Category Archives: Kingston Upon Hull

Business Headlines, Hull, Kingston Upon Hull, News Headlines, Out & About

New Whitefriargate Rooftop Bar To Be Created

Visitors to Hull city centre will soon be able to enjoy a new rooftop bar thanks to Levelling Up Funding.

Added Value Portal Limited has been awarded £75,000 from the government-funded scheme towards creating the facility at 55 Whitefriargate.

The project will include a multi-functional bar, food and leisure area on top of an extension at the back of the original building, creating six full-time equivalent jobs and adding to the area’s evening economy.

Once completed, it will accommodate up to 60 customers and will be accessed by a new staircase and chairlift.

Cllr Paul Drake-Davis, Hull City Council’s portfolio holder for regeneration, said: “This project complements what is already a vibrant place for people to work and socialise. This new rooftop bar will enhance the appeal of the city centre as a destination to help drive footfall and boost the hospitality and evening economies.”

55 Whitefriargate, on the corner of Parliament Street, has undergone significant regeneration in recent years.

Built in 1879, the former bank is now home to Bar55, situated in the old bank vaults.

Gerard Toplass, The 55 Group chief executive, said: “Whitefriargate was the heart of the city for so long and it’s fantastic to be part of the regeneration that will bring life back into this fantastic part of Hull.”

“We have built our business in Whitefriargate and we are looking forward to continuing our investment with help from the Levelling Up Fund. We are excited about building an urban landscape and rooftop experience to rival what is available in cities like Manchester and London.”

In 2021, Hull City Council was awarded £19.5million from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund to support infrastructure and deliver a package of city centre regeneration works.

£7.5million of this being used for the Levelling Up Fund grant scheme, which aims to bring unused floorspace of any vacant or partially occupied property back into use and creating new jobs.

Similar to previous grant schemes in the Old Town, the Levelling Up Grant scheme will allow various diverse businesses to open and operate, breathing new life into the area.

Business Headlines, Kingston Upon Hull, News

Arco Expands Its Confined Space Training Offer

Arco, the UK’s leading safety products and services company, has invested £200,000 in three new mobile confined space units to expand its national fleet and enable more bespoke training for customers working in hazardous environments across the country.

The new units will take Arco’s confined space solutions to small, medium, and larger customers across the UK. The units allow scenarios that simulate a range of activities that workers may face in a confined space, such as repair and maintenance work in a tunnel. They have also been effectively used to support the training of rescue team members in how to recover casualties.

Arco instructors can replicate real-world scenarios that are relevant to key industries, enabling workers to face potential risks in a controlled environment. Other hazards, such as smoke, can also be released into the tunnel systems as an additional training factor, making them suitable to train workers in a variety of situations.

The trailer units are built around a seven-metre, triple-axle chassis and contain multiple tunnels, which have a combined length of over 30 metres. Internal cameras enable instructors to monitor the safety of delegates, in real time, and review exercises using playback after training sessions are complete.

Access to a comprehensive range of equipment, such as gas monitors, harnesses, breathing apparatus and working at height equipment is available to ensure bespoke environments, tailored to the requirements of each customer, can be supported.

The trailers enable customers to access the same equipment available at Arco’s safety training centres, including a range of entry equipment, such as tripods and Davit systems.

Utilising the multi and intermediate levels within the trailers, delegates can practically apply the skills they have been taught during the training in a safe and controlled environment.

The investment marks the latest step in Arco’s commitment to delivering ‘Joined-up Safety Solutions’ and follows the recent opening of its £2million Bracknell Safety Centre, which provides health and safety services across the South of England, combining risk assessment, training and equipment provision all under one roof.

The new centre is home to state-of-the art confined space facilities, with a purpose-built labyrinth that features more than 30m of traverse capability and up to five metres of vertical access into multiple chambers to simulate relevant confined space hazards.

Since opening in November 2022, the centre has received strong positive feedback from customers and industry bodies. In addition to its confined space training offer, the Bracknell Safety Centre will offer working at height training outdoors from its recently installed 20m external tower.

Jamie Sadler, Commercial Director at Arco Professional Safety Services, said: “As experts in safety and a leading provider of confined space training across the country, Arco is committed to delivering an effortless experience for our customers.”

“As the UK’s leading integrated safety products and services business, our investment in our new mobile confined space training units and in the facilities at our new state-of-the-art Bracknell Safety Centre allows us to deliver bespoke training and a joined-up approach to safety that meets even the most complex of challenges.”

