In Brief: Servatech; Rail electrification; University of Hull; TSK Group & TD Direct Investing; HullSpeedAhead
SERVATECH has seen a 55% growth on last year at the end of its second financial quarter.
The increase has allowed the firm to take on six new staff and the business, based in Wakefield, said its expansion has been down to the strong uptake within its Cloud Services division.
Steve Spence, Servatech’s sales and marketing director, said: “The Yorkshire region has seen strong growth over the last six months and we’ve found that companies are now driving forwards and updating their strained IT systems in the process. Their timing has been well chosen – they are reaping the benefits of the more flexible and secure Cloud-based options that have just transformed the industry.”
:::
THE chief executive of the Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce, Ian Kelly, says he is “hopeful” of the proposed plans for the rail electrification project in the city.
Kelly met with secretary of state for transport, Patrick McLoughlin, as part of a cross-party, key stakeholder delegation to lobby for the electrification of the rail line to Hull.
In the run-up to Hull’s City of Culture status in 2017, the cross-party delegation sought a commitment from the Government to include electrification in its next set of public plans to coincide with the Chancellor’s Budget next month.
This would speed up the electrification process to ensure its completion prior to 2017 and to guarantee the best available rail links for the anticipated extra 12-million visitors to Hull during 2017 and beyond.
Kelly said: “I was watching the civil servants as well as listening to the Secretary of State and just got the sense that they might just be tasked to go away and deliver this, we must wait and see, but I am hopeful.”
:::
ACADEMICS from the Logistics Institute at Hull University Business School, are taking part in a major new pan-European project to investigate offshore wind energy.
Led by Beaufort Research in University College Cork (UCC) Ireland, the European FP7 project, Logistic Efficiencies and Naval architecture for Wind Installations with Novel Developments, (LEANWIND), seeks to address inefficiencies in logistics and transport issues for offshore wind installations and so contribute to the reduction of costs by bringing together the expertise of academics and business.
Dr Federico D’Amico is the lead academic from Hull. He said: ‘Offshore wind technology will play a key role in stimulating growth and investment in Europe over the next decade. Moreover, Europe, as a first mover, is set to gain significant benefits from exporting both products and services as offshore markets around the world develop. This can be achieved if the offshore wind industry can reduce costs to levels comparable to other energy sources.”
:::
THE TSK Group, which specialises in office design, fit-out and furnishing, has been appointed to deliver a multi-million pound programme for brokers TD Direct Investing.
The 40-week refurbishment project will see TD Direct’s current Leeds office in Exchange Court, transformed, as it looks to achieve ambitious future growth plans.
Andy Burke, Manchester-based TSK’s commercial director, said: “This is yet another fabulous project for us in Yorkshire. We translated TD Direct’s vision into a stunning design and our expertise in delivering office refurbishment whilst a client is in occupation gave them the confidence to appoint us on such a key scheme.”
:::
BUSINESSES across Hull are coming together for HullSpeedAhead to take on the 2014 P1 Superstock championship and push for a podium position.
HullSpeedAhead follows last year’s successful OneHullofaBoat campaign. This year’s boat will be racing the six UK championship races in the P1 Superstock with racing once again coming to the heart of Hull and bringing a maritime festival of speed to the city.
Peter Aarosin, Chair of the Bondholders marketing organisation, which promotes Hull and the Humber, said: “Taking part in the P1 Superstock championships is great for the local economy as it brings thousands of people into Hull for a wonderful festival weekend of racing. It’s also an excellent way to promote Hull across the UK and the world.”
HullSpeedAhead is being funded with sponsorship from Hull’s Business Community and will be promoting the 2017 City of Culture. The P1 Powerboat Championships will begin in London this month with the home race taking place in Hull in June.
