People: Solihull Chamber of Commerce; Sydney Mitchell; Avison Young

Sydney Mitchell partner and employment law expert Emma-Louise Hewitt has been appointed as the new president of Solihull Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber announced its new leadership and committee members at its annual meeting at Cranmore Park.

Emma-Louise Hewitt

Emma-Louise Hewitt, partner and head of employment at Sydney Mitchell, takes on the role of president, while Kim Hulse, founder of K Hulse Consulting, joins existing vice presidents Kevin Johns and Rebecca Gater.

Several new members have joined the executive council, including Jas Rohel, Steve Whitmarsh, Pauline Clarke, Susie Ankrett, Amanda Holden, Ian Rogers, Tony Elvin, Louise Dunn and Mark Wilson.

Outgoing president Eileen Schofield will remain on the council as a co-opted member for another year alongside Rebecca Fox, Neil Bayliss, and Rob Wells.

Emma-Louise Hewitt has been a member of Solihull Chamber for 15 years and is ranked as a next-generation partner in the Legal 500 directory.

She provides legal services to businesses across various sectors and offers training and HR advice.

She said: “I am extremely honoured to be taking on the role of President of the Solihull Chamber of Commerce for the next two years. I am especially looking forward to working alongside Samantha Frampton, head of Solihull Chamber, as we continue to strive to create an environment that fosters growth, innovation and collaboration among our members.”

Law firm Sydney Mitchell has hired Sharon Levell as HR manager to drive and deliver its people strategy, employee engagement and support, and recruitment and retention policies.

As HR Manager at Sydney Mitchell, Levell is responsible for the operation and implementation of all elements of the firm’s HR operations for its 100-plus workforce that operates throughout the Midlands via its office network in Birmingham, Solihull and Shirley.

A highly experienced HR specialist and practitioner, Levell holds the Complete Advanced HR Diploma qualification, and Certificates in payroll, employment contracts and employee handbooks.

Dean Parnell and Sharon Levell

She joins the firm from Love Finance in Birmingham, where, as HR Manager, she led the creation and delivery of its HR strategy, including a recruitment and retention programme to enable its growth plans, which saw it grow its team from 30 to a 90-plus headcount in 18-months.

Dean Parnell, partner and joint head of the firm’s Birmingham office said: “Sharon joins the firm during an exciting period where we are looking to build up a stronger internal infrastructure to help support our ambitious growth plans.

“The firm’s commitment to exceptional client service and its supportive culture are central to our values and philosophy, and our people are at the heart of this. Sharon’s skills and experience will enable the firm to build on this solid foundation, as she creates and delivers programmes and policies to continue our recruitment and retention, as well as employee engagement and DE&I strategies.”

Levell said: “Sydney Mitchell is a highly respected, award-winning and top ranking law firm, known for its legal competence, client service, responsiveness and efficiency. My professional experiences to date have equipped me with a wide range of skills centred around an in-built ability to connect with people and be supportive, and as HR Manager at Sydney Mitchell, I have the chance to really use these skills and build on my HR expertise.

“This is a rare opportunity to support a 260-year old firm in the next stage of its growth and history. My goal is to ensure the firm and its people have everything needed to excel, by using my inherent enthusiasm and professional desire to provide all the practical and holistic tools and environment to foster a caring, positive and happy culture for the firm’s most valuable asset, its people.”

Avison Young UK has announced 43 senior promotions across the business, including eight promotions in Birmingham.

The promotions include 23 new directors and 20 new associate directors across 10 regions, including Birmingham, London, Manchester and Edinburgh.

In Birmingham, new Directors include David Roobottom (building and project consultancy), Kate Inskip (client and business solutions), Naymesh Patel (rating and technology), Pete-James Robinson (REFIM), and James White (transactions).

Charlotte Smith (building and project consultancy), Emma Parkin (REFIM), and Sophie Russell (client and business solutions) have been promoted to associate director.

Nick Walkley, principal and UK president at Avison Young UK said: “I look forward to working closely with this highly skilled cohort of new senior leaders, who exemplify our values and will continue driving forward our vision. Highlighting professional excellence and dedication to our collaborative company culture, these accomplishments showcase our belief in creating a positive impact.

“Underlining the wealth of internal talent at Avison Young, these promotions display the diverse expertise and experience our teams offer. We continue to invest in our people, supporting current and future leaders within the business.”