An a-mazing deal at historic Yorkshire mill

Maze Recruitment Group, a leading Yorkshire-based education recruitment specialist, has moved to the historic Sunny Banks Mills in Farsley, near Leeds.

Maze has taken high-quality space in the iconic 1912 Mill at Sunny Bank Mills, where Yorkshire Television’s Emmerdale and Heartbeat were filmed.
Maze joins over 100 other companies which have moved to the renovated mill complex during the past 11 years.

Nicola Wilson, the managing director of Maze, explained the reasons behind the decision to relocate to Sunny Bank Mills.

“We set up our business in 2020 initially working from home but the plan was always to open our own office in the Leeds area. We’re now in the second phase of scaling our business and have been looking for suitable office space for a while”.

“Our new offices in the 1912 Mill are perfect, and we now have the right space to expand. We love the amenities at Sunny Bank Mills - the gym, yoga rooms, eateries, pub and so on. It’s a little community all in one place. The grounds are lovely, the woodlands, local parks, the outdoor area and the fact Sunny Bank Mills is dog friendly was a bonus”.

“The landlords William and John Gaunt are lovely and have been very welcoming and very transparent. Free parking is always a plus and value for money in comparison to the offices we were looking at in the city. “

Maze offers a range of comprehensive recruitment solutions, including business psychology services, which are tailor-made to suit individual client requirements and which help to create sustainable improvements in performance, whilst enhancing employee well-being.

Nicola explained: “Using cutting edge, innovative technologies we successfully source quality candidates for clients across the north of England in the education sector. In addition, our specialist professional services and highly developed resourcing model allow us to successfully offer professional interim and permanent recruitment services for executive and senior roles in all sectors across the UK.”

Since 2012 Sunny Bank Mills, one of the most famous family-owned mills in Yorkshire, has been transformed into a modern office and mixed-use complex for the 21st century, creating more than 400 sustainable new jobs.

John Gaunt commented: “We are delighted to welcome such a forward-thinking, dynamic and successful company like Maze to Sunny Bank Mills. This move is a resounding endorsement of the quality of our flagship 1912 Mill, where the flexible space will allow the company to thrive.

“The progress of Maze during the past three years speaks for itself and we are confident that their decision to join a vibrant business and cultural community here at Sunny Bank Mills will suit the company perfectly.
The 1912 Mill is the most prominent and spacious building in the mill complex. Plans are now being drawn up to refurbish the building’s remaining 15,000 sq ft into quality office space over two floors, which will be available to let in a variety of configurations.

When Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited Sunny Bank Mills last month, he commented: “It has been fantastic to meet local artisans and entrepreneurs at Sunny Bank Mills and to see the transformation of this former textile mill into a thriving hub for businesses.

“It is vital to back the incredible people and businesses of Leeds. I have been talking to some of them at Sunny Bank Mills, together with Pudsey MP Stuart Andrew and they are incredibly entrepreneurial people.”

Sarah-Jayne Lishman, of Leeds-based marketing agents Dove Haigh Phillips, commented: “The owners of Sunny Bank Mills took the brave decision to invest heavily in their mill and this decision has paid dividends.

“This is one of the most significant mill regeneration projects in Yorkshire. Steeped in history and with massive potential, Sunny Bank Mills is now one of the prime business locations in the West Leeds area.”