The Magazine of Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce
Businesses lobby Ed on Net Zero
Centrica bosses join call for Government action
Big Interview
Cllr Anthony Raspin on his role as Goole Mayor and his passion for the town
Treasury holds the key to investment, Climate Secretary tells Chamber
Liz Harris of Adrenaline Advertising Ltd - one of our newest members!
May/June 2025
5 Kirk Akdemir on the importance of the Chamber Expo
6 Goole’s Mayor, Cllr Anthony Raspin
8 Angus Young looks back at Hull’s maritime heritage
10 Treasury holds the key to investment, Climate Secretary tells Chamber
Member News
14 Our biggest flipping pancake event yet!
16 Nominees for Abba-tastic awards revealed
18 Goole Business Awards celebrate sell-out success!
20 BID awards triumph and backing for PSPO
21 Make connections at Chamber Expo
22 Lord Mayor in the driving seat Spotlight Features 24 Professional Services The perks of hiring a project manager 26 Preparing to sell your business
28 Hotels, Conferences & Exhibitions Get the most out of business exhibitions
30 Choosing the perfect venue
32 Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP)
at British Steel
36 Legal & Finance Law firms join in historic merger
38 Community & Business Apprentices shine at awards
39 Manufacturing Developing the skills of the future
40 Motoring Nissan Juke sparkles in bright new colours
42 Hyundai Santa Fe is a real family jewel
44 The Chamber welcomes new members New Member Spotlight
46 Liz Harris, Adrenaline Advertising Ltd
COVER PHOTO: Martin Scargill, Managing Director of Centrica Energy Storage, and Chief Executive
Chis O’Shea. See page 10
Growing your business, building our economy
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President’s Message
When it comes to choosing the highlight of the Chamber’s year, for me there’s only one winner.
We have our fantastic awards evenings for Northern Lincolnshire and Goole and Howdenshire, we have our all-important AGM and we host any number of insightful briefings featuring renowned guest speakers.
But Chamber Expo is the event that is open to all, free of charge and brings together members and their guests from across the region.
As someone who has been involved since we first opened our Hull office in 2012, and who is now looking forward to sponsoring Expo for the third year running, I feel a special connection to an event which dates back to year one of Humber Business Week and is still a key element.
At AaGlobal Language Services we first became involved in Expo because we were new to the Hull and Humber region. As we became established we increased our commitment, taking a prominent stand next to the main entrance.
In 2022 we stepped up again as major sponsor, partly to support the Chamber, its membership and the wider business community, and also because we found that exhibiting at Expo was delivering huge benefits for our business.
It has provided a local platform from which we could showcase some of our major projects including the COP26 Summit in Glasgow, the NHS track and trace service and Transport for London.
It has also facilitated any number of introductions to public and private sector concerns regionally and nationally, and to some valuable international contacts. Many of these encounters have resulted in commissions and contracts.
The other side of the coin of course is that if you’re not in the room you don’t get the opportunities. If you’re missing, you miss out.
So we’ll be there again when Chamber Expo 2025 takes place on Tuesday 3 June at the Mercure Grange Park Hotel and we’d love to see you. Whether you’re sponsoring, exhibiting or just passing through please drop by and say hello, bonjour, hola, ciao or whatever trips off the tongue.
Find out more about this year’s Chamber Expo on Page 21.
Kirk Akdemir President, Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce
Chamber Patrons
As a not-for-profit organisation, the Chamber is very grateful to our Patrons, who support us in our aim to help our members develop their businesses.
• AA Global Language Services Ltd – Gold
• Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP
• ARUP
• ASM Global
• Clugston Distribution Services Ltd
• Cory Group Ltd – Gold
• Drax
• East Riding of Yorkshire Council
• ELLGIA Ltd
• Equinor New Energy Ltd – Gold
• Hatfields Jaguar Land Rover
• KCOM
• Kevin Greene Photography
• My… Group
• OLG
• Orsted
• Pattesons Glass
• SPS Group of Companies
• Streets Chartered Accountants
• University of Hull
• Wilkin Chapman LLP Solicitors
Big Interview
David Hooper speaks with Goole’s Mayor, Cllr Anthony Raspin, who also happens to be a local milkman with a thriving business and a passion for his town!
Mayor invites King to meet the cream of Goole!
Not that long ago, many thought that the clanking of milk bottles as your cheery milkman dropped off your fresh daily supplies was becoming a thing of the past, but in Goole, doorstep deliveries are thriving as the town’s Mayor makes his daily rounds.
Covid was the catalyst which saw demand for Cllr Anthony Raspin’s business flow again as everyone wanted to see their milk and other staple products, delivered directly to them when the shops all shut as the country went into lockdown.
Anthony became the cream of Goole as he whipped up a new band of loyal customers and “milked” the monopoly in his area. His business grew from 400 customers to more than 1,000 and he’s now lapping up the resulting success.
Anthony said: “I was franchised for 27 years with several different companies, but the model changed about five years ago and that wasn’t going to suit me or my customers. When they closed the Goole dairy down, I had to travel to Rossington, in Doncaster, and then Hull because Goole is located between the two. Other milkmen gave up the business, so I began to pick up bits of their rounds. I went
independent in 2019 and it grew rapidly. It took the reins off and allowed me to get a better price and I really built on it.”
Anthony’s wife Mandy joined the existing team of Greg, who has worked with him for 12 years, and Adrian, who has been with him for four. They expanded the business, which now delivers all sorts of fresh products, including free range eggs, yoghurts, fresh orange juice (which is a big seller), a bread range, milkshakes, monthly cheesecakes, and most recently, pickles and jams.
‘I’ve
been the speaker at the Cenotaph, opened a Wetherspoons and been a dog judge at the local park. You just never know what you’re going to be asked to do
next’
Anthony said: “I link in with other local businesses and offer their products as well, so we are all supporting each other and it is becoming a one-stop shop. I’m open to expanding further with other products people may want, too. As Goole’s Mayor, I’m always trying to support local businesses and I’m keeping it traditional and local.
“I’ve grown my business through social media and community groups and I give out samples and give incentives to recruit new customers. I’m very confident that all the products I supply are from Yorkshire-based companies.”
Anthony was approached to become a councillor six years ago because he was community focused and brings an infectious enthusiasm to the role, an enthusiasm he also brings to the Chamber of Commerce meetings he attends. He explained: “I felt that nothing much was happening in the town and so I was
persuaded to try to make a difference. I am an Independent and we have become a very “independent” Council, with people doing the job for all the right reasons.
“I’ve really enjoyed it, and most people think I’ve done a fantastic job. I was honoured to accept the Deputy Mayor’s job last year to Cllr David Jeffries and I was unanimously voted in by councillors to become Mayor.
“My time as Mayor is up soon, but I’ve attended more than 30 events – and there’s been a very wide range! I’ve been the speaker at the Cenotaph, opened a Wetherspoons and been a dog judge at the local park. You just never know what you’re going to be asked to do next.
“I would like to have the opportunity to do it again in the future. It’s been an honour as a Goole lad. There have only been 40 Mayors so far.”
Anthony is enthusiastic about the town he calls home and serves in many ways, and is relishing seeing the Goole beginning to really thrive. He said: “Getting the Siemens train factory was brilliant. We’ve already seen the buzz its creating turning into local jobs. Metsa Tissue has just had all its planning go through as part of the Freeport scheme and these successes are attracting more inward investment. Business locally has just exploded – once one big name came in, it began to attract other big firms and it’s hard to guess where it’s going to go next.
“Goole is the fastest growing local authority in the UK. It’s just great to see, and it’s great for the local economy, and for kids to be able to get apprenticeships – these are proper jobs with these firms trying to keep it local with
MAIN PICTURE: Anthony in his Mayoral Chains with some of his products
INSET LEFT: Some of the popular products he delivers to customers' doors
OPPOSITE TOP: Anthony in the early days with an electric milk float
OPPOSITE BOTTOM: Milk deliveries surged during Covid
recruitment as much as they can. It’s great to see the Chamber playing its role in Goole’s success too – the meetings recently have been very good.”
With the town’s bicentenary fast approaching, there is a buzz about Goole, the Goole Town Deal cash injection of £25m is really starting to bring results. Chaired by former Chamber of Commerce President, Phil Jones, there are now spades in the ground and scaffolding up, transforming several areas of the town.
“The buzz is absolutely fantastic with what’s going on,” enthused Anthony. “There’s a bit of short term pain as all the projects are in the delivery phase now, but the future is bright. We’re going to have the best leisure centre in the East Riding, Victoria Pleasure Ground is going to be a state-of-the-art stadium and we’ve just got a new professional rugby team in Division One, with the Goole Vikings Rugby League team having just played their first professional season. The new pitch will be ready for them in August and they are making good progress and holding their own. We had 700 people at Victoria Pleasure Ground recently and that helps all the local pubs and eateries, which were packed with fans boosting the local economy.”
As the town looks forward to its bicentenary in 2026, Anthony believes there are a lot of exciting things going to happen. “We’ve got a few groups together with expressions of interest, we’ve put an invitation out to the King and Queen to visit the town which would be amazing, and while some plans are being kept very close to our chests, the excitement of Goole Town Deal and the bicentenary is going to make it an amazing year for Goole.
“We’re inviting people to come and see us, we’re going to be welcoming visitors with open arms, we’re going to have lots of new facilities, so come and enjoy the party and tell your friends!”
Anthony’s business is shortlisted for an award at the upcoming Goole and Howdenshire Business Excellence Awards. He said: “I am absolutely honoured to have my name down for two awards and to be shortlisted – it’s always a great night to support, a great evening and good food – it’s brilliant to see businesses come together to celebrate their achievements.
“Everyone’s a winner once you’ve been shortlisted, you just feel like a winner!”
On the record With Angus Young
These are the author’s views and not necessarily those of the Chamber.
Our maritime heritage is still afloat
Bob Wellings was nearing retirement as the Hull Daily Mail’s long-serving shipping correspondent when I joined the paper in 1984.
At the time I remember he was the only person in the Jameson Street newsroom who smoked a pipe. Bob’s regular Dockland Diary column was expertly crafted, reflecting his encyclopaedic knowledge of his subject and a bulging contacts book.
As a newly-qualified reporter I was slightly in awe of him and I know he would have been in his element had he been able to cover recent events on the Humber.
The cargo ship H&W Wisdom running aground on a sandbank near Brough was quickly followed by the dramatic collision between the container ship Solong and the oil tanker Stena Immaculate, while the latter was at anchorage in the North Sea waiting to enter the Humber.
Sadly, one member of Solong’s crew died in the incident while the ship’s Russian captain has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter and is due to stand trial in January next year.
Bob knew all about tragedy at sea, having reported extensively on the loss of a number of Hull trawlers in the late 1960s and 1970s.
However, I know he would have also relished telling the recent examples of maritime innovation on show at Hull’s Alexandra Dock. I’m also sure he would have contrasted the dock’s original primary purpose for exporting coal with its modern day role as a hub for renewable offshore energy.
The arrival of the incredible Wind Peak offshore installation vessel to ferry turbine blades and other components from the Siemens Gamesa factory on the dock to wind farms in the North Sea was truly spectacular. I was lucky enough to witness the very first load out from the factory in 2017 when a smaller jack-up called Sea Challenger set sail from the newly-constructed harbour with towers, blades and nacelles onboard.
Overseeing the dockside that day was Barry Denness, who was Siemens’ head of port operations at the time. As I waited to interview him, I wondered about his surname and he duly confirmed he was indeed the son of Mary Denness, one of the four famous Headscarf
‘The importance of the city’s maritime present and future shouldn’t be overlooked’
Revolutionaries who campaigned for safety improvements in the fishing industry after Hull’s triple trawler tragedy in 1968.
