Business Intelligence Sep Oct 24

Chamber on track with Hull Trains!

Big Interview

September/October 2024

Kirk Akdemir discusses getting back to business after an eventful

Jason Speedy, Chief Operating Officer of Ideal Heating

8 Angus Young on why now is the perfect time to do a Humber devolution deal

Making sure your voice is heard

15 Tannoy messaging system launched 16 Monocle has an eye on the future 17 New Property Director for Ongo 18 Faster broadband planned for rural areas 20 Paris Olympics boost for Rockcity

Author duo launch their first book

Kids’ artwork brightens up wildlife trail

Corporate Christmas Make your Christmas in Hull sparkle 28 Made in Hull & Humber Why Digital Asset Management is so important to business

Hull Trains simulator puts Chamber Members in the driving seat

biscuit recipe is a matter of

Motoring

Hooper test drives the Isuzu D-Max

Getting to grips with the new Honda

The Chamber welcomes new members

Growing your business, building our economy

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President’s Message

After the disruption to the day-to-day routine resulting from a General Election followed by a summer of sport, business has found plenty to get its teeth into as the dust settles.

The country voted for change, that’s what we got, and in the Humber region the electoral shake-up brought the return of some familiar faces. There will be another one coming soon when the Governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, makes another visit to our patch, and I am delighted that the Chamber has managed to secure his attendance at one of our events.

But first the election, and I must extend my warmest congratulations to all our Humber MPs. Historically the Chamber has always enjoyed strong and productive relationships with our elected representatives, and that has resulted in them developing a better understanding of the business community and its contribution to UK plc.

We now have three Government Ministers, with The Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson as a Minister of State in the Home Office, Emma Hardy as a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and Sir Nic Dakin is now a Government Whip and Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury.

We also have good links with other key figures including Ed Miliband who asked the Chamber to pull together business leaders to discuss carbon capture and renewable energy issues when he was Shadow Energy Minister. Ed is now the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. We also met with Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and Jonathan Reynolds, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, following their fact-finding visits to our region during the last year.

The aftermath of every General Election brings a wave of new ideas, initiatives and energy and, inevitably, that also generates new questions. As the leading business representative body in the Humber region, the Chamber will be on the front foot in our dealings with the new Government.

I’m sure our MPs and their colleagues will have plenty to tell us about their plans, and I’m also certain they will be in listening mode as we get across the message about what our businesses can do for the nation, and what the Government can do to help us.

The forthcoming meeting with Andrew Bailey underlines the strength of the Chamber’s pulling power, and we will make the most of this early opportunity to ensure he hears the voice of business in the Humber.

Kirk Akdemir President, Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Patrons

As a not-for-profit organisation, the Chamber is very grateful to our Patrons, who support us in our aim to help our members develop their businesses.

• AA Global Language Services Ltd – Gold

• Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP

• ARUP

• ASM Global

• Clugston Distribution Services Ltd

• Drax

• East Riding of Yorkshire Council

• ELLGIA Ltd

• Equinor New Energy Ltd – Gold

• Hatfields Jaguar Land Rover

• KCOM

• Kevin Greene Photography

• My… Group

• OLG

• Orsted

• Pattesons Glass

• SPS Group of Companies

• Streets Chartered Accountants

• University of Hull

• Wilkin Chapman LLP Solicitors

Big Interview

Phil Ascough of Ascough Associates speaks to Jason Speedy, Chief Operating Officer of Ideal Heating.

Ideal Heating is investing for the future

It’s a Hull-based business which has been keeping people warm for more than 100 years. Now, as the UK market leader, Ideal Heating is driving the development of low carbon technologies with a £60m investment at its site in National Avenue.

The project, which includes a new, £19.2m UK Technology Centre, is a huge vote of confidence in the present and future of the city and the region, and it is in the safe hands of an engineer who has already made a big impact by helping to deliver a landmark renewable energy facility.

Jason Speedy came to Hull in 2015 as Plant Director for the new Siemens Gamesa wind turbine blade manufacturing factory on the banks of the Humber.

Now Chief Operating Officer at Ideal Heating, part of Groupe Atlantic, he said: “We’re part way through the transformation at National Avenue. It’s largely focused on heat pump production, distribution and innovation, and the R&D facility forms a key part of that programme.

‘The UK Technology Centre signals a new chapter in our history in Hull’

“More than that, the UK Technology Centre signals a new chapter in our history in Hull. It will enable us to continue the evolution of the products which will heat homes for decades to come.”

A tour of the sprawling Hull site is an eyeopener. First, a glimpse into the past and the Ideal Cookanheat, literally a museum piece as one of the first British boilers, dating back to the 1920s and combining an open fire, central heating boiler, cooking oven and hot cupboard all in one unit.

Next stop is the R&D team, which is working on current and future versions of heat pumps and is awaiting the move into the new facility due to become operational early in 2025.

Then a look at the manufacture and assembly of the current range of combi boilers, heading out of the factory at a rate of 2,200 a day – and more than that in the winter, depending on the weather.

Three connected buildings at the back of the site house the expanded logistics department, further new development on land which had lain vacant for years and stretches to the site perimeter marked by the railway line.

All of it is Jason’s responsibility, along with sites in Blackpool, Oldbury near Birmingham, and a new acquisition in Leeds. Across the entire Ideal Heating division, which includes the UK, Northern Ireland and the USA, Jason leads about 800 people.

Jason Speedy, left, with, from left: Simon Green, Humber Freeport CEO, Craig Finn, Director at Henry Boot Construction, and Martin Budd, Climate Change Manager at Hull City Council, at the site of Ideal Heating’s UK Technology Centre in Hull

His departure from Siemens may have come as a surprise to some but it boils down to change and challenge in another energy business which is looking to the future.

He said: “I was with Siemens for 17 years before I came to Hull and stayed with them until late 2019.

“I had never been to the city before that. I got a call saying I had been put forward for the role, I went to Hamburg for the interview, got the job and hadn’t even seen where I was going to work or told my family.”

A highlight for Jason and a treasured memory for anyone who enjoyed Hull’s City of Culture year was Blade – the huge structure which took pride of place in Queen Victoria Square.

Jason said: “Only a handful of people knew what we were planning. We left the factory at about 2am and had to take down the traffic lights next to the King Billy statue to get the turbine blade through. We were within inches of hitting the court building but we made it safely to Queen Victoria Square. At 75 metres long, moving it was some feat.

“But by 2019 I fancied something a bit different. This is a family business, owned by two French families, and there’s a lot of autonomy in terms of decision-making.

“The week I arrived the Government had just announced a ban on gas boilers would take effect from 2035. I had been here about three days when I attended a conference in the Village Hotel and we were setting out our green transition to alternative technologies –heat pumps, hydrogen and heat networks.”

‘The area is very close to my Newcastle roots and

the northern friendliness really comes through’

Even though Ideal Heating had already been working to refine its combi boilers, the Government’s announcement prompted the company to strengthen its commitment and sharpened its focus on tackling the skills gap.

At Siemens, Jason was on board at the inception of Ron Dearing UTC. With Ideal Heating also a sponsor, he’s now back on board. He’s also well connected with other key players including the Chamber, Hull City Council, the Local Skills Improvement Plan and the Skills and Growth Hub which evolved from Hull and East Yorkshire LEP. There’s also Humber Freeport, which supported the

investment programme with more than £2m of seed capital funding, with CEO Simon Green saying the move “will further develop the growing skills base we have in the region in renewable energy and advanced manufacturing”.

Jason’s experience with the local business community has been matched by the warm welcome that greeted his wife, Wendy, and their family when they joined him in East Yorkshire in 2016.

Son Lewis is part of the engineering team at Ideal Heating. Daughter Rebecca’s husband works at Siemens and started in Hull. He now works for the business in Germany, where they live with their two children near Nuremberg.

A regular at North Ferriby FC, Jason said: “We’ve put roots down here. The area is very close to my Newcastle roots and the northern friendliness really comes through.”

His only criticism is constructive, and something we’ve heard before: “I do think at times this is a city masquerading as a small town. I think it’s the Yorkshire culture – we don’t like to shout about things.

“But we have some great stories to tell and, from the green perspective, unless Yorkshire and Humber decarbonises, the country can’t.”

Jason Speedy briefing visitors to Ideal Heating’s National Avenue site in Hull for an event marking the completion of steelwork on the new UK Technology Centre

On the record With Angus Young

These are the author’s views and not necessarily those of the Chamber.

Time is right to do a Humber deal

Council leaders around the Humber need to wake up, smell the coffee and chart a new course for devolution

Why?

Because there’s a new Government in place offering a limited window of opportunity to areas of the country currently without a devolution deal to pitch new ideas on how decision-making powers and funding to the regions can be transferred to the regions from Whitehall.

While existing Metro-Mayors got a selfie outside 10 Downing Street with Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner just days after July’s General Election, Labour’s promised Council of Nations and Regions will only work if others eventually join the line-up.

There’s also a clue in the proposed body’s name that our local council leaders need to ponder over.

Labour is talking about regions, not the slimmed-down geographic area currently favoured by those in power on the north bank of the Humber estuary.

As you might recall, proposals for a combined mayor-led Hull and East Riding authority and a similar devo deal for Greater Lincolnshire were not signed off before the General Election.

As both were very much shaped by the previous Conservative Government, it’s only natural that Labour is now keen to promote its

alternative vision for the future of local government.

Supported without great enthusiasm by the ruling Liberal Democrats in Hull and with slightly more vigour by their Conservative counterparts in the East Riding, the proposed deal offered just £6m a year extra to both council areas (peanuts in local government terms) and what would have been the smallest mayor-led authority in the country.

‘I get the impression the new Government wants to see a Humber deal – or ‘settlement’ as they now prefer to call them’

Think EFL League Two compared to the Premier League.

On the South Bank, the reverse scenario was on the table with North and North-East Lincolnshire destined to be swallowed up in a giant authority stretching so far south that parts of it would have been nearer London than the Humber estuary.

Angela Rayner has invited all councils currently without a devo deal to submit fresh proposals by the end of September.

Importantly, there are now six Labour MPs based around the Humber, all of whom favour a Humber-wide devo deal largely based on the unavoidable reality that the Humber carries far more clout as a logical functioning

economic area than either of the two existing proposals. Health, police and fire services, the courts and much of the local business sector all currently operate on a Humber scale while the Humber Freeport was launched last year directly as a result of cross-estuary working between the four local councils.

I get the impression the new Government wants to see a Humber deal – or ‘settlement’ as they now prefer to call them. The majority of local MPs are keen but Rayner has also made it clear any new proposal has to come from an area rather than a solution being imposed from above.

That requires some pragmatic thinking and a shift in positions. It also gives councils the chance to refine what the Humber region actually wants from devolution in terms of functions and powers.

I can understand the historic sentiment attached to the issue but come on Grimsby and Scunny, it’s time to acknowledge the reality that you have more in common with your North Bank neighbours than Spalding or Stamford.

