People: Hentons; Grant Thornton; and more

Accountancy and advisory firm Hentons is expanding its senior team with the appointment of Simon Roberts as a new tax partner in Leeds.

He will manage a team of experienced tax advisors across the firm’s UK network of offices. He joined the business over 10 years ago and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation.

The firm’s expansion will also see two new partners appointed across its national network.

Tim Baum-Dixon will develop the firm’s digital accounting services, lead the Sheffield office and manage business development and marketing nationally. While David Walker also joins the company to lead the York office.

Commenting on the appointment Simon Gray, tax partner at Hentons, said: “Simon Roberts brings a wealth of experience to his new role.

“He has played an integral part in building a national team of tax advisors that works with entrepreneurs across a diverse range of sectors.

“We now have a client base that stretches from farming communities in North Yorkshire to the entertainment industry in London.

“We must continue to deliver a partner-led service, and Simon brings a passion for his craft to the firm.”

Hentons has undergone rapid growth in recent times with expansion of the range of advisory services offered to clients, from management accounts to giving pro-active tax advice.

The firm has also added to its teams in North Yorkshire, Leeds, Sheffield and London.

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Business advisory firm Grant Thornton has promoted Donna Steel to Partner in its Yorkshire practice.

Audit specialist Steel, who joined Grant Thornton as a graduate 21 years ago, is the firm’s second partner promotion based at its Sheffield office in the last two months.

She follows Emma Davies, who leads the firm’s Special Project team, into the partnership in Yorkshire.

Steel works with a wide and diverse range of businesses across the region, ranging from international groups, stock market listed companies to entrepreneur-led SMEs.

She is a specialist in Defined Benefit Pension Schemes and also leads on audit quality for the Yorkshire practice.

Mark Overfield, Grant Thornton’s head of audit in the North and Scotland, said: “Donna richly deserves her promotion to partner.

“She is already playing an important leadership role within the firm’s audit practice and I know this next step will inspire her further to continue delivering the highest quality to our clients.

“We are committed to recognising outstanding talent, growing our team in Yorkshire, and building on our unique position in the city region.”

Steel said she believes there are considerable opportunities for growth.

She added: “Despite the challenges every business is facing this year, the Yorkshire economy remains diverse and resilient.

“Sheffield retains a strong manufacturing base which is known around the world and is successfully harnessing the knowledge coming out of its universities.

“The UK government’s Industrial Strategy recognises the importance of developing a highly skilled, high value economy built on intellectual property and the region now boasts a thriving pool of tech and innovative-based businesses which bodes well for the future.

“We are confident that businesses value working with local advisers who also have an international footprint and network.”

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Huddersfield-based healthcare service provider Prohms has hired a new sales and marketing manager to help further boost and grow the business’s commercial activity.

Taken on prior to the global disruption caused by COVID-19, Lester Bowers joins the team with over 20 years’ sales experience – 12 of which were primarily based in the health sector.

His key responsibilities will include maintaining close relationships with existing clients, and generate new business in and around the Yorkshire region.

His previous role at Cairn Technology – which supplies NHS hospitals with COSHH monitoring to ensure staff safety – has allowed him to gain in-depth, first-hand experience of how the occupational health industry works.

Bowers said: “I have extensive experience at all levels of sales and account management which I think will give me a good breadth of knowledge for my new role.

“Following my role at Cairn, I’ve got a deeper understanding of what an occupational health provider should be doing for its clients – and more importantly, why.

“And, this has never been more important than now, during COVID-19.

“I’m really excited to be a part of this growing business and I’m looking forward to getting to know my new colleagues, how Prohms works and understanding its core values and beliefs.

“I feel like I have found the right company to match my career ambitions.”

Sandra Babbings, Prohms’ managing director, added: “We are extremely committed to helping our clients protect the health, safety and wellbeing of their employees, wherever they may now be based.

“To do this, we need a strong team behind us, and Lester’s appointment has bolstered our own workforce as we look ahead to future growth beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Lester’s wealth of experience and knowledge of the market – as well as businesses in Yorkshire – really impressed us. I am delighted to have him on board.”