September/October 2023
President’s Message
5 Albert Weatherill reflects on a hectic first six months as Chamber President
Big Interview
6 Martijn Gilbert, Managing Director of Hull Trains
Policy
8 Nunny’s Farm offers visitors a range of physical and mental health benefits
Member News
12 New Council Leader joins calls for an elected mayor at Chamber meeting
14 Chamber bids a fond farewell to long-serving staff member
Spotlight Features
24 Corporate Christmas
A social media policy for the holiday season
27 Made In Hull & Humber
Manufacturing a bright future
Chamber Patrons
30 RaisE Business Centre celebrates first anniversary by hosting Chamber meeting
Sector Focus
32 International Trade
CPTPP trade agreement takes a major step forward
34 Legal & Finance
Acquisition creates top new defence advocacy team
36 Skills & Training
Reckitt’s Festival of Science inspires next generation of scientists
38 Manufacturing Freeport to boost jobs and investment
40 Motoring
David Hooper likes the petrol and electric motor combination of the Suzuki Across
42 ...and is impressed by the Toyota Corolla
New Members
44 The Chamber welcomes new members
Last Word
46 Gareth Williams and Stuart Williams of Victor Finance
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Welcome to this latest edition of the increasingly superb Business Intelligence and you won’t know how good it is for me to be able to say that.
They say that time flies, but I can confirm that Presidents don’t. I discovered that gravity is an irresistible force when I fell from the top of a ladder a few months ago and ended up in the back of ambulance (which had been called for me and not by coincidence) and was rushed to A&E under blues and twos. All quite exciting really, apart from having my arm pretty messed up. However, I am now well on the road to recovery, and I must thank my Immediate Past President, Mike Whitehead for standing in for me in my absence.
There’s never a dull moment at the Chamber and my first six months have whizzed by. There’s been much to keep everyone busy lately - not least the upheavals at the CBI, which presented the Chamber with an opportunity to demonstrate to the Government that it is the natural voice of business, just as it always has been for the last 185 years. It is a voice that represents all its members from first time sole traders to multi-national conglomerates and a fine job it does too.
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On the events front, I was fortunate to be present at and introduce the Northern Lincolnshire Business Awards in Scunthorpe recently and I must give a big shout out to Anne Tate for putting together an amazing evening. The entertainment was outstanding with a performance of Les Miserables featuring West End stars, cast of the movie and two who had performed it at the White House. A great evening all round and I think that even my jokes brought a titter from the full house of over 400.
As ever, I’d like to thank Dr Ian Kelly, Chamber Chief Executive, and all of his team for the sterling work they do on behalf of all of the members as well as the wider pan-Humber business community. Despite the misery of inflation and high interest rates there is still much to be encouraged about and I would recommend that you check in on the Chamber website or follow them on LinkedIn for all the latest announcements.
Hopefully, summer will return after a washed-out July and I wish you all well for the coming weeks.
Back in the old days if you asked a newcomer to the business community how they made their way to Hull the chances were they’d reply: “Changed at Donny”. But from 2000 there was a new game in town. Hull Trains launched its direct services to London and soon transitioned from fledgling operator to part of the furniture.
September is a significant month for the business – it’s 23 years this month since the first Hull Train rolled out of Paragon Station, and it’s the first anniversary of Martijn Gilbert stepping in as Managing Director.
If you ask Martijn how he found his way to Hull he might say it was by bus: “I joined from being the Managing Director for the North East and East Yorkshire regional bus operations of Go Ahead Group, so I’m no stranger to the Hull and Humber region because part of that includes East Yorkshire Buses.”
The attraction of Hull Trains was its status as an open access rail operator, with challenges in terms of size but also opportunities to tackle the future of the sector.
The outcome after the disruption caused by lockdown and industrial relations issues, which many sectors faced, is a success story, punctuated with plenty of caution but definitely full of optimism.
“As an open access operator we’re not subject to a franchise or contract or in receipt of any subsidies, so we are unencumbered by some of the current challenges in parts of the industry,” Martijn explained.
“We were able to resolve the disputes with our on-train colleagues and drivers back in December. We were impacted when Network Rail were still subject to industrial action, but since they were able to resolve their dispute earlier this year we have not been subject to any disruption. We deliver a good, strong, reliable service that our customers can depend on. We live and die by the number of people who use our trains and the revenue we generate. Because we are only as successful as our product, that drives us to be good at what we do, with a strong focus on customer service.”
With a role which also includes leading the sister company Lumo, Martijn splits his time between Hull
‘We deliver a good, strong, reliable service that our customers can depend on’
and Newcastle but the rest of the Hull Trains team of 108 people is based here in its home city and is handed most of the credit for building a reputation for excellence in the first place, and then doing it again.
The buzz in 2019 from the £60m investment in five new trains abated in no time because of lockdown but now things are back on track. The names of the new fleet – The Humber Bridge, Land of Green Ginger, William Wilberforce, Amy Johnson and Jean Bishop The Bee Lady – cement those local links, as do partnerships with organisations including Hull Children’s University, Hull Truck Theatre and Pride in Hull.
Members of the Hull Trains team lead those relationships and have been recognised with in-house excellence awards and industry accolades. Louise Mendham, the Service Delivery Director in Hull, won the Outstanding Personal Contribution (Management) category at the National Rail Awards, adding to her Outstanding Employee trophy at the HullBID Awards.
A “Golden Spanner” honour was the reward for the best train fleet performance in its class and provided a platform for further success.
Martijn said: “That was for the reliability of the trains themselves but, more importantly, we are now the leading operator on the east coast main line route in terms of service reliability with a 99.8 per cent score as we stand today. Customers now know they can rely on us. We run our trains when we say they are going to run and we have a brand new fleet of trains that are delivering their full potential.”
Customer numbers are up 28 per cent compared with 2019 but the make-up is rather different after the events of the last four years.
Martijn said: “The impact of lockdown has been significant on the whole of society, and it has brought a substantial change in the way that people use the rail network.
“A huge chunk of business travel has gone. More meetings are still done on Teams and Zoom but there is a huge boom in leisure travel and we are not only the fastest recovering rail operator – we are now the fastest growing anywhere in the UK.
“There is a lot more travel at weekends rather than at the highest priced peak times. It’s taken a lot to adapt to that and the revenue is only just getting back to 2019 levels so I don’t want to underestimate the enormity of the task.”
The focus is still very much on recovery, but there’s genuine excitement in Martijn’s voice as we talk on the eve
of Hull City’s first home league match of the new season, Hull Kingston Rovers’ trip to Wembley and the crowdpulling Humber Street Sesh.
“It’s a very busy weekend and a big weekend for the city,” said Martijn.
“At certain times we have the flexibility to double the length of some trains and run with 10 carriages. We know there is the demand because we have grown the market from the one train a day that existed before we started to the eight trains a day that now run between East Yorkshire and London.
“I’m really excited about the Maritime City initiative and about the City of Culture legacy and I think there is lots more to come. We just need to shout about it to attract more tourism and inward investment.”
The future includes a focus on technology, with Hull Trains taking part in a project which will see signals moved from trackside poles onto digital screens in the driver’s cab at the London end of the route, and on the environment, with its bimode trains capable of running on electricity and on the greenest diesel.
It’s also about empowerment: “We are able to empower our colleagues to do what’s right and best to deliver the right service to our customers. They have a stake in what we do and they have seen a substantial improvement in their working conditions thanks to the new trains and other changes such as office accommodation.
“They know that our success depends on us delivering a good service to our customers, they know they are right at the heart of that and they know that if the company is successful then they will be successful.
“A smaller business by its very nature is closely aligned to its customers and to our success and that has very much been the story of Hull Trains. Innovation within the industry will be driven by the type of operation that we have at Hull Trains. We are able to get on and deliver for our customers and innovate with fares, ticketing and retail and all of that is very exciting.”
‘Innovation within the industry will be driven by the type of operation that we have at Hull Trains’LEFT: Martijn Gilbert has enjoyed his first year as Managing Director of Hull Trains OPPOSITE: Martijn won’t have long to wait - the operator scores an impressive 99.8 per cent for service reliability
Hidden away in what is still one of Grimsby’s most deprived areas is an oasis of calm, support and love, where a couple who met through their careers in the prison service spent lockdown building their dream of a new career helping the people they used to lock up change their paths and find a different way.
Nunny’s Farm is a Community Interest Company (CIC) which is a community petting farm for everyone offering people the opportunity to be more at one with nature and meeting the animals which can have huge physical and mental health benefits.
The Chamber’s North East Lincolnshire Area Council visited the farm before their June meeting which was held at Centre4. It was founded by animal lovers Neil and Jo and Nunny’s Farm stemmed from the concept of animals for therapy and interaction, with the couple wanting to give something back to the neighbourhood. Interacting with animals can help with confidence, social skills and also provide a sensory experience.
The first animals at the farm were five chickens, followed by two pot-bellied pigs and African pygmy goats. It is now home to a
donkey, a Shetland pony, Highland cattle, pigs, alpacas, goats, guinea pigs and sheep, to name just some of the latest arrivals.
For the price of £3.50 per adult, families can feed and pet the animals while a growing army of volunteers build new enclosures, sheds, huts and even a little shop that gives visitors the chance to buy a souvenir or some homegrown vegetables.
‘The inspiring couple running the place need help, but they don’t like to ask for it’
The story behind Nunny’s Farm is inspirational, and one of Grimsby’s best kept secrets. They have even re-homed some animals from the Jungle in Cleethorpes, which closed recently, but the inspiring couple running the place need help, but they don’t like to ask for it.
They hope that the people will offer help because they want to support what they are doing to change the lives of local residents and visitors. That help could be in the form of timber to build more stockades and homes for the growing number of animals, various types
of food for the animals, although there are strict rules around what can be donated, skills, and simply the time of trades people to wire things up, plumbers to plumb things in, or cash donations to help them keep the place going.
The farm also features a plant-based tea room, birthday party barn, toilets and a farm shop, and has an open space which can be hired for workshops and group activities. They also offer animal adoptions, volunteering opportunities and one-on-one sessions with the animals, and are always putting on sessions for pony and sheep walking and can provide educational experiences from groups and schools.
Everybody is welcome, they need more volunteers at the farm that supports families, the unemployed, people with mental health issues and just about anyone else who needs a place of sanctuary, and some peace and quiet.
If you can help Nunny’s Farm, give them a call on 01472 236676, email admin@nunnysfarmcic.org or just pop in and say hello at 17a Wootton Road, Grimsby DN33 1HE.
The Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that the Local Skills Improvement Plan for Hull & East Yorkshire has been approved by the Secretary of State in line with the approval criteria set out in the Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022, and in accordance with the LSIP Statutory Guidance.
The Hull & East Yorkshire Local Skills Improvement Plan (HEY LSIP) is a threeyear plan that sets out to place employers at the heart of the local skills system, to ensure that our current and future workforce are equipped with the skills and attributes that meet the needs of employers and the local area.
Through the Chamber’s engagement activity with local employers, the LSIP focuses on five key themes: technical skills; educational teaching professionals; employability skills and behaviours; careers guidance being aligned with local opportunities; and accessibility.
Phil Ascough, Chair of the HEY LSIP Board, said: “Approval of the LSIP is excellent news and reflects and rewards the
immense effort undertaken by the LSIP team in completing an arduous procedure. It also demonstrates the value of the input from hundreds of local businesses of all sizes who add up to a huge resource and an immense and valuable pool of talent and expertise. We look forward very much to taking the LSIP forward with their help, and to generating further private sector involvement.”
Chamber President Albert Weatherill welcomed guests to the Chamber’s northern Lincolnshire lunch in July, which was held at the popular San Pietro restaurant, in Scunthorpe.
