A BUSINESSiQ round-up of the key moves at influential companies around the North East - who’s in and who’s out

 

Bradley Hall

A leading North of England property specialist has appointed a new director to head up its Tees Valley operation.

Joseph I’Anson has been appointed as the director of Bradley Hall Teesside, a decade after joining the business.

I’Anson, who studied estate management at Northumbria University, first joined Bradley Hall as a graduate surveyor in June 2013.

Since then, he has gone on to climb the ranks, going from chartered surveyor to associate director, and is now set to take on his biggest role to date.

He said: “As someone who has lived and studied in the region my whole life, I have seen first-hand how the area has been transformed over the past decade.

“Traditionally, the region’s engineering, energy and chemicals industries have been the area’s economic bedrock, and while that remains the case today, significant developments such as Teesworks and TeesAMP are heralding the beginning of a new dawn for the area.

“Already, we’ve seen BP, SeAH and SABIC invest heavily in the green industries of tomorrow and this is having a huge knock-on effect for the wider region, with demand for quality housing and workspace naturally increasing as a result.

“In fact, each and every week our team are receiving calls from businesses and people seeking to relocate to Tees Valley, so I’m extremely excited to have been appointed to head up our Teesside operation as we continue to increase our presence in the region.”

 

Origin Fertilisers

Hester Hardy has joined Origin Fertilisers’ team of in-house nutrition agronomists to support farmers and growers in the north of England.

With agricultural experience in both New Zealand and the UK, Hester hails from a farming background in Yorkshire, with her dad and brother both working in the industry. After completing a degree in agriculture with business management at Newcastle University, Hester secured her new role with Origin shortly after graduating.

She says: “Before starting university, I worked on a dairy farm in New Zealand and I saw how innovative livestock and grassland management techniques can benefit both the farm and the animal."

Hester, who has a small flock of sheep along with a keen interest in horseracing, lives in Yorkshire, and has already begun meeting farmers across the northern region.

 

Time Finance

Time Finance has apppointed Mike Hood as Regional Sales Manager for the North East.

Mike joins with over 10 year’s experience having held positions at Fuzion Finance, DLL and Bidvest Bank where he specialised in supplying asset finance solutions for the agricultural, construction and transport sectors.

In his new position, Mike will support the growth of Time Finance’s vendor channel by partnering with suppliers and offering tailored funding packages to their customers at the point of sale.

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Mike said: “They are in an exciting phase and I look forward to using my experience to strengthen existing supplier relationships and support new customers.”

The announcement follows a number of recent appointments within Time Finance, including Morgan Lee and Ollie Cole as Broker Managers, further demonstrating the business’ commitment to investing in their people as well as their Asset Finance proposition.

Mathew Graham, Head of Vendor Sales at Time Finance, added: “Mike is a great addition to our team, particularly as we ramp up our plans to grow our offering further across the UK."

 

BHP

BHP, the largest independent accountancy firm in Yorkshire and North Derbyshire, has welcomed a further 44 new trainees.

This latest intake is the second highest for BHP’s successful training programme, which provides those looking to break into the finance industry with the chance to gain hands-on experience while studying for a professional qualification.

The Northern Echo: The BHP intakeThe BHP intake (Image: Press release)

It follows a record-breaking year in 2022, which saw 46 new trainees join the business and underlines BHP’s commitment to continuing to invest in future talent and career development.
With this latest intake, BHP has now invested in 134 trainees in the last three years.

Since joining the business, many have remained with BHP and further developed their skills to become integral parts of the team. These include Ellie Dignam who joined the firm in 2012 to work towards her ACA qualification. She has developed to become Chief Digital and Efficiency Officer and is the youngest person ever to have been promoted to the Partner group at BHP.

The latest group of trainees cover a range of disciplines and span BHP’s entire network of offices, which include Chesterfield, Sheffield, Leeds, York, and Cleckheaton. In total BHP has appointed 21 graduates, 12 non-graduates, and 11 placement students*.

Karen Arch, Director of People at BHP, said: “At BHP, we’re passionate about nurturing and developing the skills of young professionals looking to break through and leave their mark on the finance industry.

“With each intake of trainees, we’re also improving our own workforce by widening our blend of skills, expertise, and personality. These new recruits will bring many benefits, perspectives and added value to our clients.

Ellie Dignam said: “I love working at BHP and have enjoyed watching the firm grow and evolve over the last 11 years. I’ve personally benefited from our training programme and it’s great to see that we’re continuing to take on fresh new talent.”

 

Ward Hadaway

Leading Northern law firm Ward Hadaway, with offices in Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle, has announced the appointment of nine newly qualified solicitors following a successful training period.

Each of the nine graduates have qualified as solicitors and are remaining with the firm, working within a diverse range of departments. They add to a growing Ward Hadaway team across Northern England, with total headcount now at 476.

The Northern Echo: The Ward Hadaway solicitorsThe Ward Hadaway solicitors (Image: Press release)

The 100% retention rate reflects the consistent growth of Ward Hadaway as it continues to create jobs for more people and demonstrates the quality and depth of Ward Hadaway’s dedicated training provision. It also highlights the long-term opportunities available at the firm for emerging talent, with graduates developing excellent skills and gaining valuable experience during their training period.

Matt Cormack, a partner and training principal at the firm, said: “Ward Hadaway isn’t just a place to fulfill your training contract; it’s where you lay the foundations for a successful and rewarding legal career.

“The fact we have retained 100% of our newly qualified solicitors reflects our commitment to attracting, developing and retaining the best emerging talent. This year’s cohort is extremely strong and I’m confident they’ll continue to flourish. Congratulations to each of them who have worked incredibly hard to achieve their qualification – it’s thoroughly deserved.”

The new solicitors completed a two-year training contract after graduating from university. The training contract itself involves four placements, each lasting six months, in different departments.

Caroline Jones, recruitment and emerging talent manager at Ward Hadaway, said: “We’re incredibly proud of our 100% retention rate for our newly qualified solicitors. It’s great to see talented individuals choosing to continue their journey with us.”

Employment solicitor Heather Ramsay said: “I’m delighted to qualify as a solicitor and continue my career. The training programme was excellent, highly structured, engaging and supportive. I’ve gained a breadth of experience across a range of legal disciplines which gave me a good understanding of which area of practice I want to enter.”