Europe’s leading entertainment company Sky signs 15 year deal for 62,000 sq.ft. of office space with Allied London to move to its new TMT Hub, Leeds Dock Lease marks the first time Sky will take up a mix-occupancy site Sky to create a Software Engineering Academy as part of the moveProperty development company, Allied London, has welcomed Sky, Europe’s leading entertainment company’s new technology and software division to the north of England’s new TMT (Technology, Media and Telecommunications) Hub, Leeds Dock.

The 15 year lease marks the first time that Sky has ever moved to a mixed-occupancy site, and they join existing resident companies EE and Epiphany and a number of incoming TMT and creative industries businesses.

Almost 300 Sky software employees, including those working on Sky Go, Sky TV and Sky’s range of apps, have relocated their Leeds operation to Leeds Dock. The waterside offices, spread across 62,000 sq. ft have been tailored and personalised to meet Sky’s needs. As part of the move, Sky will be recruiting 400 new members of staff, as well as promoting women in technology and establishing a Software Engineering Academy that will recruit graduates and apprentices from across the north of England.

Leeds Dock is a new enterprise village on the River Aire that offers a unique workspace offer for businesses, consisting of individual units each offering separate access, a private outdoor terrace and a waterside locale.

To compliment the unique workspace at Leeds Dock, Allied London has focused on introducing a mixture of both national and regional independent leisure and retail. This includes established operators Pizza Express and Tesco, as well as local brands Caffeine and Co and Dock 29. Health and wellbeing providers Primal Gym and Yoga Hero support Leeds Dock’s ever-growing visitor and resident population.

Incoming concept space, The Union, which will open later in the year will be a unique, multi-purpose, community space that will include a bar/restaurant, street food traders, year-round entertainment and events space, as well as co-working and flexible workspace suites.

Tim Gee, Leeds Dock Estates Director said: “Of the 24,000 sq.ft of space due for delivery during 2016, 60% is currently in negotiation for occupation during the first half of the year, with the first unit having gone under offer for pre-lease earlier this week.

“Our strategy has been to create a new asset class of workspace at Leeds Dock, and we have worked collaboratively with Sky to deliver this ethos for their new workspace. As we gear up for 2016 we continue to develop our world-class technology facility, providing an international hub for emerging industries to collaborate and grow. The Sky deal marks a major milestone in achieving our long-term goals. Leeds is now firmly on the road to establishing itself as the TMT hub of the North.”