The business center will open following the £1.8m refurbishment of the media centre

Leeds Media Center (LMC) in Chapeltown is marking the opening of its new hi-tech business center next week following a £1.8m refurbishment.

The business center will officially open next Friday, May 17, with the Mayor of Leeds in attendance.

Before that, he will launch Steps to Business on Monday. The scheme, a start-up training program for aspiring entrepreneurs aged 16-25, will give participants direct access to investors and business advisers, as well as state-of-the-art learning facilities and a podcast booth.

Wednesday hosts Enterprise Takeover Day, an informal event run by AD:VENTURE, which provides a one-stop shop for all your business support needs from West Yorkshire’s industry experts. Attendees will also have the opportunity to network with fellow entrepreneurs over lunch and take part in half-hour workshops on topics critical to business success.

Leeds Media Center is one of three business centers operated by Unity Enterprise, the not-for-profit subsidiary of BME housing association Unity Homes and Enterprise. The renovation was carried out in partnership with Leeds City Council and the European Regional Development Fund.

Leeds City Council, which owns the building, has also provided £80,000 of its Innovation@Leeds capital fund to equip the new business center with furniture, video conferencing facilities and computer hardware.

Adrian Green, Unity Enterprise Manager, said: “We are delighted to be hosting such an impressive range of activities over five days, each with a focus on entrepreneurship.

“Steps to Business will use unconventional training methods to help participants achieve their dreams. Monday’s launch event is free to attend and we’re expecting plenty of footfall from noon until 4pm, when it finishes.”

Cedric Boston, chief executive of Unity Homes and Enterprise, said: “Leeds Media Center is already a hive of entrepreneurial activity. The new business center will enable it to play an even greater role in empowering local people to succeed in business.”