People: Simpson Millar; Deloitte; Sambro; Naimuri; Burnley College; Slater Heelis; Alcedo Care
Consumer law firm Simpson Millar has appointed industry heavyweight Kate Sweeney as its new injury practice area director.
Based in Manchester, Kate brings more than 28 years’ experience of leadership within the personal injury field to the role. She will now lead the national law firm’s medical negligence, personal injury and catastrophic injury experts.
A formidable litigator, and a regional coordinator for the Motor Accident Solicitors Society, Kate was formerly head of personal injury at Stephensons Solicitors where she has spent most of her career specialising in claimant personal injury work.
Kate is the latest in a string of senior hires and promotions for Simpson Millar, which recently promoted Anita North to head of employment law, and welcomed Ruth Wijay in the role of head of wills, trusts and probate.
She has been welcomed by Simpson Millar’s CEO, Greg Cox, who said: “Kate has a formidable reputation within the industry for delivering excellent legal services to those who have suffered often life changing and catastrophic injuries through no fault of their own.
“This unique insight into the challenges that victims of negligence, and their families face, means she is ideally placed to challenge the way things are done, with a view to opening up the law and making it easier for people to get legal help and support when they need it most.”
Kate said: “The legal services that people need, and the way that people want to engage with those legal services, is changing. People want to better understand the process and how their cases are progressing, and its essential that law firms respond to that.
“Through its commitment to opening up the law for both its clients and its people, Simpson Millar is really at the cutting edge of that change, as well as wider reform across the industry.”
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Deloitte’s financial advisory practice has announced plans to invest significantly in its Manchester-based UK Sports Business Group over the next three years.
Tim Bridge will lead the Sports Business Group from June 2022. A qualified chartered accountant, Bridge has built his career in Deloitte’s Manchester office over the past 13-years, working extensively with investors, governing bodies, national associations, clubs and other sports organisations around the globe. Bridge succeeds Dan Jones who will be retiring in May, following almost three decades at Deloitte.
Tim Bridge
Deloitte’s Sports Business Group in the UK is part of Deloitte’s global network of sports advisory and consulting teams across its practices in the US, Europe, and Asia, working alongside municipal corporations, governing sports bodies, national associations, clubs, and other sports organisations.
Richard Bell, managing partner for financial advisory at Deloitte UK, said: “Following a sustained period of growing professionalisation, digitisation and change across the industry, investors’ interest in the sports market has soared in recent years.
“Sports bodies, teams and athletes are focusing on growing resilience and sustainability within the industry, while pioneering new digital tools and technologies, creating a unique proposition for many brands and investors. Building the capabilities of our Sports Business Group and expanding the size and impact of the team in the UK will strengthen our position as the first choice professional services provider in the sports industry.”
Bridge said: “Deloitte’s Sports Business Group has an exciting period ahead, working with some of the largest stakeholders in sport to drive industry-wide transformation, deliver significant financial results and improve the experience of fans and players, alike.
“I’m looking forward to leading Deloitte’s Sports Business Group in the UK, working to create new initiatives that build growth, investment and resilience within the industry while, in turn, improving the experiences of players, fans and our communities.”
Alan Switzer and Paul Rawnsley will be taking up senior director positions in the Sports Business Group. Switzer and Rawnsley collectively have more than four decades of experience in the sports business market as part of the team, delivering lead advisory and consulting services to some of the largest stakeholders in global sport.
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Lisa Longley has joined Bury-based toy manufacturer, Sambro, as its new ethical and sustainability manager.
She joins with more than 10 years’ experience in the manufacturing industry to oversee the implementation of a new sustainability programme and manage the ethical compliance of the toy company’s supply base.
In a newly-created role Lisa will work closely with suppliers and vendors to ensure that Sambro’s ethical sourcing requirements are met, and that all factories meet the needs of Sambro, its customers and licensors.
Lisa’s experience working with Far East suppliers in an ethical sourcing and factory auditing capacity means that she is well versed in the requirements and challenges this can involve.
