Hull Business Awards 2019

Last year’s Lifetime Contribution Award was presented to Lord Haskins

All aboard for 2019

16 categories CELEBRATING THE BEST IN BUSINESS

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he curtain has been raised on the 2019 Hull Daily Mail and Hull Live Business Awards, as the glittering event returns to the region.

A total of 16 categories are up for grabs this year, with businesses large and small given their chance to shine.

The awards, first launched in 2000, celebrate the very best of business across Hull and the East Riding, from start-ups and SMEs to the region’s powerhouses which drive the Humber economy.

Still buzzing on the back of the incredible UK City of Culture year, Hull is not resting on its laurels.

The city recently unveiled transformative plans to become Yorkshire’s maritime city – boosting tourism and economy.

The Maritime Museum would be fully refurbished, and a new home would be created for the Arctic Corsair in the revamped North End Shipyard.

Neil Hodgkinson, editor-in-chief at the Hull Daily Mail, said: “It promises to be another great night where the business

Neil Hodgkinson, editor-in-chief at the Hull Daily Mail

community of Hull and East Riding takes centre stage in a celebration of its success.

“There are some fantastic individuals and companies in this region and it is only right that the talent, determination and excellence they show day in and day out, often in difficult circumstances, should be recognised.”

Last year’s winners represented all sectors of business.

Big names included caravan manufacturer Willerby, which won the Training and Development award, and tech firm Connexin, which walked away with two trophies on the night.

Individual talent was also recognised, as rising star James Needham, of Eltherington Group, won Apprentice of the Year, and ResQ’s Sam Such was named the best employee.

The prestigious Lifetime Contribution Award in 2018 went to Humber LEP chair and former Northern Foods boss Lord Haskins.

Lord Haskins is a tireless voice for the Humber region, and has recently given his backing to pioneering carbon capture and storage technology which aims to reduce harmful emissions reaching the atmosphere.

This year, old favourites returning to the category line-up include Start-Up Business of the Year, the Green Award and the Entrepreneur of the Year.

They are joined by several new awards

Mike Pennington, managing director at the Hull Daily Mail

for 2019 – International Business of the Year, and Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

Mike Pennington, managing director at the Hull Daily Mail, said: “I am delighted that it is that time of year again, the launch of the Hull Daily Mail Business Awards 2019.

“It is a special day in the calendar when all the key leaders of business come together to celebrate all the great things that continue to happen within our region.

“There are many awards ceremonies throughout the year, but for me this is the big one celebrating success, prosperity and innovation in the business community.”

This year, winners will be announced and business talent celebrated at a glittering ceremony in Hull on November 14 at the DoubleTree by Hilton.

■■Entries are now open until Friday, September 13, with finalists announced in early October. All the categories and details on how to enter the 2019 Business Awards are available by visiting www. hdmbusinessawards.co.uk

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Business Awards 2019

Big investments, big acquisitions and some big talking points it’s ‘never dull in Hull’ ... and tHIS YEAR THE region’s business sector HAS BEEN THE SAME By philip winter philip.winter@reachplc.com @PhilWinterBiz

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here is a well-known local saying that it is “never dull in Hull,” and the region’s business sector encapsulates just that.

A lot has happened since last year’s Business Awards, and no we’re not just talking about Brexit.

It’s worth starting with some of the highlights. In Hull, we have seen big investments, big acquisitions and big talking points.

The next chapter of Hull’s Fruit Market transformation was revealed, as £22m plans which will see family business Arco move its headquarters to the thriving quarter were given the green light.

Just down the road, Smith & Nephew hit the headlines with a string of high-profile acquisitions in early 2019.

If heads hadn’t already been turned in January when the company announced a deal to spend £80m buying US tech firm Ceterix Orthopaedics, the £500m purchase of fellow American business Osiris was impossible to miss.

It’s not always been Hull businesses doing the buying though.

It was just two weeks ago when news broke that KCOM, which has returned once again

An impression of the proposed Arco’s Fruit Market headquarters

this year to sponsor the Lifetime Contribution Award, was set to be sold to a leading pension provider for a massive £500m.

The deal only goes to show how far the company has come, just 20 years after it first floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1999.

Questions were understandably raised about the future of the iconic broadband provider, which has caught the eyes of

Siemens now submitted its first plans for a £200m rail factory in Goole

many a visitor to Hull with its cream telephone boxes, when the deal was announced.

Reassurance then, that despite not being rubber-stamped yet, the interested buyer has revealed it intends to keep KCOM rooted in its home city.

Staying on the subject of investment and big-money news, but heading 30 miles down the road to Goole, rarely has the town been in the spotlight as much as it has in the past year.

Siemens has now submitted its first plans for a £200m rail factory in the town, which would create up to 700 jobs and provide an employment opportunity unrivalled in recent memory.

To accompany the state-of-the-art facility in Goole is news that Beal Homes plans to build 800 new homes on land on the outskirts of the town.

When you also factor in Croda’s new £7m distribution centre – a stone’s throw away from the Siemens site – getting the go ahead, and ABP’s port now being capable of running entirely off solar power – it’s been a remarkable period for Goole.

Moving back to Hull, it’s been a turbulent few months for the city’s retail sector.

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Enter online at www.hdmbusinessawards.co.uk

RB is set to unveil its new £105m Centre for Scientific Excellence

Inside Arco's new distribution centre in Henry Boot Way, Hessle

Drax Power Station, which is currently piloting a carbon capture and storage project

Hull Trains’ new £60m Hitachi fleet is on track to arrive in November

KCOM is set to be sold to a leading pension provider for a massive £500m

Fair to say there have been ups and there have been downs.

Celebrations last December when it was confirmed the city’s House of Fraser store would remain open were quickly dampened by the sad news that Marks & Spencer would close its Whitefriargate branch after more than 80 years.

What comes next for the city’s retail sector remains a mystery, as fingers remain firmly pointed at soaring rents and business rates.

Where does the solution and answer lie?

Only time will tell.

For every negative in Hull’s business sector though, comes countless positives.

RB is set to unveil its new £105m Centre for Scientific Excellence, in a move which heralds the start of a new era for the health company in Hull.

The region’s offshore wind and clean energy sector continues to attract attention

and envious glances from right across the globe.

New deals are being forged as far away as America, as the Humber begins to share its expertise in offshore wind with the world.

Siemens Gamesa is now making bigger blades in Hull than ever before, as progress on the world’s largest offshore farm – Hornsea Project One – continues.

The Government’s all-important sector deal for offshore wind may have set out ambitious targets to create jobs and increase energy generation, but for the Humber, it is an exciting time rather than a daunting one.

And last week’s Offshore Wind Connections conference, bringing together the top voices in the sector for a two-day conference in Hull, stood to highlight the breadth and depth of talent we are so lucky to have right here in the city.

