‘It’s fantastic to see such a significant investment being made right here in Hull’
05:00, 24 Oct 2025
Hull North and Cottingham MP Dame Diana Johnson (centre), with Ideal Heating’s Chief Operations Officer Jason Speedy and Engineering Director Helen Villamuera.(Image: Hull News & Pictures)
The MP for Hull North and Cottingham, Dame Diana Johnson, has visited Ideal Heating’s UK Technology Centre (UKTC) as development of the industry-leading research and development (R&D) facility enters its final stages. The site, which is located on National Avenue in Hull, is set to help pioneer new low carbon heating technologies.
Ahead of the completion of the building’s fit out, Ideal invited the Labour Party MP, for a tour of the facility which sits within her constituency. She was shown the state-of-the-art facilities, including climatic chambers where heat pumps are tested in a range of temperatures and conditions, and anechoic chambers designed to monitor acoustic levels.
Formerly known as Ideal Boilers, the company was founded in Hull in 1906 and is now owned by French company, Groupe Atlantic, a major global player in thermal comfort. The company’s new facility will house more than 100 specialists, in roles ranging from R&D and product management, to design engineering and software development.
Dame Diana received a tour of the site(Image: Hull News & Pictures)
Dame Diana, who recently became Minister of State in the Department for Work and Pensions, said: “It’s fantastic to see such a significant investment being made right here in Hull. The UKTC is an impressive facility which reflects Ideal’s leading role in the heating industry.
“Ideal is one of Hull’s great business success stories, with a long and proud history of innovation and employment in the city. This R&D centre will not only safeguard jobs in Hull, it will create new opportunities and skills well into the future, and support the transition to clean energy.”
Is Hull the best place to live in Yorkshire? You can have your say by completing the poll below or by clicking here.
The will bring together teams that are currently spread out across Ideal’s National Avenue site(Image: Hull News & Pictures)
Ideal’s Chief Operations Officer, Jason Speedy, and Engineering Director Helen Villamuera, welcomed Dame Diana to the Hull site and briefed her on the significance of the UKTC. Mr Speedy said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Dame Diana to our headquarters site in Hull and to give her a tour of the UKTC as the fit out enters its final stages. “The UKTC represents an important investment for Hull, continuing well over a century of success and growth for Ideal in the city.
“We’re proud to make a significant further contribution to the local economy – one which support skills development, retention and innovation in our region. There’s a real buzz around the business about the building, especially among our product development and R&D teams who are really looking forward to the state-of-the-art facilities and exciting opportunities it offers.”
Get all the latest headlines sent straight to your inbox for free with our newsletter. You can stay up to date with all the breaking news and top stories as they happen in Hull and East Yorkshire by clicking this link.
