People: Chartered surveyor recruited; Trio of newly qualified solicitors given permanent roles at firm; Hotel manager appointed; and more

North of England property firm Dacre Son & Hartley has appointed chartered surveyor Zoe Harrison as a land agent within its agricultural division, headquartered in Ilkley.

Harrison, who graduated from Harper Adams University in Shropshire with a degree in Rural Enterprise and Land Management joins from Lister Haigh, where she spent over four years and achieved her APC qualification. She previously worked for Davis & Bowring in Lancashire.

She is a RICS member and registered valuer. In her new role she will work with the head of the department, Ian Cox, on the sale, purchase and management of agricultural, forestry and sporting estates throughout the North of England.

Based in the heart of Wharfedale at the firm’s Ilkley office,  she will work across a wide portfolio of clients from single farms to some of the finest country estates in the region.

She said: “I’m looking forward to my new role within Dacres. The firm has a great reputation and it’s an opportunity for me to progress my career, working with clients, who range from private land owners to charities and major pension funds.

“The agricultural division also handles compulsory purchase and pipeline negotiations, compensation claims, land sales and letting, farms and sporting rights, as well as estate management and provides professional consultancy services on all aspects of rural property work, so it will be a busy role – but one with plenty of variety.”

Cox added: “We are known for our high standards and quality advice and have many long-standing clients as well as plenty of new ones, who often come to us for advice through personal recommendation.

“As a result, we were keen to expand our team, and Zoe has both the relevant experience and professional approach we were looking for.”

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Three trainee solicitors at Yorkshire based LCF Law have successfully qualified and been offered permanent roles by the firm, across its corporate and personal divisions.

Clare Bennett, Patricia Obawole and William Reynolds have all spent the last two years working as trainee solicitors at LCF Law.

Both Obawole and Reynoleds are now based in the firm’s corporate division in Leeds city centre. Obawole graduated from Bournemouth University in 2016, before joining LCF Law the following summer. Reynolds graduated from Leeds Beckett University in 2015 and immediately secured a paralegal role at LCF Law, before becoming a trainee solicitor two years later.

Bennett is now based in the firm’s Bradford office offering a wide range of personal law services including advising on Powers of Attorney, wills and probate. She originally graduated from the University of Exeter before embarking on a course with the University of Law and then joining LCF Law in September 2017.

Susan Clark, who heads LCF Law’s corporate team, said: “Clare, Patricia and William have all enjoyed a very successful two years, working across a range of our departments, and thoroughly deserve to qualify.

“During this time, they’ve continually demonstrated their capabilities, and gone above and beyond for clients, so we’re delighted to offer them permanent roles and look forward to seeing them embark on the next chapter of their careers with us.”

LCF Law employs more than 145 people across offices in Bradford, Leeds, Harrogate and Ilkley.

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Vine Hotels has appointed Richard Beck to the role of hotel manager at Best Western Plus Mosbrough Hall Hotel, in Sheffield.

Beck joins from Cedar Court Hotel in Bradford where he was deputy general manager for 18 months, responsible for the day-to-day running of the 131-bedroom hotel as well as implementing new projects.

Previous to that he was operations manager at the hotel and was also general manager at Best Western Pennine Manor Hotel, in Huddersfield.

His new role will see him look to further enhance the hotel’s great reputation across all elements of its business from hospitality for individual guests, weddings and private hire, to corporate over-night stays to the growing conference and meetings offering.

Beck said: “I’ve been an admirer of the Vine Hotels group for a while and am now delighted to be part of the team.

“Mosbrough Hall Hotel is a very special hotel and offers all of its guests a really unique experience. It boasts excellent levels of customer service and I’m looking forward to enhancing and growing all elements of the business.”

Garin Davies, CEO at Vine Hotels, added: “Richard’s experience is second to none and he’s a great addition to the team. He’s an excellent leader and I’m excited to see the impact he will have on growing the business and ensuring the hotel goes from strength to strength.”

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Benchmark, the Sheffield-based listed aquaculture health, nutrition and genetics business, has updated its previous appointment announcement of Septima Maguire as Chief Financial Officer.

Septima has joined the business today, but will become CFO with effect from 18 December 2019. Mark Plampin remains CFO of the Group until that date to ensure an effective transition.

Maguire joins Benchmark from Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC, the FTSE 250 international provider of specialist veterinary pharmaceuticals and related products, where she spent four years.

Having joined as group financial controller she was acting group finance director between 2016 and 2017. She was most recently corporate development director overseeing all aspects of acquisition activities, strategic projects, business development and investment initiatives playing a significant role in supporting the company during a period of high growth.

Previously, she held a number of senior finance roles at Ardagh Group SA, the international packaging manufacturer with revenues of €9.1bn, over a period of six years.