New city centre business hub opens at Leeds Beckett University with hopes of inspiring collaboration between students and local firms

Natalie Allen, head of business partnerships at Leeds Beckett, said: “When you talk to a lot of businesses across the region, particularly SMEs, they want to engage with universities but don't know how. So acknowledging that, we’ve tried to create a physical gateway to the university, a space for businesses so they can access talent, access knowledge, network, and work with each other.”

The new hub offers privatemeeting spaces and open workspaces for working, meeting colleagues and clients, and connecting with the university’s business support services.

Another aim of the project is to open up collaboration between businesses and graduates or students through placements, student consultancy, employment and professional development courses. The university hosts a range of funded support programmes, including the Government-funded Help to Grow: Management course, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, and the #WECAN (Women Empowered through Coaching and Networking) programme.

Rick Parsons, managing director of iKoustic, took part in the Small Business Leadership Programme at Leeds Beckett and is now working on a two-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership with the university.

He said: “The team at Leeds Beckett are consistently able to deliver high quality learning and development programmes for businesses. They demonstrate an in-depth understanding of what we require at each step of the way – and have armed us with the skills and tools to help in today’s business environment.”

Ms Allen said the university also hopes to work with more businesses across the region, not just in Leeds.

She said: “A lot of the programmes of work that we deliver cover the entire region.

“We understand that what works in Leeds isn't right for Calderdale, and that what works in Calderdale isn't necessarily going to translate back to Wakefield, so it's about being able to translate things that we want to deliver, to make sure they makes sense in different localities.” The new space will also host events, including guest lectures from experts, regional roundtable events and academic innovation showcases.

Rooms are bookable for students of the university when meeting clients as part of student consultancy projects, or when setting up their own businesses and entrepreneurial activities.

Currently, all meeting room spaces can be booked for no charge. Spaces include boardrooms, an Innovation Design Space for eight people with sofa-style seating, and smaller pods for two and four people.