Brian Grunes, Confined Space Subject Matter Expert and Training Manager at Arco Professional Safety Services, said: “Our new fleet of confined space training units allow us to bring our world-class training offer to our customers sites without losing any of the features that would be available at our safety centres.”

Business, Kingston Upon Hull, News

East Yorkshire Heat Recovery Business Creates New Engineer Role

A Walkington-based Heat Recovery business has created a new role as it experiences unprecedented demand for its services.

DK Heat Recovery has recruited time-served refrigeration service engineer, Calum MacPhee, also from Walkington, to the new role of Engineering Manager to support the business’s expansion.

Mr MacPhee is excited to be joining the growing business: “There’s never been a better time to install a heat recovery system that helps businesses to save money whilst reducing carbon footprint and I’m looking forward to raising awareness of the benefits of heat recovery and helping to drive the business forward.”

“As opposed to heat pumps, heat recovery doesn’t need energy to run the system. It utilises the waste heat from the discharge gas, is easy to fit, simple to use and cost-efficient to maintain as it has no moving parts.”

Mr MacPhee’s responsibilities will include driving sales in the industrial market and helping advise potential clients on engineering and refrigeration matters.

Founding director of DK Heat Recovery, Nigel Upson is pleased to welcome MacPhee: “Calum’s skillset complements the rest of the team and we’re looking forward to his contribution as sustainability and cost savings move further up business’s agendas for change and demand for heat recovery grows.”

Based in Walkington with a satellite office in Peterborough, DK Heat Recovery is the sole UK agent of DK Kaelteanlagen GmbH’s heat recovery systems and is supported by a network of installers and refrigeration engineers nationwide. It has installed heat recovery systems for food manufacturers, supermarkets, farm shops, butchers and garden centres over the last decade.

DK Heat Recovery’s systems are suitable for use in any business that has refrigeration plant and a requirement for hot water or space heating.

Health & Welfare, Kingston Upon Hull, News

Arco Clothing Centre Raises Funds for Children’s Appeal

Colleagues from Arco’s clothing centre, in Preston, have raised more than £2,500 so far this year for the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity Children’s Appeal.

The centre has supported the hospital charity team since 2020, with colleagues regularly organising fundraising events and initiatives, including dress down days, raffles, sales, fun competitions and sponsored events.

In March, three colleagues raised more than £500 by abseiling 128 feet from Peel Tower, near Bury, and, more recently, £640 was raised for the appeal from the sale of Easter toys, door wreaths, cards, cakes and other treats, which colleagues had made and donated to be sold at an Easter market.

More is to come when, later this month, colleagues will either take to the roads on their bikes or walk a 25-mile route around Preston for the sponsored ‘Guild Wheel’ challenge.

Pam Walmsley, Operations Manager (Production), said: “We are so proud to have raised funds for such a worthy cause. As a long-time supporter of the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity, we look forward to raising even more money – with events taking place each month throughout the year.”

The Children’s Appeal is aiming to raise £1million for a wish list of items to bring about a raft of improvements to children’s in and outpatients at the Royal Preston Hospital, Chorley and South Ribble Hospital and Leyland’s Broadoaks Child Development Centre, as well as all other children’s facilities managed by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Lucy Clark, Children’s Appeal Fundraiser at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity, said: “We are extremely grateful to everyone at the Arco Clothing Centre for their wonderful support. We know staff vote on which local charity to fundraise for, so it means a lot to us in the charity team and to everyone who works for the trust that they have chosen to back our work.”

Charity Headlines, Kingston Upon Hull, News, News Headlines

The Matthew Good Foundation Donates A Record Amount To Charities

The Matthew Good Foundation, which was founded by the Hull-based, family-run company, John Good Group has increased it’s giving by 83% on the previous year and supported over 150 causes in 2022, an achievement made possible thanks to a significantly increased funding commitment from the John Good Group.

The Matthew Good Foundation runs an employee giving programme that helps employees of the John Good Group to direct funding to the causes that matter to them. They also have a mission to amplify small or local charitable causes whose work is often unseen and underfunded, yet delivers high social value and impact. Their “Amplify Fund” includes a range of grassroots project funding, plus the “Grants for Good” programme which invites small charities to apply for funding, and most recently “Films for Good” which sees the Foundation and its network of partners offer pro-bono support, promoting charities and projects through the power of film.

The charities supported by the Foundation and its members – who are all employees of the John Good Group – are incredibly diverse, ranging from very small community groups local to the John Good Group’s head office in Hull, to charities working internationally towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Locally, Hull charities CatZero and Downright Special have both received a £50,000 commitment over five years, and North Cave organisation Mires Beck Nursery has received a £25,000 commitment over two years. Globally, Reef World Foundation were granted £20,000 over two years towards a launch of their Green Fins Hub – a world first platform facilitating green marine tourism globally, and a film was funded for the Inga foundation – promoting their tried and tested ways of saving rainforests whilst alleviating poverty through an innovative new farming method.

