Here are some of the latest appointments and promotions from across the East Midlands:
FRP Advisory:
Specialist business advisory firm FRP has promoted Harry Walker to partner.
Harry works within FRP’s corporate finance team and is based in the Leicester office.
He joined the firm in 2018 and has been instrumental in expanding FRP’s activity in the region, particularly in relation to M&A.
An alumnus of Accountancy Age’s 35 under 35 rankings, he has recently facilitated deals including FM Mattsson Mora Group’s acquisition of kitchen and bathroomware brand Aqualla Brassware, the sale of leading vaping manufacturer EOS Group to AQL International, and the acquisition of paneer-manufacturer Everest Dairies by the Ƶ’s largest Asian food group, Vibrant Foods.
He is part of an 18-strong team that works from the firm’s East Midlands offices in Leicester and Nottingham, and his promotion brings the number of partners to three, as he works alongside restructuring advisory partners John Lowe and Nathan Jones.
He said: “Businesses across the East Midlands have had an incredibly turbulent year, yet the drive and determination shown by business leaders to stabilise their organisations and push on with their growth plans has been admirable.
“I am proud to take on the role of partner, leading our corporate finance team here in the East Midlands, and look forward to continuing to support the ambitions of the local business community throughout the year ahead.”
Actons:
Actons, the independent law firm in Nottingham, has unveiled its second set of promotions this year.
Commercial litigator Gordon Monaghan has taken on the role as a director.
He joined the firm’s litigation team in November 2019 and has extensive experience dealing with complex high value commercial contract, property, restrictive covenant, and company law disputes.
He also became an accredited commercial mediator in 2017.
At the same time, corporate solicitor Tom Butcher has stepped up as an associate.
Since joining the firm’s corporate team in 2016 as a paralegal, Tom has trained and qualified with the firm and become a valued member of the successful corporate team, working on a number of significant corporate transactions.
The promotions follow hot on the heels of the promotions of private client lawyers Bindiya Patel, Cara Watson and Heather Parker to director earlier this year.
Actons chairman Simon Dakin said: “I am delighted to welcome Gordon as a director.
“Since joining the firm 18 months ago, Gordon has brought significant commercial litigation experience and enthusiasm to the team and wider firm.
“I also congratulate Tom on his well-deserved promotion to associate.
“Both of them have developed very well since joining us, and have become important members of their respective teams, they have also both consistently performed to a high standard.
“I am looking forward to Gordon and Tom making a significant contribution to the firm’s future success.”
PayPlan:
PayPlan has appointed experienced strategic leader Tasneem Bhamji as its chief operating officer to transform its operation and lead its multi-channel debt advice service to meet increased demand.
Tasneem joins the national debt advice provider after heading up transformation at Lloyds Banking Group, working in improving financial wellbeing for customers.
She was named Woman of the Year at the 2020 Women in Credit Awards, and brings 10 years’ experience within the financial services sector, having also worked for HSBC and Santander in operations and conduct risk roles respectively.
The appointment will strengthen Grantham-based PayPlan’s existing creditor and client relationships as the debt advice sector gears up for an increase in demand during 2021.
She said: “PayPlan already has an impressive record of delivering first-class debt advice across the Ƶ and I am excited to join at a time where we can make a real difference in how we support our clients.
“With a further increase in digital demand anticipated, it’s more important than ever that the advice sector is fully equipped to offer quality, multi-channel support to all – and I look forward to leading that transformation.”
Futures:
Nottingham-based careers specialist Futures has announced Paul Price-Hazlehurst as its new chief executive.
Paul will lead the company’s growth and ongoing response to the pandemic, leaving his role as director of programmes and interim CEO after joining the company back in February 2019.
He has held a number of senior positions throughout his career, and worked in a variety of education and employment-focused environments.
Paul trained as a teacher back in 2003 taking his first post up at North Notts College delivering on the skills for life agenda.
During his career he has worked in some of the most deprived areas of the Ƶ supporting young people and vulnerable adults.
His passion of working with local communities and helping people progress and develop has been at the heart of his career and the pathway that led him to Futures.
He said: “I’m delighted to be Futures new CEO, this past year has been challenging but one that has cemented my passion and commitment to the work we do at Futures.
“We’ve had a successful year winning new work to support the communities we serve out of this pandemic and I believe we’re perfectly placed to do so.
“I was drawn to Futures because I believe that providing people the opportunity to work and learn new skills changes lives and I’m proud to now take up the role of leading the team here onwards.”
Futures chairman Tim Richmond said: “Paul brings with him a wealth of knowledge and a deep understanding of the sectors we operate in to this role.
