Commerce Policy Major acquisition to drive decarbonisation at Saltend Power Station Patrons Longstanding legal firm Wilkin Chapman offers support to the region Sector Focus Language specialist appoints new staff to cope with demand No barriers to forsuccesssafetyfirm Heald Ltd’s future is secure
The Magazine of Hull & Humber Chamber of
Business IntelligenceSeptember/October2022
Features 32 Made in Hull & Humber A guide to growing your own talent 34 Corporate Christmas ‘Tis the season of giving Sector Focus 36 International Trade Language specialist welcomes new staff 38 Legal & Finance Law firm offers new route into a legal career 40 The Arts Artist helps to bring steam trawler home 41 Skills & Training Spencer Group appointed to ABP project 42 Manufacturing Chemical production line established 44 Motoring David Hooper tests the Toyota Proace Matina Campervan New Members 48 The Chamber welcomes new members The Last Word 50 Kevin Greene, of Kevin Greene Photography 304012 Business September/OctoberIntelligence2022 Business Intelligence 3 21 44
5 President Mike Whitehead reflects on a busy summer of exciting events
Big Interview
President’s Message
Focus On
Spotlight
Member Spotlight
Contents September/October 2022
30 Chamber charity of the year, Horizon Youth Zone
6 Debbie Heald, Managing Director at Heald Ltd Policy 8 Major acquisition to drive decarbonisation Member News 14 Marketing agency marks 40 years in business
23 Jason Threadgold Funeral Director Ltd Patrons 26 Patrons Profile: Wilkin Chapman
4 Business Intelligence September/October 2022 Business Intelligence
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DESIGNER: Lloyd Hollingworth
I know I am biased, but I thought Chamber Expo was the best event of the week!
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President’s Message
Mike Whitehead
There were many exhibitors who put on excellent displays with over 100 guests at the lunch with Cllr Mike Ross, Leader of Hull City Council, who talked about his vision for the City after being in post for only a month.
The Mercure Hull Grange Park Hotel did us proud, with a fantastic venue and great food, but the main congratulations go to the Chamber Team for organising a brilliant event after two years of Covid.
I also attended a tour of the ‘Daisy Centre’ at Castle Hill in July to see how the Chamber can help with their future plans.
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Mike brought with him, Cllr Paul Drake-Davis who has the Economic Development and Regeneration Portfolio.
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I must particularly mention Kirk Akdemir, Chamber Patron and Board Member, for his sponsorship of this excellent event too. My grateful thanks go to him, and Cllr Ross, for taking time to spend a couple of hours with the Chamber.
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Martin kindly arranged for the Chamber to have a private meeting with the Minister to discuss issues relating to business in the Humber.
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PRESS RELEASES
Hull City CEO, Jim Rodwell, gave a fascinating talk on how he got involved with the new owner of Hull City AFC, Turkish media magnate Acun Illicali.
As a not-for-profit organisation, the Chamber is very grateful to our Patrons, who support us in our aim to help our Members develop their businesses.
MANAGING EDITOR: Laura Blake
am delighted to give my latest update - the last few weeks have been an enjoyable time for me and the Chamber team. My last update was just before the Chamber Expo, as part of Business Week in June.
Paul Drake-Davis attended a Hull Area Council meeting held at the MKM Stadium. Paul talked about the task ahead and how he would like to engage with interested parties on the future economic development of the City.
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September/October 2022 Business Intelligence 5
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I attended several Biz Week events, representing the Chamber, including the Friday Conference at Bridlington Spa. All events seemed to be well organised and many were very interesting. The Spa event was also good and it was great to network with so many business folk by the seaside.
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Business Intelligence is a bi-monthly magazine distributed to more than 2,000 member companies and affiliates in the Humber region. Hull & Humber Chamber welcomes newsworthy articles of business interest. As editorial space is limited, inclusion cannot be guaranteed and the editor may amend or reject articles submitted. Send articles to: press@hull-humber.co.uk
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Congratulations to Martin on his 10 years representing Cleethorpes in Parliament.
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Finally, Ian Kelly, Albert Weatherill and I attended Martin Vickers’ 10-year Celebration Dinner at Healing Manor with The Rt Hon Jacob Rees-Mogg. (See page 11).
Matador was designed to protect venues for the 2012 Olympic Games. Heald’s products are also in place in locations too sensitive to be named but sufficiently highprofile to feature in most TV news bulletins. Locally you’ll find Heald’s bollards outside the Bonus Arena and at the junction of Silver Street and Lowgate in the Old Town of WorldwideHull. the company has distribution networks in the USA, Australia, Singapore, South East Asia, Oman,
safe investment
This photo shows Heald’s Raptor system standing ready to defend a sensitive area
Barriers have been a
From Heald Engineering, as it was known then, the company evolved into Heald Engineering and Security and now Heald Ltd. They moved into bollards and barriers when a regular customer asked for a UK-designed road blocker, having seen a barrier he liked at a caravan site.
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Debbie said: “I was a finance officer for the council in Beverley, working in finance and HR for the chief exec and the county secretary. When the council closed I took redundancy and bought into the business. Rod is a fabulous designer and with our combined skills the business grew from there.”
“It was a challenge,” said Debbie.
Debbie recalled: “Rod decided to design our first barrier, I started to promote it and on the back of that I’d sell things we didn’t have – selling products and then having to design and make them was a regular occurrence in the early days. It was a bit of a backwards way on, but it worked!”
The innovation behind such products has driven the development of a company which was a general engineering firm when the couple met. Things developed into more security-based engineering when Debbie joined Rod in the business after the closure of Humberside County Council in 1996.
6 Business Intelligence September/October 2022
‘The innovation with Matador is fantastic because you can install it in places that have issues with infrastructure, where you just can’t excavate’
To see the damage a Raptor can do to a car or lorry approaching at high speed, take a look at Heald’s YouTube site. You’ll understand exactly why the system was chosen by the United Nation’s Headquarters in New York over locally produced barriers.
Phil Ascough of Ascough Associates talks to Debbie Heald, Managing Director at Heald Limited
Further progress came after a move into testing – a commitment which included significant investment for a small firm and enabled Heald to take the step from car park access control into the fast-growing market with the somewhat sinister name of hostile vehicle mitigation.
t seems you’re never more than a few minutes away from another conversation about the Lionesses and their Euro 2022 triumph. With Debbie Heald it’s not so much about the valiant performances of England’s goalkeeper and back four in keeping at bay Germany’s best female footballers; it’s more about the defences outside Wembley.
For something more subtle there’s the Matador range of bollards, which effortlessly slide out of the way to let authorised vehicles pass, and which stand firm in a collision.
It's an inconvenient fact that Heald can’t exactly pick and choose where to install their systems – the bollards and barriers have to go in the places that need protecting, and in areas with underground utilities or architectural and historic features that means providing innovative solutions.
“We had just finished installing our Raptors as part of the protection systems at Wembley. We were watching the final of the Euros and there they were on TV,” said Debbie Heald, Managing Director of the business which she set up with husband Rod in the 1990s.
Debbie pictured with a new Matador barrier system ready for deployment
“We had to ship a Raptor out to the USA and present to about 70 people in the street in New York – not your usual site survey.”
Among the state-of-the-art devices installed to protect our national stadium and everyone in it are bollards designed and made in Hornsea by Heald Limited.
Big Interview
Debbie said: “We try to make the installation as easy as possible, concentrating on shallow and surface-mount technologies. The innovation with Matador is fantastic because you can install it in places that have issues with infrastructure, where you just can’t excavate.”
September/October 2022 Business Intelligence 7
Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia, with Europe served by partners in the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Denmark andDebbieGermany.said:
Debbie said: “I don’t class myself as an engineer but I know about engineering, I know how a barrier operates and I can spot when something isn’t quite right. I have a passion for STEM and I completely love what I do.
A current priority is to ensure the business is ready to seize the opportunities presented by the “Protect Duty”. Arising from the increased frequency of terror threats and attacks in the UK – and specifically from the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017 – the new legislation will require public venues, organisations and spaces to provide additional security measures and perimeter protection, possibly as soon as 2023.
Some of Heald Ltd barriers in position outside Wembley Stadium in London, where they protect pedestrianised areas
Debbie is an enterprise advisor at Hornsea School and Language College, the company is a partner of the Ron Dearing UTC and it sends its apprentices to HETA in Hull.
Debbie said: “We offer a full, turnkey service from sales to drawing and design, finance, operations, production, manufacturing and testing. We manufacture everything in-house and have our own service and installation team. We decided some time ago it was really important to keep everything here and in-house as this gives us complete control over the quality and the flexibility to meet customer lead times. We can do everything ourselves.”
“From day one it was always my plan to export and we often had sales overseas but nothing here so it was fantastic to finally get some work in our local area.”
“It’s difficult but we are trying to attract more women into engineering roles. We are a small business from Hornsea but we are one of the leaders in our industry and it’s a fantastic opportunity. Our engineers travel the world and have some great experiences.”
Longer term, the future looks secure because of a combination of Heald’s solid reputation and a commitment to sustainability which extends across all of the company’s activities.
“We are a big advocate of apprenticeships and we have just taken on four new apprentices. Unfortunately only one girl came forward and she chose to go elsewhere. It’s a shame that a lot of the girls think it’s not for them because it’s perceived as a man’s job, but engineering offers great opportunities for all and is so exciting.
The workforce has grown from about half a dozen to the current level of more than 50, with a 50-50 split between men and women in most departments and a commitment to achieve more women in the manufacturing side of the business.
Previously in Phase-1 of the cluster sequencing process, the East Coast Cluster, which connects the Humber and Teesside via CO2 transport and storage infrastructure, was selected to become one of the first two ‘CCUS clusters’ in the UK.
Chamber Policy
coming years, providing important back-up and improving security of supply. But the real gain will be how we contribute to decarbonisation in the longer term, and we are particularly excited about the possibilities for hydrogen and carbon capture in Saltend.
“Together with Equinor, we will explore all avenues to decarbonise Saltend and create new opportunities for other businesses so that they can operate in a future with net zero emissions," said Catherine Raw, CEO of SSE Thermal.“Thisagreement will allow the Triton Power assets to continue to provide critical grid services and flexible power generation while building on the progress already made on decarbonisation. I have been particularly impressed by the vision and commitment shown by SSE Thermal and Equinor in our discussions and believe they have the capabilities and knowledge required to allow our pipeline of clean energy projects to proceed at pace,” said Mick Farr, Chief Executive, Triton Power.
Equinor’s bids for two new gasfired power stations with carbon capture at Keadby, developed with SSE Thermal, and in Teesside, developed in partnership with bp, have also been successful.
8 Business Intelligence September/October 2022 Chamber Policy
H2H movesSaltendforward
Major acquisition to drive decarbonisation
‘This agreement will allow the Triton Power assets to continue to provide critical grid services and flexible power generation’
Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce is the collective ‘voice’ of business across the Humber region representing the views and interests of our Members at local, regional and national levels.
‘This further strengthens the UK’s position as a world leader in the energy transition’
quinor and SSE Thermal are stepping up ambitions to contribute to decarbonisation in the UK. The companies are buying power company Triton Power from Energy Capital Partners, an energy-transition infrastructure investor, and are starting preparations to use hydrogen in the Saltend Power Station.
“We’reopportunities.excitedto continue working closely with the UK Government, our partners, and local stakeholders to deliver these large-scale projects. This further strengthens the UK’s position as a world leader in the energy transition.”
“This acquisition together with SSE Thermal demonstrates our commitment to building a broad energy partnership with the UK. Flexible energy will be crucial as renewable energy scales up further over the
Equinor’s Hydrogen to Humber Saltend (H2H Saltend) production facility has been successfully progressed through Phase-2 of the Government’s cluster sequencing process.