A Humber deal (with or without a mayor) is the most sensible at-scale way forward. Let’s see if common sense prevails.

Chamber Policy

Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce is the collective ‘Voice of Business’ across the Humber region representing the views and interests of our Members at local, regional and national levels.

Your Chamber ensures the ‘Voice of Business’ is heard, loud and clear!

The Chamber of Commerce we see today is the result of a series of amalgamations of smaller, more localised Chambers across the Northern Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire areas in 1999, when Chief Executive Dr Ian Kelly took charge, becoming the youngest Chief Executive in the Chamber network. Today, he is proud to say he is the Father of the House, as he is now the longest serving Chief Executive among the UK’s 52 Chambers, and over the years, has served several terms on the board of the British Chambers of Commerce.

Hull is one of the UK’s oldest Chambers and can trace its roots back to 1837. However, 187 years later, its core objectives remain the same – to help strengthen and shape the local economy by supporting our members in their business endeavours.

The Chamber’s Mission Statement is: “Growing your business, building our economy.”

The Chamber has 2,000 members and affiliates, representing all types of businesses in the Humber region, which includes North

Today’s Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce fulfils many different roles for its 2,000 members and affiliates around the Humber sub-region and continues to be the ‘Voice of Business’ which is listened to in Westminster and the media, but more of that later.

East Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire, Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire. We represent a bigger, more diverse cross-section of companies than any other business organisation, including a high proportion of the region’s largest companies. We also have a number of members based further afield, who take advantage of the benefits that our highly rated Chamber offers. We operate locally from offices in Grimsby and Hull.

We are part of a national network of Chambers – the British Chambers of Commerce – which represents 135,000 businesses. Every square inch of the United Kingdom is covered by a Chamber, making 52 in all.

There are several areas, as well as lobbying, in which we provide support for our members. These are all aimed at helping companies prosper, thereby creating jobs and helping to sustain the area’s economy.

We organise business networking events, exhibitions and business awards as well as produce publications which are designed to raise the profile of our members’ companies together with their products and services.

The Chamber provides some first class

benefits for our members, including our Four Services which provides unlimited access to a document library with 800 downloadable templates, plus five advice lines on issues like HR, Health & Safety, Legal and Tax queries, including One-2-One support where needed.

We also run the Chamber Acorn Fund, which provides business start-up advice and risk finance when the Banks won’t lend without more security, and are the only Chamber in the UK to own and run a bilateral Chamber, the British Caribbean Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber deals with thousands of company enquiries every year and through our International Trade Centre, helps businesses with both their export documentation and Trade Missions abroad. The Chamber’s experienced staff are well placed to provide all kinds of expert business advice for member companies – so call us if you want to “grow your business and build our economy”.

Our membership fees start from just £99 and you can join online today or call 01482 324976 or 01472 342981 for more information.

Representation: Why the Chamber is the ‘Voice of Business’

The Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce is the collective 'Voice of Business’ across the Humber region, representing the views and interests of our Members at local, regional and national levels.

We work hard to create an environment in which business can flourish by lobbying for all of our members on the issues that matter most to them.

We run high-profile campaigns on issues such as the Humber Bridge tolls, major road improvements, rail services, late payment and business rates which set the agenda in the Humber and make sure the interests of business are put first. By joining together with Chambers of Commerce across Yorkshire & Humber, Britain and Europe we can raise your concerns at the highest level, with expert staff influencing

decisions wherever they are made.

Our lobbying activity is shaped by our members through our policy committees, ensuring that we accurately represent the interests of business across the Humber. Our policy meetings can also bring you face-to-face with key decision-makers including local authority leaders, MPs and Ministers. For example, the Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, Cllr Philip Jackson, is an Honorary Member of the Chamber.

With the Chamber’s policy team representing business on a range of local partnerships,

responding to consultations and maintaining strong relationships with politicians and local officials, your business’s voice can be heard even when you’re not there. Our work has achieved the top five-star rating from the British Chambers of Commerce, making us one of the best Chambers in the country for lobbying on your behalf.

For more information on the Chamber's lobbying work, or to get involved, contact Ian Kelly, Anne Tate or David Hooper on 01482 324976.

Chamber Chief Executive Dr Ian Kelly

– a wealth of experience shaping the Humber’s business environment

Shipping, Transport & Renewables Committee

Democratic policy-making decisions

The Chamber’s lobbying is shaped and directed by our members across the Northern Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire areas.

We have five Area Councils, each made up of a representative selection of member business from each region, with each Area Council being chaired by a senior member.

Each of these Chairs also sit on our Chamber Council, which is the Chamber’s most senior policy-making body, made of up of representatives of the biggest businesses around the Humber.

Then finally, we have a Board of Directors who ensure the Chamber is run correctly and proper corporate governance requirements are followed. The board also has the final say on the Chamber’s lobbying strategies and positioning.

Chamber Council

Chamber Council is responsible for defining and directing the policy and representations that the Chamber makes.

Chamber Council is Chaired by the President who is appointed at the AGM every year. This year, Kirk Akdemir, from AaGlobal Language Services, presides over 30 elected members and around 10 co-opted members who meet on a quarterly basis to discuss issues affecting all Chamber members and the subregion as a whole. The Council is elected by the members at the AGM.

As well as chairing the Chamber’s meetings, the chair of each Area Council attends events and can speak to the media on behalf of our members. The Chamber President chairs Chamber Council meetings.

Area representation

The Chamber’s area meetings are a vital part of what we do. They enable members to raise issues affecting their businesses and directly influence key decision-makers in the local community.

The Chamber holds bi-monthly or quarterly meetings in five areas: Hull, North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire, Goole and Bridlington.

The Shipping Committee has sailed with the changing times in recent years, first becoming the Shipping & Transport Committee, and more recently the Shipping, Transport and Renewables Committee –moves designed to better reflect the diverse and integrated mix of businesses which make up the region’s transport industry.

Formed in 1847, following the merger of the Hull Shipowners’ Society with the Chamber, the Committee has a long, distinguished history of representing the interests of the shipping, transport and logistics sectors in the Humber region, holding regular discussions with the port operators and also considers strategic transport issues in the region, particularly concerning port access, road and rail infrastructure and developments in the Renewables sector.

International Trade Centre

The International Trade Centre team offers a comprehensive package of international trade services to help companies succeed in foreign markets. Whether you are planning to export for the first time, or you are expanding on your existing export activities, they offer practical advice and assistance.

Meetings are chaired by an elected Chamber member and held quarterly in five areas: Hull, North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire, Goole and Bridlington.

Each meeting has its own agenda, drawn up according to the interests of members in that area and guest speakers include portfolio holders from the local councils, representatives of Government agencies, MPs, police commanders and the Bank of England’s regional agent.

At each meeting, members give an update on how their businesses are faring during our State of Trade round table discussions, providing an enlightening insight into the local economy.

Meetings in Bridlington and Goole are open to all members, but because of the size of the Chamber’s membership in Hull, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire, representative Area Councils operate in those areas.

To find out more about the Chamber’s area meetings, or if you are interested in attending, contact Ian Kelly or David Hooper on 01482 324976.

Our aim is to help companies with error free exporting, improved customer service and prompt receipt of payments.

The International Trade Centre offers a range of products and services nationwide with a vast network of regional, national and international partners and can offer specialist export and import consultancy, export documentation and consular services, bespoke export training and translation and interpretation services.

Chamber Acorn Fund

The Chamber Acorn Fund (Humber) Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Chamber of Commerce and a local Enterprise Gap Fund providing financial support to business start-ups unable to find funding from traditional sources and who can demonstrate job creation and sustainability potential.

We look for viable business projects in our Chamber area, in Hull, the East Riding and Northern Lincolnshire, which will create employment and provide a sustained benefit to the economy.

Chamber Acorn Fund (Humber) Limited is a not for profit company, limited by guarantee and a fully accredited Community Development Finance Initiative.

Chamber President Kirk Akdemir

No matter how big or small your business is, the Chamber is here to help you network and develop

Chamber Policy

The Governor of the Bank of England is making a return visit to the Humber in October this year to attend a Chamber dinner.

Andrew Bailey will hold discussions with senior business leaders to hear their views and concerns about the UK’s economic performance, their worries for the future, global trends and how the Bank prepares for any potential future shocks to the world economy and money markets, like we saw when Russia invaded Ukraine.

The Chamber last rolled out the proverbial red carpet for a breakfast meeting with the Governor in April 2022 when he spoke to an attentive audience of more than 100 businessmen and women from across the Humber region at the Mercure Hull Grange Park Hotel.

The event took place against the backdrop of a challenging couple of years for businesses which

Bank Governor to attend Chamber dinner Regional economy hoping for a boost

The construction industry is widely seen as a bellwether of the UK economy, and with a new Government and Chancellor determined to get Britain building again by overhauling the planning system and bringing back housing targets, perhaps the economy will grab onto the coat tails of the building industry to boost our economic fortunes.

Judging by figures from the Chamber’s Q2 Economic Survey results, the fieldwork for which was conducted before the General Election on 4 July, the Humber economy could certainly do with a boost.

Despite a slight improvement in domestic and international business, firms retained a downbeat trading outlook for the coming months, with turnover and profit expectations both dropping significantly.

Only 27 per cent of firms thought their turnover would improve in the coming months, with 40 per cent expecting it to worsen, which saw the balance figure drop by 27 points to –13 this quarter. The balance figure for Profit Expectations tumbled by a similar figure, dropping 23 points to –37, that sector’s lowest figure since Q4 of 2022.

Four per cent more firms reported that they were working at fully capacity this quarter, while fewer firms thought they would have to increase their prices, down nine points on the last quarter’s results, to a balance figure of 50.

Cashflow improved slightly in the previous three months up by two points to –17, but still firmly in negative territory.

There was slightly better news with Home Sales and Home Orders, with both sectors showing an improvement on the first quarter of the year. The balance figure for Home Sales

was up eight points to –28, while for Home Orders it improved by four points to –38.

The export sector did better in Q2 also, with Export Sales showing an increase of 12 points on the balance figure with seven per cent more firms reporting an increase in sales, while Export Orders didn’t fare quite so well with the balance figure dropping by three points to –34, which is only marginally down on the Q1 figure.

‘While inflation has come down which has eased concerns over raw materials and finance costs, businesses are concerned about business rates and tax’

Employment improved slightly, the balance figure rising from zero in Q1 to 22 this time around, and there was good news for future employment too, with the balance figure rising by five points to 14.

The number of firms trying to fill full time positions was down by 27 points, to 64, but the number of permanent vacancies was up by 21 points to 57. Temporary jobs vacancies were also up by 11 points to 29, while parttime positions were also up slightly, with a two point increase to 29.

Yet, despite the largely better figures, more firms were reporting recruitment difficulties, up on the previous quarter from 77 to 86 per cent. The biggest external concerns for firms

had been dealing with all manner of crises, from the Covid-19 pandemic, to rising energy prices and the fall-out from the war in Ukraine which led, among other things, to rising inflation and interest rates which changed policymakers’ views about supply chain and energy security issues. Against a backdrop at the time of three interest rate rises in a year, the Governor explained some of the difficulties of forecasting monetary policy in a complicated world which was coping with a major war in Europe and the re-emergence of Covid in China on a large scale.