“The board and I look forward to working with him on driving the business forwards.”
CT Construction Ltd:
Oliver Tolputt, a director at civil engineering contractors CT Construction Ltd, in Chinley in the Peak District, has been elected chair of the Civil Engineering Contractors’ Association’s (CECA’s) senior leadership team.
After serving as Chair of CECA in the North West for two years, Oliver succeeds Mike Coulson of BAM Nuttall Ltd.
Oliver, who lives in Rowarth, Derbyshire, works on projects across all sectors of civil engineering, specialising in water-related schemes.
He has worked for over 20 years in the industry and also has experience of highways, environmental, housing infrastructure and utilities construction projects.
After completing a master’s degree in civil engineering at Sheffield University, he began his career working throughout Scotland on water projects.
He gained experience working for major contractors before taking up a position at CT Construction where he is responsible for the day to day running of the business.
CECA is the Ƶ’s leading civil engineering trade association body, looking after the interests of more than 300 members across eight regions, which, together, carry out an estimated 70-80 per cent of all civil engineering activity in the Ƶ, including transport, energy, communications, waste and water projects.
He said: “CECA’s role is all about addressing the needs of its members and ensuring civil engineering contractors are supported effectively.
“After all, unlike other types of construction activity, civil engineering is about building and maintaining the Ƶ’s infrastructure, to ensure that we have clean water, safe roads and railways, power supply, and mobile phone signals, among many other aspects vital to our wellbeing.
‘It is an honour to be elected chair, and I look forward playing an integral role in the organisation’s activities, particularly focusing on the future of civil engineering, and how we attract young people into the sector.”
Timms Solicitors:
Timms Solicitors, which have offices in Derby, Burton, Ashby and Swadlincote, has further strengthened its commitment to young talent by awarding a training contract to a University of Derby law graduate.
Leonnie Watson joined Timms in an administrative role to support the family law team in 2018 and went onto complete a part-time legal practice course at Nottingham Trent University.
She was then promoted to the role of paralegal and now, under the training contract, is due to qualify as a solicitor in December 2022.
Leonnie said: “I am extremely grateful and lucky to be given this opportunity at Timms who have put their faith in me and supported me through my academic studies since the day I joined the team.
“I am very much looking forward to working with my colleagues in other departments as I go through my training. I consider it a privilege to be learning from the talented lawyers at Timms.”
Timms managing partner Fiona Moffat said: “Leonnie has shown a real commitment and passion for both the profession and her studies and we look forward to seeing her achieve her full potential in her journey to qualifying as a solicitor – and beyond.
“I am particularly delighted that Leonnie has joined us from the University of Derby with whom we have strong links and this appointment reinforces our reputation as a firm for serving and supporting our local communities.”
Timms Solicitors was established in 1892 and today has five partners – Fiona Moffat, Jo Robinson, Lisa Collett, Tessa Dunleavy and Matt Rice – who manage more than 50 members of staff.
Howes Percival:
Howes Percival law firm has announced five senior promotions across its Leicester and Northampton offices, including two new partners.
Rob Starr and Matthew Thompson have been made partners in the firm, while Ben Hancox, Harriet Rogers and Jasmine Mason have been promoted to senior associates.
Commenting on the promotions, Howes Percival chairman Geraint Davies said: “Congratulations to everyone on their promotions, which acknowledge the invaluable contribution these individuals have made in their respective practice areas and to the firm overall.
“These promotions also reflect our commitment to nurturing and developing talent within the firm - with two of the five individuals completing their training with Howes Percival.”
Willshee’s Waste & Recycling:
John D’Aubney has been appointed as finance director by Derbyshire independent waste and recycling firm Willshee’s.
He brings more than 30 years’ experience to the family run business, which is currently enjoying double digit year-on-year growth as demand for commercial and domestic waste and recycling services continue to increase.
Having worked across numerous B2B and B2C international markets, John joins Willshee’s from Staffordshire-based Leavesley where he was group finance director.
Earlier in his career he worked in a number of finance and system development roles including Lloyds TSB Head Office, and prior to that KMPG audit and compliance.
He has a degree in accounting and finance from the University of Birmingham and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Dean Willshee, managing director of Willshee’s, said: “John has tremendous pedigree and a strong, impressive track record so we are very pleased that he has joined our leadership team, bringing skills and experience that will help us to grow and fulfil our ambitions.”
Willshee’s has been providing waste and recycling solutions for over 37 years, and recently invested £10 million in its third depot, a Materials Recycling Facility in Swadlincote, Derbyshire.
