People: Train operator appoints head of safety and environment; BGF welcomes new investor; and more

Hull Trains has announced the appointment of Mark Shepherd as its new Head of Safety and Environment.

Shepherd brings more than 25 years’ worth of experience in the industry to his new role, after replacing Phil Green.

Shepherd’s new role will focus on all elements of health, safety and environment for Hull Trains. He starts his role during one of the busiest years for the company – working with all teams on the current fleet, addressing abuse on services and preparing for the introduction of the new fleet of Class 802s coming later this year.

Starting out in the rail industry in 1991 as a conductor, Shepherd has worked his way up through the ranks at Northern Rail and other rail companies. He has overseen the introduction of new stations, accessibility improvements at existing ones, level crossing safety improvements, new depots and trains, as well as developing training in conjunction with industry partners, such as the RSSB and Network Rail.

Shepherd said: “Safety is a crucial component of making sure our services run as they should, and I’m delighted to have been appointed.

“I have always considered my role as being more than the traditional health and safety element – it is about caring for our customers and staff, getting them home in the same or better condition every single day, improving their environment and how we as a business impact on it whilst improving the customer experience overall.

“I believe that effective communication, building good relationships and correct implementation is key and the team here are vital to the success of that. We have a great team at Hull Trains – we are working hard during what is going to be a very exciting year for the company.”

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Investment firm BGF has appointed Sophie Brand as an investor in its Leeds office.

Brand joins from Deloitte where she spent nearly eight years working across the firm’s Leeds and London offices. After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in Deloitte’s audit practice, she spent the past four years working in the M&A team gaining particular experience of transactions in retail and consumer markets.

Brand’s role at BGF will involve all aspects of the investment process from meeting business owners when they’re first considering funding to due diligence and actively working alongside a number of portfolio companies after completion.

BGF’s team in Leeds has invested more than £220m across 22 businesses in Yorkshire and the North East since BGF was set up in 2011. The team experienced a record year of investing in 2018, providing £65m in patient capital for businesses in the region.

Brand said: “BGF’s point of difference in the market is the long-term outlook it takes, and it has carved out a phenomenal reputation in the region over the last few years.

“The chance to work in partnership with management teams to achieve their ambitions really appealed to me and, combined with how active the team has been in the region, adding to an increasingly diverse portfolio across the UK and Ireland, the opportunity was a compelling one.”

In 2018, BGF expanded to new offices at Platform in Leeds and opened an office in Newcastle to support more local businesses in the region.

Richard Taylor, head of BGF’s Leeds office, added: “We’re delighted to welcome Sophie to the investment team covering Yorkshire and the North East. She brings a track record of building exceptional relationships and completing deals across a wide range of sectors, and her knowledge of the region and reputation will be a real asset to the team.”

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Sheffield’s Taylor&Emmet LLP is expanding the in-house services from its new Rotherham office, with the appointment of a family law specialist.

Dawn Lowry has joined the firm to provide advice on all aspects of family law, including domestic abuse, as well as Legal Aid funded mediation.

Having worked previously at GWB Harthills in Rotherham, Lowry brings a wealth of local knowledge and experience to Taylor&Emmet’s family law team.

She qualified as an ‘all issues’ mediator in 2012 and uses her skills to help separating couples resolve disputes without court intervention.

Lowry is also a Resolution accredited specialist in private law children and domestic abuse and will be working closely with the firm’s Rotherham-based childcare solicitor, James Gascoigne.

Michaela Heathcote, Taylor&Emmet’s head of family law, said: “Dawn has not only worked in Rotherham for years, but is also a local resident, giving her an unrivalled understanding of the town and her clients’ needs.

“Thanks to her excellent reputation, enthusiasm and empathy, I have no doubt she will be a driving force behind the success of our new venture and a valuable asset to the firm.”

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CityFibre has appointed Kim Johnston and Stephen Moore as new City Development Managers (CDM), to strengthen its Yorkshire leadership team.

Having worked as Leeds City Council’s Business Development Officer for the Health and Wellbeing Service for six years, Johnston has a breadth of experience in the private, public and charitable sectors.

In previous roles, she was the Communications and Marketing Manager for Leeds Chamber of Commerce and the International Sales Co-ordinator for a fibre optic transmissions manufacturer.

Moore has spent the last ten years working for Kirklees Council, managing the council’s business engagement team and lead for digital infrastructure investment. He was on the board of Superfast West Yorkshire and Chair of the Leeds City Region Digital Infrastructure Group through which partners engaged with the Government’s Local Full Fibre Network programme.

The newly appointed CDM’s will act as the main point of contact for all city stakeholders, including Kirklees Council and Leeds City Council.

Johnston said: “I feel passionate about my home city of Leeds and am excited to be working with CityFibre to bring full fibre connectivity across the city. I am a strong advocate for community engagement, digital inclusion and partnerships to help make Leeds the best city to live, work and visit.”

“I’ll be collaborating closely with Leeds City Council to ensure a successful rollout and ensure the local community is kept informed at every stage of the process.”

Moore added: “Through a thriving creative and digital culture, coupled with a world-renowned reputation for manufacturing and innovation, Huddersfield has much to gain from fresh investment in its broadband infrastructure.  

“I am thrilled to be joining CityFibre and would like to thank Kirklees Council and the wider community for the support that they have provided to date, which has helped to set the project off to a fantastic start.”

Rob Hamlin, Commercial Director of CityFibre, said: “We knew as soon as we met Kim and Steve that they were the perfect candidates for the City Development Manager positions. They both have a wealth of great experience across key sectors and crucially, a passion for watching their communities flourish and develop.”

“This is a transformational project for both businesses and residents across Yorkshire and we are delighted to have put great people in place to help people to discover more about the impact this investment will have on the region’s digital future”.