Prior to this event, Chamber Council Members will able to meet the Bank of England’s Agent for the area, who will be our speaker and presenter on 19 September at Cave Castle Hotel.

in Q2 were again business rates, competition and tax, while interest rates, while also up, were less of an issue this time round.

Concerns over raw material costs and pay settlements were down this quarter, but finance costs were still a worry.

David Hooper, the Chamber’s External Affairs Director, said: “While we have seen some improvement in some sectors like domestic sales and orders and exports, businesses in the Humber are still clearly cautious about the future.

“Turnover and profit expectations for the coming months are well down, which is also reflected in the investment plans for the future with things like new machinery, plant or training. While inflation has come down which has eased concerns over raw materials and finance costs, businesses are concerned about business rates and tax – perhaps a reflection on the uncertainty of a potential change of Government in the run-up to the General Election.”

The Chamber’s Acorn Fund Director Craig Simpson with Andrew Bailey the last time the Governor visited the Humber

Member News

The latest news, success stories and updates from members of Hull

& Humber Chamber of Commerce.

Tannoy warnings are ride on time for town

Cyclists in Grimsby’s main pedestrianised street have been greeted by a new tannoy message, asking them to dismount or face a £100 fine, as part of a trial in the town centre.

Piloted by North East Lincolnshire Council, the idea is to use the public message system, which can deployed alongside the new CCTV cameras, to relay all kinds of information.

The trial was started to coincide with a monthly ‘Day of Action’ in the town centre. The council and Humberside Police, along with their partners, run the days once a month to promote united working to make the town centre a safer and more pleasant place to be.

Responding to issues such as antisocial behaviour, rough sleepers, littering and cycling, the officers, which includes the Waste Investigations Support & Enforcement (WiSE) enforcement team, enforce the Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) – which covers cycling. Traffic officers from Equans also clamp down on illegal parking.

Meanwhile specialists from support services such as We Are With You offer advice to people including rough sleepers or others who have drug addiction or alcohol issues.

The tannoy message, which was played out at 15-minute intervals, says: “For everyone’s safety, cycling is not allowed in Grimsby Town

Centre. There is a £100 fine for those caught. Please respect others and enjoy your visit.”

It was seen to be working with cyclists getting off to walk on hearing it.

The event was attended by Chief Supt Paul French who is responsible for policing across North and North East Lincolnshire, and North East Lincolnshire Council’s Portfolio Holder for Safer and Stronger Communities, Cllr Ron Shepherd.

Cllr Shepherd said: “This is very much a joined-up approach to working and tackling some of the issues we have. A team effort is needed and that is what we have here.”

Turning to the use of the tannoy, he added: “This is very much a trial. Cycling in Victoria Street has been one of the major issues identified by both visitors and businesses. People have said they worry about injury and being hit as people hurtle down the street on their cycles and it is simply not safe. If this helps drive the message home that we are prepared to do something to stop this, then that is a good thing.

“In the future we could look at how else we could use tannoys to deliver messages to people. For example, important safety information around Cleethorpes beach, or keeping people up to date on what is happening and where during events.”

Funds to boost Grimsby centre

The Activation and Community Engagement (Activation) Fund, launched in November 2021, has already supported several projects, and the council are keen to encourage more activity to Grimsby town centre.

The funding, which is part of the Towns Fund programme, is ring-fenced to Grimsby Town Centre, and offers capital grants to business ventures and community-based organisations to reactivate empty properties for alternative uses and encourage activities that will help revitalise the town.

The aim of the scheme is to bring forward smaller projects which will enhance the major regeneration works that are currently taking place, including a repurposed Riverhead Square, major works at St James House to create a small business hub, an NHS Community Diagnostics Hub, the Horizon Youth Zone, and a new cinema and leisure development.

The fund can cover projects that fit with at least one of the following six town centre priorities identified in the Masterplan:

• Introduce more diverse uses to the town centre

• Reconnect the town centre and the community with the waterfront

• Promote and support community ownership and participation

• Identify development opportunities within the town centre, including low-carbon initiatives

• Prioritise health and wellbeing activity in the town centre

• Enhance employment, skills and entrepreneurial opportunities.

For more information and to apply for the fund, visit www.nelincs.gov.uk

Our Big Picture was awarded funding to purchase a Listed Heritage building (circa 1700) in the centre of Grimsby

Monocle looks to the future

Work is under way on transforming Hull city centre’s iconic Europa House office into Monocle – an exciting new project which the owners say is already catching the eye of potential occupiers.

Allenby Commercial promise that Monocle will deliver a bright new facility for the city and its people and breathe new life into a 50year-old property which has stood as a landmark since the 1970s.

Georgia Allenby, Design and Marketing Director at Allenby Commercial, said: “Monocle is all about creating a workplace that is more than just your work space. The building is being redeveloped to bring a new experience and environment to Hull. The ground floor will be transformed into a highend coffeehouse that will also be open to the public, alongside a welcoming business lounge with co-working spaces, break-out areas, a gym, meeting rooms and city garden.”

‘There will be business events, workshops, demonstrations and launches of products and services offered by the businesses within Monocle’

Allenby Commercial is renowned for taking an innovative approach to a multi award-winning property portfolio which include historic riverside studios at Danish Buildings and Bayles House, a former military transport depot now renovated as a modern business park at Base, Victorian-style retail units at Paragon Arcade and period properties in Hull’s Old Town converted into the Hideout Hotel.

At Monocle, the first move in a transformation with the potential to create 700 jobs will involve building two new lifts and modern central staircase. At the same time

work will progress on providing managed office and studio space on the first floor and the remaining four floors will then be shaped to attract larger operators. Completion is due for late 2025, with PPH Commercial and CBRE in Leeds appointed as joint agents.

Europa House is instantly recognisable as the distinctive, gold-mirrored office block which has stood next to Hull Paragon Station at the corner of Anlaby Road and Ferensway since 1975. The striking appearance will be enhanced with the replacement of glazing and the highest quality interior.

Georgia said: “The business lounge and café will offer a new dimension in terms of catering services for businesses based in the building and will also be open to the public.

“There will be business events, workshops, demonstrations and launches of products and

services offered by the businesses within Monocle. People working elsewhere will be welcome to have their corporate events here –we have already had conversations with organisers of business events in the area who are looking for new ideas.

“It will bring together different aspects of what we do on a smaller scale in our other locations. Whether it’s retail at Paragon Arcade, creative small space at Paragon Studios and Danish Buildings, the mix of offices, suites and light industrial at Base, they all foster a strong sense of community. Monocle will do that across 60,000 square feet under one roof.

“We have researched space in Leeds, Manchester, London and overseas on visits to Barcelona and Stockholm. We have always got an eye on what other places are doing and why they are doing it because we want to bring new ideas to the north of England.”

Left to right: Charles Parkinson of CBRE in Leeds, Charlie Allenby, Georgia Allenby and Ben Medhurst of PPH Commercial

Monocle, the former Europa House, undergoing renovation at the junction of Anlaby Road and Ferensway in Hull city centre

Ongo appoints property director

Ongo has named Steve Ellard as its new Director of Property. Previously Director of Assets and Sustainability at Yorkshire Housing, Steve brings a wealth of knowledge in the sector, beginning in finance and specialising in strategic planning, investment and leading the Maintenance Directorate.

As part of his new role Steve will be part of Ongo’s Executive Management Team and oversee the delivery of the repairs and maintenance services, and the development and regeneration of all stock and communities. He replaces Pete Stones who retired earlier this year after over 35 years in the industry.

Kay and Tony tie the knot!

The Chamber’s warm congratulations go out to our Membership and Marketing Manager Kay Hudson who recently tied the knot with her partner Anthony Bailey, who works as Area Sales Representative for Howdens.

The couple exchanged vows on 13 July in Ruswarp, a quaint little village in North Yorkshire, 1.8 miles from Whitby. The happy couple celebrated their special day with close friends and family who travelled from Taunton to Aberdeen and despite the weather, everything went to plan and a wonderful day was had by all.

Kay, originally from Nottingham, moved

to East Yorkshire seven years ago to move in with her partner Anthony who was born and bred in Bempton, Bridlington. Kay is now fully settled in the area and loves the warm welcome the people and businesses have given her. She adores Yorkshire and having previously worked in Inward Investment and Economic Development she is a fantastic ambassador for attracting new businesses and encouraging other people to relocate to the region.

Just in case you were wondering, Kay has changed her name and is now Mrs Kay Bailey!

As Kay said: “Who would have known love was waiting just down the A614…”

When asked about the new role, Steve said: “Ongo has an excellent reputation for being both customer focussed and delivering great services. I was keen to be part of their journey and defining the next chapter.”

Recently Steve has taken a leading role in understanding net zero and the challenges and opportunities this brings, making him a great addition in achieving Ongo’s environmental, sustainability and retrofit aims.

He continued: “I’m excited about getting to grips with our biggest challenges and working with some brilliant colleagues to solve them – therefore delivering even better services to our customers.

“Whether it’s the development of new homes, investment in our existing homes or the day to day repairs service that our customers value so highly – I want Ongo to be delivering excellent services in all of these areas.

“There’s pressure on the sector at present to illustrate that homes are decent and fit for our customers – and rightly so. That’s the least that me, my colleagues and our customers expect, and we’ll be working hard over coming months to achieve this.”

Steve Hepworth, Chief Executive at Ongo said: “We are delighted to be welcoming Steve as our new Property Director. I believe he will be a real driving force for positive change at a time when we’re facing lots of challenges in the areas he will oversee.

“The interview panel were impressed with Steve’s commitment to delivering excellent services and the tenants who took part in the selection process praised his knowledge and commitment to listening to their views.”

Steve Ellard, Ongo’s new Director of Property

The happy couple: Kay and Anthony Bailey

Faster broadband for rural areas

More than 70,000 homes and businesses across rural East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire will soon get access to lightning-fast broadband.

Rural broadband provider Quickline has won a £120m contract to connect hard-toreach premises in East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, under the Government’s £5bn Project Gigabit programme.

In total, 72,000 premises in East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire will benefit from Quickline’s fibre broadband network.

Areas in East Yorkshire covered under the rollout stretch from Holme upon Spalding Moor to Kilham, near Driffield, and Easington in Holderness.

‘We are now the UK’s second largest Project Gigabit regional delivery partner’

The Lincolnshire rollout covers large areas of North and North East Lincolnshire, down to the Lincolnshire Fens, close to the Norfolk and Cambridgeshire borders.

As a result of the investment, East Yorkshire-based Quickline will also expand its commercial network in East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire to reach even more premises.

As well as the £120m contract covering parts of East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, Quickline has also been awarded a new £70m contract to provide fibre broadband to rural areas In North Yorkshire.