Lisa Longley
Her first job has been to create an ESG committee and draw up a policy with clear objectives which she will ensure are met.
These include responsible sourcing and supply chain management, safeguarding the health, wellbeing and safety of Sambro employees, proactive management of consumption of resources and energy and sourcing goods and services which generate a positive impact with customers.
Lisa will also take responsibility for overseeing the prevention of discrimination and the promotion of diversity and inclusion in the work place as well as the company’s anti-corruption and anti-bribery measures.
Paul Blackaby, CEO, said: “Our ESG strategy is a pillar of our growth and value enhancement initiative and Lisa’s appointment as ethical sustainability manager, will help drive forward our ESG ambitions and commitments across our business and wider supply chain.”
Sambro works with more than 10 brands who trust the toy developer with their intellectual property. These brands include Disney, Nickelodeon, Mattel, Hasbro, Viacom, Bull Dog and Cosatto.
The range of products under these brands is far reaching and includes household names such as Barbie, Paw Patrol, Peppa Pig, Disney Princess and Care Bears. In 2022, Sambro will distribute more than eight million units of character plush toys.
Lisa said: “Managing the products we create, how they are packaged and the impact they have on the environment should be key considerations for all of us at Sambro. I will be working with my colleagues across the business to initiate new ways of working, new product developments and other ‘green’ changes to how our business is run.”
Sambro which grew its turnover by 38% in 2021 to £52m, is confident it will achieve similar growth targets in its silver anniversary year.
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Lisa Wood
Data intelligence company Naimuri (part of QinetiQ), has appointed Lisa Wood as its Marketing and Communications lead, as it looks to recruit a significant number of talent over the next 12 months.
MediaCityUK based Naimuri, which employs around 110 people (and was acquired by QinetiQ in 2020) has seen huge growth over the last few years.
Lisa has returned to the workplace after having her second child, but prior to that she led on the communications for a digital/tech company and spent 8 years delivering creative communications and marketing for The Peel Group on the prestigious MediaCityUK development. She also supports the PRCA with their member activities and engagement in the NW region.
Talking about her new role, Lisa said: “Naimuri’s aim is to make the UK a safer and better place through technology and I feel extremely proud to have been appointed to play a small part in helping the team continue to achieve this.
“I took some time looking for my next role and was delighted to find a tech company whose business proposition excited me, but more importantly was people focused and had an inclusive culture and good values. The tech sector here in Manchester and the NW is experiencing exponential growth and I am looking forward to Naimuri being part of that story and working collaboratively with the team and partners in the region”.
Carl Roberts, MD at Naimuri said: “We are delighted Lisa has joined the Naimuri and QinetiQ team. It is a rapid time of growth for us as a business and her expertise will be vital as we look to attract more talent to Naimuri, develop our presence in the market and build our brand as part of QinetiQ”
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Ties to businesses are set to strengthen for a North West college, after a senior staff member was invited to join a national industry forum.
Burnley College assistant principal, Neil Burrows, who leads on apprenticeships, employer engagement and adult skills at Burnley College, has been invited to join the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).
He will work alongside the CBI North West Council to strengthen the already existing links Burnley College has with local businesses, as well as to open further links with industry.
He has been invited to share ideas that will help shape the future of British industry, promoting the college, and, most importantly, bring their apprenticeship training programmes, delivered through Themis at Burnley College, to the fore.
Neil, who has been at the college since 2016, recognises the innovation, forward thinking and relevant work of the CBI and says that the association with the organisation will provide great benefits to the college: “It’s a real privilege to be asked to join the CBI but, more importantly, this connection will allow the college to identify more skills gaps and offer a fantastic platform to share ideas with those at the heart of industry in our region.
Neil Burrows
“The post-pandemic recovery is a focal point for the region and discussing how best to implement innovative solutions will benefit us all. We will be discussing growth strategies as well as recruiting, upskilling and diversifying, to make sure we are right on track to provide the best education to equip learners with the skills they need to succeed in business.
