This week’s Yorkshire appointments

Capital allowance consultants Stuart Rivers Associates has promoted two members of its management team. Ian Mayor and Jonathan Pearce are now both senior associates.

The Harrogate-based company provides capital allowance advice to accountants, solicitors, property investors, leading brands such as Optical Express, Theakston’s Brewery and Cedar Court Hotels, and the owners of KFC and Starbucks franchises.

Ian’s new position reflects the significant contribution he has made to developing new contacts and professional partnerships, particularly with accountancy and legal firms. With responsibility for marketing and business development, he has seen many changes to the capital allowances sector in his 10 years with the company.

Chartered surveyor Jonathan Pearce conducts property surveys, manages partnerships with accountancy firms and prepares claim valuations and reports.

He also specialises in advising clients on Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECA) – 100% tax relief allowances – for energy and water efficient plant. His promotion reflects the senior consultancy role he has developed since joining Stuart Rivers Associates in 2009.

Stuart Rivers, Stuart Rivers Associates managing partner, concluded: “Promoting Ian and Jonathan is instrumental to securing the future success of the company. Both have made a hugely valuable impact on the practice and fully deserve this recognition.

“We are very fortunate to have a highly effective and loyal team. As well as enhancing our most senior positions we are also nurturing the talent we have throughout the business as we expand.

“Commercial property owners are becoming aware of the risks they face of losing tax relief during commercial property transactions if they don’t get specialist advice and therefore demand for our services is growing and we are gearing up accordingly.”

Kirsteen McFadzean, Shulmans LLP

Shulmans LLP, Leeds-based corporate law firm, has appointed Kirsteen McFadzean to its newly-created head of business development role.

McFadzean has a wealth of experience and expertise in business growth, specifically in the legal market, having held a number of senior business development positions with firms such as Blacks Solicitors LLP, Eversheds and Addleshaw Goddard.

During her career she has been responsible for setting business development strategies and delivering improved business performance, developing key client accounts and improving client satisfaction.

The firm recently reported, for the sixth year in a row, double digit growth, taking it above the £12m turnover mark. In the last 12 months the firm has attracted work from a wealth of new clients, including working with AIM-listed 21st Century Technology plc, bus and coach manufacturers Optare and online betting giant Betfred.

Tim Halstead, Shulmans’ managing partner, said: “Our year-on-year strong financial performance and entirely organic growth is a direct result of our very particular culture of offering better services to more clients.

“We’re delighted to welcome Kirsteen to the firm, an appointment that demonstrates our commitment to identifying and encouraging the best talent to join us. She will play an important role in further cementing our continued growth plans and developing our leading position in the region and further afield.”

Paul Moat, Gale and Phillipson

Yorkshire-based financial planners Gale and Phillipson has announced the appointment of a new wealth planning adviser.

Paul Moat joins Gale and Phillipson from Rutherford Wilkinson. With over 14 years’ experience working in the financial services sector, Paul specialises in private client wealth management, family wealth preservation, protection, retirement planning and managing taxation and risk.

He said: “I joined Gale and Phillipson because of the firm’s reputation for innovative thinking within financial advice. I’m delighted to join the team and to be able to work alongside them to strive to continue providing first class independent financial advice to our clients.”

Phil Morris, head of acquisitions and distribution, added: “We’re pleased to announce the continued expansion of our Newcastle team and to welcome Paul on board.

“Paul brings a wealth of IFA and banking experience to the business and he will no doubt complement the existing team very well.”

Gale and Phillipson provides independent advice and a range of wealth management services. These include financial planning advice, discretionary investment management, advisory investment management, mortgage advice, corporate financial advice and the industry-leading cash management service Dynamic Cash Management.

Kelly Bannister, James Legal Solicitors

Kelly Bannister has been appointed as the new director at James Legal Solicitors.

Ms Bannister has worked in the legal profession for 14 years and is now the second director, alongside Nick Miller who set up James Legal in 2007.