Albert thanked the staff for an excellent lunch at what he suggested could be the best venue in Scunthorpe, highlighting that he had enjoyed the morning and praised the benefits of networking to help firms attract new clients and refresh relationships with long-standing customers.
He then introduced Jonathan Evison, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Humberside, who noted he liked to describe himself as the accidental Police and Crime Commissioner, as he only decided to become a candidate three weeks before the election, but was pleased that he did and he had become successful.
Jonathan highlighted that it is a really good time to be at the Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office, having recently undergone a 265-day inspection which resulted in his force being ranked outstanding in the Peel report, which he waved at the guests.
He praised retiring Chief Constable Lee Freeman for his commitment and drive in turning the force around and making it the su ccess that it is today.
He went on to describe how 999 calls are answered within eight to 10 seconds consistently and how the 101 service was now very good. He said people will put the phone down if a call is not answered within one minute and 20 seconds. The average drop-off rate around the UK is 38 per cent. However, in Humberside it is two per cent, which means it is the best by six per cent compared to the next best force.
They also boast the highest arrest and conviction rate, thanks to an increase in officers which now number a total of 2,289. Jonathan said the force was recruiting more officers and had decided to drop its degree requirement, which was a good thing as it was excluding potential applicants who would make excellent police officers, for example, ex-military personnel, who often make a successful transition from the armed forces into the police. They were in the process of welcoming 104 new officers who were replacing retiring officers.
He highlighted how several of the Humberside Police’s models are now being adopted nationally. He noted that as a result of these policies burglaries were down 40 per cent, hair coursing was down 50 per cent thanks to the work of two rural teams, which had also seen a reduction in badger baiting, down 70 per cent.
Talking about offending numbers, he said 20 per cent of offenders were new offenders while 80 per cent were reoffenders. £5.5m had been spent on a violence reduction unit which focused on domestic abuse, knife crime and working with the NHS.
Chamber Chief Executive Ian Kelly said he appreciated the success of the Humberside force, but asked about anti-social behaviour and drug abuse in Grimsby town centre which he had witnessed recently. Jonathan said he would look into it, but there were things he could do, and the fact they were recruiting 150 new officers would make a difference in the near future.
‘Approval of the LSIP is excellent news and reflects and rewards the immense effort undertaken by the LSIP team’PCC Jonathan Evison pictured at San Pietro, Scunthorpe with (from left) Chamber President Albert Weatherill, the Chair of the Chamber’s North Lincolnshire Council Paul Cooper, the Chair of the Chamber’s North East Lincolnshire Council Irene Keal and the Leader of North East Lincolnshire’s Council, Cllr Philip Jackson Phil Ascough, Chair of the HEY LSIP Board
The Chair of the Chamber’s North East Lincolnshire Area Council, Irene Keal, presented a cheque for £1,043 to Liza Williams, the Head of Fundraising for St Andrew’s Hospice in Grimsby. The money was half of the proceeds of a charity raffle held during the 2023 Northern Lincolnshire Business Awards.
The Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce has welcomed the announcement that the Government has awarded Track Two status to the Harbour Energy project which links Phillips 66, VPI and others to the Viking carbon capture and storage project under the North Sea.
Following the disappointment that the Humber was overlooked in the last Budget announcements, this latest news means plans to cut the CO2 emissions in the UK’s most polluting region are now a step closer.
Harbour Energy’s proposal will capture carbon from the South Bank’s refineries and other industries by collecting up to 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2030, condensing it and then storing it in underground aquifers in the North Sea.
David Hooper, the Chamber’s External Affairs Director, said: “The Chamber welcomes the Government announcement that the Harbour Energy project has been awarded Track Two status – it’s a step in the right direction, but we now want to see all the
Cardiac arrests can happen to anyone at any time and action taken in the first few minutes afterwards can make a huge difference to someone’s chances of survival. Research shows that the chance of survival following the onset of a cardiac arrest decreases by 7–10 per cent for every minute of delay in commencing treatment.
In Hull the HANDS (Hull Action for Neighbourhood Defibrillators) Partnership is seeking support to develop the network of 24/7 Community Accessible Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs or ‘defibrillators’) throughout the city for anyone to access in a life-or-death situation.
A defibrillator is a device that is placed externally on the body to deliver an electric shock to restart the heart of someone who is in cardiac arrest. The device will only discharge an electric shock if the heart has stopped.
Why do we need more defibrillators?
Defibrillators have the potential to save the lives of your employees and visitors in addition to the wider community, with latest research showing that accessing these devices within three-five minutes of a cardiac arrest increases the chance of surviva l by over 40 per cent.
Can you help?
• Do you currently have a defibrillator within your premises? Would you be willing to relocate this to a secure external cabinet that could be accessed 24/7 by all? If so, the partnership would like to hear from you.
• Would you be willing to locate/install a defibrillator at your premise? If yes, the partnership would like to hear from you.
• If you have a defibrillator, is it registered on ‘The Circuit’: the national defibrillator network database? If not, please go to www.thecircuit.uk to register the unit.
What next
Email Neighbourhood.Admin@hullcc.gov.uk to register your interest.
Humber schemes given the green light for Track Two.
“In April, the Chamber wrote a joint letter to the Secretary of State for Energy, Grant Shapps, alongside local Council leaders, expressing strong concern over the omission of the Humber in the Government’s carbon capture and storage (CCS) announcements.
“There was concern and frankly amazement that the Humber was largely overlooked putting at risk the £15bn of investment which was planned for the Humber’s Carbon Zero agenda amid fears that money might be spent elsewhere, leaving the Humber, which should be leading the world on the carbon capture and storage agenda, completely adrift.
“The Chamber’s view continues to be that the UK should go green through the Humber, and the country cannot go green without the Humber!”
The Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce has written to Rail Minister Huw Merriman expressing the business community’s concerns over Government plans to close rail ticket offices in the Humber.
Chamber Chief Executive Dr Ian Kelly said in the letter: “In the limited time for consultation you have given us to feedback and consult our own members, the business community across the Humber economic sub-region is deeply concerned at what appears to be a thinlyveiled plan to save money rather than a sensibly timetabled review of rail customer services across our area.
“We appreciate all the difficulties in the rail industry at the moment and the considerable frustrations with the quality of services from operators.
“However, these ticket office closure proposals appear to be very badly thought through, discriminatory towards older people and variously disabled people who currently use these services, especially as there is no guarantee that any or all of the locations in the Humber planned for closure will have staff available on rail platforms across the times when ticket offices were previously open.”
The latest news, success stories and updates from members of Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce.
The Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce’s Immediate Past President, Mike Whitehead, was invited to 10 Downing Street in July.
Mike took time out from attending the Headingley Test Match to visit the home of the British Government and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
He used the visit to highlight to the Prime Minister and senior Conservative Party colleagues, the positive business opportunities the Chamber and the four local authority leaders in the Humber see for the region, especially if they can help get policy right on the green carbon zero and energy security agendas.
Mike banged the drum for Hull & East Yorkshire Devolution, and in particular the important part the Chamber is playing in encouraging a strong private sector agenda.
He also promoted the commercial opportunities for at least £15bn worth of further private sector investment in the Humber if Westminster, Whitehall and infrastructure companies like the National Grid can accelerate their decision making on policy and planning as well as investment.
The recently-elected Leader of the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Anne Handley, gave her first speech as Leader to the June meeting of Chamber Council, the organisation’s main policymaking group.
Cllr Handley told the meeting: “I am furious that we don’t have an elected mayor to represent our area and the frustration among the Conservative Group is palpable.”
She went on to tell the meeting of senior business leaders that she would be meeting with the Hull City Council’s Chief Executive Matt Jukes and Leader Cllr Mike Ross, along with Alan Menzies and Caroline Lacey from ERYC to try to agree a way forward.
Cllr Handley highlighted that there were currently three mayors in Yorkshire so far, but there were four parts of the county, and our area was missing out and needed to be on the same level as the others.
She told the meeting that East Riding wanted to see an East Yorkshire Mayoral Authority. Hull City Council still seemed to be a little
reticent but she felt it was the only way to go.
Once it was all agreed there would be a joint statement from Cllr Handley and Cllr Ross to say they had agreed to go for a Mayoral Combined Authority for Hull and the East Riding. There may be a further joint announcement for Greater Lincolnshire and the north bank in October on devolution for both areas. Both Councils would be represented on the Combined Authority and the area could go out as a powerhouse.
Cllr Handley said there should also be a panHumber deal alongside the East Riding and Hull and Greater Lincolnshire arrangements.
Chamber Chief Executive Dr Ian Kelly and Immediate Past President Mike Whitehead both welcomed the news, along with other members who gave a round of applause, noting it was long overdue and would bring a real boost for the area if her plans were to move forward as was hoped.
Cllr Handley also agreed that the East Riding of Yorkshire Council would become a patron member of the Chamber of Commerce.
In the race for devolution, Hull and the East Riding are finally out of blocks. The only problem is, the starting pistol was fired nine years ago and the rest of the field have long since crossed the finishing line, collected their mayoral medals, showered and left the stadium.
Just ahead of the summer recess the cabinets of both councils agreed in principle to start negotiating with the Government on a devolution deal including the option of having a directly-elected mayor overseeing a new-look combined authority.
There were plenty of ifs, buts and maybes in the carefully-worded statements which followed but the intent was clear. After too many false starts to mention, it was a decisive moment.
Credit for this shift in gear must go to East Riding leader Cllr Anne Handley who, after taking over as Conservative group leader at County Hall following May’s elections, nailed her colours to the mast by declaring a mayorled devolution deal as her top priority.
To underline this, she devoted her entire leader’s update slot at the first full meeting of the council after the elections to outline her case, taking questions on it from across the chamber in her stride. It was impressive and ambitious stuff albeit short on detail.
Her Hull counterpart Mike Ross is a naturally more cautious operator. While acknowledging the Government’s preference for mayoral deals, his approach to the issue has mirrored his Liberal Democrat group’s repeated mantra about running a listening council. Not surprisingly, he says he wants a deal to be in the best interests of the people of Hull. Who could possibly argue with that?
However, time is not on their side. At least time spent negotiating with the current Government Ministers, that is.
I was struck by something Dr Bruce Charlesworth said at the recent opening of an exhibition at the Hull History Centre celebrating the 90th anniversary of the first bottle of Dettol rolling off the production line at Reckitt’s.
The company’s chief medical officer for health and research and development site lead in Hull likened being based at the vast Dansom Lane complex to working in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory.
Everyone knows it’s there, but very few people actually know what goes on inside,” he said. The exhibition was the company’s first attempt to change that by bringing one of its most famous success stories into a public setting - and I’msure there must be other firms across the region with equally fascinating stories just waiting to be shared
in venues equally keen to host them.
I recently visited Hull’s Hands on History Museum –otherwise known as the Old Grammar School –overlooking Trinity Square for the first time in years.
Dating back to 1538 when it was built as the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, it’s the oldest publicly-owned building in the city.
Andrew Marvell and William Wilberforce were both educated there yet it currently only opens on two afternoons a month.
I appreciate funding is tight at the city council these days but perhaps the time has come to consider making better use of this fabulous asset or transferring ownership to someone with enough imagination and deep enough pockets to do it proper justice. After all, isn’t Hull’s aspiration to be a world-class visitor destination?
A general election looms on the horizon with Labour promising to continue the roll-out of devolved funding and decision-making to areas yet to get them even if they do not want to adopt the model of having an elected mayor. However, a radical re-think on what devolution actually delivers in deals across the country is also certain under a Keir Starmer-led Government.
Realistically, any mayoral election in Hull and East Riding is unlikely before 2025 at the earliest. By then, the devolution landscape is likely to look very different than it is today.