Mary had been a ship’s steward while Barry’s father, also called Barry, had been a trawler skipper. I’m certain Bob Wellings would have known them both.
Talking to Barry that day the interwoven thread of Hull’s maritime eco-system once again came together like a fisherman mending his net. These days he runs his own consultancy business offering expertise to the offshore oil, gas and renewable energy industries.
Wind Peak’s cargo-carrying capacity is more than three times that of Sea Challenger and I remember thinking she was huge when I first clapped eyes on her.
Equally eye-catching was the sight of the cargo ship Vectis Progress emerging from MMS Ship Repair’s shipyard on the dock complete with a newly-installed hi-tech
vertical propulsion system called AirWing.
In what was billed as a major milestone for sustainable shipping, it works by sucking air into an internal fan mechanism to generate extra power. The system’s developers GT Wings say it can create 10 times the thrust of a conventional sail while significantly reducing a vessel’s fuel consumption.
Those claims were put to the test on a maiden voyage from Hull to Canada. Initial reports suggest the AirWing worked as forecast.
As well as securing the AirWing in place, the work at the yard also involved major structural modifications to the vessel including 9.6 tonnes of steel being replaced below deck, 8.7 tonnes of steel fitted to the deck to support the platform and the installation of 7.5km of new electrical cabling.
In addition, all onboard equipment, stores and spares were removed and reinstalled ahead of stability testing. That is proper grafting.
Having played a big part in the AirWing story, MMR Ship Repair now has invaluable experience for potential future retrofit orders should demand for the technology take off.
At a time when much is being made of Hull’s maritime heritage, the importance of the city’s maritime present and future shouldn’t be overlooked because there’s still plenty of good news about.
Cargo ship Vectis Progress emerging from MMS Ship Repair’s shipyard with a newly-installed hi-tech vertical propulsion system called AirWing
Chamber Policy
Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce is the collective ‘Voice of Business’ across the Humber region representing the views and interests of our Members at local, regional and national levels.
Treasury holds the key to investment, says Ed Miliband
The Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce welcomed energy secretary Ed Miliband MP back to the Humber, two-and-a-half years after his previous visit to meet business leaders at the Chamber’s Hull headquarters.
In his opening remarks this time, the Energy Secretary thanked Hull MPs Dame Diana Johnson and Emma Hardy for their support, noting that during his last visit when he was a Shadow Minister, had been greatly impressed with how the whole business community had come together to try to improve energy infrastructure in the Humber.
This time, there was an even more powerful turnout of top executives who took it in turns to lay on the line how billions of pounds worth of investment and thousands of jobs could go elsewhere unless the Government can take the brakes off cleaning up the Humber’s C02 emissions and give the goahead for massive private sector investment in infrastructure and facilities.
Ed told the meeting he wants the Humber to become a clean energy superpower, to create energy security for future generations with a clarity of vision. He also outlined how the Government is trying to get rid of barriers
in the way of planning, and increase catalytic public investment, drive forward his plans for GB Energy and create the conditions for private sector investment.
‘I need stakeholders like the Chamber and the Humber Energy Board to work with me to lobby the Treasury’
He acknowledged that the Government is facing big fiscal challenges and needs to get agreement on Track Two because it really matters to Acorn and Viking CCS projects in the North Sea and he underlined his commitment to them, noting he was trying to drive Government to recognise how important Net Zero is.
Dan Sadler, Equinor’s UK Director, highlighted that his company had a global ambition and the Humber has a unique set of assets in geology, industry and power and can provide a deep lift on transition.
The managing director of Centrica Energy Storage, Martin Scargill, was joined at the meeting by his Chief Executive, Chris O’Shea, who Ed welcomed as “renewables royalty”. Martyn told the meeting that Centrica had
£2bn to invest and were partnering with Equinor and would love to see the Humber be successful.
Paul Fursey, from Phillips 66 highlighted how businesses in the region were working on SAF, electric battery technology, electric arc production and skills but needed grid connections and water supply for decarbonisation projects, but they were not getting much communication yet.
Jason Speedy from Groupe Atlantic/Ideal Boilers highlighted that his business employs 1,500 people in Hull and they were about to open a new factory. He raised the issue of using a hydrogen mix for heating but noted that without a decision from Government manufacturers didn’t know which way to go.
Ed Miliband said: “Meeting the Chamber’s people and hearing about all the investment that is ready to go is incredibly compelling, but most of these decisions are also made by the Treasury. I am a 100 per cent supporter of the Humber and I’m fighting to get these things through, but I need stakeholders like the Chamber and the Humber Energy Board to work with me to lobby the Treasury.
“I realise that the Government is not going to make heat pumps work unless they do
Ed Miliband (centre) pictured with (from left) Jason Speedy, Dr Ian Kelly, Emma Hardy MP, Richard Gwilliam, Albert Weatherill and Dame Diana Johnson MP
Ed Miliband with Richard Gwilliam, Chair of the Humber Energy Board
QES highlights the biggest challenges for businesses
something to encourage take-up, and I also recognise that hydrogen has slowed down a bit and I know we have to move forward on this.”
Lance Taylor, the chief executive of Able Group, told the meeting that Able has 10,551 acres of land to switch on Great British Energy. There was £3.4bn of potential money for the Government and 7,000 jobs could be created.
Rob Fergie, from Ineos, said they were the lowest carbon producer in the world and have plans to cut their CO2 emissions by 72 per cent. He highlighted that the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) would help EVETS alignment and would level the playing field with the US.
Andrew Dawes from ABP highlighted that the Humber has shovel ready projects and investment standing by, but what can they do? His fear was the investment will go elsewhere if we don’t get the go-ahead for these projects soon. “There are a lot of people waiting to have that clarity – a level playing field is slipping away – we want to support, but what more can we do? he asked.
Ed promised the Chamber’s business leaders that he was doing his absolute best to drive this forward.
Tax increases, interest rates and business rates were still the headline concerns for Humber businesses in the latest Quarterly Economic Survey results for Q1 of 2025. Rising prices were also a big concern this quarter, a figure borne out by comments in our State of Trade sessions at the Chamber’s Area Council meetings around the Humber region.
In the year’s first round of meetings, the message has been consistent and clear –the increases in the minimum wage, but particularly the National Insurance increases, are putting some well established businesses under considerable fiscal pressure.
This QES survey was carried out before the recent Spending Review, with the fieldwork conducted between 10 February and 10 March, but despite recent cuts in the Bank of England Interest rate, Humber businesses were sounding alarm bells about turnover and profit expectations.
More than half of firms (53 per cent) said they thought their turnover would worsen in the coming months, with the balance figure dropping to –11, while profit expectations also remained well into negative territory at –39 points. Only 20 per cent of firms said they were working at full capacity, a slight improvement on the previous quarter, but 89 per cent of firms said they were concerned about pay settlements and 79 per cent said they expected their prices would have to increase.
Impact of US tariffs
This of course, was before President Trump’s announcement on tariffs, which sent stock markets plummeting around the world with Canada, the European Union and China among the loudest voices promising retaliatory action, before he paused the increases for 90 days on all but China.
The UK seemed to fare better than many, with a 10 per cent tariff on its goods, but there were strong concerns for the motor industry, a larger exporter to the United States, which faced a 25 per cent tariff on vehicles and the parts for them.
Business confidence was down, with fewer firms saying they were planning to invest in new plant or machinery, and similarly, investment in training also took a tumble, with 55 per cent of companies saying they weren’t planning to invest in the next three months.
Turnover expectations were also in negative territory with 53 per cent of firms saying they thought their turnover
in the comings months would fall, leaving the balance figure at –11.
On the domestic front, more firms said their orders had decreased, with the balance figure dropping to –37, while the Home orders showed a slight improvement, with slightly more firms reporting an improvement in their order books, with the balance figure improving slightly but remaining in negative territory at –27.
Export Sales and Orders both improved slightly, with the Export Sales balance figure improving to –38, and the Export Orders balance improving to –37.
Businesses face major challenges
Chamber Chief Executive Dr Ian Kelly said: “This is yet another challenging set of figures for Humber businesses who could well do without having to deal with increased costs at a time of such uncertainty across the board.
“A lot of businesses who have just about been keeping their heads above water will find the extra coasts to their businesses a further challenge, and we can only hope that most will be able to deal with this latest test. The tariff issues will take some time to play out, but the UK Government is currently taking a sensible stance, rather than the knee-jerk reaction we have seen from some countries. We are already seeing a cut in investment and training, with firms expecting a drop in turnover and profits, so the prospects for growth in the current market seem to be limited at best.”
Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said:
“Sustained economic growth will only come through businesses, not Government. While there were some limited announcements in the Spring Statement which we welcome – it is hard to get away from the bleak growth predictions. We urgently need the Government to publish a wider tax roadmap, which includes national insurance, to give firms a direction of travel to lower cost pressures. Ministers must also focus on infrastructure projects and promoting exports, as a springboard for business growth.
“The Employment Rights Bill also threatens to fuel further costs and complexity on businesses at a very delicate time.
“The Government needs businesses to invest and grow to kick-start the economy. But unless swift action is taken to ease cost pressures and support firms, growth will remain elusive.”
The meeting in full swing
Flying high at helicopter base
The Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce’s Lincolnshire members enjoyed a visit to Uni-Fly UK’s base at Humberside Airport in February, where they were given a tour of new hangar facilities and were even allowed to sit in one of the helicopters that serves North Sea wind farms.
Toni Melbourne, the Humberside Base and Facilities Manager for Uni-Fly UK, showed members around the new hanger where they could see work being carried out on the helicopters, before giving a presentation on the company’s plans for the future.
Toni told members that they had four helicopters and their new hanger had opened in February, although the company had been
operating from Humberside Airport since 2012. It was founded Bjarne Stuhr Petersen in 1970, and although he is now 85 years old, he is still running the company. The business has contracts with Ørsted going out to Hornsea One and Hornsea Two wind farms.
Toni told the meeting that until Brexit they used Danish and UK aircraft, but had to set up a UK entity after leaving the EU and Uni-Fly Heliworx was born in 2022. She said the Chief Executive used to be a pilot himself and trains pilots.
The company now has 46 employees and four helicopters, with another on the way servicing the Hornsey and Sofia wind farms and also has numerous sites in the UK and Europe.
The AW169 helicopters can carry eight passengers and have cutting-edge technology – no other aircraft are suitable for their operations which involves hovering close to the wind farm blades and hoisting people and equipment onto the wind farms.
They were looking forward to the delivery of a new helicopter in March which can carry up to 12 people. It will be an AW139 with the identification G-UNIH.
Sam Cook thanked Toni for her presentation and said it was great to have a Danish company putting the investment into Humberside Airport and to win the contract over Teeside was great for the local Humber supply chain.
In-depth tour of new training facilities
a
of
During the meeting Jason Speedy, the firm’s Chief Operations Officer for the UK, ROI & NA, gave a presentation about the company’s progress to date and future plans, before taking questions.
Groupe Atlantic employs 1,500 people in Hull making boilers and heat pumps, as well as training engineers to install them at its purpose-built facility. However, there is still uncertainty on the future use of hydrogen for heating which is holding the business back as it is on the cusp of having to make decisions on future production.
The issue was among those raised with Energy Secretary Ed Miliband when he visited Hull at an event organised by the Chamber of Commerce – see pages 10-11.