The Foundation’s “Grants for Good” programme also saw a diverse range of winners, from The Bank – a community hub local to West Hull, to Nurdle – an innovative new organisation based in Cornwall that has invented a range of machinery used to clear beaches of microplastics across the UK and beyond.

Another major way that charities come to the attention of the Foundation is through employees of the John Good Group – who are given exclusive access to apply for grants for organisations that are close to their hearts. This year’s beneficiaries of double-matched employee fundraising include Dove House Hospice and Hull Homeless Community Project, whilst employees that have seen organisations struggle through Covid have received Champion Grants of up to £1000, the beneficiaries ranging from local foodbanks to a maternity hospital in Pakistan.

Michelle Taft, Executive Director of the Matthew Good Foundation said, “Despite the challenging environment of the last two years, we are delighted that 2022 was another successful year. With an incredibly generous commitment from the John Good Group, we have been able to set a clear vision for the future, and we are excited for what’s to come. The Foundation has become a vital resource in linking local people and businesses to the high-impact charities that they really want to support but can be difficult to find and administrate. We would love to help others learn from our unique philanthropy model and invite other local business leaders to come and talk to us about how we can support them in achieving this too.”

The increase in activity from the Matthew Good Foundation is set to continue, as the John Good Group, who recently won an award for Best Social Impact at the Yorkshire and Humberside Family Business Awards, has committed a record level of funding over the next three years to the Foundation, as well as continuing to cover all operational costs.

The extra funding means that, as well as increasing the amount the Foundation is able to commit to their mission to amplify small charities, they have also been able to expand their team, hiring a second employee, and improve their impact by investing in impact measurement, including the use of The Social Value Engine, an impact measurement platform developed in a scheme involving East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

Adam Walsh, CEO of John Good Group describes his passion to be part of an initiatives that delivers positive impact, “I am thrilled to support the Matthew Good Foundation in their mission. Our funding covers all operating costs, as well as funding many of the Foundation’s initiatives. This means that 100% of any additional donations received go to charities in need. At John Good Group, we strive to be a Force for Good in everything we do, and supporting initiatives that prioritise people and the planet aligns perfectly with our values. We are proud to have the opportunity to make a positive impact through the work of the Matthew Good Foundation”.

The Matthew Good Foundation has given over £820,000 to charities and good causes since it was founded in 2011 in memory of Matthew Good. The Foundation has released full details of their 2022 giving in a 36-page Annual Review, available to read on their website now.

Community, Council Headlines, East Yorkshire, Kingston Upon Hull, News Headlines, Property & Construction News

Huge Investment Boost For Former Burton Building

Two grants have been awarded to Wykeland Group Ltd to help restore and bring back into use the former Burton building, 34-35 Whitefriargate, in Hull city centre.

As one of Hull’s most significant Art Deco buildings, it will benefit from funding from Hull City Council’s Levelling Up Funding grant scheme and the Whitefriargate High Street Heritage Action Zone, with full planning permission now approved.

With an investment of £750,000 from the Levelling Up Fund and £450,000 from Historic England through the High Street Heritage Action Zone, the total project will cost approximately £2.4 million and aims to create up to 68 local jobs once the works are completed on the Grade II heritage listed building frontages.

Sitting at the entrance to the Old Town on Whitefriargate, adjacent to Beverley Gate and opposite the Maritime Museum building, the refurbishments will make the spaces suitable for either a retail or restaurant unit on the ground floor and redevelop the second and third floors into high quality office spaces.

Councillor Paul Drake-Davis, portfolio holder for regeneration, said: “I am delighted to be able to award these grants to Wykeland to help repurpose and regenerate what is a magnificent, but currently under-used, building in our city centre.”

“The Levelling Up Fund and High Street Heritage Action Zone have already benefitted many buildings and businesses in Hull and this is another example of the regeneration work it helps to unlock.”

Trevor Mitchell, Director for the North at Historic England, said: “We’re really pleased to be helping to fund the restoration of the former Burton department store through the High Street Heritage Action Zone.”

“The Grade II listed building is a striking and glamorous landmark on Whitefriargate and its rejuvenation will play an important role in transforming the historic street into a thriving and attractive place to live, work, shop and enjoy leisure time.”