The key plant included in the purchase of Triton Power is the Saltend Power Station with an installed capacity of 1.2 GW. This is a conventional combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) that uses natural gas. The main role of this power plant today is to provide electricity during periods of low output from solar and wind. Equinor and SSE Thermal are now starting work on preparing the power plant to use up to 30% hydrogen from 2027, with an ambition to eventually increase to 100% hydrogen operation.
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Grete Tveit, Senior Vice President for Low Carbon Solutions, Equinor, said: “It’s fantastic news that the UK Government has selected three of our pioneering CCS and hydrogen projects. They will help decarbonise vital and carbon-intensive industries, preserve existing jobs and create new ones, as well as provide local supply chain
The announcement by the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) means the selected projects will now proceed to the due diligence stage of the Phase-2 cluster sequencing process to allow them to connect to the East Coast Cluster’s CO2 infrastructure and be operational in the mid-2020s.
The hydrogen could come from Equinor's H2H Saltend hydrogen project, which would reform natural gas into hydrogen by carbon capture and storage, capturing more than 95% of its CO2 content. Saltend Power Station would then become an anchor customer for the hydrogen project.
September/October 2022 Business Intelligence 9 Chamber Policy
Policy
“Our new services are employer focused, so the HR line for example, can help businesses deal with redundancy procedures, appraisals or disciplinary procedures and comes with access to experienced advisors for handholding support when they need it, or provide access to documents which are regularly updated to reflect the latest rules and regulations.“TheHealth and Safety package offers unlimited advice and access to documents like H&S policies, risk assessment templates and the offer of free One2One reviews. Chamber Legal provides unlimited access to experienced
David Hooper, The Chamber’s External Affairs Director, said: “Businesses are facing challenging times at the moment and these new services offer excellent support to all businesses, whatever size they may be. I believe these new services will protect our members, help them stay compliant, particularly with issues around Covid-19 like HR and H&S requirements, and give them peace of mind.
Chambertime!”Chief Executive Dr Ian Kelly said: “We are delighted to be able to include these excellent new benefits as part of our membership package. They provide expert advice and support on many key aspects of running a business and I would encourage our members to make good use of these new, premiumMembersservices.”onlycan call 01455 852037 for immediate support and assistance.
he Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released its latest Labour Force Survey (LFS) estimates for March to May 2022 which show that over the quarter, there was an increase in the employment rate, while unemployment and economic inactivity rates decreased.
The number of self-employed workers fell during the coronavirus pandemic and has remained low, although the number has increased during the latest three-month period. The increase was driven by part-time self-employed, and was largely offset by a
For more information, contact the Hull and East Yorkshire office: 01482 324976 or email Lincolnshirechamber.co.uk,j.harrison@hull-humber-ortheNorthernOffice:01472342981 or email a.tate@hull-humber-chamber.co.uk
legal advisors and a library of documents, while Chamber Tax provides access to tax and VAT advisors who can be a great help at tax return
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“The problems in the labour market are restricting growth and choking off any hope of a recovery for many firms; as inflation, supply chain disruption and energy costs also add to their headaches.
Employment rates are on the rise
Jane Gratton
Three document libraries – HR, H&S and legal – almost 800 template documents plus lots more information
Chamber membership now includes five new advice lines – HR, Legal, H&S, tax and VAT
The UK employment rate increased by 0.4 percentage points on the quarter to 75.9%, but is still below pre-coronavirus pandemic levels. The number of full-time employees increased during the latest three-month period to a record high. Part-time employees also increased during the latest three-month period, continuing to show a recovery from the large falls in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce has invested in its membership offer and has recently launched four important new services to support Humber businesses which are now included as part of the Chamber package.
Chamber HR, Chamber H&S, Chamber Legal and Chamber Tax are all now available to members and are free to use as often as they like.Chamber members also have access to a huge library of around 800 downloadable documents and templates covering employment, health and safety, tax and legal matters.Allthe new services can be accessed by one phone number which gives members immediate advice and support via five advice lines – HR, H&S, Legal, Tax and VAT These new services represent a major investment by the Chamber in its membership offer. The services are part of a national scheme provided by Quest with 45,000 UK Chamber of Commerce users.
Commenting on the latest ONS Labour Market statistics, BCC Head of People Policy, Jane Gratton, said: “The labour market remains incredibly tight, in many cases affecting firms’ ability to maintain normal operations. Although these figures show the employment rate has risen it is having no noticeable impact on the overall number of job vacancies.
10 Business Intelligence September/October 2022
Chamber
“But there are several avenues open to businesses and the government to shift this data in the right direction.
The unemployment rate for March to May 2022 decreased by 0.1 percentage points on the quarter to 3.8%. Those unemployed for up to six months increased over the latest three-month period at the fastest rate since late 2020.
decrease in the number of full-time selfemployed.Themost timely estimate of payrolled employees for June 2022 shows a monthly increase, up 31,000 on the revised May 2022 figures, to a record 29.6 million.
“We need to bring more economically inactive people back into the UK labour market by offering flexible working practices, rapid re-training opportunities and a focus on workplace healthcare and support.”
Mr Rees-Mogg (second left) pictured with (from left) Darren Cunningham from Phillips 66, Chamber President Mike Whitehead, Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers and Chamber Vice President Albert Weatherill
September/October 2022 Business Intelligence 11 Chamber Policy
As part of a visit to Grimsby organised by the Minister’s close colleague, Martin Vickers MP, the Chamber joined the leading Brexiteer for a private meeting prior to an enjoyable dinner at Healing Manor.
While showcasing the area’s progress from the UK’s dirtiest cluster of industry towards a rapidly progressing exemplar of green energy, Chamber leaders did flag up that more
flexibility on accessing Eastern European immigration would be helpful currently, especially in the local farming, construction, oil and gas and arguably the hospitality sector too.The Chamber’s recent meeting with the Governor of the Bank of England was referenced as Daren Cunningham, Head of Phillips 66 in the UK and Europe, also highlighted the Energy Crisis and Ukraine war and its likely local impact.
As the short term prospects of a cost of living crisis grows, depending on how long the Ukraine War goes on, the Chamber was also keen to hear about Mr Rees-Mogg’s longer term plans to access the UK’s finance
The Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce’s Quarterly Economic Survey results for the second quarter of 2022 proved to be a challenging period for local businesses and the economy as it saw most indicators in retreat as energy costs, inflation and interest rates all continued to rise.
drop from the figures seen in the last year of surveys. The number of companies saying they were working at full capacity dropped by more than 25%, from 36% in the first quarter, to just 21 % in this quarter, showing again the pressures local businesses are facing.
“Inflated energy, petrol and diesel prices are all adding to the cost base for businesses and with supply chains still being affected by lockdowns in China and the war in Ukraine, these challenges are unlikely to subside for a while yet.”
institutions more easily to drive greater UK investment in the local renewable energy supply chain.
With inflation predicted to peak at around 11% that was the biggest External Concern for Humber businesses, while competition and tax were also highlighted as issues.
acob Rees-Mogg, the Secretary of State for Brexit, met Chamber leaders on Thursday 30 June to discuss how Brexit was working and what the Government’s plans are to deregulate and de couple the UK economy further from the EU as part of the Government’s own “Global Britain” agenda.
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The Chamber’s Vice President Albert Weatherill focused on shipping and global supply chains with examples about China in particular as he briefed the Minister, along with a general discussion around the table about the need to rebalance UK Aid spending to best Chambereffect.President Mike Whitehead thanked Mr Rees-Mogg for meeting with the Humber’s business leaders “as we all seek to reboot the area’s economy after the difficulties of two years of pandemic and now the war in Ukraine.”
Employment in the last three months was also down, dropping 13 points to a balance figure of zero, while employment expectations for the next three months also dropped, but less dramatically, losing just five points as some businesses continue to struggle with recruiting staff, particularly in the hospitality sector.
The Chamber’s External Affairs and Membership Director David Hooper said: “These results clearly demonstrate that Humber businesses are facing pressure from almost every direction as energy costs, inflation, interest rates and staffing issues all continue to test our local business leaders.
Research by the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce highlighted difficult trading conditions across the board, with home sales and orders and the export sectors all taking a pounding, with concerns over rising interest rates, pay settlements and raw material costs combining to contribute to a challenging business environment.
Brexit Secretary meets the Chamber
‘Humber businesses are facing pressure from almost every direction’
Only 27% of firms expect turnover to improve in the next quarter, while 25% of firms expect it to decrease further, leaving a balance figure of two, which represents a big
QES reveals pressures facing businesses
The Chamber’s QES reported home sales were down 42 points to five, while home orders also tumbled, dropping 34 points to minus three. export sales tumbled 83 points to –50, while export orders mirrored the fall, dropping the same amount.
Unsurprisingly, cashflow in the last three months was also affected, dropping a further five points to minus nine, after a 60 point tumble in the first quarter’s results.
Sowdens was established in 1982 by Paul Sowden following time spent at major design agencies in Leeds and London. Returning to Hull in the early 1980s, Paul set up his own design consultancy, and since that time, Sowdens has proven its longevity and weathered many storms including several recessions and lockdowns, as well as a fire at its old premises on Beverley Road (Hull) that nearly brought the agency to the brink.
forty Themore!Sowdensteamrecentlycelebratedthefirm’s40thanniversary
ioneering Yorkshire-based marketing agency Sowden & Sowden (Sowdens) are marking 40 years in business and looking ahead to the future.
worked across all aspects of the agency from the age of 16, Polly eventually became joint owner of the business in 2009 and the Sowdens team has continued to grow. More recently, the agency expanded its ranks to include a team of digital specialists, broadening its digital marketing offering as demand for online services continues to grow.
At the heart of the company’s summer celebrations, Sowdens held a celebration in mid-July for clients old and new. The anniversary comes at a time when the agency is welcoming new business from local and international clients, as well as expanding its digital marketing operation.
‘Working hard and thinking up creative solutions that really inspire our clients –that’s why they keep coming back to us’
latest news, success stories and updates from members
&
of
the world’s biggest offshore wind farm), the UK division of Japanese tech brand NEC, as well as other international partners and suppliers.Tocomplement its recent growth, Sowdens moved into new offices in Hessle in the summer of 2021, refurbishing a 19th-century former coach house.
It was here that the Sowdens 40th anniversary event took place, and the agency worked hard with local suppliers and artists for the special occasion, ensuring that everything was locally sourced, in true celebration of the agency’s roots.
The of Hull Humber Chamber Commerce. years of serving the local community - here’s to
Since then, Sowdens has gone from strength to strength, and current Director, Polly Sowden, joined her father in the family business as a media buyer in 1997. Having
Member News
Sowden & Sowden Director, Paul Sowden, said: “It’s a hugely exciting time as we celebrate four decades in business and our long history and experience is one of our USPs. We’ve come a long way since the early 1980s and I think our longevity comes down to the fact that, while we have always evolved, we’ve never dodged the basics of our industry. Working hard and thinking up creative solutions that really inspire our clients – that’s why they keep coming back to us.” Member News
Forty
Alongside its roster of regional clients from various sectors (education, technology, healthcare and sustainability), Sowdens has attracted several international clients over the past year, showcasing its ability to connect high-profile companies to their customers. Such organisations include VUBA (one of this year’s FEBE high-growth companies), a global green energy giant (which recently launched
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September/October 2022 Business Intelligence 13 Member News
he Chair of the Chamber’s North East Lincolnshire Area Council, Irene Keal, has been out and about presenting certificates to local businesses which entered the Northern Lincolnshire Business Awards.
14 Business Intelligence September/October 2022
4. Irene presents the Operations Director of Docks Beers, Shahram Shadan, with their Runners-Up Certificate for the North East Lincolnshire Council Business Development Award won at the NLBA22.
