Success has been championed in a new era for the Hull and East Yorkshire Business Awards. On a freezing night in the midst of a cold snap, Ideal Heating’s pioneering work to revolutionise the way UK homes are warmed secured a double win. The National Avenue operation was named Large Business of the Year and took the Environmental and Sustainability Award, hours after welcoming Energy Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh, with further investment in the city unveiled.
Ideal has significantly enhanced its century-old site to manufacture heat pumps and other heating controls, while creating state-of-the-art research and development and training bases on its doorstep. Jason Speedy, chief operating officer, arrived at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel having already celebrated securing £5.2 million as part of the Government’s Heat Pump Investment Accelerator with his Groupe Atlantic colleagues.
“To win as we have done is just incredible,” he said. “It is testament to everyone. "It was a complete pivot for the business.
I joined five years ago, in the week it got announced gas boilers were being taken out of the market. For us it has been all about getting out stakeholders on board, selling them the journey and the commitment to the UK research and development and manufacturing – then living what we are proposing.” Hull-born actor and impressionist Debra Stephenson hosted the event, with live drummers setting a high tempo.
And there was clearly a high bar set to win big in the fir.