The Cair headquarters are in the heart of Halifax, West Yorkshire. Often people have questioned the company’s location. A tech company with such innovative ideas and strong ethics. Why choose to base your offices in a small town and not a hustling bustling city?!
In celebration of Yorkshire Day, let us answer this question once and for all. There are a number of reasons why we’ve chosen to call Halifax home but on this blog we’ve listed the top few. By the end of this read we’re hoping you will be as convinced as we are that Cair are in fact based in a prime location, surely one that no city could beat.
1) Callywood, Halifornia
Hollywood style Calderdale sign on Beacon Hill – Source: Twitter @robintuddenham
The local courier has dubbed it as Callywood others argue Haliwood. All we know is the region has seen film producers flock to capture the charm of this little old village, bringing their high budget works to life.
Picturesque Yorkshire has always been home to many filming locations including blockbusters and classics such as Harry Potter, Robin Hood, The Railway Children and many more. Recently, Halifax in particular has received a bit of a reputation as the go to place to film with many household shows being filmed locally. These include the currently popular Gentleman Jack filmed in the famous Shibden Hall, The Last Tango In Halifax has various scenic locations subtly captured in every episode, Ackley Bridge depicts Halifax’s more urban side and not to forget Happy Valley of course, using the moors and woodlands as a backdrop to some of the more gritty scenes.
All this makes us question…Hollywood, California who?
2) Location, Location, Location
View from the Cair offices.
Halifax has a prime central location, with the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales less than an hour North, the Peak District approximately an hour south, Leeds to the East and Manchester to the West. All we need now is the seaside and every box is ticked…Oh wait, did we mention Todmordern has a secret beach.
Calderdale is fast becoming one of the best boroughs to live in. With Hebden Bridge being voted as THE best place to live in the UK. Just for context, the Cair offices are only a 20 minute drive from Hebden and the commute is one to be envied. Instead of the usual traffic jams, sardine packed trains and angry commuters; the winding roads over the valley, past the windmills and across the various canals and rivers, ensure you never suffer from Monday blues again.
Halifax is definitely on the up with some new projects giving the local economy a boost. Most notably the Piece Hall, a vast 18th Century building newly restored and the UK’s last remaining cloth hall has been converted into cafes, shops and an iconic events venue. Other places of significance and a must to visit are the Victorian Borough Market with it’s Rococo inspired cast Iron columns, the Square Chapel with it’s art deco ceiling and the juxtaposition of the new glass box Library attached to the old church spire.
Dubbed by the Guardian as…Halifax, the Vienna of Yorkshire.
3) Yorkshire Folk
Now we may be biased, but it’s common knowledge that us Yorkshire folk are as friendly as they come. This is especially true here at Cair, as most employees are local and often even a small walk away it guarantees for a close-knit welcoming atmosphere. We like to think of ourselves as a family at Cair with all new starters getting the privilege of having their portraits framed and displayed on the Cair family tree.
The laid back Yorkshire attitude to life guarantees a fuss free down to earth and direct approach that is hard to find elsewhere…particularly all whilst brandishing a proper brew.
Yes – It’s true, we’re experts when it comes to a good brew and we know a thing about pies and puds too.
No – We don’t all greet each other by saying ‘Eeh by gum’.
4) Northern Powerhouse
A government initiative to unite the economic power of the North of England and become a financial rival to London. By providing more opportunities and improved infrastructure to shift some of the economic growth from the South upwards. The Northern Powerhouse is designed to ignite the business potential of the North. These effects can also be seen in smaller towns and villages, such as those in the Calder Valley region.
The North has always been a bit of an underdog, not to mention home to world leading innovators from a variety of industries. Historically, Yorkshire has also given the world; Football, Stainless Steel and not to forget Yorkshire Puddings. We say, it’s high time the North takes back its crown.
…The North Remembers.
End.