People: Reward Finance; Sheffield College; Lupton Fawcett

Reward Finance Group has appointed Harriet Gibbs as business development director in its Leeds office in response to a growing demand for its funding products across Yorkshire and the North East.

Gibbs joins the alternative finance company from Leonard Curtis where she spent three years as business development manager. With a background in corporate finance, she has built a significant network of accountants and advisers across the region and will play a key part in the strategy to take Reward to new audiences across the Yorkshire and North East region.

Commenting on her new role, Gibbs said: “Having worked with Reward in previous roles, I have watched their growth story and have seen first hand the impact they are having on the SME funding market with their straightforward and flexible approach to lending.

“My own experience tells me that business owners want lenders that can quickly understand how their business operates and provide quick solutions to their funding needs. I am therefore excited about being able to introduce Reward and their refreshing approach to lending to my own network and their clients.”

To further strengthen the team, John Gallagher will also be joining as a business development director. Having been with Reward for more than six years, Gallagher is already a key part of the Reward team and his experience and in-depth knowledge of its products will prove invaluable in supporting Harriet and existing business development director, Simon Micklethwaite, as they expand the reach of Reward in the region.

As the final piece in the jigsaw, Luke Drysdale has also moved into a business development manager role. With a background in asset based lending, Luke will work alongside John and the wider team in taking the newly launched Asset Based Solutions product to the market.

Speaking about the strengthened team, Gemma Wright, Reward’s MD for Yorkshire and the North East, said: “As our reputation grows across the region, leading to a record number of deals being written, and with the scale of opportunity for us in the market right now, it was important for us to grow and develop the new business team.

“It is great therefore that we have been able to attract Harriet to the company with her experience within the finance sector and a wealth of introducer contacts. And with such a solid team alongside her, I am confident that we can have a real impact in supporting SMEs across the whole of the Yorkshire and North East region.”

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Helen Molton, vice principal for higher technical skills and academic studies

Sheffield College has appointed a new vice principal for higher technical skills and academic studies.

Helen Molton joined the college in September, with a remit that includes the strategic oversight of higher technical skills provision, university level qualifications, access to higher education diplomas and A Levels at the Sheffield sixth form.

Prior to joining the college, Molten held senior positions in a range of higher and further education institutions including the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, the University of Hull, Bishop Burton College and Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education.

She said said: “The college is well placed to deliver higher technical skills that enable our students to go further in their careers and support the economy. It’s exciting to lead the implementation of that strategy. I am delighted to have joined the College at such an exciting time.”

Angela Foulkes, chief executive and principal, at Sheffield College, added: “It’s great to welcome Helen to the College. She joins at a crucial time when there is growing recognition of the importance of higher technical education and training to support a skills-led pandemic economic recovery.”

The Sheffield College offers a broad curriculum including apprenticeships, vocational diplomas, A Levels, access courses, and foundation and honours degrees.

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Emma Rennison and Chris Burns of Lupton Fawcett

Yorkshire law firm Lupton Fawcett has welcomed newly qualified solicitor Emma Rennison to its family law team.

Rennison joined the firm with an undergraduate degree in law, and while gaining experience across all legal specialities, she completed a Legal Practice Course with a combined LLM Masters Degree in professional legal practice at the University of Law in Leeds, graduating with distinction in August 2019. Emma has now qualified into the family department at Lupton Fawcett.

Chris Burns, head of family law at Lupton Fawcett, said: “Congratulations to Emma on this fantastic achievement. She has already gained considerable experience while training with the firm and we are delighted that she has chosen to specialise in family law. Young talent is the lifeblood of our business, which is why we are so committed to bringing through the next generation of talent.”

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Medilink North of England (Medilink) has announced changes to its executive team as it approaches its 25th anniversary.

The move will strengthen the membership organisation’s ability to seize future opportunities and respond to the needs of the rapidly changing environment for healthcare delivery.

Kevin Kiely

Kevin Kiely, the co-founder of Medilink, will step down from his role as CEO and take up a new position as executive chair, effective 1st January 2022. This move will enable Kiely to commit more time to his role as Medilink UK CEO, developing the national infrastructure and more effectively representing the life science industry.

Tom Elliott

Tom Elliott, Medilink’s international director, will become managing director on 1st January 2022 and have responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the business and for strategic leadership, taking Medilink on the next chapter in its journey. Elliot will continue to work alongside the international team on the delivery of all projects as well as having continued responsibility for the Medilink UK international strategy and exhibition programme.

These changes come as Gareth Lloyd Jones, who has been on the board since its inception and has chaired it for nearly 25 years, has decided to step down at the end of the year.

Commenting on the changes Jones said: “I joined the Board of Medilink at its inception in 1997 and assumed the role of Chairman in 2002. The broadening of the company’s remit from MedTech to Life Sciences, and the extension of its reach to embrace the whole of the North of England, has been a success and provides a solid platform for future growth.

“I feel it is the right time for me to step down, knowing that Kevin Kiely will not only do an excellent job in chairing the Board but in consolidating the considerable achievements of the Medilink UK network. Likewise, I feel confident that Tom Elliott has the qualities required to lead Medilink North of England into the next phase of its development, over the next 25 years!’

Kiely added: “The lessons we learnt from the pandemic are now being harnessed to further accelerate transformation in healthcare delivery and Medilink must also continue to evolve to meet these needs.

“My new role as part time Executive Chair will allow me to commit more time to developing the Medilink UK national infrastructure and to engage more effectively with government as post pandemic and post Brexit policies are being developed. I am confident that Tom Elliott will continue to be responsive to changing needs and lead Medilink to a new stage in its development.”