Open Innovations - Leeds

Jackie Berry

Highly recommend this venue.

I facilitated a two day work shop for 30 people & ODI was perfect.

Great tec, plenty of supplies and a really good room with natural light and loads of space. Everyone commented on how great the lunches were on both days.

And the people supporting us could not have been more helpful, taking a few last minute requests for additional stuff in their stride.

Thank you Catherine, Amy and Beth.

You were fantastic!

Steven Hunt

The space and facilities are generally good. However, the location isn't ideal if arriving into Leeds by train. Access to the space is poor, it's either a very small and slow lift or a non direct walk through the building to use the stairs. In order to maintain a reasonable temperature, especially on warmer days it's likely the windows will need to be opened. Unfortunately this can result in unwanted noise from the road and rail line, given the proximity of the junction and tracks.

Jonathan LeMoine

Really nice event space. We had a meeting here and the facilities were good. Room size and aesthetics were fine and the facilities team were really helpful

Kathryn Grace

ODI Leeds is a connecting hub for everyone taking an open approach to innovation and service improvements across the city of Leeds and surrounding area. It is both local, regional and national in it's connections. If you visit you'll be welcomed by Paul or Kathryn Connell who head up the space.

People you meet there are always interested in connecting, sharing and increasingly developing new businesses and innovations together.

It's a great physical space slap bang in the city centre, so very easy to access. Unlike your 'corporate' look and feel space it is open, light, lots of space to spread out in and be used in different ways - an evening of talks, a day workshopping, a weekend design/innovation event or be part of a community that use it for hot desking. You can make a mess and be creative... everything is in flux and nothing is too finished/polished... making it relaxed and friendly and able to adapt whatever the need.

The community of people that have gathered around it and you're likely to meet are all movers and shakers in the city looking to create change by utilising the potential of 'open'. You'll find open data, open business, open design, people sharing learning and know-how, people connecting, collaborating and helping each other.

It's a great meeting place, the open google calendar keeps a diary of bookings on what is going on in the space each day, so you know if you can use the space for what you need.

You can book the whole space or just parts of it. You can take a hot desking deal for your small business team.

You get a sense that the future is bright here... bridging gaps between local government, business, SMEs with a welcoming 'always interested' community spirit.

ODI is a bit like the Betahaus in Berlin, especially when you look at who else is in the building - Café 164, Leeds Gallery, Colours may vary, office space for SMEs... and until recently Duke's Studios. A very vibrant building and community full of talent.

ODI Leeds is relaxed but totally serious at business - connecting with the latest in technology, data, innovation and people centred design.

I'm so glad we've got this in Leeds... It enables a community to move forward together - we always share! 🙂

I've used it for or Global Service Jam weekend events where we (50) gather over a weekend and connect with other parallel events online across the world to learn about and design services together - a hugely fun and energetic experience.

Leeds used to feel small and closed in the 80s - but with the Internet and the development of 'open' thinking/design/data that you find at ODI Leeds - Leeds has grown into it's shoes. Let's play...

We love ODI Leeds!

Jason Boasman

Great meeting place, with versatile space available. The food made on site was fantastic!

Tom

I will be running an event at the ODI Leeds Node for the fourth year in a row in September. The staff, facilities, location and catering are all wonderful and I highly recommend booking the space!

Chris Hill

Light, interesting building with just the right amount of social buzz. I'm a new co-worker and it's soothed my domestic cabin fever. Affordable and two minutes from any sandwich you can think of

James Reeves

Great place for co-workers with plenty of desk, power points, fast WiFi and plenty of tea and coffee to keep the flow going.