Hull Live Business Awards winners revealed in night of inspiring celebration

One of Hull’s most highly respected figures has been honoured for his achievements in business and the community as part of a night of inspiring celebration.

Neil Hudgell’s outstanding contribution to city life was recognised at the Hull Live Business Awards, with the receipt of the top accolade. It capped an incredible evening where success was toasted from a city-founded giant that now spans the globe, to record-breaking inward investment and micro-enterprise, alongside individual endeavours.

For Mr Hudgell, it followed a run of high profile case wins and representations that has taken him from humble East Hull beginnings to the highest courts in the land, while enabling his beloved Super League side Hull KR to thrive.

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The gala dinner united leading business figures and was led by inspirational British athlete Iwan Thomas MBE, who wowed the crowd with his life story and incredible footage from his climb to the top of elite sport. And there were several references to the dearly missed Hull regeneration director, Mark Jones MBE, with the city council choosing to dedicate their sponsored award to his memory. In his acceptance speech Mr Hudgell also remembered him, while business editor David Laister earlier led a toast in his name.

But it was the plaudits for Mr Hudgell that brought those in the Doubletree by Hilton ballroom to their feet. Alex Yeung, deputy chief executive and co-founder of headline sponsor Connexin, presented the award. He said: “One of East Riding’s leading business figures, Hull born and bred, he is both well known and highly regarded in the region, and this accolade recognises his immense and sustained contribution to both business and the community across a number of years.”

Mr Hudgell has forged a national top 200 boutique litigation practice, playing a key role in huge group action inquiries, including the Post Office Horizon IT scandal, the Manchester bombing, infected blood and Covid.

Neil Hudgell with the Outstanding Contribution Award, flanked by Iwan Thomas MBE, left and Alex Yeung, co-founder and deputy chief executive of headline sponsor Connexin. (Image: Donna Clifford/HullLive)

Hull East MP Karl Turner, who worked alongside Mr Hudgell to quash convictions for subpostmasters jailed for accountancy errors made by the Horizon system, led the testimonies. In a video played out before he took to the stage to a standing ovation, Mr Turner described Mr Hudgell as a lawyer who “very often took those David and Goliath cases that most lawyers would shy away from”. “He gets stuck in to get justice for clients,” he said. “It has not come easy, it has been with really hard work from Neil and his team.” There were plaudits from rugby rival Adam Pearson and brain injury charity founder Paul Spence too.

Reckitt and Adams & Green - named overall Business of the Year - were both awarded two accolades, with the former taking global excellence and innovation, while growth at the animal feed specialist was also highlighted after impressing judges with an incredible decade of delivery.

Andy Sykes, plant director at Siemens Gamesa was named Business Person of the Year, having maintained operations through a huge expansion, having been promoted to the top role.