Jobs in Leeds

The West Yorkshire city of Leeds boasts incredible architecture, an array of cultural institutions, and a rich history.

Leeds can be traced to the 5th-century name for a wooded area of the Kingdom of Elmet. The name has been applied to many administrative entities over the centuries - but this Yorkshire town is where the name stuck. It changed from being the name of a small manorial borough in the 13th century, through several incarnations, to being the name attached to the present metropolitan borough. During the Industrial Revolution, Leeds developed into a major mill town; wool was the dominant industry, but flax, engineering, iron foundries, printing, and other industries were important. From being a compact market town in the valley of the River Aire, in the 16th century, Leeds expanded and absorbed the surrounding villages to become a populous urban centre by the mid-20th century.

Alongside technological advances and industrial expansion, Leeds retained an interest in trading in agricultural commodities, with the Corn Exchange opening in 1864 and still remaining in the city today. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Leeds became a major centre for the production and trading of wool, with Marshall's Mill being one of the first of many factories constructed in Leeds from around 1790 when the most significant were woollen finishing and flax mills. Leeds displays a variety of natural and built landmarks.

The city has a variety of beautiful natural landmarks including diverse sites as the gritstone outcrop of Otley Chevin and the Fairburn Ings RSPB reserve. The city's parks at Roundhay and Temple Newsam have long been owned and maintained in the centre of Leeds are Millennium Square, City Square, Park Square and Victoria Gardens.

As well as the famed central city war memorial there are also 42 other war memorials in the suburbs, towns and villages in the district. The built environment embraces the likes of Morley Town Hall and the trio of buildings in Leeds, Leeds Town Hall, Corn Exchange and Leeds City Museum by the architect Cuthbert Brodrick. The two white buildings on the Leeds skyline are the Parkinson building of Leeds University and the Civic Hall, with golden owls adorning the tops of the latter's twin spires which look imposing yet stunning at all times of the day. Armley Mills, Tower Works, and the Egyptian-style Temple Works hark back to the city's industrial past, while the site and ruins of Kirkstall Abbey display the beauty and grandeur of Cistercian architecture. Elland Road football stadium and Headingley Stadium for cricket and rugby are well known to sports enthusiasts, and the White Rose Centre is well-known to the shopping fans among us.

As well as beautiful monuments and public spaces, Leeds is also home to a variety of festivals. The city hosts the annual Leeds music festival every year, as well as Leeds Carnival, Leeds International Film Festival and Leeds Festival Fringe. Leeds is home to a number of famous faces, such as Malcolm McDowell, Peter O’Toole, Jeremy Paxman, Katie Rushworth, Corinne Bailey Rae and The Spice Girls’ Mel B.