Three new deals have been completed at Sunny Bank Mills, the iconic Yorkshire mill complex between Leeds and Bradford.
Kaleidoscope Psychology and Psychotherapy, brand and marketing agency So Contented and IT support company CTek are relocating to the award-winning mill in Farsley, where YTV’s Emmerdale and Heartbeat were filmed.
During the past 11 years Sunny Bank Mills, one of the most famous family-owned mills in Yorkshire, has been transformed into a modern office, retail and leisure complex for the 21st century. It is now home to 75 companies, who which employ a total of almost 400 staff.
These three deals come hard on the heels of a raft of significant office, retail and leisure lettings at Sunny Bank Mills during the past few weeks.
William Gaunt, joint managing director of Edwin Woodhouse and Co, the owners of Sunny Bank Mills, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Kaleidoscope, So Contented and CTek to Sunny Bank Mills. They are excellent examples of quality businesses being attracted to a quality business environment.
“Their moves underline the flexibility of space at Sunny Bank Mills, which is now attracting an exciting range and breadth of occupiers.”
Paul Walton, founder and managing director of Kaleidoscope, which has relocated from Far Headingley, explained that it was vitally important to find a home which was consistent with his values of community, inclusion, warmth and legacy.
He commented: “When I looked around Sunny Bank Mills and saw what the Gaunts have built here, saw the kind of businesses who have set up here, I knew that this is where we belonged. I'd viewed a few different locations but none that spoke to me in the way Sunny Bank Mills was able to.
“It is such a wonderful, creative and innovative space. It really speaks to the importance of community and collaboration, of relationships and connections. There's something very special about this part of Farsley, and we're very excited to be able to work from this beautiful location and help people build better relationships with one another and with themselves.
“John and William Gaunt have been extremely helpful. I've found both to be so genuine in their desire to create a community hub for artists and small businesses. I was struck by how much they care and how hands-on they are as landlords. They really want to support your business in whatever way they can and I've been really grateful at for all the help they've provided in just these early days of setting up.”
Meanwhile Gemma Edwards, co-founder and director of So Contented, relocating from Bradford Road in Leeds, explained: “We fell in love with our new office at Sunny Bank Mills when we walked through the door. The stone walls, high ceilings and big windows were lovely and we immediately felt like we were home.
“We were also really impressed with the number and variety of other businesses in the mill. We were attracted by its fabulous location with loads of lovely food and drink places in the mill, as well as the greenery around it. We think it's going to be great for our work life and culture.
“Nothing has been too much trouble for the Gaunts. They've given us a really good feel for what our working life is going to be like here,” added Gemma.
Finally Howard Haigh, managing director of Ctek, who are which is relocating from Eccleshill, explained that Sunny Bank Mills was the perfect base for his IT support company, which was founded in 1994.
He commented: “We have a much more hands on personal service than the current fad for support over the phone. We do a remote support too but it’s intermingled with site visits. We mainly have customers in West Yorkshire but do have some as far away as Liverpool and Warrington. Sunny Bank Mills is well-located for our clients.”
