Commerce & Industry 30.02

INSPECTION AND TESTING SERVICES

IRISNDT is a leading provider of Asset Integrity Engineering, NonDestructive Testing, Heat Treatment and Laboratory services. This is achieved through investment in training local personnel, continuous development of our facilities and refreshing our equipment to offer the latest in technology and innovations. This is supported by a strong commitment to safety, quality, and the environment.

IRISNDT is a leading provider of Asset Integrity Engineering, NonDestructive Testing, Heat Treatment and Laboratory services. This is achieved through investment in training local personnel, continuous development of our facilities and refreshing our equipment to offer the latest in technology and innovations. This is supported by a strong commitment to safety, quality, and the environment.

IRISNDT are closely supported by our colleagues in Canada, the USA and Australia.

ADDITIONAL SERVICES

• Rope Access

• Heat Treatment

• Pressure Testing

• Rope Access

• Welding Inspection

• Heat Treatment

• Materials Laboratory (ISO 17025)

• Pressure Testing

• Welder Training

• Welding Inspection

• Failure Investigations

• Materials Laboratory (ISO 17025)

• Welder Training

• Failure Investigations

CONVENTIONAL NDT

• X-Radiography & Gamma Radiography

• Computed and Digital Radiography

CONVENTIONAL NDT

• Close Proximity Radiography

• X-Radiography & Gamma Radiography

• Ultrasonic Inspection

• Computed and Digital Radiography

• Magnetic Particle Inspection

• Close Proximity Radiography

• Dye Penetrant Inspection

• Ultrasonic Inspection

• Eddy Current & Eddy Current Array

• Magnetic Particle Inspection

• Positive Material Identification (PMI)

• Dye Penetrant Inspection

• Hardness Testing

• Eddy Current & Eddy Current Array

• Ferrite Testing

• Positive Material Identification (PMI)

• ACFM Inspection

IRISNDT are closely supported by our colleagues in Canada, the USA and Australia.

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ASSET INTEGRITY ENGINEERING

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• Pipeline Inspections

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• Category 1,

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• Fitness for Service

• Engineering Calculations

• Maxi-Trak Field Services (Customized Software)

• Bund Surveys

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• Hardness Testing

• Vacuum Box Testing

• Ferrite Testing

• ACFM Inspection

• Vacuum Box Testing

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• Remote Robotic Inspections – Visual & UT

• Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing

• Drone Surveys – Internal and External

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• Laser Scanning

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• Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing

• Tube Inspection (IRIS, ECT, RFT, NFA)

• Time of Flight Diffraction (TOFD)

• Guided Wave Testing – Long Range UT

• AUT & PAUT Corrosion Mapping

• QSR1 – Corrosion Under Pipe Supports

• Tube Inspection (IRIS, ECT, RFT, NFA)

• MFL – Tank Floors and Pipelines

• Guided Wave Testing – Long Range

• HTHA Inspections (TOFD, TFM, PAUT & TULA)

• QSR1 – Corrosion Under Pipe Supports

• MFL – Tank Floors and Pipelines

• HTHA Inspections (TOFD, TFM, PAUT & TULA)

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29.

‘Moore’ gains for private client team at regional law firm

Highly regarded private client solicitor Hugo Moore has joined Williamsons Solicitors as it looks to develop its leading wills and probate service.

Mr Moore will work from the firm’s Hull and Bridlington branches using his expertise to help in matters including estate administration, will drafting and Lasting Powers of Attorney.

The ‘fishing, rugby and wine lover’ who lives in Beverley with his wife and two young daughters, is also the current Under Sheriff for the East Riding of Yorkshire, supporting the work of High Sheriff Tina Cerutti by advising on various formalities associated with the Royal office.

Mr Moore said that he was looking forward to contributing to the firm’s success. “I gain great satisfaction working in this area of law as I enjoy forming strong relationships with my clients and working for multiple generations of the same family.”

The well-known East Yorkshire firm, which also has a Driffield office, now has a private client team of 14 led by department head and Williamsons’ director Rebecca Bisby.

She said: “We are thrilled that Hugo has joined our thriving department which is on course to becoming the most knowledgeable, trusted and well-respected private client service in the region.

“He has an excellent reputation and makes a solid addition to our hard working and committed team.”

Mr Moore qualified in 2006 after studying law at the University of Leeds followed by York College of Law. After initially working for a large firm in Leeds, he returned to the East Riding in 2010.

Starbucks to kickstart regeneration as Beverley Gateway emerges from ashes of fire-hit wallpaper business

The Starbucks coffee chain has been signed up as the first arrival begin taking shape just outside Beverley in the coming months.

The venture, which will be known as Beverley Gateway, will breathe new life into the site of a former wallpaper and fabric pattern books manufacturer which was destroyed by fire in 2009.

A petrol filling station will also be built on the site at Killingwoldgraves Lane, and the company behind the scheme. Lovel Developments, expects to announce further arrivals in the coming weeks with the potential to create around 30 jobs.

The Starbucks outlet will be a drive-through operated by 23.5 Degrees. The chain’s first UK franchised business partner, 23.5 Degrees now operates more than 100 Starbucks stores nationwide including two outlets in York and others in Sheffield, Doncaster and Grimsby. The Beverly Gateway investment is the franchise’s first move into East Yorkshire.

Philip Lovel, Managing Director of Lovel Developments, said: “We will be starting work in the spring to put in the infrastructure including an access road, an estate road, drainage and lighting. The Starbucks building will be the first to be constructed and we hope

to announce details soon of two more businesses at Beverley Gateway.

“Between them the sort off businesses we are looking at have the potential to create a significant number of jobs. The original estimate of 30 jobs was based on a filling station, coffee shop and some business units. The final figure will depend on the nature of the businesses we bring in and their staffing needs.

“It will be a high quality development which brings a derelict site back into use and is still in keeping with the wider rural area.”

23.5 Degrees has invested more than £50 million in the UK economy to date through building and buying stores and now has almost 1,800 partners, with CEO Mark Hepburn having built up a strong track record of success in food service franchise

businesses, including Burger King and KFC. Andrew Pickett, Property Director for 23.5 Degrees said: “We now have more than 100 Starbucks stores with ambitious plans for growth and a target of reaching 300 stores by 2028. We are excited about being the first businesses at Beverley Gateway and our use of modular design and build will enable us to be up and running soon after completion of the site works.”

Accompanied by a CGI of the new Starbucks store.

Shooting Star Grows Digital Team with Two New Hires

Two new recruits have joined the team at award-winning East Midlands PR, marketing and digital agency Shooting Star.

Based in Lincoln, Shooting Star works for clients across the UK including leading modular contractor Rollalong in Dorset and European packaging firm Coveris as well as the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

New starters Dan Bratton and Jacob Porter will strengthen the team’s digital marketing services which include social media management and video production.

Dan, 25, from Blyton, Lincolnshire has been appointed as Digital Content Executive and will be responsible for creating engaging online content, developing social media strategies, and running advertising campaigns.

He previously worked as a marketing assistant for a Lincolnshire manufacturing company and has an MSc in digital marketing and a degree in photography.

Speaking about his new role, Dan said: “I was keen to make the move from working as an in-house marketer to a more specialised role within a creative marketing agency as I love to keep things varied and interesting.

“Working with multiple businesses and organisations to help them improve their online presence is an exciting challenge! I want to learn

as much as possible and I can’t wait to start creating meaningful content for both Shooting Star and our clients.”

Jacob Porter, 26, from Retford, Nottinghamshire is the agency’s new Digital Marketer. His role involves creating digital marketing strategies, SEO and website management.

Before joining Shooting Star, Jacob held in-house positions at several retail and manufacturing firms in Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire. He has over six years’ experience in digital marketing and a Chartered Institute of Marketing Level 4 qualification.

and Jacob and Dan are welcome additions to the team.

Jacob said: “When I first met the leadership team at Shooting Star, I was amazed! The atmosphere is friendly, the office is comforting, and the vision and values are aligned to my own. I knew instantly that Shooting Star was a place I would love to work and grow my skills.

“I’m looking forward to bringing success to our current and future clients. We win when our clients win and vice versa.”

Shooting Star Director Jez Ashberry said: “We’ve had an extremely busy start to 2024

“They’re already putting their skills to good use and have both got off to a flying start. With the increase in capacity, we’re looking forward to continuing to provide an excellent service to existing clients while also taking on new ones.”

Shooting Star specialises in marketing, PR, copywriting, online advertising, social media, SEO, media training and crisis management.

For more information about Shooting Star visit the website or follow the agency on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram.

Removals firm helps charity deliver its messages nationwide

Appleyards of East Yorkshire, which also provides speedy solutions to householders and businesses hit by flood, fire and other major disruption, will promote the Daisy Appeal across its network of thousands of contacts.

Andy Dickerson, Managing Director of Appleyards, said: “We send out thousands and thousands of emails every week to clients and contacts across the UK and we are going to rebrand them to promote the Daisy Appeal. “We’re also working with the charity on some sponsorship and fundraising ideas which will enable them to make the most of the new relationships we are helping them to build.”

The Daisy Appeal will soon be launching a Molecular Imaging Research Centre (MIRC) which has been built at Castle Hill Hospital at a cost of £8.8m and will improve accuracy and detection rates for people with cancer, heart disease and dementia in Hull, East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire.Since its foundation in 2000 the charity has raised more than £22m.

The Daisy Appeal Medical Research Centre opened at Castle Hill in 2008 and was followed in 2014 by the opening of the Jack Brignall PET-CT Scanning Centre, housing the first in a new type of Siemens scanner in the country.

Andy first became aware of the Daisy Appeal from a client who Appleyards moved to Cyprus and who had received treatment in

the past from Professor Nick Stafford, a retired head and neck surgeon who has been Chair the Daisy Appeal since it was founded. Andy remembered the charity when he bumped into Claire Levy, Fundraiser for the Daisy Appeal, at a meeting of Kingstown Bevan BNI.

Andy said: “We went to a few events and helped with the fundraising and when I met Claire I decided we should get involved again. We’re adding the Daisy Appeal logo and links to everything we send out to raise awareness and we’ll follow that with some sponsorship activities.”

