Hiscox: Deal was a year in the making (From York Press)

Hiscox: Deal was a year in the making

7:26am Friday 28th September 2012 in News Exclusive By Julie Hayes, Business editor

The decision to invest in York has been the result of more than a year’s efforts.

Hiscox’s chief operating officer Alan Millard and head of property and procurement, Steve Riches, first met council chief executive Kersten England, and Katie Stewart, head of economic development at City of York Council last October, along with Susie Cawood , head of York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.

In November, an initial pitch meeting was held at the University of York , with Coun James Alexander, Mrs England, Ms Cawood, and Peter Kay, chair of the York Economic Partnership.

Between December and July, regular discussions and negotiations took place between City of York Council, S Harrison and Hiscox about the possibility of Hiscox’s move to the city.

Several business leaders from York, including Peter Kay, former CPP director Stephen Kennedy, and John Lister, of Aviva , also engaged with the Hiscox team during this time, providing them further insight into what it is like to do business in the city, and providing a sense of the York business community.

Throughout this period, the detailed business case for the move to York was made, and support coordinated by the economic development team at the council, with involvement from planning and conservation colleagues, skills and labour market officers in the council on the recruitment offer and labour supply and transport colleagues on public transport accessibility of site options.

In July, the business decided to choose York and in August, the council committed to secure a suitable site for the office.

The council said it has offered no direct financial incentive but a package of support on recruitment, advice and assistance on locating in the city.

Peter Kay, chairman of the York Economic Partnership, said Hiscox were impressed with the dialogue and partnership involved between the business community and local authority.

“Any inward investment adds to the economic mix, the diversity and the general wealth created within the economy. I think that the whole private sector business community will be wanting to welcome Hiscox to York.”