Having worked in other law firms in Hull, Kelly has specialised in Commercial Property, dealing with a large number of cases in a busy working environment.

Nick Miller said: “At James Legal we are all about client service and teamwork. Kelly is a true team player and regular feedback from clients supports the fact that she goes above and beyond the call of duty to help them.

“Kelly was promoted to Head of Property 18 months ago and this move to director is a natural and well deserved progression.

“Kelly is not just a talented property solicitor, but after many years of experience in Commercial Property she is able to provide valuable business insight as well.

“I am very pleased that Kelly has accepted the position of director and I look forward to continuing working together, helping the firm to grow in all of its business law activities.”

Tony Berry, Clarion

Tony Berry has joined Clarion’s 12-strong corporate team as a legal director.

With over 25 years’ experience of M&A, he joins from Addleshaw Goddard where he spent almost three years in the role of managing associate. Prior to that, he was a principal solicitor with Eversheds from 1987 until 2013.

Tony has extensive experience advising on a broad range of corporate transactions with particular expertise in domestic and international M&A, public company takeovers and fundraisings, group reorganisations and joint ventures. He has acted for a number of large UK and US corporates.

Richard Moran, senior partner and head of Clarion’s corporate practice, said: “Our corporate practice is going from strength to strength and our success is down to the quality of our people.

“We have recruited and developed an exceptional team and with his strong track record in M&A, Tony will be a welcome addition given the healthy flow of deals we have in the pipeline.”

Tony added: “This is a fantastic opportunity for me to join and further strengthen a highly regarded corporate team which is well known for its long-term investment in client relationships, combined with delivering high quality business-focussed legal advice.”

Michael Booth, Landwood Group

Michael Booth, specialist Machinery and Business Assets (MBA) chartered surveyor, has been appointed as the head of the Leeds office of the Landwood Group, the chartered surveyors, asset managers and auctioneers.

Michael will lead the Group’s activity in Yorkshire and the North East, working closely with the property team to deliver a one-stop service to corporate recovery and asset-based lending (ABL) clients.

A RICS Registered Valuer and long-standing member of the senior team at Landwood, Michael will continue to operate on national basis from his Leeds base in Queen Street, working with the national MBA team of Ben Lynch, Richard Parkin, Brian Parkinson FRICS and Rick Wadsworth.

Mark Bailey, director of the Manchester-based Landwood Group, said: “The MBA team provide solutions to problems and, as a RICS regulated firm, Landwood operates to the highest professional standards, including the protection of client monies.

“Michael’s experience and expertise are ideally suited to the dual role of running the Leeds office and specialising in managing and delivering our MBA assignments. He will continue to deliver a high-quality service to our existing clients and to build productive relationships with new clients.

“The opening of the Leeds office two years ago has resulted in a significant expansion of our work and increase in turnover. It is an important part of our operation, so Michael’s appointment is a very important one.”

Andrew Darke, Simpson Millar

Andrew Darke, formerly an equity partner with Irwin Mitchell, has joined Simpson Millar as director of partner distribution. He will be based in the firm’s Leeds office.

After 25 years with Irwin Mitchell, Andrew will focus on developing Simpson Millar’s portfolio of partner distributors across a broad range of sectors, including banking, insurance, retail, trade union, utilities, employee assistance programs and chambers of commerce.

He will also be responsible for developing closer relationships with the charities and support groups the firm already has links with.

Peter Watson, Simpson Millar’s managing director, said: “The fact that someone of Andrew’s calibre is joining Simpson Millar is testament to the strong foundation we have laid. We continue to build momentum; growing the business and diversifying our range of services.

“Andrew brings an enormous amount of credibility to this job. His experience in building links with affinity partners is extensive. He knows that success is achieved by getting things right for consumers and tailoring service packages that are attractive to our business partners.”

Andrew will be working closely with the firm’s divisional directors to ensure his efforts chime with their strategic plans.

The Legal Services segment of Fairpoint Group plc – established when the company bought Simpson Millar in June 2014 – now accounts for 67% of the Group’s revenue on a pro forma basis.

