New Media Leeds

"New media" is the terminology applied to the range of technologies that have come to complement - and in some cases supplant - analogue media formats such as television, print and radio. This encompasses such diverse things as digital radio and HDTV but is most commonly used to refer to entirely new platforms such as websites, blogs, ecommerce outlets, mobile internet technologies and so on.

Because such technologies don't require the same level of centralised infrastructure this has led to a more even geographic distribution of new media companies. It is now possible to largely run a new media office entirely remotely with nothing more advanced than a speedy and reliable internet connection.

On paper, this means that companies can make themselves more cost-effective by locating to areas where rents are cheaper. In practice, however, new media companies continue to congregate around central hubs of business - and Leeds is no exception.

Even in this digital age, some business is best conducted face to face and companies need a talent pool to draw on in order to get the right skills mix to thrive. Big university cities such as Leeds have a constantly refreshed supply of youthful, well trained and educated people who are ideally suited to new media roles.

In addition, with its long established presence as a centre of business, Leeds has large numbers of effective, market-leading companies for whom new media is part of their long term strategy for growth. No surprise then that the suppliers for this need have tended to locate either in Leeds itself or a number of towns around its hub, where overheads are cheaper (such as Harrogate and Wetherby etc).

Leeds offers a compelling mix for new media companies. Well served by road, air and rail the city lies within an hour's drive of over 7 million people - and other major centres of commerce such as Manchester, Sheffield and Hull are within easily serviceable distance. Leeds also has a great communications infrastructure with vast, reliable data centres and experienced telecommunications companies.

These factors, taken together, make Leeds an ideal centre for new media companies.