See how we strategically align our work with the needs of local employers through the flagship Cornerstone Employers initiative.
See how we strategically align our work with the needs of local employers through the flagship Cornerstone Employers initiative.
Cornerstone Employers are a flagship collection of businesses of all sizes, shapes, types, and from diverse sectors that provide support to young people in Hull and East Yorkshire.
The role of the Cornerstone Employers is to ensure that the work we do as a Careers Hub strategically aligns with the needs of local employers and to ensure young people have the right skills to positively impact the region when they enter the world of work.
“We do have some social responsibility to put things back into the community. So, being a part of this Cornerstone Group, allows us to get together with like-minded businesses and really drive some strategy forward for the region to the benefit of everyone who lives in the area.”James Hardstaff, General Manager, BAE Systems
Our Cornerstone Employers spearhead many of the initiatives we run with schools. For example, they were some of the first employers to offer Teacher Encounters [LINK] for local schools. They also participate in engagement activities in schools across the region and regularly feature at our conferences. If you’ve not seen them at events in the past, here’s who to look out for.
At BAE Systems, we provide some of the world’s most advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace and security solutions. We employ a skilled workforce of 93,100 people in around 40 countries. Working with customers and local partners, we develop, engineer, manufacture, and support products and systems to deliver military capability, protect national security and people, and keep critical information and infrastructure secure. Our Brough site has a proud heritage of over 100 years. The 700-strong skilled workforce has wide-ranging capabilities across platforms within the Air and Maritime domains, in a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. Working responsibly matters a great deal to us. We aim to protect the safety of our employees and the environment and make a positive social and economic contribution to the communities where we operate. We have set ourselves the target of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions across our operations by 2030 and working towards a net zero value chain by 2050.
Balfour Beatty is a leading international infrastructure group with 24,500 employees driving the delivery of powerful new solutions, shaping thinking, creating skylines and inspiring a new generation of talent to be the change-makers of tomorrow. We finance, develop, build, maintain and operate the increasingly complex and critical infrastructure that supports national economies and delivers projects at the heart of local communities
Cranswick was founded in the 1970s when a group of farmers from East Yorkshire came together to mill pig feed. The business moved into food production in the 1980s and has evolved and grown into one of the UK’s largest fresh food producers. Cranswick now employs almost 14,000 people across 22 manufacturing facilities in the UK and also operates a farming and feed milling business, rearing British pigs and chickens to the Red Tractor and RSPCA Assured standards.
In 2022, the group re-entered the pet food business through the acquisition of Grove Pet Foods supporting the sustainability agenda to reduce food waste and ensure nothing goes to waste. The group produces a vast range of products, ranging from fresh pork and chicken; gourmet sausage, bacon and pastry to sliced cooked meats and slow cook products such as ribs and pulled pork. Cranswick also has a growing Mediterranean Foods business producing charcuterie meat, olives & anti-pasti and a recent acquisition of RAMONA’S houmous business.
Different Resonance is a Hull-based content marketing agency, set up by Matt Johnson in April 2021. They offer a mix of social media management and content strategy services for clients operating in sectors ranging from legal services to arts and culture.
Matt set up Different Resonance following a successful freelance career. Having graduated from the University of Hull in 2018, Matt decided to set up as a freelancer, specialising in social media. He worked with small, local businesses managing their day-to-day social media output and upskilling their teams so they could eventually run the accounts themselves. Matt’s success led him to set up Different Resonance where this growth has continued.
The Hull Citywide Developer Partnership consists of housing developers Keepmoat, and Strata Homes along with affordable housing provider Home Group Limited and commercial property specialists Priority Space. We are delivering one of Hull’s largest, most widespread, and longest housing regeneration programmes, bringing private investment to more than £500 million to the area over a 13-year period. Working collaboratively with Hull City Council, the Hull Citywide Partnership will provide much-needed new homes, employment and training opportunities and inward investment to the city through developing land owned by the Council.
Founded in Hull in 1964 by Ken Smith, the Swift Group has grown to become the largest manufacturer of caravans, holiday homes and motorhomes in the UK. With a turnover in excess of £300 million and 1300 plus employees, it is the only company making leisure homes that operates in all three sectors of the market. The development of the business has been built on the simple principle of making products that innovate in the key areas of design, exceptional quality and good value for money. To make it easier for more people to experience the benefits of owning a leisure vehicle, in 2017, the Swift Group launched its motorhome hire company, Swift Go, with rental depots in Stockport, Manchester and Edinburgh.
Wienerberger is the world’s largest producer of bricks and clay blocks. We currently employ 1200 in the UK at 12 sites, and we take on 10 Engineering Apprentices every year. In the Humber Region, we have 3 factories at Broomefleet, Goxhill and Sandtoft. Our partner training provider in this region is HETA and we continue to grow our relationship with them. Our apprentices currently study a 4-year program against the MOET multi-skilled technician standard. We have just completed the build on a purpose-built £1m Training centre at our Sandtoft site. This training centre allows us to deliver our own curriculum to support both our apprentices and full-time staff on subjects such as PLC’s, Robotics, Safety, Raw materials and process specialisms. We were also one of the first companies in the UK to achieve the ‘Gold Standard’ excellent employer for apprentices.
The William Jackson Food Group is a long-established family business, with a a portfolio of successful food businesses which are thriving in their market areas. Jacksons makes bread for the sandwich market in the UK and abroad. The bakery also makes Jackson’s of Yorkshire for sale in supermarkets. Abel & Cole is an online organic food delivery business which delivers a wide range of groceries to thousands of homes across the country every week. Wellocks supplies the finest ingredients to great chefs all over the country. Customers include many Michelin-star restaurants and high-profile sporting venues. Belazu is the UK’s top-selling balsamic vinegar and premium olive oil brand. They also sell culinary paste and preserved lemons through leading retailers. We strive to be a business to be proud of and have strong values to which we adhere, including consideration, integrity, commitment, openness, and boldness.