The Atrium

Step through the doors of the Elsie Whiteley Innovation Centre and you’ll find yourself in the Atrium, the vibrant heart of our business community.

More than a reception area or a place to pass through, the Atrium is where people come together. It’s where tenants, visitors, entrepreneurs and professionals meet over coffee, exchange ideas, catch up with familiar faces, and start their day.

Every morning, people walk through this space on their way to work. Friendly greetings are exchanged, conversations begin, and the sense of community that makes the Centre so special comes to life. For many businesses based here, the Atrium is the first and last part of the building they experience each day, making it a natural hub for connection and collaboration.

A Space for Everyone

The Atrium serves many purposes throughout the day.

Whether you’re:

• grabbing a coffee from the café,
• finding a quiet corner to focus,
• working remotely for the day,
• meeting clients or colleagues,
• discussing a new idea,
• attending a business support session,
• or simply taking a moment to recharge,

the Atrium provides a welcoming environment where business and community meet.

Colour, Character and Community

Full of colour, natural light and energy, the Atrium reflects the diversity and innovation of the businesses that call the Centre home.

It’s a place where chance encounters often lead to valuable connections. Where conversations started over coffee become collaborations. Where new businesses are supported, established businesses grow, and ideas take shape.

For many people, the Atrium feels less like a shared workspace and more like a community living room for Halifax’s business network.

A Link to the Past

One of the Atrium’s most distinctive features is the original revolving door that remains as a piece of the building’s history. Today it provides a route through to the Peace Garden, creating a connection between the Centre’s industrial heritage and its modern purpose.

The building has changed considerably over the years. Long-time visitors may remember a very different Atrium, with a dark wood reception desk positioned near the entrance and traditional bi-folding lift doors carrying people between floors.

Today, the space is brighter, more open and designed around collaboration, reflecting how modern businesses work while still preserving elements of its past.

From Mill to Innovation Centre

The building itself has a remarkable history.

Originally built in 1867 as West Grove Mill, the site has served many purposes over the years, including steel manufacturing, worsted spinning, leather tanning and textile production. It later became home to the renowned Elsie Whiteley fashion business, which employed local workers and supplied clothing to major retailers including John Lewis, Selfridges and Fenwick.

The mill closed in 1994 as manufacturing declined across the UK, before being redeveloped and reopening as the Elsie Whiteley Innovation Centre, providing flexible workspace and business support for growing companies

Today, the Centre blends its industrial heritage with modern facilities, preserving original architectural features while supporting a thriving community of businesses, entrepreneurs and organisations.

The Heart of the Centre

While the building’s history stretches back more than 150 years, the purpose of the Atrium remains simple: bringing people together.

It is where ideas are shared, opportunities are discovered, businesses are supported, and communities are built.

The Atrium is where people meet, work, create, collaborate and connect.

Quite simply, it is the heart of the Elsie Whiteley Innovation Centre. ❤️