This week's Yorkshire appointments

Yorkshire accountancy firm Garbutt + Elliott has announced the appointment of three new partners.

Sarah Ashton, Matthew Grant and Tariq Javaid have been promoted from director positions within the payroll, business services and corporate finance teams respectively.

Sarah joined Garbutt + Elliott in 1998 and specialises in providing compliance services and business advice to corporate clients, with an emphasis on the retail sector. She has been payroll service director since September 2016 and has overseen the team’s doubling in size and the addition of 50 new clients in the first half of 2017.

Matthew joined Garbutt + Elliott in 1997 and most recently held the position of director and head of business services. His remit includes the delivery of compliance services to incorporated and unincorporated businesses, specifically their statutory accounts, statutory audits and corporation tax affairs.

Tariq Javaid has been with the firm’s corporate finance department for ten years and a director for the past four years. He has a track record of providing lead advisory and due diligence services to corporate and owner-managed businesses.

Most recently, Tariq advised on the management buyout of TEV, a Brighouse-based manufacturer, by private equity fund manager YFM Equity Partners.

Russell Turner, Garbutt + Elliott managing partner, said: “We are delighted to announce the promotion of Sarah, Matthew and Tariq from director to partner positions. They have a wealth of experience and expertise within their respective sectors, and are well equipped for their new roles.

“All three have strong professional relationships with their clients and a positive can-do attitude which is really important. They are instrumental to our ongoing growth strategy.”

Chris Wright, cap hpi

cap hpi, the Leeds-based automotive data firm, has promoted Chris Wright to the role of managing director over its global operations.

Wright will report to parent company Solera as he leads the continued expansion of the business in the UK and globally. He joined the business in 2015 as sales director.

Chris Wright said: “cap hpi is leading an unprecedented period of change in the automotive sector. Technology is changing the vehicles we drive, how and when we drive them and how we own them. Data underpins a lot of the change and will be the new oil that drives the sector.

“We are investing in our people, technology and data to ensure we can deliver valuable insight and new tools across the industry.”

The company has created a global hub in Leeds for all data activities, from collection and processing, through to delivery and the development of new applications.

cap hpi’s plans are underpinned by a globalised approach to automotive data that will have significant implications for the motor industry. A new global code will enable businesses to take a unified view of global trends, and see efficiencies across all operations that use new and used vehicle data.

Wright added: “We believe a single global code will help the industry drive innovation and growth throughout the vehicle lifecycle. Data led businesses will be able to scale internationally in a fraction of the time and with much less cost.”

Sophie Morley, Clarion

Clarion has announced the addition of Sophie Morley to its property team as a legal director.

Having worked in property litigation for more than 15 years, Sophie has extensive experience in all areas of real estate litigation.

She trained and qualified at Hammonds (now Squire Patton Boggs), developing a landlord and tenant specialism, before moving to DWF in 2008 where she developed a retail focus.

In addition, Sophie has worked alongside developers advising on site acquisition and post completion issues as well as owners of residential properties.

Sophie joins from Schofield Sweeney Solicitors in Leeds where she spent almost 18 months as a director in the property litigation department.

Sophie’s expertise includes advising on commercial landlord and tenant disputes, lease renewals, rent reviews, break clauses, dilapidations and applications for consent.

She has also acted on various disputes relating to Option Agreements as well as easement and restrictive covenant issues. Sophie has acted in multi-party litigation and professional negligence matters through court proceedings, mediation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR).

Martin Grange, partner and head of Clarion’s property practice, said: “With her impressive track record working with clients of all sizes and advising on complex property matters, Sophie will be a real asset to the team.

“Her focus on achieving the client’s aims in a straightforward and cost effective manner is a great fit with our own approach of providing clients with the technical expertise they need while also understanding and implementing their commercial objectives.”

Clarion’s 12-strong property team, led by partners Martin Grange, Lindsay Texel and Ben Lamb, provides a full range of property expertise from development, investment including real estate finance, asset management and corporate occupier work in all sectors.

Oliver King, Langleys

Langleys has strengthened its corporate team with the appointment of Oliver King.

Oliver joins Langleys from Walkers Commercial Solicitors in York where he qualified in 2013.

He studied at the College of Law in the city.

OIiver has extensive expertise in working alongside business owners and management teams on mergers and acquisitions, management buy-outs and corporate governance matters.

Christian Hunt, partner and head of corporate at Langleys, said: “Oliver is an excellent addition to our team.

“He brings with him considerable commercial experience and technical expertise, and will be a great asset in providing straightforward and cost-effective advice to our clients.”

Hayley Scott, Strata

Strata, the private home builder based in Doncaster, has promoted Hayley Scott to senior sales and marketing manager.

Following her promotion, Hayley will work alongside Strata’s strategic and on site-teams at its developments across Yorkshire and the East Midlands in a bid to implement procedures that will assist with the customer journey.

In addition, Hayley will act as the link between all of the different departments at Strata and provide regular updates to the sales and marketing teams within the business.

Gemma Smith, sales and marketing director of Strata, commented: “The customer journey is of paramount importance to us here at Strata and we have ambitious plans to ensure that it is of the highest standard.

“This can only be achieved with the right team in place who share the same attitude and vision.

“Hayley has more than proved her capabilities and we are pleased to be able to reward her for her efforts. We know that she will continue to act as an integral member of the team and assist us in meeting with our ambitious growth plans.”