Also in 2007, demand for storage services rocketed when the summer floods affected more than 10,000 properties in Hull.

Appleyards was founded in Hull in 1995 and in 2000 moved to a site in Therm Road with the first purpose-built storage warehouse in the city. That provided the platform for the launch of Hull Self Storage – another first for the city – and further investment in 2007 led to the launch of Simply Shredding, which specialises in disposing of confidential documents and now has more than 100 franchises across the country.

Andy said: “We worked with thousands of properties when the floods hit Hull and at a time when a lot of people were cashing in on the misfortune of others we took a different approach and offered a discount on our storage facilities to give people a hand.”

To find out more about the Daisy Appeal please visit https://daisyappeal.org/

Claire Levy, Fundraiser for the Daisy Appeal, and Andy Dickerson, Managing Director of Appleyards of East Yorkshire, outside the company’s premises in Hull.

www.kingston-engineering.co.uk

105 Years Milestone for Kingston Engineering, the Hull Company with a Global Reputation for Precision Manufacturing Expertise

Kingston Engineering is a leading precision engineering company with expertise in the manufacture of bespoke and purpose-built power screws. Established in 1919 and with origins deeply rooted in Hull, East Yorkshire, the company has an enviable reputation for producing complex components and assemblies to extremely tight tolerances.

Kingston Engineering is proud to provide customised precision engineering solutions to a local, national and international customer base.

Components and assemblies manufactured by Kingston Engineering have end-use applications in diverse industry sectors. Cut to quality materials and exacting tolerances, they are produced to universal quality standards that include British, European and American standards.

2024 is an important year for Kingston Engineering, as they are celebrating their 105th anniversary.

Paul Bielby, director of Kingston Engineering said:

“We are delighted to reach this milestone and as we look to the years ahead, we

are committed to providing our customers with exceptional levels of precision expertise.”

He added: “Advancements in precision manufacturing are the game changers as the demand for complex shapes, features and accuracy levels increases. We are proud to be playing our part in providing advanced, ultra-precision components that empower innovations in so many industries like medicine, pharmaceuticals, energy, aerospace, space exploration and manufacturing.”

Kingston Engineering’s success is the result of focus on continuously moving the business forward and embracing new technologies.

There has been continuous investment in cutting-edge machines, in-house facilities

and precision technologies at the Kingston Engineering site, based on Pennington Street in Hull.

Coupled with a strong heritage of engineering skill and precision manufacturing expertise, Kingston Engineering is set to continue to lead the way in shaping precision engineering of the future.

East Yorkshire Hydraulics Ltd have been providing professional hydraulic engineering services to industry for 40 years.

We can provide a full design, build, installation and service lifecycle of services and products.

HYDRAULIC PRODUCTS

As well as our capability to provide bespoke systems and components, we also provide hydraulic products “off the shelf”. We can source just about any item and can provide expert assistance in identifying components off machines.

We can also advise on how to upgrade obsolete products and will advise if cost or efficiency savings can be made by looking at alternative solutions. We provide a single source hydraulics package. Additionally, we are main agents for Yuken hydraulic equipment and a preferred reseller of Pall Filtration and Parker.

• Complete hydraulic systems

• Installation and commissioning

• Hydro-pneumatic accumulators

• Hydraulic equipment

• Cylinders

LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO APPRENTICESHIPS SEES SOUTH HUMBER BANK POWER STATION SOAR

EP SHB have seen their business thrive in recent years. The implementation of a robust succession strategy has allowed the power station to buck the trend of employers experiencing difficulty maintaining a skills base.

It is no secret that in recent years, the engineering and manufacturing sector has encountered unparalleled difficulties in the form of a skills gap that has, at times, threatened to bring entire industries to their knees.

Higher manufacturing costs, slower production times and struggles to introduce and maintain skills, businesses across the country have scrambled to find ways to mitigate the impact of the skills gap.

However, the Stallingborough based South Humber Bank Power Station continues to thrive on the back of a long-term succession strategy that has paved the way for aspiring engineers to kickstart their careers.

Working alongside local training provider, HETA, who have a track record of delivering apprenticeships in the Yorkshire and Humber region for close to 60 years, EP SHB have recruited 20 apprentices across the last decade.

The partnership has allowed budding engineers to develop vital knowledge, skills and behaviours before transitioning to industry full-time, bridging the gap between education and industry.

This succession strategy has not only seen the business soar, but the 20 engineers who have embarked on this unique path have experienced overwhelming individual success, both academically and professionally. Paul Bevan, Maintenance and Reliability Manager at EP SHB, discussed the impact of the succession strategy,

“Our commitment to working alongside HETA to identify and nurture talent has had a profound impact on the business by allowing us to maintain a skills base and as such, has allowed us to reduce the potential dependency on external contractors. We’re extremely pleased to continue to build on our relationship with HETA year after year.”

From helping trainees to find their feet in industry, to supporting ambitious former apprentices through to degree level study, EP SHB has continually invested in developing their roster of staff, supporting individual members of their team to achieve their career goals.

Having recently progressed into a Maintenance Team Leader role, Conagh Power, a former HETA apprentice and beneficiary of the EP SHB pathway stated,

“Working at EP SHB has allowed me to continue to progress beyond my apprenticeship, develop new skills and

more recently, progress into a new role which now means I’m able to support new talent entering the business, many of whom are developing through the same pathway that I did.”

Following on from his own success, Conagh recognises the pathway that exists for future apprentices embarking on a similar journey,

“Having started my own career with an apprenticeship, I understand how important it is that we continue to introduce new talent to the business and how much it means for young people to have an employer that supports their ambitions.”

EP SHB committed to recruiting an apprentice again in 2024, continuing to place their trust in HETA.

Sales and Marketing Manager at the training provider, Charlotte Hogben commented

“We are incredibly grateful to have longstanding relationships with employers like EP SHB. Our relationship continues to flourish and means that aspiring engineers can continue to benefit from the pathway that has seen a great deal of success over the last decade, both for the individuals and the wider business.”

Equinor’s H2H Saltend project given major boost as planning permission granted

One of the UK’s key decarbonisation projects, H2H Saltend, has been granted planning permission by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, strengthening its case in forthcoming Government competitions.

Equinor’s H2H Saltend is a 600-megawatt low carbon hydrogen production plant with carbon capture, one of the first of its kind and scale to be granted planning permission in the UK, helping to establish the Humber as an international hub for low carbon hydrogen whilst significantly reducing carbon emissions.

The decision comes at a vital time, as the project prepares for a potential application into the Government’s forthcoming ‘Cluster Sequencing Track-1 Expansion’ process, which is expected to launch this year and will select decarbonisation projects in both the Humber and Teesside that can connect to the East Coast Cluster’s carbon capture transport and storage infrastructure by around 2030.

This is an important decision not only for this project but also for this region. We welcome major energy projects from global companies like Equinor, which help to demonstrate the ability of our area to attract investment, leading to more jobs, supply chain contracts and opportunities for local people.

Due to be operational around the end of the decade and sited at the energy intensive Saltend Chemicals Park, to the east of Hull, H2H Saltend will help to reduce the park’s emissions by up to one third. To achieve this, low carbon hydrogen will be used in chemical processes by both Saltend-based and other nearby companies, as well as directly replacing natural gas in several industrial facilities reducing the carbon intensity of their products.

Hydrogen from H2H Saltend will also be blended with natural gas at Equinor and SSE Thermal’s on-site Triton power station. The amount of CO2 captured and safely stored in sub-sea aquifers as a result will be around nearly 900,000 tonnes per year, equivalent to taking about 500,000 cars off the road annually.

We are delighted to receive planning permission for this key project which could help to kickstart multiple decarbonisation initiatives in the Humber, a vital region with a long-standing history for Equinor.

H2H Saltend is a catalyst project for the wider decarbonisation of the Humber, including helping to link regional CO2 pipelines from Easington in East Yorkshire across northern Lincolnshire and to Drax in North Yorkshire. The infrastructure, which NEP confirmed ownership of in January 2024, will capture and transport carbon dioxide for safe sub-sea storage as part of the East Coast Cluster development.

Three projects along this pipeline routeH2H Saltend, Drax BECCS and Keadby Carbon Capture Power Station – now have planning consent, making the Humber unique in its offering of mature decarbonisation projects.

These proposals aim to make the Humber, the UK’s most carbon intensive industrial region, net-zero by 2040. In addition, H2H Saltend will deliver value for money by building a foundation for the energy transition in the Humber area, leading to more job

opportunities for local people and supply chain contracts. It will help to establish East Yorkshire as a leading light in the transition to a net zero economy.

The project also forms part of Equinor’s ‘Hydrogen to Humber’ ambition to deliver 1.8 gigawatts of low carbon hydrogen production within the region, nearly 20% of the UK’s national 2030 target. These proposals seek to develop a hydrogen transport and storage hub network linking key sites primarily on the north bank of the Humber including Saltend, Easington and the Aldbrough Storage facility, via dedicated hydrogen pipelines.

I am pleased that H2H Saltend has been granted planning permission, a vital step forward in decarbonising the Humber while delivering jobs and growth to the region

Saltend Chemicals Park

(Photo: The Film Agency)

The world’s most important energy sources are knowledge and cooperation.

The H2H Saltend planning application was submitted to the East Riding of Yorkshire Council in July 2023. There have been three public consultation events in East Yorkshire and Hull since 2021 to present the project throughout the planning process, in addition to regular dialogues with local authority and parish councillors. No objections to the application were raised by any statutory body.

The UK Government is expected to launch the Track-1 Expansion competition from 2024. It is the next step of the Cluster Sequencing process, following selection of the East Coast Cluster as a Track-1 Cluster and subsequent selection of a first phase projects in March 2023, when Humber projects were unsuccessful.

Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance Lord Callanan said:

“I am pleased that H2H Saltend has been

granted planning permission, a vital step forward in decarbonising the Humber while delivering jobs and growth to the region.

“CCUS clusters will be the starting point for a new industry in the UK, which is why we’ve committed up to £20 billion in early support and expect to bring forward 4GW of low carbon hydrogen production by 2030.”

