People: Wake Smith Solicitors; Razor; CDI Alliance; and more

Paralegal Jennifer Robinson has joined Sheffield-based Wake Smith Solicitors’ private client team.

Robinson, 24, joins the six-strong team from specialist estate lawyers April King Legal where she spent the last two years assisting clients throughout the UK with Wills and Powers of Attorney matters.

She completed a law degree, the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and Masters at the University of Sunderland and is currently a graduate member of CILEX with a view to becoming a legal executive in 2021.

She said: “I am thrilled to have joined Wake Smith. The calibre and experience of the private client team is impressive and was one of my many reasons for joining the firm.

“I was also attracted by the company’s values and client focus and am very much looking forward to working with the private client team and the firm as a whole.”

Head of private client, Suzanne Porter, said: “I am delighted to welcome Jennifer to the team. She is a really strong addition and will be a real asset to the department.”

Robinson specialises in a wide range of private client matters including preparing wills and trusts, to delivering comprehensive estate planning solutions to clients, Deputyship administrations and preparation and registration of Lasting Powers of Attorney.

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A Sheffield software company has scaled up by making a series of new hires during lockdown.

Since May 2020, Razor has employed seven new people, the majority of which have taken up key leadership positions.

It has employed a design lead, a marketing and sales lead, a delivery lead and a developer.

These hires complement a further three new team members who joined the business in spring 2020, including software and test leads along with a head of data, AI and analytics.

CEO and founder at Razor, Jamie Hinton, said: “We’ve been very lucky that we’ve been able to continue to grow during this time.

“Helping the Northern tech scene stay strong is key to our cause so I’m very proud to be able to say Razor can recruit at the moment.

“With the world the way it is, businesses are looking for ways to digitally transform what they offer, I think Razor has benefited from the accelerated thinking around digital transformation and automation with new business coming in all the time.

“If there’s anything to learn from the people we’ve hired is that it’s important to focus on more than just previous experiences and a skills checklist when you are recruiting.

“We hire people not CVs. Individuals who can challenge, can take a challenge and think differently in the process.”

Among the latest recruits are Aidan Minton – design lead, Hannah Ackroyd – marketing & sales lead, Hannah Wilkinson – delivery lead and James Kulmer – developer.

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CDI Alliance, a management and business consultancy, has appointed marketing consultant Deborah Goodall as associate director.

The company specialises in developing and delivering publicly funded business support programmes on behalf of Local Enterprise Partnerships and Local Authorities.

It is currently delivering contracts across Lancashire, Yorkshire, The Humber and Lincolnshire and has seen an increase in workload since the start of the COVID-19 crisis, with all of the delivery of support to businesses operating virtually.

Goodall has been running her own marketing consultancy, Aer8 Marketing, for 10 years and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. She took up her role as associate director from yesterday – 1 September.

She will work alongside the three CDI Alliance directors, Stuart McFarlane-Bedford, Richard Lukey and Guy Lewis to develop new business ideas and opportunities, work on growing the business by winning new contracts and to help manage its project work and growing Associate base.

She has 25 years’ experience of growing businesses through effective marketing both as a consultant and within marketing departments and has experience in B2B and B2C environments.

McFarlane-Bedford said: “Deborah has worked with CDI Alliance as an Associate for three years and has delivered high quality work both as a consultant and a presenter of Workshops, Webinars and Interactive Masterclasses, and we have received excellent feedback from the businesses she has worked with.

“Her marketing skills, knowledge and experience will complement the rest of the management team and we are delighted that Deborah has accepted this role.”

CDI Alliance is based at the Round Foundry Media Centre, on the South Bank, in Leeds.

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The Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce has welcomed four new members of staff across its membership, events and export departments.

Onita Harrison joins the Chamber as head of commercial services and membership, Emma Sinfield as membership sales co-ordinator, with Clementine Crowther being appointed as events assistant and Keeley Dolan as trainee certification and customer services coordinator.

Managing director, Martin Hathaway, said: “It is a pleasure to welcome Onita, Emma, Clementine and Keeley to the team.

“Each brings with them a range of skills and experience to help further support our members through this incredibly challenging time for the business community.”

With a background in strategic planning, business, and economic development, Harrison brings with her a wealth of knowledge in public, private, voluntary and community sector change management.

She will manage and oversee all membership activity as well as all events, marketing, and promotional activities.

She said: “Taking on the role of head of commercial services and membership is a brilliant opportunity.

“I am looking forward to working with the team to implement new strategies to help take the overall membership experience to the next level.”

Sinfield and Crowther will be working alongside Harrison to promote events, and as dedicated account managers to support existing members and welcome new members to the Chamber.

Sinfield holds a BA (Hons) in Fashion and Clothing and has additional experience in senior business management, logistics and retail, with previous roles seeing her responsible for marketing, web design and client communications.

A recent graduate from The University of Huddersfield with a BA Hons in Events Management and a MSc in Marketing Communications, Crowther has an additional skillset in the travel, tourism, and leisure industry.

As a skilled corporate events lead, she enjoys organising major awards and conference events in the Yorkshire region.

Dolan will support the team and help develop skills in key areas of exporting, including customs documentation and international trade.

As well as five years retail sector experience, she also holds a BA in Travel and Tourism Management and is looking forward to supporting the export sector through the future challenges of the impact of Brexit and global economic opportunities for members.