This week's Yorkshire appointments

Twisted Automotive, the Thirsk-based Land Rover Defender specialist, has announced several new additions to its team.

The company has appointed seven new team members during the last three months taking the total workforce based in Thirsk to 23.

New parts co-ordinator Ariane Schofield will manage stock allocation and rotation, while working alongside suppliers to control and locate stock. New workshop manager Chris Walker will be tasked with ensuring that vehicles are produced to the agreed build times, and will also work to streamline scheduling.

Meanwhile, Richard Robinson has joined Twisted as a sales executive, Sue Liddle joins as a sales administrator, James Ayre is Twisted’s new marketing co-ordinator, Helen Thompson has been appointed as receptionist and sales administrator, while Lisa Bradley arrives in an accounts and HR role, while also providing administrative support to managing director Charles Fawcett.

Meanwhile, Linzi McKenzie has moved from duties on reception to join the sales team, while also working alongside LR Motors general manager Ross Munro.

LR Motors is an independent motor company, operating alongside Twisted Automotive, offering exclusively Land Rover Defender. LR Motors sources, sells, services, repairs and supplies parts for Defender from 1990 onwards.

Charles Fawcett, Twisted Automotive managing director, said: “Twisted Automotive has enjoyed an excellent period of growth. With the launch of our Classic Twisted range, our sponsorship of Gumball 3000, and the growing success of our LR Motors operation, we are busier than ever.

“I’m delighted to be able to bring in staff that boast experience, expertise, and enthusiasm in equal measure, and feel confident that the appointments will help underpin our ambitions for further growth.”

Alex Birch, Clarion

Alex Birch is the latest senior lawyer to join Leeds-based Clarion’s corporate team.

Alex’s appointment increases Clarion’s corporate team to eleven.

With 11 years’ experience in corporate law, Alex takes on the position of senior associate.

Primarily focussing on M&A work, Alex also advises on private equity transactions, management buy-outs and corporate re-organisations.

Alex explained: “I am very excited to join a team that has grown its expertise and reputation considerably over the last five years.

“In recent years, the development of Clarion’s brand has impressed me considerably and so when the opportunity arose to join and help develop the team further it really was a very easy and quick decision.”

Jonathan Simms, partner, commented: “It is vitally important that both clients and the wider professional marketplace have complete confidence that their transaction is being delivered quickly and efficiently.

“Everything we do matters and the addition of Alex to the team helps ensure that we continue to offer the service levels that an ever fast moving world demands”.

David Busfield, Crowther Accountants

A former HSBC senior commercial banking manager has been appointed by Huddersfield-based Crowther Accountants as its new business development manager.

David Busfield joins the firm’s 20-strong team with over 40 years’ experience in the banking industry. His role will see him generating new opportunities, working with existing relationships and managing sales activities.

Starting his career with Midland Bank in 1976 — more latterly HSBC Group — he initially worked in the retail banking sector before moving into the commercial and corporate environment over 20 years ago. His career has seen him work in various roles, before being appointed to the senior commercial role five years ago.

Throughout this time, he’s supported a wide variety of SME’s and corporate clients, covering both West and South Yorkshire.

Whilst this is a new role created within the firm for David, he’s been an associate of Crowther Accountants for many years.

Michelle Crowther, the firm’s business development director, said: “We’ve always had a fantastic working relationship with David — it’s been built on mutual integrity and trust over a number of years.

“He’s a very well respected member of the Leeds and Huddersfield business community and we know that he’ll be a great ambassador for the firm.

“We’re delighted that he has joined us and, in fact, he’s already proved to be a brilliant addition to our team! His experience of dealing with small and medium enterprises across the region will only add to our reputation of delivering a first-class service to our clients.”

Sophie Angus, CBRE

The Leeds office of CBRE has appointed a new agent, Sophie Angus, in its Industrial and Logistics Agency team.

Sophie joined CBRE’s Leeds division in September 2015 on the property firm’s graduate training scheme. A graduate of Northumbria University, Sophie has a Masters in Real Estate.

Sophie has now moved into a permanent position within the Industrial team, working alongside Mike Baugh and Dave Cato.

Mike Baugh, Senior Director of CBRE’s Industrial Agency team in Leeds, said: “After spending almost two years with CBRE on our graduate scheme, Sophie has become a fantastic asset to the team and has gained extensive cross-division experience.

“We are delighted to have her on board in a permanent role in the industrial agency team to support our valued and growing client base across the north of England.”

Andrew Haigh, Coles Solicitors

Coles Solicitors, the Yorkshire-based law firm, has expanded its residential conveyancing team.

The firm, which has a network of 10 offices across the county, has announced the promotion of Andrew Haigh to residential conveyancing solicitor, expanding the service throughout York and East Yorkshire.

Andrew’s promotion comes as part of a larger recruitment campaign for the firm, which is looking to take on a further two conveyancing solicitors plus assistants, an additional private client solicitor for York and various administration positions.

Andrew, who joined the firm in 2015 as an assistant to the head of conveyancing, is working in a newly formed trio with two assistants.

The firm is continuing to strategically expand its service offering in York to both commercial and individual clients with Andrew’s promotion playing an integral part of this.

Alex Spurr, director of Coles Solicitors, said: “Andrew has demonstrated strong dedication to his clients throughout his time with the Company and is a great fit for the firm’s modern, proactive approach to legal work.

