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A summer season of switches – 36 large Humber appointments and promotions made in enterprise

Sam Booth, KCom's new chief financial officer.

Offices have re-opened, gatherings are returning and the recruitment wheels keep on turning.

This summer season has seen a host of key appointments across the Humber region, as organisations gear up to bring back pre-pandemic performance or maintain growth in some of the most challenging business conditions.

Here we look at the major moves, from caravan building to offshore wind blade maintenace, broadband to law and engineering to insurance.

KCom

Sam Booth, KCom’s new chief financial officer.

East Yorkshire-based broadband provider KCom has appointed Sam Booth as its new chief financial officer.

Sam brings more than 20 years’ experience in senior finance and business leadership roles, including working in the telecoms sector as CFO of Plusnet and at BT where, as part of group finance, she led a number of successful transformation projects.

Over recent years she has also worked as CFO at Water Plus Group and at Capita People Solutions.

She said: “I’m delighted to be joining KCom and be a part of a very innovative and ambitious business looking to grow across the region.

“I’m very much looking forward to working closely with people both within and outside the business to help achieve KCom’s targets of expanding its world class full fibre broadband network – and delivering the benefits of ultrafast broadband to many more customers.”

The appointment follows the sale of the national ICT business to managed services specialist Nasstar, allowing KCom to focus on the expansion of its regional network.

Dale Raneberg, chief executive, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Sam to KCom at what is a very exciting time for us.

“Sam’s huge experience at senior levels within our industry will be invaluable as we focus on continuing our transformation and the next phase of our growth and development as a regional provider of full fibre broadband.

“Sam is an excellent addition to our executive leadership team as our £100m network expansion picks up pace and we increase our presence in both wholesale and retail markets across Hull, East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.”

On Line Group

Brendan Conlan, chief operations officer at On Line Group.

Brendan Conlan, chief operations officer at On Line Group.

On Line Group has appointed its leading divisional managing director to the role of chief operating officer.

Brendan Conlan assumes overall responsibilities of developing strategy for the engineering arm of the group which encompasses Immingham-headquartered On Line Design & Engineering and Hampshire headquartered BPE Design & Support.

It is a move described as helping the business’s long-term strategy of becoming the employer of choice and the most widely respected supplier of engineering solutions and agency personnel.

Mr Conlan first joined On Line Group after being appointed managing director of On Line Design & Engineering in early 2015, having previously served as operations and engineering manager with key client Centrica Storage.

Jeff Laird, chairman of On Line Group, said: “With over 25 years of international industry experience, Brendan brings with him a wealth of knowledge which will not only benefit the company but also the communities we operate in.”

On Line launched almost 40 years ago, as a small engineering design consultancy providing draughting services to the local refineries.

It now has offices across the UK, providing process design and consultancy services, multi-discipline engineering services, project management, fabrication and construction services, as well as tailored temp-to-perm, strategic permanent recruitment and agency provision.

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Premier Modular

Mark Rooney, divisional director of Premier Modular's hire operations.

Mark Rooney, divisional director of Premier Modular’s hire operations.

Brandesburton-based Premier Modular has appointed Mark Rooney as divisional director for its hire operations.

He joins the business with 15 years’ experience in leadership roles, 10 years of which have been spent in the construction hire space.

The past 12 months has seen £12 million invested in the fleet in the past year, with a high degree of utilisation and a strong order pipeline.

Mr Rooney said: “This is a really exciting time to join the business, which has made tremendous progress in the past year. There is enormous growth potential for Premier’s hire solutions, particularly in healthcare and education, where we are well placed to provide larger, more complex temporary buildings which may be on hire for a number of years. These projects range from decant education facilities for use during school redevelopment works to acute healthcare buildings to help NHS trusts rapidly increase capacity – from specialist ward buildings to theatre blocks.”

Premier is currently working on a number of multi-million pound contracts to provide project offices for HS2 in the South East and a £3m hire project for Kier is nearing completion at Royal Cornwall Hospital to rapidly increase ward capacity.

Managing director David Harris previously held the position, until his appointment following the retirement of Eugenio de Sa.