Tom Watson, Development Surveyor at Wykeland Group, added: “We welcome this grant, which is essential to the viability of the project we are leading to save the former Burton building from dereliction and the granting of planning permission for our detailed proposals.”

“Having invested in acquiring the property to prevent its further decline, we have worked closely with Historic England, Hull City Council’s Conservation Officer and our own expert consultants to develop a high-quality scheme to revitalise this landmark building.”

“Delivery of this scheme will involve further significant investment on our part to restore this historic building and enable it to have a sustainable, long-term future.”

“As well as bringing one of Hull’s most distinctive buildings back to life, the project will create much-needed new business opportunities and jobs in the heart of the city centre.”

In 2021, the council was awarded £19.5 million from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund to support infrastructure and deliver a package of city centre regeneration works.

£7.5 million of this being used for the Levelling Up Fund grant scheme, which aims to bring unused floorspace of any vacant or partially occupied property back into use.

This follows on from targeted investment into Whitefriargate schemes such as the Humber High Street Challenge Fund which was completed last year, and the current High Street Heritage Action Zone.

Both these schemes have provided grants to businesses and property owners to enable the repurposing of vacant buildings on Whitefriargate.

Historically, 34-35 Whitefriargate was originally purpose-built for Montague Burton, a high-end tailor, first opening back in 1936. The building was artistically embellished with Art Deco features and designed by Leeds architect Harry Wilson.

Community, Council News, East Yorkshire, Kingston Upon Hull, News, Other News

Hull Landmarks To Turn Purple For Holocaust Memorial Day

Hull City Council will mark Holocaust Memorial Day by lighting up city centre landmarks purple and flying the Guildhall flag at half-mast.

Holocaust Memorial Day takes place on 27 January each year to remember the six million Jews and the millions of people from other communities who were murdered by the Nazi regime during the Holocaust. It also remembers the victims of the more recent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

To mark this solemn day of remembrance, landmarks across the UK will be lit up purple during a powerful national moment of commemoration and solidarity.

From dusk on Friday January 27, the council will illuminate buildings and structures across Hull city centre in purple light. The Union Flag on the roof of the Guildhall will also be flown at half-mast.

Councillor Mike Ross, Leader of Hull City Council, said: “The Holocaust threatened the very fabric of our civilisation, and we must remain vigilant to the risks genocide still presents to many people around the world. Our world often feels fragile and vulnerable, and we cannot be complacent.”

“Holocaust Memorial Day is for everyone. Every year thousands of people across the UK come together to learn more about the past and take action to create a safer future.”

“We must learn more, empathise more and do more to ensure that hatred and prejudice are challenged by us all and have no place in our society. Together, we bear witness for those who lost their lives through genocide, honour the survivors and all those whose lives have been changed beyond recognition.”

The UK Online Commemoration for Holocaust Memorial Day 2023 will be streamed online on Thursday 26 January from 7pm-7.45pm.

People will be invited to light a candle during Thursday’s online commemoration, or place one safely in their window for Light the Darkness national moment at 4pm on Friday.

For more information, visit Holocaust Memorial Day.

Business, Infrastructure, Kingston Upon Hull, News

Cabinet Supports New Plans To Regenerate Western Docklands

Hull City Council’s Cabinet has today announced its support for the Western Docklands Masterplan, giving the green light to consultation with residents and business owners on the exciting plans.

The Western Docklands area lies between Albert and William Wright Dock, Castle Street and the Smith & Nephew site.

This masterplan suggests a range of different uses for the site, with a strong focus on employment land to the west, and residential/commercial and leisure land to the east.

The council wants to know the views of Hull residents, as well as local businesses in the area. A six-week consultation will begin on Monday 6 February and run until Friday 17 March. The plans also seek views on the future of the Hull Ice Arena and Kingston Retail Park.

Local businesses, residents and the wider public will all be invited to take part through a series of in-person drop-in sessions and an online survey.

The masterplan also sets out how it could create a better link to the marina and Fruit Market area. The proposals also include a cruise terminal for the Western Docklands.

Sammy’s Point was originally earmarked as the location for this, but it is now proposed that the terminal be located at the Bull Nose at the eastern end of Albert Dock.

Councillor Paul Drake-Davis, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, said: “The Western Docklands is a key landmark location within the city, being beside the waterfront, but also being the gateway for people driving into the city.”

“It’s a site with enormous potential and the masterplan provides a clear framework for how the site could offer high-quality city living and employment in the years ahead.”

“I support the masterplan and look forward to hearing the views of landowners, businesses and residents across the city on how they would like to see the area develop.”