One of the Chamber’s longest serving members of staff has arrested her career and closed down her spreadsheets for the final time.
Janice Harrison, who has worked with the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce for 22 years is a popular and well-known face among the Chamber’s thousands of members. Over the years she has organised countless networking events, annual dinners, Chamber Expos and race days, as well as keeping track of the membership and helping with the marketing and events.
Her last Chamber outing was to the Driffield Show where she helped staff a stand with David Hooper and Chief Executive Ian Kelly, in between dodging the heavy showers.
my time working with the Chamber – it’s been a very varied and sociable job’
Two passing police officers questioned Janice about her decision to leave the Chamber, but no charges were pressed after she explained her motives, which include spending more time with her husband Des, looking forward to more holidays and seeing more of her five grandchildren.
Ian and David presented Janice with a bouquet of flowers, a nice bottle of Tattinger champagne and some chocolates, while the rest of the team gave her a nice send off in a local hostelry and presented her with one of
her favourite gins, champagne and a card. Janice said: “I’ve enjoyed my time working with the Chamber – it’s been a very varied and sociable job. It’s been nice meeting all the members over the years and I have made some good friends who I hope to keep in contact with. There have been some fun times with plenty of amusing stories from some of the
annual dinners when up to 500 people used to attend. There was one occasion when a waitress accidentally tipped a bottle of red wine over Bruce’s tuxedo, but unfazed, he just drank some more red wine!
“I’m looking forward to spending more time with my family who live away, more walking and some nice holidays!”
The Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce is delighted to introduce Kay Hudson as our new Membership and Marketing Executive, following the retirement of Chamber stalwart Janice Harrison.
Kay has more than 25 years’ experience working in both private and public sector organisations and thrives on creating successful results for clients and is now looking forward to putting those skills to good use in a membership organisation.
Kay has previously worked in numerous sectors, including inward investment and economic development, healthcare, education, legal, luxury retail, property, sports, military, tourism and leisure, agriculture and food and energy and renewables, and has met some interesting characters along the way, including Brian Clough, Stuart Pearce and boxers Anthony Joshua and David Hayes.
Kay is looking forward to working with David Hooper, External Affairs and Membership Director, and the team to support the Chamber’s existing and new
members, keeping them abreast of our member services, new initiatives and events.
Alongside David and Northern Lincolnshire Manager, Anne Tate, Kay will be helping to create an exciting Chamber Events Diary for 2024 to support the region’s businesses, keeping them informed of new opportunities and helping them to flourish in the Humber region.
Kay said: “I was thrilled to be invited to join the Chamber team and I’m already enjoying my new role. There’s a lot to learn and I’m looking forward to putting my skills and knowledge to good use for the Chamber’s members.”
David Hooper said: “I am delighted to welcome Kay to the Chamber, she has a strong skill set and some great ideas for some different events and she is already proving to be a valuable asset to our team.”
If you would like to get in touch with Kay to make sure you are making the most of your membership, find out more about our Four Services or what else the Chamber can offer, give her a call on (01482) 324811 or email k.hudson@hull-humber-chamber.co.uk
‘I’ve enjoyedJanice Harrison is questioned by the police at the Driffield Show, as David Hooper (left) and Ian Kelly present her retirement gifts Kay Hudson, the Chamber’s new Membership and Marketing Executive
The Chamber’s North Lincolnshire Area Council was hosted by Eddisons CJM for its June meeting.
The chair of the Chamber’s North Lincolnshire Area Council, Paul Cooper, is a director and auctioneer for Eddisons and welcomed members to his warehouse which at the time was home to the contents of Coney’s, a large department store in Spalding, which was the latest high street casualty to go under.
The shelves were stacked with expensive perfumes, clothes, shoes, cooking equipment and even smartly attired mannequins which couldn’t resist a photo opportunity.
During the meeting, Paul gave members a fascinating insight into Eddisons’ work, explaining how his business works for companies which close a factory or sell a production line, either locally, or anywhere in the world.
Paul said: “Lots of businesses go bust because they don’t get the business model right, but I see it as recycling people, assets and ideas. Just look at Woolworths which went bust after 105 years because of changing shopping patterns on the high street which has also affected many other big name brands. Businesses have to evolve to survive.”
To find out more about Eddisons visit www.eddisons.com or call (01724) 749984.
Our links with the city and the history of the RSPCA are not well documented. Almost 200 years ago three men, sat in a coffee house in Slaughterhouse Lane, London discussing animal cruelty, one of them being our very own William Wilberforce. Their work was so impressive to Queen Victoria that she bestowed a Royal Patronage to the society in 1840. As we approach our anniversary in 2024, the Hull Branch can stand proud in the community as a local independently funded branch of the Society, holding the torch of home for animal welfare.
Our branch has been in Hull since 1903 and moved to its current location on Clough Road in 1938. The site was built for the city by the Branch as the Hull Dogs Home. In 2019 the existing kennels where demolished, and a new £1m state of the art animal rescue centre built to meet the demands of today.
As I approach my second anniversary with the branch I reflect on our history and what the future will look like. Our work in the last 18 month has steadily increased with reports of animal cruelty into the national call centre rising.
Over the past two years, the RSPCA Hull and East Riding Branch has undergone a remarkable transfo rmation to emerge as a forward-thinking charity, deeply connected to its community. This transformation has not only made the organisation greener and more resilient but also prioritised staff and volunteer training, introduced a fresh brand that respects its history and embraces its present and future.
This article aims to celebrate the incredible journey of the people behind this transformation and high light their dedication
to addressing animal cruelty, abandonment, and trauma while providing care and hope at their rescue centre.
The RSPCA Hull and East Riding Branch’s transformational journey began with a vision to redefine its role in the community and elevate its impact on animal welfare. Understanding the need for change in a rapidly evolving world, the charity embraced an ada ptive mindset, ready to challenge the status quo and embrace innovation.
Central to this transformation was the establishment of stronger ties with the local community. The RSPCA branch recognised that its success lies in engaging with the public, local organisations, and businesses.
In its commitment to making a positive impact on the environment, the RSPCA Hull and East Riding Branch implemented greener practices across its operations. By opting for sustainable alternatives, the charity set an example for other organisations to follow.
In a world full of uncertainties, building resilience became a crucial aspect of the transformation. The RSPCA branch invested in strategic planning and organisational development to withstand unforeseen chal lenges and continue its vital work uninterrupted. This resilience ensured that the animals they cared for received unwavering support, regardless of external circumstances.
Recognising that the heart of any organisation lies within its people, the branch made significant investments in staff and volunteer training.
One of the most transformative changes was the shift towards a culture-first approach. By prioritising the well-being of their staff, volunteers, and supporters, the RSPCA Hull and East Riding Branch created an environment where creativity and dedication flourished.
The RSPCA Hull and East Riding Branch’s twoyear transformational journey has been nothing short of inspiring. By becoming a forwardthinking charity deeply connected to its community, adopting greener practices, empowering its people, and putting culture first, they have set a high standard for animal welfare organisations. Their commitment to providing care and hope in the face of cruelty and trauma at their rescue centre demonstrates the positive impact that can be achieved through peoplecentric transformational change.
The Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce has invested in its membership offer and has recently launched four important new services to support Humber businesses which are now included as part of the Chamber package.
Chamber HR, Chamber H&S, Chamber Legal and Chamber Tax are all now available to members and are free to use as often as they like.
Chamber members also have access to a huge library of around 800 downloadable documents and templates covering employment, health and safety, tax and legal matters.
All the new services can be accessed by one phone number which gives members immediate advice and support via five advice lines – HR, H&S, Legal, Tax and VAT
These new services represent a major investment by the Chamber in its membership offer. The service s are part of a national scheme provided by Quest with 45,000 UK Chamber of Commerce users.
David Hooper, The Chamber’s External Affairs Director, said: “Businesses are facing challenging times at the moment and these new services offer excellent support to all businesses, whatever size they may be. I believe these new services will protect our members, help them stay compliant, particularly with issues aro und Covid-19 like HR and H&S requirements, and give them peace of mind.
“Our new services are employer focused, so the HR line for example, can help businesses deal with redundancy procedures, appraisals or disciplinary procedures and comes with access to experienced advisors for hand-holding support when they need it, or provide access to documents which are regularly updated to reflect the latest rules and regulations.
“The Health and Safety package offers unlimited advice and access to documents like H&S policies, risk assessment templates and the offer of free One2One reviews. Chamber Legal provides unlimited access to experienced
legal advisors and a library of documents, while Chamber Tax provides access to tax and VAT advisors who can be a great help at tax return time!”
Chamber Chief Executive Dr Ian Kelly said: “We are delighted to be able to include these excellent new benefits as part of our membership package. They provide expert advice and support on many key aspects of running a business and I would encourage our members to make good use of these new, premium services.”
Members only can call 01455 852037 for immediate support and assistance.
For more information, contact the Hull and East Yorkshire office: 01482 324976 or email j.harrison@hull-humberchamber.co.uk, or the Northern Lincolnshire Office: 01472 342981 or email a.tate@hull-humber-chamber.co.uk
Hull-based Ideal Heating has launched its first UK heat pump production line as part of a huge investment in low carbon technologies.
The heating industry market leader has been manufacturing many of the country’s best-selling boilers for over a century at its headquarters in the city.
Now the business is undergoing a major transformation as it engineers the green heating solutions to support the UK’s drive to net zero.
Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, visited Ideal Heating’s Hull factory to ma rk the start of heat pump production by the company in the UK.
The new heat pump production line forms part of a £60m investment programme at the Hull site, which includes an expanded distribution hub, a research and development centre to pioneer the heating technologies of the future, and a heat pump manufactur ing facility.
Ideal Heating has also invested more than £2m in a flagship training centre in Hessle, East Yorkshire – one of the heating industry’s largest and best-equipped training facilities and where up to 5,000 installers every year can gain the skills to install and service heat pumps.
As the UK market leader in both the domestic and commercial heating sectors, Ideal Heating is now leading the industry towards a greener future, supported by its parent company, Groupe Atlantic, a global heating industry leader.
Shaun Edwards, CEO of Groupe Atlantic UK, Republic of Ireland and North America, said: “The transition to low carbon heating solutions including heat pumps is the biggest transformation in the business since we moved from coal to gas-fired boilers in the 1930s.
Three of Hull’s hard-pressed hospitality businesses are hoping for a successful summer after reporting a boost in business from their first appearance at Hull Street Food Nights.
The teams behind Asian street food restaurant Oishii Ne, cocktails and crisps destination Kicks Bar and Grill and live music venue Service Station all set out their stalls for the very first time at the opening Hull Street Food Night of 2023 and are now looking forward to the rest of the dates.
Sponsors ResQ also made their debut at the event earlier this month and returned again for a second helping on Zebedee’s Yard in June.
Gill Marchbanks, CEO of the contact centre business which employs more than 2,000 people in Hull and is expanding rapidly, said: “Our team had an absolute blast - the atmosphere was electric, and the food was delicious! We're grateful to have had a chance
to contribute to the fun of the event and engage with the people of Hull.”
Throughout the summer each Hull Street Food Night will feature about 30 different food vendors and an entertainment package which will include live music, DJ sets, street entertainment and free glitter face painting.
‘There were big crowds, great food and drink and some fantastic entertainment’
The events, which are organised by HullBID, will all take place in Zebedee’s Yard and Princes Dock Street from 4pm until 9pm there will be a further event on Thursday 28 September.
Tom Would, who launched Oishii Ne as a pop-up before taking permanent premises in Paragon Arcade in 2022, was literally counting his chickens as the food flew out in Zebedee’s Yard, where mum Joanne Cater came along to help.
“The major investments we’re making at our Hull site send out a very clear signal about our commitment to the net zero transition and to re-modelling our business to meet the needs of our customers today and into the future.
