People: Law firm makes series of promotions; Auto Trader CEO takes on role at Forever Manchester; and more

Five staff at niche firm Hugh Jones Solicitors have been promoted this month.

Tom Young and Sam Firth are promoted to associate in the court of protection and expert witness teams respectively.

Fiona Ludkin and Charlotte Pisuto have both reached associate in the private client team, with Pisuto also being appointed to the Law Society’s national Private Client Section Advisory Committee.

Rachel Duxbury has been promoted from paralegal to trainee solicitor.

All five joined after the firm’s opening in 2013, when a number of lawyers and staff from Manchester law firm Pannone joined Hugh Jones, former head of court of protection and private client at Pannone, to set up the new firm.

Jones said: “We are delighted that such talented lawyers see their long term future with us; they have already made a tremendous contribution to building our reputation and expertise.”

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Auto Trader chief executive Trevor Mather has been announced as the new president of charity Forever Manchester.

Mather takes over the two year tenure from Phil Jones, managing director of Brother UK, who steps down as the charity completes its annual week of fundraising, Forever Manchester Week.

Forever Manchester is the charity that raises money locally and uses it to support community activity across the 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester.

Auto Trader already holds The Auto Trader Community Fund with Forever Manchester with staff fully involved in fundraising and deciding how the money is used in their local communities.

Nick Massey, chief executive of Forever Manchester, said: “We would firstly like to thank Phil Jones for all his invaluable support over the last 3 years, it has been a true pleasure to work with one of Manchester’s most dynamic business leaders.

“We are very much looking forward to working with Trevor as we enter a new and exciting phase of our development. Trevor’s achievements with Auto Trader, and the business’ proven commitment to Manchester is testament to his skills and vision, and we are looking forward to tapping into that during his time with us.”

Mather added: “I have been impressed with Forever Manchester from the offset, seeing the value they bring to our local communities, seen first-hand through the Fund we have already set up with them. I’m looking forward to getting more involved and understanding how I can help drive them forward in these next few years.”

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Adam Townsend

Auger, the drainage and water supply pipe specialist serving the insurance industry, has recruited six people into its team at its Wirral headquarters.

They include drainage repair engineer Adam Townsend, water mains engineer Gareth Grant, drainage investigation engineer Anthony Hudson, account manager Olivia Wakefield and assistant engineers Colin Hasler and Ryan Sumner.

Jordan Bayliss and Joe Edgar are promoted to drain repair engineers after serving as assistant engineers at the company’s Wallasey premises.

The company aims to double the size of its claims department to more than 40 as its ambitious growth takes off from its £1.2m purpose-built headquarters spanning 7,000 sq ft.

David Brewster, managing director of Auger, which currently employs more than 90 people, said: “Our people make the difference, they are our most important asset.

“Our team has a great combination of skills and experience, and combined with our investment in technology, we can make sure we get the job done whatever it takes. We want to restore the faith of customers in this part of the insurance industry for the future.”