This week's Yorkshire appointments

Yorkshire law firm Gordons has strengthened its team with the appointment of three newly-qualified solicitors after the completion of their training with the firm.

Lisa Murphy will take up a position within Gordons’ corporate team, while Samantha Nickson and Rebecca D’Arcy will join the firm’s commercial property department.

Since joining Gordons in 2015 after graduating from Manchester University, Lisa has also gained experience in property litigation, commercial property and private client during her training.

Rebecca joined the firm’s residential conveyancing team in 2012, before starting her training contact in 2015 and will take up a position within the commercial property department.

Joining her in the same team is Samantha Nickson, who worked as a paralegal before joining Gordons as a trainee in 2015. During her training contract she also gained experience within the employment and property litigation departments.

James Fawcett, Gordons partner, said: “We’re committed to developing outstanding people as much as we are excellent lawyers, so we are very pleased that Lisa, Rebecca and Samantha will be embarking on the next stage of their career with us.

“All three undertook their training contracts at the firm and, as a result, they have already developed strong relationships with clients and colleagues.

“We look forward to their continued development and seeing them take advantage of the career advancement opportunities available to them at Gordons.”

The firm has offices in Leeds and Bradford and employs 196 people.

Jennifer Dent, Ellis

Ellis, the North Yorkshire cable cleat manufacturer, has expanded its export sales team by appointing Jennifer Dent as export sales administrator.

Jennifer, who had previously worked in an export role for Vision Alert and in a sales support role for BMW, joins a team that is responsible for the sales and shipment of the company’s cable cleats to over 35 different countries via a network of local distributors.

Tony Conroy, Ellis’ global sales director, said: “When you’re dealing with so many different people in so many different locations it’s imperative that everything is built on the firmest of foundations.

“Jennifer came to us with impeccable credentials and has demonstrated, in a very short space of time, that she more than lives up to them.”

Jennifer added: “Ellis may not be the largest organisation I’ve worked for, but it certainly packs the biggest punch.

“The scale of its export operation is far greater than I ever envisaged when I first applied for the job, and the fact that we are actively looking at so many new export markets, while growing those we are already working in, points to the brightest of futures.”

Luke Goodson and Emily Cain, Brewster Bye Architects

Leeds-based Brewster Bye Architects has expanded its team with the appointment of architect Emily Cain and architectural technologist Luke Goodson.

Emily Cain joins from GWP architects where she worked for five years.

Responsible for managing a wide-range of projects, including multi-million pound student accommodation developments, apart-hotel schemes and private housing in the North of England and Scotland, Emily has gained a reputation for designing highly sustainable and cost-effective buildings that have achieved outstanding BREEAM ratings.

She is also skilled in Building Information Modelling (BIM).

Luke joins from a Leeds architecture practice and has three years’ experience. He has managed and delivered numerous projects in the residential property market, and has also helped design several student accommodation buildings as well as commercial and mixed use developments.

Confident in BIM, with a Level 2 certificate, he is also a Revit certified user. Whilst at University, Luke’s work was shortlisted for several coveted awards.

Chris Austin, Brewster Bye’s managing director, said: “Emily and Luke are very professional people who have worked hard to gain all of the qualifications and skills needed to succeed in the architecture industry.

“They have the relevant experience and skills that will no doubt prove to be a great asset to our firm.

“We now employ 28 people and have seen almost a 20% increase in business over the last year, with plenty of repeat business from existing clients, as well as several schemes for new organisations operating predominantly in the residential and commercial property sectors.

“Emily and Luke will help us to service these clients as we continue with our growth plans.”

Jeremy Davis, Morgans

City Living specialist Morgans has appointed a new head of sales and lettings.

The Leeds-based firm has recruited Jeremy Davis, who comes from a retail management background, to manage performance within the sales and rentals teams and to focus on their personal and professional development.

Morgans manages a large portfolio of rental property across Leeds city centre and North Leeds, it also specialises in city apartment sales and development, as well as providing marketing advice.

Jonathan Morgan, managing director, said: “We have enjoyed consistent organic growth over a long period of time and we remain massively ambitious.

“We are hugely excited about the next generation of city living, and we also wish to live up to our goals of helping to support every member of our team in becoming the very best they can.

“The property sector has a lot to learn from retail, and we are looking forward to working with Jeremy in bringing his considerable people management skills to bear.”

Since the summer of 2016, Morgans has appointed 10 new members of staff in response to demand.

Jonathan added: “During July and August we have seen a 15% increase in the number of sales and lettings enquiries compared to the same period last year.