Hull is at the very centre of the Humber’s plans to become the “Energy Estuary.”

Offshore wind is in good company too.

With a major new solar farm set to be built in Bilton, and the city chosen as one of the first places in the UK to get a dedicated electric car forecourt, the clean energy revolution is truly underway.

Worthy of a shout-out too is Drax Power Station, which is currently piloting a carbon capture and storage project at a time when the Humber hopes to become one of three clusters to pioneer the technology.

It has turned heads yet again, and with powerful voices such as Lord Haskins championing the process, it is time to sit up and listen.

While Hull’s location as a port-city on the Humber has provided it with countless opportunities, it has been considered a curse

in recent times when it comes to road and rail.

Accidents and break-downs on the A63 have ground the city to a halt, and problems on the rails in 2018 at times left passengers unable to leave Hull.

But a bright future is on the horizon.

Hull Trains’ £60m Hitachi fleet will arrive in November, and will join the new highspeed trains from LNER in transforming rail travel from the city to London.

With improved transport infrastructure, Hull has the chance to truly shine.

But what comes next?

As June arrives, attention will turn to the Humber Business Week, where a packed-out events calendar across the region will culminate with Lord Sugar addressing a crowd of hundreds at Bridlington Spa. Just make sure you don’t end up in his firing line.

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Business Awards 2019

Louise swaps BBC Breakfast for an evening with the region’s best in business

top tv presenter and journalist is new host for this year’s awards

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e are delighted to announce we have a brand new host for the 2019 Business

Awards.

BBC’s Louise Minchin is a presenter on the UK’s most-watched breakfast programme, and has gained a reputation as one of the country’s top journalists.

She has covered some of the biggest and most shocking news stories of this millennium, from the 7/7 bombings in London to the capture of Colonel Gadaffi and the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

More recently, outside of journalism, she was a contestant in the 2016 Celebrity Masterchef, where she finished a runner-up to fellow BBC presenter Alexis Conran.

After gaining a degree in Spanish at St Andrew’s University, Louise originally trained as a radio journalist at The London College of Printing.

She started her career at the Latin American Section of the BBC World Service.

Louise was previously an anchor

Louise Minchin and Dan Walker on BBC Breakfast

for the BBC News Channel and has regularly presented the BBC One O’clock News.

Not one to shy away from a challenge, Louise has also done more than her bit for charity while working at the BBC. In 2009, she was one of 12 celebrities who took part in the BBC’s Around the World in 80 Days.

She travelled from Mongolia to Los Angeles with BBC Breakfast co-presenter Bill Turnbull to raise money for Children In Need.

Outside of her place on the sofa of BBC One’s Breakfast, Louise has also presented leading BBC programmes including Real Rescues, Missing Live and Crime and Punishment.

She has also guest presented the ever-popular One Show, and has interviewed the likes of Will Smith, Joan Collins and Meat Loaf.

Louise is one of the best-known faces on British television, and her wealth of experience and engaging manner make her the ideal choice as host of the 2019 Business Awards.

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Apprentice of the Year

young workers are stepping on to career ladder

Learning skills on the job can be opportunity If nurtured correctly, apprentices can develop and become the lifeblood of a business years down the line.

For many young people, the opportunity to jump into paid employment from the age of 16 and gain the skills they need to succeed in their industry is an attractive one.

Concerns have, understandably, been raised in some sectors about a shortage of young talent, though, with the construction and manufacturing sectors hitting the headlines in recent months.

Apprenticeships could seemingly go a long way to addressing that issue.

The Apprentice of the Year Award recognises an outstanding young person who has stood out from all others in their business.

Last year, James Needham, of Eltherington Group, scooped the award.

James joined the architectural division of the Eltherington Group in December 2015 as a shy young man who had been unemployed for a year, but with a desire to thrive.

The apprenticeship he was offered was a unique and bespoke one, and required James to estimate the cost of fabrication of architectural products.

As if that wasn’t enough, James embarked on a college day learning welding and fabrication course in Hull.

Before this, James had never welded before.

Speaking about receiving the Apprentice of the Year accolade, James said: “I am just ecstatic.

“I am delighted to win the award. I have been at the company for just under three years, and it has been brilliant.

“The support I have received has been amazing. I owe everything to them.

“They have helped me, and, through their training and development, I have come on a long way.

“The respect is so important. They are there to teach you, and you are there to learn.

“They pass the information and skills on to you, and it is how you use that knowledge that is important.”

Apprentice of the Year This award is open to an apprentice who has shown outstanding progress and commitment to their own development.

The apprentice is defined as a person who is learning a trade from skilled employers, having agreed to work for a fixed period.

The nominee must have been employed by their current employer for a minimum of 12 months before the closing date. ​This award seeks to acknowledge and celebrate an apprentice’s exceptional contributions to their workplace. The successful entrant will be measured against the following criteria: ■■Commitment: demonstrates commitment to personal development and progression ■■Contribution: shows outstanding contribution to the workplace ■■Success: demonstrates inspirational levels of achievement and attainment.​ Nominations or self-nominations can be made for this category.

Young stars have a bright future in city Hull College is proud to sponsor the Apprentice Of The Year Award at Hull Daily Mail’s Business Awards.

We decided to sponsor this award as we have a lot of talented apprentices at Hull College who we are immensely proud of.

We wanted to highlight the awards to inspire them and provide a spark that will give them all something to aspire towards.

Apprenticeships are fantastic for students who want to gain hands on industry experience, from foundation to higher degree level.

We offer apprenticeships in a range of courses including Accountancy, Dental, Engineering, Hairdressing and many more.

We hope that there are many winners of this award from Hull College in the future.

We have open days on Saturday, May 18, and Saturday, June 22. Places are still available for a whole range of courses and apprenticeships.

We encourage any students thinking about an apprenticeship to get in touch.

The career makers www.hull-college.ac.uk

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2019 SPONSORED BY

Start-up Business of the Year

Companies taking the leap in to the unknown

Supporting the region through its properties Andrew Horncastle, owner of Horncastle Group, said: “Commercial property is a great barometer of how a local and regional economy is performing.

“As such, being a local property developer means we have a lot of insight into the business community of the Humber region.

“Nothing pleases us more than to see new enterprises set up and prosper, strengthening that economy. But it is not enough just to watch this process.

“We have always been of the view that providing tangible support to new businesses is essential to guiding them towards success, whether that is via mentoring through organisations like For Entrepreneurs Only, or by providing high-quality commercial property, from which they can take root and grow.

“It is for this reason we are proud to sponsor the Start-Up Business of the Year category, to recognise and reward those new entrepreneurs working hard to succeed and help grow the economy of the Humber region.”

