Leeds is a city at the forefront of digital innovation in the UK. An emerging epicentre of creativity, it’s a great choice for businesses looking to succeed in the digital space.

Once known for its textiles and trade exports, Leeds is now the UK’s largest financial centre outside of London. It’s on track to become a digital powerhouse. IT vacancies have increased by 36% in the region, with rising salaries to match.

The heart of Leeds has become a centre for collaboration. Contributing to this is Leeds.tech, which is an inclusive platform showcasing the local digital and creative industries.

If you’re a startup or SME working in tech, this platform provides one-of-a-kind networking opportunities.

Unlike other UK digital hotspots, Leeds focuses more on cooperation than competition. The annual Leeds Digital Festival celebrates the city's unique approach to coworking.

In this article, we’ll discuss why Leeds coworking space could benefit your business.

How Leeds is the UK’s emerging digital capital

Leeds is a perfect fit for digital and creative professionals. The city centre offers plenty of shared workspaces for people looking to network in their industry. For meetings, the city is well-positioned to reach the rest of the UK.

The region has a reputation as a growing knowledge cluster. For digital startups, Leeds is the fifth-best city in the UK to open a new business.

Part of this growth comes from the large talent pool in the city. The city’s nine universities produce over 18,000 STEAM graduates per year. Leeds is training the next generation of digital professionals.

And these graduates stick around: 56% of students stay in the city after graduation.

To explore further, let’s look at seven reasons why Leeds is making a name for itself as a digital hotspot:

1. It’s a digital hub

Leeds boasts over 34,000 digital tech jobs. If you choose coworking in Leeds, you’ll find like-minded professionals in almost any of the city’s workspaces.

2. It has geographic advantages

Yorkshire is very well-connected to the rest of the UK. From Leeds, you can reach London in two hours by rail. Manchester and Sheffield are less than an hour away.

3. The creative industry growth

Thanks to the relocation of Channel 4 to the area in 2020, Leeds’ creative industry has seen incredible growth. The city employs over 47,000 creatives across 7,000 initiatives.

4. It has an extensive talent pool

Alongside the universities, local programmes are encouraging young people to gain digital skills. Growing Talent Digital Leeds reports that 79% of the students they work with see a future in digital.

5. The vibrant tech community

Leeds has an inclusive tech community.  The local tech professionals host regular meetups and events to share information and make new connections.

6. Ample educational support and research

The University of Leeds invests in digital education. From 2020-2030, the University is focusing on a major digital transformation project. This will provide research funding and learning opportunities for the city’s growing community.

7. A dynamic business ecosystem

Startups and SMEs are crucial to Leeds’ status as a digital powerhouse. Initiatives like AD:VENTURE provide early growth support to new businesses in West Yorkshire.

6 coworking offices in Leeds for creative and digital

Leeds has seen a surge in demand for flexible workspace. Its growing digital and creative economy is moving from strength to strength. This growth comes with an influx of digital professionals to the area.

As the UK’s fastest-growing city, Leeds has plenty to offer innovative businesses. With a forecasted growth of 21% over the next 10 years, Leeds’ economy is one your business will want to be part of.

If you’re looking for shared office space in Leeds, we’ve listed our top coworking spaces in the city. These centres provide dedicated desks or hot desk facilities as needed.

If you’re a larger business with an important project, we offer private office rentals on flexible contracts at the following six centres:

1. Park Row

Build your brand in a vibrant shared workspace at our Park Row centre. Situated in the city’s central business district, these coworking spaces are just minutes away from Leeds train station.

Park Row offers creatives the chance to work in an airy space alongside like-minded professionals. Creatives will enjoy the Leeds Art Gallery and Grand Opera House, both within easy walking distance.

This centre features an on-site coffee bar for your afternoon tea and coffee trip. Coworking spaces give you access to the gym and fitness room on-site. 

Highlights include:

• City skyline views
• Showers available
• Bicycle storage

Information about Park Row

• Location: 7 Park Row, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5HD
• Starting cost: From £225 per month
• Opening hours: 24/7 for Private Office and Dedicated Desk members, reception hours for other members
• Nearby stations: City Square H Bus Stop (a one-minute walk away) and Leeds Train Station (a three-minute walk away)

2. Thorpe Park

Kickstart your business connections with a coworking space at Thorpe Park. This location puts you in contact with over 40 local businesses, including Blue Yonder and Boost Drinks.

Thorpe Park offers coworking space in Leeds’ premier business park. In 2024, plans began to connect the park to the city centre via a new railway link.

For digital professionals, this centre offers you the opportunity to make connections with new clients. Bookable meeting rooms are available to present a professional appearance.

