A TRAINING firm is the latest to sign up for space at a major mill conversion in Huddersfield.

ESTL is taking 15,000sq ft of office space at the restored 19th-century Folly Hall Mills on the banks of the Colne.

The Grade II listed building on the edge of the town centre is being converted into 60,000sq ft offices by Dewsbury-based Jay Tee Group.

ESTL, of Penistone Road, Kirkburton, is to take space in both mills which make up the complex, as well as the extended former boiler-house.

The company will be taking 6,900sq ft in the small mill, which means it is now fully occupied. ESTL is also taking 3,300sq ft in the boiler-house and 3,400sq ft in the main mill.

The new premises will provide space for about 100 staff.

Rachel Stirling, managing director of ESTL, said the company needed substantially bigger premises, adding: “We are moving to Folly Hall because we have experienced considerable growth in the last 12 months.

“We chose Folly Hall for a number of reasons, including its central location – which will enable us to retain existing staff – its parking facilities and the chance of having purpose-built premises with specifically designed spaces.

“It is wonderful to be part of an exciting regeneration scheme for Huddersfield and to create new employment opportunities for the local community.”

The move will be in three stages. At first ESTL will occupy three floors of the small mill, moving in in mid-February.

In mid-May the company will occupy the newly installed atrium and existing boiler-house. By mid-September it will occupy half the ground floor in the main mill.

ESTL specialises in training and assessment, operating from offices in West Yorkshire and the North-East, as well as via a nationwide network of trainers and assessors.

Paul Bailey, project director at the Jay Tee Group, said: “We are delighted to welcome ESTL to Folly Hall Mills, which is a tremendous development for Huddersfield.

“It will involve significant regeneration of the riverside area, creating new employment opportunities and raising the profile of Huddersfield as a major office destination in the region.’’

Mr Bailey said: “Altogether, there is 40,000sq ft of prime office space left in the main mill over five floors, which can be leased or bought. This space can be divided into office units from 2,000sq ft upwards.

“We feel they will prove very attractive to professional services firms of all sizes, as well as to the public sector. We love it so much we are moving here ourselves. The interior of Folly Mill features vaulted ceilings, spiral staircases and exposed beams.”

Mr Bailey said: “Phase one of our development has involved the conversion of the first of the two riverside buildings, which is now full. And thanks to this great success, phase two will be launched in February.”

The joint agents for the scheme are Eddisons and Michael Steel and Co.

Paul Andrew, head of agency at Eddisons, said: “There are a number of prestigious schemes being proposed for central Huddersfield, but Folly Hall will be the first to deliver the high-quality accommodation, so full of character, that is preferred by many modern businesses and organisations.”

Alec Michael, Partner at Michael Steel & Co added: “There has been demand for high quality office accommodation in the Huddersfield area for some time and notwithstanding the general economic downturn, the quality of the Folly Hall refurbishment has gone a long way to meeting much of this for both local and regional operations.”

Huddersfield-based architects Above and Beyond have already taken two floors in the smaller of the two mills and will move there from the Media Centre in Northumberland Street.

The company is taking 4,700sq ft of office space, with rents of about £15 per sq ft.