Derek Ho, H2H Saltend Project Director, said:

“We are delighted to receive planning permission for this key project which could help to kick-start multiple decarbonisation initiatives in the Humber, a vital region with a long-standing history for Equinor.

It is an important first step in creating a low carbon hydrogen economy and achieving net zero in the Humber, safeguarding local industries and creating greater opportunities

including new jobs and skills, whilst helping the UK to tackle climate change.

“This decision comes at a very opportune moment, as we await the launch of the Government’s next phase of the Cluster Sequencing process for the Humber, and it puts H2H Saltend in a strong position, should we submit a bid.”

Anne Handley, Leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, added:

“This is an important decision not only for this project but also for this region. We welcome major energy projects from global companies like Equinor, which help to demonstrate the ability of our area to attract investment, leading to more jobs, supply chain contracts and opportunities for local people. We should be proud that East Yorkshire can be a leading light in the transition to a net zero economy.”

Further details on the Cluster Sequencing process can be found at www.gov.uk/government/publications/ carbon-capture-usage-and-storage-ccus-december-2023-statement

Restoration of Hull landmark begins to breathe new life into key city centre site

Regeneration specialist Wykeland Group has begun a £2m restoration project to revive Hull’s historic Castle Street Chambers building and former Earl De Grey pub.

Castle Street Chambers, which is adjacent to the Connexin Live arena in Hull city centre, was built in 1900 as offices for Hull steamship owners and brokers Messrs G R Sanderson.

The Grade II-listed building has been unoccupied since the 1970s and has fallen into dereliction, supported by protective scaffolding for more than 20 years. A similar fate befell one of Hull’s oldest pubs, the neighbouring Earl De Grey, which dates back to the 1840s and was once a popular haunt for seafarers from around the world who docked in the city.

In 2020, the Grade II-listed Earl De Grey’s historic frontage was painstakingly removed brick by brick, before being placed into storage, prior to the start of the ongoing £350m A63 Castle Street improvement scheme to relieve congestion on the main route through Hull.

Now, a significant restoration project on Castle Street Chambers is underway which, once completed, will incorporate the reconstructed Earl De Grey. Hull-based Wykeland Group is delivering the project, which will create more than 6,000 sq ft (557 sqm) of prime commercial space. Wykeland has liaised closely with National Highways, Historic

England and Hull City Council to bring the restoration project forward.

Wykeland Development Director Jonathan Stubbs said: “Castle Buildings is one of the most complex and challenging restoration projects we’ve undertaken. Having been unused for decades, the building is understandably in a very poor condition. Since acquiring the site in recent years, we have worked hard to bring forward this project which is now coming to fruition.

“That has included taking down the Earl De Grey before the A63 works, while retaining its listed frontage in order that it can be reinstated as part of this exciting development.

“In all of our restoration projects, protecting and enhancing heritage is at the forefront of our

approach. That is certainly the case with Castle Street Chambers and the Earl De Grey.”

The first phase of the restoration will see the scaffolding removed from Castle Street Chambers, revealing the derelict building behind it. Piling work will then commence at the site of the new Earl De Grey, before Castle Street Chambers is re-scaffolded for roof and window repair work, as well as general improvement to the brickwork. A small single-storey extension will be built on the side of the building, before the frontage of the Earl De Grey is brought back to the site and reassembled, facing the Connexin Live arena. The full restoration project is expected to take around a year, with completion due in early 2025. The Yorkshire Demolition and Reclamation Company, based in Thorngumbald, East Yorkshire, was appointed to carry out the first phase of the restoration.

The company will first remove the scaffolding and hoarding surrounding Castle Street Chambers, before carrying out work on the internal strip-out of the building.

The Castle Street Chambers restoration is supported by £162,000 of Levelling Up Funding, allocated by Hull City Council.

INSPECTION INSTALLATION

Hazardous area inspections on Electrical, Instrumentation & Mechanical equipment

We offer rectification solutions to any non-conformances

TRAINING

Turnkey solutions from Design > Development & Planning >

Installation > Commissioning > Testing

Providing bespoke and on-site training to suit your requirements; DSEAR Awareness, Ex Inspection/Installation Awareness etc...

PROCESS SAFETY ASSET MANAGEMENT

A one-stop Process Safety service from Design verification> ATEX (DSEAR) assessments (GAP Analysis) > EPD >

Hazardous Area Classification > HAZOPs and HAZIDs > Lab Testing> Ignition Risk

Assessments > Expert Witness

Our in house software ExTrace enables you to manage, maintain and inspect your assets in an efficient, concise & confident manner. ExTrace is an invaluable tool helping sites achieve legislative compliance with national and international standards.

Government approves Goole tax site to unlock further investment in Humber Freeport

The Government has approved a freeport tax site in Goole, in a move which will stimulate further major investment within the Humber region.

The tax site, which forms part of the wider Humber Freeport, spans almost 500 acres of prime development land across two plots, separated by the M62 motorway, on the outskirts of the East Yorkshire town.

The proposed footprint for the Goole tax site was submitted for approval in August last year. Now the site has been officially designated, following review and approval by the Treasury and HM Revenue & Customs.

It means businesses investing within the tax site can benefit from a series of advantages, ranging from business rate and stamp duty land tax relief, to National Insurance support designed to reduce employment costs.

Humber Freeport Chair Simon Bird welcomed approval for the Goole tax site.

He said:

“Designation of the Goole tax site is another major positive step forwards for Humber Freeport and our mission to drive economic growth, generate thousands of skilled jobs, support innovation and promote cross-sector collaboration.

“We strongly believe our freeport proposition in the Humber is a compelling and unique one, with huge opportunities in decarbonisation, advanced manufacturing, chemicals and port-related operations.

“We’re offering investors the opportunity to benefit from the Humber’s status as a global gateway, with easy access to mainland Europe and beyond via the UK’s busiest ports complex.

“We’ve got the space to grow, the people, the skills and the world-class companies already here to support investors, making the Humber the perfect place to do business.”

An aerial image highlighting the footprint of the Goole freeport tax site.

Image: East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

From left, Andrew Percy, MP for Brigg & Goole; Esa Kaikkonen, CEO of Metsä Tissue; and Dominic Gibbons, Managing Director of Wykeland Group, at the location of Metsä Tissue’s planned paper mill on the freeport tax site in Goole.

Picture: R&R Studio.

Humber Freeport aims to capitalise on the Humber’s vital role as a strategic asset for UK Plc as Britain’s global gateway, by attracting large-scale inward investments creating thousands of new jobs.

Designation of the Goole tax site will support the delivery of one of the region’s largest investments.

Leading property developer Wykeland Group holds the long-term development rights to the 211-acre northern part of the Goole tax site and Wykeland has exchanged on a deal with Finnish tissue paper manufacturer Metsä Tissue.

Subject to planning approval, Metsä Tissue will invest hundreds of millions of pounds to create the UK’s largest tissue paper mill on the site.

The facility is proposed to be built in several phases over the next few years. It will create more than 400 jobs, with thousands of additional indirect jobs generated across the supply chain and in the local economy.

Dominic Gibbons, Managing Director of Hull-based Wykeland, said: “Confirmation of freeport tax status for the Goole site is excellent news for Goole and the wider Humber.

“The freeport tax site benefits added to the attractiveness of the proposition for Metsä Tissue.

“They also underline the appeal of the wider Goole site, paving the way for further large-scale development delivering economic growth, new jobs and wide-ranging community benefits.”

The southern part of the Goole tax site is owned by St John’s College, Cambridge, which has appointed HBD, part of Henry Boot, as Development Partner.

Goole has become a magnet for inward investment in recent years, with the freeport tax site designation underlining the appeal of a location with excellent transport links via road, rail and the UK’s premier inland port. Siemens Mobility is at the forefront of the town’s rejuvenation, with an investment of up to £200m in a rail manufacturing facility, adjacent to the freeport tax site, where tube trains for London’s Piccadilly line will be built.

The southern part of the Goole tax site presents an opportunity to create an integrated supply chain alongside the Siemens Mobility rail centre of excellence and

the neighbouring Guardian Glass factory.

The site has the potential to unlock a wealth of high-quality employment opportunities, particularly within the rail, advanced manufacturing and low carbon energy sectors.

Goole is one of three Humber Freeport tax sites, alongside Hull East and the Able Humber Port at Immingham.

Other companies that have announced plans to invest on Humber Freeport sites include rare earth exploration company Pensana and green hydrogen specialist Meld Energy, both at Saltend Chemicals Park within the Hull East tax site.

For more information on the Goole freeport tax site, visit www.humberfreeport.org/whereare-we/goole

Designation of the Goole tax site will support the delivery of one of the region’s largest investments – a huge tissue paper mill planned by Finnish manufacturer Metsä Tissue, shown in this computer-generated image. Image: Metsä Tissue.

The southern part of the Goole tax site is strategically located on land next to Siemens Mobility’s rail manufacturing facility in the East Yorkshire town.

Picture: Siemens Mobility.

Newark and Sherwood has much to be proud of: a captivating history, beautiful countryside, characterful market towns, world-renowned businesses and an enviable location at the crossroads of the country’s transportation network. Sitting at the heart of England between the A1 and the M1 and on the East Coast Mainline.

With London only 1 hour and 15 minutes away by train and excellent transport links by road, it is a fantastic place to locate your growing business. Newark and Sherwood is passionate about providing the best service possible for businesses already within the area and also for those who maybe wish to re-locate to Newark and Sherwood.

Newark and Sherwood is ambitious, forward thinking and has a growth agenda. Newark and Sherwood District Council serves 120,965 people, covering over 65,134 hectares of land, which contains 84 civil parishes and 21 wards. 39 elected members represent the district and work in collaboration with 435 employees to provide highquality services to residents.

The district’s Town Centres are renowned for a strong independent

offer and engaged business community which serve a local catchment. Newark on Trent is the largest town in the district and has an urban area that is home to 43,000 people. Over the next 20 years 7000 new homes are planned to the south of Newark along with the completion of the Southern bypass and the dualling of the A46.

