HullBID marks its Humber Business Week dinner milestone with a celebration of major hotel investment and a new business launch

HullBID celebrated Humber Business Week at its annual Inspiring People dinner by highlighting a major refurbishment of a city centre hotel and the launch of a new, independent accountancy business.

Executive Director Kathryn Shillito said both businesses were examples of the wide range of sectors and size under the HullBID umbrella and were also evidence of a city centre on the up.

Vicky Peat, who recently launched SmartView Accountants, took the headline sponsorship of the dinner to promote her company’s services to the city’s business community.

Other sponsors included KCOM and the Holiday Inn Hull Marina, which announced a major refurbishment of the hotel which dates back 35 years.

Sales & Marketing Director Nicola Shillito said full details will be announced soon and added: “We’re thrilled to share news of a major milestone with our hotel due to undergo a truly transformative refurbishment and work scheduled to be completed this winter.

“In addition we believe the hotel’s new restaurant will be a vibrant addition to the city’s culinary scene and we can’t wait to welcome guests from Hull and beyond to experience it.

“Our goal is for this transformation to represent not just a refurbishment, but a reimagining of hospitality itself – for a hotel that has proudly stood for over 35 years, this next chapter is one we’re stepping into with great excitement and ambition.

“We will continue to operate as a hotel throughout the duration of the works and, while improvements take shape around us, our commitment to providing great service and hospitality will remain uninterrupted.”

Guests celebrating with BID at the 10th anniversary of its first Humber Business Week dinner told of the value of the occasion and the organisation to them and to the regional business community.

Pat Coyle, Chair of Humber Business Week and Marketing & Business Development Consultant at Wilkin Chapman Rollits, said: “The Inspiring People dinner brings together the people who make the city centre what it is. They make it tick and it gives them the opportunity to celebrate their success.

“It also highlights the individuals within the city who have a fantastic story to share and it’s great to see this 10th anniversary dinner providing a platform for a major announcement with such a wonderful venue investing in our city.”

Katrina Moore, who opened Artisan Flowers in Paragon Arcade nearly three years ago, said: “We work very closely with HullBID and they are recognised as being very helpful to independent retailers.

“This is the third time we have attended this dinner and we are also regulars at the HullBID Awards, having won one in 2024. Coming here is really important in terms of building partnerships, finding new customers and picking up corporate deals.”

The speakers at the dinner were all drawn from the city centre business community. Caroline Neadley, Partner at Wilkin Chapman Rollits, spoke about how growing up in Hull and raising her own family here sparked her passion to advocate for the region’s success through her 16-year tenure as a committee member of Women in Business Hull and by working with young children to help raise their aspirations and opportunities.

Jamie Lewis, CEO of the HEY Smile Foundation, told how he grew up in the care system and experienced first-hand the harsh realities of poverty and the challenges this brings. He then embarked on a 20-year journey of sustained public and voluntary service which instilled a deep understanding of complex social issues and fuelled his determination to create a better future, not only for himself but also for others, not least as Chair of Hull Street Angels and a Vice President of the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank.

Simon Jones, Founder of Top 30 under 30, owner of HEY Business Awards and Managing Director of Identify spoke about his Hull background, his passion for sport and how it shaped him as a person. He also highlighted the importance of nurturing young talent.

Kathryn added: “We always take the opportunity presented by our events to talk about all the great work of HullBID – our support of businesses, our lobbying, our efforts in making the city centre safer, cleaner and more vibrant – but by definition this dinner is all about the inspiration we draw from others.

“The stars of the show are our speakers, who were brave enough to share their uplifting stories. Despite their huge success, we know there’s nervousness as well, because we asked them to share details about themselves, as human beings, as well as their climb to success in business.”

“We are also immensely grateful to all our sponsors and we are particularly delighted to see SmartView Accountants as headline sponsor. Vicky has built up an excellent reputation from working for other firms for more than 16 years and has clearly got off to a confident start as a brand new business making an early impact in the business community.”