In total, Quickline has now been awarded four Project Gigabit contracts, spanning North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

It brings the total public investment in full fibre broadband delivered by Quickline to nearly £300m.

Quickline CEO Sean Royce said: “The award of these contracts underlines our position as the primary Project Gigabit broadband provider in rural Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

“We are now the UK’s second largest Project Gigabit regional delivery partner and the only provider to be awarded a contract serving England’s largest county, Yorkshire, under the programme.

“We are a regionally focused provider, and through our work as part of the Project Gigabit programme and beyond, we’re laser focused on delivering on our mission to connect rural communities to a world of possibilities.”

Project Gigabit is a Government-funded programme to enable hard-to-reach communities to access lightning-fast, gigabitcapable broadband.

It targets homes and businesses that might otherwise miss out on upgrades to nextgeneration speeds, due to their rural location.

Gigabit-capable broadband delivers faster speeds and fewer dropouts. Unlike traditional copper-based networks, gigabit connections won’t slow down at peak times, meaning no more battling for bandwidth with the neighbours.

Work is already underway with communities near North Kelsey in the West Lindsey area of Lincolnshire among the first set to benefit from the availability of Quickline’s full fibre network.

Charity team-up will help seafarers’ families

Disadvantaged families of seafarers will receive expert help to overcome the impact of digital poverty as a result of a new charity partnership.

The Sailors’ Children’s Society will also upgrade its own capabilities after being appointed as charity of the year by tech business MS3, which in addition will generate cash to support member families nationwide.

At the heart of the collaboration is the historic connection between the Society and MS3 Chief Operating Officer Tony Jopling.

Tony said: “My grandparents were very close to the society. They used to have the children over for tea and my parents made friends with them. Those who didn’t go home to their families during holidays, or who didn’t have families, used to stay with my grandparents. I went to the society’s bonfire night every year. I had swimming lessons in the pool and I was at secondary school with friends who lived with the society.”

Natasha Barley, Chief Executive of the society, said: “The benefits from the partnership for the business and the charity are mutual and it is such a collaborative approach. It’s a win-win because there are so many different ways that we can work together. We can see this is a good, ethical company which is doing some great work in our area.”

Quickline CEO Sean Royce (left) pictured by the Humber Bridge, which links the East Riding of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, with Fibre Engineers (left to right) Katrina Brown, Katie Hook and Keane Parsons

Natasha Barley (centre) of the Sailors’ Children’s Society with Liz Owen-Dyce and Tony Jopling of MS3 at the launch of their partnership

Local accountants make industry awards shortlist

Forrester Boyd Chartered Accountancy is ecstatic to discover it has been shortlisted for the Accounting Excellence Awards 2024.

Renowned as one of the most prestigious accolades in the accounting profession, the national awards are now in their 18th year.

The awards celebrate firms, teams and individuals who have made outstanding contributions, pushed innovation to new heights and demonstrated excellence in their work.

According to Accounting Excellence, this year has seen a record-breaking number of entries.

The awards cover over 20 categories that recognise achievements of accounting firms. Forrester Boyd has been shortlisted for the Large Firm of the Year award, competing against some hard hitting competitors.

The team at Forrester Boyd wanted to showcase the hard work they have been doing from intern-office collaboration to increase efficiencies to process streamlining.

With the firm’s moto ‘where everybody counts’ the firm’s focus has been on putting its staff, its clients, its contacts and the communities in which it operates first and foremost.

The firm has expanded its outsourced service team to support growth in added value services such as bookkeeping, payroll, management accounts and virtual financial director services. The firm has even leveraged its diverse internal resource to offer clients additional strategic marketing, banking and lending advice.

Phil George, Partner responsible for business development, said: “I was thrilled when we received notification that we had been shortlisted.

“Trying to translate the passion, culture, drive and vision of every person that works for our firm and how that emanates to helping our clients achieve their goals and ambitions can be very challenging.

“Getting this information into an award submission is by no means an easy feat, so the fact that we have been shortlisted alongside some serious competition is just amazing.”

Alison Mitchell, Marketing Manager who gathered the evidence and submitted the application, said: “It is fantastic news that we have been shortlisted for this accolade.

“I feel very humbled, but also very honoured to be part of such as amazing firm, and to have that recognised by the Accounting Excellence Awards judging panel is just out of this world”.

The 2024 winners of the Accounting Excellence Awards will be announced at a celebration event in October to be held in London.

Rockcity scales new heights at Olympics

CRockcity, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, was selected to provide the holds for the competition climbing walls.

It provided a total of 600 holds for the Games, which ran from 26 July to 11 August.

The award was the latest global success for Rockcity, which also provided the holds for the Olympic climbing qualifiers in Shanghai, China, and Budapest, Hungary.

Its internationally-recognised expertise in the design of challenging holds also resulted in Rockcity providing the holds for the last Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020 – when the competition climbing made its debut.

‘It’s fantastic that a small business in Hull has the expertise to be able to influence the Olympic Games’

The company has provided holds for other major competitions in recent years too, including the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) World Cup in Hachioji, Japan, in 2018, and the European Championships in Zacopane, Poland, the following year, among others.

Now, Rockcity, based on Hawthorne Avenue, west Hull, is planning to expand with a new climbing hold manufacturing factory in the city.

It currently designs all its own holds but has to outsource the manufacturing side to specialist companies across the world.

Rockcity plans to open a new £400,000, 10,000 sq ft facility next to its climbing centre to bring the whole process in-house.

Managing Director Mark English, who founded Rockcity as only the fourth indoor

climbing centre in the country in 1994, said:

“It’s fantastic that a small business in Hull has the expertise to be able to influence the Olympic Games.

“It’s such a high-profile event to be a part of, and it’s brilliant for our profile.

“We’ve developed as a business over time, and we’ve always been interested in the design of the climbing holds.

“We make them from polyurethane, which enables you to have incredible detail and thin holds that would break if they were made from different material.

“They’re excellent for competition climbing because they allow the route setters to make changes to the climbs that really force movement.

“Climbing is one of the very few sports where the field of play is deliberately changed. It’s manipulated to confuse the participants. That’s why these holds are so important.”

Rockcity currently has climbers from the age of just two up to 80, and Mark said it has grown in popularity as people have come to appreciate the health benefits.

“It’s been one of the fastest growing sports in recent years,” he said. “You get a full body workout, using all your major muscle groups. You’re using your own body weight as resistance, and it’s a really good all-round exercise regime.”

Rockcity, with support from Hull City Council’s business advisors, is now applying for £120,000 from the Growing Places Fund towards the development of the new factory, which will create eight full-time jobs. It’s hoped the facility will be operational in six months.

Cllr Paul Drake-Davis, the council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Housing, said: “Rockcity is a true Hull success story and it’s great to see a company the council has supported over the years playing a key role in the Paris Olympic Games.”

limbing centre Rockcity was going for gold at the Paris Olympic Games, as it looks to expand its operation in Hull.

Rockcity’s Managing Director Mark English

First-time authors prove just ‘write’ for each other

Two first-time authors are celebrating the publication of their new book entitled Over the Fence. Karen Haase and Julie Martin-Jones met their love of writing, and the challenges of cancer and in Julie’s case the tragedy of losing her husband to the disease.

Karen and Julie joined forces to work on their first book which has just been published, and celebrated with a book launch at Yorkshire Eyewear’s Howden premises where she works with husband Garrey, who is well-known to Chamber members for having previously chaired the Goole Members meetings and for organising the popular business awards evenings.

‘The pair were thrilled and very excited to see their book in print and for them to become published authors’

Karen said the pair were thrilled and very excited to see their book in print and for them to become published authors.

Their new book, Over The Fence, is the diary of two women, how they view and judge life, and how one discovers a secret so well hidden, it could tear both of their worlds apart.

Seren is happily married to a successful doctor, Bobby. With their two young boys, they move from the South of England to an up-market town in the North.

The house they are moving to is Seren’s dream home and she is looking forward to

Solicitors welcome residential expert

Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP has announced that Leanne Stefanovic has joined its property team as an associate, strengthening the firm’s client services offering across the region.

her new life and meeting her new neighbours.

Clarissa is married to a wealthy semi-retired financial advisor, Michael. Her life on the surface appears perfect.

The initial pleasure at having respectable new neighbours is soon lost when she realises they have children, and the regimented tranquillity of her life is thrown into disarray. The very sight of Seren triggers in her an extreme dislike and stirs up memories that she preferred not to recall.

What ensues is a catalogue of confrontations that grow increasingly out of control. Each woman keeps a journal which illustrates how very differently they experience similar events, and how they react to them.

Over The Fence is published by Fisher King Publishing and is available worldwide in print and digital versions.

Having assisted clients across a range of residential conveyancing matters for over 10 years, Leanne’s experience covers all aspects of residential property sale and purchase, as well as transfers of equity, newbuild and re-mortgaging.

In recognition of her depth of expertise, Leanne was recently awarded The Law Society’s advanced level Residential Property Accreditation, which is given to individuals who are able to demonstrate advanced expertise across residential conveyancing matters.

Stephen Dettman, Partner and Head of residential property, said: “Leanne is a highly experienced and proactive solicitor who consistently receives excellent client feedback. Our aim is to provide high quality advice across residential property matters, which are often complex in nature, and I know that Leanne will help us ensure that we continue to provide the highest standards of service for our clients.”

Karen Haase (right) and Julie MartinJones at the launch of their book

New Associate Leanne Stefanovic with the firm’s Head of Residential Property Stephen Dettman

Artwork boost for wildlife trail

Pupils from two Hessle schools have added a new wave of vibrant art installations to a well-loved wildlife trail in East Yorkshire.

Children from All Saints CE Junior Academy and Hessle High School teamed up with local artist Louis Dorton to create artworks to animate the popular nature trail around Bridgehead business park.

Students from both schools visited the picturesque Bridgehead site in Hessle to show off their latest art installations along the scenic woodland walk.

This year is extra special as the collaborative project, funded and delivered by regeneration specialist Wykeland Group, celebrates its 10th anniversary.

John Gouldthorp, Asset Manager at Wykeland, said: “Community projects like these are essential to the work we do at Wykeland. At most of our developments, we work closely with primary schools to help pupils develop creativity, skills and aspirations.

“We’re really proud of our creative programmes and the children who engage with them. We look forward to seeing the positive impacts they have made, and will continue to make, in the future.”

Building on last year’s insect-themed art, this year the students explored the ecology of the woodland ecosystem, in particular the fascinating world of mushrooms!

All Saints pupils used a variety of materials to create colourful carved mushroom seats and bug hotels designed for insects to make their homes.

Meanwhile, Hessle High students used a range of recycled materials, such as metal and wood, to design and create 3D bug hotels which look like big insects and will become homes for real-life bugs.

‘We’ve seen fantastic and inspiring artworks emerge each year to animate the beautiful Bridgehead Woodland Trail’

The new features will join a new concentration of sculptures along the wildlife trail, adding to the appeal of the popular spot.