“In Lancashire, manufacturing is in our DNA, so we are perfectly positioned to be the conduit between training and industry.”
Karen Buchanan, principal of Burnley College and chief executive of Themis, said: “We are proud that Neil has been invited onto the North West Regional Council of the CBI, the country’s most prestigious business organisation.
“It is a true testament to Neil and the college team, who work closely with companies of all sizes and sectors in our continuing commitment to ensure all our learners receive the very best teaching, training and opportunities as we strive to build futures and change lives.”
CBI North West regional director, Damian Waters, said: “Neil brings an impressive level of knowledge of not only the FE sector, but also of engagement with local business, and the opportunities and challenges facing young people. His involvement with the council brings a fresh perspective and a strong voice for the sector, I am looking forward to working with Neil and supporting him to influence the most important decisions being taking both locally and nationally.”
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Greater Manchester-based law firm Slater Heelis has announced a raft of internal promotions across a range of departments, including seven employees rising to the positions of associate partner and associate.
Sale-based Richard Bradbury and Mohima Miah have been both promoted to the senior roles of associate partners.
Richard joined the commercial property team in 2015, specialising in landlord and tenant matters as well as acting on the acquisition and disposal of commercial properties.
Mohima qualified in 2012 and joined Slater Heelis’s private client team in 2020, moving from Slater and Gordon Lawyers. Her expertise spans from Court of Protection and trusts work, to personal injury and public, occupiers’ and employers’ liability.
Chris Bishop
In the same team, Claire MacKenzie and Jodie Newton, who specialise in Court Protection matters and wills, trusts and probate, respectively, have been promoted to associates and Basit Maqsood, who joined the private client department in 2021, as a paralegal, has now started a training contract with the firm.
Rising through the ranks of the family law team is Claire Higham, who has been with Slater Heelis for approaching six years and gained her law degree while working full time in 2009.
In the property team, David Jones has been promoted to associate from solicitor, having developed strong expertise in residential conveyancing since 2005.
Finally, advancing to an associate position is Mark Warburton, who’s been part of Slater Heelis’s corporate team since 2015 and has accrued significant experience in acquisitions and disposals, private equity transactions, company reorganisations and early stage equity investment across a variety of clients.
Slater Heelis’s managing partner, Chris Bishop, said: “My congratulations to all those who’ve been promoted this month, showing genuine passion for the work they do, great commitment to the firm and extraordinary drive to furthering their personal development in their respective fields.
“These promotions are once again a reminder that our successes are entirely down to our people and their expertise. As employers, we have the responsibility of nurturing our talent, not only by supporting the staff to make the next move in the legal field, but also ensuring that their work is fully recognised and valued.”
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Jessica Armand, from Wigan, has been appointed as manager by Alcedo Care Group at its recently opened Wigan office, located at Beecham Court
Jessica joined Alcedo nearly two years ago as a home carer. She was given the opportunity to develop her career quite quickly, progressing to a trainer position and now deputy manager. The company also allows Jessica to further her education, having completed her NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care and NVQ Level 3 in Teaching & Education. She is now working towards her NVQ Level 5 in Health & Social Care.
In her new role Jessica is tasked with the day-to-day management of the Wigan office, which includes answering queries from customers, supporting staff out in the field and ensuring the office remains CQC compliant as well as adhering to Alcedo’s policies and procedures.
Jessica Armand
In the next few years, Jessica hopes to gain ‘outstanding’ in the next CQC inspection of the Wigan office and to achieve her own CQC registration.
She said: “I am thrilled to have been appointed as manager at the Wigan office. It’s a great challenge for me personally and a fantastic new step in my caring career. I have loved working at Alcedo Care over the course of the last 18 months or so and am looking forward to developing my career further with the firm.”
Andy Boardman, managing director, said: “We are renowned for supporting our team members, offering them all career progression and education. Jessica is a wonderful example of a young lady embarking upon a very fulfilling career in care at Alcedo, and we are proud of all she has achieved so far and wish her well in her new role in Wigan.”
