From jamie.goodwin@hullcc.gov.uk | Thursday 14 March 2019
Local authority honoured after overseeing record levels of employment.
Hull City Council has won the prestigious Driving Growth award at the Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Awards.
The local authority scooped the award after employment in the city reached the highest level on record, with 69% of people in work (69.7%) – an increase of 15,100 from six years ago.
There is less than half the number of unemployed people in Hull when compared with 2013 figures, while unemployment claimants are down from 13,725 to 6,265.
Hourly pay increased by more than 23% from 2008 to 2018, compared with 19.8% nationally, and gross value added – the measure of the value of goods and services in Hull – has increased by £327 million, a rise of 6%, since 2015, Office of National Statistics figures show.
The city has also seen record investment, built more new homes, experienced increased pride and seen the highest ever numbers of people visiting the city’s museums, arts and leisure facilities.
Councillor Darren Hale, deputy leader of Hull City Council, said: “We are very proud to have won such a prestigious award. Hull City Council has shown a commitment to building a sustainable economy and continuing to drive growth, and this award is testament to that commitment.”
The council was shortlisted in the Council of the Year and Public/Private Partnership categories for its work with Wykeland Beal on the transformation of the Fruit Market.
The LGC Awards is the most prestigious celebration of excellence in local government.
