Two new deals have been completed at Sunny Bank Mills, the historic Yorkshire mill complex between Leeds and Bradford.
Ladies nightwear and underwear manufacturer Marsylka has moved into the iconic 1912 Mill in Farsley, where YTV’s Emmerdale and Heartbeat were filmed, with expanding medical services company Technomed has doubled its office space in the same building.
During the past ten years 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 400 sustainable new jobs.
Robert Hainsworth, managing director of Marsylka, which was founded in 1936 and which supplies high-profile retailers like Tesco and Marks & Spencer, explained the reasons for the company’s move.
“We have a warehouse nearby and the Farsley area is reasonably well-located for most of the people who work in the office. It is quite a peaceful place to work but there are good facilities nearby. I live a few miles away and have visited Sunny Bank Mills a number of times over the last few years.
“We have two factories in Sri Lanka employing 1300 people, where all our production and sampling and most merchandising is carried out. We mainly ship direct from Sri Lanka to our customers’ own warehouses. In the UK we now employ 23 people in sales and warehousing and our space requirement has changed.
“As a result, we have decided to separate our warehouse and office functions, with 10 staff moving to our new office in the 1912 Mill. The whole process from our initial visit to moving in was smooth, with landlords John and William Gaunt being very helpful.”
Meanwhile Technomed, which provides cardiology diagnostic services to NHS trusts and to the private sector, first moved to Sunny Bank Mills in 2019, initially in the Old Engine Room, before moving into a larger office in the 1912 Mill.
Mark Pashley, managing director, explained: “Due to the sustained growth of the business, this year we have opened another two offices in the 1912 building. The main focus of these two additional offices is to support our direct-to-patient postal service where hospitals and other healthcare organisations can request heart monitors which are sent to the patients' homes, therefore removing the need to visit a clinic.
“John and William have been excellent at every stage of the journey here at Sunny Bank Mills. Our unique need for specialist technical infrastructure and bespoke room configurations to meet clinical requirements have always been welcome, implemented quickly and to a very high standard.
“Their ongoing support and flexibility made the decision to continue expanding the business here at Sunny Bank Mills incredibly easy,” added Mark.
John Gaunt commented: “We are delighted to welcome Marsylka to Sunny Bank Mills and to accommodate the expansion programme of Technomed. It’s tremendously fitting that a clothing manufacturer like Marsylka, with such a rich history, should choose an old textile mill like ours, while it is incredibly satisfying to nurture and help a flourishing company like Technomed to grow.
“Both these deals are a resounding endorsement of the quality of our flagship 1912 Mill, the most prominent and spacious building in the mill complex. Plans are now being drawn up to refurbish the remaining 14,000 sq ft into quality office space over two floors available to let in a variety of configurations."
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.”
