This week’s Yorkshire appointments

hlw Keeble Hawson is further boosting its commercial and private client teams across offices in Sheffield, Leeds and Doncaster with the appointment of seven trainee solicitors.

In Sheffield James Redshaw joins the employment team, Emily King is working in the residential conveyancing department, Chris Thornton is based in the claimant personal injury department and Sherelle O’Brien joins the private client team.

Chris Dalby takes up a role in clinical negligence headed by partner Janet Baker who has been awarded a tier 1 ranking in the latest Chambers legal guide - with Shazad Yasser and Richard Barrett joining the corporate teams at the firm’s Leeds and Doncaster offices respectively.

Partner Giles Searby said: “As a firm we are proud of our strong reputation and commitment to recruiting, training and developing talent across all levels - and I’m confident that our new trainees will make a significant contribution to our future achievements and growth. I wish them every success during this formative period in their careers.”

The developments follow a raft of appointments in recent months which include the firm taking on four newly qualified solicitors after completing their training contracts - and promoting seven new associates.

Jim Wright, Shulmans LLP

Shulmans LLP, the Yorkshire corporate law firm, has appointed Jim Wright as partner within its Employment team after another strong year of growth.

Wright, brings to the firm significant experience in all employment-related legal issues, including strategic human resource issues, business transfers, commercial agreements and employment litigation. He has specific experience in the food, retail, professional and financial services, and recruitment and transport sectors, and considerable experience in helping employers deal with trades union issues.

A member of the Institute of Directors, Wright joins Shulmans from DWF where he was a partner. Known as an innovative commercial employment lawyer, he will focus on helping to develop, grow and the highly skilled Shulmans’ team, whilst also dealing with the full gamut of employment law issues, with a particular focus on employee productivity, driving shareholder return and crisis management.

Wright, who lives in Sheffield, said: “Shulmans’ Employment team is not only well respected but also highly ambitious - a compelling combination. And of course Shulmans itself is leading the legal agenda in the Leeds business community so understandably I was keen to be part of the firm.”

Tim Halstead, Shulmans’ managing partner, added: “We are delighted that Jim has joined us; this is a significant appointment for the firm and we welcome him to his senior role within the Employment team.”

Andrew Fox, JLL

Property consultancy JLL has appointed Andrew Fox as a director in its Valuation team based in Leeds.

Andrew will continue to grow the residential valuation business in Yorkshire and the north of England working alongside the ten-strong valuation team which is led by director Simon Cullimore.

Andrew, who has over 19 years’ experience, joins from RBS where he advised on existing assets and also new business opportunities throughout the UK. Prior to this he led Knight Frank’s residential valuation business based in Leeds.

Jeff Pearey, Lead director for JLL’s North East business, said: “2015 has been exceptional for our valuation team and next year looks set to be even more active. Andrew has a huge amount of experience in the residential sector and his expertise on land, affordable housing, student accommodation and development consultancy work will ensure we continue to provide the best possible advice to our clients.”

Andrew Fox added: “I’m excited to be joining a globally renowned property company working alongside such experienced valuation professionals. The residential markets in Yorkshire are in far better shape than for several years and with Leeds and Sheffield leading the way the foundations remain strong for increasing activity.”

Spencer Bennett, JM Glendinning Financial Services

Guiseley-based JM Glendinning Financial Services has expanded its team with the arrival of retirement planning and wealth management specialist, Spencer Bennett.

Spencer Bennett’s appointment is the second of a number of new appointments planned by the insurance, financial and health and safety services group as the firm works towards its goal of doubling in size over the next two years.

With over 30 years’ experience, Spencer Bennett joins the JM Glendinning financial services team as a senior adviser from Chartford Financial Management. His career spans roles with national IFA businesses and a specialist medical and dental advisory business before managing the Chartford business - the in-house IFA of a regional accountancy practice - for four and a half years.

Nigel Stallworthy, JM Glendinning Financial Services Managing Director, added: “I am delighted that Spencer has decided to join us. He is a highly experienced and respected financial adviser, with broad-ranging experience in the individual and corporate world as well as experience of working for a National IFA and an accountancy practice. His skills and experience will complement those of our existing team and add the strength in depth we need to look after a growing client base and achieve our growth plans.”