Peter Broughton, Affecto Recruitment

South Yorkshire-based Affecto Recruitment has appointed consultant Peter Broughton to its Software and Web Development team.

In response to ‘evolving and increased demand’ for candidates from businesses within the technology sector across the region the move sees Peter, formerly of New Life Recruitment and Aardvark Swift, join the multi-division technology recruitment agency based in Sheffield’s Kelham Island.

This announcement also sees Kate Loach, who joined the business in February 2015, appointed to head up the newly formed Senior Project and Programme Division; applying almost a decade’s worth of sector-specific experience to roles including business analysts, project managers and software architects.

In a recent report by Leeds City Council, launched in partnership with Tech City UK - a programme set up by David Cameron in 2010 which works to accelerate the growth of the country’s digital economy - the total number of jobs the Yorkshire technology sector supports is predicted to rise by 15% over the next five years, creating 10,000 new jobs across the region.

Daniel Koseoglu, MD and Affecto Founder, said: “There’s a two pronged perception problem here in Yorkshire. On the one hand quality candidates think there is a dearth of opportunity, whereas on the other side employers think they have to look further afield to fill an increasing number of tech sector roles.

“Our experience is that the solution for both parties can be found closer to home, and our ambition over the coming months is to further hone in on the specialist skills so that we can quickly and efficiently marry the right person to the right organisation.

“Peter brings with him a wealth of expertise working with some of the UK’s leading gaming companies, such as Microsoft, and is therefore both well known, and well respected, by candidates and clients alike; and we’re delighted to welcome him to the team.

“Kate has been with the business during what has been a period of rapid growth for Affecto and with her sector-specific experience working both here in the UK and abroad, and in response to the ever evolving and increased demand from the industry, we’re confident that a dedicated Senior Project and Programme delivery division will further help to bridge the gap between perception and reality.”

Alan Stanley, UK Steel Enterprise

UK Steel Enterprise has announced the appointment of regional executive Alan Stanley.

Focused on working with SMEs and providing funding of up to £1m to companies looking to grow and expand across the Sheffield City Region and Humber areas, Alan brings with him more than 28 years’ experience within the finance industry.

His previous roles have included working for the Royal Bank of Scotland Group where he was focused on business development, and providing funding solutions to SMEs.

Keith Williams, UK Steel Enterprise Regional Manager: “Alan’s appointment provides us with additional capacity to provide more finance to growing companies in the region and we are delighted to have secured someone with great experience across a range of sectors.

“Expanding the local team is part of our plan to be able to increase the number of companies that we can help. I’m sure Alan’s expertise and commitment will help us achieve these goals.

“Any business that needs finance to grow or create jobs should get in touch. We can provide loans from £25,000 and investment finance up to £1m.”

Carl Hopkins, DS.Emotion

Leeds-based creative and digital agency DS.Emotion has appointed Carl Hopkins as non-executive director.

Following the launch of a third studio in Manchester just over two years ago and a sustained period of growth that saw revenues increase 30% in the last financial year, the agency is on track for a further 25% uplift in revenue for this financial year.

Carl brings over 30 years’ experience in marketing, advertising, design and branding, as well as business ownership. He started his career at direct marketing agency, JDA, rising through the ranks to eventually take over the business in 2000.

Growing the company from 48 to 75 staff, he took turnover from £9.6m to £19.4m in a matter of years.

More recently Hopkins has held positions on the Government’s Entrepreneurs’ Forum and non-executive roles with Carnyx, Propaganda and Fantastic Media.

Angus Armitage at DS.Emotion said: “Carl’s experience in growing an agency will be invaluable in assisting us in our strategy for growth. He is a great cultural fit with our team and we are already feeling the benefits of his contributions.

“We are very excited about working with Carl going forward and achieving our ambitious growth plans. It is an exciting time for DS.Emotion as we are seeing our core specialisms of brand, ‘placemaking’ and destination marketing being bolstered by huge growth in demand for our digital offering.”

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