2. Irene pictured presenting a certificate to Nunnys Farm, who were Runners Up in the Excellence in Community category. Irene is
1. Irene (centre) presenting a certificate to Becky Darnell (left) and Charlotte Bowen of The Culture House who were runners-up in “The Business Live Thrive and Survive Award” sponsored by Reach plc.
Member News
seen here handing over the framed certificate to Nunnys Farm directors Joanna HolbrookMorris and Neil Campbell.
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3. Irene presents Sean Ramsden, CEO of Ramsden International, with the Runners Up Certificate for the Technical Absorbents International Trade Award from the Northern Lincolnshire Business Awards.
Delivering recognition to awards finalists
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Lia Nici said: “Havelock was very, very impressive. Using an app to communicate their message was clever.
Early Careers Network at Phillips 66 enjoyed designing the brief and we couldn’t have imagined such a fantastic response! The Havelock team’s thinking was outside the box. They had a biological application rather than one based on physics or chemistry.”
Winning team members Liam and Joseph said: “We are chuffed to bits. We worked really hard, but enjoyed every minute.”
September/October 2022 Business Intelligence 15 Member News ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE @Phillips66UK linkedin.com/company/phillips66co/
The team’s focus was on protecting plankton in the earth’s oceans, including farming it, to help improve the environment.
Decarbonisation Engineer Linda Winstanley and Phillips 66 Early Careers Network representative Ashin Leons.
“I’m now working five days a week having just finished college. I’m loving the job.
Phillips 66 team at the North East Lincolnshire Skills Fair
Innovative students are triumphant in Phillips 66
The challenge was launched earlier in the year, with more than 30 schools invited to come up with creative ways to support the country’s energy transition and benefit the environment.Studentscompeted to represent their school and those winners were whittled down to six finalists. Havelock plus teams from Cleethorpes Academy, Healing Academy, Oasis Wintringham, The Academy Grimsby and Tollbar Academy battled it out in the final.The final, held as part of the North East Lincolnshire Skills Fair at Grimsby Auditorium, saw students make a presentation before answering judges’ questions.
But I’d like to praise all the teams. It was fantastic to see students so engaged in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).”
sustainabilitySTEMchallengeFormoredetails,gotowww.phillips66.com/ukThewinningteamfromHavelock
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They were Grimsby MP and Levelling Up Minister Lia Nici, Innovate UK Project Director Kelly Aldis, Humber Eco Partnership’s Mark Fenty, Phillips 66
combination of technology, biology and passion won Liam Wright, Tony Wu, Chris Richardson and Joseph Escombe £1,000 for their school and a day at the Phillips 66 Limited Humber Refinery.
At the North East Lincolnshire Skills Fair, Phillips 66 also had a stand where hundreds of students discussed careers with staff and battled it out on static cycles converting energy to power scalextric cars.
Ashin Leons, who is part of the Early Careers Network at Phillips 66, said: “The
For Phillips 66 apprentice Joe Middleditch, the event took him back to when he visited it four years ago as a Year 10 at Humberston Academy.“Iremember coming and being interested in the Phillips 66 stand,” the 19-year-old, third year mechanical apprentice said.
Joe enjoyed being at the Skills Fair, where he encouraged other young people to follow in his footsteps.
They were clear on why plankton was important and came up with solutions to protect it, keeping the oceans healthy as a result.We all know about David Attenborough and larger animals, but it is very difficult to tell a story about something that is so small it has to be seen under a microscope.
Academy
Caroline Taylor, Havelock Academy Subject Leader for STEM, added: “I am extremely proud of what the students at Havelock Academy have achieved. The dedication and commitment to the competition have certainly paidSTEMoff. should be accessible for everyone and competitions like this really do open doors for even the most disadvantaged children.”
You get a huge amount of support from the team. If you have any questions, they are happy to show you how to do something.”
When he left Humberston, he started as a trainee at HETA and was later successful in an interview at the Humber Refinery.
When I got there, I felt welcome and part of the team straight away.
Cllr Jackson said: “Freshney Place is a huge space in our town centre, and we must ensure it has a stable future and is owned by those who have the interests of Grimsby at its very core. Yes, we must be prudent and responsible
Ros Hatton with her bouquet of flowers, surrounded by some of her colleagues wishing her well
• Work ongoing through the Towns Fund to transform Riverhead Square. Those plans were released last month.
Chairman of Forrester Boyd Mike Beckett thanked Ros for her loyalty and continued service.Hesaid: “On behalf of the partners and staff, past and present, I’d like to say a huge thank you to Ros and pay tribute to her.”
16 Business Intelligence September/October 2022 Member News
thank the partners for supporting and encouraging me over the years. I wouldn’t have changed anything.
• A plan to create modern, green town centre housing on Alexandra Dock again with Towns Fund monies.
The Council’s town centre vision includes:
• The transformation of a major arm of the west of Freshney Place: This will include a new cinema, eateries and a vibrant new Top Town market.
• A new Horizon OnSide Youth Zone: the national charity is progressing well with its plans to redevelop the historic West Haven Maltings.
• A LUF (Levelling Up Fund) submission for a new transport hub in the Town Centre and the electrification of the town’s bus fleet.
and I want to assure the people of North East Lincolnshire that this decision was not taken lightly. Significant work has been undertaken to assure this is well conceived and affordable, with no direct financial impact upon our local council taxpayers.”
With a catchment area of more than 300,000 people and a town centre shopper population of more than 170,000 (shoppers who are within a 20-minute drive), Freshney Place continues to play an important role within the town centre. It supports 1,700 full and part time jobs – representing one in five of all jobs within Grimsby town centre.
Shopping centre purchase to aid Grimsby regeneration
Freshney Place Shopping Centre
The firm has had 62 partners since the partnership was created in 1935 and Ros has worked with all but five.
Ros said: “The role has evolved but has always had variety. I’ve never really thought about the number of years that I have been here. They have flown by. I would like to
“I’ve seen huge growth of the firm in terms of numbers of staff, services, acquisitions, and the building. The firm has always moved forward. The partners have been very progressive – and continue to be –but maintain those traditional values.”
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later when Forrester Boyd partner Trevor Bootyman popped into the shop and asked after Ros, her mum said she was looking for a job after finishing a secretarial course at Grimsby College of Technology. She was interviewed the following week and accepted the £10 per week office junior role.
North East Lincolnshire Council’s purchase of Freshney Place Shopping Centre has now been completed as the Leader of the Council vows the local authority will redevelop the centre and the area around it.
Half a century in service at accountants
Cllr Philip Jackson promises the plans will offer a real mix within the urban heart of Grimsby. He also assured the council taxpaying public of North East Lincolnshire that due diligence has provided assurance that the purchase comes at no direct cost to them, with a combination of grant-funding and rents covering associated costs.
Subsequently, she was promoted and later became Administration Secretary and Private Secretary to the partners, a role she still performs. She took on a marketing role in the 1990s and is involved today in organising internal and external events.
“I have literally grown up with the firm,” she said. “I’ve worked with great people over the years and learnt so much.”
Her relationship with the South Saint Mary’s Gate office began as a young child when her mum, who owned electricians EA Hall Ltd on Wellowgate, took her to see her accountant.Manyyears
familiar face in the business community, Ros Hatton began her career at Forrester Boyd in 1972 as the office junior and has seen the practice grow into one of the region’s largest independent firms of chartered accountants.
Visit: www.daisyappeal.org
Raising the profile of the Daisy Appeal
September/October 2022 Business Intelligence 17 Member News
Nick said: “We have strong relationships within the regional business community and we see the Chamber as a key partner in helping us to build on that so it was great to be able to welcome a business leader who I have known for a long time and who has an excellent understanding of our work.”
Fundraiser Clare Levy, Nick and Mike inside the building
Since its foundation in 2002 the Daisy Appeal has raised more than £22m. The Daisy Appeal Medical Research Centre opened on the Castle Hill Hospital site in 2008 and was followed, in 2014, by the opening of the Jack Brignall PETCT Scanning Centre, housing the first in a new type of Siemens scanner in the country.
Mike made the comments after visiting the £8.8m Molecular Imaging Research Centre (MIRC) which is currently being fitted out at Castle Hill Hospital and will establish the site as one of the top PET-CT providers in the UK. Mike also renewed acquaintance with Professor Nick Stafford, Chair of the Daisy Appeal and a colleague from nearly 30 years ago.
Mike Whitehead, President of the Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, said he plans to introduce businesses in Northern
Mike said: “I was general manager critical care and surgery and Nick was professor of head and neck surgery and he drove the research projects which over the years led to the work supported by the Daisy Appeal.
“I have kept abreast of what Nick and his colleagues have been doing here and I think it’s amazing that they have taken our little corner of the world into the Premier League for cancer care and treatment in the UK.
Lincolnshire to the Daisy Appeal, which is tackling cancer, heart disease and dementia.
“I want to help to raise awareness among businesses in Northern Lincolnshire of what the Daisy Appeal is doing to help them, their colleagues and their communities – and what people can do to support the vital work.”
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he head of an organisation that represents more than 1,000 businesses across the Humber area has pledged to help raise awareness of the work of a regional charity which is transforming detection techniques for serious medical conditions.
azem Watti says that M W Truck Parts prides itself in its friendly and efficient service.
East Yorkshire-based Bartoline, the wellknown decorating products company, has launched a new over the counter trade range called 1876 The Professional Range.
Providing a solution for all your DIY truck needs
He said: “We specialise in two main areas: quality used truck engines and truck diesel fuel tanks. Research and development is an important part of our business with which we continue to increase our stock range and our understanding of the industries we work with. Our most recent development is the introduction and supply of anti-fuel theft devices, in affiliation with fuel defend global, for our entire range of diesel fuel tanks.
Developed and manufactured at Bartoline’s two Beverley production plants close to the M62, one of which has the largest production capacity for liquid filling in Europe, Bartoline can provide merchants with reassuring certainty of supply, said Paul.
Already a trusted UK decorative sundries supplier, Bartoline was established in Beverley in 1876, hence the new trade range name. Bartoline DIY products, including fillers, wallpaper adhesives, sealants, solvents and woodcare products, can be seen on the shelves of most big name consumer retailers.
He added: “At a time when international shipments are subject to unprecedented pressures, being based in the UK has enabled Bartoline to achieve a track record of meeting over 97% of customer retail orders on time and in full over the last 12 months. We shall provide that same high-quality service to our trade customers.”
Commenting on the launch, MD Paul Robbins said: “Bartoline’s target market for the new range is professional decorators and over the counter trade sales. For the builders’ merchant, the ‘1876 The Professional Range’ establishes Bartoline as a single source for a comprehensive range of decorating supplies with all the
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“With our ever evolving e-commerce website purchasing products from us has never been easier. With our quick dispatch and delivery time, just sit back and wait for your goods to arrive. We offer internati onal and overseas air freight to most areas of the world and for our heavier goods road freight to Europe, Scandinavia and the Balkans and consolidated sea freight to the rest of the world.”
‘Bartoline’s target market for the new range is professional decorators and over the counter trade sales’
Visit: www.bartoline.co.uk
Visit: Email:Email:www.mwtruckparts.co.uksales@mwtruckparts.co.uksales@mwhydraulics.co.uk
efficiencies that provides. It’s an exciting move to build on Bartoline’s strengths.”
The Bartoline 1876 The Professional Range
Now, Bartoline has developed the new 1876 The Professional Range, applying its product development expertise and production capability to create a reformulated range of trade quality products at competitive prices.
18 Business Intelligence September/October 2022 Member News
Bartoline launches new trade range
Developed for decorators and the building trade, the 1876 The Professional Range is a comprehensive suite of professional quality
“M W Hydraulics, which specialises in hydraulic wet kits & equipment, is the subbrand within the company. Constantly increasing its knowledge, understanding and stock range we aim to deliver a one-stop-
decorating supplies with an initial 32 SKUs (Stock Keeping Units) covering white spirits, powder fillers, ready-mix filler, plaster skim, wallpaper adhesives, caulk, adhesives and sanitary and frame sealants.