Newark and Sherwood is home to the Newark Business Club which takes place on the first Friday of every month. With attendance of between 80-120 people it is a great way of networking with businesses in the area and being at the cutting edge of events taking place across the district.

Newark and Sherwood deliver a number of events throughout the year. These include the Annual Economic Growth Conference held in October each year. The conference allows for businesses to receive valuable information, hear from leading experts and to discuss the challenges and opportunities arising from future trends.

Newark and Sherwood work closely with the primary, secondary schools, Further and Higher Education providers endeavouring to ensure that the workforce of the future has the skills required to meet the needs of the 21st century businesses. The Future First Careers Expo is held in November each year at the Newark Showground.

Secondary schools from across the district are invited to meet with businesses, education and training providers. The Expo aims to improve the aspirations of young people, helping them to feel informed and inspired about a number of career paths.

In a world class destination offering rich outdoor activities, civil war heritage and the great legend of Robin Hood there is much to fill the leisure time of residents and visitors alike. Sherwood Forest provides the RSPB Centre. Southwell Minster and Newark Castle provides a few of the glorious attractions and opportunities for exploring the area.

For more information visit www.investnewarkandsherwood.co.uk. Call 01636 655260 or 01636 655277 or email veronica.dennant@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk

RELOCATING TO THE HUMBER REGION...

Navigating Home & Business Transitions

Relocating to a new region can be both an exciting adventure and a daunting endeavour, particularly when it involves uprooting your home and business.

For many individuals and families, the allure of the Humber Region in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire presents a compelling opportunity for career advancement, lifestyle enhancement, and economic prosperity. However, the relocation process entails careful planning, consideration, and adaptation, especially when it comes to finding a new home, transitioning children to new schools, and integrating businesses into the local community.

The Appeal of the Humber Region

Nestled along the picturesque coastline of Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, the Humber Region boasts a unique blend of urban vibrancy, natural beauty, and economic opportunity.

From the bustling port cities of Hull and Grimsby to the idyllic countryside of East Riding and North Lincolnshire, the region offers diverse living environments to suit various lifestyles and preferences. Moreover, with thriving industries in manufacturing, logistics, renewable energy, and digital technology, the Humber Region has emerged as a hub of innovation and growth, attracting professionals and entrepreneurs seeking new career prospects and business opportunities.

Finding Your New Home

Choosing the right place to call home is a pivotal step in the relocation process. The Humber Region offers a wealth of housing options, ranging from modern apartments in urban centres to quaint cottages in rural villages. Before making a decision, it’s

essential to consider factors such as proximity to workplaces, amenities, schools, and transportation networks. Engaging with local real estate agents and exploring online listings can help prospective residents identify suitable properties that align with their preferences and budgetary constraints.

Transitioning Children to New Schools

Relocating with children adds an extra layer of complexity to the moving process, particularly when it comes to ensuring a smooth transition to new schools. Fortunately, the Humber Region boasts a diverse array of educational institutions, including public schools, private academies, and specialised programs catering to various interests and learning styles. Researching school districts, visiting campuses, and engaging with educators can help parents make informed decisions about their children’s education and facilitate a seamless adjustment to their new academic environment.

Integrating Businesses into the Local Community

For professionals and entrepreneurs relocating their businesses to the Humber Region, integrating into the local community is essential for long-term success and sustainability. Networking with industry peers, joining business associations, and participating in community events can help newcomers establish valuable connections, gain insights into local market dynamics, and foster collaboration opportunities. Additionally, leveraging digital platforms and social

media channels can enhance visibility and engagement, allowing businesses to showcase their products or services and connect with potential customers in the region.

Embracing the Opportunities Ahead

Relocating to the Humber Region represents a significant life change, but it also opens doors to new possibilities, experiences, and opportunities for personal and professional growth. Whether you’re drawn to the region’s dynamic economy, cultural attractions, or natural landscapes, embracing the journey of relocation can lead to a fulfilling and enriching chapter in your life. By approaching the process with a sense of optimism, adaptability, and resilience, individuals and families can navigate the challenges of moving homes and businesses with confidence and enthusiasm, laying the foundation for a bright and prosperous future in the Humber Region.

TQUEEN ETHELBURGA’S COLLEGE IS NAMED A TIMES TOP 20 SCHOOL FOR ACADEMIC RESULTS

Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate (QE) are celebrating after QE College placed 2nd in The Sunday Times Parent Power 2023 national school league tables for A Level performance and 17th for overall academic performance; whilst QE College and QE Faculty placed 1st and 2nd in York and 1st and 3rd in the North for A Level performance in the same publication.

his means that QE College retains the title of The Sunday Times Top School in the North for Academic Performance for a third consecutive year along with its position as the top school in York for academic results, with QE Faculty also flying high and cementing its place as the premier northern independent school for students wishing to pursue a personalised curriculum to the highest possible standards.

Principal, Dan Machin, said of the result, “We are extremely proud of all of the achievements for our students in both our senior schools. Offering the choice of provision in QE Faculty and QE College provides students with the chance to excel in whichever route suits them best, and the results speak for themselves in justifying this approach over nearly 20 years since QE Faculty was originally established. To be placed as the top two schools in York for academic performance at A Level is incredible and shows a dedication to excellence by both students and staff.”

QE is a co-educational independent boarding school based just outside of York on a rural estate of over 220 acres. It is known locally and nationally for its state-of-the-art facilities, longstanding academic achievement and vast co-curricular options. To find out more about the school, visit www.qe.org, attend the next Open Morning on Saturday 27th April 2024 or book a private tour with the friendly admissions team by emailing admissions@qe.org.

whole school open morning: 27th april

CJC Legal Services

Your Trusted Partner in Business Transactions

In the fast-paced world of business, navigating legal complexities with precision is paramount. Whether you’re launching a startup, expanding operations, or considering selling your business, having reliable legal support can make all the difference. This is where CJC Legal Services steps in, offering comprehensive and independent legal assistance tailored to your specific needs.

CJC Legal Services specialises in facilitating the buying and selling of businesses, providing invaluable guidance and expertise throughout the process. With a focus on independence and client-centricity, they offer a unique perspective that ensures clients receive unbiased advice and personalized solutions.

One of the key strengths of CJC Legal Services is their commitment to independence. Unlike traditional law firms that may have conflicts of interest or prioritize certain parties over others, CJC Legal Services operates as a truly independent entity. This allows them to provide objective advice that serves the best interests of their clients, whether they are business owners looking to sell or entrepreneurs embarking on new ventures.

For those starting a business, CJC Legal Services offers invaluable support in navigating the legal landscape. From entity formation and contract drafting to regulatory compliance, their team of experienced attorneys ensures that your business

gets off to a strong and legally sound start. By understanding the unique challenges and opportunities of each client, they provide tailored solutions that set the stage for long-term success.

Similarly, for business owners looking to sell their company, CJC Legal Services offers comprehensive assistance at every stage of the transaction. From conducting due diligence and negotiating terms to drafting and reviewing contracts, their team works diligently to protect the interests of their clients while facilitating a smooth and successful sale process. With their expertise in mergers and acquisitions, they help clients maximise value and minimise risks, ensuring a favorable outcome for all parties involved.

One of the hallmarks of CJC Legal Services is their collaborative approach to working with other professional advisors, such as financial advisors and accountants. They recognise the importance of teamwork in achieving the best outcomes for clients and actively partner with other experts to provide holistic support. By leveraging their

network of professionals, they offer clients access to a wealth of resources and expertise, further enhancing the value of their services.

In addition to their core legal services, CJC Legal Services also offers storage facilities in both physical and online vault formats. This ensures that important documents and records are securely stored and easily accessible whenever needed. Whether it’s contracts, agreements, or other sensitive information, clients can trust that their data is safe and protected under CJC Legal Services’ watchful eye.

In conclusion, CJC Legal Services stands out as a trusted partner for businesses seeking independent legal support. With a focus on personalised service, unbiased advice, and collaborative partnerships, they go above and beyond to meet the needs of their clients. Whether you’re starting a new business, selling your company, or simply in need of legal guidance, CJC Legal Services is there to provide the expertise and support you need to succeed in today’s competitive business landscape.

OWC2024 and the Humber Renewables Awards

It’s being billed as the region’s renewable energy event of the year

Hundreds of industry players will converge in Hull on May 1 & 2 for Offshore Wind Connections and the Humber Renewables Awards.

Championing all that is being achieved in the Energy Estuary, the gala awards dinner event will form the celebratory finale to the OWC2024 conference run by Humber Marine & Renewables.

The two high-profile events are being held at DoubleTree by Hilton, representing the second year of a successful partnership which sees the industry come together to mark achievements, share best practice,

explore innovation and updates on project and policy developments.

Kicking off on the evening of May 1 with high-profile guest speakers and the popular RenewableUK Connect event, OWC2024 delegates will have access to some of the most influential people and companies working in offshore wind. Day two will continue with speakers, an exhibition and networking, leading into the Humber Renewables Awards in the evening.

Now in its 11th year, OWC2024 which has headline sponsorship from RWE, is focusing on maximising the huge potential

for offshore wind in the Humber and Yorkshire over the next five years. The role of offshore wind in meeting the UK’s low carbon targets will be explored, along with how the region can collaborate to gain greater and sustained market share. Topics will also include freeports and skills along with technical advancements.

The Humber Renewables Awards is in its 12th year of celebrating success in a sector that has brought a new economic direction to the area, while helping fuel grand decarbonisation ambitions for the industrial cluster. Entries are now open for the 10 award categories with a closing date of March 17.

Last year’s Humber Renewables Awards winners on stage at the close of the ceremony. Credit: Reach Plc. Below, Iain Butterworth, chair of Humber Marine & Renewables.

Iain Butterworth, chair of Humber Marine & Renewables, said:

“Connecting our two-day flagship conference with the well-established Humber Renewables Awards and gala dinner, makes it the industry event of the year.

“I’m delighted to see this partnership continue. This is my first year as chair of the board, and in 2023 I attended both Offshore Wind Connections and the Humber Renewables Awards dinner for the first time.