Pure Broadband

Sally Kirkwood, service operations manager at Pure Broadband.

Sally Kirkwood, service operations manager at Pure Broadband.

Pure Broadband has created a new service operations manager role, welcoming in Sally Kirkwood to it.

Sally spent 10 years working for fellow Hull firm KCom, and had a similar position for the last three years before being approached..

Her experience is seen as vital to support the ultra-fast firm’s rapid progression as it rolls out its high-speed services at an ever-increasing rate in towns and cities across Yorkshire.

She said: “It was a really big move for me personally and professionally to decide to leave and try something new. The stage Pure Broadband is at is really exciting and that’s what persuaded me to roll my sleeves up and be a part of it.

“They are an ambitious team who are overwhelmingly customer focussed so I was eager to get involved. My initial aim is to build a team that’s ready and set to get close to our loyal customers and build on the fantastic support we are offering. I am a firm believer that rock solid customer service is paramount in any industry, but especially in this one. People rely on us to meet their expectations and when an issue arises, they need us on hand to make it right.”

Tony Jopling, himself recently appointed as managing director, said: “We are delighted to welcome Sally to Pure Broadband. Given her years of experience in the sector, having her join us shows just how serious we are about providing the very best customer experience – therefore setting us apart from our competitors.

“I have admired her work from afar for quite some time so it is a real boost to make her part of our team. As we continue on our ambitious expansion, there’s no let-up in the popularity of our service and I am confident Sally will help us to shape that exciting future.”

Victory Leisure Homes

Jamie Kirk, main image, and Shirin Kemp.

Jamie Kirk, main image, and Shirin Kemp.

Luxury holiday homes manufacturer, Victory Leisure Homes, has brought in two familiar faces to its senior management team.

The Gilberdyke-headquartered Rix Group company has welcomed back Jamie Kirk as commercial director, while Shirin Kemp becomes the company’s first director of marketing and public relations.

Jamie – who has more than 15 years’ experience in holiday home manufacturing – returns to Vctory having served as regional sales manager between 2011 and 2017.

Jamie said: “Returning to Victory to take on the commercial director role is really exciting, perhaps in part because I was here when our journey first started and now I’m back as the company sets out on a new chapter; one which has the potential to not only transform the business itself but will affect the wider industry too.

“I’ve spent my entire career in the holiday homes industry. I’ve run holiday parks, sold holiday homes, been involved on the finance side of the leisure industry and managed large contracts with parks across the UK. I’ve specialised in manufacturing, and my proudest moment really has to be coming home to Victory as its new commercial director.”

Shirin joins with similar depth in communications, coming in-house from an agency where the company was a client.

She said: “Victory has been designing and manufacturing luxury holiday homes for over 10 years and has grown from a small start-up business to a company that now employs close to 400 people. So it’s certainly an exciting time to join the company on its journey of growth and I’m delighted to be working with the senior management team in supporting its ambitious plans for the future.

“I thoroughly enjoyed working with Victory as one of our clients in my previous agency role so I know the team well and I’m excited to be joining them.

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Production has quadrupled in the past year, with 200,000 sq ft of new manufacturing space added in Hull.

Gary Corlyon, managing director, added: “The commercial director position was something we knew we had to get right if we are to continue delivering on our ambitious plans. We have always prioritised investment in the best people, and we’re delighted that Jamie is re-joining as Victory builds what I believe is an incredibly strong leadership team.

“His ambition, enthusiasm for our vision and his knowledge of the industry, teamed with his history within the business, means we are more confident than ever about the impact and value he can add.

“Often when taking on a new member of the senior management team, you’re taking a leap of faith that they will be a great fit for the business. Having worked with Shirin previously and being aware of her strong track-record, we know how capable she is and are confident she’ll fit right in.”

Andrew Jackson Solicitors

Katy Hansom with Andrew Funnell at Andrew Jackson Solicitors.

Katy Hansom with Andrew Funnell at Andrew Jackson Solicitors.

Regional law firm Andrew Jackson Solicitors has added a new partner, associate and two paralegals to its Hull team.

Katy Hansom returns to the firm in the senior role, bringing several years’ specialist experience, particularly in the areas of intellectual property and commercial contracts.