Hazem Watti, Managing Director at M W Truck Parts LTD
solution for DIY truck hydraulic applications. Despite an extensive stock range we continue to thrive on feedback to expand and meet our customers’ needs.
September/October 2022 Business Intelligence 19 Member News
Out of the Attic (left) and Oishii Ne (right), two of the many independent traders who have found a home in Hull’s Paragon Arcade
As innovators in designing and delivering workplace wellbeing and mental health training Talent Inspire have recently expanded their provision to support Hull and the surrounding areas. In response to demand throughout 2021, they are now actively delivering Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) courses, resilience training and bespoke workplace wellbeing and management workshops along the M62 corridor.After12 successful years leading workplace wellbeing initiatives around the
opportunities for colleagues to develop confidence in discussing wellbeing and improving the workplace experience. They then deliver workshops to the business, or segments of the business most likely to be influential in supporting others.
Georgia Allenby, Design and Marketing Manager at Allenby Commercial, said: “Paragon Arcade is all about providing a
Tom Would fell in love with Asian food during several trips to Japan and France –where he sharpened his skills with the help of a Japanese sushi master who was introduced by a Hefriend.launched Oishii Ne as a pop-up in December 2020. He said: “We opened in July and it’s been manic. We had a following anyway from our pop-ups and it’s gone up three-fold or
Victorian arcade, which makes dreams come true for independent traders, has embarked on its latest round of recruitment and expansion.
northwest and midlands, they saw an opportunity to expand and support more successful businesses in being the best employer to work for, with the happiest employees.TalentInspire’s mental health first aid courses are MHFA England accredited twoday courses. They also deliver the one-day MHFA line manager and half-day MHFA awareness courses.
‘It’s a community down here. Each shop is different and has something unique to offer’
Workplace training firm arrives in Hull
Arcade offers a sense of community
Gary Matfin and Andy Sparrow used to save their school dinner money to spend in Hull city centre at the legendary Sydney Scarborough record shop as well as in HMV, Our Price, Boots and Woolworths.
Allenby Commercial, who transformed all the units and attracted an array of niche businesses after buying Paragon Arcade in 2017, is also bringing in other new tenants for the remaining space as part of their plan to keep the offer fresh and fun.
To talk to Talent Inspire about your organisational mental health and workplace wellbeing, email katie@talentinspire.co.uk, call 01482 738436 or www.talentinspire.co.uk.visitChambermembersreceive a 15% discount on all courses or consultancy projects.
For more bespoke requirements, recent projects have included neurodiversity awareness training, men’s health workshops and stress management guidance. They typically work with business leaders and managers, identifying where there are
Meanwhile Out of the Attic – a record shop opened in the arcade in June 2020 by two old school pals – has expanded into a double unit with space to display more records, CDs, DVDs and t-shirts.
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Gary said: “HMV is still around but Boots doesn’t sell records any more and the others are long gone. We always said we wanted to open our own record shop and 40 years later we did it! Initially we had no idea whether there would be any interest in the business but it has just grown and we have been blown over by the support we have had. People seem to like what we do and where we are. It’s the kind of shop you would expect to find in an arcade.
“We have had some fantastic tenants. Some find their feet and move to bigger premises elsewhere, others expand to larger units here and we have a waiting list of people who want to move in when vacancies arise.”
20 Business Intelligence September/October 2022 Member News
more. A lot of people are still finding out about us – people who aren’t on social media and have discovered us in other ways, including by walking through the arcade.”
“It’s a community down here. Each shop is different and has something unique to offer and often we work together.”
launchpad for independent local businesses which bring great ideas and fit into the community spirit we have nurtured here.
Oishii Ne – an Asian street food restaurant and take-away inspired by the Japanese phrase for “it’s delicious” – is the latest addition to the businesses at Paragon Arcade in Hull.
Talent Inspire are inspiring workplace mental health and wellbeing, and have landed in Hull.
Research shows that for every £1 spent on workplace mental health training the employer sees a £4 return.
Freya added: “Whether businesses are moving because they need more or less space, we have the flexibility to provide that quickly. There are no capital set-up costs and there’s no need to start moving loads of furniture or worry about connectivity, property management and rental.
‘Whether businesses are moving because they need more or less space we have the flexibility to provide that quickly’
“Businesses pay for the space they occupy and they can take additional facilities such as meeting rooms only when they need them. That appeals to people who are launching start-ups, pursuing new business ideas and exploring alternative ways of working because it takes away any worries about the premises.”
Initially when the pandemic struck the focus was on helping clients secure grants and on improving connectivity to support those businesses which had colleagues and contacts working remotely.
In addition the business centre team are witnessing a general increase in enquiries as businesses change and property requirements areFreyareviewed.said: “We are receiving enquiries from businesses in a wide range of sectors and of all sizes. Some are new ventures and others have moved from elsewhere, which is not uncommon when businesses face times of uncertainty.“Peopleare responding to the changing demands on their organisations and in their
Freya Cross (pictured), Head of Business and Corporate at The Deep, said the Business Centre has attracted two new start-ups and two relocating businesses from the accounting, legal, leisure and logistic sectors.
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September/October 2022 Business Intelligence 21
During the past two years the business centre has itself adapted and evolved to help its client base of more than 40 businesses employing over 200 people.
business environments and what they see at the business centre is a facility and team that offers flexibility and is geared to supporting them.”
he Deep Business Centre is preparing to announce a number of new arrivals with more likely to follow.
Finding flexibility at The Deep Business Centre
Member News 22 Business Intelligence September/October 2022
Jethro Shearring, Senior Fundraisers (Trusts) for Dove House Hospice, said the golf day along with the firm’s contribution to Make A Will Fortnight which is coming up in October make “a crucial difference” to the Anncharity.Newlove, Head of Business and Communications at HEY Smile Foundation, who were one of the teams playing in the competition said the connections made at these events are also of vital importance to charities as they face one crisis after another.Rollits,
Ease of securing commercial property.
We have been brought up here and we feel at home and comfortable in our surroundings.
Phone, email and walk in any of our welcoming premises.
Pat Coyle, Director of Marketing and Client Relations at Rollits, said: “We are delighted that our golf day is recognised as a firm fixture in the local golfing calendar and for that we are extremely grateful to our clients and contacts who support it by taking part and by sponsoring holes and prizes.”
Member News September/October 2022 Business Intelligence 23
What makes it unique?
Brian Deehan (Muscular Dystrophy UK), Dan Clipson (Dove House), Julian Wild (Rollits) and Pat Coyle (Rollits)
What’s the best way for people to contact you?
What do you enjoy most about working in our region?
Business Intelligence introduces a new Chamber member to learn more about their business.
Jason and ThreadgoldNichola
Call:www.jasonthreadgoldfuneraldirectors.comVisit:07980497164or01482445502Picturecredit:kevingreenephotography@gmail.com
What was your first job? Cashier at Heron Frozen Foods.
Job Title: Company Directors and Funeral Director
Name of the business: Jason Threadgold Funeral Director Ltd
How many staff in the team? Fifteen.
New Member in the Spotlight
We are the only true family business with no other partners who provide the very best bespoke Funeral Services and associated services.
To get us connected with like minded business people.
More than 22 clients and contacts of the firm took part in Rollits’ annual charity golf day at Brough Golf Club and helped to raise over £3,500 for Dove House Hospice and Muscular Dystrophy UK.
Name: Jason and Nichola Threadgold
Where is it based? Scunthorpe, Brigg and Barton.
Rollits’ clients in fundraising efforts
What does your business do? Provides the very best Funeral Service in Northern Lincolnshire.
How long has it been going? Eight years.
Two of East Yorkshire’s most highprofile charities have cheered the contributions in cash and kind of the region’s business community after the latest fundraising event by leading law firm Rollits LLP.
What do you hope to gain from your Chamber membership?
What one change would help your business the most?
which has offices in Hull and York, has been holding its golf day for 35 years and has now raised over £150,000 over the years.
An open mind.
What do you never go to work without?
Where does it operate? Nationally.
Jethro said Dove House Hospice receives only 10% of its funding from theHeGovernment.said:“Thehospice is completely reliant on the generosity of the local community and we are incredi bly grateful for the continued support from Rollits, whose efforts help to make such a crucial difference to the patients and those closest to them accessing specialist care at Dove House.”
Traders taking part in the back-to-back events were inundated with hungry hordes eager to try cuisine from around the world.
crowd-pullers which deliver bottom-line benefits.“Thelatest in our Hull Street Food Nights programme was another huge success and our first Yum! Festival since 2019 was phenomenal, featuring local businesses as well as a bit more variety from further afield and generating welcome trade for businesses in all sectors across the city centre.”
Some of the characters caught on camera at the Yum! Festival
ullBID’s summer of sensational food celebrations brough thousands of people to the city’s Fruit Market area as the third of this year’s Hull Street Food Nights was followed by the return of the Yum! Festival of Food and Drink.
An additional attraction at Yu m! was the Good Things Market which was launched in 2019 by the owners of Humber Street businesses Form and Plant & Paint andwhich returned last year.
Selo Ozguc, Manager of Tasty sandwich bar and café overlooking Hull Marina, was also delighted with the crowds who were lining up to buy the gelato which is a speciality.
Lara Roberts, owner of Plant & Paint, said: “Our first market after Covid was summer 2021. This one is a special edition purely for Yum! It has a really positive knock-on effect. People come here ready to spend money on indie businesses and it’s really good for the shops and the cafes as well.”
Caroline Birchall told how Yum! has helped her business, Laura’s Fudge, make an impact nationwide with an outlet at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park and as a supplier to major brands including Harvey Nichols and Selfridges.
Kathryn said: “The response to our events programme has been amazing and we will soon be announcing more attractions with particular emphasis on family fun. We are planning a big steampunk festival – a first for Hull – in October and we are in the process of organising some dinosaur street entertainment in “We’reSeptember.also now working on ideas to pull in the crowds for Christmas and into 2023. With all of this we work closely with city centre businesses to ensure our events are proven
‘We work closely with city centre businesses to ensure our events are proven crowdpullers which deliver bottomline benefits’
Visitors to Yum! were able to tuck into everything from burgers and bangers to Greek specialities, Indian spice, Singapore noodles and Jamaican jerk chicken as well as pizza, pies and other pastry.
For those with a sweet tooth there was an array of cookies, cupcakes, fudges, brownies and other assorted bakes.
Selo said: “We are always busy because people like what we do, especially the gelato. It is the first time we have had Yum! down here and it’s a great festival which has made us even busier so we would like to see more events down here.”
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Return of food festival attracts hungry crowds to city centreYum!FestivalofFood and Drink attracted thousands of people to the Fruit Market area of the city centre
Non-food businesses including those based permanently in Humber Street welcomed the events as a huge boost for business and Kathryn Shillito, HullBID Executive Director, said there will be more to come.
Caroline said: “We do about a dozen festivals a year and we’ve been to Yum! four or five times. It’s the first one we’ve done in this part of the city. It’s a really nice area and it’s busy.”
24 Business Intelligence September/October 2022 Member News
As the sun shone the bar area complete with disco was buzzing with traders including local businesses Taphouse, Tribal and Atom.
September/October 2022 Business Intelligence 25 Member News
Rather than select a specific business person, I will say that the leaders I admire in business, sport, etc are those who can create a clear strategy which is “owned” by the stakeholders in the organisation and build a culture which enables people to thrive and drive towards that common goal. Individuals that spring to mind include Juergen Klopp in the sporting world and Tim Cook in a business context.
Job Title: CEO
Patron’s Profile
What was your first job?
How many people are there in the team?
Legal firm – supporting businesses and private clients.
