Starting and running a business can be a daunting task, but choosing the right location can significantly impact your chances of success.
One hidden gem for entrepreneurs is our hometown of Hull, a city that offers a unique blend of affordability, creativity, and community support. Drawing on our experience of starting and running several small businesses including The Hull Pie (12 years) and The Whoopie Bakery (1 year), here are 8 compelling reasons why we think Hull is a great place to start and run a business.
1. Low Living Costs: A Financial Breathing Space
One of the biggest hurdles for budding entrepreneurs is the financial strain that often accompanies the early stages of a business. Hull addresses this concern with significantly lower living costs compared to many other parts of the country. Affordable housing translates to the lowest mortgage payments or rents in the country and living expenses for better quality housing, providing entrepreneurs with some much-needed financial breathing space as they navigate the challenges of starting a business.
2. Low Start-Up Costs: A Competitive Edge
In addition to low living costs, Hull offers entrepreneurs lower start-up costs for their businesses. Whether it’s unit rent, market rents, vehicle purchases, or professional services, the overall cost of running a business is more competitive than elsewhere in the UK. This financial advantage can make a significant difference for startups, allowing them to allocate resources more strategically and weather the initial uncertainties of entrepreneurship.
3. Flexible Staffing: Adapting to the Entrepreneurial Journey
Hull’s lower living costs contribute to a pool of high-caliber, flexible staff. Recognising the challenges faced by new businesses, Hull’s workforce is often willing to adapt to the unique demands of startups. This flexibility becomes crucial for businesses managing fluctuating cash flows and working with limited initial capital. Having committed, creative and adaptable staff can be a key factor in the early survival and eventual success of a business.
4. Creative Networks: The Village in the City
Hull is often described as a big village despite being a city. This close-knit community fosters fantastic creative networks where freelancers collaborate and support each other. Building a team of like-minded, grounded, and down-to-earth professionals becomes more accessible in this connected environment, providing businesses with a strong foundation for success. For example, we’ve established longstanding relationships with amazing suppliers, such as wholesalers, HR, printers, designers, marketing professionals, market traders and food outlets.
5. Supportive and Well-Connected Infrastructure: Building Relationships for Success
Hull’s status as a relatively small city contributes to a well-connected infrastructure. Local councils, media outlets, the university, and key players in various sectors are intertwined. Establishing a reputation for reliability and professionalism opens doors to collaborations and ongoing support from local organisations. Personal connections quickly transform into professional opportunities, creating a robust support network for businesses. With The Hull Pie and The Whoopie Bakery, we’ve received fantastic support from local organisations such as Hull City Council , East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Cottingham Parish Council, the Univeristy of Hull, Reckitt, Smith & Nephew, CHCP, Willerby Caravans, to name but a few.
6. Word-of-Mouth Marketing: Spreading the Buzz
The ‘big village’ atmosphere of Hull makes word-of-mouth marketing particularly effective. A well-timed social media post or a feature in local media can lead to rapid business growth. The close community ensures that news travels fast, helping businesses generate buzz and build a customer base quickly. This dynamic environment is especially beneficial for small businesses looking to establish themselves in the market.
7. Loyal – and Friendly – Customer Base: The Heart of Success
As businesses gain traction in Hull, they discover a customer base that is not only loyal but also friendly. The personal connections formed at market stalls and through local delivery routes contribute to a strong bond between businesses and customers. Loyalty programs become a hit, and customers actively engage with the brand, creating a foundation for sustained success.
8. Quality of Life: A Hidden Gem Beyond Business Success
Above all else, quality of life in Hull can be truly fantastic. Despite being a city with high levels of deprivation and social challenges, our experience tells a different story. Hull is a place teeming with down-to-Earth, friendly, creative, and community-driven individuals who prioritise connection with others above everything else. It’s often said that Hull has a way of drawing you in, and in our case, it’s true – friendships and communities tend to be deep-rooted, not fleeting.
While the nightlife might not be the city’s strongest suit, Hull compensates with an abundance of great restaurants, cultural performances and events, museums, cafes, and markets. From our perspective, one of the greatest perks is that Hull is on the edge of some of the most beautiful countryside and coastline in the UK. The Yorkshire Wolds, the Lincolnshire Wolds, the Yorkshire Moors, and the Yorkshire Dales are all within easy reach for day trips. For us, this combination of a thriving business environment and easy access to breathtaking natural landscapes is nothing short of living the dream in Hull.
Conclusion
Based on our experience of running The Hull Pie and more recently starting up The Whoopie Bakery, Hull emerges as an ideal location for entrepreneurs seeking a supportive, cost-effective, and vibrant environment to start and run their businesses. With its unique blend of low living and start-up costs, flexible staffing, creative networks, well-connected infrastructure, effective word-of-mouth marketing, and a loyal customer base, Hull offers the perfect ecosystem for businesses to thrive. As the city continues to grow and evolve, it remains a beacon for those looking to turn their entrepreneurial dreams into reality.
Kate Cunnah, Managing Director
By Katie Cunnah, Managing Director, The Whoopie Bakery,
and Marketing & Communications Manager for The Hull Pie
Photo of Hull by 43 Clicks North on Unsplash