Financial institution cost firm GoCardless will open a brand new workplace in Leeds later this yr, establishing a ‘Northern Hub’ to increase its UK presence and faucet into the regional expertise pool. The corporate plans to rent a crew of fifty staff for the brand new workplace throughout the first 12 months, with roles spanning gross sales, partnerships, company providers and operations.
GoCardless intends to scale the Leeds workplace quickly within the coming years, replicating the enlargement mannequin of its current hub workplaces in London and Riga. The transfer aligns with the UK authorities’s ‘Monetary Companies Development and Competitiveness Technique’ and the West Yorkshire Mixed Authority’s ‘Native Development Plan’.
Tapping into the Leeds fintech ecosystem
The brand new workplace will function a strategic centre for innovation and expertise acquisition. In its announcement, GoCardless described Leeds as one of many UK’s most vibrant monetary {and professional} providers centres, with a thriving fintech neighborhood and a powerful college community.
The corporate will be part of a variety of different monetary establishments and innovators within the metropolis, together with Leeds Constructing Society, the Financial institution of England, the Monetary Conduct Authority (FCA), Pexa, and LHV UK.
Hiroki Takeuchi, co-founder and chief govt officer at GoCardless, commented: “Leeds is without doubt one of the UK’s most vibrant monetary {and professional} providers centres, with a thriving fintech neighborhood and powerful college community. It was a pure selection for our Northern Hub and with the introduction of the Leeds Reforms, this dynamic ecosystem will solely develop. We’re excited to turn out to be a key participant on this fintech sizzling spot, tapping right into a wealthy expertise pool whereas additionally offering nearer, extra native help to our prospects and companions throughout the area.”
Alignment with regional and nationwide progress methods
The enlargement acquired help from nationwide, regional, and native authorities leaders, who framed it as a validation of efforts to develop the UK’s monetary providers sector outdoors of London.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, mentioned: “I’m delighted to see the plans for GoCardless to arrange their new workplace in Leeds, delivering good, high-skilled jobs throughout the area. Only a few months in the past I set out our Leeds Reforms, the plans to make the UK the highest vacation spot for monetary providers companies by tearing down boundaries to funding.”
Tracy Brabin, mayor of West Yorkshire Mixed Authority, added: “This announcement is a large vote of confidence in our area’s excellent ecosystem of expertise, innovation and collaboration. GoCardless’ enlargement is each a robust validation of our native progress plan and a transparent demonstration of the Chancellor’s Leeds Reforms in motion. In making a vibrant companion to the Metropolis of London, we’re forging the worldwide monetary district of the longer term.”
Councillor James Lewis, chief of Leeds Metropolis Council, mentioned: “We’re delighted to welcome GoCardless to Leeds and into the house of the Northern Sq. Mile. We’re assured that GoCardless’s experience and innovation will complement our current strengths and contribute considerably to the collaborative ‘Workforce Leeds’ strategy that drives success throughout all sectors”.
