The new office, which is scheduled to open in January 2015, will be located opposite ‘The Light’ retail and leisure complex and is within a few minutes’ walk of Leeds train station, the Town Hall and a wealth of bars, shops and restaurants – which will undoubtedly prove popular with Softcat’s fun-loving employees.

With over 3,500 square foot of space to utilise, the new office will place a premium on employee satisfaction; in keeping with the fun culture of Softcat’s other UK offices, new employees and business partners can expect to see a mix of pool, table tennis, Xbox consoles as well as on-site recreation and dining facilities.

Sales director Jamie Burke said: “Since project conception I’ve been genuinely excited at the prospect of Softcat Leeds, and the more we’ve researched and visited the city the more this excitement has grown. It’s crucial for our staff to have the opportunity to play as hard as they work – and they work hard! Where better to socialise than in one of the most fast-paced, diverse, lively cities in the UK?” He added, “I’ve been amazed at how much Leeds has developed in recent years and simply by walking round the centre you can feel there is a real buzz and youthful energy, which in some part is down to the quality and size of its three universities. There is also a groundswell of optimism around the emergence of a Manchester-Leeds northern power base which will undoubtedly crystallise should the HS3 high speed rail network receive the green light.”

The new office will open with an initial team of 15 to 20 employees made up of experienced staff, who will be quickly joined by further new recruits. Following in the footsteps of its other regional offices in Manchester, London and Bristol, Softcat fully expects the new office to grow to in excess of 75 staff over the next three years.

Leeds office manager Ashley Bilham added “It is a privilege to be given the responsibility of opening, growing and developing Softcat’s fifth regional office, especially in a city as energetic and buoyant as Leeds. Having joined Softcat less than five years ago straight from university this new opportunity for me really does validate the company’s claims of investing in its staff and helping to accelerate their careers in IT.”

Whilst Softcat fully expects a high percentage of new recruits to come from the local graduate talent pool, it is also looking for experienced sales and technical professionals. As a company recently voted the 2^nd best place to work in the UK and 6^th best place in Europe, it has plenty to offer both graduates and non-graduates.

Burke added, “Softcat has developed a tried and tested formula for the successful opening of regional offices, however I have no doubt in my mind that Ashley, as a native Yorkshire man, will ensure the office has its own unique character and culture reflective of both Softcat and the City of Leeds”.

Whilst the office will primarily be used as a regional sales hub for private and public sector account managers, there will also be a number of specialist and support roles ranging from administration to technical specialists and consultants.

Softcat is now actively recruiting for both its Leeds and Manchester offices, and would welcome applicants to contact its HR department directly. More details can be found here