Two years to the good, World Trade Centre powers up its promotion of Humber business

Collaboration is vital to the health of the regional economy, say the directors of World Trade Centre Hull & Humber as the business reaches its second anniversary under private sector ownership.

The not-for-profit centre has made solid progress on its four key objectives through working with regional partners and will continue to maintain a high level of co-operative working with them.

Top of the centre’s agenda are developing international trade, digital content creation and the renewables sectors, while the fourth aim of making its waterfront offices in Hull a hub for like-minded organisations has been achieved.

It is now home to Humber Local Enterprise Partnership, Hull & East Yorkshire Bondholders, Team Humber Marine Alliance and UK Trade & Investment, all of which work together to help create prosperity for the region.

Peter Brown, a World Trade Centre director and managing director of Neill & Brown Global Logistics, said: “When we started out, there was an immediate recognition that much could be achieved through sharing resources and expertise.

“Our vision was for the World Trade Centre to become a focal point for progressive businesses and support organisations and it is fair to say that we have achieved this objective. There is a real sense of community and shared purpose in the building.”

Rob Penrose, World Trade Centre director and managing partner of Andrew Jackson, said: “It’s great that the Humber LEP and Bondholders have recently relocated to the centre and also that we have a new partner in KC who operate the fastest broadband in the country.”

The centre which is funded by 10 private sector partners, as well as through revenue from tenants and hiring facilities, has represented the Humber worldwide and put on numerous international trade events in partnership with UKTI and Team Humber Marine Alliance. These have included a successful trade mission to Brazil last June to give Humber companies access to the huge boom in shipbuilding.

Under the leadership of World Trade Centre director Lindsay West, the development of the region’s digital sector now has pan-Humber support as a result of the Platform initiative, which will continue to be a key focus of activity over the next few months.

Mr West, who is also joint managing director of Hull-based Garthwest Ltd, said: “The sustained effort is beginning to produce results and there is now a collaborative approach to developing the digital sector and much wider recognition of its potential for job creation in our region.”

Carolyn Burgess, World Trade Centre director and chief executive of Language is Everything, said: “We are going to continue developing our services for businesses so that we become a one-stop shop for everything related to international trade. We can only do this through working with local businesses and partners.

“Our doors are open for everyone who wishes to talk to us about the opportunities and to see how they can benefit from our links with more than 300 world trade centres in 100 countries.

“Through the grouping of partners, we have a high-level support network for new and experienced exporters and we are now focusing on providing even more added value.”

The 10 private sector partners are Language is Everything, Garthwest, Andrew Jackson, Neill & Brown Global Logistics, KC, Henderson Insurance Brokers, HSBC, Select Group, Smailes Goldie and Mapa PR. Associate supporters are IT@ Spectrum and Safety and Risk Management, with Hull City Council performing an advisory role.