“For decades the name Ideal has been associated with boilers and other marketleading heating products. With the start of heat pump production and the many other investments we’re making, we’re now pushing strongly forward with renewable technologies that will play an ever-growing role in heating the UK’s homes and commercial premises.”
Tom said: “It was really good, if a little stressful for our first time! We sold out with about 20 minutes to go.”
Kathryn Shillito, Executive Director of HullBID, added: “We felt the first Hull Street Food Night of the year was a great success but you don’t have to take our word for it!
“Everybody could see there were big crowds, great food and dr ink and some fantastic entertainment which all added up to a superb atmosphere and generated extra trade for the stallholders and for other businesses throughout the city centre – we know from our surveys that many attendees continued the fun at bars and pubs throughout the city centre.”
‘Everyone at Ideal Heating is doing a fantastic job, so I’d like to say well done and keep it up’Lord Callanan officially opened the new facility and met members of Ideal Heating’s Expert Academy training team and installers undergoing training at the centre The first Hull Street Food Night of 2023
Look out into the Humber from Cleethorpes promenade, or glance at the river as you cross the Humber Bridge, and you can nearly always see ships of different shapes and sizes plying their trade up and down the river, but how many times do you consider who repairs and maintains the ships which fetch and carry cargo from around the UK and the world.
MMS Ship Repair & Dry Dock Co. Ltd, on Hull's Alexandra Dock, has been repairing maintaining and building ships on the
Humber for 35 years. Its managing director, Rob Langton, is a good friend of this year’s Chamber President Albert Weatherill, who invited the Chamber’s, Shipping, Transport and Renewables Committee to hold its July meeting at the shipyard.
The Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce is the only Chamber in the UK to have such a committee and this year is its 175th Anniversary, so it was fitting that members were given a rare opportunity to enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour and see cargo
ships being repaired and painted – something that needs to be done every five years or so –to keep them safe and seaworthy.
From a shipping family based in Goole, Rob founded MMS Ship Repair & Dry Dock Co 35 years ago, and has built it up since then into an impressive company which has now diversified into shipbuilding and has recently produced its first experimental electrically powered boat which is affordably priced and designed to collect plastic waste from docks and harbours.
Rob said they also branched out into offshore work in 2012, but in 2014 the oil industry collapsed and 35 per cent of their work disappeared, but since the Ukraine war started, they have seen more oil boats this year than they had in the previous nine years.
Rob said they were always looking for skilled people who were prepared to muck in and help out on several jobs. Among the skilled staff needed are platers, fitters, electricians, welders, and other multi-skilled people who are prepared to help each other get the job done. Rob explained that the average age of the workforce is 45 which is quite good for a business like his, adding that they always have three or four apprentices on site all the time.
Altogether the shipyard employs 80 people, including their seagoing staff, which includes several young lads who are trainee skippers.
Rob said: “We recently refurbished a barge
in the hope that it would be used to carry cargo up the Aire and Calder Canal to Leeds, but those plans have fallen through due to a lack of help from the Canal and River Trust who seem to more interested in leisure traffic on the canal these days.
“We are now looking for a new role for this barge as there is a need for this kind of canal traffic which would take lots of vehicles and heavy trucks off the roads, but it needs a Government to get behind it to make it work. We refitted the barge to have very low emissions thanks to its hybrid propulsion systems, using a diesel engine to get as far as Goole and then once it entered the canal system, it could run on electric power. The barge was ideal for installing electric batteries because the ship was designed to carry a lot of weight.”
Members also enjoyed a tour of the shipyard where they saw the restored Victorian dry docks, beautifully made with stepped brickwork.
Chamber President Albert Weatherill, who is also the chair of the Shipping, Transport and Renewables Committee, thanked Rob for hosting the meeting and giving us such an informative tour of his site.
After years of campaigning, one of LNER’s Azuma trains rolled into Cleethorpes in June as part of a gauge testing programme ahead of a possible introduction of services in the May 2024 timetable.
Among those on board were LNER’s Managing Director David Horne, who said: “This represents a big step forward in the possible introduction of direct services to London from Cleethorpes if all goes well. It has gone well so far, but in today’s railway we have to make sure disabled access and stepping height is up to standard and that could be an issue at Market Rasen which is where we will be stopping next.
“If it all goes well, we then need the final sign-off and some funding from Government to make this a reality.”
The Chamber’s External Affairs Director David Hooper, Northern Lincolnshire Manager Anne Tate, Adam Fowler, from the City of Hull & Humber Environment Forum and Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers were among those eagerly awaiting the train’s arrival from its depot in Doncaster.
‘It’s great to see this LNER train finally pulling into Cleethorpes’ station’
If it goes ahead, the resort will be served by the first train to London in the morning, and the last one returning in the evening, giving Northern Lincolnshire its first direct connection to the capital for more than 31 years. It is hoped that Barnetby and Market Rasen will also be included as stops in the timetable.
The Chamber has lobbied for the reintroduction of the service for several years after LNER introduced direct services from Lincoln with its new Hitachi 800 trains, suggesting it wouldn’t take much for
them to travel the extra few miles up to Grimsby and Cleethorpes.
Following meetings with LNER at their head office in York, the Chamber was told that it would only cost around £1m a year, which is not much money in rail terms.
Meetings then followed with the then Rail Minister Andrew Jones and Northern Lincolnshire business leaders hosted by Phillips 66 to put forward what Mr Jones said was a very strong business case for this service to be included in a future timetable. It would save many business people driving to Newark or Doncaster to get a direct train to London, which also helps with the current green agenda.
David Hooper and Adam Fowler also visited the Department for Transport and won its support for the business case for the region. David said: “It’s great to see this LNER train finally pulling into Cleethorpes’ station – it’s been a long journey to get to this point and it would be fantastic for the area if we can see this service included in the May timetable for the first time since 1992. It would also give the area the opportunity to market itself in London and attract visitors to the area from the south and boost our tourism, which all helps the local economy and creates jobs.”
“One of the key obstacles was the commissioning of a Grip 2 Survey which looks at whether trains will fit up the tracks, not hit platforms and go around the bends without hitting any trackside furniture. Noone wanted to pay for it, so I asked the Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, Cllr Philip Jackson, and NELC’s Managing Director Rob Walsh if they would fund the £25,000 study. They quickly agreed, and that got things to the next level.
“Many of the biggest Northern Lincolnshire businesses want to see this service introduced, and it was great to see a strong turn-out from the local press and lots of enthusiastic onlookers, who, when they realised what was happening, were quick to add their endorsement to the region’s direct London train ambitions.”
Finnlines’ Finneco hybrid ro-ro vessels employ the most innovative technologies for energy saving and emission reduction. These vessels support our customers in the green transition, offering them improved operational performance and higher cargo space.
• Up to 400 trailers intake
• Designed for carrying mobiles, machineries and mafi
• Dedicated car decks
• Large weather deck for containers and project cargo
• 250 tonnes ramp capacity
• 7.4 metres indoor clearance
• Vast availability of mafi and terminal equipment
-40% -44% -63%
CO2 emissions for a trailer which is carried onboard our Finneco between Bilbao and Zeebrugge instead of driving on the road.
CO2 emissions for a trailer which is carried onboard our Finneco between Antwerp and Helsinki instead of driving on the road.
Innovative technologies to minimise emissions: Compared to the average worldwide fleet:
CO2 emitted per ton per nautical mile.
In this issue we take a look at the Corporate Christmas and Made in Hull & Humber sectors.
The office Christmas party is an opportunity for you to thank your staff for a year’s worth of hard work, and the chance for your staff to let their hair down and have fun. However, if the alcohol is flowing, spirits are up and professional guards are down, judgements may become impaired –and with the ubiquity of social media, missteps can be recorded and remembered long after the party has ended.
Your employees may not realise the damage that could be done when using social media during the workplace Christmas party, but inappropriate content could have a negative impact on individuals and the company alike.
So how can you stop your staff from making an illadvised tweet or Facebook post that could put your company at stake? A social media policy is an easy and effective way of highlighting the dangers that social media can pose.
Do we need a social media policy?
You – or your employees – might ask if you really need a social media policy, but it’s important to remember that what is said online can have a lasting impact on your business. What an employee considers to be ‘banter’ or a joke towards a colleague may constitute sexual harassment or gross misconduct. A seemingly harmless rant about your workplace could alienate potential customers.
Examples of bad social media behaviour can include uploading and/or sharing embarrassing or compromising photographs of colleagues, criticising the company or its clients or harassment or bullying – the latter of which could put you the employer in breach of your duty to provide a safe working environment. You
may also be liable for any employee who uses social media to make discriminating or defamatory comments about a colleague, client or competitor. There could also be a serious risk of damage if an employee shares confidential or sensitive information.
Therefore, a social media policy will outline what staff can post on social media – and more importantly, what they can’t.
What should a social media policy include?
Your first step is to decide how much, if any, personal use of social media is allowed in the workplace or on work equipment. Your policy should then set out the rules relating to appropriate use that will help protect not only your brand and reputation but also confidential or sensitive information.
If your staff are required to use social media as part of their regular duties, it may also be prudent to include safeguards that allow you or senior management to check and approve content before it is uploaded. However, it is important to focus on personal social media use – if staff harass or complain about a colleague or client, even on a private account, action can still be taken against them if what they post amounts to bullying/sexual harassment etc.
The policy should clarify if the company monitors social media activity and the purpose of such
‘What an employee considers to be ‘banter’ or a joke towards a colleague may constitute sexual harassment or gross misconduct’
monitoring, in order to comply with data protection laws.
As well as highlighting the incorrect use of social media, your policy can also encourage effective use. In today’s modern world, social media can be an important tool for promoting your brand; staff should learn the best ways to facilitate this.
Finally, the consequences for breaching the policy should be clearly set out. This can be cross-referenced to your disciplinary policy.
The policy should be regularly reviewed and updated as necessary.
A timely reminder
As Christmas – and with it the Christmas party –approaches, it’s a good idea to remind your staff of the
key points of the policy. This can be easily be done in a number of ways; if you send out printed invites you can include the key points on the reverse or as a separate note, and if you’re sending e-vites you can include a link to the policy or simply copy and paste the policy into the body of the email.
Key points can include:
• Do not post pictures of colleagues without their permission
• Do not post or share inappropriate pictures of colleagues/clients/customers etc.
• Do not post or share negative comments about the company or its customers
• Do not post or share negative comments about colleagues.
Since 1983 Nortech Services Ltd have supplied quality products such as hand tools, abrasives, cutting tools, power tools and consumables to many sectors including petro-chemicals, offshore, marine, manufacturing, engineering, caravans and modular buildings, automotive, councils, colleges and construction.
Nortech are a family owned, local independent business that has access to over 450 named suppliers through our membership of Bira and Troy UK buying groups allowing us to access a wide variety of products.
‘Service by Name and Service by Nature’ is our motto, and believe it or not we answer phone enquiries personally and do not have a call waiting system.
Our many loyal customers have traded with us for many years and know they are valued and trust us to deliver what we promise.
We provide workshop services and repairs for air tools, power tools including cordless, hydraulic pump and rams and small petrol engine machines such as generators.
If you need to hire tools, we offer electric breakers, SDS Max and SDS Plus drills, air impact wrenches up to 2.1/2” drive and hydraulic rams up to 150 ton, as well as hydraulic nut splitters, fume extractors, torque multipliers, torque wrenches and battery tools.
You can also hire on daily, weekend or weekly rates popular items such as cement mixers, turf lifters, scarifiers heaters and floor sanders. Not forgetting we also supply the
necessary consumables required for the hires.
