The first cohort set to launch in April 2023 will be based at Department Leeds Dock, the former waterside casino which has been transformed into a home for creative, media and tech businesses of varying sizes. 

Over four cohorts in Manchester, Exchange has supported more than 450 people from over 102 tech businesses, creating over 140 jobs and raising more than £11m in funding. It is now setting its sights on achieving the same successes on the other side of the Pennines.

Exchange offers ambitious companies the opportunity to establish themselves in the desirable Leeds Dock district and tap into the talent, infrastructure, and amenities the area offers. It is already home to leaders in the field with Sky Digital, Channel 4 and Journey Further calling Leeds Dock their home.

Alongside a hot desk membership in Department’s workspace, Exchange also provides support from industry experts, workshops, funding opportunities, and a community of likeminded entrepreneurs.

Partners of the scheme span industries that an early-stage business often requires, including investment, legal, hiring and marketing. Exchange partners already confirmed include CRSI, Investor Ladder, Praetura Ventures and Clarion solicitors.

With over 49,000 people working in tech start-ups across Leeds, the scheme is now calling on innovative founders and businesses to apply for its first cohort in the city, before applications close on 28th February.

Alice Pickersgill, community outreach lead at Exchange, commented: “Exchange has accelerated many successful start-ups on their growth journeys, and we want to help even more entrepreneurs achieve their full potential. Leeds made for an obvious location to expand the Exchange scheme as one of the UK's fastest-growing tech cities. Given the scale of the tech industry in the city, it’s a great place to continue building a platform for tech businesses in the North to succeed. We encourage any tech start-up that is founded on passion and innovation to come and take advantage of the Exchange offering.

“We recognise that the journey for start-ups is never a straight road. But having the right support can make a real difference and we are really excited to work with the Leeds ecosystem to support the next wave of growing tech businesses.”

Anthony Powell, Managing Director at Department, commented: “We’re delighted to offer the second Exchange base at Department Leeds Dock, so small businesses can benefit from the work, wellness, and social amenities on offer. It provides an instant welcoming community for networking with businesses of all sizes. With various workspaces available, for collaboration, social discussion and focused work, the start-ups of Exchange have everything they need to scale. As businesses grow, we can accommodate them and their needs with studios spaces, larger suites and pay-as-you-go event spaces to use as they expand.

“Being a department member means life is made easier. Our varied inventory includes Department Store, our bar, kitchen, and lifestyle store, as well as Condition gym with state-of-the-art kit, daily classes and a programme of wellness activities.”

The ever-growing community of Exchange alumni includes Pixel Max, a 3D virtual workplace tech business which raised more than £2 million while it was an Exchange member (and went on to scale within Department’s workspace), Versori who recently won a place and funding from Y-Combinator, and Sparkbox, a retail AI and data solutions provider. 

Lindsay Fisher, Co-Founder at Sparkbox, commented: “Joining Exchange should be a no-brainer for anyone wanting to take their startup to the next level. The value of your network should never be underestimated when building a business. Our time on Exchange stands out as real catalyst for expanding our network with investors, partners, and other founders in the north of England.”

Department Leeds Dock will be launching on Thursday 16th February with a showcase of the brand-new workspace, where attendees can experience ‘Department For A Day’. Entrepreneurs seeking support with their Exchange application can meet with Alice Pickersgill, Exchange programme lead, in a Q&A drop-in session as part of the event. In addition, there will be a number of small business workshops and a chance to see all that Department has to offer.

If you would like to apply for the first cohort in Leeds and be based at the brand-new Department Leeds Dock, please visit: https://www.departmentuk.com/exchange-leeds-dock/

For more information on the launch of Department Leeds Dock and to join the two-day event, please visit: https://departmentlaunch.eventbrite.co.uk