Barbara Sharp, site director, SGS Europe, welcomes Hull’s Lord Mayor Colin Inglis and the Lady Mayor
Following a significant contract win last year, SGS International has moved into larger premises in Hull. Set in an old refurbished brewery, the new site was officially opened by the Lord Mayor in May.
American-owned Southern Graphics Systems (SGS) International, a specialist in the production and management of packaging communications, has entered a new era in its global business with a multi-million pound expansion plan, which has included taking up residence in a disused old brewery.
The company’s Hull based operation, recently won a significant award from one of its existing clients – a multinational conglomerate and manufacturer of a vast range of consumer products, all of which are household names.
The win necessitated a massive recruitment drive to increase staffing levels from 70 to over 130, with more anticipated by the end of this year. ‘But more importantly, we needed to search for larger premises which would accommodate a doubling of employees and allow room for expansion in the future,’ said Brian McGrath, managing director, Europe.
‘There was never any intention of moving away from the Hull area – over the past seven years, SGS has grown from a small team of 12 print and graphics specialists to the current staffing level and is now one of Hull’s major employers,’ explained Mr McGrath. The increase in staff has been driven over the years by the clients’ demands and the fact that the Hull team has been recognised for its high level of service and expertise.
‘It was imperative that we secured a property in the city – and we couldn’t have found anything more suitable nor as accommodating than Brewery House, which is part of The Maltings redevelopment, right within the city centre,’ he continued.
A Victorian listed building, the brewery was built in 1868 and home to The Hull Brewery Company, which was a major employer for the city, producing the famous Anchor Export beer. Brewing at the site in Silver Street ceased in 1985 and the building remained derelict until a local developer, Allenby Commercial, took over the property in 2010 and began refurbishing it for office accommodation. The largest part of this work was Brewery House which emcompasses four levels of space.
‘It’s thus very fitting that we should, as a modern day major employer for the city, be taking over the premises of a previous major employer and, indirectly, we are also working in the realms of consumerism. We are injecting new life into the place,’ said Mr McGrath.
The move to the new premises from the very overcrowded offices, which SGS previously occupied, had to be as seamless as possible so as not to compromise on the clients’ needs and demands. At the same time, a massive recruitment drive was underway with inherent training sessions for the new employees.
The Red Frog, a Hull-based interior design company, was contracted to transform the inside space. The end result is bright and airy modern working areas where the hugely increased staff work, surrounded by old lithographs, antiques, refurbished beer barrels and a host of other artefacts from the old brewery, including beer mats, which bring the past into today in a very sympathetic way.
The current and future development of SGS within the Hull area is giving an impetus into the local economy, something the city’s Lord Mayor, Colin Inglis, remarked upon when he unveiled a plaque at the official opening ceremony of Brewery House on May 10. He said, ‘SGS choosing Hull as a base shows confidence in the city as a place to live, work and do business. The company will join a number of other businesses based here that trade internationally, raising Hull’s profile and helping with its regeneration.’