We are experts in what we do and our passion is supporting our clients through each stage in their personal and business lives, advising them through some of the most exciting and challenging times of their lives.
Like so many young boys, I wanted to be a professional sportsman with Rugby Union being my first choice sport. I encountered two problems in achieving this ambition: 1) Rugby Union only turned professional in 1995 which was too late for me and 2) I wasn’t good enough so a career in the legal sector beckoned!
Name of the business: Wilkin Chapman LLP
Putting up marquees during the school holidays.
The support the Chamber provides is of huge benefit to the region and this works its way across its diverse range of sectors and into other parts of the country through its national network of contacts. The Chamber’s ability to answer thousands of enquires annually gives it a unique “finger on the pulse of business” and our relationship with the Chamber allows us to tap into its knowledge and expertise through events, exhibitions, and content.
Your name: Robin Simmonds
I would have been a little less focused on sport and worked a little harder at school.
Honesty, integrity, friendliness.
Why do you think it is important to support the Chamber and its Membership network?
Where is it based?
Knowing what you know now, what would you do differently?
• Professionally: I am enjoying working in a leading regional firm that has such a longstanding history in the area. It’s great to be able to speak to clients on our doorstep and really immerse myself in the culture and community around Lincolnshire, the Humber and East Yorkshire.
In the current marketplace, the biggest challenge we face is to retain, support and develop our colleagues so that they are able to deliver the best service for our clients. The recruitment marketplace is hugely competitive at the moment but our new agile working policy has given us the ability to attract new talent into the firm in a way that allows our colleagues to manage the needs of the business alongside the needs of their personal lives.
What do you enjoy most about working in our region?
Introducing Chamber Patrons and taking a closer look at what they do and why they are such strong supporters of the organisation
26 Business Intelligence September/October 2022
If you could make one Government policy decision, what would that be: Reverse the Brexit decision – a nice easy one! I realise that this is a complex issue, but anything which hinders free trade is in my view a negative.
Head office is in Grimsby, with offices in Lincoln, Beverley, Louth and Horncastle.
Since 1900!
What advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
What does your business do?
Nearly 400.
• Socially: As a sports fan, I am making the most of some of our local football connections. Wilkin Chapman sponsors Grimsby Town, Lincoln City and a variety of games at Cleethorpes Town and I often get the opportunity to watch some of the local matches with colleagues and clients which is great fun.
How long has it been going?
Who is the business person you admire the most, and why?
I am a great believer in Edison’s quote that achieving success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration, so if you have a plan, back yourself and pursue it with energy and commitment and don’t give up when you hit obstacles which you inevitably will. Also, a little bit of luck always helps and that brings me to another quote I live by from Gary Player in the world of golf: “The harder I practise the luckier I get.”
What qualities do you look for in your staff?
What is the biggest challenge facing your business?
You run a successful business, but when you were younger, what did you want to do when you grew up?
• Personally: I am enjoying immersing myself in all aspects of local life including sampling much of the local food. Lincolnshire haslet is a particular favourite a nd the haddock and chips is of course the best in the country.
What is its inspiration?
Brian, who is also a published author, is looking forward to working locally, helping the people of Beverley and surrounding areas.
A warm Wilkin Chapman welcome to new staff
The Wilkin Chapman stand at the Lincolnshire Show where visitors enjoyed a live cooking demonstration by The Lincolnshire Chef Steve Bennett
“I’m passionate about delivering a great service to my clients.
Sarah Diak has joined the Beverley branch of the firm and will be involved in local, regional and national work for the department which is ranked in tier one for its expertise in the Legal 500 guide to law firms.Born in Hull, Mrs Diak went to St Mary’s college before studying law at Northumbria University where she graduated with first class honours. She carved out her specialism while training and starting her career at a law firm in Hull.
With 17 years’ experience in local government, Brian will be working directly with high-profile clients assisting on major projects relating to development which will benefit the community.
“I believe everyone should have access to the law and strive to ensure clients are satisfied with what we can do for them as a firm,” Brian said.
A pink cow appeared on the stand at the Driffield Show where a competition was held to name the cow. The winning name was Wilkin Chapmoo!
Also joining Sarah in the Beverley office is commercial property executive, Brian Gray.
New Solicitor Sarah Diak with Partner James Marsden and Brian Gray, Commercial Property Executive
The practice as a whole has nearly 400 partners and staff working across five offices and is the largest law firm in East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
Sarah, who has a young son, said she was attracted to Wilkin Chapman due to its regional reach and flexible working ethos. She added: “It was time for the next stage of my career and I am very happy to have joined a firm that has such an excellent reputation for its work and its employee relations. I have been made to feel very welcome.”
I’d like to see greater speed and more action taken around the Government’s recent Levelling Up policy. Yorkshire and the Humber lag behind the rest of the country in a number of socio-economic measures including education, health, wealth and infrastructure.
Wilkin Chapman, which reported record-breaking turnover for its services provided to businesses and individuals during the last financial year, recently appointed two partners to its growing team of 47 people in Beverley.
What do you feel is the biggest change that would benefit the Humber?
In early July, Wilkin Chapman announced that it was paying every member of staff a one-off bonus of £1,000 to help with the cost of living crisis.Italso has an extensive Employee Assistance Programme which includes a range of wellbeing initiatives, a comprehensive healthcare scheme, and other benefits aimed at contributing to a happy and healthy workforce.
Chamber Patrons September/October 2022 Business Intelligence 27
Sarah will be involved in day-to-day landlord and tenant work, along with commercial property sales, purchases and refinances. She will also be assisting the wider firm, in particular on propertyrelated insolvency matters.
A new solicitor has been appointed to Wilkin Chapman’s nationally recognised commercial property team.
The Government’s pledge to empower local leaders would give us the ability to act more quickly, flexibly, and innovatively. As a firm we take our commitment to the local region seriously with our support for military families through our Armed Forces Gold Award from the MoD, support for schools and universities with placements and student mentoring programmes, and our significant fundraising for local charities.
“I’m a self-confessed property nerd and I find property law to be very interesting and varied,” she said.
The charities’ programmes run over 10 weeks and aim to engage young people, who require additional support, in creative activities, encouraging learning and helping children see the link between what they learn in the classroom and the real world. Participants receive two hours per week (20 hours in total) from Run With It staff. At the Flemingate Centre they take part in activities including using maps and leaflets to explore the Shopping Centre and utilise the facilities to
Raising self-esteem and developing confidence are key aspects of the programme and Run With It will work with the schools to identify those children who would most benefit.”
supporting schools and educational charities to achieve this aim.
Arco is also encouraging colleagues to involve themselves with volunteering opportunities across all Run With It programmes, including the aiding in the delivery of two new 10-week education programmes in Beverley during September, benefitting up to 60 students.
In the last two years, Run With It has expanded across the East Riding of Yorkshire and has opened two new centres at Bridlington Football Club and Flemingate Shopping Centre in Beverley, which facilitate the education programmes one day a week. With Arco’s support, the charity will now be able t o increase these centres’ capacity to run the programmes to two days a week, resulting in extra support for four schools a week at each centre.
“Through the Arco Community Panel, we are delighted to be supporting Run With It and enabling them to expand their offer in Beverley, which will help benefit dozens of students from the town and the surrounding area by improving their knowledge, confidence, self-esteem and mental wellbeing.”
Lisa Dawson, Director of Run With It, said: “We are very grateful to Arco for agreeing to sponsor two programmes at our new Beverley Education Centre.
Arco supports local charity with education programmes
Anna Harvatt (left) with Kate Hill, Lead Tutor at Run With It, Outside Flemingate
Chamber Patrons 28 Business Intelligence September/October 2022
The charity is also looking to follow these programmes up with a one-day enrichment experience at the MKM Stadium. Run With It is aiming to offer more schools the opportunity to engage with the educational programmes by increasing the number of days it runs at Flemingate and the number of programmes that it organises during the next academic year.
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‘This funding will support pupils to develop literacy and numeracy skills in a real-life setting’
improve literacy and maths skills, teamwork and problem solving, alongside a wide variety of other imaginative sessions.
Anna Harvatt, Community Engagement Manager at Arco, said: “At Arco, we are committed to helping young people achieve their potential and we have a long history of
rco, the UK’s leading safety company, has donated £3,000 to local charity Run With It, an educational support non-profit charity, to help develop literacy and numeracy skills in local young people.
“This funding will support pupils to develop literacy and numeracy skills in a real-life setting using various retail outlets and businesses at Flemingate Shopping Centre. The children will complete a 10-week programme with all the work supporting and applying what they have learnt in school.
September/October 2022 Business Intelligence 29 Business Intelligence T: 01482 219 655 E: W:info@direct-gaskets.co.ukdirect-gaskets.co.uk
How did you get involved with Horizon Youth Zone?
service provision when it opens in 2024.
What is it about Horizon Youth Zone’s work that resonates with you?
It also helps young people to network, if they have a particular career interest in mind – whatever it is – someone in the Youth Zone will actively seek connections that can open doors to widen their experience. So, it really is about giving the centre and the community
Open whenever school is closed, they provide young people with a choice of over 20 fun and engaging activities every day including sports, arts, music, media, dance, drama, cooking, employability and enterprise workshops and programmes.
President Mike Whitehead has chosen to support a brand-new youth charity, Horizon Youth Zone, which is set to provide thousands of young people in North East Lincolnshire with the opportunity to discover their passion and their purpose. Horizon Youth Zone is being created in partnership with national charity OnSide together with NE Lincolnshire Council, Charitable Trusts, philanthropic individuals, local businesses, community groups and young people. Located in the heart of Grimsby, it will be the largest single investment in young people the area has ever seen and will become a flagship for youth
That’s just the question I wanted! There are several levels – wasted potential; I have two teachers in the family, so I am all too aware of some young people having greater opportunities than others. The Youth Zone is a place where young people can connect with others and can try a whole host of things, from sports, crafts and many activities to find out what they like. They can also receive additional support around things such as employability and mental health should they need it.
An artist’s impression of how the new centre might look
CharityYearofthe
discover why he chose to support their charity this year through the Chamber:
Offering an abundance of opportunities coupled with support from dedicated youth workers who truly believe in them. All for a £5 annual membership and 50p per visit.
Mike is in the zone and helping youth charity
OnSide creates Youth Zones which are designed specifically for young people aged between eight-19 years and up to 25 years for members with additional needs.
hamber of Commerce
It’s a fantastic thing for Grimsby and I thoroughly believe it’s going to make a huge difference to the young people living there now and in the future – in fact I want one in Hull too!
I became aware of Horizon Youth Zone some time ago through Louise Alford at OnSide who gave me a tour of HideOut Youth Zone in East Manchester. From that day I decided to make Horizon my Charity of the Year because I absolutely believe in it.
PRESIDENT’S
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30 Business Intelligence September/October 2022 Chamber Charity
Horizon’s Young People’s Development Group sent Erin and Harriet to meet Mike and
Charity OnSide is building a brand new Horizon Youth Zone in Grimsby, and Chamber President Mike Whitehead has made it his charity of the year. Here, Mike talks to Erin and Harriet and explains why he is a passionate supporter of the project.
There are a lot of pre-decided thoughts about what young people want, it happened in my day, but for people to understand each other and what young people really want, we need to work together. The more the community is involved, the more barriers are broken down and we can work to deliver services which fit the needs of that local area.
My advice would be, give everything a try. Don’t be afraid to ‘fail’ and if you don’t like it, move onto the next thing until you find something you enjoy and are passionate about.
Why do you think it’s important to have local community involvement and support for a Youth Zone?
Have a go – I would take it all in and then sample it all. Then the things I really enjoyed I would go back to. I tended to enjoy all team sports as I love doing activities with my mates. I would encourage all young people to be part of a team as that’s such an important thing in life.
How the Garth Lane site in Grimsby’s town centre will look when work is completed
connect with friends and meet new people from different walks of life – fabulous!
