People: Five appointments at law firm; Director hired at radiation technology company; and more

Sheffield headquartered law firm Wake Smith Solicitors has made five appointments as it heads into the final quarter of 2017.

The company, which has seen stable turnover and growth since its move into city centre offices in 2016, is aiming for 5% growth in top-line turnover during the 2018 financial year and has recruited across several departments.

Chloe Needham is a modern apprentice in the residential conveyancing team and takes her first job since finishing her studies at college.

Megan Craig is a new trainee solicitor and her first seat is in clinical negligence, and Katie Marlow joins as a trainee legal cashier, her first position in legal.

Sam Bellagha joins the private client team as a paralegal with a law degree from Sheffield Hallam University and has completed his LPC at the University of Sheffield this summer, he previously worked as a paralegal at Irwin Mitchell.

Finally, Anne Wildgoose is re-joining Wake Smith as a post completions clerk in the residential conveyancing team having previously worked as a legal secretary at Wake Smith for 12 years, she then joined Taylor & Emmet in July 2016.

Nick Lambert, chairman at Wake Smith, said: “The company is performing well and we have ambitious plans to increase our top-line turnover during, and beyond, the 2018 financial year.

“The recruitment of five new staff fits in directly with these plans and I am delighted to note that one of our new staff re-joins us from another law firm after working at Wake Smith for a number of years as a legal secretary.

“I would personally like to welcome Chloe, Megan, Katie, Sam and Anne to the Wake Smith family. This recruitment is very much geared around building on our future and the futures of our new staff.”

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Radiation technology company Kromek, which bases its R&D operations in Huddersfield at the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre, has welcomed Christopher Wilks as non-executive director.

Wilks is currently chief financial officer at Signum Technology, a leading group of specialised engineering businesses operating in the safety and critical service flow control sector, which he co-founded in 2012.

Prior to Signum Technology, he was chief financial officer at Sondex, a specialist manufacturer of technical instruments for the oil and gas industry, where he successfully managed the listing of the firm on the main market of the London Stock Exchange.

Sir Peter Williams, chairman of Kromek, said: “We are delighted to welcome Christopher to the board as non-executive director. His intimate understanding of the physics and financial worlds will add valuable insight and expertise. Christopher’s impressive record of deal making and managing business growth at international manufacturing organisations will help immeasurably as we roll out our products to customers around the globe.”

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Yorkshire fit-out firm Morris & Spottiswood has appointed a new senior director.

Former ISG director Pete Dennis joins as director of national frameworks at the Leeds-based business.

Dennis will be working with the board and shareholders to lead a strategy to drive business growth targeting retail and commercial office markets as well as public sector frameworks and new pipeline expansion.

His latest move follows 11 years’ experience in senior positions across the ISG group.

“This is a hugely exciting time to be joining Morris & Spottiswood,” said Dennis. “The firm has an ambitious ten-year plan which promises sustained growth while maintaining the integrity of the business. Current projections for the next 12 months show turnover increasing to circa £100m with staff levels rising to circa 410. I feel energised by the prospect of helping contribute to this strategy to deliver long-term profitability.”

Morris & Spottiswood’s turnover currently stands at £90m and the company employs more than 390 staff.

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