This week's Yorkshire appointments

Leeds-based CAPD Complete Build Solutions has announced the appointment of John Totty, who will oversee business development.

The family-run company was founded in 2011 and since then has established a portfolio of work across both the residential and commercial sectors throughout the North of England.

CAPD currently employs a 24 strong-team, headed up by managing director Gav Sambhi and commercial director Peter Ellis, who previously spent 11 years working at Totty Construction.

Veritas Recruitment Solutions, which recruits throughout the construction industry, introduced John Totty to CAPD.

Totty explained: “Joining CAPD is a fantastic prospect. It’s a family run business with a very ambitious, hard-working team. It was clear from my first meeting with Gav and Peter, that we all shared a tremendous amount of business ethics and integrity in respect of our common goals and values; many of the same values that made Totty Construction such a success.

“I’m really looking forward to opening up new opportunities for the company, particularly across Yorkshire, Cheshire and beyond.

“It’s also an exciting time for the construction sector as a whole, with so many new projects getting underway.

“As a result, there are major opportunities out there for an independent, agile and efficient firm that can genuinely add value and expertise, which makes this the ideal time to return to the industry with CAPD.”

Sambhi added: “John spent many years building and leading one of the North of England’s leading construction companies that delivered outstanding construction projects as well as continually innovating and focussing on quality, which mirrors our commercial goals and ambitions.

“He’s therefore a very exciting appointment for us and will be a key figure in our growth plans.”

Ellis also commented: “John joining CAPD will help us to attract new clients and business opportunities within all industry sectors.

“John and CAPD share the same commercial values, goals and ambitions and together we will continue building a better and brighter future by continually delivering exceptional construction projects.”

Gemma Robinson, Corecom Consulting

Corecom Consulting has appointed a new director to its leadership team as the company prepares for future growth.

The Leeds-headquartered IT recruitment company has appointed Gemma Robinson as operations director.

Jonathan Sanderson, managing director at Corecom Consulting, said: “Gemma has been with the company for over three years and she is the first female to join the Board of Directors.

“She has proven herself to be an asset in every aspect of the business, ensuring it runs smoothly, setting financial objectives and budgets, making key strategic decisions and meeting statutory obligations.

“Gemma is passionate about employee engagement. Her key achievements include launching a company Wellbeing Strategy, bringing systems and processes in-house, building a HR and Operations team and introducing an Apprenticeship Academy.

“I am delighted to welcome Gemma to the Board of Directors and I look forward to her helping deliver our strategic growth plan.”

Corecom Consulting has forecast a turnover of over £3m in its current financial year; an increase of 8% since 2016.

The firm is looking to expand, with plans to open offices nationally and internationally over the next three years.

Corecom Consulting’s workforce is set to increase from 17 to 25 over the next 12 months with a regional office opening in January 2018.

Erica Kemp, Ecus Ltd

Ecus Ltd, the Sheffield-headquartered environmental consultancy, is appointing a new managing director from the New Year.

Erica Kemp, who has been commercial director at Ecus for the last seven years, will take over the reins from January.

With a turnover of £3.6m and 60 staff employed across the country, Ecus has grown over the last five years under the leadership of outgoing managing director, Nick Birkinshaw.

Nick, who developed the company into a multi-disciplinary, multi-office environmental consultancy, is now moving into the role of development director, creating new areas of business and nurturing the company’s collaborative relationships.

Professor Pete Skipworth, Ecus’ chairman, said: “As we move into our next phase of growth, it’s great to have internally developed talent coming to the fore and for the outgoing MD to be involved so centrally in our future growth.

“The business continues to move from strength to strength on the back of the disciplinary and geographical coverage, quality of service and pragmatic advice that we provide for our growing customer base.

“Erica has been instrumental in transforming the business and its client profile since her time with us and her energy and enthusiasm is well known to staff and clients alike. Erica has now developed an exciting plan to take the company forward and we are delighted to announce her as our new MD.”

Erica added: “I am very pleased to be the new MD of Ecus and will be using all my experience to build on what has been a very successful period of continuous growth for the company. We have some fantastic plans in the pipeline for 2018 including the work Nick Birkinshaw will be doing leading a Habitat Creation unit which is very exciting for us.

“I am determined to position Ecus as a key player in the environmental consultancy sector and can’t wait to get started.”

Hattie I’Anson and Steph Baul, I’Anson

I’Anson Bros Limited, a family-owned farm feeds business, has recently bolstered its staff with an appointment from its own crop.

