People: Blythe Liggins; Auriga Services; and more

Newly-qualified litigation solicitor Kyran Shuker is the latest addition to the growing team at Leamington firm Blythe Liggins.

Shuker is a University of Liverpool graduate who went on to complete his Legal Practice Course at the University of Law in Chester.

He took up a role with the personal injury team at Slater and Gordon in Liverpool after graduating, before completing a training contract with Manchester-based Optimal Solicitors. He formally qualified as a solicitor in August.

Shuker relocated to Warwick ahead of starting at Blythe Liggins in September.

He will work on contested probate, debt recovery and general dispute resolution cases.

He said: “It’s exciting times for me. It takes a very long time to qualify, as you have to complete a training contract for two years after university, so I’m really happy to have reached this milestone.

“I like working on the bigger cases, as it’s good exposure and I am learning a lot. One of the reasons I came to Blythe Liggins is because it’s a good team, a good firm and a good opportunity to learn and progress.

“Being in a team of experienced colleagues is really valuable. Everyone has their own style of how they run cases and I can learn from their different approaches.

“I’m all settled in now, everyone has been really welcoming to me, and I’ve been working on some really interesting cases.”

Jagdeep Sandher, head of dispute resolution at Blythe Liggins, said: “The litigation team has had a busy and productive year and our ever-growing caseload means we’re delighted to be in a position to take Kyran on.

“He has made excellent strides in his fledgling career and we are sure he will complement our existing team perfectly.”

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Sutton Coldfield-based Auriga Services has recruited Jill Wheeler as CEO.

Jill Wheeler

She brings her wealth of expertise in finance, business development, business strategy and governance within the NHS, Department for Work and Pensions, and welfare to work sectors, alongside her nine years of active service in the charitable sector.

Formerly, Wheeler was managing director at Family Fund Business Services (a trading subsidiary of the Family Fund Trust) where, amongst other roles, she helped to establish and expand relationships with partner organisations and extend procurement solutions to support customers across the housing, charity and local governments.

She said: “I am looking forward to working with you all to build and deliver a strategy which will help us transform the business, supporting even more people during the next five years and beyond.

“Our role is critical in helping alleviate poverty across communities and providing beneficiaries with the guidance and support to help themselves.

“As we navigate the cost-of-living crisis and the highest inflation we have seen in over 40 years, there has never been a more important time to ensure we meet the needs of our clients and their beneficiaries. To deliver this, we will need to become more efficient through the increased use of technology and improved ways of working.”

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A growing sustainability consultancy based in the West Midlands has appointed a new non-executive director and a junior sustainability consultant as it presses ahead with expansion plans.

Wylde Connections has bolstered its senior leadership team with the appointment of Anne Wilkinson as NED who joins the company with more than three decades of experience in senior leadership roles working with global multinational and SME organisations as a director, executive coach, consultant and mentor.

Wilkinson will play a key role in the development of Wylde’s digital growth strategy with the launch of an online portfolio of sustainability strategy consultancy services, and sustainable leadership learning and development programmes. This will enable Wylde to assist more companies across wider geographical boundaries, and to reach new markets in response to a growing demand for its services.
Wilkinson is joined at the company by a second new appointment, junior sustainability consultant Callum John. John completed a placement year with the business while studying at Aston University’s Business School following an introduction to the firm through Sustainability West Midlands. His nitial focus will be to strengthen the development of Wylde’s new app: Enveglas – a sustainability impact assessment tool due for launch in 2023.

Wylde’s new appointments bolster the existing team of sustainability experts helping clients to develop and implement their sustainability plans including establishing Greenhouse Gas baseline emissions, managing sustainable supply chains, delivering change management programmes, and carrying out stakeholder engagement.