Hull safety specialist Arco is swapping steel toe caps for hiking boots as it puts its best foot forward and gets behind Yorkshire tourism - through tech.
The company is donating surplus IT infrastructure to support not-for-profit organisation Welcome to Yorkshire, allowing it to concentrate on investing in the recovery of the visitor economy.
Pre-Covid, tourism was worth £9bn to the region and was responsible for a quarter of a million jobs.
Volunteering days will also be used by staff to get it up and running.
Arco’s head of IT, Daniel Spurgeon, said: "Arco is delighted to support Welcome to Yorkshire and recycle our IT infrastructure in such a positive way.
“With a 136-year heritage in Hull, it’s great to know that we’re ensuring continuity for a not-for-profit organisation in our county, whose work ultimately benefits local businesses and residents too. The pandemic has been a difficult time, but I’m confident the more we all rally together, the more we ensure life after the pandemic brings a brighter chapter’.
It comes as the business upgrades systems as part of the head office relocation to Hull’s Fruit Market - a location that has proved key as part of City of Culture celebrations.
The donation will save WTY up to £20,000, allowing it to bolster the "Walkshire" campaign, celebrating Yorkshire’s countryside, coast, cities, towns and iconic locations across the county so that visitors can discover its spectacular scenery, history and heritage safely throughout the pandemic.
Most Read
James McKenzie, director of strategic delivery at WTY, said: “This donation will help the region, help the economy and help local businesses to recover from a very challenging period when visitor numbers have been so reduced. It comes at an ideal time as Welcome to Yorkshire has just launched its year-long Walkshire campaign. Over lockdown, people have been limited as to the activities they can enjoy, but we can all explore the beauty of what is on our doorstep, and at the same time underpin Yorkshire as the walking capital of the world.”
The businesses were introduced by Tadcaster-based ITogether.
Simon Richardson, cyber security director, said: "We were delighted to be able to bring two of our long-standing customers together.
“It’s great to know the infrastructure will stay in the local region and be recycled into a new investment that will be used for years to come.”