“Andrew will continue to deliver a first-class conveyancing service to clients together with strengthening and establishing new working relationships with agents in the York region.

“Whilst we have always offered access to our full range of legal services from any of our branches, the expansion will mean we have more core services based in key locations, making it easier for customers to access specialist legal advice on their doorstep.”

Paul Arthur, Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund

Enterprise Ventures, part of Mercia Technologies PLC, has now made the final appointment to the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF) Enterprise Ventures Debt Finance team.

Paul Arthur has joined as investment manager, covering the Humber and Sheffield City regions. He has over 30 years’ experience in banking and asset finance and will now be responsible for investing £100k - £750k into growing SMEs in the regions.

Prior to joining Enterprise Ventures, Paul worked for NatWest Bank and enjoyed a varied career during his time there including the leadership of a team of banking experts who were successful in supporting businesses through the tough economic environment post 2008.

Paul holds the Chartered Banker Diploma in lending skills.

Paul Taberner, fund manager for NPIF Enterprise Ventures Debt Finance, said: “Paul’s appointment has now completed the recruitment process for the new team and we are delighted that he has joined us.

“He has considerable experience in banking having spent more than 30 years with NatWest and Lombard. It is this experience which we are hoping to leverage as we continue to raise awareness of the new fund.”

The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund project is supported financially by the European Union using funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and the European Investment Bank.

Amber Peacock, Affecto

Affecto, the Sheffield-based recruitment firm, has made the latest in a string of appointments to help address the demand for tech specialists in the Sheffield digital sector.

Amber Peacock joins the tech recruitment firm as software, architecture and development specialist.

This follows a recent business restructure which saw Mark Reed promoted to business manager and the appointment of recruitment consultant Sophie Chapman-Dempster.

As a specialist, Amber will be responsible for sourcing the top talent for the engineering and technical architecture industries.

Amber joins the firm after serving a year as a consultant at Franklin Bates in London.

Daniel Koseoglu, Affecto managing director, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Amber to the Affecto team. As Software, Architecture and Development Specialist.

“We are dedicated to driving demand for specialised individuals in the tech and digital areas. With the appointment of Amber, we are able to offer an even wider range of solutions to local businesses in need of highly-skilled candidates.”

Ben Bisco, People’s Holding

People’s Holdings, the marketing services group, has strengthened its management team with the appointment of Ben Bisco as head of marketing.

He brings experience from senior roles as head of digital at JD Williams and digital strategy director at Home agency.

The marketing services group now employs 85 people at its Leeds headquarters.

It specialises in supporting businesses in the finance and legal sectors with business development by connecting social media and digital marketing with sophisticated customer management.

Ben Bisco said: “People’s Holdings sits at the forefront of social advertising and data driven marketing.

“We have big plans for our customer acquisition and conversion services as we enter our next stage of growth. I’m excited to be part of such an excellent team.”

The move follows the recent appointment of Vikki Macleod as chief executive who joins the business from senior roles at Tesco Bank and Virgin Money, where she was director of insurance and new partnership product development.

Andrew Jones, BemroseBooth Paragon (BBP)

BemroseBooth Paragon (BBP), the supplier of magnetic tickets and contactless RFID cards to the mass transit market, has appointed Andrew Jones as general manager.

Prior to this role, Andrew Jones was an associate director of Grant Thornton.

During a 20-year career, which spans automotive, consumer electronics and industrial power divisions, Andrew has taken the lead on a number of strategic projects including the design, development and implementation of a new concept into consumer electronics.

Bringing this experience to BBP, Andrew will build on the strategy of the business to drive future growth through product innovation and improved work flow process.

He will also manage the day to day activities across both the Hull and Boston-based manufacturing operations, which employs more than 140 people.

With a background in mechanical and electronic engineering and a diploma in quality management, Andrew is also a graduate of the Windsor leadership programme, giving him the qualifications and practical experience to take on the lead role at BBP.

Andrew commented: “The ambition of the business as a whole was particularly attractive to me. I have experience across a range of industry sectors and many different processes and these skills are directly transferable to this role.

“The potential within BBP is phenomenal and I am very excited to be taking on a challenge that will deliver great reward for everyone involved.

“I am looking forward to leading a team that I already know are committed and that represent the best talent in the market. We are all going to work towards shared goals, which will see us stretch our targets and achieve the objectives our customers and stakeholders expect.”

BBP is a subsidiary of Paragon ID. Its UK-based manufacturing facility in Hull is complemented by BBP tech, the Boston-based division which specialises in RFID and contactless applications across a range of sectors.

James Farnaby, Opus North

Opus North, the Yorkshire-based property development and investment company, has strengthened its team with the appointment of James Farnaby as development manager.

Farnaby, a graduate of Leeds Metropolitan University, joins Opus North from Land Securities.

After graduating, he worked for Projex Building Solutions, before being seconded to Land Securities in 2015.

He commented: “This is a fantastic opportunity to join an established and well-respected development company with an excellent track record and exciting plans for the future”.

Andrew Duncan, the managing director of Opus North, said: “We are delighted to welcome James to Opus North. He joins at an important time for the company as we continue to expand and embark on new developments.

“As development manager, with project management experience, James will be working across our whole portfolio, including prestigious projects at Morecambe, Llandudno, Armley and Worksop”.

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