Hull City Council has just been awarded a prestigious ‘best in the region’ award for its support for the local small business community.
Hull City Council was among 250 councils in England who entered the inaugural Local Government awards run by Britain’s biggest business representation group, and it emerged triumphant in the Covid Response regional category.
Local authorities from all across England responded to the call when FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) launched their inaugural Local Government awards sponsored by Maybe*, which were aimed at celebrating and recognising those that had made the biggest impact on local SMEs during the Covid crisis and beyond.
Hull City Council was named as the Yorkshire, Humber and North East regional champion winners with judges being impressed by the council’s work to help the local small business community, and specifically younger people in the early stages of starting their businesses. Hull City Council’s Youth Enterprise Team supported 300 young people under the age of 29 and the team raised critical funds, and recruited 80 volunteer mentors to help early and young start-ups when they needed it most.
Becca Pettman owner Gray Rose Boutique said “When first advised we had to stay at home, I did not know what I was going to do without any income, but the team came to my rescue to help with advice, expenses, and helped me to find grants to help my business stay afloat, but more than that they helped us as a young family too – my mentor Charles and the rest of the of the Youth Enterprise team checked in regularly to ensure we were ok”
“they gave me encouragement and linked me up with other young people in same situation, they ensured my business was ready to trade when we could, and as someone who was excluded from the national schemes and therefore part of #ExcludedUK community I do not know what I would have done without the support of Hull City Council and the Youth Enterprise Team”.
Paula Gouldthorpe, FSB Development Manager for South and East Yorkshire and the Humber said “It is really pleasing to see Hull City Council rewarded for their consistent hard work and effort to help young people and their businesses through during challenging times, and when they need help the most.
“Both the quality and quantity of entries from this region and beyond was incredibly high so Hull City Council should feel very proud to be among the winners. We look forward to continuing to work with them – and seeing more good work from the team that clearly does an incredible job to inspire young people and support those new to starting up”
The award was presented to the team and to Leader of the Council Mike Ross and Regeneration Portfolio holder Councillor Paul Drake-Davis. Presented as part of this weeks ‘Global Entrepreneurship Week’ celebrations. A week of events supporting young people and children to develop enterprise skills and inspire their business ambitions.
