Paul Jennings is Chief Executive of North, a global marine insurer that has been at the forefront of the maritime industry from its Tyneside base for over 160 years. Here, he talks about the P&I Club's origins and history, its North East roots and why it's important for the business to give back.
161 years ago, shipping was big business. The banks of the Tyne were alive with a new wave of shipbuilding and maritime industry connected to the export of coal from the North East’s rich coal mines. However, back then shipping was a dangerous and uncertain business. In response, the North of England Iron Steam Ship Protecting Association, the embryonic North P&I Club, was launched in 1860, providing collision liability and personal injury cover to its members – the shipping companies and owners – that were helping to firmly place the North East on the global industrial map. Our mission was, and still is to this day, to enable our shipowner members to trade with confidence. I’m delighted to say that more than 160 years on, North is one of the region’s leading businesses, employing almost 400 people, with more than 300 based at our headquarters on Newcastle’s Quayside. Undoubtedly, we’ve worked hard to help shape the future of the maritime industry and grow our local economy. However, in recent years, we have found ourselves wanting to do more for the people and the city we call home. Since 2010, we have been supporting the local communities in which we live and work. From volunteering, to providing donations to local projects and charitable causes from our North 150 Fund, North has helped to make positive changes in the community. Through funding or volunteering, we have helped plant trees, buy vital medical equipment for local hospitals, provide breakfasts for local school children and provide clothing and equipment for children and adults. Our North 150 Fund has seen us donate £1 million to maritime and North East charities over the past 11 years, with local beneficiaries including Children North East, the Newcastle United Foundation, Ouseburn Farm, St Oswald’s Hospice and Willow Burn Hospice, amongst others. As part of our commitment to ensuring the maritime industry continues to thrive, we have also supported charities such as the UK’s Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) and others that support seafarers and their families, particularly during the pandemic. Last year, during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, we also donated laptops and equipment to selected schools in the region and supported some of our long-term charity partners who have redirected their resources to help those most in need. I’m truly delighted that our North 150 Fund has enabled us to support such a wide variety of causes and individuals across the North East, as well as seafarers and their families. By supporting our communities, we can really make a difference to those who need it most, whilst simultaneously future proofing our region and ensuring jobs, facilities and support networks are built to last the next 160 years.