Businesses at the start of a new journey

The start-up firms looking to prosper Every business, no matter how many staff it employs or millions of pounds it may turnover, has to start somewhere.

Behind every company is a story of challenges faced in the first few months or even years of business.

The Start-Up Business of the Year Award recognises an outstanding business, which is in the first stages of its journey.

In 2018, Steve Ball Recruitment fought off tough competition to win the accolade.

The agency launched in April 2016, with an aim to provide a quality recruitment service to local businesses.

Specialising in the supply of permanent and supply staff to the engineering and construction sectors, Steve Ball Recruitment had, at the time grown, to employ five members of staff, and had hit a turnover of £1m in its second year.

Founder Steve Ball said: “When I started the business, the aim was simply to crack on and do well.

“The success of the business is a credit to the people that work with me, who have made the company what it is today in such a short amount of time.

“To reach £1m turnover in just year two is brilliant, and the clients we have got really appreciate the work we do.

“Next year, we are looking at entering Small Business of the Year, so expect us to be back again” Leaving behind a solid job with a company car, pension and healthcare options, Mr Ball said he wanted to “make his own decisions and have control over his future.”

Working with both multi-million pound businesses and local SMEs, Steve Ball Recruitment is forging a successful path for itself.

Start-up business The Start-Up Business Of The Year award will go to an organisation that: ■■Has been established within the past two and a half years ■■Demonstrates evidence of entrepreneurship and/or innovation ■■Has defied challenging economic conditions to succeed, grow and thrive ■■Can evidence future growth potential

MKM Building Supplies is absolutely delighted to be sponsoring the category of Start-up Business of the Year at this year’s Hull Daily Mail Business Awards.

This fantastic ceremony is always a great celebration of the hard work, talent and excellence across our region.

MKM was itself a Hull-based start-up, founded in 1995 by current executive chairman David Kilburn.

In the years since, we’ve grown to become the biggest independent builders’ merchant in the country.

Since last year, eight new branches have launched across the UK in locations as diverse as Elgin, Scotland to Louth, Lincolnshire, bringing our total to 61.

MKM has supported this category since 2016. There are many new start-ups in Hull that are worthy of celebration, so we didn’t think twice about pledging our support again.

This event is a brilliant celebration and acknowledgement of all the achievements of our start-ups.

We’re looking forward to celebrating the inspiring work of all the finalists.

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International Business of the Year

Business without borders as firms look overseas

Port complex is a gateway to the world

Taking Hull’s reputation to an international level The International Business of the Year Award is a new category for 2019.

It has replaced the Exporter of the Year Award, to reflect changes to the world of business in the digital age.

There was once a time when, to truly be an international business, a company would need to export its products or services around the world. Today, though, in a world of digitalisation, opportunities have been created to become a global business without the need of physical exporting.

As it is a new category, there was no winner for International Business of the Year last year.

However, Exporter of the Year was won by eco-friendly cleaning product specialist Bio-D. Bio-D now exports to almost 20 countries from across the globe, including China, Russia and South Korea.

Lloyd Atkin, managing director at Bio-D, said of the accolade: “It is great to get some recognition for the work and exporting that we do here

International business Aimed at companies for which the world has no boundaries.

The business must be based in Hull and East Yorkshire, but deals with customers outside of the UK. Judges will be looking for businesses that can demonstrate: ■■Business success in markets outside of the country and/or overseas ■■It provides goods and/or services to customers on a global scale ■■Sustainable business growth through exports sales or services provided

in Hull. We are a business that, maybe, is not very well known in the city, so it is really good to be recognised at the awards.

“It is sad in a way that we don’t do more business in Hull, so receiving this award in front of many brilliant companies from the city is really important.”

Bio-D was founded in the 1980s by Michael Barwell, who had a passion for creating cleaning products that wouldn’t harm the environment, or the people using them.

Based in Bergen Way, Hull, the cleaning product manufacturer produces more than 20 product lines, specialising in items such as washingup liquid and floor cleaner.

This year, judges will be looking for a truly international business to win the award.

It could be a traditional exporter, or a digital business which has become global.

ABP Humber Ports of Grimsby, Immingham, Hull and Goole are proud sponsors of the International Business of the Year Award.

www.abports.co.uk

As the UK’s largest port complex, ABP on the Humber generates £2.3bn for the economy, most of which is retained within the region.

Keeping trade moving between the country and the continent is ABP’s core business and so the opportunity to be able to support and promote local organisations which are successful in markets overseas has been a natural fit.

Providing goods and/or services to customers on a global scale is an impressive accolade and, for businesses based in Hull and the East Riding, they are ideally located near to the UK’s busiest trading estuary.

ABP on the Humber continues to successfully bring in new and additional business to the area, supporting local jobs and investing in the region.

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2019 SPONSORED BY

Green Award

Environment is now a major factor in economy

Joint venture takes pride in sustainability

Humber region is at the front for green business The Humber region has put itself at the very heart of the UK’s clean energy ambitions, and Hull is no exception.

The city and wider East Yorkshire are blessed to have a whole host of outstanding green businesses.

It is for that reason that the Green Award is one of the most hotly-contested in the Hull Daily Mail Business Awards.

In 2018, Pure Renewables stood out above all others for its commitment to green energy and environmental policies implemented across the business.

The company’s core business is in the design, specification, supply and installation of heat pumps, solar panels, solar thermal heating and mechanical ventilation and heat recovery systems.

Pure Renewables has embraced environ-

mental policies across the business, and in 2016 secured ISO 14001 accreditation for its green focus.

Chris Whitelock, who founded the company in 2007, said: “I am really, really thrilled for the

Green Award The Green Award is designed to recognise outstanding performance in environmental awareness, green energy or sustainable activity. The winner of the award will: ■■Embrace environmental policies across their business, with an outlook that reflects a well-considered green approach.

■■Successfully develop, sell or create eco-friendly products

whole team. This is absolutely a team effort.

“What we do is really green, so it says a lot for us to have won it.

“This is a really important award for us. The Humber is a Green Port, and that is key.

“It has helped put us on the map to some degree.

“We are currently working on some really exciting things for the future.

“But this is also about creating employment in Hull, we want to create jobs and that is the vision for us moving forwards.”

Not content at helping others become more environmentally friendly, Pure Renewables has also improved its own operations.

In 2017, the company purchased a new office and warehouse space, with plans in place to install solar panels on the roof and replace the existing gas boiler with a heat pump system.

Two leading local businesses have come together in the Wykeland-Beal joint venture to drive forward Hull’s biggest urban regeneration project, with sustainability at its core.

Commercial property developer Wykeland Group and housebuilder Beal Homes are working in partnership with Hull City Council to create the city’s first urban village in the waterfront Fruit Market district.