Since 2011, Wykeland has been working with local schools on projects attached to their various development sites, designed to inspire creativity and ambition. More than 1,500 children have taken part in these initiatives.

Elaine Burke, Wykeland’s Community Engagement Consultant, said: “It’s a very special year for us as we celebrate 10 years of this creative collaboration between Wykeland Group, artist Louis Dorton, All Saints and Hessle High schools, with support from Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

“We’ve seen fantastic and inspiring artworks emerge each year to animate the beautiful Bridgehead Woodland Trail. This year’s artworks are a wonderful addition to the collection and we are so proud of the creative, talented pupils of all ages who have worked with Louis to make them.”

In partnership with the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Hull-based Wykeland designed and created the 1km Bridgehead woodland trail.

The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust manages the pathway and its natural habitat for Wykeland, promoting wildlife diversity and preserving the local flora and fauna.

Matthew Wilkinson, a teacher at Hessle High School, said: “This project has let pupils be creative – it was brilliant.

“It has given them some experience of upcycling and recycling, of being responsible designers, of working with different materials and processes in the manufacture of products, and experience of working with outside agencies.”

Laura Jackson, Headteacher at All Saints CE Federation of Academies, said: “The children have absolutely loved this year’s project. Louis taught them a lot about diversity – how different plants are used for different things.

“They loved using the lathe to make their creations – it was absolutely fantastic. They became a very focused group as they painted and worked together.”

Back row from right to left: Artist Louis Dorton, Wykeland Group Asset Manager John Gouldthorp, artist Liz Dorton, and Teaching Assistant Toni Southern, with students from All Saints CE Junior Academy

The Dezaro Limited projects team take their hats off to their maritime logistics team for their unwavering dedication.

We understand that complex projects require precise coordination, expert management and tailored solutions. Our project logistics services are designed to meet these demands, ensuring the seamless movement of oversized, heavy, and high-value cargo to and from any location worldwide.

With over 15 years of experience, we offer a complete portfolio of services to handle the door-to-door movement of turnkey projects, from the largest equipment to the nuts and bolts. Regardless of your project scale, we pledge an unparalleled commitment to safety, proficiency, and reliable coordination of your operational needs.

From the inception stage to the ultimate delivery, we meticulously oversee every aspect, ensuring the timely and cost-effective completion of your project.

The team successfully exported whole automotive factory movement covering extensive operation covering flat racks, open top containers, maffies and breakbulk services from the UK to Turkey. Challenges like site surveys, police permits, escorts and customs clearances for such heavyweight cargo were expertly navigated. The team handled the entire process perfectly from loading at site to transportation to the port of loading.

Their involvement spanned from receiving the cargo from load sites to port storage, coordinating customs clearances, direct collection of units and loading onto flat racks and break bulk vessels, ensuring a smooth and efficient process at every turn.

Spotlight Feature

In this issue we take a look at the Corporate Christmas and Made in Hull & Humber sectors.

Make your Christmas in Hull sparkle

By Eleanor Eswanto, Fenti Marketing

Christmas in Hull is a truly magical time when the city comes alive with festive cheer, from twinkling lights adorning the historic buildings to the enchanting Christmas markets.

So, when it comes to planning your yuletide to-do list the first things that come to mind are always gift buying and where the big Christmas night out is going to be, of course!

We don’t know about you, but at Napoleons Casino & Restaurant we believe Christmas celebrations should be all under one roof - whether it’s a family gathering or an office party…

Let’s be honest, it can be challenging trying to keep everybody happy and make sure the group stays together, but at destination venues the whole evening is seamless, from welcome drinks to latenight entertainment.

Get your Christmas night out sorted with Napoleons Hull! We’re ready to add some sparkle to your itinerary this year with our top tips for an all-in-one night out:

A party popping location!

The city centre is the only place to be for your Christmas happenings, soaking up the vibrant atmosphere from Queen Victoria Square to the docks. Not to mention, if you’re visiting from another city, the heart of Hull is packed with hotels to suit every budget. Perched on George Street, the Napoleons team know all about being right in the festive action.

Do it in style packages

It’s all about being generous during the festive season, but we understand it’s also important to have a wallet-friendly evening, especially if you’re a work group. That’s why it’s always a bonus to find a venue that offers packages for your festivities, like at Napoleons where all of our Christmas bundles include a drink on arrival, a three-course dinner, and a £5 gaming chip.

Carrying on the festive fun?

Even if Sharon from Accounts or Uncle Peter are ready to go home at 8pm, the rest of the bunch might be eager to continue to merriment into the early hours, so it’s essential to choose a location where the excitement carries on after your tastebuds are wholly satisfied. Why not head to the bright lights of the casino floor and late-bar at Napoleons, for a night of tasty tipples and state-of-theart gaming?

Holly jolly hospitality!

The fourth factor on your ‘Christmas Party Destination Checklist’ should be unforgettable ambience and hospitality. The right atmosphere and friendly staff set the scene for a wonderful night out in Hull – you only have to look at Napoleons Hull’s 4.5 Google and Tripadvisor ratings to know your celebrations are going to be unparalleled.

Now is the time to start making this Christmas in Hull one to remember – with plenty of fun for everyone!

Adult Services

Free support after a hospital stay or after suffering ill health. The service offers practical and emotional support to assist with transition regain independence i.e. shopping, befriending, DWP.

Carer Service

Free practical and emotional support, as well as a routine weekly sitting service for carers to have their own time away from the home.

Families Together Service

Support for families when a parent/carer is diagnosed with a life limiting illness which includes free support to help them navigate through diagnosis, treatment and beyond, maintain family routines, making memories and act as an all-round support function for each family member.

Welcome Service

Free guiding light for Ukrainian refugees in Hull, offering a friendly point of contact for advice and support.

Community Groups

Free to attend social groups not only support social interaction and battle isolation and loneliness, but also build resilience. These groups include Tai Chi, Knit and Knatter, Great Moves (neurological chair-based exercise) and Healthy Hearts (cardiovascular exercise).

As you embark on your journey of integration and rebuilding, we are here to guide you and offer the support you deserve. Thirty years of serving the local community –here’s to thirty

Get in touch for more details about our services/volunteering/fundraising:

T: 01482 447673

E: administrator@hchfh.org.uk

W: hchfh.org.uk facebook.com/homefromhospital

Home from Hospital (HCHfH) was established in 1994, originally to give free support to those recovering at home after a hospital stay who had little or no support. Today, HCHfH also offers services for families affected by a life limiting illness, carers, refugees and the lonely or isolated. The charity provides its services with a small team and through the kindness of volunteers who give their time and care for free.

Managing data has never been so important

The need for Digital Asset Management has never been greater, says Steve Richardson-Frankton (pictured), Head of Commercial at CreoPlan Ltd.

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, the need for efficient management of digital assets has never been greater. As organisations across various industries digitise their operations, the sheer volume of digital data, ranging from documents and images to complex 3D models, demands a robust system for organising, storing, and retrieving these assets.

Digital Asset Management (DAM) has emerged as a critical solution to this challenge, providing a centralised platform to streamline workflows, enhance collaboration, and maintain data consistency. However, as the complexity and scale of digital assets grow, traditional DAM systems must evolve to meet new demands. This is where the integration of Building Information Modelling (BIM) becomes a game-changer, offering an advanced, comprehensive approach to managing digital assets.

The role of Digital Asset Management

Digital Asset Management systems have long served as the backbone of organisations’ digital strategies. By centralising all digital content in one accessible location, DAM systems allow teams to work more efficiently, ensuring that the right assets are available when needed. This centralisation also improves version control, reduces the risk of data loss, and ensures that all team members are working with the most up-to-date information. In industries where accuracy and precision are paramount – such as construction, engineering, and manufacturing – DAM is not just a convenience; it's a necessity.

However, the traditional approach to DAM can fall short when dealing with more complex digital assets,

Continued on page 29...

Spotlight Feature: Made in Hull & Humber

particularly those related to physical structures and environments. This is where Building Information Modelling (BIM) comes into play. BIM extends the capabilities of DAM by integrating detailed, data-rich models of physical spaces into the digital environment. Combining these two powerful tools, offers a more holistic solution that enhances not only asset management but also project planning, execution, and long-term maintenance.

The Power of BIM in Asset Management

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a process that involves the creation and management of digital representations of physical and functional characteristics of places. BIM goes beyond simple 3D modelling by embedding critical data within the model, such as materials, specifications, timelines, and costs. This makes BIM an invaluable resource throughout the lifecycle of a building or infrastructure project – from initial design through construction and into ongoing operations and maintenance.

When integrated with Digital Asset Management, BIM enhances the ability to manage complex assets by providing a detailed, interactive model that serves as a single source of truth. This integration allows organisations to link their digital assets directly to the BIM model, providing immediate access to all relevant data within the context of the physical environment. For instance, maintenance teams can access detailed specifications, installation dates, and maintenance records directly through the BIM model, simplifying their work and reducing the risk of errors.

Enhancing collaboration and efficiency

One of the most significant advantages of integrating DAM with BIM solutions is the enhanced collaboration it enables. All stakeholders – from architects and engineers to facility managers and maintenance teams –can work together more effectively. This shared platform ensures that everyone is on the same page, reducing misunderstandings and errors, and leading to more successful project outcomes.

Additionally, the ability to access and interact with digital assets remotely through the BIM model reduces the need for physical presence on-site. This is particularly beneficial in today’s increasingly remote and globalised work environment, where teams may be spread across different locations.

Conclusion

As organisations continue to digitise their operations, the integration of Digital Asset Management and Building Information Modelling becomes increasingly essential. Bridging the gap between physical and digital environments, not only meets the current demands of asset management but also positions organisations for future growth and success.

‘When integrated with Digital Asset Management, Building Information Modelling enhances the ability to manage complex assets by providing a detailed, interactive model that serves as a single source of truth’

Focus on: Hull Trains

Chamber members in driving seat of Hull Trains’ new £1.5m simulator

Dreams came true for many not so young boys and girls when they realised their childhood ambitions of taking the controls of a train – and although they were put under a bit of pressure, there was no need to get too steamed up about it.

Hull Trains rolled out the invitation to Chamber Members to experience the company’s new £1.5m simulator at their Training and Development Centre near the top of the K2 building in Hull city centre.

Officially opened by the Rail Minister in May, the facility is normally used to school real train drivers, and can simulate any kind of scenario you can imagine, from different weather conditions, snow drifts, floods, daytime, night time and all manner of obstructions on the track, including stranded vehicles, fallen trees and livestock, all of which have to be dealt with while looking well ahead for signals, and operating the train’s controls –and there are more of those than you might think. It normally takes a minimum of nine months to train a driver, but usually takes 12-18 months.

The simulator is impressively realistic, with the scenery having been rendered from in-cab video footage, so those familiar with the route from Hull to Kings Cross can recognise exactly where they are on the line.

