True North TV, the North’s largest factual independent television production company, has signed a five-year lease renewal which will see the company take 50% more office space in Marshall’s Mill on the Round Foundry Estate. The news follows the announcement that Channel 4 will relocate its national HQ to the city, opening in 2019.
Since moving to Marshall’s Mill in July 2009, True North has more than quadrupled its initial space. During that period, the company which is known internationally for programmes including ’A1: Britain’s Longest Road’ and ‘Teen Mom UK’ has grown significantly and now employs a team of 150-200, with 150 in Leeds. True North will now occupy 11,827 sq. ft. at the former flax mill, with 3,910 sq. ft. of that being the new expansion which the award-winning team attributes to steady business growth, which will see True North producing more programmes. The company is also home to some of the best post-production and editing suites in Leeds and is hoping to make the spaces available to external clients.
Creative Space Management, joint agents on the scheme with Knight Frank, agreed the lease.
Andrew Sheldon, co-founder and creative director of True North, comments “With Channel 4 moving to Leeds there has never been a better time to be an established production company in the city, and Marshalls Mill is a brilliant location to take advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead. It’s great to have an office that works so well for both our team and our clients as is the fact that it offers us the flexibility to grow. We moved here ten years ago, with a key reason being that we liked being surrounded by like-minded creative businesses – and since then the buzz in this part of the city has grown and grown. We also worked with the LEP to secure investment to contribute towards fit out costs and it’s been a really straight forward experience.”
Paul Taylor, managing director of Creative Space Management, adds: “We have a flexible range of office spaces available at Marshall’s Mill and the Round Foundry, which allows companies like True North to expand within the area whilst remaining on the estate. It is one of several companies that we have watched grow from a start-up into an established business and a vital part of the Leeds creative community, so we are really pleased that the True North team are so keen to stay in the area.”
Roger Marsh OBE, Chair of Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) said:
“Since 2015 the LEP has supported over 10,000 businesses to grow in Leeds City Region. I’m delighted we made this investment into True North to support its next phase of growth. We have a package of support that creative and digital businesses are eligible for and I encourage them to get in touch with the LEP to find out what is available.”