The regeneration is reinventing a once near-derelict area, through an exciting mix of retail, leisure, creative, commercial and residential development.

Sustainability is a guiding principle of the rejuvenation of this historic quarter, as it is with all Wykeland and Beal developments.

The focus is on preserving and conserving the area’s rich heritage, wherever possible; creating commercial spaces that respect and enhance the local environment; and building energy-efficient homes offering the very best of modern, sustainable city living.

All of this in a location where offices, shops, restaurants, cafés and galleries are on the doorstep and where residents can travel by foot, cycle or public transport for work or leisure.

Wykeland Beal is proud to sponsor the Green Award and to play a part in recognising local businesses that are committed to sustainable policies and practices.

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Innovation and Technology Award

SPONSORED BY

Business at the limit of innovation

Celebrating innovation in local industry

Innovation’s what you need to succeed here Innovation drives business. Whether you are a food company, a manufacturing giant or a tech firm, there’s only so far you can go without creating or adopting innovative products or services.

With the C4DI and @TheDock development providing a hotbed for digital and tech start-ups, Hull is rapidly becoming one of the North’s most inventive cities.

There are few more innovative companies in the city than last year’s award winner, Connexin.

Named as one of the Top 100 Fastest Growing Tech Companies in the Northen Tech Awards, Connexin has put itself at the centre of Hull’s smart city revolution.

The company has already unveiled a groundbreaking pilot project with Hull City Council to provide smart bins across the city.

Connexin also last summer delivered the UK’s largest commercial carrier-grade LoRaWAN network, right here in Hull.

Mark Smith, of Connexin, said of receiving the Innovation and Technology Award: “Connexin is a truly ambitious company.

“It is delivering services and technologies that are making a real difference, and its work with smart cities across the region is putting it on the map.

“On the night of the Business Awards, our two founders, Furqan and Alex, were in Barcelona for a smart city expo, and we are starting to see UK cities talked about across Europe.

“It is about making the vision real. Everyone has vision and a mission statement, but it is how you use them to make a difference to peoples’ lives”.

Connexin also last year hosted Connexin Live – a conference aimed at showcasing the potential of smart city technology.

If that’s not enough, Connexin also transformed a street in the centre of Newcastle into a fully “smart” outfit – with traffic, parking

spaces and rubbish bins all connected through technology.

Innovation and tech The Innovation and Technology Award will reward the company that has developed the most innovative new product, system or process over the past year and can demonstrate the positive impact it has had on the business.

Judges will be looking for businesses that can show: ■■A clear vision of what the innovation project, product, system or process had to achieve ■■How the product was developed ■■Gains in revenue or market share ■■The overall benefits to the business or its customer

BP Hull, based at Saltend Chemicals Park, is home to some of BP’s most innovative and cutting-edge operations.

We manufacture acetic acid and acetic anhydride, key building blocks for a wide range of applications, including paints, coatings and washing detergents, as well as the preservation of food.

Hull is one of the principal centres for BP’s investment in petrochemicals research and technology around the world.

In addition, Hull hosts part of BP’s Centre of Expertise in Applied Chemistry and Physics.

We have a long and successful history in the Humber region, and celebrated our 50th anniversary in 2017.

We’re proud to return for the seventh year as sponsors of the Innovation And Technology award.

Technology is key to developing and creating the growth opportunities needed for a strong future, We believe it is critical that businesses that champion a commitment to innovation and technology are recognised for their achievements and dedication to building the ongoing success and sustainability of the Humber region.

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Customer Focus Award

SPONSORED BY

Firms cannot ever thrive without their customers

A customer focus will help business grow

Putting customers at the centre of success A business is nothing without its customers, and that’s what makes customer service so important.

The Customer Focus Award rewards a business which has gone above and beyond to ensure its customers receive the best possible experience.

Last year, Beverley Motor Works retained the award for Customer Focus.

Founded by Alan Lewis and Richard Hayes, the company was borne out of a frustration at the poor customer care being delivered to customers by dealerships, for a hefty price tag.

Almost a decade on, the business has in excess of 2,500 customers – 90 per cent of which return year-on-year for MOTs, servicing and motor maintenance.

Mr Lewis and Mr Hayes said of retaining the Customer Focus award: “It is brilliant to get

Customer focus Award The Customer Focus Award aims to honour firms which give great service and are truly dedicated to their users. Judges will be looking at how customer service strategy has: ■■Increased growth or market share ■■Improved financial performance ■■Embedded ethical or sustainable practice ■■Enhanced customer delivery and engagement ■■More effective leadership and management ■■More engaged and motivated staff ■■Optimised innovation and improved operational excellence.

recognition for the team. It has been a team effort and we find it is what everyone does at the company that makes it work so well.

“We’ve got ten in the team at the moment.

Customer retention is paramount to the business, but we also need to keep picking up new customers. Our aim now is to expand the business, but as we grow we need to keep doing well what we do well now.

“There will no doubt be more changes to the industry from Brexit, so it is about being aware of what is happening and what the competition is doing.”

Out of 1,300 reviews at the time of the awards last year, Beverley Motor Works has a near-perfect customer satisfaction score of 99.1 per cent across the board.

Judges this year will be looking for a business which has this commitment to customers.

Trident is a global pre-media specialist in helping brand owners deliver their products to the marketplace efficiently and effectively.

It’s our aim to be a company our people love to work for and our customers love to work with.

We successfully serve eight of the 11 largest consumer goods companies in the world.

Exceptional customer service comes from people who genuinely love what they do. We are a company which profoundly believes in the power of a cup of tea and a chat.

It’s that personal attention, relaxed atmosphere and the reassurance of working with a company that truly cares about your business as much as theirs that brings our clients’ peace of mind.

After all, their success equals our own. We emphasise the importance of building strong relationships, whether it’s with fellow workers, outside vendors or our clients.

We believe that people build businesses by doing the right thing and we empower our people to do just that.

We are well established in every major region around the world, and continue to grow where our customers need us. In the past 12 months, we have opened up two new offices, in Sao Paulo and Sydney, extending our global reach.

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Small Business of the Year

The little companies with big business ideas

Tiny business can be a giant success story

Small firms contribute largest economy share Figures released in January revealed more than half (51 per cent) of the total revenue generated in the Humber region stems from its small business.

SMEs play a vital role in the economy, and are also a significant employer.

That’s why the Small Business of the Year Award is so important. With the region’s big hitters making the headlines on an almost daily basis, it can unfortunately be easy for the tireless work of SMEs to slip through the net.

Last year, Small Business of the Year went to digital agency Sauce.

The C4DI-based firm won Start-Up of the Year at the 2017 Business Awards, and continued its impressive work by scooping the 2018 Small Business accolade.

Sauce has swiftly established itself as a go-to resource for multinational organisations and

innovative tech companies.

