Siemens officially announced as major partner of Hull UK City of Culture 2017

Siemens has been officially announced as a major partner of Hull UK City of Culture 2017.

As part of its contribution to 2017, Siemens will collaborate with the City of Culture team in the creation of a major art installation which will be revealed early next year.

The 2017 partnership highlights Siemens’ contribution to the cultural development of Hull, in addition to delivering the city’s largest ever inward investment.

With partner Associated British Ports (ABP), Siemens is investing £310m in Hull to create a centre for offshore wind manufacturing, assembly and logistics.

Siemens will employ around 1,000 people at Alexandra Dock, the majority within a factory which will produce 75m wind turbine blades for Siemens’ 6MW and next-generation 7MW turbines.

Hundreds of further jobs have been created during the construction phase and in the supply chain.

Parts of the Hull blade factory are now operational, with further production areas set for completion by the end of the year. Around 600 people have now been employed by Siemens in Hull or will join the company within the next few weeks, with 95% of them from the local area.

Further recruitment, mainly for roles in the factory, will continue until March next year.

Finbarr Dowling, Siemens’ Hull project director, said: “We have been talking to the City of Culture team for a number of months about how best we can work with them to make a truly unique contribution.

“We are delighted our partnership has now been confirmed and look forward to revealing, with the City of Culture team, our plans for an exciting collaboration.

“2017 is a hugely significant year for both Hull and Siemens. As well as being Hull’s year as the nation’s cultural capital, 2017 will see the Siemens investment come to fruition, with our new facilities becoming fully operational. That means there are even more reasons for us to play a key part in supporting and contributing to the City of Culture programme.

“2017 will also be the year when we put down roots as a major local employer and key player in the local business community. We’re looking forward to playing our full part in an unforgettable year for Hull.”

Claire Jarvis, Siemens communications director, added: “Our support for Hull as UK City of Culture 2017 comes from both a local and national perspective.

“Our commitment to the regeneration of Hull is self-evident from the scale of our investment in the city. It also reinforces our position as a major UK business and employer, with 14,000 employees in the UK, many of them in manufacturing and engineering roles.

“It is natural for us to want to support actively the delivery of the UK City of Culture programme in a city where we now have such a significant presence.”

Martin Green, CEO and Director of Hull 2017, also commented: “As a major local, UK and international brand, we are delighted by the support of Siemens. In addition to working with us on an exciting art installation, Siemens can help us create a lasting legacy through skills and job opportunities.”

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