People: BDO; Bowman Riley; Hub; Hortor; DLA Piper; and more

Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO has announced the promotion of more than 50 people across its team in Yorkshire and the North East, including two promotions to partner.

Karen Riley has been promoted to partner in the firm’s tax risk team. She is joined as partner by Neil Ebdon, who has been promoted in the audit practice.

Riley, who joined BDO in 2014, provides a range of tax advisory services to a variety of corporate groups, with a particular focus on tax risk management.

Terry Jones, head of BDO in Yorkshire and the North East, said: “Karen has been very dynamic in identifying and pushing forward new opportunities for growth nationally, while also developing our offering in the regional marketplace. As the profile of corporate tax clients changes in the region, she will be perfectly placed to tap into a lucrative market, generating significant potential both in Yorkshire and for the wider tax business.”

Since joining the firm in 2007 as a graduate trainee, Ebdon has built up a strong reputation for managing statutory audits for private companies, AIM-listed businesses and private equity-backed companies across a wide range of sectors.

Jones said: “Neil has built a fantastic reputation in the region with a particular focus on the dynamic private equity sector. Neil is also very highly regarded by colleagues across the firm and has rapidly progressed from graduate to partner at BDO because of his talent, commitment, and drive. Now with an ambitious five-year growth plan in place for the North Audit team, Neil will have an important part to play in delivering this. Both Neil and Karen should be incredibly proud of their achievements.”

In the region, BDO has promoted 56 people in the Leeds office.

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Property consultancy Bowman Riley has promoted three staff.

Kara Thorpe has been promoted to head of finance, with Brandon Strike to IT manager and James Barnes to senior architect.

Thorpe joined Bowman Riley seven years ago as the financial controller.

After completing his BSc in Computer Networks and Systems Support, Strike was promoted to IT manager.

Chartered architect James Barnes joined Bowman Riley seven years ago.  He has been leading projects predominantly in the healthcare sector.

Michael Feather, managing director, Bowman Riley, said: “We have been working hard this year to create career pathways to enable our team to develop in their careers and grow within the business.  As a result, we have been able to support Kara, Brandon and James in their professional development.  They have all shown commitment and dedication to achieving their promotions.”

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Integrated agency Hub has appointed Rob Shaw as CEO.

Shaw, who has previously held the CEO role at Epiphany, Jaywing PLC and most recently CreativeRace, announced on LinkedIn in September that he was in conversations with a number of companies about his next position.

Chris Hudson, chairman at Hub who founded the agency with his partner and managing sirector Helen and Simon Pluck as creative director in 2007, said: “We founded and built Hub on a core set of values centred around doing the right thing for our clients and our colleagues. Success for them is success for us. When we heard that Rob was planning his next role, we approached him about joining Hub. After a number of years of organic growth, building our capabilities and our client base, we are focused on the next phase for the agency and Rob coming on board will accelerate that ambition.”

Shaw said: “I’m delighted to be taking the helm at another independent Northern agency that has big ambitions for the future. Hub is already an integrated agency with an enviable breadth of capabilities from creative and strategy, across media planning and photography through to web development and performance marketing. It also has an enviable client roster to match and I’m looking forward to working with the team here to plan and deliver their future growth plans. I’ve had a fantastic few weeks since leaving CreativeRace, speaking to friends in the industry and agency owners to ensure I made the right decision on my next role. Hub is a hidden gem of the agency scene, and I couldn’t be more excited to start telling their story and supporting their growth.”

Hub has offices and extensive photographic studios in Calverley and provides marketing services to clients across the UK and Europe including Booker, La Redoute, Kingswood Corporation and Somfy.

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DLA Piper has welcomed the first cohort of solicitor apprentices to its Leeds office – Emma-Thea Jones, Sophie Kenny, Jonathan Tembo, Seb Tomy and Aliya Waid.

The Solicitor Apprenticeship, which was launched by the firm last year, offers school-leavers the opportunity to earn whilst working and studying towards a law degree and qualification as a solicitor.

Over the course of six years, Jones, Kenny, Tembo, Tomy and Waid will rotate through the firm’s practice groups and sectors. As they progress, there will also be client and international secondment opportunities. Upon completion of the programme the apprentices will become qualified solicitors.

The programme runs in parallel to DLA Piper’s established  graduate training contract scheme. It expands the apprentice programme the firm started last year for Service Delivery Apprentices who will gain experience in the Legal Delivery Centre (LDC) and wider service delivery teams. At the end of the two year programme they will be awarded a Level 3 Paralegal Apprenticeship standard.

Andrew Dyson, DLA Piper’s office managing partner for Leeds, said: “We’re proud to welcome Emma-Thea, Sophie, Jonathan, Seb and Aliya as they embark upon the first chapter of their legal career. The Solicitor Apprenticeship is an exciting and important development for our office community here in Leeds, ahead of our move to City Square House in 2024. The programme is a great way to develop grass roots talent within the region, complementing more traditional routes into law with an alternative entry point for school leavers. I wish them all the best and look forward to following their journey as they progress within the firm.”

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Hortor, the resourcing and managed service consultancy headquartered in Leeds, has appointment Ricky Hopwood as head of new partnerships, supporting its strategy to expand its client portfolio both in the UK and across the globe.

With more than ten years experience in recruitment and sales, he brings a wealth of transferable skills, most recently managing the upskilling and retraining of tech specialists.

In his new role, he will take on responsibility for identifying new opportunities at Hortor, building relationships with relevant global businesses and introducing the services the company offers to those that have yet to work with the organisation.

Hopwood will also support the Grad to Industry service that was recently launched by the business to bridge the gap between graduates and companies looking for professional and qualified contractors.

He said: “Recruitment is one of the most competitive yet rewarding industries to work in. The natural challenges that come with the role are an exciting prospect and I am looking forward to developing my role and the opportunities that I can bring the business.

“There is no doubt that Hortor is embarking on an exciting growth journey and I’m excited to be a part of that. Grad to Industry is just one example of this and I can see how it could quickly become one of the most popular services we offer.”

COO Andy Roe said: “Ricky is a great addition to our team. Not only does he bring relevant experience to the role but also the right attitude. He is enthusiastic and has already made some suggestions that add real value to our business.

“We look forward to supporting Ricky on his journey and to providing him with the opportunities to build and develop his career, while he works to do the same for others.”

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The Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce has expanded its team with the appointment of a new export certification supervisor Emma Jickells to manage the day-to-day workings of its MY Export Hub department.

Jickells will lead the drive on compliance procedures, accuracy levels and service delivery standards, as a British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) accredited Chamber.

Martin Hathaway, managing director at the Mid Yorkshire Chamber, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Emma to the team, supporting our Chamber in our aim to connect, support and represent organisations across Halifax, Huddersfield and Wakefield.

“Emma is already proving to be a vital asset to the team in overseeing the smooth running of our day-to-day services.”

Jickells added: “The history of the Chamber speaks for itself, and I am excited to be part of such a long-standing institution.

“I’m very excited to be involved in the future of the Chamber, expanding our customer base and ensuring a continuing excellent service. My team have been very welcoming and it’s lovely to be around like-minded people.

“Having a very strong administration background, I was very attracted to this role. Also, the focus on training was a draw for me as I am a firm believer in constant development, and I try to inspire that in others.”