“The city centre is starting to wake up after a long slumber post-downturn, and Headingley and its surrounds are continuing so see positive change in the post-student landscape.

“We are as focused and determined as we have ever been, and are looking forward with a genuine sense of excitement as we start a new chapter at Morgans.”

Adam Lovell, Social Communications

Social Communications, the full service public affairs, communications and creative agency, has appointed Adam Lovell in the role of associate consultant.

Before taking on this role, Adam was the editor of Yorkshire Business Insider.

As well as his expertise in media relations and business development, Adam brings with him a contacts book and an extensive knowledge of the Northern business influencers and organisations.

In his new role, Adam will provide strategic support for Social Communications’ growing list of clients, as well as helping to drive the growth of the company across Yorkshire and the Humber.

The agency’s Leeds-based team provides a range of communications services for clients in the property, infrastructure and construction sectors, working with the likes of Bradford Council, Mace, Wykeland Group, Extra MSA Group and Berkeley DeVeer.

Adam Lovell said: “To say I am pleased to be working with the team at Social Communications is an understatement. The roster of clients is attractive, the growth plans truly exciting.

“I am looking forward to helping the team reach their goal of becoming the number one public affairs and communications agency in the region – it is an ambition which is eminently achievable.”

Pete Wrathmell, group director and head of the Leeds office at Social Communications, commented: “In Adam we have identified someone who significantly strengthens our strategic communications offer and can support our continuing growth across the region.

“From regional devolution to the Northern Powerhouse, he has vast experience and endless enthusiasm on the issues that are shaping the future of Yorkshire and Humberside – and we are sure he will prove to be a major asset to our agency and the clients we work with.”

Dave McCombe, Cod Beck Blenders

Dave McCombe has been appointed as site manager for Cod Beck Blenders, the toll and contract manufacturing services provider based in Thirsk, North Yorkshire.

With more than 30 years’ experience, Dave joins from Siemens in Hull where he held the position of operations manager.

Prior to that, he spent 13 years with Crown Paints, latterly as manufacturing director. He has also worked for Akzo Nobel Decorative Coatings and for Orvec International.

In his new role, Dave will be responsible for managing the delivery of all production activities for the Cod Beck Blenders site to ensure business and operational objectives are achieved in compliance with the required SHE and quality standards.

Steve Meyer, managing director of Cod Beck Blenders, said: “Over the last 29 years, Cod Beck Blenders has grown organically and established a reputation as a trusted partner, working with a blue chip client base to provide an integrated service for ‘own label’ products across a diverse range of sectors.

“We are keen not only to invest in further improving the facilities at our purpose-built eight acre site, but also to ensure that our production processes are as efficient as possible and Dave will play a key part in helping us to achieve this.

“With his extensive experience in manufacturing operations management at a senior level in major companies, he will support and develop the business as we strive for ‘best in class’ production, HSE, quality and IR standards as well as ensuring that we consistently deliver exceptional customer service.”

Dave commented: “This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference by incorporating the latest thinking in efficient production processes into Cod Beck Blenders, a sound business which I believe has great potential for significant further growth.”

Established in 1988, Cod Beck Blenders works with blue chip clients across the pharmaceutical, agricultural, agrochemical, horticultural and fine chemical industries.

The site comprises eight dedicated units and 22 multi-purpose units, offering a full range of services including blending, packing and specialised chemical drying of powders and liquids together with extensive warehousing capacity.

Kelsey Price and Casey McGregor (bottom, middle), Clarion

Clarion’s costs and litigation funding team has announced the appointment of its fourth and fifth apprentice paralegals.

Kelsey Price and Casey McGregor, will study CILEX to qualify as legal executives at Clarion and will both train and specialise in Court of Protection costs.

Kelsey and Casey are the 10th and 11th apprentices to be taken on by Clarion since the launch of the firm’s apprenticeship programme just four years ago.

The team regularly deal with multi-million-pound legal costs that arise from high-value personal injury, clinical negligence and commercial litigation claims.

Clarion partner Andrew McAulay, who leads the costs and litigation funding team, said: “We are really pleased to welcome two new additions to our team, which is growing to meet ever increasing levels of demand for our specialised services. Since starting out in 2011 we have grown to 12 and we act for over 150 law firms across the UK.

“Our enthusiastic young apprentices are a credit to Clarion and play an integral role in delivering high levels of service to our clients in Yorkshire and across the UK.”

Kelsey and Casey join the 150-strong Clarion team, which includes 21 partners and is based at its Elizabeth House offices on Queen Street in Leeds.