Chamber chief executive
Dr Ian Kelly (left) and some of the guests check out one of the Uni-Fly helicopters
Chamber members enjoyed
tour
Groupe Atlantic’s new training facilities before the March Chamber Council meeting, which was hosted by the firm at its Bridgehead training centre.
Chamber members listen intently during their tour of Groupe Atlantic’s new training facilities at the Bridgehead development
The latest news, success stories and updates from members of Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce.
Our biggest flipping pancake event yet!
Pictures by Kevin Greene Photography
What a fantastic flipping morning we all had at this year’s Pancake Event at MKM Stadium. It was great to have so many of you join us at the stadium in the sunshine. We had over 60 businesses Speed Networking with us before taking part in some pitch side fun, flipping and decorating pancakes.
A big thank you goes out to all of our participants for making this event so competitive and fun. This year not only did we see some fantastic flipping but also some exceptional pancake decorating skills, the winning pancake pictured was a design of the Humber Bridge by Alex Beamer, Managing Director of Smashed Crabs Software.
The pancake flipping competition was won by Tom Herd, from Wilkin Chapman Solicitors, with Steve King from Steve J King in second place and Chris Sykes from GKD Print in third.
We would like to thank Vicki Welsh for helping to judge our pitchside competitions and Hatfields Land Rover for sponsoring this
year’s event. We would also like to thank Kat Drury, Joe Brewster and the team at Tiger Events and a special thank you goes out to Roary the Mascot for being so friendly to our members and for helping us create some fantastic pitch side photographs on such a glorious day.
The pancake decorating competition was won by Alex Beamer with Jill Gill coming second and Justine MacArthur from Consult Justine coming third
The pancake flipping competition was won by Tom Herd from Wilkin Chapman Solicitors, with Steve King from Steve J King in second place and Chris Sykes from GKD Print in third
Humber Bridge winning pancake design by Alex Beamer
Members getting creative pitchside in our pancake decorating competition
What a fantastic turnout - over 60 members attended this year’s event
Event organisers David Hooper and Kay Bailey from the Chamber pictured pitchside prior to the event
Roary the Mascot mastering his pancake flipping
Pancake flipping in action
The Northern Lincolnshire Business Awards Gala Dinner and Presentation Evening was held on 15 May.
With a Mamma Mia theme, a Greek-style three-course dinner and West End entertainment, along with a glittering Awards Presentation Evening, the Baths Hall Scunthorpe was definitely the place to be!
Here are all the nominees – don’t miss the next edition of Business Intelligence for our full report and pictures.
Check out www.nlincsba.co.uk for more information
The award nominees Nominees for Abbatastic awards revealed
The CorrBoard Small Business Award RSUK Group, Attic Medi-Spa Ltd, Riverhead Coffee
The Hull & Humber Chamber Business Growth Award
Cars of Grimsby, Nelipak Elsham Ltd, Hitek Electronic Materials Ltd
The Wilkin Chapman Business Person of the Year Award
Bailey Bradley, XceCo Ltd, Dan Smith, Grand Design Kitchens & Bedrooms, Jason Barker, Cars of Grimsby
The Bridge McFarland LLP Excellence in the Community Award Cudox Wellbeing CIC, Know Film, Kilty Cuts, Engineering UTC Northern Lincolnshire
The North East Lincolnshire Business Development Award Worley Field Services Ltd, Cars of Grimsby, Grimsby Community Energy
The North Lincolnshire Business Investment Award Nelipak Elsham Ltd, SC4 UK Ltd, Hitek Electronic Materials Ltd
The Grimsby Institute Training Excellence Award Hampton by Hilton Humberside Airport, XceCo Ltd, Worley Field Services Ltd
The Pepperells Innovation Award SC4 UK Ltd, ID Architecture, Nelipak Elsham Ltd
The HETA Green Sustainability Award
Milence, Systematic Print Management Ltd, ID Architecture
The Sylvester Keal Young Business Person of the Year Award
Tia Fryer, Cosmic Angel, Cameron Peace, Peaceful Investments Ltd, Nancy Tillett, Tilletts Clothing & Quilla & Co
The DN Colleges New Business Award Virtual Finance Management Ltd, Humber Jobs Ltd, North Lincs Consultancy Services,
Blooming lovely progress in Cleethorpes
A number of gardening groups from Grimsby have lent their green fingers to the regeneration of Pier Gardens.
Members of Grimsby in Bloom and Voluntary Action North East Lincolnshire (VANEL) came to the site to pick a number of plants and flowers to be replanted in their respective gardens. Those picked by VANEL will be used to create a 24m long border at Immingham family hub, while those selected by Grimsby in Bloom will be used in their rose garden.
The Pier Gardens project comprises one element of the wider Cleethorpes regeneration which will see this, Sea Road and the Market Place reimagined to benefit residents and visitors alike.
During their visit, the groups collected a range of shrubs and plants including lavender and bamboo. Rob Patchett, VANEL, was thrilled to be a part of the project and is glad to be giving the plants a new lease of life. He said: “I think this is an excellent idea and it’s great to be able to come and rehome some of these plants. We wouldn’t want them
to go to waste so we’re thrilled to have been a part of this.”
John Walker, Grimsby in Bloom, was also in attendance and thrilled to see the regeneration plans taking shape. “We’re doing a lot of work in relation to regeneration in Grimsby so it’s great to be involved with Cleethorpes too. It’s great to see the area improve as these plans
become a reality. The plants we’ve chosen will be used to build up shrubbery in our rose garden and be used by our volunteers to learn how to care for plants.”
Within the project, more plants and trees will be added to the various sections of the regenerated Pier Gardens and the biodiversity improved.
From left, John Walker, Grimsby In Bloom; Fiona Smith, Grimsby In Bloom; Sam Smith, VANEL; Darren Kirk, VANEL and Rob Patchett, VANEL
Richard Askam hosted the proceedings
Awards organiser Anne Tate
The Chamber’s two Northern Lincolnshire Chairs, Paul Cooper and Irene Keal
Goole Business Awards celebrate sell-out success!
The local business community enjoyed another fabulous evening of celebration at the Chamber Goole & Howdenshire Business Excellence Awards 2025, which was a sell-out event attended by more than 300 people.
The biggest round of applause and a standing ovation went to well-known local farmer and businessman Richard Longthorp OBE when he received the Tim Richardson Lifetime Achievement Award.
‘It’s ok to be knocked down, but it’s not getting up again that’s wrong’
In his acceptance speech, Richard, a keen boxer, talked movingly about his battle with Parkinson’s Disease, telling the audience that “it’s ok to be knocked down, but it’s not getting up again that’s wrong.”
Richard was awarded an OBE in 2011 for services to the farming industry and has also raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity.
Garrey Haase, Chair of the organising committee, which is made up of volunteers from the local business community, said: “Our panel of independent judges – Martin Usher of Grotech Production Limited; Phil Jones of Link Agency; Jan Bromby of For Entrepreneurs Only; and Paul Taylor of Filstorage – had the mammoth task of reading through a record number of entries this year. We’d like to thank them for giving up their
time to help us by whittling the entries down to come up with a really strong shortlist for each award category and then selecting our incredibly worthy winners.
“Huge congratulations to our winners, well done to everyone who was shortlisted, and thank you to all those who took the time to enter. Finally, I’d like to thank my fellow committee members, without whom this popular annual celebration of businesses from the Goole and Howdenshire area wouldn’t happen at all.”
The winners are:
New Business of the Year Award (sponsored by Danbrit): KeepSpace Storage
Training and Development Award (sponsored by Bridge Employment Solicitors and HR Specialists): FMG Repair Services
Charity of the Year Award (sponsored by Jos Richardson & Son): Goole and District Community Transport Group
Hugh Walton Contribution to the Community Award (sponsored by H Walton Ltd): Rotary Club of Howden
Environmentally Friendly Business of the Year Award (sponsored by Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce): Hawk Furniture
Family Business of the Year (sponsored by Link Agency): 4 Cladding Services
Marketing Excellence Award (sponsored by Fil): Selby College
CAPTIONS
1. All the 2025 award winners
2. Chamber Chief Executive Dr Ian Kelly (left) with former Hull MP and Home Secretary Alan Johnson and his wife Carolyn, a former Chamber President
3. Tim Richardson Lifetime Achievement Award winner Richard Longthorp OBE
4. Selby College collect their award
5. Hawk Furniture, the Overall Business of the Year Photos by Kevin Greene Photography.
Large Business of the Year Award (sponsored by Chronicle Publications Ltd): Fullers Quality Bakers
Team of the Year Award (sponsored by Fisher Security): William’s Den
Long-standing Business of the Year (sponsored by Invest East Yorkshire): AM Dairies
Self Employed/Micro Business of the Year Award (sponsored by Sowerby Chartered Accountants): Heartmade By Kirsty
Small Business of the Year Award (sponsored by Grotech Productions Ltd): Yorkshire Financial Planning Limited
Overall Business of the Year Award (sponsored by Siemens): Hawk Furniture
The Tim Richardson Lifetime Achievement Award: Richard Longthorp OBE
HullBID Awards roll of honour:
Innovation Award sponsored by Aa Global Language Services
Winner: Hull College AI Academy
Shortlisted: Little Astronauts and Hull Schools Library Services
The Best Place to Work Award sponsored by St Stephen’s
Winner: DoubleTree by Hilton Hull
Shortlisted: Toytown and Hull Truck Theatre
Longevity Award sponsored by Allenby
Commercial
Winner: F R Scott Limited
Shortlisted: Thieving Harry’s and Kingston Theatre Hotel
Contribution to the Community Award sponsored by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Humberside
Winner: City of Hull Street Angels
Shortlisted: Lush and Good Things Market
BID Awards triumph and backing for PSPO
HullBID welcomed hundreds of people to its annual awards, which celebrated the success of its member businesses. It also kicked off another year of activities designed to support the city centre business community and increase safety and security.
Kathryn Shillito, HullBID Executive Director, said the awards demonstrated the calibre of city centre businesses and should inspire confidence.
She also revealed that the collective power of the business community contributed to a successful review of the Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), which will strengthen measures to tackle antisocial behaviour.
Kathryn said: “The nature of our city centre has changed dramatically during the last 10 years and the array of businesses competing for a HullBID Award reflects the enormous variety of a destination that is about much more than traditional retail.
“We have plenty of reasons for optimism –and not least the report in the Sunday Times telling the world that “Hull has entered it’s glow-up era, while its hipsterish dining scene is thronging with exciting openings”.
“We’ve still got big brands and they sit alongside the character, quality and customer service which are the hallmarks of our local independent businesses, with the visitor experience enhanced by a compelling culture and heritage offer which is improving all the time.
“The PSPO will build on that by adding new prohibitions to support action being taken to
tackle begging, loitering, unauthorised drinking and antisocial behaviour.”
The updated PSPO took effect in March and followed a consultation launched by Hull City Council and which attracted a significant response from businesses.
‘Failure to comply with the PSPO can result in the issuing of a Fixed Penalty Notice of £100 or a Magistrates Court fine’
Kathryn said: “We mounted a campaign to increase awareness of the consultation among our members and make sure they didn’t miss an important opportunity to show how these issues are affecting their businesses, their colleagues and their customers.”
Failure to comply with the PSPO can result in the issuing of a Fixed Penalty Notice of £100 or a Magistrates Court fine. Under the terms of the PSPO it is prohibited to:
• Make any verbal, non-verbal or written request for money, donations, or goods so as to cause or likely to cause anti-social behaviour.
