Nine firms snap up space in new serviced Sheffield office
Nine firms have moved into a new workspace in Sheffield prompting delighted bosses to start looking for another building already.
Wizu occupies three floors in newly-revamped 32 Eyre Street in Sheffield city centre. Three months after opening, the space is 40 per cent occupied according to chief executive Tom Almas “way ahead” of the 10 per cent they predicted.
At the launch party, attended by Sheffield Lord Mayor Coun Tony Downing, he said they were already looking for another site in Sheffield.
The firm runs a ‘serviced office’ for organisations of up to 60 staff with coffee bar and gym.
Mr Almas added: “Sheffield has been so welcoming, the city is on the up and was crying out for something like this. There’s a real positivity around and it’s a privilege to be part of that.
“We are way ahead of where we expected to be and the quality of the businesses is far above what we had hoped for.
“At this rate we will be full within 12 months from opening. We’re looking at taking another floor and actively looking for another building in Sheffield.”
Tenants include animation studio Jellyfish which outgrew the Cooper Project incubator. The company employs more than 300 and has four studios in London. Credits include two Star Wars films.
IT and business consultancy BJSS has opened after expanding out of Leeds. It is set to have 40 people in the office by the end of May, according to head of delivery Mike Sanderson.
Zoo Digital has moved its marketing and finance people in after outgrowing its office in the Citygate block. Other tenants include Teacher Active, Tessellate Technologies and North Star coffee
Wizu is four years old. It has two sites in Leeds and one in Bradford.
Mr Almas added: “Entrepreneurship is booming in the UK. There are a record number of start-ups and there’s a shift in the way people want to work. We love taking unloved buildings with character and bringing them to life.”
Wizu hired architect Liam Russell and Sheffield interior design company OVO Spaces.
Mr Almas also praised building owner Makepeace which had backed them to be an anchor tenant.
London-based Makepeace spent £4m refurbishing the eight-storey block after it stood empty for more than 10 years after being vacated by HSBC.
The freehold is held by Aberdeen Asset Management, owners of The Moor.