She said: – “I am really delighted to return to Andrew Jackson where I began my career 18 years ago. I have always had an interest in how the firm has developed and grown over the years, as well as its leading reputation for corporate and commercial work.

“I am really looking forward to playing a key role in ensuring that the team continues to build on its strong position by providing an outstanding service, which is build around our clients’ specific needs.”

She had moved briefly to Eversheds in Leeds after nine years with Andrew Jackson, returning east to University of Hull in 2013.

Andrew Funnell, partner and head of the corporate department at Andrew Jackson, said: “Katy’s specific knowledge and expertise of IP and commercial law will be of great benefit to our clients, as demand for this area of practice continues to grow.

Nicola White with Hugh Smith, partner and head of litigation and dispute resolution at Andrew Jackson Solicitors.

Nicola White with Hugh Smith, partner and head of litigation and dispute resolution at Andrew Jackson Solicitors.

“Katy shares our commitment to delivering the best possible service to our clients, so we are particularly delighted to see her return to the firm.”

Nicola White joins as associate, bringing expertise to contested probate cases, particularly in disputed wills and inheritance act claims. She will support the specialist practice of partner, Peter Duffus.

Hugh Smith, partner and head of litigation and dispute resolution, said: “Nicola’s specific knowledge and expertise will be of great benefit to our clients, as demand for this area of practice continues to grow.

Georgia Moy will provide invaluable support to the busy employment team. Working across contentious and non-contentious matters, duties will include carrying out research on legal cases, and assisting with the preparation of related documents.

Andrew Jackson managing partner Mark Pearson-Kendall welcomes Sarah Griffiths, left, and Georgia Moy.

Andrew Jackson managing partner Mark Pearson-Kendall welcomes Sarah Griffiths, left, and Georgia Moy.

Sarah Griffiths will assist the client service and compliance team by providing in-house support with statutory and regulatory obligations, ensuring that a high level of client service is maintained.

Rollits LLP

Caroline Neadley has made partner.

Caroline Neadley has made partner.

Rollits has promoted one of its specialist employment lawyers to partner.

Caroline Neadley, who joined the 180-year-old firm in October 2017, steps up from the role of associate.

She started her career in 2002 and spent 11 years in private practice, specialising in employment law before joining the legal department at Humberside Police in 2013 as their in-house employment law solicitor. Her duties included advising chief constables as part of a 10-strong team of lawyers covering the Humber region and South Yorkshire in a collaboration between both forces.

Caroline was promoted to the position of deputy force solicitor before making the decision to return to the private sector with Rollits, working across the firm’s Hull and York offices dealing with all aspects of employment law.

Ed Jenneson, head of employment at Rollits said: “Caroline has gained significant experience in a number of different sectors during her career and developed a unique understanding of both the public and private sector business landscape including education, not-for-profit and manufacturing.

“At a time when the employment team’s workload has been complex and demanding she has continued to be a real asset to the firm, her colleagues and our clients.”

Caroline, who lives in Hessle, balances her professional career as a solicitor with being a busy mum-of-two, a governor at Swanland Primary School and a long-serving committee member of Hull women’s networking group Women in Business.

Quickline Communications Ltd

Tony Ciciretto and Mark Stansfeld have joined the board of Quickline Communications Ltd.

Tony Ciciretto and Mark Stansfeld have joined the board of Quickline Communications Ltd.

Two experienced telecoms executives have joined the board at Quickline Communications Ltd.

The Hessle-based specialist ultrafast broadband provider welcomes Mark Stansfeld and Tony Ciciretto to support the roll-out of full fibre and all-new 5G technology to approximately 500,000 premises in rural Britain.

They will work closely with the executive team led by Sean Royce, chief executive, as Quickline looks to scale-up and expand its market-leading, gigabit-capable, next-generation hybrid network.

Mr Stansfeld spent almost 20 years with Telefonica O2 in senior executive roles and was a co-founder of Giffgaff, one of the UK’s leading mobile virtual network operators, where he was chairman. Until recently, he was chairman of Airband and is currently chair of West Midlands 5G. He is described as having a strong background in commercial management and a solid track record in supporting businesses on the transition to rapid growth.