Our stock range goes from a 4mm spanner to 100mm, 0.01mm twist drills up to 25mm Blacksmiths, taps and dies including Metric, BSP, NPT UNC, UNF.
We offer power tools in a range of cordless, 110v and 240v from Makita, Dewalt, Bosch, Hikoki, Milwaukee & Fein, plus a multitude of less well-known brands like Kielder, Einhel and JCB.
If you need to source products from a supplier but do not have an account with that supplier, we can take away the pain and do it for you, for a percentage of course.
Remember – if you want to make it or mend it, break it or bend it, buy it or rent it today, for service free advice and gear at the right price, come to Nortech, we’re on Drypool Way. Visit: www.nortech.co.uk
For small manufacturers, now is not the time to be complacent. While industry has bounced back from the pandemic, the current economic crisis has created a unique set of problems, so it’s a good idea to put a plan in place for not only how you will survive the next 12 months, but thrive. Business Intelligence offers its top tips to help your manufacturing business.
Manufacturing supply chains have caused a lot of chaos in recent years; the pandemic caused supply chains all over the world to shut down completely for an indefinite period of time.
While things are getting back to normal, it’s a good idea to have a plan in place in case the worst should happen – again. Accept that emergencies and delays can happen and learn how to deal anticipate and mitigate delays before they happen.
This could be as simple as having alternative suppliers in place or having a small surplus of extra stock. Don’t invest in too much extra stock, though, because you may not be able to shift it.
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Time and money can be saved by getting your manufacturing processes in order. Keep an accurate record of every transaction and always have one eye on your bottom line. Prioritise your order queue and divide labour sensibly; it’s important to make sure you have enough staff on hand to complete larger orders but conversely, you don’t need staff members sitting around during quieter periods.
Are there any processes, such as order processing, that can be streamlined? Is your factory floor untidy, and do staff waste valuable time looking for various components?
A clean working space can also boost productivity, leading to a happier workforce.
Good staff are hard to find – and keep. If you wan t to operate at a higher rate, you’ll need to hire and retain good staff, so consider providing opportunities for your staff members to boost their skillsets. You should also consider taking on an apprentice – fewer young people are considering a career in manufacturing and engineering, and an apprentice can help fill any skills gaps in your organisation.
If you want people to know about your small business, you have to shout about it, especially if you produce a niche or unique product. Simple steps to boost your customer engagement is investing in a good website (and learn about search engine optimisation, too), putting social media to use and capitalising on video and photography to show off your products in the very best light. You can also engage with your local business community, through trade fairs, the Chamber of Commerce, and workshops, to meet a ready-made group of potential customers.
Using a CRM
A CRM (customer relationship management) is a software tool that helps companies organise all of their interactions with customers both current and potential. As well as keeping track of customers and their order history, a CRM can help a manufacturing business streamline the sales process, facilitate better and faster customer service and identify new sales leads.
Did you recently meet a prospective at a networking event? You can use your CRM tool to automatically send a follow-up email.
Want to plan for further growth, save money on purchasing and better manage your supply chain? A CRM system can provide real-time sales forecasts, allowing you to better plan and allocate resources earlier, rather than waiting for an order to be placed.
‘Consider providing opportunities for your staff members to boost their skillsets’
Introducing Chamber Patrons and taking a closer look at what they do and why they are such strong supporters of the organisation.
The RaisE Business Centre recently hosted a meeting of the Goole Members of the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce as it celebrated its first anniversary.
Situated within the Goole 36 Enterprise Zone, it offers a generous expanse of 3,200 square metres of space dedicated to commercial activities comprising top-tier office spaces and well-equipped workshops tailored to meet the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The impressive three-storey building stands out with its commanding presence along Tom
Pudding Way. Boasting spacious and contemporary conference rooms, alongside more intimate ground floor meeting spaces, as well as communal breakout zones, the facility encourages a collaborative environment.
Each office and workshop, set over the ground and first floor, ranges from between 236 square feet to 840 square feet in size. Costs start at around £25 per square foot, which includes power, heat, light and most importantly easy in/out terms.
The second floor is now the office base for Siemens Mobility, who are the catalyst for creating the Goole Rail Village. Their presence
within RaisE and the new rail factory site opposite the business centre will create up to 700 new jobs. There are also tenants from a range of other industries including Pace Technology UK Limited, First Avenue Training, CWE Limited, Argyll Drummond Financial Services, CNC Recycling, Bel Esprit Social Care Ltd, DFDS Special Cargo, Sure Healthcare, K&K (UK) Ltd and AM Hire.
The financing of this ambitious £8.1m capital endeavour was made possible through the procurement of grant funds, with contributions of £1.5m from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and £1m from the Getting Building Fund, facilitated by the Hull and East Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (HEY LEP).
To book your next meeting/conference or even base your business at RaisE, please get in touch. Phone 01482 391660 or email raise@eastriding.gov.uk
OLG are proud to be celebrating after recently surpassing three million work hours without experiencing one lost-time incident.
An LTI (lost-time incident) is an injury sustained by an employee that leads to loss of productive work in the form of absenteeism or delays.
On behalf of OLG celebratory gifts were delivered to all their workforce as a sign of recognition of their commitment and efforts to keep their colleagues and workplaces free of injury and ill health.
OLG works hard at reducing risk and increasing safety education and awareness among its employees. QC Officer Simon Bell said: “OLG’s outstanding safety record of over three million hours without an LTA is something we can all be proud of and this achievement reiterates OLG’s dedication to delivering work not only of a high standard but also safely.”
Congratulations to everyone at OLG for this significant achievement and let’s continue to apply safe values!
Name: Steve Laird
Job Title: Vice Chairman
Name of the business: OLG
Type of business: Management and Business Support services
What does it do: Recruitment, engineering consultants, engineering design, project management, fabrication and installation
Location: Head office in Immingham and other offices in Grimsby, Daresbury, Cheshire and Colden Common, Hampshire
Area of operation: UK
Number of years as a business: 41 years Number
What is the inspiration behind your business?
At OLG we recognise the changing landscape around us and as a business we aim to use the most advanced methods and technology available to us to build a sustainable future for the benefit of our clients, their customers and our communities.
We are driven by our purpose to be the employer of choice and the most widely respected supplier of engineering solutions and agency personnel.
What is the biggest challenge facing your business?
Recruitment is our biggest challenge. With the ever important development of green energy the encouragement of young people that a career in engineering could provide them with a future which is the way that we as a country can sustainably fill the skills shortage within engineering.
Why do you think it is important to support the Chamber and its membership network?
The Chamber is a perfect forum for both connecting and marketing the local businesses from the small entities who are
recently incorporated to larger organisations who may be able to impart their knowledge and experience. The networking opportunities provide an opportunity for like-minded businesses to share common problems and solutions with the common goal of growing our local region.
What do you enjoy most about working in our region?
Professionally
The Yorkshire and The Humber region is an exciting place to work and Engineering has a huge part to play in the area from maintaining current operating plants and factories to the development of new technologies.
Personally
Having been born in Scunthorpe and spending my first few years of life in Amcotts on the banks of the River Trent, I have a long-established commitment to this area with friends and family all still living in the region. Work-life balance is important and so when I am not working I am spending time with my wife and two children.
You run a successful business, but when you were younger, what did you want to do when you grew up?
That’s a tough one. Like most kids I suppose, I had no clear idea of what I wanted to do when I grew up, other than I wanted to make a difference.
What was your first job?
While at school I had a few jobs, including a couple of paper rounds (trying to post the Sunday Times through the letterbox was interesting!) Potato and fruit picking and working for a local builder. I began my working career as an apprentice bricklayer in 1990. Before retraining and moving into accountancy in the late 1990s.
Knowing what you know now, what would you do differently?
Listen more. If there is one thing the benefit of years have taught me, it is that the individuals around us all have valued knowledge and experience and quite often people are eager to share this with colleagues.
What advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Stay positive, know your strengths and weaknesses, do your research and surround yourself with experts.
What qualities do you look for in your staff?
A company’s success is dependent on its staff, they are our best salespeople, for this reason it is important that our staff share our vision and enthusiasm.
Who is the business person you admire the most, and why?
My father, Jeff, is the business person I admire the most for his conviction to the promotion of engineering and engineers. Jeff started OLG, or On Line Design & Engineering Limited, as it was known in 1982 from a Portacabin on the Killingholme Airfield, mortgaging our house to pay the wages for the handful of staff he had. He worked 80-hour weeks. Our summer holidays were in a caravan on the Fitties in Humberston to enable him to travel to work while we had a holiday. Over the years Jef f has given opportunities and support to numerous individuals wanting a start in engineering, recognising the need to promote our sector.
If you could make one Government policy decision, what would that be?
Much of the technology being developed is by businesses from outside of the UK. If we want to become a global leader the Government needs to expand on its investment schemes to encourage UK entreprene urs and businesses in green energies and future technologies to be developed which will in turn benefit the UK economy.
What do you feel is the biggest change that would benefit the Humber?
The development of Carbon Capture and Green Hydrogen production within the Yorkshire and Humber region should be at the forefront of policy and would benefit the region as a whole from the perspective of employment and reducing the regions carbon emissions.
The latest news from the International Trade, Legal & Finance, The Arts, Skills & Training, Manufacturing and Motoring industries.
Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch formally signed the treaty to accede to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement on Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in New Zealand on 16 July.
The CPTPP is a trade group that spans 12 economies across Asia, the Pacific, and with the UK’s addition, now Europe.
The Secretary of State signed the deal in Auckland, alongside New Zealand Trade Minister Damien O’Connor, Canadian Trade Minister Mary Ng, Japanese Minister for Economic Revitalisation Goto Shigeyuki and Australian Deputy Trade Minister Tim Ayres.
The signature is the formal confirmation of agreement for the UK to join the group, following substantial conclusion of negotiations earlier this year. The UK Government will now seek to ratify the agreement, which will include parliamentary scrutiny, whilst other CPTPP countries complete their own legislative processes.
The signing comes as a new Government report reveals one in every 100 UK workers was
employed by a business headquartered in a CPTPP member nation in 2019, equating to over 400,000 jobs across the country.
Membership of the trade group is expected to spark further investment in the UK by CPTPP countries, already worth £182 billion in 2021, by guaranteeing protections for investors.
Reacting to the signing of the
Accession Protocol, paving the way for the UK’s accession to the CPTPP in 2024, William Bain, Head of Trade Policy at the BCC, said: “The forthcoming addition of the UK to this trading bloc takes it to 12 countries which accounts for 15 per cent of global economic output.
“It will open up new opportunities for our businesses in both inward and external
investment with the other 11 countries from the second half of next year.
“The UK has bilateral trading terms negotiated with nine of the 11 current members, but no agreements had been reached with Malaysia and Brunei, so the new terms will be of particular interest for traders in these markets.
“There are not many multinational trade agreements like this one, and it offers new prospects in a fast-growing region of the global economy.
“We see particular relevance for small and medium sized businesses in reduced costs to import components from member countries to use in manufactured goods for export.
“There are also generous terms for data flows which underpin an increasing part of international trade.
“We will be scrutinising the Accession Protocol in detail on its publication in the next few days. But accession will be good news for UK businesses to enter or upscale their trade in these markets, with increased confidence and more generous trading terms.”
DAN Shipping, a leading independent bulk ships agent and a member of the John Good Group is proud to announce that their Agency Manager, Ian Brodie (pictured), has been elevated to the prestigious position of Fellow by the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS). This commendation was conferred at the ICS executive council meeting held in June.
Having been with DAN Shipping for nearly two years, Ian’s vast industry knowledge and dedication have significantly contributed to the company’s operations and
growth. With a robust background that includes a degree in Business Economics from Hull and an illustrious career in shipping that commenced in 2015, Ian has been an invaluable asset to the DAN Shipping team.