Before being let loose on the simulator Hull Trains’ Head of Customer and Stakeholder

Engagement, Paul Jackson, who also sits on the Chamber’s Shipping, Transport and Renewables Committee, welcomed members to the new facility, reminding them that the Chamber was instrumental in getting Hull Trains established in 1999 as one of the first Open Access Operators, and is today one of the rail industry’s best train operators with industry-leading standards of customer service and satisfaction.

‘Today’s session was informative and great fun –sorry I wiped out a cow and three cars! More training is obviously needed’

Now boasting 1.4-million passenger journeys, Hull Trains is proud of its diverse team of 125 staff, with a fairly equal split of male and female employees – and that includes train drivers. The business is the most recovered train service provider since the Covid-19 pandemic and is proud of its nurturing ethos of developing its staff through the business, with people who have started as engineers or cabin staff, working their way through to become drivers or managers.

The firm’s new Paragon fleet of Hitachi 802 bi-mode trains arrived just before the pandemic, which

provided a new set of challenges, but the train company is still on track as it now looks to expand its services with a new route from Sheffield to Kings Cross.

The services from Hull run on diesel engines until they reach the Templehurst junction where the pantograph is raised to connect with the overhead wires and the train switches over to electric operation, but guests were surprised to learn that the train companies have to pay for the electricity that they use on the railways.

Hull Trains is proud of its record of having the most reliable trains of its fleet type and won the Golden Spanner Award for reliability last year.

Hull Trains’ sister company, Lumo, is challenging the airlines with fast trains from London to Edinburgh, while all services are benefiting from improved wi-fi connectivity across the network. In its continuous efforts to improve, customers can now book tickets up

Phil Withers from RSM UK works out how to stay on track

FOCUS ON: Hull Trains

to 26 weeks in advance and tickets for the Christmas period are now available.

Among the Chamber guests, the Leader of East Riding Council, Cllr Anne Handley, said: “Hull Trains are the best trains I have ever travelled on and I won’t go on any other train. All the staff are brilliant, and I sit on the Transport for the North board and am always telling everyone how great Hull Trains are and reminding them that we are not the end of the line, we are the beginning of the line.”

Cllr Handley promised to keep lobbying for electrification to Hull which was promised by the then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak when the northern legs of HS2 were cancelled. While electrification from Selby to Hull is still promised, there has been no commitment to any kind of timescale so far.

Training Manager Dave Kildea showed a couple of short videos explaining how trains communicate with signals, and how the signalling system on the railways is being

upgraded to a digital system, before letting Chamber members loose on the simulator.

Among the many safety systems is a footplate on the floor which the driver has to release and depress again at regular intervals. A buzzer reminds you to do it, but should you not react quickly enough, the train will apply the emergency brakes. The train will also stop itself if the driver goes through a red light, and the drivers can stop all rail traffic in their area if they come across an obstruction on the line that poses a hazard, even to trains on other tracks.

Vicki Welsh, from Hatfields Jaguar Land Rover, said: “The session was informative and great fun – sorry I wiped out a cow and three cars! More training is obviously needed. The Hull Trains team were knowledgeable, informative and above all patient!”

Former Chamber President Phil Jones said: “Thanks to Paul and his colleagues who spent their valuable time with us. It was very enjoyable and informative.”

Chamber members enjoying the classroom session, before taking the controls of the £1.5m simulator

Cllr Anne Handley, Leader of East Riding Council, tries the simulator

Sector Focus

The latest news from the International Trade, Legal & Finance, Community & Business, Manufacturing and

Motoring industries.

Why accurate translation is so important

Our planet is becoming a smaller place as we are able to travel easier and faster.

With the evolution of emails and video calls, we can communicate with people on the other side of the world with little or no effort. While this is an incredible feat, it does pose potential issues and pitfalls for companies or individuals if they are not prepared.

Research shows SMEs that invest in language capabilities are 30 per cent more successful in exporting than those that do not. People buy in their own language, and translation is one of the fastest ways to unlock serious return on investment on your export journey.

Translation is often a legal requirement to enter a regulated market but it is also one of the easiest ways to get ahead on your export journey, with research showing that nine out of 10 global users will ignore your product if it’s not in their native language.

Whether a business operates within manufacturing, retail or in the service industry, there are lots of instances where translation services have been required. It is also important to ensure that translations are completed effectively, but most importantly accurately. Don’t lose out on business opportunities because of language barriers!

Contact l.holt@hullhumber-chamber.co.uk for advice and assistance with your translation and interpretation needs.

Our top 10 tips for foreign exchange

Chamber FX

A bespoke international payments service for Chamber members.

 Preferential exchange rates

 Zero international payment fees

 Free FX audit

 Multiple currency holding accounts

 Dedicated account manager

1. Plan for risk: Planning is the first step to managing your FX risk. Agreeing on a budgeted exchange rate for the year will guide your transactions. Planning ahead will help protect your business from foreign exchange risk and enable you to benefit from any exchange rate movements which are in your favour.

2. Understand your business objectives: It is important to know what degree of risk your company is willing to take and how much your FX exposure could impact.

3. Develop a foreign exchange policy and review it regularly: It is important that your policy complies with and works towards overall strategy and objectives.

4. Take information from a variety of sources: Information from varied market sources means a rounded view. ChamberFX Dealers are MSTA (Members of the Society of Technical Analysts) qualified.

5. Choose a strategy that suits your requirements: With your policy in place, it is time to review the FX tools that you can use to manage your exposure. Spot and Forward contracts and market orders can work individually or together to form a tailored foreign exchange strategy.

6. Get the timing right: Timing is key to managing FX risk. To take advantage of positive movements in the markets and to protect against negative fluctuations, you need to be informed at all times.

7. Don’t be tempted to gamble on the FX markets: While it’s tempting to take a punt on the markets, abandoning your FX policy can increase your risk. Extreme movements in the market can catch you out.

8. Often, a foreign exchange transaction is just half of the task of managing international invoices: The time taken to process payments each month can add up and detract from other business activities. Your business could benefit from an online system which simplifies payments, automatically checks banking details and stores details for future use.

9. Manage your business relationships: Tracking payments through the authorisation process is important in maintaining good supplier relationships.

10. Communicate and review: Reporting clarity enables your business to ensure it’s adhering to its foreign exchange policy and making the most of movements in the markets. It’s best to choose a system which will have access to sophisticated reporting tools, enabling you to keep track of deals, payments and the progress of your chosen strategy.

If you would like an FX review or a chat with our FX expert team to discuss your foreign exchange requirements please get in touch with Karina at k.taylor@hull-humber-chamber.co.uk

Meet the team!

Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce’s International Trade Team will be available between 12pm and 1pm on set dates each month to meet with our members and clients.

If you have any export, import, documentation, training, FX, or international trade related enquiries that you would like advice with, or to chat about, you are very welcome to attend these drop-in sessions if you want to find out more about the Chamber, or even just to get to know your International Trade Centre team.

If you would prefer to meet with the team virtually, please get in touch and we’ll send you a Zoom link to meet with the IT team.

Autumn “Meet the Team” dates for your diary: 19 September, 22 October and 26 November 2024.

To get access to these sessions, visit: www.hull-humberchamber.co.uk/event-groups/international-trade

Export finance helps UK businesses trade overseas

Hundreds of UK businesses benefited from £8.8 billion in support underwritten by UK Export Finance (UKEF) in the financial year 2023/24.

As the UK Government’s export credit agency, UKEF provides loans, guarantees and insurance to help businesses sell their products around the world.

UKEF’s support in the last financial year enabled 650 UK companies to win or deliver export contracts last year – an average of almost two businesses securing crucial export financing every day of the year.

It is estimated that the UKEF-backed activity of these businesses and their suppliers contributes up to £3.3bn towards UK GDP and supports up to 41,000 FTE jobs.

Over half of the businesses supported by UKEF were small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), something enabled by the agency’s work making its trade finance products more accessible.

UK Export Finance is running a free-to-attend half-day event in Leeds on 19 November focusing on access to finance and how SMEs can overcome the financial barriers to exporting.

For further details and to book, please go to www.hullhumber-chamber.co.uk/event-groups/international-trade

The Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce’s International Trade Team pictured recently welcoming new colleague, Karina Taylor (far end of the table, left)

Sector Focus: Legal & Finance

add to team

360 Chartered Accountants is delighted to announce a series of appointments across its administrative team.

Having been instrumental in improving systems and processes across the firm, Sarah Dalton has been promoted to office manager from administrative assistant. Sarah joined 360 over three years ago with extensive experience in back-office processes in the financial services industry. Since then, she has implemented a brand new IT system, hailed as one of the best change management projects ever undertaken at 360.

Sam Gibson joined 360 eight years ago as an administrative assistant. He has now moved across to the accounting team as accounts and administrative support.

Meanwhile, Ellis Eastburn has become 360’s latest business administration apprentice. He will be looking after office admin and be the first point of call for clients.

Andy Steele, Founder of 360, based in Hull, York and Wakefield, said: “We really couldn’t do without our fantastic admin team to ensure everything runs smoothly not only within the firm, but also for our clients.

“Sarah’s overhaul of systems at 360 has been absolutely brilliant. She is so professional, calm and organised. As office manager she will be taking on extra responsibilities, so welcoming Ellis to our successful apprenticeship programme was a no brainer. He will be working alongside the rest of our admin team so Sarah can focus on her office manager role.

“Finally, Sam has shown a real interest and been working more and more with the accounts team, so this means he will now provide dedicated admin support for them.”

Trio of legal specialists join leading law firm

Three legal experts in dispute resolution and debt recovery litigation have joined Wilkin Chapman, the largest law firm in Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire to reinforce its growing dispute resolution and recoveries departments.

Victoria Quinn, Sarah Hamby and Jessica Dickinson all made the move from the Hull-based practice Gosschalks to join Wilkin Chapman’s teams in Beverley and Grimsby. A rare move in the local area, the trio will solidify Wilkin Chapman’s prowess in dealing with property disputes and enforcing recoveries for businesses across Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire as well as throughout the UK.

‘It is a pleasure to welcome three talented experts in dispute resolution and debt recovery litigation to the firm’

Leading the charge is the newest partner to Wilkin Chapman’s dispute resolution department, Victoria Quinn. Victoria is a member of the Property Litigation Association and with over 20 years of experience in real estate litigation, she’ll be working with businesses, investors and developers in relation to lease renewals, rent recovery, lease enforcement and estate management, to include advising on and serving break and option notices and recovering possession.

Victoria said: “I’m pleased to be joining Wilkin Chapman along with Sarah and Jess who I’ve worked with for a number of years and leading the dispute resolution team in Beverley. We are joining at a pivotal time for Wilkin Chapman, and I am motivated by the firm’s plans for the future.”

Working with Victoria in the dispute resolution

team will be her former colleague at Gosschalks, Sarah Hamby, a senior associate and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives. She has 15 years of experience in resolving contentious disputes for businesses across the region.