Mr Ciciretto has more than 20 years of experience in the information, technology and communications sectors and has held senior roles at a number of North American organisations, including Cogeco Peer One, TeraGo and Bell Canada. He has a background in network engineering and led sales teams within Rogers Business Solutions and Bell Canada.

Paul Howard, Quickline’s chair, said: “I am delighted that both Tony and Mark have joined our board. Their combined experience, knowledge and contacts will provide valued support to our senior executive team.”

Mr Royce, who was appointed in March ahead of the summer buy-out by Northleaf from BigBlu added: “It’s great to welcome industry leaders of such a high calibre to Quickline. They will help to further strengthen our place in the market as we continue to roll out high speed internet connectivity to thousands of homes and businesses in rural areas across the North of England and beyond.”

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GEV Windpower

Hull-headquartered GEV Wind Power has appointed Paul Idziak as chief executive Of its US entity.

A seasoned wind energy executive with leadership experience across various disciplines, he brings “an outstanding record of building profitable business divisions”

for Shermco Industries and Infrastructure & Energy Alternatives Services Group, a wind farm installation and services contractor, where he recently served as vice president of business development.

David Fletcher, chief executive of GEV Wind Power Lab Group said:” We are delighted to welcome Paul to the business and board of GEV, bringing his many years of experience leading renewable divisions in the United States. We look forward to Paul helping us to drive our US growth strategy going forward, with the aim of achieving our goal of being the partner of choice to our North American-based clients, for all their blade maintenance requirements.”

A market leader in field-based maintenance, more than 5,000 blades have now been repaired by GEV.

Mr Idziak said: “I am thrilled to be joining GEV to continue my career focusing on the wind energy sector and be part of the transformation of the industry over the coming years, as the maintenance market continues to mature and consolidate.

“GEV is well supported and has an excellent platform to lead this process and I am looking forward to working with David and my US based team to support our current and future clients”.

Wilkin Chapman

George Coyle has joined Wilkin Chapman as a consultant to the Beverley disputes resolution team.

George Coyle has joined Wilkin Chapman as a consultant to the Beverley disputes resolution team.

Highly experienced litigator George Coyle has joined law firm Wilkin Chapman as a consultant in the dispute resolution team.

He will be based in the firm’s Beverley office, having worked for many years as head of department for Hull firm Rollits.

Mr Coyle is described as having a track record of dealing with substantial and complex commercial litigation for SMEs, corporate entities and high net worth individuals with significant business interests, spanning a range of sectors including the food and motor industry.

Joshua Briggs, partner and head of disputes, said: “George is a fantastic addition to the disputes team who brings experience and commercial nous in equal measure. A man you can trust to get you out of any complex legal dispute.

“The team continues to grow at pace, and I am thrilled to be joined by such a skilled group of lawyers. Demand for litigation services is likely to grow rapidly over the months ahead, as businesses come out of lockdown and take stock; we are building a superb team for the long term and are determined to become even more of a force to be reckoned with.”

Mr Coyle’s work led him to be highly ranked by the leading legal directories, Chambers UK and the Legal 500, on a regular basis. He has also recently been named a Thomas Reuters ‘Acritas Star’ – an accolade nominated by in-house legal counsel.

He said: “A change is as good as a rest and when the opportunity came to join a firm of the stature of Wilkin Chapman, I jumped at the chance.”

Aon

Marc Sutton and Chris Harvey of Aon's Humber team.

Marc Sutton and Chris Harvey of Aon’s Humber team.

Leading global professional services firm Aon has appointed a regional head for a newly formed Humber region.

Chris Harvey takes the role as the company combines the expertise from its Hull and Kirmington offices, to better help clients manage existing risks and emerging challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit.

Aon arrived following the acquisition of Henderson Insuring Broking Group.

Mr Harvey has 27 years of industry experience from Norwich Union – now Aviva – and Henderson, and previously served as head of office for Hull.

He joined Henderson in 1995 and was based at Kirmington before moving to the North Bank in 2003.

