Hull networking group hits membership milestone ahead of first anniversary

Hull Young Professionals (HYP) has had an influx of new members ahead of celebrating one year as a business networking group.

By forming relationships with local organisations, HYP has been able to increase its membership and promote its work, reaching over 200 members ahead of its one year anniversary in April.

Established in 2018, HYP was initially set up to bring young business people living and working in Hull together, filling a gap in the local community for professional and social networking opportunities.

Thanks to the support of local businesses, HYP has been able to offer free membership and is open to a broad range of ages and professions.

HYP chair and founder Harry Mills said: “A lot of other towns and cities have groups like this but there wasn’t one in Hull so we formed it.

“We host networking events once a quarter, and smaller social events on an ad hoc basis.”

The group has had support from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) Humberside and District. It also worked with Hull Business Improvement District (HullBID) providing speakers for the latest BID-funded networking lunch.

Speakers at the event included Hull-based businesses Iguana Developments and Enact Conveyancing, and Jenny Howard-Coombes, executive director and joint CEO of Freedom Festival Arts Trust.

Kathryn Shillito, executive director of HullBID, said the group can play a key part in attracting people to live and work in Hull, and in encouraging students to stay in the city after graduation.

She commented: “Our objective is to project Hull city centre as a vibrant place to work, live and play and to keep young talent in the city. Our support for Hull Young Professionals is part of that.”