You also get a mix of skills and ideas from others who are able to inspire young people to do things. It’s so important.
You have got someone there who can help steer you, support you and motivate you. If I had my chance to go around again, I would love to be part of that, because I always had an interest in lots of different activities, and Youth Zones provide the perfect opportunity to try out different things, be part of a team,
The climbing wall, I thought: “I’ll have a go at that”. 4G pitches, Sports Hall, Chill Out rooms and arts and crafts room. There is just everything there, you can pick up and sample a whole host of activities.
Did they have anything similar to Youth Zones when you were younger?
It is a fantastic organisation and I know they are going to make a huge difference to a lot of young people and their families. Life is about what you put in, the more you put in, the better it gets.
Erin and Harriet interview Chamber President Mike Whitehead
I believe most young people have within them a desire to learn new skills and achieve. It’s about enabling them to do this, its motivating them, it’s giving them opportunities to try and by supporting them through challenges.
No – well, I was a boy scout. We used to go camping, abseiling, climbing – which I suppose has a likeness to some of the activities available through Youth Zones. But in terms of the facilities, nothing compares to what you’re going to have at Horizon.Whatwould you say to others thinking of getting involved with Horizon Youth Zone?
If you were a young person what would you most like to do in a Youth Zone?
Tell us about your visit to HideOut Youth Zone in Manchester and any highlights that stand out?
the resources to help young people achieve their potential. It’s all about opportunity, changing behaviour, helping the community –its huge. I probably haven’t given it justice, but you can see I’m firmly behind it.
September/October 2022 Business Intelligence 31
How can we as a society inspire the next generation and what advice would you give?
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Established ‘by business for business’ in 1967 to bridge the gap between education and training HETA continues to thrive and expand with training centres across the region in Hull, Grimsby and Scunthorpe providing high quality practical engineering training supplemented by academic study from Level 3 to Level 5 with access to Higher Education through a strategic partnership with Sheffield Hallam University.
‘Choosing takenshouldtrainingapprenticeshipanprovidernotbelightly’
colleges and independent training providers the decision of which to choose can be both a daunting and sometimes confusing one.
Spotlight Features
In this issue we take a look at the Made in Hull & Humber and Corporate Christmas sectors.
Working with over 400 companies in the region HETA not only provide young people with a start to their engineering careers they also deliver ongoing upskilling training to over 1500 engineers ensuring that skills are maintained and retained within the Yorkshire and Humber region.
By David Morgan, Head of Sales & Marketing at HETA
Among the many challenges facing the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering sector in the region is staff recruitment, retention and wage inflation driven by an increasing lack of skilled and competent engineers. Eighty-five per cent of businesses are currently feeling the strain from a lack of skilled workers. Research suggests that 186,000 skilled engineers will be required annually until 2024 to plug the skills gap. Further compounding the skills challenge is the prediction that almost 20% of the current workforce are due to retire before 2026.
A guide to growing your own talent
One means of mitigating these risks is to ‘grow your own’ and develop emerging young talent through employer led apprenticeship programmes. However, with such a wide range of training provision available through local further education
Choosing an apprenticeship training provider should not be taken lightly and should be subject to the same diligence you would apply if you were thinking of changing jobs and your employer.
A starting point in deciding which approved apprenticeship provider to use is to undertake research into the history of those that you are entrusting the development of a loved one or a member of your staff.
All approved apprenticeship training providers are subject to external quality inspection through OfSted and the grade awarded resulting from inspection should be considered along with the strengths identified as part of the that Equallyinspection.important in choosing a provider is to consider the success of that provider both in relation to the qualifications they deliver as part of an apprenticeship and overall completion rates of apprentices on programme. While neither are necessarily in the public domain it is highly recommended, in making a choice of provider, that questions are asked to ensure that you are giving the apprentice the very best chance of successfully competing their apprenticeship with a provider with a proven track record of successful delivery.
ong established specialist training provider Humberside Engineering Training Association (HETA) is celebrating another hugely successful year having placed over 200 young people from across the region into highly skilled, highly paid careers as Engineering Apprentices.
32 Business Intelligence September/October 2022 Spotlight Feature: Business Crime & Protection
Spotlight Feature: Made in Hull & Humber September/October 2022 Business Intelligence 33
Make the gift useful
People make deeper connections with a brand that speaks to them on a personal level so try to choose a gift that will suit your clients’ needs, demonstrating that you care about them as an individual and value your partnership.
your logo, icon or a subtle brand message to the gift or its packaging – or even by implementing your brand colours – you are raising brand awareness’
opportunity to show our appreciation to those who we care about and value. For businesses, they might want to consider how corporate gifts to clients can help nurture long-standing and valued relationships. But how do you pick the perfect gift? Laura Blake, Managing Editor of Business Intelligence, explores some of the options.
Corporate giving should be seen as a business investment. Implement and stick to a budget, as you would for any other investment, and keep the value of the gift in proportion to what your client spends with you.While you’re hardly likely to make a lasting impression or prove your appreciation with a cheap bottle of wine or a generic box of chocolates, it’s also important to make sure you don’t overdo it.
What are your client’s likes and hobbies? Would they value a Christmas hamper over a new sports bottle?
34 Business Intelligence September/October 2022 Spotlight Feature: Corporate Christmas
If you do plan on giving gifts to your customers and clients this year, don’t leave it until the last minute. You will need ample time to compare and choose a supplier, and factor in the time it will take for branded gifts to be produced and distributed.
Planning and budgeting
Gifts that are seen as too expensive and lavish can imply that you’re trying to buy business from your customer. It’s important to strike the right balance, as there is a fine line between a thoughtful gift and a bribe.
A high-quality gift is more likely to be used and kept for longer than a cheaper item – think of how many cheap corporate gifts you may have discarded or lost over the years. With that in mind, it’s important to put some thought into the gift to make sure it won’t just end up in the bin by New Year’s Day.
‘Tis seasontheofgiving‘Bysimplyadding
Many options for corporate gifts will have a dual purpose – a useful item the recipient will appreciate, which also serves as a practical marketing tool for your business. Branded gifts are a popular option, especially around the holidays. By simply adding your logo, icon or a subtle brand message to the gift or its packaging –or even by implementing your brand colours – you are raising brand awareness.
Spotlight Feature: Corporate Christmas
Year-round appreciation
Consider how you send the gift
Create a clear marketing message
While it’s natural to think of sending gifts during the holiday season, is there anything that is stopping your business from appreciating your clients all year round? Other cultural holidays can also be celebrated with tasteful tokens of your appreciation, and if you send gifts when your clients least expect it, you’ll certainly stand out from the crowd.
But don’t go overboard, or your effort at selfpromotion could distract from the gift itself. There is also the option to personalise gifts with the recipients’ logo – a thoughtful gesture that is sure to impress.
Finally, adding a call to action, such as a phone number, website or even a social media hashtag is a great way to reach people and make sure you’re remembered.
If you are sending your gifts via the post or a delivery service, make sure you factor delivery time in your initial planning, as Christmas is a very busy time for the postal service. For your most important clients, do you have the option to deliver their gift in person to make it really special? No matter the delivery method, you’ll find that including a handwritten, personalised note will go a long way in helping strengthen personal relationships.
September/October 2022 Business Intelligence 35
Major contract wins during the last 12 months include providing language services for the COP26 Summit in Glasgow, the NHS track and trace service and Transport for London.
AA Global CEO Kirk Akdemir (right) with Andrei Sparling, the company’s Operations Director
36 Business Intelligence September/October2022
Kirk said: “Those successes were a reward for our decision to increase our investment in technology. We weren’t to know it at the time but that commitment meant we didn’t just maintain services during the lockdowns, we were able to excel.”Andrei
Sector Focus
‘We are developing our sophisticated IT system all the time to meet the evolving demands of the business’
Most of the AA Global workload involves supporting public sector clients, particularly local authorities and the NHS. The company is also prominent in the private sector, supporting businesses as a partner of the Chamber’s International Trade C entre and as the main sponsor of this year’s Chamber Expo.
The business has welcomed three new people with one each working on contracts, data analysis and specialist linguist recruitment.
Overseas sales growth stalls
A survey of over 2,600 UK exporters has revealed that overseas sales growth has been effectively stagnant for more than a year since the economy fully reopened after lockdown.
This compares to around 40% of cincreasedconsistentlybusinessesreportingdomesticsalesacrossthesametimeperiodintheBCC’sQuarterlyEconomicSurvey(QES).Manufacturingexportersarealsothemostlikely(78%)toexpecttoraisepricesinthenextyear,arecordhigh.Almostnineoutof10(89%)firmsinthissectorcite‘rawmaterials’astheirbiggestcostpressure,with74%citing‘utilities’and70%itinglabourcosts.HeadofTradePolicyattheBritishChambersofCommerceWilliamBainsaid:“Thecombinationofsupplychaindisruption,soaringprices,andtheimpactofBrexitredtapeandcompliancecostshashadachillingeffectonexports,especiallyforsmallerfirms.“Governmentmusthelpbusinessestoharnesstheopportunitiesprovidedbyexistingfreetradeagreements,andthosecomingonstream.“ChambersofCommercehavetheexpertiseandbusinessnetworktohelpGovernmentshiftthedial.Byworkingtogether,wecanbuildanend-to-endsupportserviceforourexporters.”
Language specialist welcomes key new staff
Kirk added: “We have emerged strongly from the pandemic and we are now investing in the right people to help us build on that and to create jobs for local people.”
Kirk Akdemir, CEO of the company, said further appointments are likely as AA Global continues its expansion.
The latest news from the International Trade, Legal & Finance, The Arts, Skills & Training, Manufacturing and Motoring industries.
Kirk said: “These are all senior posts and that makes it likely we will need more people in support roles. Also, by investing in the right people and in enhanced technology we are improving our services to clients and we expect that to deliver more growth.”
AA Global expanded to Hull in 2011 with just two people and now has about 30 working at its offices in King Edward Street, Hull. The company also has a worldwide network of 15,000 translators and interpreters who work in more than 500 languages and dialects.
Sparling, AA Global’s Director of Operations, said: “We are developing our sophisticated IT system all the time to meet the evolving demands of the business. By categorising levels of experience and spec ialisms among our linguists we can identify the right people for specific projects much more quickly, and that enables us to provide exactly what our clients need.”
A
A Global Language Services has followed up a series of high-profile contract wins with further recruitment into key positions within its Hull-based team.
The BCC’s quarterly Trade Confidence Outlook for Q2 2022 showed the proportion of exporters reporting increased overseas sales to be unchanged from Q1 at 29%, while those reporting a decrease remained at 25%.
September/October 2022 Business Intelligence 37 Sector Focus: International Trade
Call: 01522 717410 Visit: www.pepperells.com
experience in the management of sporting venues and the opening of new stadiums in the UK, from the catering, commercial and event management side, said:
“I’ve worked in the sporting sector for over two decades and have gained a unique insight into what does and doesn’t work. It’s a challenging sector and one that I love, so it just makes sense for us to use our expertise to launch this new service, helping clubs generate new and additional income streams, ensuring they maximise their revenue for a successful and sustainable future.”
360 Founder Andy Steele has helped many sporting clubs throughout his distinguished accountancy career with funding applications, business development grants, research and development tax credits, tax advice and capital allowance claims on stadia expenditure and improvements as well as energy efficiencies and reducing carbon footprint.
Aimed at both professional and semi-professional sporting clubs and venues, 360 Sport Finance and Mentoring provides help and support to boost
“At this stage, I was considering my next steps, either through the traditional Legal Practice Course (LPC) route or newly launched Solicitor Qualifying Exam (SQE).
