Here is the BusinnessLive East Midlands round-up of the latest movers and shakers in law, community work, quarrying, construction, banking and health and safety risk management:
Smith Partnership
Law firm Smith Partnership has bolstered its operation in Leicester with five new staff.
The New Walk city branch, led by managing partner Alison Neate, has seen steady expansion in recent years.
The firm has been recognised by the Legal 500 best law firms guide for its work in professional negligence and runs a sister company, Claims Against, from Leicester.
Associate solicitor Suhail Alloo joins that department from Nelsons and specialises in complex cases.
Paralegal Sophie Wilson has arrived from Josiah Hincks, adding further strength to the same division.
Meanwhile, Samuel Mason, a solicitor who specialises in family law, is joining the Leicester team from Dodds Solicitors where he had spent four years.
Further depth will be added by conveyancing legal executive Marcus Samuel-Brown and Paricce Davis who has become a legal secretary in the commercial property department.
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Alison, who is recognised as a national expert in professional negligence law, said: “I am delighted to be able to add to a wealth of talent to our Leicester team.
“Our hard work at immersing ourselves in the community is being reflected by a big increase in caseloads which meant we were able to sign people of the highest calibre,
“I look forward to working with them all and continuing to expand our offer in Leicester and Leicestershire and, in some cases, beyond."
Lovell Partnerships
Residential construction and regeneration specialist Lovell Partnerships has bolstered its team in the Midlands with two new assistant partnership managers – Rebekah Bacon and Chantel Cresswell.
Rebekah and Chantel have joined to support the company’s key focus on developing partnerships with housing authorities, councils and businesses in the housing sector to bring new housing schemes to the market.
Rebekah will cover the East Midlands, while Chantel’s will focus on the West Midlands, with both looking to build relationships, manage partnerships, and ultimately accelerate provision of multi-tenure housing in the region.
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Rebekah said: “I’m thrilled to join the team to strengthen existing partnerships, build new relationships, and grow our overall presence in the East Midlands, as well as support and shape the overall vision to accelerate provision of multi-tenure housing in the region into 2022 and beyond.”
Their arrival follows several new development projects, partnerships and client wins since the start of the year for Lovell, which delivers “multi-tenure” housing schemes, as well as new-build housing and regeneration work.
Several significant schemes are taking forward strides in the Midlands, including the creation of 234 homes on the site of an old foundry in Fountain Lane, Oldbury, and 190 homes at Branston Locks in Burton-on-Trent – both being delivered in partnership with housing associations.
Notts County Foundation
Notts County Foundation has announced the appointment of 13 new members of staff to support the charity’s growing presence across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
The official charity of the football club delivers a range of programmes that make a positive difference to people in the area, raising aspirations and supporting some of the most disadvantaged, marginalised and talented people across the city and county.
Megan Collins, Nicolas Victory and Gemma Stapleton have joined as multipurpose attendants, based at the foundation’s Portland Centre facility in the Meadows.
Meanwhile Emma Shiels, Mia Humphreys, Maddie Knowles and Stefan Furgala have become the charity’s newest coaches and swim school teachers.
Kyle Beekman and Dawn Hales will be responsible for the day-to-day management and maintenance of the Portland Centre.
Operating out of its Meadow Lane headquarters, Sufyaan Ali has been appointed as a finance assistant, Steven Grocock has joined as National Citizen Service officer, and Lauren Cotton has become the charity’s new sport and inclusion manager.
Barclays
Barclays has appointed Nick Carrington as its new corporate development director for the Midlands, with responsibility for businesses with turnovers up to £50 million.
Nick, who has been in banking for 16 years, has experience across mid-market SMEs in the trade and working capital team and will be tasked with growing the Barclays mid-corporate market share with a focus on industry and sector leaders.
He said: “I am incredibly proud of the opportunity to help mid-corporate businesses across the region to grow and thrive.
Keith Ross, head of mid-corporate, Midlands, said “The Midlands continues to be an important market for Barclays and the region has demonstrated, throughout the Pandemic, its diversity and dexterity to consistently deliver growth.
“Nick’s appointment is a reflection of these growth opportunities and we are keen to help and support dynamic businesses as the economic recovery continues.”
Nick enjoys walking his Basenji puppy, travel and is a season ticket holder at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Breedon
Leicestershire-based construction materials giant Breedon has made Pauline Lafferty an independent non-executive director from 1 August 2021.