He will now lead the 30-strong team of insurance and risk management specialists as they support clients with general risk and insurance, risk management and consultancy and employee health and benefits.

Aon's Sonya Hunt and Ben Rowlin.

Aon’s Sonya Hunt and Ben Rowlin.

Mr Harvey said: “The main challenge for many businesses in the Humber region will be to get their revenues back up to pre-Covid-19 levels, as well as manage costs. At the same time, the insurance market has hardened, insurance premiums have gone up and capacity has reduced on certain risks.

“Combining the expertise from both offices and drawing on the team’s vast local knowledge, backed by Aon’s global reach and expertise, means we are well placed to advise clients. I am looking forward to a new challenge and working with colleagues to continue to help our clients make better decisions.”

It follows Ben Rowlin and Marc Sutton’s promotions to client directors. Ben is based in the Hull office, and Marc at Kirmington. Both are responsible for the retention and development of accounts within the region and mentoring and developing junior members of the team.

Sonya Hunt, who has 29 years industry experience has been promoted to operations manager and will oversee the 21-strong client service advisors across the region, as well as ensuring compliance, service standards, and day-to-day operational requirements are met. Michelle Parkinson who is based in the Kirmington office, and Emma Johnson who is based in the Hull office, have been promoted to client service managers. A further promotion in the Kirmington office is Jodie Wiseman to client manager.

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James Legal

Mike Stoney has been appointed as a director of East Yorkshire’s James Legal.

Mike Stoney has been appointed as a director of East Yorkshire’s James Legal.

Experienced solicitor Mike Stoney has been appointed a director of East Yorkshire’s James Legal.

The promotion follows what the Hull and Beverley-based firm describes as some outstanding successes, including the sale of the iconic Anchor House development on Hull’s Anlaby Road earlier this year. Internal IT project development has also been recognised.

He has worked in commercial property roles across the region since completing his legal training with another Hull firm in 2011.

Mr Stoney said: “There are a number of things that attracted me to James Legal, and these are the reasons I’m so excited about my directorship.

“I really relish the opportunities that come with working for a growing firm that has so much more potential yet to explore. Being able to contribute to that journey is a real privilege.”

Managing director Simon Young described him as “the epitome of a team player who provides exceptional service to our clients”.

He said: “Mike is a great example of James Legal’s fresh-thinking, ‘human’ approach. Like everyone else on the James Legal team, he leads with his personality, which is very different to some law offices whose lawyers are perceived as somewhat unapproachable. He is first and foremost Mike, who happens to be a solicitor, rather than someone whose true personality is hidden behind a work title.

“He is also extremely hardworking and committed, and exceptional at what he does, and we are very fortunate to have him. Mike is already strengthening the management team with his input and we’re all excited to see what he and the rest of our team can accomplish together,now that he’s taking on this additional level of responsibility.”

RRadar

Keiran Rigby has joined Rradar as a non-executive director.

Keiran Rigby has joined Rradar as a non-executive director.

Hull law firm Rradar has welcomed highly experienced global claims management leader Keiran Rigby to the firm as a non-executive director.

During his 35-year career he has advised on a wide variety of major business, investment, merger and acquisition activities and digital strategy transformation as part of claims solutions across a diverse range of sectors and jurisdictions.

This included scaling claims management solutions on digital platforms from applications, architecture and infrastructure perspectives.

More recently, he has served as global president of Crawford Claims Solutions, having been chief executive and owner of GAB Robins UK, until it was acquired by Crawford and Company in 2014.

Kieran will work alongside Rradar chief executive Gary Gallen and the board, advising on the strategy and growth of the company.

Mr Gallen said: “I am very pleased to welcome Kieran to our board. This is a significant appointment for Rradar and to have secured someone of his calibre, with significant global knowledge and experience in claims management and digital solutions, insurance and leadership capabilities is both testament to the growth potential and future development of the company and an invaluable asset for us as we begin to accelerate our growth strategy over the next year.”

At Crawford Mr Rigby led a division of more than 3,000 staff, pivoting the company’s claims solutions business from a geography model to a global service line, leveraging scale, innovation and best practices.

