People: BDO LLP; HarvestEye; Survey Hub

Fraser Paget

BDO LLP has expanded its Midlands team with the appointment of Fraser Paget as head of supply chain & logistics.

Paget, who brings 25 years’ experience to the accountancy firm, has been made a director in BDO’s national Digital & Risk Advisory Services (DRAS) team.

He previously worked at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on the COVID-19 testing programme.

Tim Foster, partner and national practice leader at BDO Risk Advisory Services, said: “We’re delighted to welcome someone of Fraser’s calibre to the team.

“Fraser possesses considerable hands-on experience, not just across supply chain and logistics, but also as a senior executive who has worked in leadership roles within public and private sector companies across a broad range of markets.

“Fraser will work closely with clients to help shape their strategic vision, both in the short and long-term, while focusing on key pain-points within key sectors, such as availability issues and procuring, selecting and implementing warehouse management and transport IT solutions.”

Paget added: “Supply chain and logistics is a hot topic at the moment. The world has changed, businesses globally are grappling with high inflation, skills and labour shortages, together with Brexit, COVID-19, and the conflict in Ukraine. This has resulted in availability issues, quadrupling of shipping costs, raw material shortages, semiconductor shortages and an over reliance on sourcing from the Far East. Every business is reviewing how they renumerate and retain their people, while strategically reviewing how and where they manufacture or procure from.”

Ed Strawson

Machine-learning-driven crop insights firm HarvestEye has appointed a new sales and account manager.

Ed Strawson brings more than ten years’ farming industry experience to the Lincolnshire-based company having previously held sales roles at JCB and John Deere.

He said: “I’m really pleased to be joining HarvestEye at this critical point in its expansion. This is a precision farming brand that is only set to grow further in its quest to deliver deeper measurable feedback to root crop growers.

“I’m looking forward to getting out and meeting new and existing customers in the field, showcasing a technology that is only growing ever more important as profit margins continue to get squeezed across farming supply chains.”

HarvestEye provides live insights on root crops as the produce is lifted, presenting growers with information on the size and count of the whole field crop.

Charlie Flack, general manager at HarvestEye, said: “Ed’s arrival represents a major growth point for our operation. Having a dedicated presence on the ground, to liaise with growers on a daily basis, will enable us to scale this system across the UK, giving farmers unprecedented insight into their crop viability.

“This comes at a time when technology is making huge waves across the whole agricultural industry, and we look forward to seeing Ed in action and driving greater brand awareness with new and existing customers.”

Multidisciplinary surveying practice Survey Hub has welcomed two new trainees.

Arun Hari and Bohdan Buleha – who has recently left Ukraine – have both joined the firm’s Nottingham office as trainee land and building surveyors.

Arun Hari & Bohdan Buleha

Buleha said: “I, as a Ukrainian, am very glad for the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience in a company like Survey Hub. This job is what I’ve always wanted to do and I’m looking forward to becoming a specialist in the field of geodesy and land surveys.

“I’ve been very impressed with Survey Hub since joining, the team are really friendly and supportive with my development. However, I’m also very passionate about passing on my acquired knowledge to people who are currently in Ukraine, and every day after work I spend time on social media talking and sharing my experience with those back in Ukraine. I look forward to learning more and developing a long career at Survey Hub.”

Hari added: “Since starting at Survey Hub, I’ve really hit the ground running – having already been on a site visit in Watford, where I learned to use a laser scanner to do surveying. I am really fascinated to learn more about the technology, including the latest Leica robotic equipment and Trimble GPS that the company has, and understand more every day about the job. Since joining the team, everyone has been very friendly and approachable – it seems like a really great place to work and I’m looking forward to a long career with Survey Hub.”

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