• Loiter, sit, or lay on the floor, including doorways or around pay/ cash machines in a manner causing or likely to cause antisocial behaviour.
• Consume alcohol in any public place anywhere within the PSPO area or be in possession of any opened vessel containing or purporting to contain alcohol.
The Best in Food and Drink Award sponsored by Hull Trains
Winner: Thieving Harry’s
Shortlisted: Patisserie House and Everything Toastie
Stylish or Welcoming Premises Award sponsored by Hull City Council
Winner: Nanouk
Shortlisted: Cherry’s Bar and Lili + Mila’s Empawrium
Customer Service Excellence Award sponsored by FigFlex
Winner: Reach Recruitment
Shortlisted: Artisan Flowers and DoubleTree by Hilton Hull
Commitment to Health and Wellbeing Award sponsored by Segal’s Jewellers Winner: CatZero
Shortlisted: Hull Minster Welcome Café and Fit24
Outstanding Employee or Team Award sponsored by Grosvenor Casino
Winner: Tina Swann, C4DI
Shortlisted: Civic 1 and St Stephen’s Security
Outstanding Contribution Award sponsored by KFM Recruitment
Winner: The Deep
Shortlisted: Ferens Art Gallery and Hull Truck Theatre
Judges’ Special Recognition Award
Winner: Civic 1 and Humberside Police
• Remain or return to an area within 48 hours after being requested to leave by an authorised officer, due to causing or likely to cause anti-social behaviour within the city centre of the PSPO area.
Kathryn noted that the consultation generated 847 responses compared to 185 for the previous PSPO three years ago.
She said: “I believe HullBID played a big part in driving and reaching the business community who are regularly affected by antisocial behaviour. The overwhelming response was that people are in favour of the PSPO.”
From left: PCSO Paul Chalmers, HullBID Support Officer Raich Orr, PC Nicki Stothard and Hull City Council Antisocial Behaviour Enforcement Officer Shaun Casson
Make connections at Chamber Expo
Book your Chamber Expo stand this year and join key members of the business community for one of the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce’s most popular events in the heart of Humber Business Week.
For our VIP Expo lunch this year, we will be welcoming the recently appointed Chief Constable for Humberside Police, Christopher Todd, and the Police and Crime Commissioner, Jonathan Evison, as our speakers on Tuesday, 3 June, who will be discussing their roles and the successes and challenges of policing in the region. Jonathan will also be raising awareness about prostate cancer and discussing his recent journey and offer advice to encourage others to get checked out.
The lunch will start at 12.30pm.
This year’s venue is the Mercure Hull Grange Park Hotel, Willerby, Hull, HU10 6EB, and our theme is Communication and Connectivity, which will include some talks and interactive displays and activities centred around new AI technology in conjunction with Bishop Burton College and the University of Hull.
Other speakers so far confirmed include Michelle Lestas from MENTup LEADup who will show you how to get the most from your
leadership to increase the productivity and profitability of your business, along with Peter Tighe from the CatZero yacht charity who will explain how you can set sail with new partnerships while helping people in need across the region.
A few stands are still available and can be booked via the Chamber’s website or by contacting David Hooper or Kay Bailey who will be happy to help – stands cost of £350 per stand. We are also offering a special rate to charities of £150 per stand.
As usual, Chamber Expo 2025 will host all kinds of businesses from both banks of the Humber and the spacious venue can accommodate outside stand space for larger exhibitors, including the region’s motor dealers taking part in this year’s Chamber Expo Motor Show.
This year’s standholders can look forward to a hot buffet lunch and electricity included in the price of the stand, while parking and entry to Chamber Expo 2025 will be complimentary.
The Chamber’s famous Speed Networking also returns this year, providing a great opportunity to meet some potential new customers from around the region and beyond – and it’s free!
Members and non-members alike are welcome to book a stand and everyone is invited to visit – you don’t have to be a Chamber member to exhibit, or to attend on the day. The Chamber’s ever-popular Expo provides a great opportunity for networking and making introductions to potential suppliers of everything from cakes to cars.
So don’t miss out, book your stand now£350 per stand, £500 for a double and £450 for a stand and a parking space outside if you would like to display a vehicle.
Book online: www.hull-humberchamber.co.uk/expo
Chamber Expo 2025 is kindly sponsored by AaGlobal and Hull What’sOn – further sponsorship opportunities are still available.
Call (01482) 324976 to speak with Kay or David, or email k.bailey@hull-humberchamber.co.uk with your requirements.
Lord Mayor in the driving seat
After opening its doors last spring, popular open access operator, Hull Trains, welcomed Councillor Mark Collinson, Lord Mayor of Kingston, upon Hull and Admiral of the Humber, to the company’s Learning and Development Academy to experience the facility’s worldclass driving simulator and to discuss how the two organisations can work together to continue investing in skills and help the sector grow in the city.
As part of the company’s 25th birthday celebrations, the rail operator invited the Lord Mayor and other senior leaders from the authority as part of a civic visit.
‘The simulator throws up some of the real-life hazards that staff have to deal with, so it is quite challenging’
As one of the UK’s most successful rail companies, employing 130 people and achieving an industry-leading 96 per cent customer satisfaction score, Hull Trains takes a proactive approach to the development of its workforce. The launch of the Learning and Development Academy, last year, in Hull’s iconic K2 building, highlights how Hull Trains is at the heart of innovation in the rail industry and is continuing to contribute to jobs and skills in the region.
Councillor Collinson, Lord Mayor, said: “After speaking to the staff and experiencing the amazing training facilities, I then had great fun driving a virtual train. The simulator
throws up some of the real-life hazards that staff have to deal with, so it is quite challenging.
“It is clear that Hull Trains is passionate –not only about investing in its people and providing world-class learning opportunities and development – but also about its commitment to Hull and its future prosperity.
“The company has, and continues to play, an important role in the day-to-day lives of the people of our city and in the recent economic regeneration of Hull and the wider region over the last quarter of a century.”
Martijn Gilbert, Managing Director at Hull Trains, said: “We were delighted to welcome the Lord Mayor and leading Hull City Council officials to our learning and development
facility, allowing them to not only experience our state-of-the-art driver simulator, but also learn more about our operations and how we are continuing to help support and develop the city of Kingston upon Hull.
“During the past 25 years we’ve grown our operations significantly from the one service that was linking Hull to the capital when we started, to the eight services that are provided today. We now transport more than 1.5 million passengers per year.
“We’re extremely proud to carry the name of the city down the East Coast Mainline and look forward to continued success, playing an active role in the local community and helping businesses prosper.”
Property agency expands offering
A property agency which has specialised in residential since it was first set up in Goole more than 40 years ago has expanded into commercial as the town prepares for the next wave of inward investment.
Link Agency is about to launch a development of apartments and commercial units, which is the first substantial new build in the town centre since 2010.
It is also working on other opportunities as interest in the East Yorkshire town increases on the back of big-name arrivals including Siemens Mobility, Croda and Metsä Tissue.
In addition, plans are well under way to raise Goole’s profile and drive further regeneration with a programme of improvements and activities to mark the town’s 200th anniversary in 2026.
Jake Findley, Lettings Manager at Link Agency, said: “It’s become clear during the last year that many of our residential clients also
have commercial property portfolios and wanted someone who knows the local market to help them.
“On top of that we have the potential of businesses interested in moving into the area to service some of the major concerns that have brought large scale job creation to the west of the town. There is more investment on the way and the bicentennial will only raise Goole’s profile even more.
“From starting by offering new services to existing clients we want to get to the point this year where we are bringing in new business and are being recognised for our contacts and expertise in commercial property as well as our residential work.”
Link Agency dates back to 1983, when the founder Wendy Mawson set it up after she was made redundant from her job as a machinist at the Burton tailoring factory in Goole.
Phil Jones, who grew up in Airmyn, just outside Goole, and had a background in finance and recruitment, bought the business in 2003. He moved it to Hull and opened an office in Beverley, making a series of acquisitions on the way, before going back to Goole.
Phil said: “In 2019 we were approached to sell our Hull and Beverley businesses and we decided to concentrate on Goole. It was helpful and tactical and strategic. It allowed us to focus our energies back into Goole at a time when it was looking like a good place to build the business.”
With a team of six, Link Agency now specialises in sales and lettings in the DN14 postcode area but it also operates across East Yorkshire.
East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC) announced that Invest East Yorkshire’s inward investment team has reached the milestone of’ bringing in projects worth £1bn since 2020.
Lord Mayor, Councillor Mark Collinson, during the recent civic visit to the rail operator’s learning and development academy in Hull city centre
Spotlight Features
In this issue we take a look at the Professional Services and Hotels, Conferences & Exhibitions sectors.
The perks of hiring a project manager
Spiralling budgets, communication errors, missed deadlines – when it comes to big projects, there’s a lot that can go wrong. Mistakes such as these are not only costly, they can also pull your employees away from their day-to-day tasks… resulting in further delays, more money down the drain, and even a potential loss of business. If you’re worried about keeping your projects on track, Business Intelligence explores the benefits of hiring an external project manager.
What does a project manager do?
A project manager’s primary role is planning, organising and delivering a project. It sounds simple, but there’s much more to it than that. A project manager will be responsible for both the big picture and the fine details, and will employ a number of key skills, including critical thinking, time management, relationship management, coaching and leadership and accountancy/numeracy skills that might be missing from your business.
Project management plays a central role in lots of different industries. But while the methodologies and output might vary (a project manager in the construction industry won’t have the same role as one in the IT sector, for example) the main responsibilities of the role are consistent –ultimately, the goal of the project will be to satisfy the client’s needs. By bringing in the key skills of a project manager, you can ensure that expectations are met, solidifying your firm’s reputation.
The benefits
Responsibility: A project manager will take on the responsibility for the project, usually from inception, and carry it through to delivery and sign off. Having one dedicated expert in charge will prevent the rest of your staff from being pulled in multiple directions, allowing them to focus on their regular duties.
Centralised communication: If your project involves a lot of stakeholders, communication mishaps and misunderstandings can be common. A project manager will serve as a primary point of contact, ensuring that all inquiries, updates and feedback are managed and answered in a timely fashion. As well as saving time, this can also provide reassurance to your stakeholders as their questions will always be answered by the one person that has all of the information.
Clearly defined objectives: Your project manager will work closely with the client to define the project’s scope, objectives and deliverables. This is especially important if the client comes to you with vague wants and wishes, or you’re not entirely sure how to deliver what they are asking for. By setting clear goals and expectations from the project’s beginning, a project manager will be able to prevent scope creep (the uncontrolled expansion of a project’s initial aims and budget) and ensure that goals are aligned throughout the process. This is vitally important for client satisfaction and your overall business reputation.
Resource management: Effective resource management is a key aspect of delivering a project on time and within budget. Project managers will know how to best allocate resources – including money, people and time – in the most efficient manner.
Problem solving: Your project manager will on hand to offer problem solving any time an issue arises. They will be able to draw on their experience and knowledge to offer the best time- and cost-effective solutions in order to keep the project on track. Additionally, they will be able to anticipate potential issues before they’ve even arose and develop contingency plans to minimise disruptions. This ensures consistency and the overall quality of the project.
Accountability: Because a project manager is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the project, they will know exactly what is going on within the team at all times. This level of oversight will ensure that everyone is held accountable for their contribution, leading to better team work and higher quality work. Your team will also have an expert at hand that they can learn from. For the client, enhanced accountability will lead to greater trust that the project will be delivered successfully.
