Agency works to preserve heritage

Studio 116, based in Batley Resource Centre, was chosen by Iraq’s official historical body to help promote its rich cultural heritage and has worked around the clock to produce an informative, interactive website.

Iraq Heritage protects historic buildings, religious shrines and monuments – and also gave the Batley design firm its largest project to date.

Owner Mufaras Assyaed, who founded the agency four years ago, said the country had a lot of rich history.

He said: “The guys involved in this organisation wanted to show not just Iraqis, but the world, that there is a lot of culture in Iraq, no matter what religion you are or what background you come from. They have a lot of heritage from the Babylon days, thousands of years ago.”

Iraq Heritage co-founder and executive director Aymen Jawad said: “Iraq Heritage has been designed with the aim to enlighten Iraq and all of mankind about its former glories as the cradle of civilisation – none of this would have been possible without the 24 hour support and responsiveness of Studio 116.”

The agency is in the process of opening an office in Dubai to support its growing reputation and workload in the Middle East, buoyed by the team’s ability to work in both English and Arabic.

The small firm worked outside of office hours to make up for the time difference between the UK and Iraq – and prides itself on its global clientele.

Mufaras said: “People ask why we don’t move to Leeds, but I would rather be in Batley and bring people to the town.”