Arco, the UK’s leading safety company, and Hull UK City of Culture 2017 were awarded ‘Business Manager of the Year Award 2017’ at this year’s Professional Clothing Awards, hosted at Safety and Health Expo 2017, ExCeL London. The international awards aim to recognise and reward exceptional industry innovation, suppliers, distributors and manufacturers and corporate partnerships from around the world
The title of Business Manager of the Year was awarded to Shaun Crummey, Head of Volunteering at Hull UK City of Culture 2017. Shaun’s responsibility was to build and oversee the strategic direction of the volunteer engagement and empowerment programme. For Shaun, his greatest achievement since joining the Hull 2017: “Giving thousands of people the platform to express themselves through positive and well managed opportunities.”
In 2016, Shaun and Hull 2017 team approached local safety expert Arco with the brief to create an eye-catching uniform that appealed to all-ages and genders. The Hull-based company produced an easily recognisable uniform that created a sense of unity for the volunteers. The uniform received exceptional feedback from volunteers, with one helper saying: “I’m bursting with pride every time I put on my uniform. I feel like a mini City of Culture superhero!”
The uniform was designed to suit the chosen Hull 2017 colours – ‘scandalous blue’, ‘ludicrous purple’ and ‘deep mischievous pink’. The garments can be layered up to suit the changeable Hull weather and have been carefully designed to prioritise comfort, functionality and durability.
Neil Jowsey, CEO of Arco, said: “We were exceptionally proud to be asked to design the Hull UK City of Culture 2017 Uniform, and we’re just as proud to be a part of this prestigious award. As a Hull-based and family owned company, Arco is always looking at ways to work with the local community, and this was certainly a project that brought the whole of Hull and beyond together.”
Shaun Crummey, Head of Volunteering at Hull 2017 said: “It’s great for the programme to get this recognition. The volunteers look amazing in their Arco uniform and have really brightened up the city as part of Hull UK City of Culture 2017. You can’t go too far in the city without seeing or talking to a Hull 2017 volunteer. They really have embraced the year and the programme.
“Arco is a fantastic partner – with its local focus and international expertise, we couldn’t be in better hands. We needed a uniform that was so many things, from durable to identifiable. As the year has progressed the uniform and our volunteers have become iconic, they are now intrinsically linked to the year.”
Shaun was joined at the awards by Hull 2017 volunteer Trevor Sylvester. Trevor said: “One thing the uniform has done, I know from personal experience and speaking to other volunteers, is it gives us the confidence to go up to complete strangers and say hello and ask them if they need any help. It also gives the public the confidence to come up to us and ask things.
“The win at the recent Professional Clothing Awards was fantastic not only for Shaun, but also for everybody at Arco and Hull 2017.”
At the Professional Clothing Awards, Arco was also ‘Highly Commended’ for ‘Best IT Innovation’ for its Arc Flash Online Tool, and was shortlisted for ‘Business Manager Award’ for its corporate partnership with Thames Tideway. For further information, please visit the web site: www.arco.co.uk.
