People on the Move: Broudie Jackson Canter; Search; Operational Group; Ultimate Finance; Paddock Johnson Partnership

Law firm Broudie Jackson Canter has appointed Yara Ali-Adib, a lawyer with experience working on high-profile discrimination cases. She will join the firm’s Actions Against Public Authorities department, headed by esteemed human rights lawyer, Chris Topping.

BJC, renowned for its work on major cases including representing 20 families in the Hillsborough Inquests, has recently been awarded a Legal Aid contract to act in cases of discrimination.

In line with its core value, Make a Positive Difference, the contract will enable the firm to support those who have suffered discrimination and to continue providing Legal Aid-funded advice, ensuring that justice is accessible to all.

Yara is a civil liberties activist who strongly believes in ensuring that the Equality Act is upheld and that those who have been subjected to discrimination are able to gain justice.

Her wide-ranging experience includes working on high-profile cases involving sex and disability discrimination.

She said: “Without financial access to justice, the law is simply sentiment. For this reason, I am delighted that we have been awarded Legal Aid Agency funding which can help break down financial barriers and allow us to assist all people who have been discriminated against.

“The impact of discrimination is highly detrimental to my clients and to society at large. Having Legal Aid funding for these cases is a welcome progress in the fight for equality.”

She added: “Broudie Jackson Canter has an incredible reputation as a firm, with a longstanding commitment to delivering justice for all. I am thrilled to be joining this talented team and to work alongside them in representing some of society’s most vulnerable.”

In her new role Yara will work with renowned lawyer Chris Topping, who is currently President of Liverpool Law Society.

Chris said: “Yara is an extremely talented and capable lawyer and we’re delighted to welcome her to the team.

“Discrimination is insidious, it entrenches inequality and enables the abuse of power. We are very pleased and proud to have been provided the means through Legal Aid to support people who may otherwise lack the resources to seek justice in these cases.”

Broudie Jackson Canter is part of the Jackson Lees Group. The group provides a full-service legal solution to personal and commercial clients and has more than 280 employees across six offices in the North West.

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UK recruitment business the Search Group has this week welcomed new chief executive Richard Vickers.

Following the retirement of outgoing CEO Grahame Caswell, who stepped down after almost 20 years at the Search helm, Richard joins from Page Group.

With decades of experience in the recruitment industry, Richard has worked for Page Group in both the UK and the US and Canada, most recently as regional managing director, North America since 2012.

Richard Vickers

Relocating from New York, he joins the £221m turnover Search Group, overseeing 800 staff across 17 offices across the UK.

Richard joins Search, which has offices in Manchester and Liverpool, in a year where it has won accolades for its work in people development and business culture, receiving a Platinum accreditation against the Investors in People Standard and placement in the Sunday Times ‘Best Companies to Work For in the UK’ list.

Richard said: “I’m delighted to have joined Search. The business has consistently stood out in the market, has shown strong growth and importantly has a group of expert and committed people. I am relishing the challenge of working alongside the incumbent team as we build on the successes of the last 20 years and the great work undertaken by Grahame.

“I am fully aligned behind the strong values and the culture that exists within the company and am already busy meeting colleagues from across our UK network as we look to build a strategy of growth and development.”

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A Merseyside electrical engineer with extensive experience on some of the world’s biggest offshore wind turbine projects has joined Daresbury-based Operational Group.

Stephen Maddock, 34, a Liverpool John Moores University graduate from Blundellsands, has been appointed as a service engineer at Operational Group, which specialises in industrial energy reduction and re-use, and pollution control for industry.

Stephen Maddock

Stephen’s CV includes working on major offshore wind turbine projects in the Irish Sea and the North Sea with UK, German and Danish companies. These include the Burbo Bank windfarm in Liverpool Bay, Gwynt Y Mor off the North Wales coast and the Borkum Riffgrund turbine development off the coast of Germany.

He said: “Operational works with clients across a variety of industries, which is fascinating.

“Each factory or industrial site has different procedures, systems and products. It’s a businesss that’s really going places.

