Senior leaders from Humber Freeport have toured manufacturer Ideal Heating’s showpiece UK Technology Centre in Hull.
Chair Finbarr Dowling and CEO Simon Green visited Ideal’s headquarters site to see inside the company’s flagship research and development facility.
The UK Technology Centre (UKTC) is one of the most significant investments Ideal has ever made in Hull, and is designed to accelerate and advance innovation in heating solutions.
It represents a £20m investment from the UK’s heating market leader, with Humber Freeport supporting the project through £2m of seed capital funding.
The Freeport’s seed capital fund has supported projects across the region which are viewed as strategically significant to drive growth, foster innovation and support skilled jobs.
Simon Green said: “Ideal Heating’s UK Technology Centre perfectly illustrates the developments we wanted to support through our seed capital fund.
“It is a beacon of innovation, both supporting and creating highly-skilled jobs in UK research and development, product innovation and manufacturing.
“We’re proud to have played a significant part in the development of a facility which positions one of the region’s largest and longest-established businesses for a strong and successful future.”
Mr Dowling and Mr Green were joined at Ideal Heating by Cllr Mike Ross, Leader of Hull City Council, alongside representatives from HBC (Henry Boot Construction), the Principal Contractor during construction of the UKTC, and other partners involved in the project.
The UKTC features specialist chambers designed to test heating products across a wide range of parameters; from climate and noise to electromagnetic interference.
It puts Ideal at the forefront of R&D in UK heating, advancing product development and taking the company’s testing capability to new heights.
Jason Speedy, Ideal Heating’s Chief Operations Officer, said: “We were delighted to welcome our partners to the UKTC, to show them first-hand how their support has helped to create a facility we’re extremely proud to have delivered in Hull.
“The UKTC is crucial to the future of our business, and the investments we have made in our people, expertise and facilities ensures we have the capability to stay ahead of the curve as the energy transition continues to evolve.
“I’d like to thank all of our partners for their support for the project, and for helping us deliver this facility, securing a significant investment for Hull and a huge vote of confidence in British manufacturing, research and development.”
Founded in Hull in 1906, Ideal Heating remains one of the city’s largest employers, developing and manufacturing a wide range of boilers and heat pumps, alongside specialist heating controls and smart thermostats.
The UKTC is the latest demonstration of the continued positive impact of Humber Freeport’s seed capital fund.
Recently, Mr Green visited plant-based oils producer AAK at its site in Hull, where the company plans to make a substantial investment to expand production capacity and capability.
Around £2m of freeport seed funding is supporting the first phase of AAK’s investment programme, which will strengthen the company’s long-term presence in Hull.