Over the years, Ian diligently studied with the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, attaining his membership (MICS) in 2019 after consistently achieving high marks in his subjects of study.
Ian’s commitment to the ICS and the broader shipping industry also extends to being an active member of the Humber Branch, where he has been involved in v arious activities, including invigilating exams and assisting with the annual shipping dinner.
Speaking about his achievement, Ian said: “This promotion to Fellowship status is the culmination of many years of hard work and personal sacrifice. I’m honoured to join an internationally recognised group of shipping professionals.”
Aleading language services provider is underling the need to put people first as interest grows in the use of machine learning and AI.
AaGlobal says there are still many issues which are beyond the capabilities of machines, and the scenario has similarities with the company’s “watery male sheep” accuracy campaign from 2017.
Chantelle Akdemir, AaGlobal’s Business Development Manager, said: “That project presented reallife examples of how poor translation was costing businesses time and money – and in some cases producing results which were just ridiculous.
“We found pictures in a brochure which had been produced using machine translation to sell hydraulic rams – but the translation turned that into watery male sheep. We need to be extremely careful about how much trust we all place in machines!”
Sign Language (BSL) and other sensory impaired services including Braille, Large Print, Easy Read, Audio and Subtitling, but that is still underpinned by human involvement.
AaGlobal has invested significantly in technology in recent years but, crucially, has also brought in more people to lead the development of that side of the business and ensure it hits the highest standards in terms of accuracy and relevance.
Andrei Sparling, Director of Operations, said: “There is much more to AaGlobal than languages, and it is important to remember that the ability to speak a different language doesn’t make you a translator or interpreter.
“We categorise the levels of experience and specialisms among our linguists to make sure we identify the right people for specific projects much more quickly and assign someone who can work in the languages of specific business sectors. All of that can come undone if you mechanise the translation itself.” Technology is however playing a part, specifically in the growth of AaGlobal’s delivery of British
Chantelle said: “Machines can help but you need people to create the content in the first place. We have been providing BSL for many years and this particular service has picked up in the last year with local authorities approaching us because they realise it can help them get important messages across to their communities.
“We are working with local authorities to improve their level of communication because people find it easier to watch and listen rather than to read, and at the same time people with hearing impairments are expecting an inclusive service.
“Machines play a very small part in the service and it is our inhouse team which does the editing and works with our linguists, making sure things are checked and meet the specific requirements of our clients.”
Andrei added: “We haven’t increased our use of machine technology but we are improving it. We have our own bespoke system and that is always being developed to make sure it is tailored to the end-users in all the sectors we serve.”
The Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce is delighted to congratulate our lovely Susan Suddaby on her marriage to Pete! Sue and Pete recently tied the knot in Bridlington, celebrating with family and their beloved cats and dog.
For those of you who don’t know Sue, she is an integral part of our International Trade Centre, providing important certification services to our exporting members and clients.
Once a new certification stamp has been ordered, Sue will start stamping and certifying under her new married name – Susan Marrow!
We wish Sue and Pete all the best in this next chapter of their lives together.
‘The ability to speak a different language doesn’t make you a translator or interpreter’
Pepperells Solicitors are delighted to share the news that they have been recognised as one of the best in the industry for Customer Service by Conveyancer Insights.
Conveyancing Insights pose as buyers to glean information from estate agents about their conveyancing relationships, as well as mystery shop firms offering a conveyancing service via telephone and web chat.
They monitor how the firm engages with customers and experience first-hand how a customer is made to feel, how actively they are listened to and if they were made to feel valued. They also check for clear and concise pricing and how the customer is communicated to. They have very strict scoring parameters to ensure consistency.
Scores are marked for call handling, information gathering and the quoting process.
Shuhel Ahmed, Head of Residential Conveyancing, said: “We have an amazing team here at Pepperells and it’s great to see that the hard work and high standards that we demand from ourselves does not go unnoticed.”
Stacey Marshall, Customer Service Manager, said: “We have invested in many areas of the businesses and provided detailed conveyancing training to our call handlers, we have introduced a new electronic onboarding system for our clients and welcomed trained customer service professionals from the hospitality and travel sectors into the firm.
“These changes, along with the high level of expertise that our legal teams offer mean that we regularly receiving four and five-star reviews from clients and agents alike.”
Williamsons Solicitors has acquired a criminal law practice in a deal regarded as a ‘coup’.
Hull-based Amber Solicitors LLP, comprising well-known solicitors Ian Phillip and Richard Fowler, became part of Williamsons on August 1. The acquisition has created East Yorkshire’s most experienced defence advocacy team.
Both firms have a leading reputation in criminal law spanning decades, with Williamsons Solicitors providing a broader range of private client services via its offices in Hull, Driffield and Bridlington.
Acting Head of Williamsons’ criminal law department, Marc Pollard said that clients from the two firms would benefit from the enhanced combination of skills and experience.
“Both Ian and Richard have a fantastic reputation and they will fit in perfectly as we have a shared ideology and an established relationship through many years of working in Hull and surrounding areas.
“It’s a real coup for us and we are very excited to have them on board.”
Richard Fowler and Ian Phillip started Amber Solicitors in the late 1990s, rapidly gaining a reputation for challenging authority and fighting for the underdog. Ian became one of the youngest solicitor advocates in the city and has worked on many high-profile cases, with Richard mainly working ‘at the coal face’ of criminal law.
Richard Fowler said: “We are very proud of our reputation, so it was important that we became part of an equally well-respected and principled firm.
“It will also provide Ian and I with the opportunity to give back a little by helping a new generation of criminal lawyers through Williamsons’ excellent training schemes.” He added that joining Williamsons would allow for expansion and the ability to provide clients with ‘global’ representation through Williamsons Solicitors’ wide range of law services.
Neil Waterhouse, Williamsons Solicitors’ Operations Director, said that growth of criminal law departments was uncommon in the current era of cuts to legal aid.
“With the acquisition of Amber, we now have combined expertise which is unrivalled locally. We provide an essential service to people who are in urgent need of expert legal representation, and it is vital that we ensure its longevity through smart ways of working and providing career opportunities.”
Williamsons Solicitors started in Hull 133 years ago, and has grown steadily through service development, expansion of its client base and acquisitions. It provides a range of services including crime, wills & probate, conveyancing, family law, civil litigation, personal injury, clinical negligence and business property.
‘We provide an essential service to people who are in urgent need of expert legal representation’Outside Hull Combined Court Centre, from left: Marc Pollard, Neil Waterhouse, Richard Fowler and Ian Phillip
Charity leaders have cheered the region’s businesses and employees for coming together to support good causes and build morale in times of adversity.
Susanne Driffield of Muscular Dystrophy UK (MDUK) and Jethro Shearring of Dove House Hospice underlined the growing importance of fundraising events after meeting nearly 20 corporate teams at the annual charity golf day organised by Rollits LLP.
Susanne, MDUK’s Harrogatebased Regional Development Manager for the north of England and east Midlands, said fundraising is lifting spirits in the workplace as colleagues stick together to tackle the cost of living crisis.
Jethro, Senior Fundraiser (Trusts) for Dove House Hospice in Hull, said the events provide a financial lifeline for charities and are also vital in terms of raising awareness.
Rollits, which has offices in Hull and York, has been organising the event at Brough Golf Club for more than 30 years and confirmed that this year’s gathering raised over £3,500 from
entry fees and sponsorship.
Susanne said: “We love to support the companies who hold fundraising days like this! People like to have some enjoyment alongside the fundraising element, especially when times are hard, and that’s why events like golf days are so good. They bring people together.
“When I started in this role four years ago there were lots of charity golf days almost every week, but since the pandemic things have scaled back a bit. The awareness we generate from the Rollits Golf Day is priceless. It would cost us a lot of money to buy the publicity from an event like this because we are not a well-known charity.
“There are about 168,000 charities in England and Wales now and it’s growing all the time because there are just so many causes. Having our banner here, encouraging people to ask about what we do, is massive for us.”
Richard Field, Senior Partner at Rollits, said: “Over the years we have raised over £150,000 from our golf day and that is all down to the generosity of the participants and the companies and organisations who sponsor holes and prizes.”
Regional law firm Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP has revealed that its shipping and transport team recently acted on behalf of Turkish law firm, AKT Law, in the registration of several yachts, including superyachts, onto the UK flag.
Based in Istanbul, AKT Law initially engaged with Andrew Jackson Solicitors in relation to the preparation of security over a 42m superyacht.
The firm has since instructed Andrew Jackson to register a further seven yachts, ranging in length from 12m to 42m, which have been transferred from the Marshall Islands, Cyprus, and British Virgin Islands onto the UK Flag.
Dominic Ward, Head of Shipping & Transport at Andrew Jackson Solicitors, said: “We are delighted to have assisted AKT Law and to act as their trusted UK partner on the registration and security of their clients’ yachts onto the UK flag.
“We are ideally placed to provide a timely service, particularly as my colleague Rebecca Forder has expertise in the registration process and an excellent working relationship with the UK Register, which has developed over many years and numerous transactions involving vessels of all descriptions.”
World-leading health, hygiene and nutrition business
Reckitt has welcomed dozens of young people to its first ever Festival of Science, to inspire a future generation of scientists.
Young people from Hull’s Ron Dearing University Technical College (UTC) and Mersey Primary Academy took part in challenges and workshops at Reckitt’s £105m Science and Innovation Centre at its Hull Campus.
The festival was backed by a significant donation from The Sir James Reckitt Charity, which was founded over 100 years ago by industrialist, Quaker and philanthropist Sir James using shares in Reckitt & Sons Ltd.
The event aimed to showcase careers in science, technology and engineering and nurture young people’s enthusiasm, inspiring them to become the scientis ts and industry leaders of the future.
‘Take all these amazing experiences and keep asking questions’
Speaking to 30 Year 5 pupils from Mersey Primary Academy, Dr Angela Naef, Chief R&D Officer at Reckitt, said she was inspired to become a scientist as a youngster when her parents bought her a microscope for Christmas. She said: “I’m so grateful I’ve been able to make science a job. My curiosity and interest sta rted
Yorkshire Financial Planning founders Caroline Allen and Joanne Baker (pictured) are expanding their financial education sessions, inviting local companies, community groups and organisations to take part in these important interactive workshops.
Caroline said: “It’s never too late to learn about managing your finances. We believe that financial education helps give people the necessary skills and capability to manage their money effectively. Understanding money and its value, gives people confidence in their decision making and empowers them to improve their lives.”
Joanne added: “We recognise financial wellbeing leads to improved mental and emotional wellbeing. Seeking financial advice can be daunting, but the long-term benefits are immense. So, we hope to wor k with more people this year and help them take the first step towards a more financially secure future.”
Find out more at: yorkshirefinancialplanning.co.uk
when I was your age. Believe in what you find interesting today. You can take it into the future and do whatever you want to with it. It’s in your hands.
“Take all these amazing experiences and keep asking questions. That’s how you’ll find where your passion will be for your future.”
Reckitt is a Founding Partner of Ron Dearing UTC and students were set a “Healthier Planet” challenge based on sustainabilit y, with topics including climate change and biodiversity.
Three teams of three Year 12 students created a proposal for
how a Reckitt product, brand or supply process could be developed to help the company meet its commitments in creating a healthier planet. They presented their ideas to Reckitt’s Global Research and Development (R&D) Leadership Team, led by Dr Naef.
The Festival of Science was part of the inaugural Science Inside Symposium, a two-day broader programme of activities which recognised scientific talent across Reckitt and showcased the company’s brands and products. The symposium brought Reckitt’s work to life and is set to become an annual event.