Claire Clark, director of development at Sauce, said of the award: “We are all very excited,

Small Business Award The Small Business Of The Year Award is open to companies with fewer than 25 employees.

The judges will be looking at all aspects of a company’s performance, paying particular attention to: ■■Managerial and financial performance ■■Evidence of success against targets set ■■Potential for growth ■■Long-term plans and company strategy ■■Product and service development ■■Staff training and development

and it is all thanks to the efforts of the team we have.

“It is a very exciting time for Sauce. Since starting up we have grown into something really special. Everyone enjoys what they do, and this award shows that.

“We are working with some of the biggest businesses in Hull. We want to make a change, and have a positive impact on the community we are in.

“We will be back next year and, hopefully, will be in a position to enter the Medium Business of the Year category.”

Sauce’s work with renewables giant Siemens Gamesa also landed them with an award at the 2017 Digital Awards in Hull.

The business developed software which helps the offshore wind manufacturer better track its staff’s hours and shift patterns.

Working with small businesses across Hull and the East Riding every day, on everything from administering payroll to putting ambitious growth plans in place, we know what goes into running a successful SME. Growing and running a small business demands total commitment, vision, practical skills and calculated risk-taking, to name but a few vital qualities.

This hard work and personal sacrifice makes an incredible difference to our region. It provides jobs, products and services that otherwise would not exist and helps to give the area its distinctive local character.

At Smailes Goldie Group, we believe that the entrepreneurs behind our local SMEs are unsung heroes and deserve real recognition for their efforts.

That is why we are proud to sponsor the Small Business (Up to 25 Employees) category at the Hull Daily Mail Business Awards once again this year.

We want as many SMEs to enter as possible, so that their successes can receive the recognition they deserve and we are looking forward to presenting the trophy to the winner.

Proud to once again sponsor Hull’s business awards To find out more, please call 01482 326916 or visit www.smailesgoldie.co.uk

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Medium-sized Business of the Year

Medium-sized companies can make a Huge impact

Growing firms can be vital to the economy

Not too big, not too small, but just right The Medium-sized Business of the Year Award recognises an exceptional company, which employs between 25 and 99 people.

Judges will examine the business’s financial performance, long-term strategy, product and service development and commitment to training.

The business that can demonstrate exceptional work in the above areas will triumph in 2019.

Technology pioneer APD Communications rounded off an impressive 2018 by winning the Medium-sized Business of the Year Award last year.

The judges were impressed by APD’s rapid revenue growth, which had seen turnover increase by 36 per cent over the past two years, as well as its contribution to employment in Hull.

They also praised APD’s development of

innovative communications technologies for mission-critical control rooms, which are rapidly gaining customers in the UK and abroad.

APD had, at the time of the awards, secured a 69 per cent market share of the UK’s police

Medium-sized business The Business of the Year Award is open to companies with between 25 and 99 employees.

Judges will be looking at all aspects of company performance, paying particular attention to: ■■Managerial and financial performance ■■Evidence of success against targets set ■■Long-term plans and company strategy ■■Product and service development ■■Staff training and development

sector, with orders worth more than £3m across Europe and the Middle East this year alone.

Rhiannon Beeson, commercial director at APD, said: “We’re thrilled to win this award, especially as we are a company born and bred in Hull and proud to call the city our home.

“The award recognises our many innovations and achievements and the strong growth we have delivered over the past two years and that we’re confident we’ll continue to drive in the years ahead. Most of all, it’s a tribute to the people across the business and the passion they bring to their work developing and delivering technology that keeps the public safe.”

APD is transforming how the emergency services interact with and protect the public through the company’s development of innovative critical communications solutions that integrate telephony, radio and CCTV to enable rapid and effective response.

9

We are delighted to again be sponsoring the Medium-sized Business of the Year Award at the Hull Daily Mail Business Awards.

It is important that we recognise the growing business presence within the Humber region, home to a range of growing sectors, which has resulted in significant opportunities for local businesses.

HSBC’s expertise is in both UK and international trade – through our teams of relationship managers, we connect businesses to opportunities, helping them to thrive and grow.

We work with a wide range of customers, from small enterprises to mid-market companies and large multinationals, providing them with the tools they need to function efficiently.

The Yorkshire and Humber region leads the UK for innovative businesses and we are perfectly placed to help those businesses continue to prosper and realise their growth ambitions.

HSBC has had a significant presence in the Humber region for many decades, and boasts a strong team offering the full range of corporate banking services to businesses, from start-ups to those with £350m turnover.

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Large Business of the Year

Bigger is better for the largest firms in the area

Big is beautiful for these giant organisations

Powerhouses driving our region’s economy

The region’s biggest businesses are relied on to drive the economy forwards. They are the powerhouses, the biggest employers of people in and around Hull and with that responsibility comes a lot of pressure.

The Large Business of the Year Award recognises a major player in East Yorkshire’s business sector, which has shone over the past year.

In 2018, tech pioneer Connexin won its second award of the night by winning Large Business of the Year.

The brainchild of founders Furqan Alamgir and Alex Yeung, Connexin is on a mission to transform Hull into one of the country’s leading smart cities.

With a mission to connect people and the Internet of Things (IoT), Connexin has already made big waves in Hull.

In 2017, Connexin received £10m of invest-

ment from Silicon Valley tech giant Cisco Systems and Digital Alpha Advisors.

At the time, Digital Alpha’s managing partner

Large business The Large Business Of The Year Award is open to companies employing 100 or more members of staff.

The judges will be looking at all aspects of the company’s performance, paying particular attention to: ■■Managerial and financial performance ■■Evidence of success against targets set ■■Potential for growth ■■Long-term plans and company strategy ■■Product and service development ■■Staff training and development

As a Business Awards sponsor since its inception, we are, once again, delighted to support the thriving business community of Hull and the East Riding as sponsors of the Large Business Of The Year category.

On the back of a record year, we are on course to exceed expectations once again in 2019, which is due in no small part to the growing support we continue to enjoy from local businesses for whom we have become established trusted advisors.

The partners and staff at Gosschalks would like to congratulate all the shortlisted finalists at this year’s awards and wish them the very best of luck on the evening.

Rick Shroti said the investment had been made in “one of the UK’s leading players in smart city technology.”

Connexin is currently building a £5m data centre at the Bridgehead Business Park.

When the facility opens its doors, it will create 60 new jobs, and aims to accelerate Hull in its race to become of the country’s top smart cities.

“With our roots firmly entrenched in Hull, we are incredibly proud to be part of the local business community,” co-founder Mr Alamgir said.

A partnership with Hull City Council also said last year saw smart bins piloted across the city, which alert the council to when they need emptying, or if they have been vandalised or set on fire.

Connexin also successfully installed the country’s largest LoRaWAN network in Hull.