“I still do some travelling with Operational Group, which I enjoy, and we have offices across Europe. However, I’m also enjoying being home in the UK more often than I used to be.”

Stephen is upgrading his professional accreditation and skills with IGAS and ACS gas engineering training.

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Specialist asset-based lender Ultimate Finance is building on the strength of its record first half results by investing significantly in its North West sales team.

With a national network of offices, Ultimate Finance is growing its position in the region as a market-leading asset-based lender by making two strategic senior sales team hires to build on recent success. The move will widen its network reach and increase the funding support it can offer to businesses.

Ultimate Finance has appointed Vinnie Dobie and Jemma Taylor as regional directors for the North West.

Vinnie Dobie

Vinnie joins the team building on his expertise in invoice finance to offer more tailored funding solutions to his contact base and Jemma brings a broad range of funding expertise to the team from her experience in business funding and commercial banking.

Both Vinnie and Jemma have in-depth knowledge of the local economy, with strong relationships in the region, and will help turn more business growth ambitions into reality through Ultimate Finance’s flexible funding solutions.

Jemma Taylor

Chief executive Josh Levy said: “The North West has always been a core region for Ultimate Finance. We’ve been delivering funding for businesses here for approaching 20 years.

“The depth of our relationships within the region was reflected in our recent results. We’re building on that success by investing in experienced local talent, expanding our reach and, ultimately, providing more funding to support businesses. The increased strength of our sales team will help to solidify our position in the North West as the asset-based lender of choice.”

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Wirral based architects Paddock Johnson Partnership have announced a change in ownership as directors Victoria Alderton and Simon Halliwell take over the reins from practice founders Michael Paddock, Eric Johnson and Phil Emslie.

Simon and Victoria will be joined by new senior hire Maria Killick.

First established in 1976, Paddock Johnson Partnership operates from the former schoolhouse in the centre of the exceptional garden village of Port Sunlight.

During the past 40 years the partnership has delivered several noteworthy projects across the North West of England and has a significant strength in the affordable housing sector amongst other specialisms, including conservation, health and social care and hospitality.

Victoria Alderton joined in 2017 from Purcell and prior to that Austin Smith Lord. Victoria has a strong interest in raising quality and improving the way projects are managed and the delivery of contemporary design in the historic environment.

She said: “I’m delighted to be working with Simon and the team to shape the next chapter for Paddock Johnson Partnership.

“Being based in Port Sunlight is a huge inspiration and I love solving the challenges that historic sites present and finding new sustainable uses that will secure their long-term future.”

From left: Victoria Alderton, Simon Halliwell, Maria Killick

Simon Halliwell has been with PJP for more than 14 years and joined the board of directors in 2016. He is an expert in housing design.

From small developments, to masterplanning, Simon is passionate about how new developments can regenerate and integrate within their surroundings and positively shape our environment.

Simon and Victoria are also working on a number of projects which are challenging, and rethinking housing typologies that allow people to thrive in their retirement.

He said: “I have a keen interest in planning policy and how this can inform and shape our proposals, adding value and creating places which people can relate to.

“In the North West alone there are a number of notable projects under way and in development which present a huge opportunity for Paddock Johnson Partnership to engage with and work on.

“With Maria Killick joining our team during the Summer, Victoria and I are looking forward to an exciting future for the practice. Delivering design-conscious projects that positively shape our environment through listening and teamwork are our priority.”

Maria Killick joined in August following 18 years based in a Merseyside architectural practice. She specialises in architectural design, sustainable design, social and affordable housing, education, master-planning, urban design, refurbishment, historic buildings and resident consultation. She is also honorary treasurer for the Liverpool Architectural Society and Merseyside branch of RIBA.

She said: “I’ve known the team at Paddock Johnson Partnership for many years and am delighted to be joining Simon and Victoria as they shape the future of the practice.

“My portfolio of projects and experience is well matched to Paddock Johnson Partnership’s specialisms and I look forward to working with them to build upon their achievements and shape exciting new projects and masterplans for the future.”