Hattie I’Anson, daughter of sales director Will I’Anson and niece of managing director Chris I’Anson, has become the first of the fifth generation to join the North Yorkshire company.

Hattie joins the firm as a sales representative, having spent the last two years working in sales roles in London and Leeds following a degree in International Business from Northumbria University.

The role will involve generating sales, managing customer accounts, creating and developing marketing strategies and looking at entry strategies in home and overseas markets. The role will also include some product development work, for which Hattie’s experience owning and riding horses will prove useful.

Joining Hattie in the sales department is Steph Baul, who is being promoted from her administration role to become a feed sales representative. Steph has already been at the company for three years following her agricultural upbringing on the family dairy farm in Bishop Thornton.

Steph’s main responsibilities will involve the promotion of the company’s feed, visiting customers, attending agricultural shows and markets, building relationships, and helping customers with advice and placing orders.

Chris I’Anson, I’Anson managing director, said: “Welcoming the fifth generation of the family to the business is a real pleasure and something I know all our predecessors would have been very proud to see.

“Hattie has grown up with an in depth understanding of the industry and she will be a fantastic addition to the company as we look to continue to progress in the future.”

Now in its second century of business, I’Anson Brothers is one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of animal feedstuffs and has been serving farmers in Yorkshire and the North of England since 1900 when it was founded in Masham.

Needle Mackenzie Spencer, Zaya Wickham

Zaya Wickham has been appointed to strengthen the team at Needle Mackenzie Spencer.

Zaya, who graduated from London Met with an MBA whilst studying for her ACCA qualification, has gained work experience in London with the internal audit department at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.

She has also worked as a tax assistant at KPMG, followed by a role as a client accountant in an offshore trust company.

Zaya said: “I am very excited to be part of a company that focuses on client success and building long-term relationships. With such a positive business attitude, it will be exciting to be part of the growth in the years to come.”

Chris Sellars, managing director of Needle Mackenzie Spencer, added: “Zaya is a fantastic addition to the business. Her knowledge and experience will add real value to the advice she offers when speaking to clients.”

This latest appointment marks the end of a busy year for Needle Mackenzie Spencer with the joint venture of Needle Partners and Mackenzie Spencer taking place in June, closely followed by the appointment of Matt Milnes in July.

Chris commented: “It has been a fantastic year for us. The energy that has been generated by our joint venture and new appointments has been really inspiring.

“We are extremely busy with active transactions and have many more in the pipeline with no obvious signs of slowdown. This is really encouraging for us as well as the wider corporate finance market.”

Needle Mackenzie Spencer has offices in Sheffield, Leeds and the Thames Valley.

Rachel Gillen, Lucie Jowett and Harriet Haldenby, Barton Willmore

Barton Willmore, the planning and design consultancy, has expanded its Leeds office with three new recruits.

Rachel Gillen joins the city centre-based consultancy from commercial property agents GVA. She brings more than seven years’ experience as a chartered town planner to the role, having previously worked for the City of Edinburgh Council and consultancy Stratus.

Rachel has worked on range of planning projects including residential, renewable energy, industrial and education schemes.

Meanwhile Lucie Jowett, also a chartered town planner, joins Barton Willmore from Quod. She brings more than five years’ experience – spanning residential, retail and commercial sector work – to the King Street-based team.

And University of Liverpool graduate Harriet Haldenby starts her career with the team having earned a first class degree in Urban Regeneration and Planning.

James Hall, partner at Barton Willmore, said: “We’re delighted to grow our highly skilled team in Leeds with three brilliant planners. Rachel and Lucie both know our patch well and will bring their own experience to the table, and Harriet is starting her career with us.

“Barton Willmore’s strength in Yorkshire is underpinned by strong cross-sector knowledge and understanding of the local authority areas.”

Both appointments follow Barton Willmore’s 20th anniversary in Leeds. The intervening years have seen the team secure planning permissions for some of the country’s largest housebuilders, as well as major commercial and energy sector schemes.

James added: “Barton Willmore continually delivers first class consultancy to developers across Yorkshire.

“In just the last year our team has been successful in securing significant permissions for some of the county’s most prominent schemes including the second phase of the Waverley Advanced Manufacturing Park, Harrogate Spring Water’s expansion in Harrogate and the Skelton Gate new community on the outskirts of Leeds.

“The latest appointments to our team mean we’ll continue to play a leading role in the development and growth of Yorkshire.”

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