Council defends plan to sell Leeds base for small businesses
Tom Singleton is credited as the source of the image.
Looking for a budget-friendly space to set up your business? Check out Aire Street Workshops, where independent businesses come together to thrive and grow. This unique hub is perfect for those seeking an affordable option while still receiving all the benefits of a professional working environment. So don't hesitate to join the community and take the first step towards success!
Leeds City Council has revealed their plans to sell an ex-factory that currently houses roughly 30 small enterprises, in a bid to cut costs.
The occupants of Aire Street Workshops have been given a deadline of 31st January 2025 to leave the premises, and this has been described as disrespectful to emerging entrepreneurs.
The Leeds City Council stated that although they appreciate the businesses, their primary focus is on making savings.
According to the statement, the company in charge of managing the rental properties was informed about the proposal in the preceding year.
The council has announced that due to its financial situation in the upcoming years, it needs to assess all aspects of its operations for potential modifications.
We are currently concentrating on organizing our assets to help us save money. This means that we are examining our entire property.
The article stated that in September 2023, the council notified LCVS Enterprises about the impending changes to Aire Street Workshops. To give businesses affected by this news enough time to find new locations, the council agreed to prolong the lease until January 2025.
As the property is set to be sold in the future, the council will keep backing up the licensees and proposing to confer with all parties concerned while the process moves forward.
The picture shown above is credited to Joe Singleton
Joe Singleton, aged 36, had previously referred to the upcoming sale as a disrespectful act.
Joe Singleton, who is a 36-year-old co-owner of Take It Easy Labs, a start-up situated at Aire Street Workshops, expressed his disappointment towards the proposed sale last week. According to him, the sale would affect a lot of creative businesses in the building that were used to promote the Leeds City of Culture message by the council. He described the planned sale as a significant blow.
According to Mr Singleton, if they were to relocate from the historic building that is 150 years old, their rent would increase significantly, possibly even more than double. This is because Aire Street Workshops was specifically created to provide a convenient and affordable place for small businesses.
Based on the council records, Aire Street Workshops is a self-sufficient organization established in 1981 with funding from both the Department of the Environment and Leeds City Council to create inexpensive office and production spaces for small businesses.
The group is made up of thirty-one different enterprises and has a staff of over one hundred and fifty individuals. The majority of these workers, roughly sixty percent, are younger than twenty-five years old.
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