What the Humber Enterprise Park means to me: Peter Melling, Estate Manager
Peter has the overall responsibility for the estate maintenance and estate management at the HEP site. Along with his lead Maintenance Engineer, Shane Tidswell, BCFM are responsible for ensuring that the site runs like clockwork, covering issues such as site security, water risk management, fire management, cleaning and general maintenance. One of their key roles is also tenant liaison, which Peter describes as bordering on a “concierge service” that covers both the existing tenants and new tenants bringing their businesses on to the site.
We interviewed Peter about his business and the role both he and it has had to play at the Humber Enterprise Park, and it was clear to us that the site means much more than just a 9 to 5 job to him.
Peter has been based at the Brough based HEP site for over 24 years, having joined current tenants BAE Systems (British Aerospace as was) on 13th September 1993 as a craft apprentice. He worked for them for 18 years up until 2011, when he decided to take voluntary redundancy and set up his own business with Black Cat. He told us he feels like part of the furniture, even having project managed the construction of two buildings for BAE during his time with them, including one which is now home to one of our newest tenants, The Crafty Little Brewery. You can read their story here.
The Humber Enterprise Park’s history is of great importance to Peter, and he is still in regular contact with Jaynie Rayne, daughter of Robert Blackburn who founded the site in 1916. You can find more on his story by clicking here.
In homage to the history of the HEP, Peter recently worked closely with local graffiti artists Spray Creative on creating the murals which are featured across several the site’s buildings. It was important for him that the redevelopment of the site paid tribute to its history, which is why one mural puts Robert front and centre alongside the Monoplane 2, the first of his aircraft to fly.
While it is the site’s history that is important to Peter, we asked him why he thinks it’s attractive to other businesses.
“The Humber Enterprise Park is more than just industrial and office space. We are trying to create a community here as well as offering high class office accommodation. We have great breakout spaces and a gym, both converted from shipping containers, and we are in the final stages of developing a running challenge for all tenants to enter. My vision is for a Wednesday lunchtime running club!
Other than the obvious financial benefits of being part of the HEP family, the location is lovely and really well connected. On sunny days, it is pleasant to see rolling hills out of your office window, and we have Brough train station, no more than a 10 minute walk away, with its direct trains to Leeds, Manchester and London.
Being just outside of the centre of Hull means the commute is never problem – I think I’ve been stuck in one traffic jam in 24 years! The huge amount of free parking is also something you won’t find elsewhere.”
When carrying out the tenant spotlight interviews for our news section, many were quick to state how helpful Peter and Shane had been in helping them get settled in to the site.
If you’re interested in joining Peter, Shane and our existing tenant community at the Humber Enterprise Park, you can view our available office space here.