Louis Collins, Bekki Richardson, Ali Shah, Stephen Lubbock and Alisdair Straughan, Fantastic Media

Fantastic Media has added five new members of staff to its growing team of marketing professionals.

Louis Collins, Bekki Richardson, Ali Shah, Stephen Lubbock and Alisdair Straughan all joined the full service agency in October as part of the rapid expansion of its creative and client services teams.

After a successful placement, Louis Collins joins the creative team working across, email, website and collateral design. Ali Shah, a Bachelor of Science and Applied Computing, is a senior web developer and will work predominantly across web-based projects for a range of clients.

Stephen Lubbock also joins the creative team. A successful designer for six years, his skills across web design, graphic design and developing will bring a fresh dimension to the agency’s current offering.

Bekki, a recent graduate from the University of Nottingham, joins the client services team, working across PR and social media.

Alisdair, a former Huddersfield Town Head of Communications, joins Fantastic’s senior team as Head of PR and Content Marketing. He has spent over 10 years working in strategic communications in the UK and in the Middle East and brings valuable know-how across a range of marketing disciplines.

Andy Hobson, Fantastic Media’s Managing Director, said: “These appointments follow a number of recent account wins and are part of our strategic growth. They give us greater capacity to take on new clients and enable us to give our current clients better service.”

“We are constantly looking where we can add more value to the people we work with and the appointments of Alisdair, Stephen, Ali, Louis and Bekki will help us do that.”

Joe Griffiths, Blue Logic Digital

Leeds-based Blue Logic Digital has expanded its senior team with the appointment of Joe Griffiths as head of digital marketing.

Joe joins from Epiphany, where he worked in a senior account management role, working on several key accounts.

Prior to that, Joe spent several years at Branded3 as head of search, where he developed and delivered search and digital marketing strategies for clients.

He brings with him a wealth of SEO and digital marketing experience, and his new role at Blue Logic Digital will see him leading the digital marketing team and ensuring that all clients receive digital marketing solutions that deliver tangible results for their businesses.

Roy Moody, Director of Blue Logic Digital, added: “We’re delighted to welcome Joe on board. He brings with him vast experience of implementing digital strategies that deliver real results and his SEO expertise is a huge asset to the business.

“He’ll allow us to offer a wider range of digital marketing solutions for clients and ensure we deliver solutions that deliver real ROI.”

Lisa Gainsford, Stafforce Personnel

Stafforce Personnel has strengthened its management with the appointment of Lisa Gainsford as CEO.

Since joining the business in April 2015 in an interim role, Gainsford has worked with the Group’s Executive team to formulate a strategic growth plan. This will see the launch of The Nicholas Associates Group in January 2016.

Prior to a variety of consultancy roles, Gainsford spent 13 years as Managing Director at Randstad Inhouse Services; a business she launched and grew to almost £250m revenue. She then moved to Blue Arrow as Managing Director responsible for Managed Services, National Accounts, sales and Marketing.

The Nicholas Associates Group’s vision is to become the market-leading partner of choice for talent management solutions. The group will bring together Stafforce Recruitment, Nicholas Associates and Apprentice Employment Agency brands, complemented by a number of other specialist offerings including graduate placement, consultancy and software. It will offer candidates an experienced partner for their entire career journey and clients, a holistic solution for candidate attraction, development and retention across every area of their business.

Nick Cragg, founder and Group Executive Chairman of Nicholas Associates Group, commented: “It became clear very early on that Lisa was the right person to lead the change. She has an excellent pedigree and reputation in the industry. Under her stewardship, along with the rest of the executive team, I’m confident we are in safe but very dynamic hands.”

Uzair Miya, Liam Firth and Ashley Robinson, Elementary Digital

Yorkshire digital agency Elementary Digital has made three new appointments to support expansion.

Uzair Miya and Liam Firth join the design and development team and Ashley Robinson joins as account manager.

Elementary Digital specialises in Wordpress and Magento and has recently completed projects for Reveal windows and doors, international motorcycle brand 1JAC and Roche Healthcare.

Gyles Seward, managing director, said: “We have enjoyed a very successful year so far and a strong pipeline of new business has prompted us to invest in growing the team.

“We will be looking to recruit more new talent in 2016 to expand our offices in both Leeds and London.”