Wykeland Group’s Property Director has joined the Board of Hull Business Improvement District (HullBID).
David Donkin is one of two new non-executive directors appointed to the HullBID Board at a time when Hull is seeing its biggest transformation in decades.
At the heart of the regeneration of the city centre is the £80m rejuvenation of Hull’s Fruit Market district being delivered by Wykeland Beal, the joint venture company formed by regeneration company Wykeland and award-winning housebuilder Beal Homes, working in partnership with Hull City Council.
The Fruit Market transformation will create Hull’s first urban village, bringing together retail, leisure and residential use in a new commercial, creative and cultural hub.
Working with city centre businesses and stakeholders, HullBID aims to make the area a safer, cleaner and busier place to do business. In partnership with its members, the organisation actively promotes the city centre and helps companies grow and prosper.
Mr Donkin, who joined Wykeland in June 2016, said: “Having worked in Leeds, Glasgow, Manchester, Edinburgh and London I’ve seen how BIDs work elsewhere, I’m aware of the strong reputation which HullBID has built and I hope I have something to add.
“If we can create a distinct offer in the Fruit Market area and the wider city centre people will travel here. The museums offer is another example of attractions and experiences that you don’t find in many other towns and cities. The City of Culture events have been great at pulling people into the city and we need to build on that.”
Also joining the HullBID Board is Nigel Dibb, General Manager of the Holiday Inn Hull Marina, the flagship hotel which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.
Mr Dibb, who took up his post in December 2016, discovered a business community working hard to use the City of Culture programme to attract visitors. He said: “We have been the main hotel in the city centre for some time now and I hope we can bring something different to the table.
“There is some real talent on the HullBID board and a good mix of people from different sectors.
“I think that’s exciting and it’s reflected in the city centre business community, where people are working hard to help each other and being rewarded by increasing visitor numbers.
“We are working together to get across the message that City of Culture is not just about this year. There is more development to come and, like Wykeland, we will have a part to play.”
Jim Harris, Chair of the HullBID Board and Centre Manager of St Stephen’s Shopping Centre, said: “David and Nigel bring a wealth of knowledge from the property and hotel sectors, joining the other business professionals in helping to support and guide the operational BID team going forward.
“Under the leadership of our City Centre Manager, Kathryn Shillito, the HullBID team has worked tirelessly over the past 11 years to maintain and promote the very best of Hull City Centre.
“We are in unparalleled times for our great city as we come towards the end of an amazing City of Culture year, and that now presents the challenge of maintaining the momentum and visibility our success has created as we go forward into 2018 and beyond.
“I know the Hull BID team is looking forward to this challenge and, further strengthened by David and Nigel, the BID Board will be supporting them to achieve another great year for Hull city centre.”
