People: Accountancy firm boosts wealth management offering; Key appointments for architecture practice; and more

York and Leeds-based accountancy practice Garbutt + Elliott has appointed a new wealth management adviser to support its financial planning arm.

David Holdsworth joins the firm with nearly 30 years’ experience in a range of financial services, from advising SMEs, business owners and directors to providing financial planning for private clients.

Based at Garbutt + Elliott’s Leeds office, he joins the wealth management team to meet client requirements on pensions, investment, protection and inheritance tax planning, as well as helping grow the practice and increase its visibility across the region.

Holdsworth most recently worked at 1825 Financial Planning as a consultant for private clients and SMEs, and previously completed a ten-year stint as a financial consultant for Pearson Jones.
Garbutt + Elliott’s managing partner, Russell Turner, said: “When it comes to financial planning David is a genuine expert. He’s got a great track record across a wide variety of clients and was exactly the quality person we were looking for.

“Garbutt + Elliott Wealth Management is a very important part of the business and with David’s expertise we’ll continue giving clients the best advice and planning, as well as increasing our visibility across the region.”

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Architects P+HS has announced two key appointments, further strengthening its management team.

Associate Pete Stead takes on the role of technical manager with responsibility to develop and improve capability across the practice.

Technical director Adrian Taylor said:  “This move further underlines our commitment to technical excellence across the practice. Pete is a highly skilled and respected architectural technologist and we are delighted that he has accepted this new role. As well as great creative design, P+HS Architects have a reputation for technical excellence; we see it as a cornerstone of our continued success.

“The technical manager is a key role in ensuring that we continue to drive forwards this quality and efficiency in a competitive market where clients (rightly) expect the highest standards and the best long term value.”

James Almond, an associate with the practice since 2016, joins P+HS Architects’ senior management team as an associate director.

MD Joe Biggs said: “James’s project management skills have proved highly valuable in strengthening the business and allowing us to offer clients a broader and better service. We look forward to the continued development of this aspect of the business, enabling us to diversify into other sectors and broadening our client network to provide greater resilience and future sustainability.

“On behalf of the other directors I’d like to congratulate James and I look forward to having him as part of the team and working with him in the future.”
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Leeds-based recruitment firm BWD has hired Iain Garfield to drive the growth of its pension and employee benefits division.

James Walker, director, said: “Iain, over the years, has developed a reputation for candour, professional expertise and delivery that is unmatched in the market, as well as for building high-performing teams of professional and respected recruitment professionals.

“We wish to extend a very warm welcome to Iain and look forward to working with him for many years to come.”

Garfield, divisional director said: “I’m delighted to be joining BWD at a key time in their development and at a crucial time for the Pensions and Benefits industry. BWD’s set of recruitment solutions are formulated specifically to help clients meet their resourcing requirements in a rapidly-changing, competitive market, and I am excited to help develop these solutions further to a