“We believe Hull has all the ingredients to become a UNESCO City of Music”
Business leaders from across the region used the Humber Street Sesh stage to drum up support for the UNESCO City of Music bid. The Hull Business Angels group was formed 12 years ago in support of the UK City of Culture campaign, and is now hoping to find similar success by securing a spot on the prestigious UNESCO list.
Members took to the stage of the recent Humber Street Sesh to mark the growth of the festival which this year attracted about 15,000 people. They also called for other businesses to join them in championing the bid, which was submitted earlier this year and if successful in 2027 will see the city join others such as Kingston, Jamaica, Seville and Bogotá.
Phil Withers, clients and markets manager at RSM UK in Hull and a member of the Local Visitor Economic Partnership advisory board, said: “We didn’t want the impact that UK City of culture made to the city to wane when the circus left town and we have continued to do what we can since 2017. Hull Business Angels are proud to support Humber Street Sesh because it showcases the incredible talent, energy, and creative spirit that defines our city. We believe Hull has all the ingredients to become a UNESCO City of Music – rich heritage, grassroots talent, and a community that thrives on cultural expression.
“Our aim is to be a catalyst for sustainable growth through creativity, helping Hull take its place on the global stage as a city where music drives innovation, identity, and opportunity and we urge more businesses to step forward to join us to make this a reality.”
Moira Brown of Neill & Brown Global Logistics told how her company was the first to invest in the UK City of Culture campaign. She said: “We pledged our support for the City of Culture bid and that was the start of it. The view was that if we could get a number of businesses involved it would increase our chances of becoming UK City of Culture, and we were 100% behind that as the first business to pledge.
“It matters very much because Hull has been very good for us and our company. We like to invest in the local economy and in future employment because we believe in the city.”
After leaving the main stage to the musicians the Angels paid a visit to The Focus Group, a wellbeing, therapy and counselling business which recently opened a new head office in Hull’s Fruit Market area.
Pete Palumbo, the company’s clinical director, said the business is already working on projects in the area with creatives including Social, the cultural venue in Humber Street which houses the Sesh team.
Pete said: “We invited the Business Angels because they are doing a great job delivering for Hull and for Humber Street Sesh. We were founded in Hull 25 years ago and we moved to the Fruit Market in the last six months because Hull has so much to offer and we wanted to be in this particular area, which is the most vibrant and exciting part of the city.”
Following their main stage appearance, the Angels visited wellbeing, therapy and counselling business The Focus Group, which has recently opened a new head office in the nearby Fruit Market area. Pete Palumbo, the company’s clinical director, said the business is already working on projects in the area with creatives including Social, the cultural venue in Humber Street which houses the Sesh team.
Pete said: “We invited the Business Angels because they are doing a great job delivering for Hull and for Humber Street Sesh. We were founded in Hull 25 years ago and we moved to the Fruit Market in the last six months because Hull has so much to offer and we wanted to be in this particular area, which is the most vibrant and exciting part of the city.”
Adam Walsh, CEO of John Good Group, said: “Humber Street Sesh is more than a festival. It’s a celebration of the region’s creative spirit and draws tens of thousands of people into the city centre, to celebrate the immense talent within our community. It’s also a sound investment from a business perspective, with every £1 invested in the festival generating almost £4 of social value. That’s testament to its positive ripple effects, supporting jobs and giving a boost to local businesses, whilst at the same time putting on a great event to be enjoyed by all who take part.
“That’s why it’s so important for the business community to engage in events like this, and why groups like Hull Business Angels are so important in bringing together local businesses that share a determination to see our city flourish. At John Good Group, we believe collaboration like this are essential for future-proofing Hull’s success.”