Creative Space Reappointed By The HCA

Creative Space Management has been re-appointed as managing and lettings agent by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) for three of the agency’s key commercial developments in Leeds and Rotherham, having successfully attracted a wealth of new companies since 2006, doubling occupancy at the sites.

Creative Space, which formed in 2005 in response to the market demands of emerging new businesses and fast-growing enterprise sectors, has been contracted for a further three years following a competitive tender process. The company will continue to work across a trio of the HCA’s developments including Tower Works in Leeds, where Creative Space has secured 17 lettings since it re-opened as contemporary office space in July 2012, taking occupancy to 80% in just nine months.

The company also will retain the management and agency role for the Round Foundry Media Centre in Leeds. Directors Toby Hyam and Paul Taylor played a key role when the Media Centre was originally developed and it is now a magnet for high growth creative companies with occupancy consistently being maintained above 80%.

In Rotherham, Creative Space will continue to manage and let the HCA-owned Advance Manufacturing Park Technology Centre where, since 2009, it has turned the operation from a loss-making to a profitable venture, doubling occupancy from 40% to 80%. In addition to securing new tenants, the Creative Space team also has facilitated the growth of a number of existing clients, including ITI Energy, manufacturers of commercially available gas clean-up systems, which in just four years, has increased its office space ten-fold to accommodate an increase in staff from 5 to 30.

Naz Parkar, Head of Area for Leeds City Region and North Yorkshire at the HCA: “We reappointed Creative Space Management not only on account of the fantastic results they’ve already achieved in creating and protecting jobs, through their management of these centres, but also due to their imaginative, insightful approach. The team continues to bring new ideas to the table which help us stay on top of the changing market and provide the right developments and facilities for both current and future tenants.”

Comments Paul Taylor, from Creative Space Management: “We are excited at winning the contract for a further three years. Creative Space has itself grown in parallel with the rise and expansion of creative and digital technology companies, and this has led to a level of expertise which goes beyond what our competitors can offer. Our knowledge of the sectors in which we work allows us to anticipate trends and to advise our clients on the needs of fast-growth companies. Whether client demands relate to office space, high-speed Internet access or flexible leases, we have carved a niche by being able to both facilitate and manage these changes. Our approach, which is all about value added, has seen strong results for our clients and brought many new, innovative companies to Yorkshire”.