Rick Sherman, Howard Matthews Partnership

Howard Matthews Partnership, the Harrogate-based chartered accountant and tax advisor, is expanding with the appointment of an senior advisor.

Rick Sherman joins the firm as a senior tax manager from a North London accountancy firm where he was a tax director.

Rick brings more than ten years’ experience to the role. At Howard Matthews Partnership, he will work with the tax team to drive business development and help manage client relationships.

Howard Matthews, senior partner of Howard Matthews Partnership, said: “We are delighted to welcome Rick to the team.

“He brings a wealth of diverse tax expertise to the business and his appointment to our senior management team underpins our ambitions to keep developing this important area of the business.”

Howard Matthews Partnership was established in 1985. Based in Harrogate and Garforth, the firm provides a comprehensive range of accountancy and business advisory services to both businesses and individuals.

Gareth Marshall (pictured right), LDC

LDC, the mid-market private equity investor, has strengthened its Yorkshire team with the appointment of senior corporate finance specialist, Gareth Marshall, as an investment director.

The expansion is part of LDC’s nationwide pledge to invest £1.2bn of equity in UK small and mid-sized companies over the next three years, with Yorkshire seen as an important region of opportunity.

Gareth previously spent eight years at PwC, where he was M&A director in the firm’s corporate finance team, advising on mid-market transactions across the pharmaceuticals, healthcare, manufacturing, industrial products and chemicals sectors.

He began his career with KPMG where he qualified as a chartered accountant in the audit practice, before moving into its corporate finance division.

At LDC, Gareth will be responsible for identifying investment opportunities, leading transactions and supporting LDC’s portfolio of companies, which includes Wakefield-based games developer Team17 and Halifax-based global technology business SSP.

John Garner, director and head of LDC in Yorkshire and North East, said: “We’ve seen a busy period of activity across the region with investments in Team17, PAW Structures and ZyroFisher and the successful sale of several companies.

“We’ve also continued our support for a growing portfolio of fast-growing, ambitious businesses. Looking ahead, Yorkshire and the North East is an important region for LDC and it’s vital we bring the right people on board with the experience to help us unlock this potential – Gareth’s experience and expertise are the perfect fit for our expanding team.”

Mel Harris, ABL Business

Mel Harris has joined ABL Business as an appointed representative, and is the first woman they have taken on in the role.

She will cover the Leeds, Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, and Wakefield areas, offering a full mix of commercial finance services and helping SMEs to raise the funds they need to trade, grow or stabilise their business.

Mel joins the company from Yorkshire Bank where she was most recently a payment solutions manager, helping businesses to set up systems which enable them to take card payments from customers.

She started her career in finance with Yorkshire Bank where she worked for 15 years, progressing through the ranks from cashier to assistant manager at the Woodsley Road branch in Leeds, then bank manager at the Chapel Allerton branch.

She then transferred over to the business side, as a business associate looking after the day-to-day needs of clients.

Alex Beardsley, director of Cleckheaton-based ABL Business, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming someone of Mel’s calibre and experience to the team.

“There are actually very few female finance brokers out there at all, and I am personally very pleased to be supporting Mel on her career journey and to be in a position to contribute towards bringing more women into front-end finance roles.”

ABL Business Ltd is a commercial finance and marketing company based in Cleckheaton, Yorkshire.

Russell Taylor, Arrow Self Drive

Arrow Self Drive, Yorkshire’s largest independently owned vehicle-hire firm, has recruited a new manager.

Russell Taylor joins the business as sales and rental manager at the Leeds depot, which recently changed to larger premises to accommodate an increase in demand of the hire of company vehicles.

For the last twenty two years, Russell previously worked in senior roles at GE Capital, Northgate PLC and Burntree Enterprise.

Founded in 1998 by business partners Chris Taylor and Robert Hill, Arrow Self Drive initially began selling commercial vehicles to local businesses from a garage in Huddersfield.

The company has since grown to become the region’s largest independently owned car, van, minibus and truck rental company with eight depots based across Yorkshire.

James Hill, Arrow Self Drive’s managing director, added: “We’re thrilled to welcome Russell Taylor on board and I’m confident his knowledge and expertise will add significant value to the growing team.

“He has demonstrated that he has the skills to help develop the business in the retail and B2B sector so we’re excited to see him take ownership of his new role”.

Alison Lee, The Bigger Boat

The Bigger Boat, the digital marketing agency, has recruited Alison Lee as account manager.

The hire will strengthen the support provided on existing client accounts at the Mirfield-based agency.

Alison has played a major role in various projects already – including brochure production, supporting a client at the Retail Design Expo and managing various email marketing campaigns.

A PR graduate from Leeds Metropolitan University, she has since held senior roles in both marketing and digital arenas, within a range of companies spanning from International Personal Finance to Best Western.

Most recently she ran her own copywriting business for 18 months.

Alison said: “Running your own company can be lonely. I wanted to get back into the heart of a thriving organisation, where I can work alongside others and experience a feeling of being ‘in it together’.”

Andy McCaul, joint founder, added: “We’ve always said the best talent needed for a successful business is not always found in the large cities of Leeds and Manchester. As a professional working mum, Alison has viewed our rural location and proximity to home and schools as a huge plus.”

“Her appointment is a real win for the team – we’ve gained her wealth of significant experience, and our clients have already started to benefit from that.”

Andy concluded: “The team here is going from strength to strength – the new recruits are bringing fresh ideas to projects, as well as learning from our very experienced crew.”

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