Wilkin Chapman LLP and Forrester Boyd Chartered Accountants hosted an education conference in June at Glanford Park. The firms discussed the changes in the aca demies landscape, what we know from Government in terms of the direction of travel, and what the DfE is planning in terms of Academy conversions.
In 2022, there were over 10,000 academies in the UK but 60 per cent of those who have converted are still standalone academies. The Government has cancelled the Schools Bill, but the Schools White Paper ‘Opportunity for all: strong schools with great teachers for your child’ still hold principles that the DfE are following. Schools can no longer convert to
a single academy status, they must either join a MAT or create one. Time is running out for those schools who have not yet converted. Those who are underperforming (Ofsted graded ‘Inadequate’ or two or more consecutive ratings below ‘Good’) can be forced to join a MAT and the choice of partner will be taken away from them. Meanwhile, the race is on for those not converted or single academies to start to think about what MAT they would like to join.
No-one wants to be the last one being picked for the sports team and the principle is the same here. If you don’t want to have to make do with very limited options, then the time is now to start your due diligence.
A Level 2 online Business student at Hull College is one of the best in the UK & Ireland at Microsoft Word.
Natalia Loska (pictured) represented Hull College in the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) UK & Ireland Championship Final last week after placing in the top 10 out of 15,000 students in the MOS examinations during the 2022/23 academic year.
The 21-year-old, who emigrated from Poland to the UK at the age of 10, registered an impressive score of 82 per cent in her Word Expert Certification exam and, although this wasn’t enough to secure the chance to represent UK & Ireland at the MOS World Championships in Orlando in July, Natalia was justifiably proud with a final standing of third place.
Natalia said: “Competing has been a really positive and interesting experience. Achieving the title of Microsoft Office Specialist was a big achievement in itself, but to make the top 10 and qualify for a place in the UK & Ireland finals made me so happy.
“Scoring 82 per cent in the final exam felt incredible –I didn’t know I was capable of achieving such a high mark, especially with it being an expert-level exam! To get to that level, showcase my advanced skills in Word and finish third in my category was an amazing achievement –one that gave me immense satisfaction and a real sense of pride.
“I was also very proud to represent Hull College and the city of Hull in a national competition. The college and my amazing tutor Ted Van Hessen gave me an incredible amount of support in the build-up to the finals and were always on hand to offer any help or advice I needed. Having the Microsoft Office Specialist qualification is a fantastic addition to my CV and will hopefully help me stand out.”
The Deep Business Centre is optimistic of a buoyant future as it supports the expansion plans of several long-term clients and also prepares to welcome a new influx of start-ups.
Freya Cross, Head of Business and Corporate at The Deep, said the activity is in keeping with predictions about entrepreneurs responding to challenging times by embracing innovation.
Freya said: “We know from having worked through recessions and other economic challenges that when some organisations have to put the brakes on and shed jobs that process can also trigger new ideas and activity.
“That’s what we’ve seen over the last few years with some of our clients recruiting more people and requiring more space – some of those who have moved out have done so as part of their growth strategy.”
number of global businesses with operations in the area and the Business Centre itself.
She said: “We have been doing training for staff at The Deep, filling some of the gaps and training in Excel, Word and Outlook specific to their roles rather than including things that aren’t relevant for them.”
Loco, an entertainment agency which moved into the Business Centre just over a year ago is also on the expansion trail after a tough start that was instantly hit by the Covid pandemic. The company supplies everything from shot girls to fire eaters for the region’s revitalised social scene.
Speakers from both sides of the camp spoke of their experiences being a non-academy head and then in control of a MAT.
Whilst there is still scepticism about whether or not the Schools Bill will be reignited, one thing that is clear is that the DfE are pushing forward with encouraging everyone to become part of a MAT.
During her presentation, Carrie Jensen, Partner and academy specialist at Forrester Boyd, said:
“Centralisation of your finances and data is a crucial consideration. Through utilising central resources and systems, there will be a host of efficiencies to be gained. Not only in terms of financial efficiencies, but processes, systems, resources. This will help to create consistency throughout the Academies within a MAT and allow for collaborative approaches i n terms of CPD, resources and opportunities for increased efficiencies.”
A real-life example of building success from adversity is K2 Training Services, where founder and director Debbie Kuhr-Jones revealed her workload has doubled from the combination of increased demand for remote training and recurring interest in her long-term specialist area of retraining after redundancy.
Debbie was driven to setting up the business offering specialist Microsoft tuition after twice experiencing redundancy.
As a one-woman business she provides regular work for two freelance trainers with a client base that includes such major employers as the NHS, a
Jake Keegan, who set up Loco with Alex Fletcher and Tom Bowden, said: “We are basically an agency which helps venues generate extra revenue from things that aren’t their normal areas of trading. The feedback from the venues is amazing. We have built up some really good relationships and we’re helping them attract more people by showing that Hull is still a great night out.”
Humber Freeport has launched with a mission to drive hundreds of millions of pounds of investment and at least 7,000 new jobs.
The freeport will harness the unique potential and location of the Humber to stimulate economic growth, skills development and inward investment in both established and emerging industries.
Huge opportunities to build on the region’s fast-growing renewable energy industries have already been identified, as well as potential investment in the chemicals, logistics, advanced manufacturing and technology sectors.
At an event attended by the Chamber’s President Albert Weatherill and Immediate Past
President, Mike Whitehead, the Humber Freeport was officially launched at a VIP event at Associated British Ports’ Pump House at Hull’s Alexandra Dock – a stone’s throw from Siemens Gamesa’s wind turbine blade manufacturing facility.
With links both to the region’s rich maritime past and the offshore wind industry, which is a key part of the Humber’s exciting present and future, the Grade-II listed Pump House provided a fitting backdrop for the official launch of Humber Freeport.
The event, attended by leading figures from the public and private sectors, marked the establishment of the Humber Freeport Company Ltd and signals that the organisation is now fully up and running.
Speaking at the event, Humber
Freeport Chair Simon Bird said:
“The Humber Freeport has an outstanding and potentially unique opportunity to be not merely a source for economic growth, but the primary vehicle for the delivery of the Government’s levelling up agenda in the Humber.
Mr Bird outlined the benefits freeport status brings to companies investing in the tax and customs sites within the Humber Freeport footprint on both banks of the Humber Estuary.
Humber Freeport comprises of three defined tax sites – Hull East; Able Marine Energy Park and Immingham, on the south bank of the Humber; and Goole – each of which offers incentives for businesses operating withi n the zones.
“Humber Freeport will seek to secure hundreds of millions of pounds of private sector investment and the final business case conservatively estimates that such investment will create at least 7,000 new, mostly skilled, jobs.
“This investment will have a transformative effect in lifting the prospects of the region.”
Benefits include land tax relief, business rate relief, enhanced capital allowances and National Insurance contribution relief for employers.
In addition, a new customs zone which has been created at Grimsby will help unlock growth in the car handling and storage sector, supporting the growth of the electric car industry.
For more information on Humber Freeport, visit www.humberfreeport.org
Auditel is a leading Cost, Procurement & Carbon Solutions Company that helps organisations reduce their carbon emissions while also reducing their costs.
In the current challenging economic climate, organisations are battling with the desire to drive growth and profitability, while investing in low carbon emitting technologies to reduce their carbon footprint and speed up their journey to achieving Net Zero. Since 1994, Auditel has built a strong network of over 100 procurement and carbon specialists. These specialists come
from a broad range of professions and industries, giving its clients access to an unrivalled level of knowledge and expertise in procurement and decarbonisation.
Auditel’s simple four step process can deliver solutions that will enable your organisation to achieve independent verification of carbon neutrality in the shortterm. Auditel provides a comprehensive procurement service, covering over 100 cost areas across all sectors. When engaged at the right time, such as when negotiating prices and contracts with suppliers, independent
external help that works alongside your existing operational teams can level the playing field thereby and ensure you receive value for money from your suppliers.
At Auditel they believe passionately that effective procurement can save your organisation thousands of pounds and make you more competitive.
They also know that being Carbon Neutral doesn’t need to cost the earth, and their mission is to help organisations become Verified Carbon Neutral in a measurable, meaningful and potentially self-funding way.
‘Humber Freeport will play a key role in decarbonising industry in what is the largest industrial cluster in the UK’Michael Green, Head of Freeports at the Department for Business and Trade, speaking to guests at the Humber Freeport launch Panellists at the Humber Freeport launch (from left) Michael Green, Humber Freeport Interim CEO Simon Green, and Jo Barnes, take part in a question and answer session chaired by Humber Freeport Chair Simon Bird
Life can’t be all about work! Chamber Motoring reviews some of the latest offerings on the market.
DAVID HOOPER finds the mix of petrol and electric motors a great combination in high specification Suzuki Across
Some cars just “work” better than others, and this is one of those cars! I really like this Suzuki Across – it has presence, looks great and is agreeable to drive and to live with. If you’re looking for practical, economical and reasonably “green” family transport, it ticks most of the boxes!
The Suzuki Across was the first model to be launched under a collaborative deal with Toyota, followed some time later by the Corolla-based Suzuki Swace.
The Across is a one-model range, but it’s a high spec model which features an E-Four electronic 4x4 system, leather seats which are heated front and rear, a heated steering wheel, dual zone air conditioning and a boot you can open and close from the driving seat, which can be more useful than you might expect! It also comes in a choice of colours, our test car boasting the Sensual Red Mica finish! Yes, really!
It’s a Plug-In Hybrid, which has a 2.5-litre petrol engine and a battery which once fully charged provides an electric range of up to 46 miles, which for many people, will get you through your day without having to use any petrol at all, and if you’re on a cheap electricity
tariff, the car could be very cheap to run. With a low BIK banding of seven per cent, it’s also an attractive company car choice for business drivers.
The E-Four system offers 4x4 performance with the front electric motor with an output of 134kW combining with a second 40kW electric motor at the back of the car to provide better stability and traction on slippery surfaces, and sharper handling.
Inside, the Suzuki Across is quite luxurious with half leather seats soft moulded plastics for the dashboard and door cappings and panels complimented with red stitching which features throughout the interior.
The seat squabs in our test car and half of the backrest are covered in a black and red striped material which looks smart and it was good to find that the seats are comfortable on a long journey.
In association with‘Were you to own this particular vehicle it is quite conceivable that you could go for a period of several days without having to use any petrol at all’
TOP: The Suzuki Across is a one-model range, but suitably high spec
ABOVE: A screen on the dashboard shows how economically you have driven
OPPOSITE: A second electric motor at the back of the car helps provide 4x4 performance
BELOW: The car’s Eco, Sport and Normal driving modes are selected using a rotary dial next to the gear lever
It comes fully equipped with heated steering wheel and heated front windscreen and an electric boot, which opens and closes at the touch of a button, reversing cameras to help with parking and sensors all round.
Inside, the plush interior has an upmarket quality feel to it as does the whole driving experience.
Technophobes will not struggle with the technology in the Across. Despite being a plug-in hybrid. It is no more difficult to drive than any other vehicle
When I plugged the car into my Pod Point charger, which makes living with an electric vehicle so much easier, in the morning I was pleased to see a total range of 46 miles available on electric power alone. The engine and electric motors work together, depending on what the car is doing, so if it’s slowing down it charges the battery, if you accelerate hard both the petrol engine and the battery work together to give maximum performance, or you can choose to save the remaining battery energy if you were on a high speed section of your trip, or actually use the car’s engine to charge the battery to be sure you have some electric energy if you are heading into busy city traffic. This is a very useful facility, although it does increase the petrol consumption slightly.
There are many pros and cons with electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids like this one, because ultimately you are still paying for two fuel sources, however, with a range of 46 miles, were you to own this particular vehicle it is quite conceivable that you could go for a period of several days without having to use any petrol at all, so running costs very much depend on your domestic tariffs.
