This week’s Yorkshire appointments

Yorkshire Law firm Lupton Fawcett Denison Till, has expanded its education team with the recent appointment of specialist charities and education lawyer, Mark Honeywell.

Mark’s expertise is in academy conversion and governance work. He also provides advice to independent schools, colleges, church schools and other educational organisations on charity law issues, and is a member of the Charity Law Association.

He joins a multi-disciplinary education team which acts for universities, colleges and schools across the UK, providing advice on property matters, employment and health & safety issues. In addition it acts for a number of student accommodation providers on debt recovery and property litigation.

Jointly headed up by Michele Phillips and Jonathan Moore, the team operates across Lupton Fawcett Denison Till’s three offices in Leeds, York and Sheffield.

Michele Phillips said: “We recognised that many educational institutions have particular needs beyond those of most commercial enterprises.

“That is why we have assembled a multi-disciplinary team which can talk and understand the language of the sector and provide schools and colleges with expertise in many different areas.

“We are very pleased to have attracted Mark to the firm. He has a great deal of education experience and will enable us to build our expertise in the sector further.”

Hannah Varley, Ross Haywood, Charlotte Stabb, Tom Walker and Nina Barker, JLL

Property consultancy JLL has announced seven new promotions within its Leeds office.

Two new local directors have been created. They are Hannah Varley from retail management and Amy Hodges from Bewonder - JLL’s full-service marketing agency.

Nina Barker (residential) and Ross Haywood (rating) have been promoted to associate directors.

Jonathan Griffiths (property and asset management) and Tom Walker (building surveying) have been made up to the role of senior surveyor and Charlotte Stabb (property and asset management) has been promoted to surveyor.

Jeff Pearey, head of JLL’s Yorkshire and North East region, said: “I’d like to congratulate all seven who have been promoted.

“They are all consummate property professionals who have shown real teamwork and a clear commitment to delivering excellent client service.

“What is especially pleasing is that these promotions reflect right across the breadth of our services here. I look forward to working with them all as they continue their careers at JLL.”

JLL employs around 120 people in Leeds covering all the major property sectors including offices; industrial and logistics; residential; retail, hotels mixed-use schemes and a broad range of specialisms including management, valuation, agency, investment, planning and development.

Francesca Woodward, High Street TV (Group) Limited

High Street TV (Group) Limited, the Harrogate-based multi-channel retailer, has strengthened its directorial team with the appointment of new marketing director, Francesca Woodward.

Francesca’s appointment will see her oversee the company’s brand development, creative department, social media, PR and internal communications.

Francesca joins High Street TV having previously held the position of marketing director at Shepherd Group, one of UK’s largest built environment businesses, with a £650m turnover employing 3,500 staff.

Francesca will report to Jim Coleman, co-founder and chief executive, who said: “With her extensive strategic and operational experience, Francesca has proven herself a commercially savvy marketer.

“She brings to us a wealth of experience which is invaluable towards our goal of making our business stronger and enhancing our brand.

“Francesca’s appointment completes our internal realignment of the varied, expert skill sets amongst our directors, which we believe strengthens our team and supports our ambitious growth plans for the business.”

Jo Sparagna and Stephen Crawshaw, Robertson Baxter

Robertson Baxter has appointed Jo Sparagna and Stephen Crawshaw, taking the total number of staff to 13.

Jo Sparagna joins the huddersfield-based company as operations manager, a newly-created role which will allow joint managing directors Greg Robertson and Stephen Baxter more time to focus on the growth of the business.

Jo, who joins from Azure Consulting Ltd, will be responsible for managing all internal departments including the client services team, technical team and the finance team. She will also head up Robertson Baxter’s HR processes as well as oversee the learning and development of all staff.

Jo’s qualifications in management including Level 3 in First Line Management, Level 5 in Coaching and Mentoring and a BA Hons in European studies and languages will add to the firm’s expertise.

Jo has worked in leadership and management as well as training for the best part of her career and has valuable experience to add to the team at Robertson Baxter.

Stephen Crawshaw joins the client services team as client support administrator, where he will assist the advisers, whilst carrying out administrative work to ensure that records are kept accurate and up to date.

Stephen joins Robertson Baxter after spending eleven years working as a workflow senior administrator at Capita Asset Services, which are fund manager and Third Party Administrators.

Stephen is currently working towards the IOC (Investments Operations Certificate) and is studying the Collective Investments Section, which is the second exam of three.

Jane Bolton, Jones Myers

Jones Myers, the Leeds family law specialist, has appointed solicitor, Jane Bolton, to its children department.

The seven-strong department specialising in children’s law, handles private law matters and public law cases – where a local authority has issued care proceedings with a view to a child being adopted, placed in foster care or returned to their parents.

Accredited by the Law Society to act for children, Jane represents parents, grandparents, children and local authorities within proceedings. Jane brings eight years of legal experience to Jones Myers after moving from Leeds law firm Henry Hyams.

Kate Banerjee, Jones Myers partner and head of the children department, said: “Our fast-growing client base reinforces the breadth and depth of our expertise and attracting top talent is vital as we continue to expand our services into areas including adoption and surrogacy.

