Yorkshire tech skills startup expands with new training centre and jobs

A trio of tech businesses set to develop digital businesses in Hull and East Yorkshire have secured a city centre site as the home for a technology education and training centre.

Kingston House in Myton Street, Hull, will become the home for The Edge Hub, a tech skills company set up earlier this year by tech recruitment and event specialists who identified a skills gap in the sector.

The revamped building is expected to open in spring 2022 with The Edge Hub working with global brands, the local tech scene, and partners from local authorities and education to offer a range of training and upskilling services to individuals and businesses.

Antonio Tombanane, co-founder of The Edge Hub, said: “We moved into training because of our experience and expertise in IT and in running the first specialist IT recruitment business in the area. We recognised there is a big skills gap in the region and education couldn’t address the problem on its own.

“Online learning alone is not sufficient because people who are not confident with IT are probably not going to go online in the first place, so we are creating a place and a community where people can learn digital skills.”

Global brands having committed to working with the project include IBM and Google, with more expected to confirm in the coming weeks and months. Wilberforce College in Hull will be one of the education partners and Hull City Council will be involved in supporting training opportunities.

Antonio said: “Our contact at IBM is looking forward to seeing the premises when she flies in next week for Tech Week Humber. Google has already delivered an event with us and will be one of our partners in training and mentoring for digital entrepreneurs as part of their campaign to mentor 10,000 businesses globally.

“Between us we will provide platforms to train and upskill students, businesses and entrepreneurs. If people are unemployed we can help them back into employment, and if they have a job we can help them to progress. In partnership with the global tech giants we will help to upskill the workforce.”

Mark Jones, director of regeneration at Hull City Council, said: “The growth of the digital sector in recent years has seen new digital businesses setting up primarily within the city centre with a particular focus around C4DI at the Fruit Market.”