The car has Eco, Sport and Normal driving modes which can be selected by a rotary dial next to the gear lever.
I liked the displays on the dashboard when you turn the car off which tells you what percentage of your driving was electric and how much was petrol, and there is also a little screen which I quite liked which shows how economically you have driven with little bar charts highlighting your braking, acceleration, etc.
MODEL: Suzuki Across PHEV
ENGINE: 2,487cc, four-cylinder petrol engine, driving the front wheels through a CVT gearbox, combined with two electric motors
Power: Total 302bhp. Electric Power 53bhp
PERFORMANCE: Top speed 112 mph. 0-62mph in 6.0 secs
ECONOMY: City: 36.6mpg
Country: 53.1mpg
Combined: 42.9mpg
Wheel World test average: 46.2 mpg
CO2 EMISSIONS: 22g/km
FUEL TANK: 55 litres
PRICE: £45,599
WARRANTY: 5 years/100,000 miles
WEBSITE: www.cars.suzuki.co.uk
• All data correct at time of publication.
The car is laden with other technology, including lane keeping assist, which steers the car back on course should you stray out of the lane you are in, radar cruise control, traction control, and you even get flappy paddles behind the steering wheel to control the gear changes should you feel the need.
The 2.5-litre petrol engine combined with the electric motor gives the car an impressive turn of speed when required while combining the two power sources also resulted in a good average mpg figure over my 450-mile week of driving with a figure of just over 46 miles to the gallon, not too shabby for a big SUV.
While it may not be cheap, the Suzuki Across is an excellent all-rounder and one of those cars I could happily live with. I’d say it’s definitely worth a look if you’re think of buying a plug-in hybrid as a company car or private purchase.
The petrolhead in me was really looking forward to the arrival of this week’s test car, Toyota’s new Corolla GR Sport, expecting another rocket ship like the GR Yaris I enjoyed a few months ago. I didn’t even twig when I spotted the automatic transmission, thinking Toyota had sent me the auto version to review, but within feet of leaving my drive, the realisation dawned, this wasn’t the very rapid car I’d been expecting at all and I soon discovered that the 300bhp Gazoo Racing derived hot shot I had been looking forward to playing with was still a distant dream for UK drivers.
Our test car certainly looks the part, indeed a few fellow petrol heads commented on how good the car looks, helped by its pearlescent paintwork, glossy black roof and smart diamond cut alloy wheels combined with its GR badges, pseudo bucket seats and very attractively styled bodywork – Toyota has certainly found a design sweet spot at the moment.
There are four trim levels and two engine choices in this model, a 1.8 or 2.0 litre, both full hybrids and both featuring better performance and economy than previous models thanks to a more powerful battery which is also 18kg lighter.
The 1.8-litre engine tested here has 18 more braked horses which help to bring the 0-62mph time down to 9.1 seconds, while the 2.0-litre engine does a bit better, hitting the same benchmark in 7.4 seconds.
Inside the Corolla has some nice sporty seats, which in our test car featured white flashes on the seat backs and squabs with red stitching and the GR logo embossed on the headrests.
The red stitching theme continues on the door cards and the steering wheel, but for some reason Toyota has used white stitching across the dashboard!
The GR models I have tested have been highperformance versions of that particular car, the GR bit standing for Gazoo Racing, as seen in the BTCC and WRC, but this Corolla wouldn’t keep up in either of
TOP: The car drew plenty of admiring glances from fellow petrolheads
OPPOSITE TOP: A 12.3inch screen on the dashboard features an excellent wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto system
OPPOSITE BOTTOM: The hatchback’s boot is a good size for any luggage
‘The CVT transmission is supposed to be more economical than a conventional automatic, so during my test of nearly 500 miles, 44.8 mpg was not to be sneezed at’
MODEL: Toyota Corolla GR Sport Hybrid
ENGINE: 1798cc, 138bhp four-cylinder petrol engine, driving front wheels through CVT gearbox
PERFORMANCE: Top speed 112 mph. 0-62mph in 9.1 secs
ECONOMY: Wheel World test average: 43mpg
CO2 EMISSIONS: 105g/km
FUEL TANK: 43 litres
INSURANCE: Group 14s
PRICE: From £32,390
WARRANTY: Up to 10 years/100,000 miles
WEBSITE: www.toyota.co.uk
• All data correct at time of publication.
those competitions, with a 0-62 time 9.1 seconds and a top speed of 112mph.
The Corolla is a full hybrid and has a CVT transmission, which only has a drive setting and doesn’t provide the option of manual gear control with artificially created “gears”. When driven quickly the engine races raucously until the transmission catches up with the engine revs, which is something I have never liked in any brand, but the CVT transmission is supposed to be more economical than a conventional automatic, so during my test of nearly 500 miles, 44.8 mpg was not to be sneezed at.
Just ahead of the gear selector is a little switch which gives the driver the option of three driving modes, Eco, Normal or Sport settings – the latter sharpening things up noticeably.
The large 12.3-inch screen sits on top of the dashboard and features a wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto system which is excellent. A little slot under the dash and largely out of sight contains a holder for your phone which will also charge it for you if you have one of the latest models.
The Corolla GR Sport comes with a full raft of safety equipment, including lane keeping assist, radar cruise control, which enables you to follow the car in front at a pre-set distance. If the car in front slows down you slow down, if it accelerates, it accelerates, and this can work from any speed from a standstill to the pre-set cruising speed which could be 70 mph, for example. It’s a great system, especially on busy roads.
Accommodation in the rear is ample for two to three adults and being a traditional hatchback, the boot is a good size for all the luggage, or holiday clutter, you might need to take away with you.
The hybrid technology which Toyota helped to pioneer works superbly well and helps the car achieve a respectable mpg figure without the need to plug it into an external electricity supply, thanks to the car’s hybrid system which recharges the battery as you drive.
The current Corolla range is an attractive alternative to some of the u sual suspects, is good to drive, but if it were me buying one, I’d go for the manual gearbox!
A warm welcome and introduction to the latest businesses to join Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce.
ARUP
Claire Lowe Sheffield
0114 227 1102
Designers, engineering and sustainability consultants, advisors dedicated to sustainable development
Tickton Grange
Callum Williams
Beverley
01964 543666
Hotel Services
Ideal Boilers Limited
Jason Speedy Hull 01482 492251
Manufacturing
Peaco Marketing
Joshua Pearson Hull
07895 131359
Marketing
Bradley Mason LLP
Janine Horsfield
Harrogate 01423 611604
Chartered Building Surveyors
Health Insurance Brokers
Joanne Wood Driffield 07770 920694
Private Medical Insurance Broker
Leather Repair Company
Richard Hutchins Hull 01482 606863
Manufacture of Leather Care Products
Humber HR People (Yorkshire) Ltd
Kate Van Der Sluis Kirmington 01482 738443
HR Consultancy
Paramount Stone Specialist
Andy Taylor Hull 01482 585600
Stone Specialists
East Riding of Yorkshire Council
Caroline Lacey
Beverley 01482 393939
Local Authority
Creo Magna Ltd
Ryan Mulcahy
Hull 07943 965404
Specialist Design & Print
Visit
or call Kay Hudsonon (01482) 324976, or Anne Tate or Marilyn Waud on (01472) 342981.
Supporters of a regional medical charity are being given one last chance to snap up a crop of ceramic daisies which has been raising funds for the last six years.
Artist Mark Teale originally crafted 500 daisies in 2017 for sale in aid of the Daisy Appeal, which works to improve accuracy and detection rates for people with cancer, heart disease and dementia in Hull, East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire.
Half were sold and the rest were planted in the grounds of Beverley Minster, where they remained until 2020 when they were relocated to Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham, brightening a courtyard at the Queen’s Centre.
Now, with the courtyard being given a facelift, they have gone on sale again. The charity has around 150 available via its online shop for just £5 each plus postage and packaging. Alternatively people can buy the daisies in person from Guest & Philips jewellers at Saturday Market in Beverley.
Clare Levy, fundraiser at the Daisy Appeal, said: “We are so grateful to Mark for using his skills to create the daisies and to the people who have bought them over the years.
“The project has raised thousands of pounds from the initial sale and more recently from purchases of the installation at the
Queen’s Centre, where people have experienced first hand how the Daisy Appeal helps people.
“The removal of the daisies means we are now able to offer them for sale one last time, and hopefully people will give generously for
something which can brighten up homes, gardens and workplaces and raise funds for a very important cause.”
To find out more about the Daisy Appeal and to purchase the daisies please visit www.daisyappeal.org
If you like to have the Last Word, here's your chance - email David Hooper at d.hooper@hull-humber-chamber.co.uk
Name: Gareth Williams
Job title: Director & Head of Sales
Name of the business: Victor Finance
Describe your job in a nutshell?
Own book funding, that I can only describe as old school bank lending, mixed in with a brokerage department funding all your asset finance, invoice discounting, MBOs and commercial mortgage requirements.
Where is it based?
A beautiful, listed building, in the heart of Brigg marketplace.
What has been your biggest challenge in the last year? Passing on customers, so I can concentrate on other parts of the business! Having done sales for over 18 years, it’s been hard to let go, but it needed to be done.
What are you most looking forward to in the next three months?
Seeing the benefits of new systems we have implemented, and watching the sales team utilise the help and guidance we have given them, to grow their own book of clients.
What news story has had the biggest impact recently?
I don’t think you can look past the cost-of-living crisis we are going through, and the ever-increasing interest rates. Dealing in finance, we have seen firsthand, how this is affecting businesses and people, on a personal level.
If you could choose, what job would do?
Formula 1 driver! I’ve had a love for driving, ever since I passed my test, and can’t think of a higher adrenaline job you could do.
What is your biggest ambition?
To oversee the continued growth of Victor Finance, by making sure we continue the ethos of looking after our customers, and providing the best possible service.
Where will your next holiday be?
Costa Adeje, Tenerife.
What are your hobbies and which is your favourite pastime?
Spending quality time with my wife, three daughters and cocker spaniel! When I’m not doing that, I love nothing more than going to car shows, track days and sporting events.
What are your plans for the weekend?
Long walks and some time unwinding after another hectic week!
Name: Stuart Williams
Job title: Managing Director
Name of the business: Victor Finance
Describe your job in a nutshell?
Asset Finance Lender and Broker supporting business purchases by offering finance packages to support our customers growth and development. We offer a service similar to the old bank managers. We like to get to know our customers, their history and their ambitions to help support them through highs and lows of business ownership.
Where is it based?
Market Place, Brigg but with a UK-wide customer base.
What has been your biggest challenge in the last year? Coping with the workloads and managing customers expectations with the ever increasing rate increases in our market.
What are you most looking forward to in the next three months?
We have some high level projects that are due to complete shortly that will strengthen our business and add even more opportunity for current and future team members.
What news story has had the biggest impact recently? The bank base rate changes obviously affect our industry on a massive scale. The constant increases make it hard to quote customers in advance especially considering the timescales on delivery for new machinery or equipment.
If you could choose, what job would do?
Without doubt I would be a professional golfer. It’s an amazing opportunity to travel and see the world whilst playing a game I really enjoy. Just need more time to play it!
What is your biggest ambition?
My main driver at work is to continue and also build upon the current success by delivering the same service levels we have always offered to our customers. Offering support to talented and hard working business owners and seeing how they grow and develop is very fulfilling.
Where will your next holiday be?
Berlin for the marathon in September with some friends. I will leave the running of the marathon to one of the others though.
What are your hobbies and which is your favourite pastime?
My hobbies include cycling and golf and I really enjoy travelling with our children especially in the recently purchased campervan!
What are your plans for the weekend?
We are travelling as a family to Chatsworth House for a one-night stay.
