Member Article

Hull’s FEO network expecting further job boosts in City of Culture year

Hull’s network of local business owners, For Entrepreneurs Only (FEO), is hoping to better last year’s success of creating over 1,600 jobs, as the city hosts the UK City of Culture this year.

FEO’s range of entrepreneur-led programmes and events give local business owners the opportunity to offer their expertise and experience to others, while also enjoying the benefits that peer-to-peer support and mentoring provides.

The collective aim is that, working together, Hull’s entrepreneurs will bring about greater wealth and employment in the region.

Firms represented by the network now employ 19,000 people in the region altogether and Jan Brumby, Chief Executive, is anticipating another year on year increase, especially as the city hosts the UK City of Culture 2017.

Jan said: “It was very important we hit the ground running in 2017, laying the foundations for Hull’s economic success to go further than ever before.

“I’m delighted that FEO is playing its part in creating so many success stories from businesses of all shapes and sizes – with Hull’s renowned quirkiness and diversity certainly shining in our business community. FEO is also developing something very special for later in 2017, so watch this space!”

FEO Programmes range from ignition, a course of evening workshops designed to help startups kickstart their business; to FEO360, a series of self-help seminars for small business owners to examine and improve critical areas of their personal and business performance.

FEO’s Step Change for Growth programme meanwhile challenges ambitious owners of high growth businesses to ‘let go to grow’, whilst their popular Entrepreneurship Masterclasses run in schools and colleges opens students’ eyes to the real life opportunities, risks and rewards of being self-employed. All FEO programmes are offered free and have rapidly grown in popularity over the last few years.

David Kilburn, FEO founding member and Executive Chairman of Hull-based MKM Building Supplies, commented: “In 2017, Hull’s year in the spotlight offers a wonderful platform for both startups and established businesses to take great steps forward, taking full advantage of the city’s newfound opportunities.

“This really is our time, and it’s vital that our business community take the initiative wherever possible to strengthen Hull’s economy for many years to come.”

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