People: York & North Yorkshire LEP; MCI Developments; Harron Homes; and more

After 10 years as a board member, serving the last three years as LEP chair, David Kerfoot stands down today at his final board meeting with York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

During his time as chair, he has seen the LEP deliver over £220m of investment into the region, including over £115m on capital projects and £105m of skills and business support programmes.

James Farrar, chief operating officer of York & North Yorkshire LEP, said: “Working with David, particularly over the last three years in his role as chair, has been a huge privilege.

“David is an authentic leader and what he wants for our region is for the LEP to deliver real impact on the ground, locally, and make a positive difference.

“David has championed our region, ensuring that as a vastly rural place, with distinctions of the North Yorkshire coastline and the unique City of York, our region’s opportunities are recognised and valued.

“Under David’s leadership, we have developed a clear vision for North Yorkshire as a greener, fairer, stronger place with a pivotal role in ensuring the whole of north reach their carbon negative ambitions.”

Kerfoot said: “Our LEP has always been proud to be on the ground, working locally, building strong relationships and really getting to grips with the diverse range of places on our patch.

“Whether delivering capital investment, skills programmes and business support or developing strategic approaches that can reshape our economy, every single thing that we have achieved over the years has been as a product of great partnerships.

“This last year our partnerships have gone from strength to strength.”

As Kerfoot stands down, Helen Simpson will succeed him, when she takes up her role of chair from Monday 22 March 2021.

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MCI Developments, part of national homebuilder Keepmoat Homes, has expanded into Yorkshire with the appointment of a new regional managing director.

Nigel Robson, 47, from Leeds is bringing with him over 25 years’ experience in housing and development.

Having previously worked at Strata as pre-development director, he has gained extensive experience in the speculative housing market, delivering land and pre-development processes as well as partnership working with Registered Providers and private developments.

His primary focus will be to lead MCI Developments’ new regional team and create strategic objectives to establish its position of building high quality new homes throughout Yorkshire.

The news comes after the business further expands its senior team in the North West with four new appointments, along with taking o n a new regional managing director in the Midlands, Ken Phillips, as part of its ambitious growth plans to expand into new regions and markets.

Ian Hoad, divisional chairman, said: “We’re pleased to welcome Nigel onboard at MCI Developments.

“His appointment marks an exciting new chapter for the company and we’re confident that with Nigel’s proven track record of success, he will play a significant role in our continued growth plans and create new beginnings and flourishing communities in Yorkshire.”

Robson said: “Alongside growing the portfolio in Yorkshire, my focus will be to expand our team with those who have a passion to build in order to increase our presence and services across the region.

“Having spent the majority of my career within the housebuilder industry, I’m passionate about delivering quality new homes and I’m looking forward to taking the reins and delivering much needed sustainable new homes across Yorkshire, building on repeat business which MCI Developments are renowned for.”

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The Leeds-based Yorkshire regional office of luxury housing developer, Harron Homes Yorkshire, has appointed Peter Barraclough-Smith as its new technical director.

Barraclough-Smith, 43 from Rotherham, joined Harron Homes Yorkshire in January.

He cut his teeth working on building sites over the summer from when he was just 13, before starting a bricklaying apprenticeship.

After completing the apprenticeship and continuing his studies to higher education, he started as a trainee design engineer at Wilcon Homes.

Since then, he has worked for several housing developers, including Taylor Wimpey, David Wilson Homes, Strata and most recently Gleeson Homes, where he has spent the last 11 years.

Barraclough-Smith has climbed the ranks from trainee engineer through to technical manager and finally technical director.

He said: “The property market is steady despite the pandemic, and I think we are in a strong position to achieve our growth plans as we come out of the pandemic.

“One of our priorities is land purchase – identifying sites for developments and having more outlets in order to achieve the strong growth forecast.

“Our team is the driving force for that, and I am excited to join Harron to help our growth plans.”

Tony Lee, managing director for Harron Homes Yorkshire, said: “We’re pleased to welcome Peter to the team.

“As we look to purchase more sites and branch out with the view of building 500 homes a year by 2024, a strong Technical and Planning team is imperative. I believe Peter will be integral to the division’s growth.”

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Two experts in low carbon energy from the University of Hull and Aura have been given roles on the new Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commission. (YHCC)

Sarah Clark, operations manager at Aura, and Professor Dan Parsons, director at the university’s Energy & Environment Institute, will share their knowledge and experience of the Humber’s transition to Net Zero with the new partnership.

The YHCC will bring together representatives from the private, public and civic sectors to tackle the climate crisis, making it the biggest regional climate commission in the UK.

Its focus will be on reducing carbon emissions as quickly as possible, and ensuring people in Yorkshire are prepared to cope with the impacts of climate change, such as flooding, heatwaves and sea level rise.

Clark has been appointed as a commissioner at the new organisation.

She said: “As Operations Manager for Aura with the responsibility for the Aura Innovation Centre (AIC), I decided to apply for the role of commissioner as the purpose of the AIC fits well with the Commission’s aims and objectives.

“Utilising my current position, and past experience, I have good knowledge and connections to help build the Humber’s capacity for tackling the effects of climate change.

“I can provide insight and knowledge with regard to the progress the region’s small and medium size enterprises are making around innovation in low carbon.”

As Aura operations manager at the University of Hull, Clark runs the Aura Innovation Centre, supporting the development of the low carbon SME supply chain, providing access to innovation support, enabling collaboration and knowledge exchange.

She is a project management professional and former business owner with over 25 years’ experience managing complex publicly funded programmes in support of businesses.

Parsons will sit on the Science Panel at YHCC.

He said: “The University of Hull has a leadership position in the transition to a low carbon future, both in terms of our teaching and research as well as our own ambitious commitments as a University to reach a NetZero position by 2027.

“I am excited to be contributing to the broader Yorkshire and Humber journey to a future low carbon society.

“We are leading on a range of important low carbon research projects, from producing the next generation of low carbon heating and cooling systems to our work with Hull City Council on a full-scale, low carbon house demonstrator.”

The YHCC will stand as an independent partnership, which will promote sustainability by supporting climate actions that also protect nature and biodiversity.

It has been developed with the support of the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water, Northern Powergrid, Northern Gas Networks, the TUC, Yorkshire Universities and the University of Leeds.

Liz Barber, CEO of Yorkshire Water, has been appointed as chair of the Commission – in recognition of her significant experience in environmental leadership.

She said: “The formation of the Commission is timely as the UK is about to host the international climate conference COP26.

“This will be an excellent platform to demonstrate what Yorkshire is already doing and to formulate plans to take that further.”