It comes after Moni Mannings a non-executive director and chair of the group's remuneration committee, gave notice of her intention to step down from the board to join the board of online car dealer Cazoo as a non-executive director.
Pauline will replace her as chair of the remuneration committee and as the non-executive director responsible for workforce engagement.
Ms Lafferty is currently a non-executive director and chair of the remuneration committee of XP Power Limited and serves on the boards of other non-listed entities. She has previously held a variety of executive roles, with experience in human resources, including chief people officer at Weir Group Plc.
Breedon chairman Amit Bhatia said: "I would like to thank Moni for her hard work and commitment to Breedon since joining the Board, particularly in reviewing and developing our remuneration policies and practices.
“I would like to welcome Pauline to the Board, she brings with her a wealth of experience in both executive and non-executive roles and will help us further develop our people agenda and remuneration framework."
Finch Consulting
Leicestershire-based, health and safety engineering risk management experts, Finch Consulting have appointed Wayne Herbert as a senior consultant.
Mr Herbert has more than 40 years’ experience in the engineering sector, specialising in mechanical engineering, working with a range of equipment and machinery.
He also has in-depth knowledge of relevant health and safety and environmental legislation, CE certification in accordance with the EU machinery directive of individual plant and complex assemblies.
Despite the past 18 months affecting the whole engineering sector, Finch are bucking the trend and continuing with a growth plan, named “Project Reality” to transition to a medium sized business within the next 5 years.
Mr Herbert said “This is a great opportunity to join a forward thinking company that places engineering excellence and its people at the heart of everything they do.
“In previous job roles, I have come across Finch and have always been extremely impressed with the depth of knowledge within the business and the high profile projects they are associated with.”
Lubbesthorpe Alive CIC
Local resident Becky Harris has secured a new job as community organiser for Lubbesthorpe Alive CIC, set up to support people living on the New Lubbesthorpe estate to the west of Leicester, which will eventually have up to 4,250 new homes.
Around 600 homes are now occupied at the site, built by Davidsons, Barratt, David Wilson Homes and Redrow Homes.
A £15 million motorway bridge was opened a couple of years ago, a new primary school has already opened.
Further schools, community facilities including healthcare, shops and services and an employment park adjacent to the M1/M69 which could create 1,000 new jobs are also planned.
Becky (32) was one of the first residents to move into the new development in 2018. Her new role will be to organise events and activities to create a strong sense of place and community at this innovative development.
She will support pioneer community worker Sue Steer, who has been in post since 2016.
Becky said: “Living on the site means I understand the challenges new residents face in becoming part of this fast-growing community, especially when people have such busy lives. I look forward to meeting and connecting people and organising a thriving calendar of activities for all.”
Danaher and Walsh
Danaher & Walsh's Alice Stewardson has won the most promising trainee quantity surveyor award at the CECA Southern Young Achiever Awards 2021.
The Young Achiever Awards are organised by the southern region of the Civil Engineering Contractors' Association, and recognise outstanding achievement amongst younger members of the civil engineering industry.
Alice was presented with her award by Olympic medallist Amy Williams MBE at a Covid-safe ceremony in July.
Alice joined Leicestershire-based civil engineering contractor Danaher & Walsh in 2016 as a trainee, combining her work with studies at Birmingham City University.
She has now completed the final year of her BSc quantity surveying degree course, on which she has achieved consistently high marks and been commended for her extra-curricular work.
Her dissertation has been submitted to the internationally leading peer-reviewed journal Building Research and Information. Her supervisor, world-renowned Professor David J. Edwards, states that Alice is: “without doubt, the most proficient, dedicated and conscientious student I have ever taught internationally.”
Furthermore, she mentors and coaches other students on her undergraduate course, in particular offering advice and guidance on how to develop robust methodological approaches for the final year dissertation.
Alongside her core work activities, Alice actively promotes positive mental health and wellbeing. As a trained Mental Health First Aider, Alice acts as a confidential first point of contact for colleagues at Danaher & Walsh experiencing mental health concerns.
Danaher & Walsh commercial director Ian Gilbert said: "Alice's dedication to her work and studies is second-to-none. She is very generous with her time and always willing to help others. She is understandably a very popular member of the team."