We do what we do to help people and businesses thrive.

To put them in a better, stronger, more prosperous position than they were yesterday.

The hands-on, straight-talking law firm

gosschalks.co.uk

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Contribution to the East Riding

Regional titans making an enormous difference

The region has potential to be business giant

Helping the East Riding thrive and move forward

The Contribution to the East Riding Award is back again for 2019 after its debut last year.

It recognises a business based outside of Hull, but within East Yorkshire, which has made a real difference to the region.

It could be a large business, which has taken on new staff and made a significant contribution to employment in the East Riding, or a company that has given something back to improve the lives of residents.

The first Contribution to the East Riding Award went to Beverley-based Waffle21 in 2018.

In 2017, a pair of entrepreneurs decided to transform an empty building in Beverley into a place where businesses and professionals could work, meet and network.

Those two men were Matthew Lax and Phillip Scaife, and their venture was Waffle21.

Sitting on the edge of Beverley’s industrial

estate, Waffle21 currently supports a number of start-up businesses, offering professional services to help get their ideas off the ground.

Mr Lax and Mr Scaife said of the win: “Everyone in the team has the ambition and the drive

East Riding Contribution This award is aimed at a business, organisation or individual that has made a real difference to the East Riding.

Nominees must be based within the East Riding, as opposed to the city of Hull, but entrants could be anyone from large businesses working across the entire East Riding region, to small businesses or individuals who have made their mark in their local area.

to make Waffle21 a success.

“When it all started, we wanted to create somewhere where other businesses can thrive, and not be alone.

“It gives them a space to speak to existing businesses and learn about the skills they may not have.

“It is a journey for us. It started out with a drunken conversation, and we have got to where we are.”

Since opening, Waffle21 has become home to a number of business networking groups, as well as hosting a series of Google Digital Garage events.

As well as its office spaces and breakout rooms, Waffle21 also boasts an impressive business lounge, where business people can work, meet clients, relax between meetings and take time out of the office.

Growing the economy is one of the main priorities of East Riding Council.

The council’s designated Business, Investment and Tourism services provide a range of support to help new businesses launch and established businesses thrive.

A team of business advisors provides advice and guidance in starting a new business in the East Riding, such as information about business plans, finance and record-keeping and marketing.

Services are also offered to promote growth among established businesses, as well as support for specific sectors, such as renewable energy.

The council also manages business centres across the East Riding, which offer affordable business accommodation and conference facilities with easy access to a range of services provided by business advisors.

The council also works hard to attract inward investment into the East Riding, actively promoting the region and competing with other UK local authorities as well as those from elsewhere in the world.

The market for inward investment services is global, and council business experts, along with our private sector partners, deal with external clients looking to relocate, expand their operations or establish new facilities in the East Riding.

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Training and Development Award

Training schemes help staff and companies Raising the standards for town students

Building skills can help make business develop Talk to almost any business, from any sector, and it will tell you recruitment can, at times, be a challenge.

Finding exactly the right person to fit the role you are hiring for is a tough task, but some businesses take a very different approach.

Investing in training and apprenticeship programmes may not come cheap, but it can reap rewards down the line if done correctly.

It’s brilliant to hear businesses talk about employees who have risen through the ranks, from an apprentice or trainee to become a vital member of the team.

The Training and Development Award is all about celebrating businesses which have made an outstanding contribution to nurturing young talent.

Holiday home manufacturer Willerby scooped the award last year for its outstanding commitment to training and apprenticeships.

The company had created 200 jobs in Hull in

No.1

the two years up to the awards, and had seen its revenue grow from £147m in 2016 to £166m in 2017.

Training/development The judges will be looking for an organisation that: ■■Demonstrates positive commitment to the ongoing training and education of its employees ■■Can prove how investment in staff training has brought success ■■Shows staff have gained the necessary skills to maximise their contribution ■■Can show how its people development strategies have improved its performance and created a committed, motivated and effective workforce

Peter Munk, CEO, said last year: “We’re thrilled to receive this incredible award and it really is testament to the hard work and devotion of the entire Willerby team.

“The business continues to go from strength to strength. Investing in opportunities for young people is something I’m particularly passionate about, and our apprenticeship scheme allows us to really nurture young talent in the local community.

“We’re proud to say that 100 per cent of our apprentices have gone on to full-time employment with us.

“It’s an exciting and rewarding time at Willerby, and we’re looking forward to another year of growth and investment in our people.”

Apprenticeships are a core part of Willerby’s business model.

With 22 in the intake last year, previous years have seen a 100 per cent transition rate into full-time employment.

East Riding College welcomes more than 1,600 full-time students from across the region every year.

Thousands more take on apprenticeships, part-time and higher education courses.

Its main campuses are in Beverley and Bridlington. The college became the first in Yorkshire to gain Chartered status, a testament to its high quality of teaching and learning, governance and engagement with the local community and employers.

The college last month hit the top spot in Yorkshire for achievement rates at further education level.

It was also placed in the top 10 per cent nationally for basic skills in English and maths achievement.

Mike Welsh, principal and chief executive of the college, said: “First of all, I’m really pleased for our students, who are obviously doing well at East Riding College in achieving their qualifications, as well as progressing on to positive destinations at an extremely high rate.

“Secondly, I want parents in the East Riding to understand that they have an excellent post-16 provider right on their doorstep, which is delivering high quality education and training to young people from across the area.

“The college is riding high on a series of excellent results for its students, continues to develop its state of the art facilities and is growing its apprenticeship provision.”

EAST RIDING COLLEGE

IN YORKSHIRE

FOR OVERALL ACHIEVEMENT (General FE Colleges based in Yorkshire)

PROUD SPONSORS OF HULL DAILY MAIL BUSINESS AWARD’S TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT AWARD

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Employee of the Year

Rewarding the workers who make a difference

Why workers are at centre of businesses

Hard-working staff can transform city’s firms A business is nothing without its people, and that is what makes the Employee of the Year Award an integral part of the event.

It could be an individual who has risen through the ranks or been promoted to a senior position, or someone who has stood head and shoulders above all others.

The category is open to employees of all experience levels, from a new starter who has made a big impact, right up to a long-serving staff member who has served their company with aplomb.

In 2018, ResQ’s Sam Such was named Employee of the Year.

Sam joined the business as a telesales agent back in 2012.

He has since worked his way up through the ranks, and was a call centre manager at the company when he collected the award – a role

that comes with huge responsibility. This is something the winner is capable of taking on.

Sam has been behind some of ResQ’s highestearning and most successful campaigns.

Employee of the Year The Employee of the Year award has been designed to celebrate someone who really makes a difference to their business and who deserves recognition.

It might be someone whose attitude and example really stimulates all those around them.