Sarah said: “I’m very pleased to join Wilkin Chapman with my colleagues, where I’ll join Victoria in bringing specialist knowledge of real estate litigation to the team’s growing arsenal of resources. It’s clearly a business with a strategic understanding of growth with ambitious plans for the future – and not ‘just’ a law firm.”

Finally, Jessica Dickinson is re-joining Wilkin Chapman to work at the firm’s Grimsby headquarters, where she will work in recoveries with a particular focus on energy litigation.

Speaking of her appointment Jessica said: “I’ll be working from our Grimsby office to offer businesses expert legal advice in relation to the recovery of property-related debts, with a particular focus on energy litigation. With the fixed recoverable costs regime having been extended last Autumn to cover higher value claims, providing an efficient service and value for money to clients is more important than ever.

“Working with Wilkin Chapman’s recoveries team is the ideal opportunity for me to combine impactful legal advice with real value, fairness and efficiency for businesses both locally and across the UK.

“Wilkin Chapman’s culture and values align with me and I’m excited to return to the firm.”

Josh Briggs, Partner and Head of Dispute Resolution at Wilkin Chapman, said: “It is a pleasure to welcome three talented experts in dispute resolution and debt recovery litigation to the firm. Victoria, Sarah and Jessica add real expertise to the team and demonstrate our local market strength and growth plans for this area.”

Left to right: Sarah Dalton, Sam Gibson and Ellis Eastburn Accountants

Left to right: Josh Briggs (Head of Dispute Resolution), Sarah Hamby, James Marsden (Head of Family Department and the Beverley Office), Victoria Quinn and Jessica Dickinson

Solicitor Georgina is following in the family footsteps

Asolicitor who took her first steps in the legal profession with the practice founded by her grandfather has made the move to join the property department at leading regional law firm Rollits LLP.

Georgina Gibbon joins Rollits from BG Solicitors LLP, a firm which traces its roots back to 1944, founded by Tom Beetenson and her grandfather Lawrence Gibbon, and at which her father Richard was also a partner for many years.

‘For many years, I have focused on providing exceptional legal services to residential property clients’

Georgina Gibbon, who comes from Grimsby in Lincolnshire, graduated from Northumbria University in 2013 and qualified as a solicitor two years later.

Georgina specialised in property for nearly 10 years with BG Solicitors and worked across Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire, she became Partner in charge of the firm’s property department in 2022.

At Rollits, Georgina is undertaking all aspects of residential property law. She specialises in the right of first refusal and handles other work including all matters around sales, purchases and leases of land.

Georgina said: “I am delighted to have joined Rollits’ property team. For many years, I have focused on providing exceptional legal services

to residential property clients, and I am confident that my experience in conveyancing matters and in particular property trust deeds, deeds of easement, overages and option agreements, will seamlessly integrate with the team’s existing strengths.

Rollits’ reputation for exceptional client service is well-deserved, and I am eager to contribute to its continued success. I look forward to collaborating with my new colleagues and delivering the excellent outcomes that our clients expect.”

Neil Franklin, Partner and Head of Property at Rollits, said: “I am delighted that Georgina has joined our team and I look forward to working alongside her in looking after clients from Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and beyond.”

Georgina Gibbon is welcomed to the firm by Neil Franklin

Sector Focus: Community & Business

Fun day restores city’s positivity

Businesses, public bodies and the wider community joined forces to enable the return of one of HullBID’s most successful family fun days and banish the fears triggered by riots the week before.

Kathryn Shillito, HullBID Executive Director, praised the efforts of all the partners who ensured the city centre was open for business as usual in time for Dino Day. She added that the programme of events will continue with Hull Street Food Nights as well as events at Christmas and into next year.

Hull West and Haltemprice MP Emma Hardy, who spoke to visitors and members of the public during her Dino Day walkabout, said their message was loud and clear.

She said: “A number of people in the crowd stopped me as I was walking round and all said the same – that events like this are the real Hull, and the families having so much fun in the city centre are the real people of Hull.”

Dino Day took place in King Edward Street and Queen Victoria Square, the scene six days before of a far right rally which ended in a riot, leaving a trail of injuries and damage.

‘Events like this are the real Hull, and the families having so much fun in the city centre are the real people of Hull’

But Hull City Council cleaned up the public realm during the Saturday night and Humberside Police began bringing the offenders to justice swiftly, a process which included the daily publication of details of arrests and sentences handed down by the courts.

Kathryn said the fact that Dino Day was able to go ahead for a third year highlighted the tireless efforts of businesses, public bodies, and the wider community in cleaning up scorched streets,

reopening battered and looted business premises and rebuilding fragile confidence.

Around 20 businesses took part in Dino Day directly and many more shared in the benefits as the public again turned out in force, enjoying a free entertainment programme, which included dinosaur shows and face-painting and supporting shops and food and drink outlets.

The participation of Lush cosmetics was in doubt until the day before but staff from the firm’s

other stores came to Hull to help clean up, and the doors opened on time to welcome children who had booked in advance to make dinosaur bath bombs.

Kathryn said: “The destruction left by the rioters the previous Saturday night was transformed back into the bright, welcoming city centre which provides the perfect stage for our events, generating much-needed revenue for our businesses.”

Emma added: “After the despair of the previous weekend we had already been heartened by the response of the genuine, caring local community as they joined the City Council and Humberside Police in cleaning up and identifying the people responsible.

“Dino Day showed the progress everybody has made. It’s a fantastic event which once again attracted thousands of people into the city centre. The businesses did a brilliant job of bouncing back and playing their part in putting on a great show.”

Hull Street Food Nights will take place in Zebedee’s Yard on 19 September. Local and regional businesses will be serving an array of food and drink and there will be free family entertainment including live music.

LEFT: Emma Hardy MP at Dino Day RIGHT: HullBID Business Liaison Officer Francesca Sharp with Lush Store Manager Ben Garner

History wins when it comes to the crunch

Biscuits originally produced more than 150 years ago by a company known for such household-name brands as Dettol, Nurofen, Vanish and Harpic are likely to find their way onto the menu of a Michelin Star pub as part of a remarkable research project.

‘Curiosity’, which encourages people to ask about and explore things which they find puzzling or intriguing, was launched to commemorate the centenary earlier this year of the death of Sir James Reckitt.

But literally buried in the history of the Hull firm, which became a global leader in the manufacture of cleaning and health products, was evidence of a short-lived sideline. A bakery fire put paid to any long-term ambitions Reckitt & Co might have held of becoming big in biscuits, but some of the recipes have now been recreated at the Pipe & Glass in South Dalton.

The James Reckitt Library Trust, which is leading ‘Curiosity’ in partnership with Hull Libraries, became aware of the Kingston Biscuit Works after liaising with Grace Chapman, employed by the modern day Reckitt business to research the life and work of Sir James. Their curiosity deepened when they were told that the bakery, which stood on the current Reckitt site, burned down in 1867 but some of the old biscuits were recovered by workers digging the foundations of a new building in the early 20th century.

Grace, Reckitt’s Heritage and Stakeholder Engagement Advisor, said: “They had become carbonised but we still have them in our archive, along with a book of recipes, handwritten by one of the chefs, and company literature from the time revealing details of the manufacturing process.”

The find instantly triggered a key question

‘It’s not what I expected. I didn’t think they would be very nice but the biscuits are amazing!’

from experienced broadcaster David ‘Burnsy’ Burns, who is part of the Curiosity team: “What do 150-year-old biscuits taste like?”

To find out, Burnsy took the recipes to James Mackenzie, Chef/Owner of the Pipe & Glass, the only Michelin Star pub in East Yorkshire, to see if he had the appetite for a challenge. Two weeks later, Burnsy and Grace went along to taste the results.

James said: “It was indeed a challenge. We struggled to decipher the historic handwriting and we also ran into problems with some of the original recipe ingredient quantities, but we decided to give it a go and we did our best.”

The archive indicated that the names of much of the Reckitt & Co biscuit range were inspired by royalty and battles – Prince Alfred, Prince of Wales, Queen Drops, Waterloo, Trafalgar – as well as something called ‘Mangle-Strangles’.

It’s a sign of the times that the marketing team were proud to reveal the products were mixed by machine, kneaded by a powerful roller, then cut, stamped, and baked in an oven, all using steam power.

In the days when 30 eggs cost a shilling, the biscuits were going out at anything from ten shillings for a 1lb tin of ‘dessert, imperial, rich varieties’ to 140 shillings for an 8 to 10lb tin of English or Italian macaroons.

Chef James decided to keep it relatively simple, and he experienced mixed results.

He said: “We chose a York bun, which seems to be a currant bun, and a ginger biscuit. We also tried the vanilla biscuit recipe but that seemed to use a lot of liquid.

“The bun and the ginger biscuit worked very well but the vanilla biscuit was a bit of a disaster. It came out more like a brandy snap so we altered the recipe a bit and came up with what I think a vanilla biscuit should be.

“Why they taste so good is because of the ingredients – we’ve got unrefined sugar, lard, treacle, baking powder, ginger, flour. It’s the makings of some great biscuits. I think we need to adapt some of the recipes and get them on our menu.”

Grace admitted to being surprised by the success of the culinary challenge.

She said: “It’s not what I expected. I didn’t think they would be very nice but the biscuits are amazing! They look great. It’s very exciting.

“We always pride ourselves on the quality of our products and it’s interesting to see that we were operating to those ideals more than 150 years ago, even though it was a completely different industry then.”

TOP: Tasting and testing the 150-year-old recipes at the Pipe & Glass. From left, James Mackenzie, David ‘Burnsy’ Burns and Grace Chapman

ABOVE: Grace with the original recipe book, an old company handbook and biscuits that were unearthed around 50 years after the bakery was destroyed by fire

Sector Focus: Motoring Motoring

Life can’t be all about work! Chamber Motoring reviews some of the latest offerings on the market.

In association with

Getting the Max from your budget

An excellent all-rounder, DAVID HOOPER says the latest Isuzu D-Max range is well worth a fresh look.

If you’re big on value for money, then look no further – this latest Isuzu D-Max certainly ticks both of those boxes – it’s very big, and it’s very good value, with the automatic version I’ve been driving coming in at £35,514 on the road, while the manual version is £1,500 less!

Add to that a five year/125,000 warranty and five years UK and European roadside assistance and you’ve got a compelling proposition for anyone looking for a lifestyle vehicle or business workhorse.

The Isuzu D-Max can tow up to 3.5 tonnes and can carry a payload of 1,120kg – it’s unlikely to get stuck either, thanks to its 4x4 system, which comes complete with high and low range, locking differentials and hill descent control, so not only will it pull a house, it will go just about anywhere you want to take it!

These days, Isuzu only make commercial vehicles, and although the company has been around, in Japan at least, since 1916, they only started importing vehicles into the UK in 1988 when the Isuzu TF made its debut –remember that? Or what about the Rodeo, or the Trooper.

‘I’m not alone in thinking this is a pretty impressive all-rounder’

The first D-Max was launched in 2012 and has seen various incarnations before arriving at the vehicle I’ve been testing this week.