More information, such as interactive maps and forums, plus the chance for the public to have their say, will be available online.

Posters about the Western Docklands Masterplan will be placed in various locations in Hull, with a QR code for the online consultation.

Any responses to this consultation will be considered by the council in drafting a final version of the masterplan, which will then be presented to Cabinet later this year.

Community, Council News, East Yorkshire, Featured News, Infrastructure, Kingston Upon Hull, Out & About

Hull Councillor Joins In With Cycle Path Clean Up Operation

Councillor Mark Ieronimo went ‘back to the floor’ as he joined Hull City Council’s dedicated cycle path team for a morning’s work.

Donning high-vis gear and wielding a litter-picker, the council’s Portfolio Holder for Roads, Highways and Transport mucked in with the team as they tidied up a cycle path near Priory Road.

Armed with leaf blowers, hedge cutters, grass trimmers, bin bags and a road sweeping vehicle, the team cleared the path before jumping back in their vans and moving on to the next one.

The council has three two-person teams that ensure Hull’s off-road cycle tracks are clear and safe for cyclists. The teams were set up in 2020, and mainly cover three main routes, which follow old railway lines: the Hornsea, Withernsea and the Cottingham branch lines.

Their tasks include fly-tip removal, litter-picking, sweeping, emptying litter bins, strimming and cutting back vegetation. They also focus on gritting and removing fallen leaves to prevent slip hazards, and removing glass to reduce the risk of punctures.

Cllr Ieronimo said: “If we want to encourage more people to get on their bikes in Hull, it’s essential that the city’s cycle routes are kept as places where cyclists feel safe and can enjoy their ride.”

“Keeping the city’s cycle tracks clean and tidy is something we are asked about a lot, including in last year’s traffic and transport survey, so it’s great to see how hard these teams are working every day to make sure this happens.”

“The teams obviously take a great deal of pride in what they do, and it was useful to hear about what resources they might need to do their jobs even more effectively.”

Doug Sharp, the council’s Head of Waste Management and Street Cleansing, said: “It was great to have Cllr Ieronimo working alongside our cycle path team, seeing what they do, day in and day out, to keep the city’s routes clean, tidy and, most importantly, safe.”

“We know how important the off-road cycle network is to cyclists, and the old branch lines are critical routes for navigating the city. That’s why we are working hard to ensure they are clean and safe for cyclists.”

For more on cycling in Hull, including an interactive map of cycle routes, visit Travel Hull.

Business, Business Headlines, East Yorkshire, Kingston Upon Hull, News, People

Arco Signs Up To Defence Employer Recognition Scheme

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Arco, the UK’s leading safety company, has signed up to the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) and has secured a bronze award – the first step in the fifth-generation family business’ ambition of becoming a gold award employer.

The bronze award, which also covers Arco Professional Safety Services, was bestowed on Arco after the safety product and services business formally pledged its support for the armed forces by becoming a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant and agreeing to support existing or prospective employees who are members of the community.

Joining the ERS, demonstrates Arco’s commitment to being armed forces-friendly and being open to employing reservists, armed forces veterans (including the wounded, injured and sick), cadet instructors and military spouses/partners.

Arco recognise the skills, expertise and dedication gained from working within the defence sector are highly transferable to key roles across the business, such as working at height and confined space instructors, fall protection engineer, and respiratory specialists, as well as roles across Arco’s support functions.

Penny Meddes, Chief People Officer at Arco, said: “As a family-business, with a core purpose of keeping people safe at work, Arco is delighted to strengthen its relationship with the armed forces community and promote the business as a great place to work to those who have served or are serving our country.

“This award is just the start of our relationship with the ERS and forms part of a wider strategy to promote the variety of career opportunities available at Arco to as wide a pool of talent as possible.”

Stephen Miller, Chief Information Officer at Arco, said: “As an Arco colleague and ex-serviceman, I am very pleased that the business has achieved bronze accreditation with the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) and that we have signed the Armed Forces Covenant.

“As experts in safety, we recognise and honour the role played by all who have and are serving in the military and who risk their lives to keep us safe and we are proud to work closely with several organisations within the defence sector. The Armed Forces Covenant is our commitment to them and our ERS accreditation is a real and practical way for us to provide opportunities for ex-service personnel from all branches as they transition to civilian life which recognises the many skills and talents they have to offer.”

The ERS encompasses bronze, silver and gold awards for employer organisations that pledge, demonstrate or advocate support to defence and the armed forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.

The ERS is designed primarily to recognise private sector support although public sector organisations, such as the emergency services, local authorities, NHS trusts and executive agencies are also eligible to be recognised.