Hull BID has moved to strengthen its support for the city’s cultural and tourism events with the latest appointment to its board.

Jon Pywell specialises in managing Hull City Council’s involvement in visitor events and attractions.

His appointment to the Hull BID board is designed to improve those events and to increase the resulting benefits for city centre businesses.

“We are delighted that Jon has joined the board,” said Kathryn Shillito, Hull BID City Centre Manager.

“Jon brings great experience and expertise in supporting the sort of events that have generated a lot of activity for our city centre businesses and we intend to work together to build on that.”

Jon, who comes from Hull, worked away from the area for a number of years before returning in 1996 to join the City Council. He is currently assistant head of Economic Development and Regeneration, and his responsibilities cover the cultural development of the city.

“I had some involvement in studying other BIDs before Hull BID was set up and it’s great to be working with them again to bring the city centre to life,” he said.

Jon highlighted Hull BID’s work on the evening economy as an area of real progress along with the introduction of events including the fashion week, the Yum! Festival of Food and Drink and the Hull Comedy Festival.

“We shouldn’t under-estimate the contribution Hull BID has made towards developing a number of high profile core events that have contributed significantly to the city centre,” he said.

“It is important to understand the importance of Hull BID as a link between the City Council and businesses in the city centre,” he said.

“Partnerships like this are really what successful cities are all about. I have seen Hull transform itself and I am particularly proud to see that the city centre has started to develop into one that can rival many other cities.

“We are at a point now with the opportunities that are about to emerge where we can become one of the key cities in the north of England.”