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Spotlight Feature: Professional Services
sell Preparing to your business
Selling a business is typically a once in a lifetime event. As such, most business owners aren’t aware of the skills required to successfully sell a privately-owned business. So how can you prepare and develop the skills you need? Business Intelligence offers its top tips.
Build an exit strategy
It’s always important to have well-defined personal and business goals, both in the short term and the long term. To serve practical use, these goals need to be measurable over a given time period.
When selling a privately owned business, a good exit plan ideally needs to start two to three years before the sale. It should contain your planning for both personal and financial goals, including tax and estate planning.
In order to deliver on both your personal and financial goals, it’s important to develop a wealth management plan before the sale of the company. As a business owner who has considerable capital tied up in a company, you need to take this into account.
When building your exit strategy, you will also need to decide how involved you want to be during and after the exit. Do you want to sell completely, or stay on for a defined period as a paid consultant? Or do you want to become a chairperson with a continued stake in the business? As with all business goals, a clear and concise plan from the outset is essential.
Value the business
The next step is to determine the market value of your business.
Once you know the value of your business, you can decide whether it fulfils the financial commitments of
your exit plan – for example, will you be able to fund your next project or retirement plans?
Knowing the value of your business gives you options, by giving you a quantitative sense of what you will be able to achieve.
Define your legacy
You should also consider, after many years of hard work building a successful business, what kind of legacy you wish to leave behind for your family and staff. How will you split the proceeds of the sale among your loved ones or the people who helped your business to grow?
Alternatively, do you want any of the proceeds to go towards a charity or a future project? Which charities or projects would be most in line with your personal philosophy or that of the business?
Implement a succession plan
Once you have sold, do you have a natural replacement to head the business? This will relate to the nature of your exit plan and how involved you want to be, to ensure that you are leaving the business in trusted hands.
If you don’t have an immediate candidate in mind, you will want to ensure that making this decision is a part of your strategy.
Spotlight Feature: Professional Services
Review your options for sale
Consider all of your options and determine which will deliver your personal and business goals. You may wish to transfer ownership to a family member, sell to other shareholders within the business (including a number of family members), sell to business employees, or sell to a third party.
One option is a management buyout, which is a great way to leave a legacy and reward your management team by allowing them to acquire all or some portion of the business. You could also refinance the business, go public, or liquidate the business.
Prepare for sale
To prepare for the sale, you can increase the value of your business by documenting your business processes. This allows you to take the business owner out of the process but leave the buyers with key information that the business owner would have held.
Often this information is not documented, but doing so can improve the prospects of your sale.
Documentation should include your overall vision, along with details of strategy, sales, marketing, finance, HR, and your contingency and succession plans.
Market to sell
Once you are prepared to sell, use a business broker to go to market, or conduct a management buyout. Work closely with the agent and be clear on what the end objective is, according to the exit strategy you have established. Be willing to pitch your business to a number of interested parties, and choose the buyer who you feel best meets your objectives and who will protect your staff and legacy.
‘Make sure you take the time to step away from your stand to network with other exhibitors and seek out new leads’
Get the most out businessof exhibitions
Business exhibitions can seem like a daunting prospect, especially for smaller businesses or start-up firms. However, attending an exhibition could be the first step in achieving your growth plans – but how do you make the most of exhibiting?
As you may already be aware, there is more to exhibiting than simply turning up and manning your stand. The most important thing to remember is you need to make the most of your presence and introduce your business to as many potential customers as possible.
Location, location, location
The position of your stand is an important factor to consider. Consider paying extra for a prime position, as being tucked away in a corner may limit your exposure. Even small businesses can make a big impression.
Use social media to your advantage
As well as using social media to let people know what exhibitions you’ll be attending and when, you can also tell them exactly where your stand will be located and what you’ll be promoting, encouraging attendees to seek you out.
You can also use social media to drum up interest about any giveaways and offers you might be running during the exhibition, as well as to arrange meetings with potential clients or new suppliers.
Stand out
A business exhibition is a professional event, but professional does not have to mean bland. When it comes to setting up your stand, creative inspiration is key – you want to convey your brand message and catch the attention of everyone that passes by.
Think about what you can do to stand out from your competition, be that decorating your stand in your brand colours, investing in professionally-printed banners or digital display boards, installing visual and audio equipment or providing promotional material
and token gifts such as pens or keyrings or free product samples.
Next, think about how you will keep your visitors interested in finding out more about your product or service. If you have the space, a seating area will provide a place where you can comfortably chat to attendees. If you are able to, demonstrate your product or set up an interactive game or activity – if visitors are able to interact with your product, they are more likely to remember it.
Network, collect leads and follow up
Attending an exhibition is not just about introducing your product to potential customers: it can also be a great opportunity for you to find new suppliers or potential business collaborations. So make sure you take the time to step away from your stand (leaving it the capable hands of trustworthy staff members) to network with other exhibitors and seek out new leads. It will be helpful to arm yourself with professionally printed business cards and a notebook or tablet so you can jot down information or contact details.
After the exhibition is over, follow up with all of your leads. A great yet simple way to solidify new relationships is to send a personalised email to thank them for their interest in your business and to prompt future communication.
Advice for attendees
Even if you’ve not invested in a stand, you can still get a great deal out of attending a business exhibition. Networking is just as important to attendees as it is to exhibitors, so make sure you take up-to-date business cards. It may be helpful to check the exhibition layout before you arrive and note down the locations of the stands you are most interested in. It is also a good idea to arrive early so as to beat the crowds, as this will give you ample time to talk to as many exhibitors as you can – especially the ones most prevalent to your own business needs.
Spotlight Feature: Hotels, Conferences & Exhibitions
Choosing the perfect venue
When looking to book a venue for your next corporate event, it’s important to remember that you aren’t just hiring a building, but also its facilities, its staff and the service they provide. Limiting your research to a web-based search is no substitute for a live experience of a venue. But how do you get the most out of an on-site visit?
Make an appointment
Turning up to one of your shortlisted venues unannounced and expecting a full show around will most likely prove to be a waste of your time, as the specific rooms you are interested in may be in use and therefore unavailable to view. Though you will still be able to view common areas, such as the reception area, restaurants and bars, will you really be getting a proper feel for the space?
Book an appointment at a time that is convenient for both you and the staff members who will be handling your event. Only then will you be able to appreciate how the venue will look, talk through the different set up options and spot any potential logistical issues.
First impressions
Everyone understands the importance of a good first impression. Are the spaces clean and nicely lit? Are the furnishings well maintained? Are there any strange odours or disruptive noises? Note any wear and tear, carpet stains and build ups of dust or rubbish, and check to see if the venue has any refurbishment or maintenance work planned that could clash with your event.
If you need to add guest bedrooms to your package ask to see all standards of rooms.
The guest experience
Imagine that you’re one of your guests arriving at the venue, as this is the best way to anticipate any issues that might occur on the day.
Make a note of anything that could be a potential issue or create a bottleneck, such as the size of the car park, the lift capacity, disabled access and how many staff will be available at check in.
How close is the venue to public transport links? How long will it take your guests to get from point A to point B? Are the facilities clearly signposted? How many staff members will be at your guests’ disposal should they need help?
Anything you spot as a potential concern could have an impact on the overall guest experience.
Try to meet as many staff on your walk around as possible, as this will give you a good indication of the standard of service available.
Just what are you getting for your money? Don’t lose sight of the fact that you’re not just hiring a venue; you’re hiring an experience.
Firstly, the size and condition of the main room should be considered. It must comfortably accommodate your group in your preferred layout; if it’s too small your guests will be cramped, if it’s too big they may feel intimidated or lost within the space.
The venue should be able to provide photos from previous events depicting the space set up in different layouts, helping you visualise the final look properly.
View the space from all angles, making sure that all of your guests will get a clear view, making a note of the nearest toilets and emergency exists. If there are any obstructions, how can these be managed?
A good venue should be happy to give you demonstrations of any audio/visual equipment that is included in the price, but make sure you are also shown how to control lighting and temperature, and take note of the speed and reliability of internet connections.
Does the venue offer a decorating service or will you need to hire an outside company? If so, how early will the space be made available to you and how much time is allotted for room clean up? How much more will it cost if you need more time to set up or pack away?
Providing refreshment
Organising food and refreshments is one of the most important components of hosting a corporate event. Whether you’re offering a three-course meal or coffee and snacks during a break, how well a venue can provide for your guests should be a huge influence on your final decision.
The first thing is to establish is guest numbers and see how many people the venue can cater for.
A good venue will offer multiple menu packages to choose from and discuss potential themes and, of course, your budget.
Make sure you establish options for those with dietary requirements, as you don’t want any such guests to feel like an afterthought – their meals should be just as impressive as those eating off the standard menu.
‘Don’t
lose sight of the fact that you’re not just hiring a venue; you’re hiring an experience’
Focus on: Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP)
Hundreds of students flocked to meet businesses from across the region as the University of Hull held one of its biggest careers fairs of the year.
Queues formed at exhibition stands set up by organisations working on everything from food and finance to transport and technology.
Many of the stands were led by HR professionals who were able to put potential recruits in the picture about opportunities for careers, internships, mentoring and more.
Matt Beecroft, Employer Engagement Manager for the University of Hull Careers Service, said the demand from students demonstrated a strong desire to live and work in the Hull and Humber area after graduating.
He said: “Some are from Hull originally, others came here to study and found that they like the area, and especially the affordability. Coming to the careers fair helps them put some groundwork in and create a good first impression.
“Our level of engagement with businesses varies. We operate a vacancies system where companies can advertise jobs and we also encourage companies to organise their own events on the campus including guest talks and lectures and we do mentoring programmes. On top of that we have alumni coming back to talk about their work with businesses in the region.”
‘The LSIP is all about putting the employer first’
James Harvey, HR Advisor at Cranswick PLC, said he was excited about the potential of students who were enquiring about joining one of the UK’s leading fresh food producers that supplies such retail giants as McDonald’s, M&S, Costa and Whitbread.
Careers fair offers direct pipeline to local talent
He said: “We are recruiting for our version of a graduate management programme and we are mainly looking for work ethic, because you can teach anybody anything but you can’t teach that. We are also looking for good language skills because we have people from all over the world, and we’re interested in internships because if we can give people an opportunity and help them leave university with some experience on their CV then that’s great.”
Steven Windass, Technical Director at Local Transport Projects, said they are also interested in people rather than degree subjects as they add to their team which supports developers with the transport and highways elements of planning applications.
He said: “In the past we’ve taken some geography graduates but it’s not just about that. We have graduates in mechanical engineering, sociology and other subjects. We’re looking for people with an interest in traffic and transport – it’s about the person first and foremost because we train people on the job.”
From left, HEY LSIP Project Manager Rod Chambers with James Harvey of Cranswick and his colleague Kayleigh Stephenson
Matt Beecroft of the University of Hull (left) with HEY LSIP Project Manager Rod Chambers at the careers fair
FOCUS ON:
Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP)
Premier Modular was making its first careers fair appearance at the university having become a regular exhibitor at sixth form colleges in the region.
Rob Hunter, the firm’s HR Manager, said: “It’s really important for us to have a local presence and to explore the opportunities around graduate placements. It started with us looking for someone to fill a sustainability role, which is still a new concept in the wider labour market, but we have found some high calibre candidates here.”
Rod Chambers, Project Manager for HEY LSIP, said the careers fair presented an ideal opportunity to strengthen links with employers and understand the post-16 journey.
He added: “The LSIP is all about putting the employer first and this event will help us understand what sort of challenges and opportunities there are post-16 and how they feed into the university. Ultimately it’s all about attracting and retaining local talent.”
