Hulllive Business Awards 2021
6
Customer Focus Sponsored by
Reach Resourcing / Edit Recruitment
Allesandro Caruso Architects
The small team operates on a national level, specialising in healthcare projects, and has recently completed The Allam Diabetes Centre in Hull, having taken over the brief when a global practice failed to satisfy the client.
A similar intervention was made with an East Riding College project, with the team described as “a local business that packs a big punch”. Integrated services combining architecture with interior and landscape design have also been praised.
Helix CMS, Hull
The fledgling construction management service provider delivers projects to the healthcare industry, priding itself on partnership working.
Launched in late 2020, it looks set to turn over £8.5m in the first year, delivering projects ranging in value from £100,000 to £5.5m.
It now aims to expand the team and geographic footprint, as well as project scale after setting stale foundations.
Kingston Carton Company, Hull
The 104-year-old firm supplies more than 350 million cartons to the food, drink, pet and healthcare markets annually, with turnover surpassing the £10m milestone for the first time.
A right first time emphasis is front and centre, enhanced by investment in technology to match artwork proofs to completed work, while it is helping in the shift from plastic to cardboard.
7 Training and Development
Sponsored by East Riding College
Giacom World Networks, Hessle
The cloud software specialist delivers tailored, relevant personal development plans to suit all skills sets within high-growth business, hiring a dedicated training manager, where learning and development is the sole focus.
An investment of £75,000 was made in 2020 as many firms halted such spends, with more than a
third of customer-facing individuals now holding at least one Microsoft specialist competency.
Paragon Toolmaking, Hull
A four year apprenticeship course is thriving at the world leader in the design and production of manufacturing press tools.
Just into its second half century serving industries from aerospace to automotive, construction to white goods, it prides itself on offering a clear career path in a highly skilled sector.
More than 60 per cent of the staff trained through apprenticeships, with Heta the training partner.
8 Diversity and Inclusion
Sponsored by University of Hull
Language is Everything, Hull
National recognition for being one of the best workplaces for women was received by the linguistic team in 2021, while there are clear career opportunities as exemplified not least by managing director Lloyd Tidder, who joined as an apprentice aged 21 six years ago.
The 32-strong team pride themselves on being approachable, with management working with employees to break down barriers, destigmatise “mistake making” while welcoming conversations about daily challenges.
The nature of the work means many nationalities feature, from Portuguese to Latvian, with an age range of 16 to 63.
Sewell Group, Hull
Winner of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Promoting Opportunity in 2021, the multi-disciplined group of companies is continually recognised as one of the best to work for.
It aims to be a great place to be part of and a home for talent, creating skills development and career advancement routes, while aiming to inspire those from backgrounds where work has been scarce.
Half the senior leadership team came from low income families, with only a quarter arriving with higher education qualifications.
It also targets community support in allied areas, with The Sewell Skills Academy, Tommy Coyle Academy and Cat Zeo backing.
9 Contribution to East Riding
Sponsored by East Riding of Yorkshire Council
Beverley Racecourse
It faced months of uncertainty when Covid struck, but was able to emerge from the pandemic stronger than ever.
During the lockdowns the team pressed ahead with the first phase of a £650,000 investment to redevelop the main grandstand, with a focus on using local trades.
In 2020 it was also named as one of the top 11 racecourses in England and Wales by Livetourism as part of the Racecourse Association’s Quality Assured Racecourse Scheme.
Racing returned in May 2021 and the course was able to continue a racing calendar for the remainder of the season including Ladies’ Day, one of the most popular events in East Yorkshire.
Tribfest Music Festival, Driffield
The Sledmere Park event, led by father and daughter team Ed and Dempsey Faulkner, was held shortly after the pandemic’s restrictions were lifted, with many rolling over tickets from 2020 to support it.
It went on to feature 56 tribute bands, attracting thousands.
Now in its 15th year, it showcases top tribute bands from across the UK and beyond, as well as unsigned bands, acoustic acts and comedians.
Ed brings 30 year of experience from the entertainment sector to the event, having been a solo artist and band member too.
10 Employee of the Year
Sponsored by Cranswick Plc
Claire Clark, Arco
Joining in the senior role as head of engineering during lockdown, she made an extremely positive impact despite not having the opportunity to meet face-to-face for the first six months.
Leading a large team of onshore and offshore test engineers, she has been described as extremely professional and an inspiration, with an “amazing ability to build high-performing teams”.
Her contributions have already been recognised across the company and the wider community, with mentoring and digital skills work, as a co-founder of Women 4.0, with Barclays and C4DI.
Joe Makin, Emmerson Kitney
In his five years with the recruitment specialist he has become a specialist in engineering and operations, helping businesses to promote and attract talent.
His time in the sector - entering from a pastoral role in education - has been described as meteoric, putting him on course to become a director and shareholder, having become the firm’s highest fee earner. Channeling his competitive and leadership instincts honed on the rugby field, as captain of Hull Ionians, his attitude and attributes are recognised, managing up while also seeing failure as an opportunity to improve.