Meanwhile, Managing Director Adrian Hunter is a leading player in the UK sport, stadia and leisure sector, with
Andy said: “360 Sport Finance and Mentoring is an exciting new venture for us and we don’t think any other accountancy firm has the specific expertise we do in this field. As a business, we are huge supporters of professional and
grassroots clubs, as well as being avid sports fans. We would, therefore, welcome the opportunity to discuss how we can help your club going forward.”
“I researched both and decided that the SQE would be the preferred route for me.
Sporting focus for accountancy firm
over 20 years’ executive experience with blue chip and large c orporate companies.
epperells Solicitors, who have offices in Lincolnshire, East Yorkshire and the North East have launched a new Graduate Apprenticeship scheme, opening up a new path for aspiring legal professionals. Business Intelligence spoke to Ryan Revell, Graduate Solicitor Apprentice at Pepperells, to find out more about the newly established role and how this has helped him to develop a career in law.
Pepperells Solicitors are a fast paced, modern, full service firm offering legal solutions in practice areas of family law, property & housing, business services, criminal defence, civil matters, contentious probate, medical negligence and wills & probate.
“I value the work life balance of four-days working, one-day of study and I still have the weekends to myself to enjoy time with friends and family. Also, the Solicitor Graduate Apprenticeship allows you to work within a practice alongside studying to qualify as a solicitor.”“Iamdelighted that Pepperells are offering the Graduate Solicitor Apprenticeship option as a route into qualifying as a solicitor. I enjoy the variety of work and study and look forward to g aining my qualifications to become a practising solicitor in the near future.”
‘I enjoy the variety of work and study and look forward to gaining my qualifications to become a practising solicitor in the near future’
Andy Steele (left) and Adrian Hunter - new services will help clubs generate new income
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I was offered a role as an intern in the summer of 2021 with Pepperells, which resulted in a full-time paralegal role shortly afterwards.
Award-winning 360 Chartered Accountants has launched a brand new service aimed specifically at the sporting sector.
360 Sport Finance and Mentoring comes in response to a number of approaches from both professional and semiprofessional sports clubs who have already recognised the firm’s expertise in this field.
Ryan Revell
38 Business Intelligence September/October 2022 Sector Focus: Legal & Finance
“The Graduate Apprenticeship (SQE) lasts for 30 months and comprises two exams known as the SQE1 and SQE2.
“For me, the benefit of the Solicitor Graduate Apprenticeship is that your week comprises 80% work and 20% study.
www.360accountaVisit:nts.co.uk
The firm recognise the value in supporting the next generation of aspiring lawyers, in as
financial growth, including the development of non-event day business, which is vital for longtermAdrian,sustainability.whohas
Pepperells offer new route into a legal career
many different routes as possible, either through the LPC, SQE or Apprenticeships.
“I graduated with a First-Class Honours LLB Law Degree from the University of Hull in Summer 2021. I had a couple of training contract interviews for local firms but they were unsuccessful. I was disheartened and was unsure of how to progress my career. Most firms follow a strict structure where you must apply two years in advance for the role of a trainee.“Thankfully,
Business Intelligence September/October 2022 Business Intelligence 39
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Also available are some of Larry’s paintings which featured in the Trust’s Homeward Bound calendar, published in 2020 and showing ships with a strong Hull connection including the Viola, Norland, Arctic Corsair and HMS Bounty, which was built in Hull as the “Bethia” in 1784.
Sector Focus: The Arts 40 Business Intelligence September/October 2022
Manyfleet.of the paintings were published in a Hull Task Force calendar produced by the
‘I hope people will find the works interesting and will be inspired to support the campaign to bring back the Viola.’
“PaintingsWar.from both calendars form a major part of this exhibition and I hope people will find the works interesting and will be inspired to support the campaign to bring back the NormanViola.”Court, the trust’s project manager, said: “We are very grateful to Larry once again for his support and his generosity. The global challenges of the last two years have presented us with particular difficulties in terms of costs and logistics but our campaign continues and a key part of that is raising awareness of the Viola and her significance in Hull’s maritime heritage.”
Included in the exhibition are paintings depicting the Hull ships in action during the conflict. They include the North Sea Ferry MV Norland, the trawlers Northella, Cordella and Junella, and the tug Yorkshireman.
The exhibition also features Larry’s paintings of the Viola in her current location on the beach at Grytviken, as well as his interpretation of her launch at Beverley shipyard in 1906 and her journey under tow along the River Hull to work as part of the Hellyer Steam Fishing Company’s North Sea boxer
n art exhibition featuring the ships from Hull which sailed in the Falklands War Task Force is raising awareness and funds to help bring home the world’s oldest remaining steam trawler from its current resting place in the South Atlantic.
Grimsby studios depended on the paddle steamers and the level and state of the tide. I was delighted in 2019 to work with the Viola Trust on the calendar which came out the following year, and as 2022 approached we felt we should produce a second calendar to recognise the role of the Hull fleet in the Falklands
Larry said: “My paintings of ships and seascapes started with pictures of the paddle steamer Lincoln Castle way back in the 1970s when, as a teacher, I was seconded to BBC Radio Humberside to make education programmes. The Humber Bridge had not opened, so journeys to the South Bank and the
Trust to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War, to raise awareness of the Viola’s history and her role in the conflict and to support their campaign to bring her back to Hull.
Larry Malkin, an artist based at Welwick in East Yorkshire, is displaying the paintings in the Stables Gallery at Burton Constable Hall. He will also donate 50% of the proceeds from the sale of the works to the Viola Trust.
The Adventure on the High Seas exhibition will run until Sunday 25 September. For details please visit www.burtonconstable.com
Local artist helps to bring Falklands steam trawler back home
Training to ease the shortage of LGV drivers
Spencer Group appointed to ABP project
Spencer Group has been appointed to the Industrial Buildings Framework Contract to build large-scale industrial buildings for ABP in four out of five regions across the UK where the port owner operates – South East and North West England, Scotland and Wales.
Spencer Group has undertaken a number of schemes over the past year providing consultancy and construction services to develop and support a variety of capital projects in various ports.
The logistics industry is the backbone of international trade. It allows businesses to connect with customers and sell their products; without it, the business world as we know it would be drastically different.
Sector Focus: Skills & Training September/October 2022 Business Intelligence 41
Spencer Group Off Site Construction Director Richard Green-Morgan, who leads the industrial division of the business, said: “We’re delighted to be appointed to this framework. This is a very significant contract for us and a positive continuation of our strong working relationship with ABP.
The success for Spencer Group’s industrial division follows an extensive competitive tendering selection process involving both regional and national contractors across the UK.
The framework will run for five years, with scope to extend to a further two years.
of multi-disciplinary engineering and construction projects across the“ItUK.will also strengthen our presence and position these locations, undoubtedly creating opportunities to work with new partners and SMEs to jointly support ABP’s ambitious plans for the “We’refuture.looking forward to getting started and working with ABP on these important projects.”
ABP is the UK’s leading ports group and its network of 21 ports supports 119,000 jobs and handles about a quarter of the UK’s seaborne trade, worth £150bn annually.
eading civil engineering and contractorconstructionSpencer Group has been appointed by Associated British Ports (ABP) to be part of a major national investment programme.
Spencer Group Managing Director Gary Thornton said: “Our appointment to the Industrial Buildings Frameworks Contract is very positive news for Spencer Group. The framework is yet another example of our developing relationship with ABP, which started over 30 years ago. Our ability to provide technical support, design and delivery capabilities to provide new and enhanced existing assets and infrastructure mean we are able to support ABP’s investment decisions and meet their customer demands.
“Being appointe d by ABP in each of these regions is further evidence of our excellent reputation as a leading provider
“We’re proud of the faith shown in us by ABP and are looking forward to starting work under this new framework to deliver exceptional value to ABP.”
This connection is currently being threatened by a shortage of LGV drivers who are imperative in maintaining the relationship between businesses and consumers. That’s where Transafe Training comes in.
Transafe Training, part of Modal Training is a well-respected logistics and health and safety training provider, operating across North East Lincolnshire.Theirmission is simple: deliver essential and valuable training to customers across the logistics industry. Transafe Training has a wide customer base, including businesses across the Humber region and individuals looking to re-train in new careers. They have helped to provide knowledge, skills and experience to each of their customers, both companies and individuals.
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www.thespencergroup.co.ukVisit:
Spencer Group - looking forward to major new projects with ABP
“Its production is low impact, it can be recycled with plastics, and it reduces food waste by keeping
The new plant will be constructed on land directly
preserves flavour and freshness in items such as the protective film on ready meals, squeezy sauce bottles, baby food packaging and meat packaging. Other applications include cosmetic products such as cream and toothpaste tubes, plastic fuel tanks, animal feed and underfloor heating.Thebusiness was formerly owned by Japanese company Nippon Gohsei with Hull being chosen as its location due to proximity to the ports and availability of raw materials from neighbouring businesses at Saltend. It became wholly owned by Mitsubishi Chemical Group in November 2016 and changed its name to Mitsubishi Chemical UK Ltd in April 2021.
The company also has additional facilities on Marfleet Lane which it opened in 2011 to create bespoke grades of SoarnoL.
Hull jobs boost as chemical production line establishedPhenomenalpotentialasnew
42 Business Intelligence September/October 2022 Sector Focus: Manufacturing
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‘We are now in our 20th year of manufacturing SoarnoL in Hull and this major investment secures our location in the city for years to come’
The site at Saltend Chemicals Park, which opened in 2002, manufactures a grade of Ethylene Vinyl Co-Polymer (EVOH) for the European market under the brand name SoarnoL™. The innovative product is primarily used in packaging to extend the shelf life of food, along with other products in the medical and agricultural sectors.
The Hull facility has seen a steady and significant increase in demand as food manufacturers seek packaging products with a lower environmental impact that can be recycled.
“We are now in our 20th year of manufacturing SoarnoL in Hull and this major investment secures our location in the city for years to SoarnoL,come.”which mainly comprises carbon, oxygen and hydrogen, is colourless and odourless and used as a barrier layer in food packaging. It
“It was always the intention to increase capacity at our site, and the team in Hull working behind the scenes to ensure the plans got the green light are celebrating this fantastic news.
plant and new jobs secure firm’s future in Hull
products fresher for longer.
Director Peter des Forges said that a significant increase in turnover was forecasted within a few years of the new plant becoming operational, with the majority of the SoarnoL produced being exported to more than 42 countries.“Thepotential for this versatile product is phenomenal,” he said.
undreds of millions of pounds is to be invested at Mitsubishi Chemical UK in Hull to create a new production line that will more than double capacity and create dozens of new jobs.
adjacent to the current facility and is expected to be completed by mid Managing2025.
September/October 2022 Business Intelligence 43 Sector Focus: Manufacturing
Life can’t be all about work! Chamber Motoring reviews some of the latest offerings on the market.
Motoring
44 Business Intelligence September/October 2022
for a staycation
MAIN PICTURE: The campervan pictured with its roof up, which increases interior head room and provides a sleeping LEFT:Theareainterior seating and cooking area, complete with a fridge and storage cupboards
Toyota Proace Matina Campervan
In association with
The perfect choice
Compact, but more affordable than many similar conversions, David Hooper says this Toyota Proace Matina Campervan makes a great travelling companion.
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All the essentials are there, you get a very small 25litre fridge, a two hob gas burner powered by a small Campingaz canister, and a sink with a tap and running water if you fill up the water tank.
As well as the electric hook-up, there is also a 100W solar panel on the roof to top up the batteries when you’re out and about and not on an official camp site, so you can really go off piste if the fancy takes you.
FUEL TANK: 69 litres.
LEFT: Easy to drive, and with some great graphics, you could be the talk of the campsite!
ECONOMY: Combined (WLTP): 36.20-38.60. Wheel World test average: 36.5mpg
If you’re planning a staycation this year, or exploring a new part of the country, they are well worth a look and make a lovely travelling companion.