“Jane’s appointment exemplifies this goal – she is highly capable and combines professional knowledge with great empathy and respect.”

With offices in Leeds and London, Jones Myers’ lawyers combine 250 years of legal experience.

Ian Mayor and Jonathan Pearce, Stuart Rivers Associates

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

The Harrogate-based company provides capital allowance advice to accountants, solicitors, property investors, 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 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.

Stuart Rivers, Stuart Rivers Associates managing partner, said: “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.”

Duncan Clarke, George F. White

George F. White, the land, property and business consultancy, has hired a new rural Practice surveyor for the firm’s Shiptonthorpe office.

Duncan Clarke brings with him over 10 years of rural practice surveying experience. Key areas of expertise include valuation and expert witness work including mortgage and asset portfolio valuations, development appraisals and option and promotional agreements.

Clarke has also been heavily involved in negotiating leases, licences easements and wayleaves throughout his career.

Simon Britton, a partner at George F. White, who heads up the Shiptonthorpe office, said: “It’s great to bring Duncan on board - his specialist skill set and experience will prove valuable to the team and add another dimension to our client offering.

“Duncan has worked with and for both private and public sector organisations and his knowledge as a result of this will be most useful for both new and existing clients.”

Clarke joins the business following roles at Strutt & Parker LLP and Carter Jonas LLP as well as time at large local authorities across Yorkshire where managing the council’s agricultural , property and retail portfolio was a key focus.

Richard Smeaton, Bardsley Construction

Richard Smeaton has been appointed as regional manager of the Yorkshire division of Bardsley Construction.

Having joined Greater Manchester-based Bardsley in 2014 as contracts manager, Richard succeeds Adrian Rooney as head of the firm’s Yorkshire office in Wellington Place, Leeds.

Richard has more than 30 years of experience in construction with expertise in sectors including education, social housing, retail, commercial, student accommodation, private rented sector (PRS) and archive facilities.

In Yorkshire itself, he worked alongside Adrian to deliver major construction schemes including the design and construction of a new two-storey primary school at The Halifax Academy for Calderdale Council; the West Yorkshire History Centre, a three-storey archive facility for Wakefield Council that will house more than 10 million records of Wakefield and the former counties of West Yorkshire and West Riding; an Advanced Skills and Innovation Centre (ASIC) on three-storeys at Wakefield College.

Richard said: “Adrian is a hard act to follow and I greatly enjoyed working alongside him and my other colleagues at the Yorkshire division of Bardsley Construction.

“Having made a smooth transition from contracts manager to regional manager, I look forward to continuing to enhance the good name of Bardsley outside of its North West heartland via the delivery of high quality construction projects in the private and public sectors to benefit the economy and people of the great county of Yorkshire.”

David Donkin, Wykeland Group

Regeneration company Wykeland Group has appointed asset manager David Donkin as property director.

Mr Donkin brings 30 years of development and asset management experience to the Hull-based developer.

Mr Donkin will oversee the development of existing assets, including the Flemingate mixed-use development in Beverley, the Bridgehead business park at Hessle and commercial units in Hull’s Fruit Market, which is being transformed by Wykeland in a joint venture with residential developer Beal Homes, in partnership with Hull City Council.

A chartered surveyor, Mr Donkin joined Wykeland from Town Centre Securities PLC, the Leeds-based property investment and development company, which includes the Merrion Centre in Leeds as part of its substantial national property portfolio. Starting as a management surveyor, he worked for Town Centre Securities for 28 years, latterly as Associate Director.

Dominic Gibbons, Wykeland managing director said: “David’s appointment brings significant additional experience, expertise and capacity to our team to enable us to maximise the opportunities of our growing asset base.

“A number of our major developments, such as Flemingate at Beverley and @TheDock have come to fruition within the past year and are strongly in demand. In addition, the Bridgehead business park is growing fast and the regeneration of Hull’s Fruit Market is gathering pace.

“David is also very well connected within the property industry, especially in Yorkshire. Those contacts will be beneficial as we continue to develop the business with a clear strategic focus on Yorkshire and the Humber.”

Darren Kennedy, The Car Buying Group

A Wakefield-based car buying specialist has appointed a general manager to its team.

The Car Buying Group, based on Denby Dale Road, has appointed Darren Kennedy as general manager.

Darren joins the team with over a decades’ experience in the motor trade, following over three years at The Car Buying Service and, previously, eight years at CAP Motor Research.

The Car Buying Group, established in 2014 by managing director Tom Marley, has made the appointment to support the company’s growth following a multi-million-pound investment from motor giants Greenhous Group.

Darren’s role covers the management of the team, car valuation and customer service management.

He will also support the company with staff development and training to maintain their high standard of customer service.

Tom Marley, The Car Buying Group founder, said: “Following our significant investment, we’ve expanded quickly and everybody in the business makes a difference and has an important role to play.

“Darren’s ability to mentor the team and share his knowledge and experience will support the further growth of the business.”

Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help →