Sheffield steps up bid to woo top legal firms after HSBC job cuts

Deputy council leader Leigh Bramall said meetings with interested legal firms are taking place next week in a bid to attract more skilled workers to Sheffield.

HSBC announced on Monday it is to cut almost 600 IT jobs in Sheffield and Tankersley. Coun Bramall said it was vital for the city’s economy that professional jobs are kept in the city.

The council has contacted every top 100 legal firm to offer them the opportunity to relocate.

The ‘North Shoring’ campaign is promoting Sheffield as having cheaper office space than London and rival northern cities such as Leeds and Manchester, as well as highlighting the number of skilled graduates based in the city.

Promotional material backing the campaign says salary costs are 28 per cent lower in Sheffield than the capital.

Coun Bramall said it is hoped the campaign will soon result in new jobs coming into the city.

“We are going to London next week,” he said.

“ We are telling legal firms Sheffield is a good place to do business. We went to the top 100 law firms in London asking them to consider moving to the city.

“A few are interested and we are going down to speak to those interested in relocating part of their firms.

“In terms of office space, it is about one-third of the cost of London.

“We think we have got a lot to offer people.”

Partners from leading Sheffield law firms and Creative Sheffield – the economic development arm of Sheffield Council – will be taking part in a Q&A session with interested parties at the Law Society in London next Tuesday.

Edward Highfield, director of Creative Sheffield, said: “Sheffield provides a compelling proposition for businesses that want competitive office space and access to a highly skilled and talented workforce.

“We are going to London to talk directly to legal sector firms about their requirements and the support we could offer them.”

Coun Bramall said the campaign is part of ongoing council efforts to attract more business, professional and financial services jobs to Sheffield, as well as retaining existing companies.