He said: “Having worked in the insurance industry, watching Rradar’s rapid evolution from a start-up law tech to an established feature of the legal and insurance industries has been fascinating and inspiring. What Rradar has achieved in only a few short years under Gary’s leadership shows that there has been a real need for this sort of radical vision and I’m delighted to be stepping on board at such a pivotal stage for the company to work closely with the team and see Rradar reach its goals of delivering value and innovation to its clients.”

One Stop Business Finance

One Stop Business Finance’s new business development managers Steve Norton and Kelly West, with Andrew Mackenzie, managing director and Rebecca Ennis, business development director, newly recruited business development mananger Sarah Aylward and Carey Scargill, business development manager for the Yorkshire region.

One Stop Business Finance’s new business development managers Steve Norton and Kelly West, with Andrew Mackenzie, managing director and Rebecca Ennis, business development director, newly recruited business development mananger Sarah Aylward and Carey Scargill, business development manager for the Yorkshire region.

SME funding specialist One Stop Business Finance has significantly increased the size of its UK-wide business development team.

The East Yorkshire-based company has grown its business development team from four to seven, with the appointment of Steve Norton, Sarah Aylward and Kelly West.

They will serve a growing client base chiefly across the Midlands and East Anglia.

The Laytham-based flexible finance provider expects to see strong growth for its services across the board in the next 12 months, which has driven the need for additional personnel. Over the past year, it has experienced two of its busiest and most profitable quarters in its seven-year history, despite the impact of the pandemic and availability of government support schemes.

Rebecca Ennis has also been promoted to business development director to head the client-facing team. She previously worked with clients in the East Midlands region, but in her new national role she will be supporting her colleagues and clients in all areas.

“I am very excited about the medium and long-term expansion plans we have for the business,” she said. “This is just the beginning, but what a great beginning it is.

“We have such a strong, bright team bringing a vast array of skills to the whole business and, of course, to other businesses that we do and will collaborate with, so I can’t wait for the results to show.

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Sypro

Josh Mitchell has joined Hull-headquartered Sypro as head of sales.

Josh Mitchell has joined Hull-headquartered Sypro as head of sales.

Management and compliance software company Sypro has expanded its sales team as demand for its new platform increases.

Josh Mitchell joins the Hull-headquartered business as head of sales as the Total Risk Manager tool takes off.

He is joined by Chris Monk, who joins as sales executive, and Will Toplass, who joins as sales engineer.

TRM is a comprehensive suite of risk management modules designed to help organisations manage their risk, asset, or compliance requirements from a single, central platform.

Josh joins the business with more than five years of experience in the education technology sector – one of Sypro’s key markets – along with healthcare, public, and private.

He said: “I am extremely excited to have joined Sypro and believe my own values really match those of the company. I have always been driven by conquering challenges and seeing results, which is exactly what Sypro’s software solutions are made to achieve.”

His experience in demonstrating software as a solution particularly interested Sypro’s chief executive, Simon Hunt. He said: “Josh joins us at a really exciting time as we are seeing increasing demand in our services and growing our team, and we’re thrilled to have him on board. His experience in the education sector is particularly valuable to us and we’re looking forward to seeing the different perspectives he brings with him.

HI Commercial

Luke Byron, HI Commercial director, welcomes Jasmine Barratt.

Luke Byron, HI Commercial director, welcomes Jasmine Barratt.

A growing East Yorkshire independent commercial insurance broker has a new hire to strengthen its team.

Having previously worked for a firm in Scunthorpe, Jasmine Barratt joins HI Commercial as commercial account handler, bringing “six years experience and bags of enthusiasm” to the post.

From a new business start up in 2019, HI Commercial now employs nine advisors to manage a growing client base within the engineering, construction, haulage, hospitality and warehousing sectors, as well as a variety of SMEs.

Luke Byron, director, said: “I am pleased to welcome Jasmine to the team. She has great experience having started in insurance straight from school. Jasmine brings enthusiasm and supports us with our commercial insurance client base.

“The firm experienced rapid growth from the start of business, gathering momentum with a 20 per cent increase in turnover in year one, this gave us great confidence during lockdown.

