On the move: the latest East Midlands hires

East Midlands law firm Howes Percival has continued expanding its Commercial team with two key hires.

Helen Jones joins the team as a legal director, bringing a wealth of experience in commercial contracts and intellectual property, particularly in the defence sector.

She has worked across various legal and compliance matters, from international contracts to technology licensing, and has additional experience in health and life sciences.

Sophie Gladwell, a new associate solicitor, has nearly four years of experience in both private practice and in-house roles with Eurostar.

She has also completed secondments with Domino’s and MIB and has particular experience in the food and beverage, as well as leisure and tourism sectors.

Paula Dumbill, Howes Percival’s partner and head of commercial said: “We are delighted to be joined by two lawyers who come from in-house legal teams and who bring with them a ready appreciation of what is important to the clients we are aiming to support. Helen is a highly qualified and experienced commercial solicitor with significant private practice experience, including four years of experience as an in-house Commercial Lawyer in a multinational defence group. Helen has a deep understanding of what in-house legal teams are looking for from their external advisers.

“Sophie’s experience in food and beverage and leisure and tourism perfectly complements two of the wider firm’s core sectors, while Helen’s experience in the defence and life science sectors significantly adds to the Commercial team’s existing bench strength in sectors we are increasingly serving.

“Lawyers with Helen and Sophie’s expertise in this area seldom become available – it’s far more common for them to go in-house than return to private practice – so I am thrilled they have chosen to continue their careers at Howes Percival and to allow us to greatly enhance our offer to clients and in-house legal teams in the technology and innovation space.”

Derby-based IT and telecoms support company Link ICT has appointed Keith Smith as sales manager to grow its presence in the SME sector.

Smith, who lives in Derby holds an MPhil in leadership & coaching, an MA in communication science, a Postgraduate Diploma in business administration, and a BCOM in Marketing.

Keith Smith

He has a diploma in modern applied psychology and various certificates, including counselling skills, digital marketing, sales mastery and strategic sales management to his CV.

During his career, he has held leadership positions where he’s built and nurtured high-performing teams and developed strategic initiatives that deliver measurable success.

His previous experience includes chief sales officer for software provider d6 Group, where he led a team of over 70 professionals, significantly increased global sales revenue from £12m to £33m and expanded international market presence.

As national sales manager at training provider Pearson, he developed and implemented strategies that achieved consistent annual growth, driving revenue from £110m to £174m over six years.

Link ICT managing director Mark Fryers said: “Our business recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, and as part of our ongoing strategy of progressive growth we aim to increase our portfolio of companies in other sectors that rely on IT to operate profitably. Keith has an impressive track record in sales and his leadership skills will be a great asset to the management team.”

Smith said: “A key part of my role will be to develop and execute strategic initiatives, ensuring that we continue to deliver exceptional service and strengthen our position as a trusted partner for SMEs. I’m especially looking forward to collaborating with our clients and helping them unlock their potential and achieve their goals.

“I was drawn to Link ICT because of their incredible values, which align closely with my own, and their exceptional service offerings. It’s clear that they genuinely care about their clients, and this is reflected in the outstanding feedback they receive. Knowing that I can contribute to a company with such a strong reputation and passionate team is incredibly exciting. I’m confident that my experience in team leadership and strategy development will enable me to make a meaningful impact.”

Shed Grounds Maintenance (Shed) has announced the appointment of Steven Donnelly as its new business support manager.

Donnelly will work closely with the senior leadership team to enhance service delivery, strengthen client relationships, and support key business functions, including quality, environmental management, health & safety, and sustainability.

His role will be instrumental in driving the company’s strategic initiatives and ensuring operational excellence.

Steven Donnelly

Bringing over 30 years of experience in sales, management, and client relations, Steven has a proven track record of delivering measurable results.

With his former company, he successfully grew turnover from £2m to £3m, established a nationwide supplier network, and secured high-profile clients, including Cineworld and McDonald’s franchisees.

His commitment to quality earned him two nominations for Cineworld’s “Supplier of the Year” award.

Peter Botham, managing director of Shed Grounds Maintenance said: “We are delighted to welcome Steven to our team. His wealth of experience and proven ability to deliver results align perfectly with our vision for the future. We’re confident that Steven’s contributions will ensure we deliver a quality service whilst we drive our growth and help us deliver an even better experience for our clients.”

Donnelly said: “I’m pleased to be joining Shed Grounds Maintenance during such an exciting phase of its growth. The company’s commitment to excellence and its strong team culture are inspiring. I look forward to contributing to the company’s success and working closely with clients and colleagues alike.”