Hub is helping to stop the ‘brain drain’

Supporters of the Leeds Digital Hub say it is playing a significant role in developing the region’s creative and digital sector. One of the firms is even being lined up for a potential trade sale.

The hub, which is now at full capacity, is home to 12 businesses, including home electrics control system firm WiFiPlug, which was founded by Leon Doyle, a former star of BBC TV’s The Apprentice.

Mr Doyle is proud to have “hired” the hub to help his firm flourish, and other firms based there include coffee club Beanify and retail customer engagement specialists Top Screen Media.

The initiative, which is run in partnership between The Yorkshire Post and Leeds Beckett University Innovation and Enterprise Hub, offers flexible workspace for digital and creative businesses, as well as professional support and mentoring.

Last week, an event was held in Leeds to highlight how the hub is helping the firms based inside it to keep growing.

Fran Parkinson, the operations manager at the enterprise and innovation hub at Leeds Beckett, told The Yorkshire Post: “The Digital Hub provides a rich supportive environment to enable fast-growing tech companies fulfil their ambitions to grow.

“The mentoring and training support provided by The Yorkshire Post and Leeds Beckett University has really helped to nurture and foster growth among the businesses based in the Digital Hub, with a number of clients hiring staff within the first few weeks of moving in. We have also had a number of businesses hire university graduates.

“I have been impressed with the way the Digital Hub has been received in the business community, and it is clear that the hub has helped address the need for support and development of digital and creative talent in the region.

“I would really like to see the Digital Hub making its mark on the city, in terms of being the place where creative and digital businesses can come and receive the help and support they need to flourish.

“I see the Digital Hub as being instrumental in supporting the ongoing development of the creative and digital sector in the region.”

Steve Baker, one of the business mentors for the Digital Hub, said that he had been giving help and advice to one of the firms which was considering a potential trade sale.

Mr Baker has also been providing individual mentoring sessions.

As part of its ongoing support for business, Leeds Beckett is hosting a Leeds Enterprise Network event on Wednesday, November 18 for early stage businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs.

For more information about this event, visit: http://eia.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/events/leeds-enterprise-network2/

It’s vitally important that firms continue to innovate in challenging times.

Leeds Beckett University is holding an event in its Innovation Network series which aims to help firms achieve and sustain a competitive advantage.

The event is being held on November 26 from 8.30am to 10.30am at The Yorkshire Post No1 Leeds, 26 Whitehall Road, Leeds LS12 1BE and the speakers include Simon Brereton, the head of innovation and sector development at Leeds City Council, Helen Oldham, the managing director of Johnston Press Yorkshire, and Tom Hainsworth, managing director of textile firm AW Hainsworth. For more information ring 0113 812 1904 or email [email protected].