People: Senior hires at industrial automation business; Promotion at law firm; and more

Yorkshire industrial automation specialist Sewtec has appointed two senior managers as the company further implements its expansion strategy.

Andy Perks has joined in the newly created role of head of sales, while Lee Brotherton has been hired as head of purchasing.

Perks arrives at Sewtec from automation and control solutions provider Applied Automation where he was technical sales engineer. Prior to that he was a sales engineer at Kawasaki Robotics.

He brings more than 20 years’ experience to the business across sales and engineering. Perks will play a key role in delivering Sewtec’s strategic and operational sales activity as part of the company’s growth plan.

Previously purchasing manager at Yorkshire engineering business Qualter Hall, Brotherton has more than 12 years’ experience. At Sewtec, he will be responsible for designing, planning and implementing procurement strategies while leading a growing purchasing team.

Sewtec designs, manufactures, installs and commissions complex industrial automation systems for global blue-chip clients in the pharmaceutical, personal care, pet care, food and beverage and tobacco industries.

More than 85% of the company’s sales are exports. Sewtec’s clients include Nestlé, Procter & Gamble, Imperial Tobacco, Tata Global Beverages and Hershey.

This July, Sewtec announced its turnover had more than doubled to a record £28m with EBITDA of £9m, in the year to 30 June 2019. The company is now aiming to deliver a turnover of £50m by 2023.

Sewtec managing director, Mark Cook, said: “Andy and Lee are both great additions to the team. Together, they add more than 30 years of sales and engineering experience and expertise to our business.

“We are actively recruiting for a number of new key positions across technical, sales and production. Andy, Lee and our other new recruits will be instrumental in enabling us to achieve our £50m turnover target by 2023.”

The appointments follow soon after Sewtec announced it will relocate from its current site in Dewsbury to a multi-million pound 75,000 sq ft design and manufacturing facility in Wakefield by March 2020. The two new hires bring Sewtec’s headcount to 132, with plans to bring in 70 new people to the business over the next three years.

Sewtec’s continued business transformation follows a successful management buyout in August 2017, which was backed by Leeds-headquartered private equity firm Endless.

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Haddleton Legal has promoted data specialist Katie Parratt to the role of business intelligence manager to support expansion of the firm’s legal and compliance work with businesses across the UK.

CEO James Haddleton said Parratt’s background in medical informatics has already added value to the firm’s pharmaceutical team, which works with fast growth life sciences businesses and start-ups.

He said: “Katie’s new role will see her making the most of her skills and using data to help clients improve knowledge and processes within their business, whatever their sector.

“We value the fact that we have such a forward-thinking Millennial on the team who understands the very latest thinking around data and can support our own business intelligence and that of our clients.”

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Vine Hotels has promoted Charlotte Brook to the position of operations manager at the Mercure Sheffield Kenwood Hall Hotel & Spa.

Brook has been with Vine Hotels for over six years and in that time has progressed through the company starting as a restaurant supervisor at its DoubleTree by Hilton Sheffield Park Hotel promoted to Food and Beverage Manager and then onto to operations manager across the company’s Whirlowbrook Hall and Mosborough Hall.

Her appointment at Mercure Sheffield Kenwood Hall Hotel & Spa follows the recent promotion of Dan Wilson, who became area manager for the hotel.

Garin Davies, chief executive of Vine Hotels, said: “Charlotte has been with the company for over six years now and has worked extremely hard to get to where she is today.

“We are really proud of her achievements and the dedication she has shown to every role she’s carried out. She has been trained and mentored by the Vine team and is a great example of the career progression offered at Vine Hotels.”

Brook, added: “Working at Vine Hotels has enabled me to progress through various roles to reach the new position of operations manager at Kenwood Hall and I’m looking forward to making an impact. It’s a fantastic property and is complemented by excellent service from a fantastic team.”

Operated by Vine Hotels, the Mercure Sheffield Kenwood Hall Hotel & Spa is a luxury conference venue, hotel and spa in Sheffield.

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The Coalfields Regeneration Trust, which is dedicated to supporting the 5.7 million people living in former mining communities throughout the UK, has appointed Lorna Catchpole as community engagement co-ordinator.

Thanks to a strategic partnership with Yorkshire Sport Foundation, which part-funds the position, Catchpole is working to facilitate community engagement, forge strong relationships with people and build capacity and resilience in Airedale.

With a focus on improving the health and wellbeing of residents, she will support the local community to develop and shape sport and opportunities for physical activities that will encourage residents to become more active and engaged.

Prior to joining the trust, Catchpole gained valuable experience when she worked on estates through her role as a Neighbourhood Ranger at Chesterfield Borough Council. She has also held various positions as a Project and Support Worker for several different housing associations, carried out some community work and ran a small business in Gambia.

She said: “It seems more important than ever to facilitate opportunities to think outside the box and give people hope and a reason for wanting to work towards supporting each other, engaging and feeling better. This role gives me the chance to exchange ideas with people in an accessible and creative way, to bring about productive plans, activities and workshops.

“I understand that Airedale is still facing significant challenges in relation to unemployment, skills and health and wellbeing but I feel that through collaboration with councils, stakeholders and other community-based organisations, we can make a lasting and positive difference for generations to come.”

Kat Clarke, development manager for the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, said: “We know there are still challenges in many of our communities and Airedale is no different. We have two choices; we can allow this to continue or we can do something about it.

“With Lorna’s previous experience, we know she has a passion for bringing people together and positively impacting their lives. As the new community engagement co-ordinator, she will work on the ground and will immerse herself within this area to deliver change.”