“Only 10 to 15 years ago we were looking at the prospects for offshore wind. Now, as was evident from the stage of both OWC and the awards, offshore wind has well and truly arrived on the Humber yet is still in its relative infancy and only going to get stronger.”

He added: “We are now focused firmly on the future of this vibrant sector. It is vitally important that the industry comes together to share new developments and ideas for the region to maintain its stature, fully realise its potential and make a significant contribution to net zero.”

A full list of speakers will be published on the OWC website which include Corrine Barry of RWE who will talk on subjects including the contribution of offshore wind to net zero and the crucial role the region needs to play.

OWC 2024 Sponsors

Headline:

Platinum: Orsted

Gold: Andrew Jackson Solicitors

Gold: Associated British Ports

Gold: Aquila

Gold: Bacon Engineering

Gold: Butterworth Marine

Gold: MMS

Silver: Humber Freeport

Drinks: RSM

Humber Renewables Awards Sponsors

With grateful thanks to:

Small Business of the Year: Orsted

Woman of the Year: RWE

Apprentice of the Year: Boston Energy

Excellence in Renewable Skills & Training: East Riding of Yorkshire Council

Car Sponsor: John Roe

Categories for the Humber Renewables Awards

Closing date for nominations is March 17. The awards are FREE to enter.

Humber Renewables small Business of the Year (under 50 employees)

Last year’s winner: RSUK Group

Humber Renewables Medium / Large Business of the Year (over 50 employees)

Last year’s winner: Associated British Ports

Best Renewable Energy Project or Installation

Last year’s winner: Pillswood Project from Harmony Energy

Excellence in Renewable Skills and Training

Last year’s winner: RES Renewables Education

Last year’s winner: East Riding of Yorkshire Council/Dogger Bank Wind Farm

Green Innovation

Last year’s winner: Cellform Hydrogen

Diversity and Inclusion Award

Last year’s winner: Generation Net Zero

Engaging The Community / Community Project

Last year’s winner: HFR Solutions CIC

Humber Renewables Woman of the Year

Last year’s winner: Claire Swannick, RWE

Humber Renewables Apprentice of the Year

Last year’s winner: Ria Matthews

Humber Renewables Champion 2024

Last year’s winner: Kurt Christensen, Wind Power Support.

Entries for the 2024 Humber Renewables Awards are now open. For full details visit www.humber-renewables.com. The deadline is Sunday, March 17.

Visit the OWC 2024 website www.offshorewindconnections.co.uk for conference tickets, exhibition space and information on speakers.

Double Cab Pickup Calamity

On Monday 12th February 2024, HMRC announced that it was intending to treat double cab pick-ups with a payload of one tonne or more as cars rather than goods vehicles/vans for both capital allowance and benefit-in-kind purposes. Roll on a week and HMRC announced that it will not be bringing in the new guidance after all and that double cab pick-ups will continue to be treated as they are at present.

This means that HMRC will continue to use the VAT approach for double cab pick-ups, where vehicles with a payload of under one tonne will remain classified as a car and with a payload of over a tonne, classed as a goods vehicle.

In 2020, Coca-Cola lost its fight against HMRC in a Court of Appeal hearing where the judgement ruled that its Volkswagen Kombi and Vauxhall Vivaro fleet vehicles should be classed as company cars, not vans, and taxed accordingly. The case centred around the second row of seats and rear passenger window(s) in the vehicles, which in the view of the Court of Appeal judges, made the vehicles equally suited to carry people as they were goods.

Back to the double cab pick-up – in its original release HMRC cited this case as a reason for changing their view on these vehicles, which are arguably also equally suited to carrying passengers and goods. But in the

HMRC release on 19th February, a u-turn was announced on the back of the fact that “the government has listened carefully to views from farmers and the motoring industry on the potential impacts of the change in taxtreatment.”

“The government has acknowledged that the 2020 court decision and resultant guidance update could have an impact on businesses and individuals in a way that is not consistent with the government’s wider aims to support

businesses, including vital motoring and farming industries”.

The Government have stated they will now legislate to protect the position of double cab pickups, so this is unlikely to affect the treatment of other multi-purpose vehicles which are largely now treated as cars following the Coca Cola case, but we await the details in the next Finance Bill.

If you are unsure about the tax treatment on any commercial vehicles, please do get in touch with us for clarification and guidance.

www.forrester-boyd.co.uk

info@forrester-boyd.co.uk

Broadcaster, journalist and TV presenter Louise Minchin will be the guest speaker at the Ladies Lunch, which is being organised by the Sailors’ Children’s Society and HEY Smile Foundation.

She will be joined by Caroline Hawley, a partner in Hawleys Auctioneers of Beverley and known nationwide as an antiques expert for her appearances on the BBC TV shows Flog It! and Bargain Hunt.

The occasion, which will take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Hull on Friday March 15, becomes a stablemate of the Society’s hugely successful, serial sell-out “Sportsman’s Lunch”, but organisers insist it will be very different.

Natasha Barley, CEO of the Society, said: “It will be a celebration of women, female empowerment and enjoying an inspirational afternoon with women and men celebrating together. There is more focus now on women in leadership and recognising women’s achievements and this event will help to do that. The event will be open to all, just like the Sportsman’s Lunch which last year attracted the biggest turnout of women so far.”

Tessa Wray, Head of Partnerships at HEY Smile Foundation, added: “This is a great event to be involved with, and something different to other events we deliver. We are very big on corporate engagement and coming up with events which are a little different, engaging, and memorable. Our two charities working in partnership, sharing resources, and raising funds together is a great demonstration of collaboration, which is important to us.”

The Society was founded more than 200 years ago and works nationally to support the disadvantaged children from the merchant navy, Royal Navy, the offshore wind industry, fishing fleets and inland waterways. It helps the children of families in crisis experiencing bereavement, family breakdown or diagnosis of a life limiting or terminal illness and all our families are experiencing financial hardship. HEY Smile Foundation, is a local infrastructure

TV pair to present a celebration of women as charities target a bigger lunchtime audience

Familiar faces from daytime TV will take to the stage next month to launch a new fundraising event devised by two of the region’s leading charities.

charity, empowering charities, people, and communities across Hull and East Yorkshire. By bringing ideas, people, and resources together, Smile leads the way on community voice and insight, health, and digital development to find solutions to voluntary sector challenges.

Smile supports frontline organisations, helping them to grow, develop and become sustainable, including organisations in crisis trying to meet the increasing demand and pressures on their services, especially in the current climate.

The Ladies Lunch emerged from the recognition that although the Sportsman’s Lunch delivers more money every year – up from £55,000 in 2022 to £75,000 last year – it sells out more than a year in advance.

Natasha said: “Capacity is just under 700 and we hit that every year. There are many more who want to attend but who just can’t get in, so we came up with the idea of another event which offers something different. We can’t compare it with the Sportsman’s Lunch because that’s been going since 1995 but we’re promoting it among our corporate and community contacts and we’re getting a good response.”

Tessa added: “It takes place during Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day is the week before, so the date complements the event perfectly. The aim is to raise funds and awareness of our two charities to continue our vital work, whilst providing inspiration, fun and an enjoyable afternoon for our guests.”

Both charities are confident that the combination of Louise Minchin as guest speaker and Caroline Hawley as auctioneer will help to cement the event in the fundraising calendar and support exciting new initiatives.

The event is sponsored by The Seafarers’ Charity, Gosschalks Solicitors, Summit Drive and Be Brand.

Deborah Layde, Chief Executive of The Seafarers’ Charity, said: “We have long

supported Sailors’ Children’s Society in their vital work; our first grant to SCS was in 1918! Their support of seafaring families in need is still just as relevant. The Hull community’s historic, practical and financial support has been generously given for many, many years - the Ladies’ Lunch is a natural next step from the Sportsmen’s Lunch.”

Steve Savage, a Partner at Gosschalks, said: “The partners at Gosschalks are delighted to sponsor this inaugural Ladies Lunch supporting these two brilliant charities whilst championing the role that females play in powering the local economy.”

Annabel Walker, Operations Director, Summit Drive, said: “We are thrilled to be a main sponsor of the inaugural Ladies Lunch. This is a one of a kind event in the region and we wanted to back it from its inception so that the first event is amazing and to help it grow year on year. We know the work of Sailors’ Children’s Society and the Smile Foundation makes a huge difference in people’s lives across the region.”

For more information about the event and to donate auction prizes and raffle prizes. please contact Natasha Barley CEO of Sailors’ Children’s Society natasha. barley@sailorschildren.org.uk or Tessa Wray Head of Partnerships at the Smile Foundation tw@heysmilefoundation.org

Louise Minchin

Caroline Hawley

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Ørsted launches largest annual Community Benefit Fund

Hornsea 3 Community Fund has launched, with £700,000 per year available to support local groups and organisations in the North Norfolk and East Anglia region.

At the end of last year, Ørsted gave the go ahead on the world’s single largest offshore wind farm, Hornsea 3, which will be located in the North Sea, approximately 121 km off the Norfolk coast and 160 km off the Yorkshire coast. The wind farm will be capable of generating 2.9 GW of green electricity, enough to meet the average daily needs of 3.3 million homes. As part of the project, Ørsted have launched Hornsea 3 Community Fund which will award a total of £7 million over a targeted ten-year period.

The fund will be separated into three pots: the main fund of £500,000, a Skills Fund of £100,000 and a new pot called the Legacy Fund of £100,000 which will go to one capital green project per year, to encourage long term positive influence in the region.

