Grimsby engineering firm Allied Protek has become the latest business to support the town’s young people by becoming a Founder Patron of Horizon Youth Zone.
The company, headed up by Grimbarian Paul Wilson, is based just a stone’s throw from the Youth Zone’s site on Garth Lane. Planning permission was granted for the Youth Zone earlier this year.
The state-of-the-art centre, named Horizon by Grimsby’s young people, is being delivered by the national charity OnSide, which has created a network of Youth Zones across the country.
Horizon will be run as an independent, local charity consisting of a unique partnership between young people, their community, North East Lincolnshire Council and private business leadership.
It will be open seven days a week, offering young people aged between eight and 19 (or 25 for those with additional needs) over 20 activities every session. Facilities will include an indoor climbing wall, dance and drama studio, fully-equipped gym, skate park, training kitchen, music room with recording studio, arts and crafts area, enterprise and employability suite, a boat house and much more. Alongside a wide range of activities, youth workers will be available to offer advice and support to those who need it.
Allied Protek is joining the Youth Zone’s growing family of Founder Patrons who will all contribute to the charity’s annual running costs, ensuring it can give young people the very best opportunities. Other Founder Patrons include Ørsted, the Pettit Family, Jason Stockwood and the Bentham Family.
The successful engineering company specialises in complete project management – design, manufacture, installation and maintenance, and works within a wide range of industries including food, chemical, defence, renewables, pharmaceutical and nuclear.
Allied Protek already works closely with the Grimsby Institute and recognises the importance of apprenticeships and working with young people to develop their confidence and skills, they are keen to nurture young talent and currently three of their apprentices, Tom Favell, William Lince and Chris Swales, have reached the finals of the WorldSkills UK competition, taking skills honed in Grimsby to a national stage.
Paul Wilson, Managing Director of Allied Protek said: “We decided to support the Youth Zone in Grimsby to empower the youngest members of our community and invest in their future. With Grimsby being my hometown, this project is particularly close to my heart and I’m proud to be a part of the town’s regeneration, that will create jobs and training opportunities. When visiting the Wigan Youth Zone, I was impressed with how innovative and inclusive it was and I would encourage anyone invested in Grimsby’s development to join us on our journey to raise aspiration, increase skills and improve the health and wellbeing of thousands of young people.
“At Allied Protek, we’ve always been passionate about nurturing young talent, having taken many apprentices and graduates onboard over the years. I believe that Horizon Youth Zone will help inspire a new generation of engineers and tradesmen, driving economic growth, closing the skills gap and harnessing the transformative impact of exciting new industries for direct local benefit.”
Horizon Youth Zone interim chair Jason Stockwood said: “I’d like to say a huge thank-you to Paul and his team for their generous support and for investing in the next generation of local young people. Horizon Youth Zone will provide the very best facilities, support and opportunities – it will be the place that the town’s young people deserve and the support of our local businesses is essential to its success.”