People: Estate agent office head appointed; Technical solutions team established; and more

Experienced estate agent, Jonathan Raynor, has been appointed to head Yorkshire estate agent, Dacre, Son & Hartley’s Baildon office.

He grew up locally before building and running his own successful estate agency business, specialising in both sales and lettings, in Manchester city centre. He then sold the business, after a decade of trading, and has now returned to Yorkshire.

In his new role, Raynor will head the Baildon office’s team of five, who specialise in both property sales and lettings. He replaces previous Baildon manager Mark Kane, who has been promoted to head Dacre, Son & Hartley’s flagship Skipton office on the cusp of the Yorkshire Dales.

He said: “After previously working in Manchester city centre, mainly selling and letting apartments, it’s great to return home and have the opportunity to work in a different side of the property market.

“Baildon has always been a highly sought-after area, with stunning moorland and countryside on the doorstep, good rail links, a bustling high street and a vast range of property, from first time buyer homes through to large country houses.

“When this is combined with Dacre, Son & Hartley’s prestige and heritage, it makes this a fantastic career move at an exciting time for the property market, which no longer faces the distractions of the election and Brexit uncertainty.

“This is encouraging people, who had held off moving, to put their homes on the market and we’re currently receiving lots of enquiries from potential sellers, which is good for the market because there are plenty of buyers waiting for the right properties to come available.”

Steven Potts, Dacre, Son & Hartley’s area director, who oversees the company’s Baildon, Saltaire and Bingley offices, said: “Our Baildon office is always busy and sits in the heart of the village, where it has been selling and letting homes for more than 20 years.

“Jonathan has great local knowledge and plenty of estate agency experience, which made him the ideal candidate to head up the office and we’re delighted to welcome him to the team.”

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Bradford and Leeds-based pneumatic products and process systems distributor Thorite has established a new Technical Solutions Team.

Alan Donkersley, Thorite’s sales director, explained: “Being technically competent is a vital component for our future growth. Customers are increasingly looking beyond product price to find complete solutions which improve their productivity and reduce their overall costs.

“We have now decided to take our support for customers to a whole new level by creating our new Technical Solutions Team.”

Thorite’s Technical Solutions Department combines Technical Support and System Solutions into one multi-skilled department, headed by technical solutions manager Mike Perry.

Donkersley said: “These are exciting times for Thorite. We are the UK’s only independent supplier of industrial pneumatics, fluid process control products, and systems to offer customers this level of service and this is one of several initiatives that we have planned.

“Combining these service and technical elements into one easy to access team has been many months in the planning. We continually invest heavily in staff recruitment and development to ensure that we offer customers an easy route to the information they need to make an informed decision.”

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Tom Stannard, corporate director for Regeneration and Economic Growth at Wakefield Council, has joined the Institute of Economic Development (IED) Board of Directors.

In a career spanning over 20 years Stannard has worked in a variety of economic development, regeneration and policy roles in councils including Oldham Council in Greater Manchester, Blackburn with Darwen and the London Boroughs. He is also a former deputy CEO of the UK Learning and Work Institute.

Having moved to his current position at Wakefield in 2018, he oversees delivery of the council’s 2018-23 economic strategy for successful business, people and place.

He is responsible for regeneration and economic growth services, including economy and skills; planning, transport and highways; environmental services; property; and arts, culture and leisure.

Stannard is a chartered surveyor, and is also a board director at the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) and deputy national spokesman for Economic Prosperity and Housing for SOLACE.

He said: “I have been an IED member for a number of years and I am keen to see us take a lead role on key issues facing the profession – particularly the climate emergency, labour market issues, and championing sustainable equitable economic growth.

“I have also seen the Institute develop considerably during that time. In particular, the CPD has really improved and is now a really strong offer. I am keen to add to this further with a broader range of expertise, as well as support membership growth and peer support as I have with SOLACE.

“My aspiration is for the IED to be the voice of practical economic development work on the ground, be assertive on our position nationally and be bold on policy changes which affect us, including planning and sustainability.

“We should not assume that we have all the answers and we do not have to be isolated in our thinking. There is strength in collaboration with organisations such as CLES, SOLACE and other strategic partners.”

IED chairman Bev Hurley said: “The Board are delighted to welcome Tom and we are sure his expertise in economic development, regeneration and skills will be of great value to the IED and its members.”

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Intellectual property practice Marks & Clerk has boosted its trade mark practice in the North of England with the appointment of a new Partner, Heather Williams.

Williams joins from Walker Morris and will be operating out of Leeds, to complement the firm’s existing presence in Manchester. She brings experience of filing and protecting trade marks for clients across multiple sectors including food and drink, beauty, fashion and retail.

Her appointment follows growth for Marks & Clerk’s trade mark team last year and further enhances the firm’s capabilities.

She said: “Much has been made of the Northern Powerhouse in recent years. Behind the hype however there is a tangible energy across Leeds, Manchester and the wider region and it’s great to be joining Marks & Clerk as it signals its commitment to the North through the growth of its trade mark practice.

“Business is booming across the North especially in the food and drink and retail sector. Brands such as Henderson’s Relish, Fox’s biscuits, John Smith’s brewery and Betty’s Cafe and its Yorkshire Tea brand are synonymous with Yorkshire – and trade marks are essential to locking in and protecting the value inherent in these brands.

“Likewise, the industry across the North is leading the way on current consumer trends such as meat alternatives, low and no alcohol beverages and sustainable, ecologically sound packaging and business models.

“By leveraging my own experience, and the expertise and global reach of the Marks & Clerk network, I hope to continue working with the many exciting businesses to be found in Yorkshire and beyond.”