Hull Business Thrives 150 Years on Kindness Strategy

When Dr. Paul Sewell worried his company had become "too soft" by prioritizing people over profits, his mentor gave him advice that changed everything: kindness isn't just a business strategy, it's the only strategy that works.

That philosophy carried Sewell Group from a small construction firm in Hull, England to a thriving organization of 500 employees spanning seven businesses across Yorkshire. The company just celebrated 150 years with a party honoring not their buildings, but the people who built them.

The results speak louder than any motivational poster. Sewell Group has appeared in the Sunday Times Top 100 Companies to Work For every year since 2009. Their retail division, Sewell On The Go, won UK Forecourt Retailer of the Year twice while growing from two gas pumps to 13 locations.

But the awards that matter most tell a different story. The company earned both the Queen's Award and King's Award for Enterprise for Promoting Opportunity, recognizing their work helping people from disadvantaged backgrounds find careers.

Jim Dick, King Charles III's regional representative, remembered how Sewell Group renovated a local Scout hut and gave young people without jobs the chance to renovate an old nightclub. When Dick thanked Dr. Sewell, the response was simple: "It seemed like the right thing to do."

The Ripple Effect

That "right thing" mindset created waves far beyond Hull. The company partners with civic leaders on regeneration projects, keeps local money in the local economy, and built everything from schools to the Rob Burrow MND Centre. Emma Hardy, the local MP, noted that Sewell Group's success proves Hull has "the talent, the ambition and the capability to lead."

The company recently transitioned to employee ownership, ensuring the business stays rooted in Hull for generations to come. Dr. Sewell quoted Richard Branson at the anniversary celebration: "If during the course of doing business you don't make people's lives better" then what's the point?

Sewell Group found the point 150 years ago and never let go: treat people well, invest in your community, and success follows naturally.