Students’ food and beverage plans a hit for Victoria Gate

The second year students worked together in small groups on the consultancy project for Hammerson plc, the developers of the £165million scheme, which is due to open later this year. The students were asked to develop a communications plan for the hospitality provision at Victoria Gate, addressing both the food and beverage on offer and ways in which the new development can continue to work together with Kirkgate Market to encourage customers to shop at both sites.

Alistair Macauley, BA (Hons) Retail Management Course Leader at Leeds Beckett, said: “The students presented their ideas and communication plans in Hammerson’s Victoria Quarter boardroom. Their ideas included a champagne and cheese bar, a street food court, 'Betty's' style tea room and a sushi bar. Hammerson were extremely impressed with our students’ ideas and their level of engagement throughout the project. Exposing students to this type of project will be invaluable when it comes to them working as a graduate.”

Sarah Lister-Blow, a second year BA (Hons) Hospitality, Leadership and Management student at Leeds Beckett, commented: “Hammerson has a long-term relationship with Kirkgate Market and we were asked to come up with a communications strategy, looking at how the Market and Hammerson could work together with the prestigious new Victoria Gate development and support them to increase footfall to the Market. We generated ideas around physically connecting using George Street and also covering communication styles to unite Victoria Gate customers with Kirkgate Market. We hope that our ideas have the potential to be carried forward.”

Ida Kristen Davidsen, also a second year BA (Hons) Hospitality, Leadership and Management student, added: “The experience of working on a live brief has been so important: seeing how this would work in real life. It’s not just an academic piece of work but something that actually applies to a practical approach.”

James Rogers, Community Manager for Hammerson plc, said: “Developing the link between the old and the new, in this case Kirkgate Market and Victoria Gate, will be crucial in ensuring the continued success of the thriving retail and leisure sector in Leeds. The students’ projects specifically looked at the food and beverage provision, both in the new development and the market, and how best to ensure a relevant mix of offering which will be enough to tempt shoppers from both to each other.”

Alistair added: “The Victoria Gate project is one of the most prestigious retail/leisure developments in Europe, built in the heart of our great city.  We are delighted that Leeds Beckett University’s students have been given the opportunity to play a part in delivering this exciting project and we are extremely grateful to Hammerson. It is this kind of ‘real life’ experience that allows our students to gain unique skills to equip them for their future careers.”

Victoria Gate will house a flagship John Lewis store as well as a multi-storey car park for more than 800 cars and a two-street arcade with shops, restaurants, cafes and leisure space, linking Victoria Quarter to the John Lewis store.

Images l-r: Sarah Lister-Blow, David Hillman, Regional Admin Manager at Sir Robert McAlpine, Ida Davidsen