Imran Nawaz, Senior Advisor at Ørsted, said: “Following an extensive community consultation, we are delighted to announce the launch of the Hornsea 3 Community Fund, a testament to our commitment to uplifting communities in the North Norfolk and East Anglia region. The new Fund highlights our dedication to providing support to local communities in areas in which we construct and operate. We’re looking forward to receiving applications for innovative, strong, and locally significant projects across the funding rounds. We have commissioned the services of GrantScape, as Fund Administrator, who will continue to bring their skills in supporting local groups and coordinating the fund application process.”

high street lending. From boosting UNLOCK UP TO £250,000 TO KICKSTART OR EXPAND YOUR BUSINESS. We are a not-for-profit social enterprise that backs budding startups and established businesses that face challenges accessing mainstream bank loans. Whether it’s fortifying your working capital, acquiring essential equipment or stock, expanding your team, or fuelling growth initiatives, our loans cater to a diverse array of business requirements. What’s more, your funding destiny isn’t determined by algorithms. Our friendly investment managers work with you to ensure your unique business needs are understood and supported. Find out more, visit our page about the community benefit funds. To apply, visit GrantScape’s website.

funds help support local groups and organisations in the coastal regions where they construct and operate their offshore wind farms. It’s important to Ørsted to make a positive impact in the communities. The three Community Benefit Funds — Burbo Bank Extension Community Fund, East Coast Community Fund and Walney Extension Community Fund — have so far awarded over £9.5 million to nearly 700 social and environmental projects along the East and West coasts. Find out more from the latest newsletter at: rsted-autumn2023-newsletter-final.pdf (azureedge.net)

Similar to the other three funds, Hornsea 3 Community Funds will be administered by independent grant-making charity GrantScape, with decision-making supported by local Advisory Groups made up of community specialists who benefit from a strong and deep understanding of the local community and environment.

Matt Young, GrantScape’s Chief Executive Officer, said:

“We are thrilled that the Hornsea 3 Community Fund is now open to applications and are excited to see the local community and environmental benefits this investment will create over many years to come. I encourage groups to get in touch with the GrantScape Team by phone or by email should they need help or advice in completing their application, or simply want to talk over a potential project idea to check whether it meets the criteria”.

Working in partnership to make Lincolnshire a greener and more sustainable county

Ellgia Ltd are extremely delighted to announce, that having gone through a full and thorough tender process its resulted in the contract award for the Haulage of the Waste Exit streams from the Household Waste Recycling Centre's (HWRC's) for Lincolnshire County Council. With the NEW service rolling out in April 2024.

As part of the contract, Ellgia will be working closely with the LCC and the HWRC operational teams in contributing towards the authority’s waste & recycling sustainability goals. The five year contract involves the provision of haulage services across five of Lincolnshire’s HWRC's. Running alongside Ellgia’s extensive collection fleet operating across the East of England the contract is designed to support the HWRC sites and enhance the current service to the general public.

Ellgia’s Managing Director Jack Lavington said “Ellgia are embedded across the East of England, and we are delighted to further cement our partnership with the Lincolnshire County Council and be able to provide vital services to support the local communities of which we are very much a part of. We look forward to continuing the provision of a top-quality service for both the Local Authority and those residents residing within Lincoln, Gainsborough, Market Rasen, Boston, and Spalding and continuing to play a part in the development and shaping of Lincolnshire’s sustainability goals and enhancing the virtues of the green economy”.

Mike Reed, Head of Waste for Lincolnshire County Council commented “Lincolnshire County Council are happy to be working in partnership with Ellgia as one of our dedicated hauliers of waste from our Household Waste Recycling Centres.

After residents have brought their waste to a Household Waste Recycling Centres, being able to rely on Ellgia to move this on in a timely and efficient manner for us allows the Council to maximise the effectiveness of our sites and the materials that residents recycle.”

Mike Reed, Head of Waste for Lincolnshire City Council

Jack Lavington, Managing Director of Ellgia

Did the social media revolution begin with Facebook?

February 2024 marked something of a milestone in social media history: Facebook celebrated its 20th anniversary.

The origins of Facebook and how Mark Zuckerberg successfully transformed an idea into a billiondollar business that has dominated social media networks for two decades are well documented.

However, in this article I wanted to reflect on how Facebook’s world of pokes, likes and shares hasn’t only transformed the way in which many of us communicate with others, but how it has become a vital aspect of almost every business marketing strategy.

It could even be argued that the evolution of the social media industry itself can be traced back to the day when Facebook went live.

Over the past 20 years, social media channels have come and gone; Facebook isn’t just remarkable for its longevity, but for how it has transformed the way in which businesses engage with their customers.

So, what exactly has been the secret to Facebook’s success?

It could be argued that the origins of social networking as a communications tool predate the dawn of the internet age. Early experiments into bulletin-boards and interactive text communication using the computers of the day first began in the early 1970s.

In most cases, these early experiments were limited to a small user group, largely due to the inhibitive costs of the technology.

Remember, these were the days when a computer would occupy the size of a small house, and even a home computer could cost nearly a year’s salary!

The limitations of the computing technology available meant that any forms of interactive communication between computers required technology out of reach of the typical home computer user.

That changed in the 1990s with the advent of the internet age. Suddenly, it was possible to transport yourself to almost anywhere in the world at the click of a button. You didn’t need a PhD in computer science, and even someone with very limited computing skills could quickly learn how to surf the internet.

Connecting to the internet in the early 2000s was a very different experience to that of today. Less than half of Britain’s households were connected to the internet; the vast majority were reliant upon dial up connections.

The limitations of the connection speeds meant that downloading images could be a painfully slow experience, and when it came to video and music, although it could be done, it was not a quick process!

However, one solution would soon change all that: broadband.

As fibre-based connectivity reached more areas of the UK, householders quickly

liberated their landlines and consigned dialup modems to the history books.

Offering lightning-fast connectivity speeds, in most cases more than 100 times faster, the stage was set for a social media revolution.

The dawn of the social media age

One of the first companies to harness the power of the internet was AOL. Unlike many of its competitors, AOL saw potential in building online communities, not simply providing access to the internet and email. The communications strategy AOL embraced concentrated on making its software as accessible as possible. For quite a long period of time it was almost impossible to pick up a magazine without a CDROM falling out of it containing the latest incarnation of the AOL platform.

After installing the software, suddenly computer users were transported into a brave new world – one that didn’t simply provide internet access but offered the chance to become part of a brand-new community… all for the approximate sum of £15 per month.

The AOL platform combined news and information on a wide range of subjects, but where it really distinguished itself from the competition was its online communities. Equipped with chatrooms, messaging boards and even offering users the chance to build their own microsites, the platform catered for hobbies and interests covering just about any subject matter conceivable… and just like Facebook today, if there wasn’t one there to suit your tastes, a new group or chatroom could be created at the click of a button.

Early social media channels

One of the innovative features included in the AOL platform was the built in instant messenger. Launched in 1997, AIM provided opportunities to look up and chat with other members.

AOL was one of many different companies leading the social networking revolution, but most struggled to attain universal appeal. That was until a husband-and-wife team successfully captured the hearts and minds of the British public by tapping into the nostalgic memories of our school days.

The result of their work was Friends Reunited, arguably the first social media network to achieve widespread appeal in the UK. Launched in 2000 by Julie and Steve Pankhurst, the website grouped users into classes and years, allowing long forgotten connections to be rekindled. Within a year of its launch, the site was attracting 2.1 million visitors per month

and was even blamed for an increase in divorce rates!

The platform was sold to ITV for £120 million. Friends Reunited had generated a membership of more than 15 million members with over a million paying subscribers. Despite the success it achieved, and the rolling out of the brand into music compilation tapes and even TV shows, Friends Reunited failed to find ways of keeping its audiences engaged, and by 2016, the school reunion was over forever.

Perhaps one of the primary reasons for the failure of Friends Reunited wasn’t the online communities it built so successfully, but the combination of its subscription model (latterly dropped) and an inability to keep users engaged.

But, as The Washington Post noted, the failure of Friends Reunited could also in part be attributed to the rise of Facebook: “Like many social networks that aren’t Facebook, Friends Reunited’s decline was almost certainly triggered by the success of Mark Zuckerberg’s online empire, which leaves little need for other reunion-type sites.”

million UK accounts registered in October 2006 alone.

Hitting the mainstream

Looking back through the newspaper archives of the time, it seems remarkable just how little media attention the platform received. Writing in 2006, when examining some of the different channels available, The Daily Telegraph simply described it as, “Like Friends Reunited, but free to use”.

All that would change a year later when Prince William joined the platform. Suddenly, Facebook wasn’t just another social media platform, but one that had seemingly received royal endorsement.

As it’s user base grew, businesses were quick to spot the marketing potential offered by social media. One of the UK’s earliest examples saw Cadbury respond to an outcry from the now 3.5 million strong community by announcing the return of the Wispa bar.

The young pretender

Although Facebook certainly benefitted from advances in both technology and connectivity, it’s important to remember that in 2004, the platform was only available to a small number of students at Harvard. According to The Guardian, within just 24 hours the platform had received 1,200 sign-ups. The first month saw half of the university’s undergraduates sign up for the new service.

The roll out, first to other Ivy League universities, then to other universities across America, Canada and the UK also provided an opportunity for Facebook to manage its growth, ensuring that any potential glitches could be addressed before reaching the mainstream – something that was attributed to the downfall of Myspace.

By the time Facebook was made available to anyone in the UK aged over 13 and with a valid email address, the platform had amassed 12 million global users, with half a

Where there are people, there are PR opportunities!

The return of the Wispa illustrates how brands were able to tap into public sentiment and seize the initiative when it comes to capitalising on the PR opportunities offered through social media.

Business pages, launched in 2007, also presented new ways for companies to build a new audience for their products and services, often enticing individuals to like a post and tag friends, in return for a potential reward.

Marketers were quick to spot the enormous potential of viral marketing campaigns, driven through social media. As new creative ways of engaging with audiences were developed, brands often attempted to test the boundaries of possibility.

Perhaps one of the most notorious examples of this was the short-lived, “Would you sacrifice your friend for a burger?” campaign produced by Burger King.

The concept of the campaign was a fiendishly simple one, based around the premise, what do you love more, a Whopper or your friends? If a Facebook user deleted 10 of their friends, Burger King would reward them with a free Whopper.

Designed to poke fun at the superficiality of online friendships, Facebook didn’t see the funny side of the campaign. Within a matter of days, Facebook disabled it, claiming it violated the platform.

The short-lived campaign saw 60,000 take up the challenge, resulting in more than 230,000 friendships being sacrificed in the quest to receive a free burger. You can read more about this innovative campaign here.