Equally, it could be someone who has overcome real difficulties, or someone who shows exceptional customer service.

He is also no stranger to supporting the company’s charity efforts, and coached ResQ’s football team for a fundraising match.

Speaking about receiving the Employee of the Year award, Sam said he was “over the moon,” but added it was all down to the support he had received from ResQ. He said: “The business deserves this more than me. I am the result of the company believing in me and what I am about.

“I have been at ResQ for six years now. The company rewards hard work, and that is what all of this is about really.

“I just need to carry on the good work now, and identify the needs of the business.

“ResQ has had a really good year. The business is continuing to grow, and that is testament to everyone there.”

Cranswick PLC was formed in the 1970s in our native city of Hull, and we have since grown to become one of the largest fresh food producers in the UK. We are passionate about supporting our local business community and are proud to be sponsoring the Employee of the Year category.

At the heart of our business are our people. In Hull alone we employ around 4,000 people across five manufacturing sites across the city and we believe it is our people who have made Cranswick the business it is today.

This is why we have chosen to sponsor the Employee of the Year Award for the third consecutive year.

It is a great way to recognise the efforts of employees who have gone above and beyond and made a real difference not only to their business, but the teams and communities which they work in.

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Entrepreneur of the Year

Entrepreneurs make business from nowhere

Triumph over adversity Behind every entrepreneur, comes a story of risk, ambition and belief.

It takes an awful lot of courage to launch your own business, even if you’re confident the product or service you have will be a hit.

Unfortunately, many fledgling businesses fail to get past the first few years of trading.

To be able to grow a business into a true suc-

cess story, therefore, is no mean feat.

In 2007, Chris Whitelock founded Pure Renewables on the back of a news broadcast he had watched on TV. The bulletin, from the then environment secretary David Miliband, announced that renewable solutions would play a significant role in confronting the

Entrepreneur of the Year Award Open to business people aged 30 years or over (by September 13, 2019) the Entrepreneur of the Year award will go to someone who has had a big impact, either running their own business or working as part of a business.

Judges will be looking for someone who demonstrate: ■■How their actions and strategies have been instrumental to the success

of the business ■■Evidence of strong financial performance, including the clear identification of an opportunity that has had a positive measurable impact on the success of business ■■Enterprising behaviours such as participation, risktaking, management and leadership, vision, originality and innovation ■■How they have overcome

barriers to achieve at a high standard (ie social, geographical or physical) ■■A positive impact on the wider economy and local communities through employment, additional work as mentors or in the voluntary sector Nominations can be made by the entrant if they run their own business, or a sponsor or nominee from the business they work for

UK’s “growing energy crisis.”

In Chris’ own words: “A shiver ran down my spine and I knew I had to do something about it.”

Chris launched Pure Renewables with little prior knowledge about the renewable sector he was entering.

Through his dynamic leadership, the business has reached several key milestones, and is continuing to grow.

Chris’s dedication to Pure Renewables saw him win the 2018 Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

On receiving the Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Chris said: “I am obviously absolutely thrilled to win this award.

“At Pure we are working as hard as we can to bring money and jobs into the city. It is about creating new opportunities.

“If we can use this award to bring more business into Hull, then that would be a job really well done.”

With a host of lucrative contracts under its belt, most notably an £835,000 contract to replace the heating system at Hull’s Lees Rest Houses, Pure Renewables is forging a successful path in the sector.

One of the most creative businesses I’ve met supporting the Social Mobility Pledge is the Sewell Group. They’ve worked hard to get a real mix of different young people through their doors and to cut through the management layers in a way I haven’t seen anywhere else.” www.sewell-group.co.uk

@SewellGroup

Rt Hon Justine Greening MP

Entrepreneurs keep spirit of business alive Paul Sewell, chairman of Sewell Group, said: “Over the past 20 years, entrepreneurs and their entrepreneurialism has transformed F. Sewell & Son from a 100 year-old east Hull builder, to the multi-disciplined Sewell Group of today.

“The group continues to expand, spreading 500 jobs and £100m in revenue across the breadth of Yorkshire, with bases in Leeds, Huddersfield, York, Willerby and headquarters remaining in east Hull.

“This expansion would not have been possible without our very own entrepreneurs within, who were unleashed to pioneer, innovate, and create value beyond any contemplation.

“Entrepreneurs are changing the face of businesses in Yorkshire on a daily basis. We are in the most uncertain era I have known in my 40-year career. But entrepreneurs thrive on uncertainties.

“That’s why we are proud to recognise and privileged to sponsor this most important of business awards, Entrepreneur of the Year.”

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Tourism and Hospitality Award

hotly contested category is a boom sector in area

New trains set to open up more tourism options

Tourism industry shows off the region’s hotspots The tourism industry can be an extremely lucrative one for businesses able to break into the competitive market.

For example, the region’s nature tourism sector alone was worth a notable £24m in 2018.

With so many businesses vying for a top spot in the industry, the Tourism and Hospitality Award is a competitive one.

Last year, the accolade went to Patrington Haven in Holderness.

In the past three years, Patrington Haven has gone from strength to strength, winning a REYTA award for Best Holiday Park in both 2017 and 2018.

Turnover in the last four years had risen from over £2.5m to more than £4.5m – an increase of 74 per cent.

In September 2017, The Spa at The Country Club was launched with the aim to provide

luxury health and beauty treatments to caravan owners and the surrounding area.

One year on from its opening, the spa turned over an impressive £65,000.

Patrington Haven said of its award last week:

Tourism/Hospitality The Tourism and Hospitality award will go to businesses that can show evidence of: ■■Outstanding performance relating to commercial success and evidence of growth and investment ■■Creation of employment, together with staff training and development ■■Delivery of innovations and improvements ■■High standards of customer satisfaction

“We are so delighted to have won the Hull Daily Mail Business Award in the Tourism and Hospitality category.

“We’d like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to all of the team and the owners. You make the park what it is.

“We are over the moon with the park’s achievement. Thank you to everyone in the Patrington family.”

Opened in 1984 by Graham Sparkes, the park is still family-owned and run to this day.

Set in 40 acres of East Yorkshire countryside, the park boasts what it describes as “some of the best facilities in the whole of the UK.” With a whole host of top tourist destinations attracting visitors to the city in their droves, the Tourism and Hospitality Award looks set to be an equally competitive one this time around.

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It is an incredibly exciting year for Hull Trains as we await the arrival of our entire new fleet, which is set to revolutionise rail travel between Hull and London.

The new £60m Hitachi trains are among the most hi-tech, fast, modern and luxurious trains in the UK and we are on schedule to welcome our first passengers later this year.

As part of the roll-out, which begins in September, we are replacing our entire current fleet with five new trains, which will provide our 92 direct services per week between Hull and London.

