People: Senior architect strengthens heritage team; New non-exec chair at listed IT managed services business; Partner appointed at accountants; and more
Helen Walker, senior conservation architect, has joined Bowman Riley’s team to drive forward the company’s heritage portfolio.
Formerly working at Purcell in Manchester, she is a qualified conservation architect with over 10 years’ experience of working with historic assets.
Her role is primarily to provide direction to the heritage work-stream within Bowman Riley, bringing her expertise of working with a wide variety of heritage assets including Grade I, II* and II listed buildings as well as battlefields, scheduled monuments and conservation areas.
Walker said: “I am excited to have joined the team at Bowman Riley to spearhead the heritage sector. My approach is to balance the needs of our clients with the needs of the building so people can enjoy these wonderful historic structures for generations to come.”
Her appointment comes hot on the heels of associate director Colin Briggs undertaking a RIBA Conservation course to enter the RIBA conservation registrant list. Briggs was the lead architect on the £70m transformation of the Grade II* Grantley Hall in Ripon, which was completed earlier this year.
Working alongside Walker and Briggs is John Coultas, director at Bowman Riley with 25 years’ experience of renovating and re-purposing historic buildings including the Grade I listed Judge’s Lodging in York and the award-winning Grade II Beverley Arms in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
Coultas said: “We are delighted to welcome Helen. Her appointment strengthens our team and cements our position in the market as leader of heritage projects.”
Established 51 years ago, Bowman Riley has offices in Leeds, Skipton and London.
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Redcentric, a Harrogate-based listed IT managed services provider, has confirmed the appointment of Ian Johnson as non-executive chairman of the company, following notification in August of Chris Cole’s intention to stand down. Cole will step down from his position as chairman of Redcentric, effective immediately, and Johnson will join the Board of directors and take over as chairman immediately.
Johnson has served on the boards of a number of public and private companies and has a strong track record in building shareholder value.
He was founder and CEO of Biotrace International until December 2006, non-executive chairman of Celsis Group from 2009 until 2015 and chairman of Cyprotex plc until 2016.
He was also chairman of Quantum Pharma until 2017, and most recently executive chairman of Bioquell from 2016 until 2019. Johnson was recently appointed as non-executive director of Ergomed.
Redcentric further announced that Chris Rigg, non-executive director, will step down from the Board with effect from 31 December 2019 following his appointment as chief executive officer of Mandata which commences in November 2019.
Peter Brotherton, chief executive officer, said: “I am pleased to welcome Ian to Redcentric on behalf of the Board. Ian’s wealth of experience will be of great benefit to the company and we look forward to working with him.
“As stated on 20 August 2019, when the chairman notified the Board of his intention to step down, I would like to again thank Chris, on behalf of the Board and all at Redcentric, for his counsel, guidance and leadership over the last five years and wish him all the best for the future.
“Chris has led the Board through a time of major change for the company and leaves Redcentric in a stable position with a clearly defined strategy and opportunities for growth.
“Finally, I would also like to thank Chris Rigg for his contribution to the company this year and to wish him well in his new role.”
Cole said: “Having helped lead the changes and progress of the company it is now appropriate to hand over the chairmanship. I wish the company well for the future.”
Johnson said: “I am excited to be joining the Board at the present time. I look forward to working with Peter and my fellow Board directors as the company executes its planned business development strategy.”
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Yorkshire accountancy firm Harris Lacey and Swain, based in Hessle, has appointed a new partner – Richard Tucker.
After 18 years of experience working as an accountant within the firm, he brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the role, with an in-depth knowledge of the needs of clients.
He will be joining current partner, Richard Lacey, using his extensive knowledge to assist with growing the business and continuing to develop a strong internal ethos and culture, aiding the development and training of team members.
Tucker said: “I have been a part of the Harris Lacey and Swain team since leaving school, so joining Richard Lacey as a partner of the firm is a logical step but one that means a great deal, both professionally and personally.
“We have a very positive culture here at the firm, which is reflected by the level of support and encouragement I have received from the whole team following the announcement.”
His new role will see him continue to take a hands-on, tailored approach with clients, building on both new and existing relationships, leading on the roll out of business development strategies, exit strategies and financial planning.
Lacey said: “I am delighted to have Richard on board as a partner in the firm. With nearly two decades under his belt at Harris Lacey and Swain, he has a wealth of knowledge about a range of sectors and delivers an attentive and personal service to his clients.
“This new role will give him the opportunity to take a more active role in nurturing talent within the firm and passing on his invaluable expertise and insight.
“Richard is well regarded both internally and externally for his efficiency and expertise, so I couldn’t be more pleased to be working more closely with him as a fellow partner in the firm. We are already looking at some exciting plans for the future, which will allow us to build our client offer and expand on the wide range of services we deliver to our clients.”
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Will Gardiner, CEO of Drax
North Yorkshire power station Drax has strengthened its biomass sustainability policy and set up an Independent Advisory Board (IAB) of scientists, academics and forestry experts.
The board will ensure the biomass the company uses to generate renewable electricity meets the highest standards.
Drax has outlined how it will use the latest science and best practice and work with academic institutions and non-profit organisations to meet its core commitments to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, protect the natural environment, support people and communities and carry out research and outreach.
Drax also details the evidence the company will gather to increase transparency on its biomass sourcing and impacts. These include using big data and satellite images to evaluate the impact on forest cover and biodiversity in areas that supply the biomass the company uses.
Drax Group CEO, Will Gardiner, said: “We’re committed to continuously raising standards in biomass sustainability, so our sourcing policies must evolve as the science develops.
“With stronger policies in place and an independent board to challenge us every step of the way, we will be setting the standard for others to follow, which is important as sustainable biomass plays an increasing role in addressing climate change.”
The UK Government’s former chief scientific adviser, Sir John Beddington will chair the six-member IAB, which will provide independent advice to Drax in all areas of its biomass sourcing including procurement practises and feedstock options.
Sir John said: “The IPCC and Committee on Climate Change both recognise that sustainably sourced biomass will play an important role in meeting climate change targets. I decided to chair the IAB because it’s vital that biomass is sourced sustainably and takes the latest scientific thinking into account.
“As the science evolves, we will make recommendations to ensure that the biomass used at Drax makes a positive contribution to our climate and the environment.”
Drax’s biomass sustainability policy draws on recommendations made by Forest Research, the research agency of the Forestry Commission, in a report commissioned by the European Climate Foundation, a philanthropic foundation.
The Forest Research report recommends 15 key criteria to deliver sustainable biomass that has the best outcome for the environment. These include favouring biomass that is associated with activities to conserve and enhance forest growth and productivity and a commitment not to take from sources that lead to deforestation.
Following the conversion of two thirds of the North Yorkshire power station to use biomass instead of coal, last year Drax reduced its carbon emissions by over 80% since 2012, making it the UK’s biggest renewable power generator and Europe’s largest decarbonisation project.
The company has plans to go further in its decarbonisation, with the development of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage technologies which could enable Drax to become the world’s first negative emissions power station in the 2030s.
