Wellington Place

Are you ready to take on the Leeds It’s a Knockout challenge?

10 games of serious fun await! Through inflatables, foam and water you will be competing to reach the grand final and be crowned It’s a Leeds Knockout champions 2011.

Teams of between 6 and 10 can enter online now! The cost to enter is £30 per person plus a minimum sponsorship of £500 per team. Proceeds go to the Sue Ryder Care, Wheatfield Hospice.

For more information

call: 0113 203 3377

email: wheatfields.fundraising@sueryder.org

New Year, New You, with British Military Fitness at Wellington Place

BMF classes are a proven and trusted way of getting fit, losing weight and feeling great. The average total calories burned during a session is 640 and the average distance covered in a beginner class is 5km! You don’t need to be fit to try BMF whatever you fitness level. We guarantee you’ll be made to feel welcome by the group and your BMF instructors.

Classes are held at Wellington Place every Monday & Wednesday at 12.30 and every Tuesday &Thursday at 7.15am

Your first class is FREE, simply go online and visit https://www.britmilfit.com/signup/, complete the online health questionnaire and then turn up to any class.

If your place of work is located in Wellington Place we are happy to offer you a special corporate rate of £30 per month for unlimited classes.

MEPC reports on a positive 2010

2010 proved to be an encouraging year for MEPC’s leasing results with 213 leasing deals generating £2.2m pa of net additional income, with a strong lettings performance at both Hilllington Park and Milton Park.

Portfolio wide vacancy rates fell below 10% which is a ‘first’ in five years. Customer retention rates at lease breaks/expiries is still amongst the best in the industry at 86%.

MEPC confirmed plans to prepay £102m of the £470m loan securitised via Opera Finance (MEPC) plc in early 2011. Rick de Blaby, Chief Executive comments ‘MEPC is now positioned for a new and exciting phase of activity and performance in 2011 where we will continue to focus on driving revenue and maintaining customer focus to deliver investment performance’.