People: Walker Morris; JMG Group; Sheffield Culture Collective; and more

Law firm, Walker Morris, has appointed George Bacon as partner to its specialist Real Estate Group.

This appointment, the latest in a string of lateral hires to boost the firm’s leading Real Estate team, now comprising nearly 40 lawyers, 10 of which are partners.

Bacon joins from Eversheds Sutherland, where he was head of Leeds Real Estate.

He brings with him over 20 years’ experience in acting for clients comprising national retailers, developers, and property investors.

Bacon’s recent work includes forward funding deals for the development of significant distribution sites; acquisition and development of sites across a wide range of asset classes; and advising on the letting of a newly developed retail and leisure scheme.

Walker Morris’s Real Estate Group represents all of the various parties involved in real estate transactions including sellers, buyers, developers, investors, partners, lenders, borrowers, landlords and tenants; with clients ranking among the top players in the industry.

Jeremy Moore, partner in the Real Estate Group, said: “As a firm we are making a significant investment in talent acquisition to grow our business and practice expertise, to further reinforce our position as the pre-eminent firm outside of London.

“We are so pleased to welcome our new partner, George, to the Real Estate team, bringing with him over two decades of experience in the sector and further boosting the Group’s specialist knowledge and expertise.”

This latest announcement follows a raft of additional senior appointments and promotions across the firm in the last six months, including the landmark 21 internal promotions announced in May, which saw the appointment of four new partners, five directors and an additional 12 senior associates.

Bacon said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Walker Morris as part of its distinguished Real Estate Group.

“As a unique one-site firm located in Leeds, Walker Morris’ entrepreneurial philosophy, excellent reputation and breadth of expertise give it a distinctive edge and I am looking forward to being a part of one of the strongest specialist Real Estate teams in the country.”

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JMG Group has appointed experienced cyber, data and crime client director, Andy Parkin, in a move to increase awareness of the serious risk of cybercrime amongst its insurance clients.

Parkin joins the firm as its client director responsible for cyber insurance across all Group businesses, based out of the Professional Risks insurance broking business in Guiseley.

With 35 years in the insurance industry, he has gained top level experience in organisations including Heath Lambert and Towergate Insurance. He joins JM Glendinning from Bollington Insurance Brokers in Harrogate – an office he established.

He will work with businesses across the JMG Group to make clients aware of their exposures to cybercrime and help them to put suitable insurance protection in place.

His appointment comes at a crucial time as cybercrime is now the fastest growing crime in the UK, heightened by COVID-19 restrictions increasing remote working at short notice and businesses underestimating their additional off-site risks and increased exposure to cybercrime.

Parkin said: “There’s no playing down how catastrophic cybercrime can be for its victims.

“Yet it is estimated that less than 8% of companies purchase cyber insurance, with many assuming their firewalls, antivirus and external IT company will manage this exposure, which is not the case.

“I will ensure our clients can access the most up to date and appropriate cybercrime insurance and risk management support.

“I am thoroughly excited to be part of this fast-moving business and to add to what is already an exceptional client service offering.”

Jake Fox, JM Glendinning Professional Risks MD, said: “Andy is a great hire for us and will be a real asset as we look to grow our cyber liability insurance proposition.

“Having a dedicated director responsible for cyber, data and crime insurance shows that we are serious about ensuring that clients reduce their risk to keep both themselves and their businesses safe.”

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Sheffield Culture Collective has appointed Lord Bob Kerslake to oversee implementation of the organisation’s inaugural strategy and help drive investment and growth in the region’s cultural sector.

Lord Kerslake takes over from Dame Julie Kenny and will take up his new role in September.

Sheffield Culture Collective is a public private partnership which was formed in 2019 in response to a national enquiry into how cities can use culture to drive growth and create a stronger and fairer society.

It includes cultural, arts, civic and political leaders as well as senior figures from the regional business community.

Last month the Collective launched its first ever strategy for how culture can unlock Sheffield’s untapped economic and social potential.

In the strategy it spotlighted delivery of four pivotal arts projects which could become the north’s cultural crown jewels. These include the S1 Artspace at Park Hill, The Graves Gallery and Central Library, education and music partnership Harmony Works and Tinsley Art Project.

Lord Kerslake said: “I congratulate the Collective for the excellent work it has already done under Dame Julie Kenny’s leadership in creating its ground-breaking strategy.

“The task ahead is to move this to delivery. This will only be possible with a clear focus on the priorities and close collaboration across the partnership.

“It will predominately be about influencing leadership and powerful advocacy. I look forward to working with others to make the strategy a reality.”

Dame Julie added: “I am delighted that Lord Kerslake has been appointed as the next chair of the Collective.

“Lord Kerslake has extensive national and local connections and experience of delivering complex strategies. This will ensure that in Sheffield, we will be able to deliver culturally important projects in the future and level up investment in culture in our great city.

“Most importantly, we want to place culture and creativity at the heart of Sheffield’s future, allowing every individual and every community in Sheffield to thrive.”

The Collective’s strategy details wide-ranging projects and outlines how culture can be an economic shot in the arm as the city navigates beyond Covid.

The blueprint also charts how culture can become accessible to a new audience, support tourism, drive better health, education, community and individual wellbeing.

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Bradford-based ambulance and police vehicle conversion specialist, VCS, has appointed experienced technical sales and aftersales specialist, Ian Schofield, to the role of sales engineering manager.

Having started work in the automotive sector as an apprentice in the early 1980s, Schofield has held numerous service and sales-focused roles in his near-40-year career.

This includes more than a decade’s experience working in the emergency services sector, where he held senior sales, aftersales and quality-focused roles.

At VCS he will be a crucial conduit between the company’s sales and technical teams. This ensures it can provide an even greater depth of clarity and detail for VCS customers, especially when working on complex and large-scale projects.

Schofield said: “I really am very pleased to be working with VCS. It’s great to be part of such a forward thinking, innovative company.

“After a decade of working in the emergency services sector, I’ve come to admire VCS, and it’s great to finally be working on some of its ground-breaking projects.”

Mark Kerrigan, managing director at VCS, said: “The wealth of experience demonstrated by Ian is outdone only by his incredible ability and understanding of the emergency service sector.

“I have known Ian for many years and am sure he will be a great credit to the entire VCS team and our customers.”