People: Lupton Fawcett; Hunter Gee Holroyd; Pegasus World; and more

Yorkshire law firm Lupton Fawcett has boosted its litigation team with the appointment of senior associate Liz Henwood. 

She joins the firm’s expanding Sheffield office to advise on commercial disputes, having advised clients in the city since 2006. 

Henwood brings a wealth of litigation expertise, particularly in relation to contractual claims and disputes involving property.

A keen runner, she recently completed her first 45-mile ultra-marathon. She is a qualified England Athletics Run Leader and is training to be a qualified coach. 

Her arrival follows the recent appointment of Simon Lockley as head of Lupton Fawcett’s Sheffield office and the recruitment of commercial property partner Claire Mayfield-Tulip.

Henwood said: “I’m thrilled to have joined Lupton Fawcett at such an exciting time for the Sheffield office and am really looking forward to working with clients as part of an experienced and highly regarded dispute resolution team.”

Lockley said: “Liz is yet another excellent addition to our rapidly growing Sheffield team as we continue to support our clients and give them a clear advantage as the economic recovery gathers pace.

“I am delighted to have her on board and demonstrate that Lupton Fawcett is the firm to be part of.” 

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Independent York-based accountancy firm Hunter Gee Holroyd has promoted one of its directors to managing director, as part of its ongoing growth plans.

The firm, which has offices in York, Easingwold and Filey, said Mark Grewer would begin his new role with immediate effect.

Grewer, who has a wealth of experience advising owner-managed businesses and heads the corporate finance team, joined the company 32 years ago and became a director in 1999.

Having been with the business for more than 30 years, he has seen it grow from a team of 22 to 40, offering a range of specialist support.

The new management structure will see him taking on the day-to-day running of the business, with support from his director’s Nigel Atkinson and Nigel Everard, along with the senior management team.

Grewer said: “I am taking over as managing director with the company in a strong position, following a turbulent year for us all.

“We have ambitious plans for the future including a fully digital workplace and helping businesses with the transformation to digital tax which will be a growing area of our business.

“I am also looking forward to being able to concentrate on strategic developments which will help pave the way for future growth.”

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Ivan Zhou, founder and managing director of Leeds-based Pegasus World Ltd, has hired his former boss to be his second in command.

Martin Doyle has been appointed as operations director for Pegasus World, the textiles and fulfilment company, which is based at Logic Leeds, by Junction 45 of the M1.

The pair first worked together in 2005 when Doyle was head of the Phones 4u store in Coney Street, York, and Zhou took a weekend job there as a salesman while at the University of York.

Doyle said: “Ivan was a brilliant salesman, even though English was his second language after Chinese. I knew he’d go far, but I didn’t realise he’d go so far as to run a hugely successful textile and fulfilment company – and end up employing me!

“We had always kept in touch as friends and I watched in admiration as he set up Pegasus, which has grown to be one of the most successful textile companies in the north of England.

“After Phones 4u went into liquidation in 2014, I joined HSS Hire, where I enjoyed working – but I absolutely jumped at the chance to join Ivan at Pegasus when he approached me.

“We worked very well together at Phones 4u and there’s no doubt we will again now, despite the role reversal.

“I will be working across the Pegasus Group, looking after the whole of the operations, including our pioneering Curo Fulfilment project, which stores and distributes goods for third parties.”

Zhou added: “Not everyone has happy memories of their first boss – but I do.

“Martin was a massive support to me in my first job and gave me the support and confidence I needed to be a good salesman. His strong work ethic, personal skills and intelligence will make him a tremendous asset at Pegasus.”

When the UK went into its first lockdown last March, Zhou realised that only supplying textiles to the hospitality industry put his business in a precarious position.

He quickly added another division – cleaning and hygiene – providing products such as hand sanitisers, wipes and face masks for offices and retailers.

The initial strategy worked and sales at Pegasus increased by 40% last year compared to the year before.

Pegasus is also building a 65,000 sq ft warehouse near its headquarters at Logic Leeds, which is expected to create 15 to 20 jobs in the coming years.

The building, which will undergo a £1m plus fit-out when it’s completed, will house its new Curo Fulfilment operation, which will store goods for other businesses, pick and pack to order and deliver to customers.

The building will also include 6,000 sq ft of flexible office space, some of which will be available to local businesses to use for hot desks, offices of various sizes from one person to up 10 people as well as meeting rooms available for hire and will be fitted out to a very high standard.

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Ilkley-headquartered children’s bedroom specialists, Room to Grow, has appointed a new head of buying, Holly Blay, to assist in its ambitious plans to double turnover within the next two years.

Blay will play a crucial part in the development of Room to Grow’s 2021 plans, working closely with the leadership team to deliver business growth by setting the buying and sourcing strategy for the buying department.

Using skills developed in previous roles including buyer for Feather & Black and Middle-Eastern retailer Homecentre.

She will place new business with key suppliers, partnering together to deliver the best experience for customers.

Blay said: “It’s such a positive and exciting time to join Room to Grow, and our recent success makes this the perfect time to further develop the product offer and in turn, extend our customer reach.

“Having specialised for 10 years in homeware and furniture buying, I intend to lend my experience and knowledge to deliver innovative and exciting new products for Room to Grow.”

Owner of the business, Anne Davies, said: “We are thrilled to have Holly join the Room to Grow family. Her experience and knowledge in the furniture industry will enable us to expand our ranges and offer even more inspiring products to our customers.

“It is a great time to join the team as the business enters a strong period of growth and we have exciting plans for the future.”