This is the first time that Dahua has expanded in the UK beyond its existing offices in Maidenhead, Berkshire. The new northern office will be located at the White Rose Office Park in Millshaw Park Lane, Leeds, around 4 miles south of the city centre. With its handy location between the M62, M1 and M621 and also with nearby rail connections to Leeds city centre, the new office has excellent transport links.

The main aim of establishing a permanent presence in the north of England is for Dahua to provide better support for its local distributors, integrators and installers, as well as to offer training locally and provide a local base for partner events and client demonstrations.

Dahua Technology’s global HQ in China is located in Hangzhou, a city that has been twinned with Leeds since 1988. So, it was no surprise when the company approached Leeds City Council to help find a suitable location for its new offices. The link between the two cities generates cooperation in the fields of business, education and culture. Last year, officials and representatives from Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership visited Dahua’s global HQ as part of a delegation to Hangzhou and Shanghai.

Dahua’s connections with Leeds and the fact that its home city of Hangzhou is twinned with the northern powerhouse have resulted in links with many local companies and public bodies. “Working with a proactive organisation such as Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership really helps us, because the partnership goes out of its way to create mutually beneficial business activities. It has also helped us set up the new office,” said Ben Perkins, Head of Marketing, Dahua UK and Ireland.

“The partnership attracts business and international money to the region, which not only makes a positive impact on the lives of the people who live and work in Leeds, but also brings a great wealth of talent into the area, which will benefit Dahua as we grow our presence in the north.”

Councillor Judith Blake, Leader of Leeds City Council said “Leeds has a long and prestigious relationship with China. Our trade and investment missions have helped build relationships and it is great to welcome Dahua to Leeds as a result of this activity. Next week we will be holding a series of business meetings in Hong Kong, Hangzhou and Qingdao to review how our cities can work together to increase trade and deliver economic growth.”

The Leeds City Region covers Barnsley, Bradford, Calderdale, Craven, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds, Selby, Wakefield and York, and has a £1 billion-plus Local Growth Deal in place to boost jobs and growth across the region. It is home to the UK’s largest regional financial centre and has a digital technology sector now worth more than £6.6 billion.