Ruth Walmsley, Blab
Despite Covid taking its toll on her and her family, she completed her apprenticeship with the design and marketing team six months early, with the management impressed by her attitude in knuckling down to make up for lost time.
Her intuitive work with clients is highly praised, going above and beyond to exceed expectations, while her creative flair and energy is lapped up.
A true team player, ideas are shared, social events organised and creative brainstorms led to boost team morale, underlining the confidence in her abilities.
11 Start-up Business of the Year
Sponsored by Horncastle Group and MKM Building Supplies
DBB Electrical, Hull
Launched by electrician Dean Brown in 2019 as a sole trader, with a van, some tools and workwear. He brought experience gained working in management for another firm to his own venture.
Despite getting going just as the pandemic hit, growth has been strong, and he now has three further electricians and three apprentices on board.
A real hunger and desire to help bring people through the trade is clear, with the passing on of knowledge shining through.
CLAIRE CLARK Helix CMS, Hull
The fledgling construction management service provider delivers projects to the healthcare industry, priding itself on partnership working.
Launched in late 2020, it looks set to turn over £8.5 million in the first year, delivering projects ranging in value from £100,000 to £5.5m.
Work has been secured with The Hull University Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, with infection control courses introduced for staff to ensure it operates with respect to the constraints around primary care.
Nazar Design, Hull
The family-run embroidery and printing business deals in workwear, school uniforms and sports kits, having started in a back bedroom as Covid hit.
Self-taught, within six months premises in Charles Street were taken on and machinery and stock acquired. Further space has subsequently been added, so too the first employees.
It is building strong relationships with allied businesses in the signage and car graphic sectors, while working with other start-up entrepreneurs on branding.
Further investment in machining is anticipated shortly as it proudly adds to its client base serving the city and beyond.
12 Business of the Year (Up to 50 employees)
Sponsored by Opportuni
GW Power-safe, Hull
The mechanical and electrical engineering solutions provider launched seven years ago, and has gone from three employees to 37, with turnover approaching £5m.
It specialises in large commercial design and build projects but also completes installations, testing, maintenance and repair contracts - with a focus on the minor works division.
This year has seen it acquire its own headquarters to facilitate the growth, with an air conditioning department also added, reducing reliance on sub-contractors, while bringing a more comprehensive service and quality control.
Language is Everything, Hull
The 32-strong team works with a global network of 300 linguists speaking 120 languages, and provides five different interpreting and translation services to businesses and the public.
Turnover has almost doubled in the last financial year as the pandemic brought added demand, with further outsourcing and a boom in telephone and videobased work.
In total 2.2 million minutes of on-demand interpreting was provided, with 124,000 connected calls.
It has seen the in-house team trebled with additional office space taken, having moved from Slough, to Howden and finally Hull in a near 30-year history.
Maltby Stores 1904 Ltd, Hull
From a humble Hessle Road pet shop employing three people, it is now a multi-million-pound supplier employing nine times the number of staff - the majority dealing in online orders.
E-commerce has brought exponential growth through third parties such as Amazon and ebay, as well as its own website, to the point where a second warehouse is being considered by the sixth generation business.
While turning over around £12m - predominantly from bird seed and pet products - it remains a firm fixture in physical retail, as the oldest surviving business down the street - a community inside a city it cherishes.
Business of the Year (over 51 employees)
Sponsored by Smailes Goldie Group
Giacom World Networks, Hessle
Year-on-year growth of 38 per cent at the cloud solutions provider has seen turnover reach £48.9m, with more than 3,500 managed service providers placing their 75,000 UK small business clients with them.
The 70-string team has built solid relationships with industry-leading vendors such as Microsoft, Acronis, Vade, Skykick and Bitdefender, while making continuous improvements to its delivery platform.
A previous winner, it has also achieved Ones to Watch status for a second successive year in the Sunday Time Best 100 Companies To Work For list.
M-AR Offsite, Hull
The modular manufacturer turned turnkey contractor has seen revenues increase from £6.2m prepandemic to £20m, with a further £8m anticipated in 2022.
A new 100,000 sq ft manufacturing centre has enabled the huge growth, while taking staff from 40 in 2019 to 70 in 2021.
It has formed a group structure to include hire and installation divisions and secured places on recognised public sector frameworks, with the biggest project to date - an £8.5m school contract in London - secured through the process. More than £500,000 has also been invested in plant and machinery.
The 55 Group, Hull
The parent organisation manages industry-leading businesses including national procurement specialist Pagabo - where almost £3bn of construction projects sit, as well as risk, management, and compliance software company Sypro.
It has delivered for 24 Covid-19 projects, including four Nightingale hospitals.
The past year saw significant private investment attracted, 20 new roles created and the former HSBC building on Whitefriargate taken on to create a technology and construction hub in the heart of the city.
Social value specialist platform Loop has also been added with plans for a digital-first training arm.
Lifetime Contribution
Sponsored by Kcom This award is revealed on the night.