“We were able to recruit last year and have been looking for a suitable person to join us this year. The criteria was for an ambitious individual, with excellent people skills and as soon as we met Jasmine, it was clear she would be a great asset to the team.”

The broker is based at Ergo, Bridgehead Business Park, Hessle.

Jasmine said: “Obviously the challenges of 2020 had a major impact on businesses which put the insurance industry under huge strain. HI Commercial has been able to grow during this time by making sure clients are adequately covered and offering excellent service – this is what impressed me the most and I feel this firm will give me the opportunity to grow with it.

“I am enjoying getting to know how the business works and the way in which advisors at HI Commercial approach clients. We work with really interesting businesses, some with specialist needs which can’t be managed by off the shelf insurance policies.”

Risby Homes

Jemima Clarke, Risby Homes' customer care manager.

Jemima Clarke, Risby Homes’ customer care manager.

East Yorkshire housebuilder Risby Homes has welcomed Jemima Clarke as its customer care manager.

In the new role, Jemima will work alongside sales manager Trina Henderson to support customers from point of sale onwards, ensuring their new home buying experience is positive and hassle-free.

She brings 11 years’ experience working in customer care, from construction, hospitality to marketing to the company behind Beverley’s Shepherd’s Rest development.

Jemima said: “I’m really excited to have joined the team at Risby Homes. There’s a great family atmosphere, not to mention the fantastic quality of the homes.

“I’m really looking forward to getting stuck into this new role and being involved in all aspects of the customer’s home-buying journey.”

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Since company owner Mark Barrett built his first development in Beverley in 1993, Risby has become a family affair, with deep-rooted values at the heart of its business.

Amy Barrett, site coordinator at Risby Homes, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Jemima to the team. We care deeply about not only building exceptional houses but also giving great customer service every step of the way.

“We want every new Risby Homes owner’s journey to be enjoyable and as stress-free as possible. For us, a big part of building a new development is about creating a new community for people. Jemima will play an important role in helping our new residents on their home buying journey to make it one they’ll remember for all the right reasons.”

Slice Marketing

Kim Christopher de Pili, marketing executive, left, with Chris Jacobsen, marketing director at Slice.

Kim Christopher de Pili, marketing executive, left, with Chris Jacobsen, marketing director at Slice.

Hull-based agency, Slice Marketing, has increased its workforce following a strong period of growth and new contract wins.

In order to service an increased demand, the company has taken advantage of the Kickstart scheme to employ Kim-Christopher de Pili as a marketing executive.

Kim joins the company having graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a first class honours degree in Advertising and Brand Management.

He said: “I love being challenged and facing new learning opportunities, which is exactly what I get at Slice.

“I’ve been working at the company for a couple of months now and it’s been great to get first hand industry experience. Learning how to develop and run a successful marketing campaign for our clients has been really exciting.

“I graduated during the pandemic, which was a scary time for a student to be entering the job market. The scheme has really helped me get ahead and I’ve found a great company to work for as well.”

Chris Jacobsen, director at Slice, said: “We’ve been blown away by Kim’s level of commitment and ability. He has been delighting clients with his ideas and application.

“The Kickstart scheme has really helped us as a business during very uncertain times. We were delighted to start working with new clients on some exciting projects and being able to give talented young people from the area an opportunity is a real bonus.”

Forrester Boyd

James Sykes and Amelia Jacklin, who have qualified as chartered certified accountants with Forrester Boyd.

James Sykes and Amelia Jacklin, who have qualified as chartered certified accountants with Forrester Boyd.

Two of Forrester Boyd’s trainees have qualified as chartered certified accountants.

Amelia Jacklin and James Sykes have both passed the final exams of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

Amelia, a former Franklin College student, joined the firm’s Grimsby office in 2017 prior to moving to Louth.

James Sykes, a graduate of the University of Hull, works in Scunthorpe.

Philip George, Forrester Boyd’s partner responsible for training, said “Amelia and James have done extremely well and this is yet another example of the success in our strategy in recruiting and developing home grown talent. This, combined with excellent accounting tuition, allows Forrester Boyd to continue to recruit, develop and retain top quality accounting staff.”