Supporting local talent: Sewell Group wins Queen’s Award

PRESTIGIOUS: Paul Sewell, centre, with members of the team. Picture by R&R Photography

Hull-based Sewell Group has been recognised for its commitment to supporting local talent with a highly prestigious national award.

Sewell’s contribution to the city and surrounding area, including its investment in the community and economy by working with a local supply chain, has seen it secure an Enterprise for Promoting Opportunity accolade in the Queen’s Awards.

It is one of only 18 business across the country to receive the award.

The multi-disciplined group of companies invests heavily in staff training and development each year and a number of its senior leadership team started out as trainees and worked their way up to their current positions.

Paul Sewell, Chair of Sewell Group, said: “Our vision has always been to be a successful company that endeavours to make a difference to the areas in which we work – to become a great company to deal with, we have great people working with us.

“By investing in the development and training of our people, and taking on trainees, apprentices and graduates, we’ve created an extremely talented workforce. We employ ethical people who want to make a difference to local communities and we invest our time and effort into projects that are going to make a difference to local people.

“To receive this award from Her Majesty the Queen is a huge honour and I’m incredibly proud of our teams. Promoting opportunity is exactly what we’re about and what we do as a company.

“We’re successful because we provide opportunities, both within the company and the community.”

Initiatives by Sewell Group that contributed to it winning the sought-after honour include:

WINNERS: Sewell Group celebrations. Picture by R&R Photography

• Adopting a ‘look local first’ approach to its supply chain across all projects.

• The Sewell Skills Academy, which has provided employability skills and a taster of the construction industry for more than 1,400 young people, including those not in education, employment or training (NEETs). This has since developed into the Tommy Coyle Academy, providing a free gym facility for over 1,000 young people in east Hull.

• Humber-based charity CatZero, which has been supporting young people and families from across the region since 2009.

• Abilities in Facilities – in partnership with Mencap, offering paid employment and training for over 30 individuals with learning disabilities.

• More than £30,000 donated to local charities and community groups every year through the 13 Sewell on the go retail stores, including long-term partnerships with organisations including Hull 4 Heroes, the Coyle Foundation, Fit Mums, Dove House and Hull Animal Welfare Trust.

Jim Dick, Lord-Lieutenant of the East Riding, said: “Sewell Group is a company I have worked with on many initiatives over the years.

“The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are the highest honour for British businesses and I am delighted that the Sewell Group have been recognised for being a force for good.”

Sewell Group employs 460 staff and is made up of Sewell Investments, Sewell Construction, Sewell Facilities Management, Sewell on the go, Illingworth and Gregory and Shared Agenda. 

Now in its 55th year, the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are recognised as one of the most prestigious business awards in the country, with winning companies able to use the esteemed emblem for five years.