Focus on: Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP)
HETA apprentices design trophies for awards celebration
Humberside Engineering Training Association (HETA) made it a double celebration at its awards night.
The occasion celebrated the success of learners and employers, and the trophies presented to the winners marked the progress made by the organisation as a key supporter of HEY LSIP.
‘Being part of the LSIF was a ‘game changer’ for HETA’
HETA set its fabrication and welding apprentices the challenge of designing and making the awards for the event. They completed the task using new design software, 3D printers and laser cutters which had all been provided with the help of investment from the Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF).
Iain Elliott, CEO of HETA, also highlighted other LSIF benefits: “Being part of the LSIF was a ‘game changer’ for HETA in that it provided strategic funding that has allowed us to improve the existing curriculum and develop a new offer for learners and employers.
“It has allowed us to achieve significant development of digital resources, hardware and infrastructure to support learning in the context of digital skills and a new curriculum offer that will focus on Industry 4.0, de-carbonisation and improved productivity and efficiency.”
Rod Chambers, Project Manager for HEY LSIP, said: “HETA have benefited hugely from their investment in new equipment bought with their LSIF investment funding.”
Pictured at the awards with two of the trophies are HETA Chair Ian Palmer and HETA Deputy Chief Executive Joanne Lawson
Sector Focus
The latest news from the International Trade, Legal & Finance, Community & Business, Manufacturing and Motoring industries.
New management at British Steel
The Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce has welcomed the news that British Steel has announced the appointment of Allan Bell as interim Chief Executive Officer and Lisa Coulson as interim Chief Commercial Officer with immediate effect.
The appointments, signed off by the Secretary of State, were made to ensure consistent and professional leadership at British Steel’s Scunthorpe site.
‘The Chamber continues to be a strong supporter of British Steel’
Allan and Lisa have been longterm employees of British Steel and have worked at the site for 14 and 19 years, respectively.
The Chamber’s External Affairs Director David Hooper said: “We are pleased to see the Government finally doing what is necessary to keep the blast furnaces going to ensure the UK’s virgin steelmaking capability continues.
“We have worked with Allan and Lisa numerous times in recent years and wish them both well in their challenging new positions. The Chamber continues to be a strong supporter of British Steel and its Scunthorpe based workforce and we will continue to do what we can to ensure its future.”
Before his appointment, Allan
was Chief Commercial Officer and Lisa was Director of Marketing and Strategy. The pair were instrumental in keeping British Steel’s operations running through challenging recent months.
Allan said: “Our sole focus is ensuring a secure and sustainable future for British Steel’s production in Scunthorpe. Our immediate priorities are securing
the raw materials we need to continue blast furnace operations, ensuring we have the dedicated personnel to run those furnaces, and maintaining the highest levels of health and safety for our workforce.
“We look forward to working in partnership with our colleagues in government, the trade unions and the workforce here in Scunthorpe.”
Trade team on awards shortlist
The Chamber’s International Trade Centre has welcomed Amy Long to its documentation team.
Amy (pictured), who has many years of experience in international trade, said she was looking forward to the challenges of her new role and working the Chamber team to provide excellent service to their customers.
The Chamber’s International Trade Centre was nominated for three Skills Bootcamp Awards.
Manager Lorraine Holt said: “I didn’t know the Chamber had been nominated and although we didn’t win we were delighted to receive three certificates which show the awards we were nominated for.”
Lorraine is pictured holding the certificates for nominations for New Training Provider of the Year, Collaborative Partnership of the Year and Achievement Rate Excellence Award.
Lisa Coulson (centre) and Allan Bell (right) with Sir Keir Starmer when he visited the Scunthorpe site in 2023
Tariffs may trigger a rethink for UK exporters
The founder of a leading language services business says his company is ready to help exporters respond to the impact of US tariffs by researching alternative markets.
Kirk Akdemir, CEO of AaGlobal Language Services, said a shift to new territories would bring challenges of its own, but these could be overcome by communicating effectively to build strong relationships.
Kirk said: “The obvious advantage of trading with the United States is the absence of a language barrier, but that isn’t the be all and end all.
‘Global turmoil presents global opportunities’
“Whatever language you use, the key is the quality of communication and how you use it to build trust. That comes down to language and culture, and if you get those right you can find yourself on best-friend terms with any nationality. That’s where we come in.”
Kirk launched AaGlobal in Worcester more than 30 years ago and opened its Hull office in 2012. The business now employs around 40 people in Hull, with an international network of 15,000 interpreters and translators operating in 500 languages and dialects.
As the main supporter of the Chamber’s International Trade Department, AaGlobal offers specialist services and advice to businesses in a wide range of sectors, and Kirk has been monitoring the impact of the tariffs.
He said: “The US doesn’t generally take up a lot of our time simply because there aren’t really any language barriers for our business clients trading there, but that can all change when tariffs are introduced on this sort of scale.
“It’s not a time for knee-jerk reactions, but global turmoil
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presents global opportunities, and some nations and businesses are responding by looking at potential alternative markets.
“There are issues with that – if you are a big business it will take time and probably considerable investment to make changes. But if you are a smaller business the idea of finding new territories may be less daunting.”
The Director General of British Chambers of Commerce, Shevaun Haviland, advised businesses affected by the tariffs to immediately start negotiations with their US customers on managing the impact. But she added that in the long term exploring replacement markets would become an option.
Kirk said: “Canada is closer than anybody to the heart of the tariffs issue and the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives took the lead by highlighting the country’s links with the UK, EU, Japan and Mexico and by suggesting a re-evaluation of the relationship with China.
“If there’s one thing we have learned from more than 30 years of working in international trade it’s that language is only one part of the art of communication. The culture and traditions of your prospective overseas clients are at least as important, and so is the ability to connect with them by using the appropriate terminology for your business sector.”
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Sector Focus: Legal & Finance
Law firms join in historic merger
Two of Lincolnshire’s and Yorkshire’s leading law firms merged on 1 April 2025.
Wilkin Chapman LLP and Rollits LLP have merged under the trading name of Wilkin Chapman Rollits. The new firm has more than 500 people including 70 partners and has a combined annual turnover of £40m. It operates from six locations: Grimsby, Lincoln, Louth, Hull, York and Beverley. It is the largest law firm operating out of both Lincolnshire and Yorkshire and has a combined history of more than 300 years.
The merger has been market and client driven and the merged firm offers greater strength and depth to its clients across the commercial and public sectors and private client disciplines within its region and nationally. As part of the build up to the merger, both firms spoke to a number of their strategic commercial clients who are very supportive of the news.
Fittingly, the merged firm’s wider geographical footprint is reflected by its significant involvement in Chamber
representation and policy.
Gary Taylor, Solicitor and Insolvency Practitioner and Partner based in the Hull office, is a member of Chamber Council, which comprises business leaders from both banks of the Humber.
Jen Cooke, Real Estate Partner based in Grimsby, is a member of the North East Lincolnshire Area Council.
Robin Simmonds, CEO of
Wilkin Chapman Rollits, said:
“There is a great synergy between the two firms across culture, values and strategy and we believe this new firm will provide our clients with the responsive, personal tailored support that they expect.”
Ralph Gilbert, former Managing Partner of Rollits and Integration Partner, Wilkin Chapman Rollits, said: “Both of
our legacy firms have deep local connections and histories within our respective regions and are very proud of these links. Such links help us understand the needs of our clients and bring insights to them. Additionally, the new firm will continue to advise our regionally based clients with their needs nationally, as well as clients based outside of our locations.”
UK first as electric boat sets sail
law firm Andrew
that it
London River Tour that will start and end at Tower Bridge Quay.
Currently under construction at Pendennis Shipyard in Cornwall, the 250-capacity vessel will feature an ultra lightweight aluminium design combined with an industry first all-battery drive train. It will be fully accessible and equipped with innovative features including solar gain reducing glazing and LED lighting.
Chris Kangis, CEO of Woods Tours, said: “This new vessel represents the bridge between the past and the future of river tourism, building on
the generations of experience the Woods family have operating on the river while striving to lead the industry’s push towards sustainability.
“We are grateful to our team of trusted legal advisors at Andrew Jackson Solicitors, who have assisted us throughout the process and helping to ensure our interests are protected at all times.”
Dominic Ward, Senior Partner and Head of Shipping and Transport, added: “It has been a pleasure to assist the Woods family, who have built and crewed sightseeing vessels on the River Thames for over a hundred years, on this exciting and innovative venture.
“For the first time, visitors and Londoners alike will have the chance to see some of the capital’s leading landmarks from a zero-emissions vessel.”
Regional
Jackson Solicitors LLP announces
has assisted Woods Tours on its commission of the UK’s first zero emissions tourist vessel, which is set to launch later this year with a 40-minute Tower of
From left: Chris Grocock, Robin Simmonds and Ralph Gilbert of Wilkin Chapman Rollits
An artist’s impression of how the new boat might look on the River Thames
Foundation supports three worthy causes
The Bradbury Foundation is delighted to have awarded the first three grants following applications received for financial support. The successful projects are being run by Grimsby in Bloom, Happy Days Children’s Charity and the Grimsby Carers Support Service.
The foundation received seven initial applications for grant support. Trustee Carrie Jensen said: “As a new charity, we are raising funds with the aim of supporting as many local projects and initiatives that we can that will create a lasting impact for the communities in which we work and live. Forrester Boyd host a number of events through the year which raise funds for the foundation. We do however have limited funds so can only support a small number of projects each time we review them.”
Three worthy schemes
Three projects were selected in this round of funding. The Grimsby In Bloom project is a community-focused initiative that has been running since 2016 in the West Marsh area of Grimsby. The project that the Bradbury Foundation is supporting will help to install a series of interpretation boards around a new area they will be opening adjacent to the River Freshney. These boards will provide educational information about the wildlife found on the site while championing environmental sustainability. Elaine Atkinson said: “As chair of Grimsby in Bloom I would like to say that the money we have received will go towards purchasing two interpretation boards for our new nature area. They will enable all visitors to identify any wildlife/insects we have on site. Hopefully the children will learn so much from this and it will encourage them to have deeper knowledge and respect as to what is in our natural environment.”
Another project that trustees selected is being run by the Happy Days Children’s Charity. This project will support two women’s refuges in East and West Lindsey, providing a day trip for a number of children and their mums who are currently living in safe refuge. These families, due to their circumstance have had very little life and leisure experiences so these trips will provide much needed respite and help to improve their mental and physical well-being.
Ryan Sinclair, Chief Executive of Happy Days Children’s Charity, said: “We are extremely grateful to The Bradbury Foundation for their kind support, which will enable us to carry out various meaningful and memorable experiences for vulnerable young children.”
The last of the three projects that was selected was the Grimsby Carers Support Service. The charity provide support, counselling and befriending to carers who are alone in supporting and caring for a loved one. The grant will help with activities to bring these carers together to build relationships and a support network, much needed outside of their caring duties.
Carrie continued: “We look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition and hope to be able to support many more community projects over the coming months and years as the Foundation grows. We are always looking for ways to raise funds to support initiatives like these so if there are any businesses or individuals who would like to find out more about how they can help, then we would love to hear from them.”
Accountancy firm expands into Leeds
Forrester Boyd Chartered Accountants is proud to announce the opening of its newest office in the heart of Leeds City Centre. This expansion marks an exciting milestone in the firm’s continued growth and commitment to providing toptier accountancy, audit, tax and business advisory services across the region.
The move also sees the return of Richard Walker, who began his career with Forrester Boyd as a trainee accountant, qualifying as a chartered accountant before gaining valuable experience and building his very successful career in the vibrant financial hub of Leeds.
