Bruntwood grows Leeds team ahead of Platform launch

Leading property company, Bruntwood, has announced a raft of ten new appointments in Leeds to further support its investment in the region. These include Wendy Denman to the position of Community Engagement Manager for flagship workspace, Platform, located above the city’s railway station.

Wendy joins Bruntwood after working at Trinity Leeds and Visit Leeds. Her new role will focus on ensuring a thriving building spirit and business network through a programme of social, cultural, wellbeing and business support events.

She said: “It’s a really exciting time for Bruntwood and for Leeds. The city’s reputation as a creative and cultural leader is growing, especially through its Capital of Culture 2023 bid and the recent Light Night festival. We’re confident that Platform will be bold and innovative new home for its thriving digital and tech sectors.

“I’m really looking forward to meeting the customers as they move in and supporting the community here with a range of events to encourage collaboration. The launch of the building next week, 23rd November, will be a celebration for our customers, partners, suppliers and everyone who will be involved in Platform moving forward.”

“The mezzanine level business lounge and the open-air roof terrace at Platform will provide the perfect space for social networking, as well as meeting and event spaces. We’ve already held a number of successful events including Leeds Digital Coffee Mornings with our customer LightStart, lunchtime yoga with Yoga Hero, FinTech North events, after hours food and drink socials, conferences and much more. ”

“The digital art space in Platform’s reception is for everyone, including the customers who work here and members of the public, and will be used to display the work of established and emerging local artists. We’ve just commissioned a new work titled ‘Four Words’ which will be lead by Prof. Alan Dunn of Leeds Beckett School of Art and will be a collaboration between students, lecturers and artists. This piece will be live for our launch event on 23rd November.”

Bruntwood has also appointed Nick Salkeld to the role of Head of Sales. As a chartered surveyor, Nick joins from agency Fox Lloyd Jones and will primarily focus on attracting the right mix of customers for Platform.

In addition to Wendy and Nick, the new-look team now also includes an additional sales surveyor, events co-ordinator, three new receptionists, a property manager and two facilities managers to ensure the successful running of Platform.

Platform will be home to businesses of all sizes, from all sectors, and will include a new incubator space for start ups and scale ups from the digital tech and creative industries so recruitment is also underway for a programme and partnerships manager to support this growing community, through the provision of a comprehensive package of business support and will work collaboratively with external organisations to help grow the tech sector in Leeds.