Having been built in Japan, all five trains are now undergoing internal fitting in Italy and will be rail-hauled to the UK, with the first train on schedule to arrive on August 29.

Hull Trains, the only rail firm in the UK to name the company after the city it serves, is proud to sponsor Hull Daily Mail’s business awards.

We are especially pleased to support the Tourism and Hospitality Award where we can work alongside other firms which have the same aims and aspirations as we do at Hull Trains.

For the best value tickets book in advance and direct with hulltrains.co.uk

acity extra cap ore m with even ble** la seats avai *Advance purchase tickets. Subject to availability. For full terms and conditions, please see our website. **Additional seats are available on specified services only, please refer to the website for details.

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Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Finding the next big stars of the business world

Youth spirit is celebrated in special award

Starting their sparkling career in their industry

Hull and East Yorkshire is blessed to have an outstanding array of young entrepreneurs bursting on to the business scene.

From digital wizards to creative geniuses, they provide a glimpse into the future of the region’s business scene.

Just look at some of the big names in Hull business today and they all started out where some of the region’s most exciting young names are today.

Hull’s young entrepreneurs are well-supported through a number of schemes, not least the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank.

Aimed at supporting people aged up to and including 21 across the city and East Riding, it offers grants of up to £1,000 to help finance the launch of a business.

To date, more than 450 young people in Hull have benefited from the scheme.

Young entrepreneur

For business people under the age of 30 (by September 13, 2019) who have demonstrated a high degree of entrepreneurship, creativity and vision for the future.

The judges will be looking to identify an individual who has set up a business or has had a significant influence in the business, that has set and achieved objectives within its business plans and established a position of sustainable profitability and success.

In addition to this, judges will want to see an understanding of the relationship between your own development and the success of the business.

To recognise the importance of entrepreneurism from a younger age, we are delighted to add a new category for the 2019 Business Awards.

The Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award will go to someone who has demonstrated a high degree of business flair.

It could be someone who has successfully launched their own business and grown it, or who has taken over a business and led it in a new direction.

Judges will be looking for the brightest young spark in East Yorkshire’s business scene, and will also be looking to how the individual has grown and developed at the same time as their company.

As a brand new award for 2019, the winner will aim to set the benchmark for years to come.

Proud sponsor of the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award

Hull City Council is proud to sponsor an event that recognises the entrepreneurial spirit shown by its young people.

The local authority supports a wide-ranging youth entrepreneurship and enterprise skills programme via the Making Changes for Careers Programme, the Be Enterprise Group of teachers and tutors, the Badgers Sett Enterprise Challenge, Global Entrepreneurship Week and THUDYorkshire, a network for young people.

The council also supports the work of the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank and the Hull and East Riding Youth Enterprise Partnership.

Hull City Council is a supporter of the Hull Street Race, which sees teams of young people from across the Humber race around the city in cars supplied by Greenpower Education Trust, a charity that encourages young people to consider a career in the STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering and maths.

It also backs the Women into Manufacturing and Engineering (WiME) initiative from Green Port Hull, Siemens Gamesa, Airco and Jobcentre Plus to encourage women to choose a career in these industries.

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Lifetime Contribution Award

More than just a year of achievements to triumph A prestigious award for region’s top names The Lifetime Contribution Award is the only accolade not judged by our expert panel.

It is an award given to someone whose impact on the Hull and East Yorkshire region knows no bounds – someone who has worked tirelessly to represent, promote and drive the business sector.

The list of previous winners is, unsurprisingly, a prestigious one.

Recent recipients include Gosschalks Solicitors senior partner Simon Lunt, Sewell Group managing director, Paul Sewell and MKM founder David Kilburn.

Last year, the Lifetime Contribution Award went to Lord Haskins, chair of the Humber LEP and one of the most recognisable and respected faces in business.

The son of a dairy farmer, Lord Haskins briefly flirted with the idea of becoming a journalist, before opting against it and launching into a career in business.

He rose to become the chairman of the successful FTSE 100 Northern Foods and Express Dairies, a business with an impressive client base across the chilled food sector.

Lord Haskins, who lives on his farm in Skidby, was the man Tony Blair’s Labour Government turned to as its “Rural Tsar” at the height of the foot and mouth crisis.

Mr Blair said in a video message showed at the Business Awards last year: “Throughout his distinguished career, he has been a consistent and formidable voice for rural Britain, always standing up for their best interests.

“His no-nonsense approach was invaluable to me and the Government, particularly during the foot and mouth crisis when he became the Rural Tsar. I could not have got through it without his counsel, and determination.

“He has never been one to stay silent, or been afraid to stand up for what he believes in. He is still a strong voice, making valuable contributions to the Brexit debate, using his energy and enthusiasm to ensure rural communities are not left behind.”

Lord Haskins’ contribution was recognised in 1998, when he was awarded a life peerage.

He continues, to this day, to speak out for Hull

and East Yorkshire in the House of Lords.

The Lifetime Contribution Award has been a feature of the Business Awards since the category was first launched in 2012.

It has been sponsored by KCOM from the very beginning, and the city’s broadband provider is back to support the prestigious award once again.

It is the only award without a nomination process, with the winner being invited to the ceremony night, this year being hosted at the Dou-

Making a huge difference to life in our city

bleTree by Hilton, to collect their accolade.

The first ever winner of the award was Jim Dick, whose long career with Smith & Nephew saw him oversee development of some of its most innovative wound management products.

He was followed in 2013 by Paul Sewell OBE, before David Kilburn won the award in 2014.

Four years ago saw Victoria Jackson receive the Lifetime Contribution Award, with Charlie Spencer, Mr Lunt and Lord Haskins completing the list.

Proud sponsors of the Lifetime Achievement Award heybusiness.kcom.com

It’s been a momentous year for Hull communications provider KCOM. After seven years of hard work and planning the company’s £85m rollout of its Lightstream full fibre broadband network is complete.

That means all of KCOM’s Hull and East Yorkshire network, that’s more than 200,000 properties, now has access to ultrafast broadband, compared to just seven percent of the rest of the UK. It is on this Lightstream platform that the region’s tech and digital economy is thriving, making Hull one of the fastest and most connected cities in the world and enabling local firms to compete on a truly global scale.

As well as Lightstream, KCOM also provides cutting edge IT and SmartComms solutions for businesses of all sizes.

KCOM is one of Hull’s largest companies, employing around 900 people in the city and contributing more than £187m each year to the local economy. And it remains steadfastly at the heart of the Hull and East Yorkshire community, where it was founded 115 years ago.

KCOM is a long-standing supporter of the Mail’s Business Awards.

It has sponsored the Lifetime Contribution Awards since it was introduced in 2012 to acknowledge local business people who have made a positive, lasting difference to the region’s economy and wider community.