There are several IT research and consulting businesses based in the park.

Highlights include:

• Nearby gym, cinema, and restaurants
• On-site sandwich bar
• Outside seating area

Information about Thorpe Park

• Location: 1200 Century Way, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS15 8ZA
• Starting cost: From £169 per month
• Opening hours: 24/7 for Private Office and Dedicated Desk members, reception hours for other members
• Nearby stations: Component 2200 Bus Stop (a three-minute walk away)

3. Wellington Place

Choose coworking spaces at Wellington Place and work alongside established IT companies like CTS Group and LexisNexis.

Wellington Place offers views over the nearby River Aire. It’s located in a dynamic development area so you can network with the local business community.

Nearby, you’ll find the historic Victoria Quarter. This redeveloped arcade offers plenty of inspiration for creatives. It's also home to the largest stained glass work in Europe.

This centre provides professionals with a sandwich service for busy days. Showers are available for those who cycle to work.

Highlights include:

• Business lounge
• Vending machines
• Outside seating area

Information about Wellington Place

• Location: 2 Wellington Place, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 4AP
• Starting cost: From £179 per month
• Opening hours: 24/7 for Private Office and Dedicated Desk members, reception hours for other members
• Nearby stations: Wellington E Bus Stop (a three-minute walk away) and Leeds Train Station (a 10-minute walk away)

4. City West Business Park Building 3

Enjoy a high-quality coworking space at the dynamic City West Business Park Building 3. There are great transport links available to this centre from the city and from further afield.

This building is home to several IT businesses, including iQuantM Technologies. If you’re a fintech startup, you’ll easily make connections at this centre.

Floor-to-ceiling windows provide plenty of light to your dedicated coworking space.

At City West Business Park Building 3, you can host informal meetings in the break-out areas. In the summer, our outside seating area provides a change of scenery for project work.

Highlights include:

• Sandwich service
• Showers available
• Business park location

Information about City West Business Park Building 3

• Location: 2 Wellington Place, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 4AP
• Starting cost: From £179 per month
• Opening hours: 24/7 for Private Office and Dedicated Desk members, reception hours for other members
• Nearby stations: Gelderd Business Park Bus Stop (a seven-minute walk away)

5. Princes Exchange

Get coworking space in a landmark location at our Princes Exchange offices. Located in the financial district, this is a perfect choice for fintech professionals to make connections.

If you travel for work, these workspaces are across from Leeds train station. There’s secure underground parking, and it’s a short walk to city centre amenities.

Princes Exchange is ideal for making a strong impression on investors. For media creatives, the building is home to marketing agencies and ad consultants.

If you need an afternoon pick-me-up, you’ll find plenty of vending machines in the communal spaces.

Highlights include:

• Sandwich service
• Bookable meeting rooms
• Break-out areas

Information about Princes Exchange

• Location: Princes Square, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 4HY
• Starting cost: From £159 per month
• Opening hours: 24/7 for Private Office and Dedicated Desk members, reception hours for other members
• Nearby stations: Wellington K Bus Stop (a one-minute walk away) and Leeds Train Station (a two-minute walk away)

6. The Pinnacle 15F 18F

Work with a view in our coworking spaces at The Pinnacle 15F 18F. This flexible workspace in Leeds’ busy retail district offers creatives the chance to work in the cultural heart of the city.

These modern workspaces have plenty of natural light, with views over the entire city of Leeds.

If you drive to work, The Pinnacle 15F 18F has on-site parking. For client meetings and project work, we offer bookable meeting rooms. These can be set up as required.

This centre is an ideal pick for companies looking to expand their space without committing to a private office.

Highlights include:

• Break-out areas
• Central retail location
• Expansive windows

Information about The Pinnacle 15F 18F

• Location: 67 Albion Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5AA
• Starting cost: From £179 per month
• Opening hours: 24/7 for Private Office and Dedicated Desk members, reception hours for other members
  
• Nearby transport links: Headrow A Bus Stop (a two-minute walk away), City Square B Bus Stop (a four-minute walk away), Leeds Train Station (a six-minute walk away)

Explore coworking spaces in Leeds with Regus

If you want to work in the bustling tech cluster that is Leeds, a coworking space is a strategic choice for most small businesses. You’ll get the benefits of a business community without the overheads of permanent office space. 

At Regus, our coworking spaces encourage open collaboration. These spaces are fully serviced, with business-grade WiFi and full IT support included. You can even access them with a day pass for ad-hoc occasions.

Speak to one of our expert advisors to discuss the plan that’s best for your business.