Key figures from politics, culture and sport will bring different perspectives on the corporate world to Humber Business Week.
The Elevenses sessions with Paul Sewell OBE return again in 2022, with political heavyweight Alastair Campbell, one of the most performed writers in the English language John Godber and international boxing champion Tommy Coyle to join him.
Paul said: “We’ve invited people who aren’t thought of first and foremost as being from the world of business yet who succeeded in their ensuing careers because they developed and demonstrated business know-how – and showed they are very good at it.”
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Mr Campbell is a writer, communicator and strategist best known as former Prime Minister Tony Blair’s spokesman, press secretary and director of communications and strategy.
He is also a campaigner on mental health issues and the author of a wide range of books including diaries, novels and memoirs. For his Elevenses slot on Tuesday, June June 7 the spotlight will fall on Winners and How They Succeed, his 2015 volume which explores the achievements of an array of global household names and analyses what it takes to win in politics, business and sport.
John Godber, son of a miner and a former teacher, served as artistic director of Hull Truck Theatre for 26 years and in 2011 set up The John Godber Company with his wife Jane, herself an award-winning actor and writer for stage, screen and radio.
He will be joined on the Wednesday by youngest daughter Martha, an award-winning actor who also works as social media manager and graphic designer for the family firm, for a discussion about the business of culture and the transformation of Hull Truck.
Retired boxer Tommy Coyle won the Commonwealth lightweight title in 2018. In partnership with Siemens Gamesa, Coyle Health and Wellbeing this year won the Best Physical Initiative category in The Great British Workplace Wellbeing Awards for a unique programme of wellbeing education and support which they deliver to more than 700 workers at the firm’s wind turbine assembly factory in Hull.
He enters the ‘ring’ on the Thursday, with all hosted at Aura Innovation Centre, yards from his emerging gym on Bridgehead Business Park.
Paul said: “The feedback last year was very enthusiastic, and even more so from the people who couldn’t get in because of Covid-enforced restrictions on numbers and who could only watch the stream.
“This year we’ll be able to welcome more guests but we expect demand to be high once again because last year was so much fun and because of the calibre of the guests we have managed to secure.
“Alastair Campbell’s intriguing book looks at some of the parallels between politics, business and sport and we’ll be asking about the lessons learned from researching such a detailed project with some of the most famous people in the world.
“Culture is of huge importance to Hull and we want to explore how that connects with business, from John Godber’s role in leading Hull Truck from bankruptcy in 1984 to a £15 million new home in 2010, and the desire for independence which led to the formation of the family business.
“Tommy is a good example of somebody who has followed a successful career in sport by making an impact in business. He fought at the iconic Madison Square Garden and also won a Commonwealth title. Now his bouncing, entrepreneurial enthusiasm has enabled him to secure award-winning, repeat business with Siemens Gamesa. We want to know what’s next.”
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