■ Work
Work It was Sheffield’s workers who made the city internationally famous in the 19th century, pioneering developments in steel that changed the world. Though heavy industry has declined in recent decades, much of the city’s workforce keeps alive its heritage of technological innovation. And Sheffield’s reputation for cutting-edge enterprise continues to define much of its changed economy. The city centre is now home to thousands of public and private enterprises. The number of creative, digital and media industries in Sheffield has boomed since the 80s. These industries are focussed in central hubs like Electric Works, the Workstation and Sheffield Technology Parks, creating an exciting community of startups and ventures both large and small. They also range from everything from the BBC Radio Sheffield studios to the Plusnet offices, as well as agencies and studios including Field, Llama Digital and Rocca, and co-working space Cubo. The city centre’s unique character, as well as its good connections to rail and road networks, have also attracted global and national corporations. The likes of DLA Piper, Mott MacDonald, Ove Arup, Sky and Zoo Digital have invested in Sheffield, becoming major employers that stand harmoniously alongside the independent business community. 121
