People: Law firm announces raft of promotions; Building society welcomes head of communications; and more

Ridley & Hall, the Huddersfield-based law firm, has appointed its first non-lawyer partner and associate.

Operations manager, Tracey Armitage has been promoted to partner; and former senior secretary, Nicki Butterworth has been promoted to non-legal Associate.

David Amies, Head of Commercial Property and Victoria Ridge, Private Client Solicitor have also been promoted to Partners. Laura Milburn, Care solicitor and Ashley Sowerby, Property solicitor have been promoted to Associates.

Ridley & Hall has also appointed three trainee solicitors: Shadreck Mpande, Rosie Turner and Lucy Pickles.

Emma Pearmaine, Managing Director, said: “We are developing our legal teams, and also want to recognise the huge contribution made by non-lawyers.

“Modern law firms need a broad range of expertise, and our strategic plan to grow the business calls for equal measures of legal expertise and service skills. It is essential that we recognise everything that our team bring to the business, and with ABS status, we are in a position to do that.

“We are achieving all of our financial, business and operational targets, and I am convinced that this is owed to the philosophy of rewarding excellence from all levels of the business. Our focus is on developing talent in-house; recognising outstanding legal as well as non-legal skills.”

Laura Proctor has also qualified as a Licenced Conveyancer.

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Skipton Building Society has advanced Stacey Stothard MCIPR MPRCA to a new Head of Corporate Communications position.

As a member of the leadership team at the UK’s fourth largest building society, Stothard will lead the mutual’s communications and public affairs campaigns, together with overseeing the Society’s accessibility and sustainability activities.

She said: “There probably isn’t a better time to be working for a mutual in financial services communications. Our sector is driving so much innovation, attracting more and more customers, together with navigating the complexities of economic and political instability.

“And this presents an abundance of opportunities to showcase how Skipton is capable of meeting these challenges head on for our customers.

“Mutuals offer customers something different to the banks; it’s a feeling that you’re genuinely important and that you personally matter. So it’s a pleasure to be leading the communications team in channelling this unique strength.”

A first-class honours graduate from Leeds Beckett University, Stothard joined Skipton in 2010, having previously worked in local government communications. She is currently studying a Masters degree through Loughborough University.

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Ring, the Leeds-based lighting and automotive aftermarket specialist based in Leeds, has appointed Kevin Lee as Area Sales Manager.

Responsible for maintaining and building the brand’s relationship with automotive aftermarket distributors across the Midlands region, Lee will be tasked with driving further sales of the company’s products and increasing awareness of its extensive range among industry professionals.

Lee said: “Ring’s extensive portfolio of products and market leading position makes it a really exciting time to join the team. As a business we’re constantly trying to drive innovation and bring new innovations to market.

“It’s now my responsibility to relay that message to our partners in the Midlands, making sure they’re updated with all of Ring’s developments and future plans, whilst also ensuring our customer base continues to grow.”

With a background in sales following a career in the construction industry, Lee will use his experience to support the business as it continues to build its presence across the country.

Henry Bisson, Marketing Manager for Ring, added: “Kevin’s experience outside of the automotive industry means he brings a fresh perspective to the whole team along with new ideas and ways of working.

“As we continue to develop and extend our product range, it’s crucial that we let our customers know what more we can do and offer. We welcome Kevin to the team, as he plays a key role in our strategy moving forward.”

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Keyland Developments, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister-company to Yorkshire Water, has appointed Catherine Godfrey as Development Manager.

Catherine joins Keyland from Yorkshire Water where she was lead surveyor, following earlier roles as an Associate at Savills and Property Manager at Evans Property Group.

Reporting into Keyland’s Managing Director Peter Garrett, Godfrey will drive the development and disposal of Keyland’s existing property portfolio, in addition to acquiring new Planning Promotion Opportunities in the open market.

Peter Garrett, Managing Director at Keyland Developments, said: “We are delighted to welcome Catherine to the team at such an exciting time for the business. Catherine brings extensive knowledge and expertise of the regional property market and will play a key role in managing our forward development programme.

“Her background at Yorkshire Water will greatly assist in driving forwards projects with the water’s company’s Land & Property team.”

Godfrey added: “Keyland is a dynamic and diverse development company and I am delighted to be working with the team to drive their strategic business plan.

“My new role will enable me to be hands-on with some incredibly exciting schemes which will shape the economic future of the Yorkshire region whilst sourcing new opportunities to unlock land for future development.”

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Potter Space, which owns, develops and operates five business parks across the UK, has appointed Jenna Strover as head of commercial delivery.

Strover joins the Ripon-based company with a BSc honours degree in Building Surveying and more than ten years’ experience of project management and surveying.

During that time she has worked with both private and public sector clients including Leeds University, Legal and General, Tesco Stores and McDonalds Restaurants.

She joins from surveyors, Currie and Brown where she was an associate director heading up a team of four.

In her new role, Strover will be responsible for the delivery of new buildings and infrastructure, as Potter Space invests £25m in continuing to expand across its 250 acres on five business parks in Ripon, Selby, Knowsley, Droitwich and Ely.

Matthew Lamb, Managing Director of Potter Space, said: “There is a huge amount of activity happening on the business parks and Jenna has the credentials we need to successfully oversee and deliver the various projects.

“She has worked on a wide variety of large development schemes, including the project management of multi-million pound projects for Durham University. The team is looking forward to working with Jenna, as we drive forward with our ambitious plans to become one of the leading business park operators in the UK.”

Strover added: “As a family run business, operating for more than 50 years, it has built a great reputation for providing the very best for their customers, whether through the very successful Potter Logistics, which they sold in 2015, or through the recently launched Potter Space.

“I am therefore looking forward to delivering high quality units which will exceed client expectations and meet the company’s ambitious targets.”