This campaign illustrates the way in which both effective PR and creative social media usage can be integrated together to maximise media impact. Needless to say, the campaign quickly pricked up the ears of journalists and resulted in headlines being generated across the world.

For Burger King, this resulted in a significant increase in website traffic, as well as amassing 40,000 Facebook fans.

What does the future hold for Facebook?

Social Media channels are continually evolving and changing – they always have done, and Facebook is no exception. As long ago as 2008, Britain’s love affair with Facebook has been called into question; however, I think it will continue to play an important role in social media strategies for the foreseeable future.

Although marketers perhaps first tapped into Facebook’s ability to engage with the lucrative 18-34 demographic, the platform is no longer the disrupter that it once was. As its audience enters middle age, will evolution be enough to maintain its strong market share?

One of the main reasons companies like Facebook and Google have remained market leaders in their respective fields for such a long time is their recognition that they can’t simply stand still.

Channels such as AOL, Friends Reunited and Myspace all once held seemingly unassailable market shares, but all found themselves consigned to the history books. Will Facebook have the same fate?

Is facebook still relevant as a marketing channel?

The launch of Threads in 2023, in response to declining X (formerly

known as Twitter) usage, illustrates that Facebook is continuing to keep one eye firmly on the future. Yet platforms such as TikTok have surpassed Facebook’s dominance, particularly amongst younger social media users. It will be interesting to see how Facebook adapts and responds. If parent organisation Meta can avoid repeating the mistakes of its predecessors, then I think Facebook will remain relevant to businesses both large and small, for many years to come.

There have been many new social media platforms that have come and gone since 2004, but few have captured the public imagination in the way that Facebook has. The most recent report analysing social media usage in the UK revealed that 84% of the total population are active social media users. Of those channels, the top three are all owned by Facebook’s parent company Meta.

When it comes to maximising investment in social media marketing, knowing where your customers hang out will reap dividends. This means getting to grips with understanding who is using a particular channel and why.

Perhaps what the past 20 years has taught us is that social media marketing isn’t just a fad or a passing fancy, it’s something that can be a transformational tool when it comes to driving business growth.

Matthew

THE FUTURE OF LOGISTICS UNFOLDS

Bigger and better than ever, Multimodal 2024 is already smashing records with over 230 exhibitors already signed up, including industry giants such as Amazon, CEVA Logistics, DP World, Hapag-Lloyd, Kuehne+Nagel, Maersk, Maritime Transport, Malcolm Logistics and Samskip Services. With expectations to exceed 300 exhibitors, this year’s event will offer unparalleled networking and business opportunities for the 12,000+ visitors over the three days of the show.

Multimodal is the one-stop shop for shippers and cargo owners to discover ways to improve their move their goods more sustainably, efficiently and more cost effectively. The threeday show between 11-13 June 2024 at the Birmingham NEC, offers unique opportunities to make valuable face-to-face contact with new prospects and existing companies.

It’s free to visit Multimodal 2024, registering in advance is recommended, to save time on arrival, at www.multimodal.org.uk All the conference sessions are free to attend too and with 4 theatres there is something of interest to everyone.

You’ll be in great company as already registered are representatives from Sainsbury’s, Aldi, Whitworths, Nestle UK&I, Diageo, Lovering Foods, Rowan International, Bunzl Catering, Glanbia Nutrition, Crops UK, Kingsland Drinks, AB World Foods and Poundland to name just a few.

Multimodal works in partnership with the leading trade associations ensuring all aspects of the industry are served, also ensuring that relevant topics are covered in the free to attend conference sessions. Partner associations include Logistics UK, the Cold Chain Federation, the Rail Freight Group, The Chartered Institute of Transport and Logistics, the British International Freight Association, Institute of Export and International Trade, the United Kingdom Warehousing Association, and the Road Haulage Association.

A special highlight of the three days is the Multimodal Awards, which recognise outstanding industry-leading supply chain businesses and individuals. With seats for the awards always selling out, and just 200 places currently remaining, attendees are now being urged to secure their seats for the 11 June evening ceremony as soon as possible.

The 2024 Awards include some new judged Awards to continue the development and evolution of the event. The evening will be hosted by Kevin Keegan, an incredible host who brings enormous professionalism and fantastic humour. Places at the Awards can be booked at www.multimodal.org.uk/awards

The networking event you won’t want to miss! Be there for the Multimodal Mixer on 12 June. It’s a fun relaxed drinks reception open to all visitors and exhibitors, hosted by DP World on their stand in the Hall from 5pm, giving everyone a chance to mingle in a relaxed and fun atmosphere.

To find out more about attending, entering the awards, exhibiting, or sponsoring, visit www.multimodal.org. uk, or contact Robert Jervis, Director on +44 (0) 20 7384 7760 or robert.jervis@clarionevents.com

Is university worth It?

Professor Kevin Kerrigan, Deputy-Vice Chancellor at the University of Hull, outlines a new report that reveals the economic impact the university has in the region.

At this time of year, sixth form students everywhere are contemplating what next? After finishing compulsory education or training, around 700,000 decide to go to university - a big life decision, particularly given the financial implications of student loans, a cost-of-living crisis and an uncertain jobs market. Around 3 million people from all over the world study at UK higher education institutions each year, gaining the knowledge, skills and ability to pursue their ambitions, and putting graduates in a strong competitive position in the jobs market.

For the towns and cities that are home to universities, this influx of students can feel a mixed blessing. While acknowledging the need to educate the next generation of highly skilled workers and the benefits of cuttingedge research, there are also concerns about stretching local services, inflated housing costs and potential anti-social behaviour.

In recent months, these concerns have been exacerbated by political criticism of the higher education sector as part of so-called “Culture Wars” but also more fundamental questioning of the value of universities, culminating in the Prime Minister recently claiming higher education expansion was, “one of the greatest mistakes of the last 30 years”.

I fundamentally disagree with this statement. I’d argue that universities offer a life-changing, life-enhancing experience for many students – the most important driver of social mobility ever produced.

We know from the latest data, a degree from a UK university continues to give a significant boost to employment prospects and earning potential.

But the benefits of universities go way beyond the benefit to individual students. The positive impact of universities on UK PLC is significant, yet frequently underreported.

It is widely recognised universities bring a wealth of benefits through core research, knowledge exchange and business support, community outreach, cultural development, and urban regeneration.

But do they pull their weight economically?

The remarkable contribution universities can make is highlighted in a new report: The University of Hull Economic Impact Study.

This report, by Biggar Economics, reviews the academic year 2021-22 and reveals the wider economic impact on our city, region and country as a whole. It indicates how vital this university is in its locality, providing insight into the embedded nature of university operations and the clear link to economic, social and health outcomes.

The report also paints a positive picture of students as drivers of economic vibrancy and community cohesion.

The University of Hull is already recognised nationally for its excellent work to promote economic growth and regeneration in the recent Knowledge Exchange Framework, a benchmark by Research England of business and community collaboration in universities. Our focus for local growth and regeneration has been through our innovation support ecosystems for regional SMEs via our funded programmes with Aura, SparkFund and the Flood Innovation Centre.

This new report builds on this picture with compelling figures; In 2021-22, the University of Hull generated £1.2 billion Gross Value Added (GVA) for the UK economy, supporting 14,480 jobs. Around £700 million of this was in the Humber region and almost £500 million, and 6,660 jobs, in Hull itself.

In the same year, just over a quarter of that £1.2bn GVA (£334m) came from University income, staff spending, supply chain and capital investment.

As a research-led institution, it is more than heartening that the impact of our research and innovation accounts for approaching £150 million of our contribution to economic prosperity, including £28 million from medical research (Hull partners with the University of York in the Hull York Medical School).

But it’s the impact of our graduates which accounts for the lion’s share of the overall impact - £513 million.

Nearly 5,000 students graduate from the University every year, each generating a financial return by obtaining their degree. Of the graduates that stay in the UK, more than half remain in Hull and the Humber region, working in the area’s industries, hospitals and in other professions or running their own businesses. There is no doubt that they bring so much to our region – caring for those in hospital; bringing advanced skills into businesses, the list goes on.

Furthermore, over £200m is generated from current students via term-time spending, student employment and volunteering. And not forgetting, more than a thousand undertake professional or clinical placements in schools, hospitals and businesses across Yorkshire.

At Hull, more than half of our students work during their studies and around 4,000 undertake more than 170,000 hours of voluntary activity in the region. The energy, vitality and vibrant cultures that students bring to local communities is a real positive.

Our diverse student population bring with them 14,000 visitors to the region, boosting the economy by spending in restaurants, shops and hotel stays, among others.

Hull is a city with major economic and social challenges. It has the fourth highest deprivation score in England and the highest in Yorkshire and Humber with almost half of neighbourhoods among the most deprived 10% nationally. 81% of neighbourhoods are classified as areas of low higher education participation compared to only 38% nationally. In response, in the past five years the Humber Outreach Programme (UniConnect), which aims to raise the aspirations of young people from less advantaged backgrounds, has worked with 53 sixth form and FE colleges to support nearly 100,000 students make informed decisions about their future by increasing their awareness of and participation in further and higher education.

Education is a proven pathway to prosperity for individuals and communities, so a thriving university is a vital component of social mobility and economic growth.

The data in this report shows the impact of just one of Yorkshire’s 12 universities –equivalent benefits will exist in each one. The report demonstrates that this University creates substantial, much-needed economic impact across the country but particularly in its home city. It offers a resounding affirmative answer to the question: Is university worth it?

Innovative Digital Twin project will transform flooding forecasting and decision-making

A University of Hull project is one of five programmes to harness the potential of digital twinning technology to transform environmental science.

The projects will share a total of £2 million in funding delivered by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), in partnership with the Met Office, as part of the Twinning Capability for the Natural Environment (TWINE) programme.

A digital twin is a dynamic virtual copy of a physical asset, process, system or environment that looks like and behaves in real time identically to its real-world partner. Actions and events can be modelled with unprecedented accuracy, offering the ability to experiment in a non-live environment of the real world.

