College to move into former HSBC building

Elliott Hudson College, part of The GORSE Academies Trust, is to take over the building at White Rose Office Park in Leeds as part of plans to develop business partnerships with neighbouring organisations and drive social mobility among its students.

The college, which was set up last year, will move from its existing base at nearby Phoenix House in a phased relocation to be completed by September.

The 70,000 sq ft building was home to HSBC’s specialist mortgage division before it moved into a new £12m office on the business park, which is jointly owned by Munroe K and Orion Capital Managers, in 2014.

The college will sit alongside large private sector employers including Telefonica, Capita and SKF.

David Aspin, chief executive of Munroe K, said: “Elliott Hudson College is one of the new breed of free schools established by The GORSE Academies Trust and we are delighted to be able to provide them with the space they need to grow and achieve their ambitions of integrating education and the workplace.”

He added: “This is an exciting development for us, putting an innovative educational establishment alongside large private sector employers such as HSBC, Capita, SKF, Telefonica, WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff Global and Her Majesty’s Government.

“The re-use, rather than demolition of the building previously occupied by HSBC, completely satisfies both myself and Orion Capital Managers in providing a sustainable and innovative answer to a vacant property.”

The GORSE Academies Trust is a not for profit charity whose aim is to create exceptional schools to serve areas of Leeds and the Leeds City Region that suffer deprivation and to carry students on towards attaining places at first class universities.

Sir John Townsley, the Trust’s executive principal, said: “We selected White Rose Office Park for the Elliott Hudson College because of our shared aspiration to change the deal for some of the poorest and some of the most aspirational young people in our city.”

He added: “We are really excited to be working in partnership with the owners of White Rose Office Park and particularly welcome their passion for education as the key driver of social mobility.

“We are also really indebted to them for supporting the development of business partnerships with neighbouring organisations, which will form a deep rooted part of our character for many years to come.”

JLL acted on behalf of the Trust in the transaction and Munroe K transacted directly with the Trust and JLL.

Henry Burton, from JLL, who advised the Trust, said: “This acquisition is a sign of the Education Funding Authority’s continued commitment to improve the standards of education across England.”