People: Saffery Champness; Sagars; Wolf Laundry; and more

The Yorkshire office of accountancy firm Saffery Champness has promoted from within to add a seventh partner to its senior team.

Justine Stalker joined the firm’s corporate tax team eight years ago with a Big Four background. She progressed from senior manager to director before her appointment to partner this month.

She leads across all areas of Corporate Tax service from the firm’s Harrogate office as well as leading Saffery Champness’s R&D tax credit practice nationally, working with clients throughout the UK to help them claim tax credits for innovation.

As partner, she will continue to advise corporates and owner-managed businesses at every stage of their life cycle, ensuring they remain compliant whilst optimising their tax position through advice on structuring, funding and new ventures to preparing for and assisting with a profitable exit.

Stalker said: “I am really excited to be building on our success within our chosen local markets, strengthening relationships and supporting and advising both new and existing clients on all relevant areas of tax.

“I am also looking forward to working with fellow partners to drive the strategy of the business and continue to develop the supportive culture that has helped me build my career with the firm.

“In relation to R&D, from a local perspective, I have been lucky enough to work with some pioneering Yorkshire businesses where technology is being used to push boundaries and create exciting new products and services which are critical to business growth and the health of our regional economy.”

Jonathan Davis, partner at the Harrogate office, said: “Having worked extensively in corporate tax and alongside partners and directors in every area of our business, Justine’s calibre and breadth of experience is unique.

“Her career path with Saffery Champness to partner level demonstrates our ambition to invest in our people and she is an inspiring role model for colleagues who are keen to progress within the firm.”

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Leeds-based chartered accountancy and business advisory firm Sagars, an AAB Group company, has promoted James Hunt to partner from 1 April 2022.

He is a key leadership team member in Leeds, and in the business advisory and virtual finance function (VFF) team.

Hunt is experienced in leading audits for a variety of different businesses, ranging from law firms and manufacturing companies to larger international groups. He also heads the industrial sector team.

The promotion is one of five key partner appointments across the AAB group. Other internal promotions include Alasdair Green, Lauren McIlroy and Katy Christiansen, who are all based in the business’ Aberdeen office. Paula Fraser has also joined the group as a tax partner, based in the Edinburgh office.

Chris Jones, managing partner, said: “James’ appointment to partner recognises his extensive technical expertise, as well as his contribution and commitment to the business.

“His promotion, along with the partner promotions and appointments across the wider AAB group, is the most recent demonstration of our commitment to developing talent and investing in our ever-growing team.”

Graeme Allan, AAB Group chief executive, added: “These partner appointments not only demonstrate the depth of talent being developed across the group, but also our ability to attract top talent to our business.

“Each of our new partners will play a key role in developing their own areas of expertise, as well as supporting the delivery of the group’s growth strategy.

“As a leadership team, we will continue to develop our portfolio of tech enabled services to meet the changing needs of our clients across the UK and globally.”

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Barnsley-based Wolf Laundry, which supplies commercial laundry and warewashing equipment across the UK, has strengthened its team with the appointment of a new human resource manager.

Lindsay Sanders who has 15 years experience, joins as the business moves to new 20,000 sq feet premises in Barnsley.

Prior to joining, Lindsay worked for GXO at ASOS, and before that held HR roles at TC Facilities Management, Sheffield Forgemasters, and NEXT.

Drawing on her wealth of experience, she will support Wolf Laundry’s five-year growth plan by devising and implementing the HR strategy and people plan.

Dan Riley, joint managing director, said: “Lindsay will play an integral role in the business, delivering our HR strategy to ensure we attract the right talent as we continue to expand, retain our valuable employees and support their career progression.

“A robust HR programme is a vital part of our ambitious five-year plan, and Lindsay with her extensive experience and training, is the right person to deliver this.”

Sanders said: “I was drawn to Wolf Laundry as it has an impressive history of growth and an ambitious five-year plan that I’m proud to now be supporting.

“Importantly they recognise success is a team effort and really care about their employees. I’m here to ensure both our HR strategy and our people plan develop in line with business growth, placing our people and our values at the heart of what we do.”

A member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development, Sanders is currently working towards her Masters Degree in Human Resource Management.

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Vicky Huthart, co-founder and CEO of three businesses in Leeds, has been appointed to the Board of Trustee’s for The Long Game charity.

The charity works with autistic students and graduates to create opportunities for the autistic community to share their knowledge and experience, whether this be through employability events, online resources or one-to-one mentoring.

The Long Game was founded by Gemma Holtam, who herself was diagnosed as autistic and having ADHD as an adult.

Huthart’s input to the charity will involve supporting in employee/employer relations, helping to ensure the organisations that the charity engages with are knowledgeable and proactive in supporting autistic people and are able to empower and support them.

She said: “The education sector and employment opportunities are largely not welcoming of neurodiverse people, this comes from a lack of understanding from employers and a fear of stigma from the individuals too.

“Having family members diagnosed autistic, I felt that joining The Long Game was an opportunity for me to share my knowledge and improve inclusivity in these sectors.”

She is the co-founder and CEO of Tribe HR & Recruitment Services, an outsourced HR provider for SMEs servicing England and Wales, with a current client base stretching from Northumberland to London. She has also gone onto co-found, two further companies, Tribe Energy Services and Q The Label.

Holtam said: “I am absolutely thrilled that Vicky has joined our board. The knowledge Vicky has gained as a leader in HR and recruitment will be instrumental to this success of The Long Game and I am incredibly grateful for her support.”