This week saw professional services firm PwC open its new, larger office in Bradford city centre at our landmark One City Park building.
The firm marked the occasion with a celebration including the firm’s Senior Partner, Marco Amitrano and Market Senior Partner for Leeds and Bradford, Andy Ward alongside staff, Bradford Council Leader, Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin and Simon Dew and James Pitt from Muse.
All 179 employees from the original Bradford office moved over to One City Park, which has been developed by Muse in partnership with Bradford Council with direct support provided by West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership.
When it opened back in 2019, PwC’s Bradford office employed 66 people. This has since grown to 179, an increase of 171%, around 29% of whom are under the age of 20. As one of largest, youngest and most diverse cities in the UK, Bradford was chosen as an ideal location to tap into talent, support clients in the region and create opportunity. The new office space will help PwC to grow its presence in Bradford, with a plan to increase its workforce to around 500 employees over the next few years.
Andy Ward, PwC UK’s Market Senior Partner for Leeds and Bradford, said:
“This marks a significant milestone for our Bradford presence. When we moved here in 2019, it was primarily to create opportunity for young people in the city, but this has in turn created broader business opportunities. Our expansion demonstrates our commitment to our Bradford clients and the people who live in the district. You only have to step out onto the balcony of the office to see all the regeneration taking place, and we’re proud to be a part of that.”
PwC’s new office move is part of larger regeneration plans for the Bradford district being brought forward by Bradford Council, central government, private businesses and placemaking partnerships, such as the English Cities Fund. Plans include a new through train station as part of the Southern Gateway project, the Bradford City Village project which aims to deliver over 1,000 new homes, as well as plans for Mass Transit with a tram line connecting Bradford and Leeds city centres.
Projects already well underway include a new rail maintenance facility in Shipley creating around 90 high-skilled jobs and more reliable journeys for the district, the new Darley Street Market, the Transforming Cities Fund which is reshaping the city centre creating more green and public spaces to make it much easier, safer and more pleasant for people to spend time and get around the city centre on foot or by bike.
Simon Dew, Development Director at Muse said: “PwC moving into One City Park and the fit-out of its 27,050 sq foot office space into a contemporary workplace for its growing team is an exemplar illustration of how this building, with views of the transforming Bradford skyline as its backdrop, is the perfect location for modern businesses to locate and thrive. We are in talks with a number of potential occupiers for the remaining available space at One City Park and we hope to share more details over the coming months.”
Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Leader of Bradford Council added:
“When PwC became our anchor tenant at One City Park, we knew that their investment showed just how important this office space is in the wider regeneration of Bradford. The partnerships across the region between local and central government, and private and public sector organisations are bringing opportunities and investment, which allow us to continue to grow. With Bradford district having achieved the UK City of Culture 2025 designation, we’re excited to demonstrate the district’s achievements and huge potential alongside partners like PwC.”
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