Today’s range features three core ranges, Business, All-Purpose and Adventure.

In 2023, the sales mix was pretty evenly split between the Adventure and Business markets, with a 32/30 per cent split, while 38 per cent of buyers used their trucks for both activities. Isuzu is hoping to grow the Adventure sales market this year, while the customer choice of manual or automatic transmission is virtually 50/50.

Last year, the Isuzu D-Max carried off a raft of awards – 4x4 Pick-Up of the Year from 4x4 Magazine, Best Allterrain Workhorse from Fleet News and Best Pick-Up in Business Vans Awards, among others, so I’m not alone in thinking this is a pretty impressive all-rounder.

The Vital Statistics

MODEL: Isuzu D-Max DL40 Double Cab Auto

ENGINE: 1898cc, 164PS four-cylinder diesel engine, driving four wheels through automatic 6-speed gearbox.

PERFORMANCE: Top speed 112 mph. 0-62mph in 12.7 secs.

ECONOMY: City: 25.2mpg

Country: 31.3mpg

Combined: 36.2mpg

Wheel World test average: 33.7mpg

CO2 EMISSIONS: 241g/km

FUEL TANK: 76 litres

PRICE: £35,514

WARRANTY: Five year/125,000 warranty

WEBSITE: www.isuzu.co.uk

• All data correct at time of publication.

MAIN PICTURE: You certainly get a lot for your money with the huge new D-Max

OPPOSITE ABOVE: The interior is comfortable with a variety of modern extras and an infotainment system

OPPOSITE BELOW: Some of the car’s operations can be controlled with buttons in the centre console

BELOW: The rear load area can carry up to a tonne in weight – or you could even sleep in it!

Clearly this isn’t going to perform like a hot hatch. It can seem a little agricultural at first when you haven’t driven one for a while, but as you settle in, you begin to appreciate its comfort, its raised driving position which is on a par with that of a van, and its distinctive character, which, I have to say, becomes quite endearing.

It’s a big vehicle, but with a good turning circle, big mirrors, a reversing camera and sensors, it’s not difficult to manoeuvre. It comes with plenty of mod cons too, like adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist, which does its job well, but can be a bit snatchy at times.

You even get keyless entry and start, and for those who don’t like their cars in black or white, buyers have a choice of some quite trendy colours – how does Valencia Orange or Biarritz Blue sound? Or Spinel Red Mica?

The interior is very comfortable with the leather-clad seats of the model I drove a match for any luxury saloon – the only difference being you get up to 10 cup holders – six in the front and four in the back, so if you have got a long hot day ahead, there’s plenty of drinks storage.

You also get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto which isn’t quite as intuitive as some systems, but I did manage to get connected up in a few minutes.

The load area at the back is huge and carry up to a tonne in weight – but you could also use it for sleeping in at a festival – so long as you put something squishy on the floor. Our test car came with the hard top attached, which has a lift-up rear window, which then allows the sturdy tailgate to be lowered. Once down, it makes a handy bench to sit on! Side windows can also be opened for ventilation.

On the road, the big diesel engine can be a little noisy as things get moving, but once off and running, the big Isuzu travels really nicely, cruising very comfortably and quietly at motorway speeds, while returning an average during my test of 33.7mpg over a distance of 400 plus miles.

‘It is still classed as a commercial vehicle, so you can also benefit from all the tax perks that brings’

I really like the D-Max overall, while it may not be for everyone, it’s a fabulous all-rounder and has something a lot of cars don’t these days, which is character by the bucket load and it’s comfortable for a long drive when the need arises for the next job, or a social event.

And of course, for the business owner/driver, it is still classed as a commercial vehicle, so you can also benefit from all the tax perks that brings.

If you’ve got preconceived ideas of what the Isuzu D-Max range is like, you should have a look at the latest range with fresh eyes and an open mind – I think, like me, you’ll be impressed!

MAIN PICTURE: The stylish new HR-V certainly looks the part

INSET LEFT: The boot is a good size for shoppers

INSET RIGHT: The interior has a variety of kit and a premium feel

OPPOSITE TOP: The concealed rear door handles give it a sporty appearance

OPPOSITE BOTTOM: Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for tunes and navigation

Honda finds a winning formula

With a power train drawing on Honda’s Formula 1 experience, combined with clever design features, DAVID HOOPER says the latest HR-V range is worth a look, but watch out for the CVT gearbox…

Meet Honda’s recently introduced HR-V which, it has to be said, is an attractively-styled vehicle with its cleverly concealed rear door handle at the back of the rear side windows giving this SUV clean, almost coupe-like lines.

The HR-V has always been a little under-rated in my opinion, but this new model definitely looks the part, particularly in this Premium Crystal Red Metallic colour, with contrasting black wheels and trim.

The interior has also been improved over that of its predecessor and looks impressively premium for a car in this price bracket, and it comes with most of the selfpreservation bells and whistles you would want, like lane keeping assist, collision warning systems and a plethora of parking sensors and cameras, along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you can use your favourite navigation apps and music streaming services while on the move.

‘This is a full hybrid which means the car charges its own batteries as you drive normally’

The instrumentation is refreshingly clear to understand, the steering wheel has many buttons on it – mostly for the radar cruise control on the right, and volume and channel settings on the left, and the seats are comfortable for up to five people. The centre console between driver and passenger is home to a couple of cup-holders, the electronic hand brake and a switch to select the different drive modes.

The boot is also a reasonable size for shopping, or family trips out, while the raised seating position affords a good view out through the windows.

Our HR-V is powered by Honda’s e:HEV 1.5 i-MMD engine married to an e-CVT gearbox. Oh dear, it was all going so well, too. You’ve guessed it – I didn’t like the gearbox! But more of that later.

The Vital Statistics

MODEL: Honda HR-V Advance 1.5 i-MMD Hybrid

ENGINE: 1498cc, 107bhp four-cylinder petrol engine, driving front wheels through e-CVT gearbox.

PERFORMANCE: Top speed 106 mph. 0-62mph in 10.7 secs.

ECONOMY: City: 61.4mpg

Country: 68.9mpg

Combined: 52.3mpg

Wheel World test average: 52.3mpg

CO2 EMISSIONS: 122g/km

FUEL TANK: 40 litres

PRICE: £34,135

WARRANTY: 5 years/90,000 miles

WEBSITE: www.honda.co.uk

• All data correct at time of publication.

This example is a full hybrid, which means you get the best of the both worlds.

You can appease your green conscience safe in the knowledge that the car is using electricity to power it, well some of the time at least, when it’s not using its petrol engine, that is. But all you have to do is drive the car, and occasionally fill it with petrol – there’s no messing about plugging it in while it’s pouring with rain, or waiting for it to charge before you dare go out again.

Nope, this is a full hybrid which means the car charges its own batteries as you drive normally, and switches seamlessly to electric power in traffic, or when there is little or no strain on the engine, but will also contribute to the car’s performance when the loud pedal is pressed with a degree of intent.

The HR-V can return up to 459 miles from a full tank, while its emissions are just 94g/km according to the latest WLTP data, which is quite impressive, having drawn on its Formula 1 experience to develop its latest road car hybrid engines.

The engine is quiet most of the time, and when the car is running on its batteries, it’s even quieter, but plant your foot into the carpet and the engine screams far too loudly for my liking while it waits for the CVT gearbox to catch up with it and turn the engine power into motion, as the CVT’s belts expand to take up the drive.

I have to say I’m surprised how noisy this was, I would have expected better, and quieter, from Honda, whose engineering skills are legendary. I’ve never been a fan of CVT gearboxes, but they have generally become more refined in recent years, but this one was so raucous it reminded me of a Nissan Almera I drove on an international launch many years ago now.

The HR-V is a smart, practical and well equipped contender and with its hybrid engine, makes a compelling argument for the best of both worlds. The engine only really shouts when you demand full power, which most people don’t very often, so for the majority of the time, most owners wouldn’t even notice its noisy tendencies, but don’t take my word for it, try it for yourself!

Members

A warm welcome and introduction to the latest businesses to join Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce.

Hessle Road Network

Julie Robinson East Yorkshire 01482606077

Youth and Community Support

Hull Churches Home from Hospital

Nicky Andrews East Yorkshire 01482 447673

Charity - Social Care Adults & Children - Charity

Green Olive Mortgage Solutions

Laura Smith Knottingley 07890 132203 Mortgage and Protection Advice

DX Louise Higham Grimsby 07875 091865 Courier Adept Law

Elaine Hughes North Lincolnshire 01652 803032 Wills and Estate Planning

Nitro Branding Limited

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Cranswick renews Tigers partnership

Cranswick has announced that its support and street food partnership with Hull City Football Club has been renewed for another season.

The company says it received some amazing feedback for our half-time street food offerings and is delighted to be doing it again for 2024/2025.

‘It is brilliant to see our business supporting the local community here in Hull’

Chris Aldersley, Chief Operating Officer, Cranswick plc said: “We are delighted to be supporting Hull City Football Club again this year. As a business that was founded in East Yorkshire nearly 50 years ago, and now employing over 5,000 colleagues at our Hull based sites, we are extremely pleased to be supporting the local area."

Martin Todd, Meat Procurement Manager at Cranswick Country Foods, added: “I am really pleased that Cranswick are renewing their street food partnership with Hull City.

“The club means a lot to me and my family, as I often visit with my two daughters, and it is brilliant to see our business supporting the local community here in Hull.

“I know that it is greatly appreciated by many of our employees.”

Chris Aldersley, Cranswick's Chief Operating Officer and Martin Todd, Meat Procurement Manager

New Member Spotlight

If you like to appear in our New Member Spotlight, here's your chance – email David Hooper at d.hooper@hull-humber-chamber.co.uk

Describe your business in a nutshell Contract hire truck and trailer business.

Where is it based?

Milton Keynes (HO) – Burma Drive, Hull locally!

How long has it been going? We’re in our 50th trading year this year!

How many staff are in the team? Locally, we have 18 members of staff.

What makes it unique?

We are a family business, with over 1,000 staff across 45 sites globally and 32,000 assets, from vans to forklifts, cold stores to trucks, sweepers to generators.

What do you hope to gain from your Chamber membership?

Local relationship building, working with companies in Yorkshire and the Humber.

What do you enjoy most about working in our region?

Dealing with genuine people – I’m from Rotherham originally and love dealing with “Yorkshire folk”.

Name: Scott Bailey-Rush

Job title: General Manager

Name of the business: Dawsongroup

What was your first job? It was at Dawsongroup. I left school at 18, found an office job, and worked my way up.

What do you never go to work without? I usually have a pocket of dog poo bags for my morning walk with Sam the Golden Retriever.

What one change would help your business the most?

Brand awareness – we’re the biggest business no one has ever heard of.

What’s the best way for people to contact you?

Email, call, text or Whatsapp – we’re available for business!

Visit: www.dawsongroup.co.uk

Telephone: 07799 646514

Email: scottbailey@dawsongroup.co.uk

Euro Continental Forwarding Ltd