‘Having personally worked in Leeds for many years, I know first-hand the opportunities this dynamic city presents’
Richard recently won Partner of the Year at the Yorkshire Accountancy Awards and whose expertise and strategic vision have earned him a stellar reputation in the industry and in the Yorkshire region. With his leadership, the Leeds office is set to establish a strong presence in the city, offering expert audit, accountancy and business advisory services.
The decision to expand into Leeds is a strategic move for Forrester Boyd, which has built a strong reputation for excellence in accountancy, business advisory, tax, audit and corporate finance services. This reputation has recently been further enhanced winning the Mid-Tier Firm Award at the 2025 Yorkshire Accountancy Awards. The new office will allow the firm to better serve clients in West Yorkshire and beyond, reinforcing its position as one of
the region’s leading independent accountancy practices.
Mike Beckett, Chairman of Forrester Boyd, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Richard back into the Forrester Boyd team. Richard is a visionary leader with exceptional talent, and I have no doubt that he will play a key role in driving our brand forward in Leeds. Having personally worked in Leeds for many years, I know first-hand the opportunities this dynamic city presents. Establishing a presence here is a fantastic step for our firm’s future.”
The new Leeds City Centre office will provide a full suite of accountancy services, ensuring that businesses in the region have access to the highest level of financial support. Wealth Management services will also be provided through our partner FB Wealth Management Limited ensuring clients have access to a fully holistic suite of services.
Forrester Boyd has a proud history of nurturing talent and fostering long-term relationships, and this expansion reinforces its commitment to growth, innovation, and client success.
Mike Beckett
Volunteers from Grimsby in Bloom
Apprentices shine at awards
Atraining organisation which has been turning out young engineers for nearly 60 years reached a fresh milestone in holding its first group-wide awards night to honour the achievements of its latest cohort.
Humberside Engineering Training Association (HETA) brought together staff and learners from its sites in Grimsby, Hull and Scunthorpe for a celebration of the technical expertise and the softer skills which the apprentices are taking into industry.
They were joined by employers, many of whom sponsored and presented the eleven awards and
‘For almost 60 years HETA has been built on the strength of its people’
some who won recognition themselves for outstanding contributions.
Guests also made the most of the networking opportunities at the event at the Country Park Inn, Hessle, to meet other employers and training professionals and share endorsements for the work of HETA and its apprentices.
Andrew Jackson, Technical Training Manager at Drax, said:
“We have been sending our apprentices to HETA for three or
four years. We have five there now and we will be sending another three.
“We have had a very good experience with HETA. They add tremendous value to our learners and for our business in the way they interact, asking employers what we want. It’s not just what they deliver, it’s what they can add for us.”
HETA was founded in Hull in 1967 as an employer-led organisation with one mission –to train and develop the next generation of engineering talent. The business has driven and embraced technological advances and produces around 250 workready learners every year to work
in some of the UK’s most vital industries.
Opening the awards night, HETA Chief Executive Iain Elliott said: “Tonight is not just about celebrating success – it’s about recognising the people who make it happen.
“For almost 60 years HETA has been built on the strength of its people. From the young apprentices taking their first steps into industry to the employers who shape their futures and the dedicated staff who support them every step of the way, our journey has always been about investing in potential. Together we are not just filling skills gaps – we are building the future.”
School praised for attendance figures
An employer-led school backed by many of the region’s biggest businesses has been named as the leading state secondary school in Hull and the East Riding for attendance.
Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC) in Hull city centre is also ranked in the top three schools for attendance across the wider Yorkshire region. New figures published by the Department for Education for the academic year 2023-24 have revealed Ron Dearing UTC has the highest attendance rate in Hull and the East Riding, with an impressive 96.14 per cent, compared to the national average of 91.1 per cent.
The school is supported by some of the region’s leading businesses including its Founding Partners, Reckitt, Siemens
Gamesa, Smith+Nephew, KCOM and Spencer Group. The school also boasts major partners such as Arco, BAE Systems, Ideal Heating, Ørsted and Porsche Centre Hull, to name just a few.
The school’s unique, employerled curriculum has been
identified as a key factor in the exceptionally high attendance rates.
The curriculum blends core GCSE and A-Level studies with a range of technical and professional qualifications. During their studies, students
have the opportunity to take the theory they learn in the classroom and apply it to projects designed and delivered by the school’s Employer Partners.
From the time they join the UTC at the start of Year 10, students are treated as young professionals, with the school having exceptionally high standards of behaviour and a longer working week.
Ron Dearing UTC Vice Principal Mark Ollerenshaw said: “Our strong attendance rates are a testament to our students who are motivated to achieve their personal best, as well as our dedicated pastoral team and teaching and support staff, who work closely with our young people to support them and make Ron Dearing a place where everyone can succeed.”
Winning apprentices and employers at HETA’s 2025 awards presentation night
Members of leadership team at Ron Dearing University Technical College
Developing the skills of the future
Anew wave of apprenticeship opportunities is set to power the future of renewable energy in the Hull and Humber region, as Siemens Gamesa and Hull College join forces to develop the workforce of tomorrow.
As the UK moves towards its 2050 net zero target, the demand for skilled workers in renewable energy has never been greater. The Humber region is playing a leading role in the transition to clean energy, and at the heart of this effort is the Siemens Gamesa Hull Blade Factory – the UK’s largest offshore wind manufacturing facility – which employs around 1,300 people, including more than 850 recruits over the last 18 months.
Now, with an ongoing commitment to investing in local talent, Siemens Gamesa is looking to expand its team further, by offering up to 30 new apprenticeship roles. Working closely with Hull College, these structured training programmes will provide fresh talent with industryleading skills.
Applicants interested in undertaking an apprenticeship with Siemens Gamesa must meet
specific eligibility criteria, which will be assessed as part of the application process. To be eligible, candidates must have achieved a Grade 4 or above in both English and Maths at GCSE level (or an equivalent qualification).
Additionally, due to the health and safety requirements of Siemens Gamesa, applicants must also be at least 17 years old at the start of the apprenticeship in Autumn 2025.
High honour for bridge restoration
A Yorkshire-based bridge engineering specialist has been recognised with a prestigious national industry award for its meticulous work on a historic bridge.
Spencer Bridge Engineering was honoured with the Bridges Award for New Life in the 2025 Bridges Awards in recognition of its work to permanently replace hangers on the iconic Menai Suspension Bridge, which connects the island of Anglesey to mainland Wales.
Organised by Bridge Engineering and Design Magazine, in partnership with Bridge Owners Forum, the awards took place at the Bridges Conference at the CBS Arena in Coventry, with the Bridges Award for New Life recognising an outstanding refurbishment, rehabilitation, reconstruction or repurposing project.
Hull-based Spencer Bridge Engineering scooped the award for its project to permanently replace over 160 defective hangers on the Menai Suspension Bridge.
The team replaced and painted 168 of the 208 wire rope hangers on the bridge, restoring the full structural integrity of the crossing and removing a critical risk to public safety.
Completed in 1826, the Grade 1 listed structure provides a crucial road link between mainland Wales and the Isle of Anglesey and is the second oldest suspension bridge in the world still in use for vehicle traffic.
In October 2022, the discovery of brittle hanger components resulted in the immediate and unplanned closure of the bridge, leading to a race against time to design and install emergency failsafes to allow reopening of the structure, which was successfully
Hull College will play an integral role in supporting the development of these apprentices, ensuring they receive expert training, industry insights, and hands-on experience throughout their learning journey. With its strong reputation for delivering high-quality technical education and apprenticeship training, the college will provide dedicated tutors, state-of-the-art facilities, and tailored support to help apprentices gain the
knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to succeed in the renewable energy industry.
Liz Ridley, Executive Director at the Institute of Employability at Hull College, said: “Apprenticeships offer a fantastic route into longterm careers, and we are delighted to be working with Siemens Gamesa on this initiative.
“This is an exciting opportunity for people in Hull and the Humber region to build careers in a sector that is shaping the future.
Renewable energy is a rapidly growing industry, and through these apprenticeships, Hull College is helping to create a workforce that will drive the UK’s progress towards net zero.”
Andy Sykes, Plant Director of the Hull Blade Factory, said: “Investing in our local workforce is paramount to driving innovation and sustaining our operations.
“By nurturing talent across various disciplines, we’re building a resilient team poised to lead in the renewable energy industry. The integration of new apprentices signifies a commitment to innovation, community engagement, and the development of a skilled workforce.”
completed by Spencer Bridge Engineering in early 2023.
Following the emergency works, Spencer Bridge’s experienced teams were appointed to carry out the permanent replacement of the hangers on site to extremely tight tolerances and constraints, while maintaining live traffic throughout the project.
Spencer Bridge Engineering Bridges Director Luke Fisher said: “We’re delighted to have been honoured with this award in recognition of our work to deliver such a pivotal project on this iconic bridge. I’m very proud of our teams who worked collaboratively and drew on our colleagues’ extensive and diverse skillset to develop solutions.”
Second from left, Spencer Bridge Engineering’s Bridges Director, Luke Fisher, COWI’s Principal Engineer Sam Wood, and UK Highways A55 Ltd DBFO Operations Manager, Kerry Evans being presented with the award by representatives from the judging panel and award sponsor
Siemens Gamesa is offering apprenticeships via Hull College
Motoring
Life can’t be all about work! Chamber Motoring reviews some of the latest offerings on the market.
In association with
Bright new colours mean popular Juke still has that sparkle!
Sporting bright yellow paintwork for the first time in six years, the Nissan Juke continues to be a popular choice. DAVID HOOPER has been driving one of the facelifted models.
If you like brightly coloured cars, then here is one for you, and mellow yellow it isn’t, but the strikingly bright paintwork does suit this fun little car which has been a popular British-built staple for some years now.
The bright yellow paintwork has been brought back to the Nissan Juke after six years as part of its mid-life facelift (who doesn’t need one of those?) and is complimented on the new N-Sport trim by a black roof, wheels, door mirrors, wheel arch inserts, grille and A and B pillars, making the car really stand out from the crowd.
I’m not sure it would be my choice, as yellow cars do tend to be fly magnets in the summer months, but
during the cool spring weather when I spent a few days with it, the car proved to be fun to drive and certainly brightened up grey mornings when I opened my front door! Other new colours include a new Pearl White with more metallic flakes, and a richer and darker black which comes with more sparkly bits too.
More than 1.3-million Jukes have been built since the car was launched in 2010, and is manufactured alongside the Qashqai at Nissan’s Sunderland plant.
Apart from the colourful paint job, the most noticeable changes are inside the car which has also undergone a bit of a revamp, with most notably a new 12.3in screen dominating the Juke’s dashboard, and
MAIN PICTURE TOP:
The Nissan Juke pictured at Cave Castle Hotel in East Yorkshire sporting its bright yellow paintwork
INSET CENTRE: Clear instrumentation is easy to live with
INSET BOTTOM: The Bose sound system is easy on the ear!
MAIN PICTURE OPPOSITE: Nimble handling is great in the country lanes
angled by eight degrees towards the driver.
The instrument panel has also had a bit of a makeover and some of the materials and trim have been upgraded, as has the fit and finish, which wasn’t bad in the first place and is now excellent.
The Juke marked its best-selling year in 2023 for the current generation and Nissan is hoping to rival those heights again by bringing back one of the car’s most popular colours, albeit a slightly paler shade than the original.
All models now come with a wireless charging pad and a choice of USB-A and USB-C sockets in the front, while the kids in the back also have their own charging points for longer journeys.