PRICE: £56,000.
The sleeping accommodation, like the van, is also compact. I spent my first night “upstairs” in the pop up roof, but at an inch under six feet tall, my feet were on the end of the van, and I couldn’t really stretch out, and the mattress wasn’t thick enough so I was a bit achy in theFormorning.mysecond
The statisticsvital
MODEL: Toyota Proace Matina Campervan
PERFORMANCE: Top speed 105 mph. 0-62mph in 8.5 secs.
CO2 EMISSIONS: 191g/km.
This Toyota-based van conversion costs a very reasonable £56,000, with a 6-speed manual version being offered for £54,000. If you can afford one, they make a great day or weekend van, and once you get used to living with it, they may not quite be a home-from-home in the way a large motorhome or caravan can be, but they are great fun, and the other beauty of them is that they are easy park in a normal parking space if you want to stop off anywhere while on your travels, taking up no more space and than a large car or SUV.
WEBSITE: comwww.wellhouseleisure.•Alldatacorrectattimeofpublication.
ENGINE: 1997cc, 174bhp four-cylinder diesel engine, driving front wheels through 8 speed gearbox.automatic
The electrics are controlled by a nice 8in digital control panel, which you can sit on the central seat to programme and adjust. It shows you your onboard water levels, and controls the LED lighting which can be dimmed down at night to make it nice and cosy, the charge in the leisure battery and how much fresh water there is in the on-board tank.
And when the nights get chilly, a Webasto 2kw blown air heating system will keep you warm – and you can even control it from a mobile phone app.
Sector Focus: Motoring September/October 2022 Business Intelligence 45
The pop top roof is quick and easy to put up, but a bit more of a fiddle to pull down as you have to ensure that the front and sides are pulled in properly to close the roof correctly. With a bit of practice, it’s fairly easy, but the roof is only held down by two ratchet straps, w hich was a bit alarming at first. Other vehicles like this I’ve tested have had a substantial clamp to lock the roof in place, but it does work well enough, and then you just tuck the long ends of the straps into the gap and off you go.
ith Staycations still in vogue for the holidaying Brit, many of whom are still too wary to venture abroad, caravans, motorhomes, and camper vans have been in great demand, with prices soaring for new and pre-loved examples alike.
BELOW LEFT: With an eight-speed automatic gearbox, the camper is easy to drive and
This little camper is based on a Toyota Proace van, with the conversion being completed by Wellhouse Leisure, based in Barnsley – and they’ve done a nice job of it.
WARRANTY: Up to 10 years or 100,000 miles
BELOWmanoeuvreRIGHT: The control panel provides plenty of info on the van's status, including water levels, and solar panel power
night, I converted the central seats into a bed, again, width-wise it would be very cosy for two adults (I was on my own, so had enough space) and my feet still hung off the end of the “bed” if I stretched out, so although in theory it can sleep up to four people, you would have to be very close or very small, especially for the upstairs.
All the windows are dark tinted and have their own curtains, and the large tailgate lifts up to provide shelter if you need to do things at the back of the van, which was useful on my weekend away when I had to dodge the regular showers.
The two front seats both rotate round to face the back of the van, and a free-standing table is quick and easy to erect in the middle of the van for a picnic, or to work from while on the move. The rear passenger seats, which have their own seatbelts, slide backwards and forwards on runners and can be locked into position while travelling, but to get into the cupboards, you have to slide the seats backwards and forwards to be able to open the various cupboard doors
With smart exterior decals, a pop top and stylish grey interior Italian designed cabinets this Matino model certainly looks the part, and it’s lovely to drive too, with an eight speed automatic gearbox controlled from a small rotary dial on the centre console. It has flappy paddles to manually control the gear changes, although I didn’t feel the need, radar cruise control for those longer trips and even a head up display in front of the driver, and returned average fuel consumption of around 35mpg during my test.
ABOVE: The van can sleep up to four people
There are three good sized cupboards for storage and several odd shaped compartments for storage which didn’t appear to be the most practical of shapes inside.
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Ssangyong Musso Saracen Auto
It’s looks great too, sitting on its black alloys which contrast nicely with the red paintwork, black roller blind load cover and roll-over hoops, it gives the Saracen plenty of road presence, but this vehicle’s talents are more than skin deep.
ands up if you remember Tonka Toys?
I had one as a kid and loved its ruggedness and unbreakable strength, which I tested to the max – and that’s how this eye-catching Ssangyong Musso Saracen looks and feels. It’s built to last!
You have to “climb” into the driver’s seat, either by stepping on the chunky running board, or by hauling yourself up with the grab handle on the inside of the A-pillar, but once inside, you are met with impressive levels of luxury for what is essentially a working truck, but this trendy looking Saracen model could comfortably double as family transport.
With a seven-year, 150,000-mile warranty, 420Nm torque, a 2.2-litre diesel engine and 3.5-tonne towing capacity, David Hooper enjoys driving this real life Tonka toy!
The big Ssangyong’s road manners are impressive for such a big vehicle. It can be a bit bouncy at times, but that’s because it’s designed to carry lots of weight in the back, and during my time with it, it didn’t carry anything heavier than some shopping. Although there’s no boot as such, the darkly tinted rear windows of the double cab do make it hard to see anything left on the floor or back seats.
MAIN PICTURE: The Ssangyong Musso Saracen pictured on Cleethorpes’ North Promenade
Sector Focus: Motoring 46 Business Intelligence September/October 2022
OPPOSITE:The interior is more luxurious than you might expect, with good equipment levels
andtoEasydriveitlooksgreattoo!
It comes with a proper four-wheeldrive system giving the driver the option of 2 High, 4 High and 4 Low range gears, controlled through its six-speed automatic gearbox which can be operated manually when more control over the gear shifts is needed.
The driver gets a nicely finished interior which includes such luxuries as a heated steering wheel, lovely on chilly mornings, and front seats which will either heat your bum, or cool it, depending on the season. Electric windows and mirrors are standard too, as is a 9.2in touchscreen which displays Apple Carplay/Android Auto and a reversing camera which is almost a necessity with this vehicle, which, despite its sheer size, is easy to drive.
Powered by a 2.2-litre 181PS engine pumping out 420N m of pulling power, despite tipping the scales at nearly 2.2 tonnes it can reach 115mph and return around 33mpg. Its steel ladder chassis means it can tow a 3.5-tonne trailer and carry a payload of just over a tonne in the back.The
BELOW:Just as at home off road as it is on, the Ssangyong Musso is a very capable vehicle
Ssangyong’s engine felt perfectly refined, with good pulling power when
September/October 2022 Business Intelligence 47 The vital statistics MODEL: Ssangyong Musso Saracen Auto ENGINE: 2.2-litre 181PS four-cylinder diesel engine, driving four wheels through 6-speed gearbox. PERFORMANCE: Top speed 115 mph. ECONOMY: Combined: 32mpg. Wheel World test average: 27.5mpg CO2 EMISSIONS: 226g/km. PRICE: £31,010 (£37,143 inc VAT). WARRANTY: Seven years/150,000 miles WEBSITE: www.ssangyonggb.co.uk • All data correct at time of publication. ‘You
Economy is about where you would expect it be with a vehicle like this, and during my test it returned an average of 27.5mpg over a distance of around 350 miles of mixed driving.
needed, yet able to cruise quietly enough at motorway speeds.
With a seven-year, 150,000-mile warranty, and striking kerb appeal, this Saracen model is an attractive
proposition, particularly if you run a business, which can make it attractively cost-effective.Don’tbeput off if you’re not that familiar with the name either, Ssangyong has been in the UK for a long time, and in my opinion, this example stands favourable comparison with the more mainstream brands, most of which cost a lot more to buy. are met with impressive levels of luxury for what is essentially a working truck’
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48 Business Intelligence September/October 2022 New Members
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September/October 2022 Business Intelligence 49 Business Intelligence
of the pandemic I expanded my client offerings with virtual photography shoots. I continue to include this in my service to business as well as social clients. I have become one of many international photographers serving clients with professional virtual photo shoots.
It is clear to me that this service is unique and valuable to clients, who are otherwise out of reach, perhaps because of social isolation, distance or logistics of booking with a studio local to them.
This isn’t a singular story but one that revolves around a cluster of global and domestic factors that strike at the very core or essence of who we are and the freedoms and quality of life we allIdeserve.amaproud and loving father and grandfather. I do hope their future experiences of our world strike a better balance for the greater good.
If you like to have the Last Word, here's your chance - email David Hooper at d.hooper@hull-humber-chamber.co.uk Name: Kevin Greene Job title: Professional photographer Name of the business: Kevin Greene Photography
I’m a professional commercial and social photographer with over 20 years’ experience. I’ve had the privilege of meeting with people from a range of professional backgrounds to create strong visual content for business, as well as delivering photography solutions for people celebrating occasions like business, professional and personal awards, weddings and graduations.
connect and empathise. Remaining positive and showing a willingness to be flexible, in light of people’s circumstance, carries me through. I have found this past eight months to be a gradual return to regular business; with new opportunities and with new clients. This ignites me to deliver the best experience for my clients.
As I write this I’m finalising the photography for a client who is having a birthday party for 250 guests!
Where is it based?
What are your plans for the weekend?
What news story has had the biggest impact recently?
It is clear that the past 24 months has had a marked impact on everyone’s confidence to invest in their business or to plan, with certainty, a particular life milestone occasion. As a professional photographer I can certainly
Where will your next holiday be?
Last Word
In addition to this I have struck a better work life balance and it is this that I want to nurture and look forward to. My joy to have quality time with my family deserves to be top of my list... I’m sure you’d agree.
What are you looking forward to in the next three months?
My biggest ambition is to create pathways for individuals to pursue their passion as a photographer and potential to earn from their photography.Onamore personal level I want to buy a villa on the Greek island of Skiathos. This has a personal magnetism and is a place that is so special to my wife, my son and I.
I’d be fibbing to myself if I was to say I wouldn’t want to go to Skiathos! On the other hand we adore Yorkshire holiday destinations and the Lakes. So, with a UK holiday vibe, I’m looking forward to a holiday to Whitby with my wife and teenage son.
I am also a sole trader, having started my photography business, Kevin Greene Photography, in 2007. I serve clients across the Hull and Humber region, including Yorkshire andOverLincolnshire.theperiod
We have a 36 inch steel fire globe in our garden which, when lit, is simply gorgeous. A log fire, a clear night sky, some music and a glass of plonk is my ideal night out!
What are your hobbies and which is your favourite past time?
As most of my client work is on location, I choose not to have a studio. If I need studio space I have the opportunity to hire this for the duration of a photography shoot. This means I can be more flexible as well as accessible when serving my clients.
50 Business Intelligence September/October 2022
As Club Photographer to Hull City Ladies FC I am fortunate to be in the position of having a set of experienced Hull based photographers, who can volunteer for this next 2022/23 football season. This supports me with my “work life balance”. At the same time this opportunity weaves a thread around my personal ambitions or goals. This is to create pathways for individuals to pursue their passion as a photographer and potential to earn from their photography.
Describe your job in a nutshell
I do love the great outdoors around Yorkshire and exploring spaces that few choose to venture. Examples are river walking through waterfalls and exploring stretches of our north Yorkshire coast. I enjoy the peaceful nature of outdoor spaces and sharing this experience with my wife, son and friends.
Although virtual meeting platforms continue to serve a purpose, I am looking forward to returning to face to face meetings with existing and potential clients.
What has been your biggest challenge in the past year?
What is your biggest ambition?
LinkedIn:www.kevingreenebrandphotography.co.ukVisit:www.kevingreenephotography.co.ukVisit:KevinGreenePhotographyTwitter:@KevinGreeneHull
T: 01709 529709 E: rotherhamsales@daviesturner.co.uk W: daviesturner.com/specialist/rotherham-specialists
