People: New MD at brewery; Senior appointment at law firm; Experienced professional heads up specialist housing division; and more

Yorkshire’s Ossett Brewery is poised for its next stage of growth with the appointment of Alex Minett as Managing Director of the company.

He was latterly on-trade Sales Director at Red Bull and part of their UK Leadership Team.

Having been with the company for approaching 20 years, he was responsible for delivering the strategic direction of its UK on-trade business and guided Red Bull to be the No 1 on-trade packaged soft drink and No 1 on-trade energy drink brand over his tenure.

At Ossett he will be tasked with accelerating growth following a £1.7m investment in brewing capacity, warehouse facilities and equipment, building works and new packaging resources.

A graduate in physical education at Leeds Metropolitan University, Minett joined Red Bull in an entry sales role in 1999 – knocking on corner shop doors across Yorkshire.

He worked his way up through the business and held a variety of off-trade positions including heading the grocery channel.  He has spent the last 12 years working in the on-trade where he held several channel manager roles, including wholesale and retail, before moving into the Sales Director role six years ago.

Minett said: “I am really looking forward to playing my part in taking Ossett forward at this very exciting time. The brewing and pub industry is experiencing a very vibrant period, with many new challenges and opportunities.

“Ossett has a reputation for having amazing people and for producing excellent beers and I look forward to harnessing both to help deliver a successful future for the brewery and the brands.”

Brands such as Yorkshire Blonde, Silver King and Excelsior have been part of Ossett’s core range since the brewery’s inception in 1998 and are sold across its own estate of 27 pubs alongside hundreds of free trade accounts and through selected wholesalers.

Ossett has a group turnover of £17m and a workforce of over 400 local employees.

The business has invested at least £3m over the last two years in the existing Ossett Brewery site and its new brewery, Salt Beer Factory, in Saltaire.

Salt Beer Factory is a micro-brewery and entertainment venue in a Grade II Edwardian tram-shed in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage village. The brewery concentrates on producing modern hop-forward beers in keg and can format.

Ossett owner Jamie Lawson said: “As we complete our very substantial investments in the brewery we are delighted to welcome Alex to the team.

“These are very exciting and challenging times in the fiercely competitive brewing and pub industry.

“We are now set to build on our roots as a high quality cask ale brewer and further grow business for our brands across cask, keg and packaged categories. Alex brings his wealth of experience at Red Bull to play a lead role in that growth.”

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Sheffield’s Taylor & Emmet law firm has appointed a “safe pair of hands” to minimise risk in the business and find new ways to improve quality of service.

Dawn Hague has joined the firm as Head of Quality, Risk and Compliance. She will be focusing on enhancing the practice’s high levels of client care by simplifying policies and procedures.

She joins Taylor & Emmet after more than two decades at Howells Solicitors in Sheffield, where she carved out a niche in compliance, after managing staff and office operations for many years.

She said: “I am still keen to develop my skills and jumped at the chance to take on a fresh challenge at such a friendly firm with a great reputation locally.”

She is working with Taylor & Emmet’s support team, to ensure the business complies with the standards set out for law firms by governing body, the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority.

She will also be overseeing internal systems and procedures to make prescribed information more accessible and maximise client satisfaction.

Neil Riley, a member of Taylor & Emmet’s management board, said: “Dawn is a very welcome addition to our team, bringing with her a wealth of knowledge about compliance and a real enthusiasm for her new role.

“Her pragmatic approach to quality and risk will enable us to navigate the regulatory complexities we face with confidence, while finding new ways to build on our reputation for jargon-free legal advice.”

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Leeds-based asbestos removal and enabling works provider, Rhodar, has appointed John Fitzgerald as head of its Homeworks division.

He will lead its growth and develop strong, long-term relationships with the division’s customers.

Homeworks is the specialist housing division of Rhodar, and predominantly works with insurance companies and housing associations to provide domestic asbestos management services to their customers.

Fitzgerald, who will be based at Rhodar’s Leeds headquarters, brings over 35 years’ experience working with a number of nationally recognised blue-chip clients and successfully delivering multi-disciplined, multi-million pound framework contracts.

Previously holding senior roles with North Midland Construction and Morrison Utility Services, he was responsible for over 150 commercial and operational staff, providing clear leadership to effectively meet contractual targets.

As head of Homeworks, he is tasked with growing the division to cement its position as one of the UK’s leading asbestos removal and enabling services companies.

Since his appointment, Homeworks has announced a new long-term framework contract with leading insurance company, Direct Line Group, to provide a nationwide service to its domestic policy holders.

Fitzgerald said: “Rhodar has an incredible industry-leading reputation and I am thrilled to be joining Homeworks to lead the next stage of the division’s growth.

“Rhodar Homeworks delivers a first-class service and I look forward to working with the team to build strong, long-term relationships with our customers.”

Jason Davy, Managing Director of Rhodar, said: “John brings a wealth of industry knowledge to Rhodar and has begun securing new opportunities, building on the success of Rhodar Homeworks’ recent national business wins.

“The Homeworks division has a very strong reputation and, under John’s strong leadership, I’m confident we can continue to grow the division further and secure more new national contracts.”

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House builder Persimmon has strengthened its customer care team with the appointment of three new maintenance operatives and a customer care administrator.

Persimmon Homes Yorkshire welcomes Will Steven, Dean Lig and Joe Mckee who will all support customers in the years following their move into a brand-new home.

The positions are all newly created roles, with the recruits joining a team of 10 who all currently support customers in the weeks and months following a move.

Earlier this year Persimmon announced it was conducting an independent review into the way it handles snagging, construction inspection and customer care.

Scott Water, Director in Charge at Persimmon Homes Yorkshire, said: “As a region we are committed to listening carefully to our customers. We are working hard to ensure all our customers are provided with the care, service and high-quality homes they rightfully expect.

“While we strive to deliver a perfect home every time, a certain amount of snagging is inevitable such as shrinking cracks in plaster. We are delivering a hand-made product built in all weathers and strengthening the team simply means we can address any customers’ concerns faster.”