The digital twin pilot projects will demonstrate how research using Earth Observation data and emerging digital twinning technologies can transform environmental science across priority areas including climate change, biodiversity and ecosystems, and natural hazards.

Floodtwin, led by Professor Tom Coulthard, will build a digital twin for water-related hazard forecasting and decision-making for Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire, a region heavily impacted by hazards such as flooding.

Professor Coulthard is Professor of Physical Geography at the University of Hull. He has been researching flooding for 25 years and works on projects connected to rivers and flooding around the world and in 2007 he chaired an independent review into the Hull floods and was lead author on the review’s influential report.

He said: “This project is a big win and a great opportunity for Hull and the wider region. We’ve been asked to demonstrate how a Digital Twin can help manage flooding and water related hazards in the region – ahead of other areas in the UK.

“The Digital Twin will be a computer model of all the rivers, estuary, rainfall and groundwater in the region – that uses data from ground sensors and satellites to generate real time predictions of where there may be flooding hazards. But, the Digital Twin offers something

River levels in the upper River Hull catchment remain high following recent rainfall and high groundwater levels. (The picture shows the River Hull, near Driffield).

more – it allows the users to test out and try fixes and preventative measures to see how flooding may be helped or where resources are needed. For Hull and the East Riding this might mean changing the timing of when flood storage sites and pumps are used to make the management of flooding as effective as possible.”

Water related hazards pose both direct and indirect impacts such as damage to buildings and crops, businesses, loss of livelihoods and human health impacts. A digital twin for flooding will allow stakeholders to try out different management methods and conduct scenario analysis.

The novel approach is to co-produce the digital twin in collaboration with partners across different sectors, as well as engage with one of the more complex environmental ecosystems (hydrology and flooding) in terms of data integration and the physical processes involved.

The five NERC digital twin projects are led by scientists at the University of Hull, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, National Oceanography Centre, the University of Cambridge, and

Plymouth University. They will develop digital twins in:

• water-related hazard forecasting in Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire

• coastal ocean ecosystems for assimilation to marine system models

• ocean glider observations for ocean models which underpin weather forecasts

• the operational flights of a research aircraft

• a wave overtopping to produce a warning tool for wave hazards

The projects will last a maximum duration of 15 months.

The Humber’s Net Zero Centre –Delivering green innovation and growth through collaboration

The economy is shifting towards a low-carbon future, and the green energy transition opens up a number of challenges and opportunities for business of all shapes and sizes.

Supporting the region’s ongoing drive for clean energy and sustainability is the University of Hull’s Aura Innovation Centre (AIC), a community that supports businesses of all sizes, helping them to accelerate low-carbon projects, drive green innovation and deliver clean business growth.

The Humber’s leading Net Zero centre, located off campus at Bridgehead Business Park in Hessle, officially opened in 2020 and is proving to be a real asset to the region – being a central knowledge-source, facilitator and catalyst to accelerate green innovation whether through partnerships between industry and academia for large-scale long-term research projects or for smaller scale research and innovation working with the region’s large cohort of SMEs that are the backbone of the economy.

A key success has been the work carried out through the Aura Innovation Centre (AIC) with small and medium size businesses (SMEs) to support them by innovating in the net zero space. The team identifies opportunities

to innovate bringing together the business acumen of the companies and the expertise of the University’s academics. This symbiotic relationship supports finding innovative lowcarbon solutions to the challenges faced so as to build the region’s ability to meet net zero targets.

The £12m Aura Innovation Centre is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, Regional Growth Fund Green Port Growth Programme and match funded by the University. The Centre provides a focal point for

kick starting innovation through collaboration, by bringing together the region’s stakeholders to work together to build economic growth through green innovation. There is a particular emphasis in supporting the SMEs, particularly the smaller companies which account for 85% of all businesses in the Humber.

Sarah Clark, Head of Aura Operations, said: “The Aura Innovation Centre acts as the ‘front door’ to the University of Hull – giving businesses access to cutting-edge facilities and a space to innovate and collaborate with academic and industry experts, to drive clean business growth.

“SMEs of all sizes and across all sectors are critical to the net zero transition, particularly those in the Humber region, being the largest carbon emitting region in England outside of London. Our region is full of innovative businesses, some that are already on their net zero journey, however they are often constrained by time and cost to progress, or even get started. At the

Aura Innovation Centre, we want to make that net zero transition as easy as possible for businesses by providing pathways to innovation expertise in order to support the shift towards a low carbon economy.”

The Aura Innovation Centre has already supported more than 700 dynamic, high growth businesses to accelerate low carbon innovation projects utilising its world-class cutting edge innovation facility – InventX. InventX is the Centre’s innovation tech space and is equipped with everything a business needs to transform its ideas into reality –from cutting-edge 3D printers to advanced microscopy analysis capabilities. These technologies combined with the academic research powers of the University of Hull’s academic strength, create a unique and powerful support system for businesses on their innovation journey as well as contributing to the development of skills, new jobs and growth.

The University was successful in securing £35 million of European funding to support a great number of low carbon projects. Examples include enabling a local horticultural firm take ‘forever plastics’ out of our forests through the development and testing of a new 100% plant-based, biodegradable material to be used for tree guards. Other key projects include finding inventive ways to use discarded pea pods, creating energy-efficient lighting for vertical farms, and co-ordinating a collaborative research project aimed at tackling a crop menace in the farming sector. Further examples of the many companies working with the Aura Innovation Centre can be found on the website www.aurainnovation.co.uk.

Director of Aura, Louise Smith, said: “As the European funding ceased in 2023, we continue to provide support and technical

enabling to the businesses we work with on a more commercial basis. Although times are financially challenging, we believe that every challenge creates an opportunity. At the Aura Innovation Centre we have created a fantastic community of skilled researchers, innovative businesses and industry to create a culture of positive action around meeting net zero targets in the region.”

The University’s work through the Aura Innovation Centre has been awarded further funding to enhance its already successful portfolio of business support through the Shared Prosperity fund from Hull City Council. The additional funding aims to further development and sustain the vibrant and thriving innovation ecosystem across the Humber by encouraging more businesses (particularly SMEs) to take new, innovative products and services to market.

Louise Smith continued: “The recently agreed devolution deals on both the north and south banks of the Humber will see enhanced powers and funding devolved to the regions to invest in local priorities including business support. We very much look forward to being a strong partner in the region to continue to build the region’s capacity to meet net zero – working particularly to grow our innovative businesses – large and small. The University of Hull is an anchor institution, soon to celebrate its centenary continuing to advance education, scholarship and knowledge for the benefit of the region and the country.”

As well as the work through the Aura Innovation Centre’s InventX space, the Centre also provides businesses with the opportunity to work alongside like-minded people in its flexible workspace AuraFleX, designed with collaboration in mind. AuraFleX gives businesses a low-cost flexible hot-desk space

If

to work, meet and collaborate as well as access to high quality technology, conferencing and meeting spaces, and superfast Wi-Fi. Becoming a member of FleX gives organisations the opportunity to join the growing number of members building the region’s economic growth and net zero capacity through proactive collaboration.

The Centre has also become established as a prime, high-quality venue for hosting and delivering events and conferences. In particular being the key delivery partner of The Waterline Summit with Future Humber – and venue host for Humber Business Week.

By working with the Aura Innovation Centre, you will become part of a powerful community of innovative thinkers, scientists, inventors, researchers and problem solvers – all working together to benefit your business. These benefits include reducing your carbon emissions and carbon footprint, savings in energy costs, increased efficiency and improved productivity levels and access to new markets.

The Aura Innovation Centre acts as the ‘front door’ to the University of Hull – giving businesses access to cutting-edge facilities and a space to innovate and collaborate with academic and industry experts, to drive clean business growth.

Article

you would be interested in working with the Aura Innovation Centre please get in touch through our website www.aura-innovation.co.uk.

Choosing the Ideal Venue for Business Success

In the realm of business, corporate hospitality plays a pivotal role in forging connections, enhancing team dynamics, and promoting a brand’s image. Whether it’s for a high-stakes business conference, a networking event, or team-building exercises, the choice of venue is crucial. It sets the tone for the event and can significantly impact its success. From sophisticated restaurants to luxury hotels and even casinos, each venue offers a unique ambiance and facilities tailored to various corporate needs.

The Significance of the Right Venue

Choosing the perfect venue for a corporate event is more than just about finding a big enough space. It’s about finding a location that aligns with the company’s brand, the event’s purpose, and the desired atmosphere. The venue is a reflection of the company’s standards and values and can influence guests’ perception of the company.

Restaurants for Intimate Networking Events

For smaller, more intimate gatherings such as networking events or client dinners, a high-end restaurant may be the ideal choice. Restaurants with private dining rooms offer a sophisticated and personal setting conducive to fostering relationships and engaging in meaningful conversations. The quality of food and service also reflects the company’s attention to detail and commitment to quality.

Hotels for Business Conferences and Seminars

Hotels are a classic choice for hosting larger

events like business conferences, seminars, or annual meetings. They provide not just event space, but also accommodation, catering, and technical support.

Many hotels offer a range of conference rooms and banquet halls, equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual technology, making them suitable for both formal presentations and informal gatherings. The convenience of having lodging and event space in one location cannot be understated, especially for events with international attendees.

Casinos for Team Building and Entertainment

For a more unconventional yet exhilarating experience, casinos emerge as a compelling option. Beyond gambling, many casinos offer a variety of entertainment options, fine dining, and sophisticated meeting spaces. They can be ideal for team-building exercises, offering activities that encourage teamwork and communication in a lively and dynamic environment. Additionally, the thrill of the

casino floor can add an element of excitement to corporate events, making them memorable. The choice of venue for corporate hospitality events is a critical decision that can influence the success of the event and the company’s image. Whether it’s a restaurant, hotel, or casino, the ideal venue should provide the right balance of location, facilities, atmosphere, and value. A well-chosen venue not only facilitates the smooth running of the event but also enhances the overall experience of the attendees, leaving a lasting impression.

As businesses continue to recognize the value of face-to-face interactions in building and maintaining professional relationships, investing in the right venue for corporate hospitality will remain an essential aspect of business strategy.

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