People: Architect named president of UK-wide body; Surveyor rejoins business as an associate director; tax practice team members make the move to

The founding director of a firm of architects has been appointed as the National President of a top UK industry body.

Simon Parker, of seven architecture, will serve for two years at the helm of Interact Group, a national networking organisation of property and construction professionals.

Established in 1977, Interact has 26 centres across the UK and involves more than 450 industry professionals. Its structured networking forum allows forward-thinking colleagues to share expertise, form connections and promote future business growth.

Parker has been chair of Leeds Interact for the last two years. His appointment as National President was officially announced at the annual Interact National Luncheon in Pall Mall, London and will formally begin in spring next year. Hejoined 150 senior leaders from the UK construction industry at the event, along with this year’s guest speaker Mandy Hickson.

Parker said: “I’m delighted to take up the position and build on the fantastic work Interact does to forge and strengthen industry relationships. I’m looking forward to being involved in a series of events over the next two years to bring colleagues from a range of organisations together and strengthen contacts between senior professionals in our field of work.”

H ehas worked in professional architecture practice for more than 15 years, during which time he has gained particular recognition within the education sector for his expertise in designing learning environments.

Recent projects for seven architecture have included redeveloping the former Archive Building as a new facility for Wakefield College, the design of the new Wirral Youth Zone for the charity Onside Youth Zones providing a safe space for Birkenhead’s young people, and the creation of a bespoke eco-home in line with Passivhaus standards.

Seven architecture is also involved in the sensitive redevelopment of the Grade II* listed Wood Street Police Station in London, the new changing pavilion and netting system at Bradford’s Park Avenue Cricket Ground and the Everyman cinema complex in Harrogate.

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Chartered building surveyor, Rob Harper, has re-joined property and construction consultants, The LHL Group, as an associate director.

Harper has joined the firm’s Harrogate office, which provides a range of building and quantity surveying services throughout Harrogate as well as North Leeds, Ilkley, Skipton, the Yorkshire Dales and Richmond.

He said: “It is great to be back in familiar surroundings and to see that the company has grown substantially since I left. I look forward to working with old and new colleagues to help provide LHL Group’s wide range of property services to its growing client base in this part of North Yorkshire.

“Harrogate’s housing sector remains buoyant for investors and buyers. I know the district’s housing stock well and am looking forward to contributing to this busy market once again.”

Harper, who lives in Knaresborough, first joined Lightly & Lightly, which later became LHL Group following a merger, in 2001 as a graduate building surveyor. He left in 2010 and during the last seven years has worked throughout Yorkshire and the UK with an international property consultancy and also as an associate director role for a Yorkshire estate agency and property consultants.

LHL Group director, Richard Hampshire, says: “Rob was always a highly regarded member of our team and we are delighted to welcome him back as one of our experienced senior staff at a time when we are still expanding.”

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Well-known Yorkshire tax adviser, Neil Sengupta, and a number of his former colleagues have joined the rapidly growing tax practice at leading independent business advisory firm Murray Harcourt.

Sengupta joins Murray Harcourt from Grant Thornton where he led  local tax practice for ten years.

He is also joined at Murray Harcourt by former Grant Thornton tax colleagues: Joanne Powell, tax director; Emily Bartliff, senior tax manager; Adam Gough, tax manager and Mike Crawley, senior tax manager.

Established in 2012 by partners Richard Bright and Mark Hunter, Murray Harcourt has grown rapidly over the past five years and continues to attract top local talent to meet its strategic plans.

Richard Bright, managing partner of Murray Harcourt, said: “This latest round of recruitment is great news for the continued growth of the firm and also for our clients. We pride ourselves on providing high quality, independent advice and outstanding service levels as well as delivering value.  After just five years, we have already established ourselves as a leading independent firm and we continue to receive fantastic feedback from our clients who say that we are making a genuine difference to them.”

Neil Sengupta added: “It’s really exciting to be part of a boutique firm which is genuinely committed to shaking up the market and providing a more proactive service for entrepreneurial businesses both in Yorkshire and nationally.  I believe in Murray Harcourt’s vision to stand out from the crowd by consistently delivering first class client care and this is a great opportunity to bring the firm’s dynamic approach to tax services.“

With offices in Leeds, Harrogate and also London, the firm offers a full range of services including audit and assurance; tax compliance and planning; advisory and business services; and corporate finance.