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Conference Leeds celebrates Channel 4’s relocation to Leeds

ConferenceLeeds is thrilled that broadcaster Channel 4 have chosen Leeds to be home to its national headquarters. In a huge win for the city, the relocation demonstrates the strength of the creative and digital sectors in Leeds and increases the city’s stature as a conferencing destination in the UK.

The broadcaster today announced that they will move their operations into the city, after a successful campaign by the Leeds City Council, the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership and other partner organisations across the region – who worked collaboratively on an extensive bid during 2018. As part of the relocation of Channel 4’s national headquarters, more than 30 bids had been submitted from around the UK, which were whittled down to a final 6 earlier this year, and saw Leeds compete against cities such as Birmingham and Greater Manchester to win.

The broadcaster is a perfect fit for the city, with the strength, expertise and talent already on offer. Leeds is already home to a thriving creative industry and brands with global reach, such as famous gaming brands and award winning creative media agencies servicing international clients and major household names. In addition, Leeds has well-established TV links already, and Channel 4’s headquarters will only strengthen the creative hub within the city, compliment the wealth of expertise that currently exists, and ensure that it’s a destination for key decision makers and producers.

Leeds is also a leader in the digital sector – being home to over 3,500 digital and technology companies. Over 102,000 people work across the digital sector in Leeds City Region (NOMIS 2015), with key specialisms in creative media, data analytics, cyber security, FinTech, telecoms, health and education technologies. Leeds is already transforming businesses across the globe, and will continue to build and innovate it’s offering as new talent is drawn into the city through the establishment of new high profile headquarters.

Cllr Judith Blake, Leader of Leeds City Council, said: “We are thrilled that Channel 4 have chosen Leeds to be home to its national headquarters and we know this is a great fit for both the city and the broadcaster. Leeds offers a home in the heart of the UK and the North, with strong links to screen, and a constantly evolving creative sector with huge ambitions to be even greater in the next few years and beyond.
“With no other major broadcaster in the North East this news is very welcome, and will allow us to shine a light and really cement the world class work in film and TV that is taking place in Yorkshire and the wider north. We look forward to welcoming Channel 4 into the city when they arrive in 2019.”

Claire Heap, Head of ConferenceLeeds, commented: “We’re delighted to hear that Channel 4 have chosen Leeds to be home to their national headquarters! Their relocation to the city is a perfect fit – with our established digital and creative sector strengths – and will only help to increase the stature of Leeds as a leading UK conferencing destination and help to attract further conferencing business to our unique and interesting venues. We’re excited to see all that the relocation will bring, and the wider opportunities for the conferencing and event sector in Leeds moving forwards.”