TOPIC UK
By Gill
Laidler - TopicUK Group Editor
03/02/2020
WSB and JLL, as retained agents for the Landlord, have
announced the letting of office space at Old School to industry-leading Management
Information System (MIS) provider Arbor Education.
Prominently located adjacent to Millennium Square on the
corner of Calverley Street and Great George Street, Old School, the former home
of the Leeds School Board has undergone a sympathetic refurbishment to provide
contemporary workspace retaining many of the building’s original features.
Arbor will occupy the second floor of the Grade II listed
building, joining existing occupiers Shift Commerce and Assembly Underground.
The first floor is still available in the newly refurbished 15,000 sq ft
building.
The Commercial Property team at Blacks Solicitors LLP
advised and supported Arbor on taking the five year lease for office space
after it was recommended by WSB.
Alasdair McInnes, Asset Manager for the landlord, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Arbor to Old School; Arbor is a leading education
technology company, and is a perfect fit for the building given its historical
use.”
Maggie Wright, Finance Director at Arbor Education, added:
“As a mission-driven education technology company, we’re excited to be moving
into the Old School – it feels like a very fitting space to be our new home in
Leeds.”
The London-based business has had offices in Leeds since
2017, and continues to grow its team there. Arbor works with 1,000 schools
across England, including primary schools, secondary schools and Multi-Academy
Trusts.
Duncan Senior at letting agents WSB said: “The building
has been re-designed to deliver a creative workspace for inventive thinkers. We
believe Old School offers one of the most exciting environments within the city
for creative businesses.”
Nick Dyson, Head of Commercial Property at Blacks,
commented: “It has been a real pleasure supporting Arbor Education and helping
it expand into a new space right in the heart of the city.
“Old School is a stunningly refurbished and listed
building, and its prominent position opposite the Town Hall is a perfect place
to continue the expansion into the education and technology sectors of Leeds.”
Arbor Education is looking forward to growing its team at
the Old School in 2020 and beyond.