The central armrest has grown to be more supportive and provides some useful in-cabin storage, while its lid now features a clip which can hold three credit cards –could be handy if you forget or lose your phone!
All models also maximise the interior space by dispensing with a traditional hand brake in favour of an electric one, operated by a neat switch, while hybrid models feature e-Pedal and EV Mode buttons near the handbrake so they are easier to find.
On the road, the Juke really does drive very well, its firm but comfortable underpinnings providing a poised and well damped ride and enjoyably sharp and precise handling.
Under the bonnet is a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine which is compact and light, providing lively enough performance from its 114PS and 180Nm of torque, and comes with a choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed dual clutch gearboxes. Our test car came with the latter, but I was perfectly happy with
The Vital Statistics
MODEL: Nissan Juke Tekna+ Hybrid
ENGINE: 1,598cc, 93bhp three-cylinder petrol engine, driving front wheels through 6-speed automatic gearbox
PERFORMANCE: Top speed 103 mph. 0-62mph in 10.1 secs
ECONOMY: City: 46.0mpg
Country: 46.3mpg
Combined: 58.8mpg
Wheel World test average: 48.8mpg
CO2 EMISSIONS: 109g/km
FUEL TANK: 46 litres
PRICE: £31,995
WARRANTY: 3 years/60,000 miles
WEBSITE: www.nissan.co.uk
• All data correct at time of publication.
its smooth and progressive nature. During my test it achieved 48.8mpg over more than 530 miles.
Classed as an urban crossover, the Juke provides a slightly raised driving position which buyers like these days, and enough room inside for four to five people, although rear legroom isn’t the most generous if the two front seats are occupied by long-legged types.
The boot isn’t the biggest you’ve ever seen, but it’s ok for a bit of shopping or a weekend away.
Nissan’s Juke is still a popular – and reliable – choice, and sporting its bright new colours, will ensure that you’re seen by other drivers. While it’s not the newest car on the market, it’s still very good to drive, easy to park, and certainly worthy of consideration in my book.
Hyundai Santa Fe is a real family jewel
With distinctive lighting, boxy styling and seven seats, DAVID HOOPER says this giant of a car offers hugely practical family transport.
Ilove clever and thoughtful design and Hyundai’s stylists have really excelled themselves with this fifth generation of the Santa Fe, a car which has previously caught my eye when I've spotted other examples on the road.
They have cleverly made the headlight signatures into an “H” for Hyundai, a theme continued with the rear lights as well, which makes the car very distinctive and something a bit different which in these days of SUV jelly moulds is to be applauded.
Our test car’s colour did make me think it is doing something of a Land Rover Discovery impression with this Terracotta Orange paintwork which is a no cost option, but may well attract some Land Rover buyers as the Hyundai comes with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty from the manufacturer as standard. It also has a towing capacity of 1,110kg.
Customers have a choice of 10 colours with prices starting from £46,775 and there is a selection of three trim levels, Premium, Ultimate and Calligraphy, combined with two powertrain options, full Hybrid with two or four-wheel-drive, or Plug-In Hybrid. Our test car
MAIN PICTURE: The Santa Fe is packed with technology and comes with bags of space as standard
INSET TOP: The dashboard is impressive, and we liked the space for two phones in the centre console
INSET CENTRE: The distinctive "H" lights stand out from the crowd
OPPOSITE: he squared off rear end allows space for seven, or lots of luggage
came with seven seats, which is standard, but there is also an optional six seat configuration.
This is the fifth generation of the Santa Fe and it bears little resemblance to its predecessors with its boxy silhouette, which did seem to polarise opinions, but does give owners optimum interior space.
Inside, the Santa Fe makes for a great family Transport. It can accommodate seven people, but with the rear two seats folded down provides a large luggage space.
There is a generous centre console upfront which offers two wireless charging mobile phone slots, which is the first time I have seen that in a car to date, so his and hers can be charged at the same time while on the move. You also get cupholders, a large storage bin and generous door pockets.
The interior is quite dark with black trim and black leather but there are two sunroofs which can be opened independently, although my more discerning passengers did suggest that a full panoramic roof would have been a nice addition to the car.
The Santa Fe is very well equipped and comes with all the mod cons, including heated seats with memory positions, a heated steering wheel, adjustable steering column and climate control.
You also get radar cruise control, lane keeping assist and a silky smooth automatic gearbox.
The Vital Statistics
MODEL: Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy 1.6T 215PS Hybrid 4WD
ENGINE: 1,598cc, 160PS four-cylinder petrol engine and hybrid system (215PS combined) driving four wheels through a 6-speed automatic gearbox
PERFORMANCE: Top speed 98 mph. 0-62mph in 13.2 secs
ECONOMY: City: 35.6mpg Country: 47.1mpg
Combined: 46.3mpg
Wheel World test average: 38.1mpg
CO2 EMISSIONS: 167g/km
FUEL TANK: 67 litres
PRICE: £54,830
WARRANTY: Five years/Unlimited mileage
WEBSITE: www.hyundai.com/uk
• All data correct at time of publication.
The hybrid power plant is impressive and switches from petrol to battery completely seamlessly and imperceptibly and for such a big car provides impressive fuel consumption, with an average return of 38.1 miles per gallon during my test of around 300 miles.
The gear selector is a third stalk on the steering column and gives you the simple choice of drive or reverse, although you do get flappy paddles on the back of the steering wheel if you prefer manual controls occasionally.
It also has Hill Start Control and you can select from Eco or Sport settings on the road, or if the terrain or weather conditions are more challenging you have a choice of Snow, Mud and Sand, so hopefully you won’t get your Santa Fe stuck anywhere you don’t want it to be. The Bose stereo system which is included sounds great when you crank up the volume on the move.
I also liked the fact you could move the passenger seat from the driver’s side by pressing buttons on the side of the seat – and they also come with USB charges for rear seat passengers, which is great for kids in today’s techy world.
Make no mistake, the Hyundai Santa Fe is a big car to park or manoeuvre, but a whole suite of cameras and assistance options do make life easier than it might be and a good turning circle also comes in handy. If you like its looks, it offers excellent transport for the whole family.
New Members
A warm welcome and introduction to the latest businesses to join Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce.
Adrenaline Advertising Ltd
Liz Harris Beverley 07841 518166
Advertising agency
Amethyst Consulting
Sean Woodward LUND 07966 272225 Consultancy
Centrica Energy Storage+
Sara Carr Hessle 01482 895000 Gas storage and processing
Ingeus
Katie Guest London 07884 813894
Youth, justice, employability and health
Lazaat Restaurant & Hotel
Lara Legac Cottingham 01482 847900 Hospitality
R A Baillie Ltd
Robert Baillie
Market Rasen 01472 398696
Production of haylage for the equestrian market in the UK and abroad
Sharp Performance
Jon Sharp Hull 07701 054222
Leadership development
Thomas Mawer Ltd
Stephen Greenwood Hull 01482 226254
Trading
Trade Link Customs & Logistics Ltd
Agata Borowka Hull 01482 230748
Forwarding and clearance
Major restoration begins on hotel
Nearly 250 years ago, the Dolphin Hotel, or the “Cleethorpes Hotel” as it was known at the time, came into being, and now it’s having a full make-over, partly thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The Dolphin Hotel sits on the corner of Market Place and Alexandra Road in the seaside resort of Cleethorpes, and over the years has played a major role in the history and development of the town.
By the mid-18th century, Cleethorpes was gaining a reputation as a seaside resort, popular with the wealthy during this period for newly fashionable health reasons. At the time, cold bathing for men and women, otherwise known as “taking the waters” was recommended by medical practitioners as beneficial for various physical and mental ailments.
To support this increase in popularity, the Cleethorpes Hotel was built, with a major rebuild (and re-name) in the 1820s in response to growing visitor numbers.
The building has been a hotel, restaurant, oyster bar, café and in more recent years, various nightclubs, and now the current owners are starting a major project to restore the building.
The restoration of the external features is being supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, being delivered through the Cleethorpes Townscape Heritage Programme.
The programme has already seen several buildings in the resort having the facades, shop fronts and heritage balconies restored. The Mermaid building on the North Prom is also part of this programme.
The restoration work at the Dolphin includes:
• Restoring all original windows and doors where possible, or replacing with accoya timber sash windows
• Reinstating all chimney stacks in clay brick, style and fired clay pots to match the original
• Restoring cast iron moulded gutters and circular section downpipes
• Restoring all stone detailing
• Restoring original leadwork where possible.
• Restoring original openings and reveals where possible
• Roof repairs
• Demolition of some unoriginal and harmful additions/extensions to the rear of the building
• Removal of all unoriginal electrical fixtures and fittings
• Removal of poor quality render and rerendering western courtyard elevation
• Full external redecoration in Victorian period colours.
Cllr Philip Jackson, Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “This is one of the really prominent buildings in Cleethorpes that’s been here for hundreds of years. The work planned will really transform this building, and it will be great to see it done. “I’d like to thank the building owners for coming forward and being part of this scheme.”
The Dolphin Hotel in Cleethorpes, circa 1910 (Credit: North East Lincolnshire Archive Service)
New Member Spotlight
If you like to appear in our New Member Spotlight, here’s your chance – email David Hooper at d.hooper@hull-humber-chamber.co.uk
Name: Liz Harris
Job title: Director
Name of the business:
Adrenaline Advertising Ltd
Describe your business in a nutshell Media buying agency.
Where is it based?
Woodmansey, East Yorkshire.
Where does it operate?
Locally in the East Riding, and the wider Yorkshire & Lincolnshire area.
How long has it been going?
Eighteen years (established 2007).
How many staff are in the team?
Myself! I am also very lucky to be assisted by my colleague Steve Allbones who is an experienced media professional. He is now a self-employed consultant who has worked with Adrenaline Advertising for over eight years.
What makes your business unique?
Adrenaline offer responsive solutions with a personal touch. We ensure that each client receives tailored strategies that align with their specific goals and offer comprehensive media buying expertise with a strong regional focus.
Why do you hope to gain from your Chamber Membership?
Improved visibility of Adrenaline Advertising as media buyers to support businesses and marketing departments – we can save them time and money! Adrenaline Advertising are excited to be exhibiting at this year’s Chamber Expo, where Steve and I will be happy to meet you for an informal chat to discuss media strategies and how they can maximise your marketing effectiveness.
What do you enjoy most about working in our region?
I’m a fiercely proud Northerner, and I take great pride in both my roots and my business in the Hull & Humber region. Being part of a growing economic hub with a dynamic network of entrepreneurs, SMEs, and large businesses is incredibly rewarding.
What was your first job?
My first full-time role was with my father’s construction business, where I developed essential skills in supplier negotiations, project management, and meeting deadlines.
This experience also provided me with invaluable insight into the realities of running a business - the challenges, the rewards, and everything in between. While the industry was different from my current field, the parallels between the two have given me a
strong foundation for managing my own business successfully.
What do you never go to work without?
A positive attitude! This is essential to deal with productivity and problem-solving. Patience and adaptability is also crucial – workdays rarely go as planned so it helps to be ready to adjust!
What one change would help your business the most?
Strengthening our client acquisition strategy is key. In today’s world, where scams and untrustworthy
businesses make it difficult to build new connections, credibility is more important than ever.
Increasing our visibility and validation through reputable organisations like the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce will provide significant benefits, helping us establish trust and attract highquality clients.
What’s the best way for people to contact you?
Email is always the best route of contact for me and Steve. liz@adrenalineadvertising.co.uk and steve@adrenalineadvertising.co.uk
