People: Fulcrum; McCormicks Solicitors; Chamber International; and more
Fulcrum, a Sheffield-based multi-utility infrastructure and services provider, has promoted Tom Overfield to the position of operations director as part of its internal succession and progression strategy.
A chartered health and safety professional with extensive experience in the utility and energy sector, Overfield has been with Fulcrum since 2021, joining as area contracts manager for the South West, followed by head of operations for the South of England, before taking on this national role.
He will be focused on maintaining and building upon Fulcrum’s reputation for the delivery of complex multi-utility projects across the housebuilding and Industrial & Commercial sectors.
He began his career in the utilities sector at 16 as an apprentice with Morrison Utility Services before transferring onto a leadership apprenticeship with Transco, which he completed when he was 24.
Overfield became one of the business’ first engineers to move from a direct engineering role to become a safety advisor, which led to him securing a position with Amec, which included a place on its management leadership programme and becoming a chartered safety advisor.
During his career in utilities, he has been involved in a number of high-profile projects including the Hinkley Point nuclear power station and the Severn Wye cable tunnels, which carries high voltage electricity lines beneath the rivers.
He said: “Fulcrum has been extremely supportive of my continued career progression and I’m very proud to take on this important national position.
“The company has a strong identity in the utilities sector based on its reputation for delivering projects to the highest standard and building close and collaborative relationships with customers and our supply chain.
“I am keen to ensure this continues as well secure more new projects across the utilities industry.”
Stuart Crossman, chief operating officer, said: “Tom is an example of the driven and highly talented people we are able to attract to Fulcrum, who are then given the opportunity to develop their careers further and play a significant part in our operations and future growth.
“His expertise has already been of great benefit to the business and in his new role he will be fundamental to the delivery of our pipeline of national projects.”
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North Yorkshire law firm, McCormicks Solicitors, has begun 2023 with a series of new appointments and promotions.
David Leuchars joins the Harrogate-based practice as a solicitor in the Corporate and Commercial department.
He assists the head of department, James Towler, in acting for individuals and companies on corporate transactions for the sale or purchase of businesses or shares and reviewing and advising on company and business structure including drafting partnership and shareholders’ agreements and articles of association.
He also assists with incorporations, re-structuring and general company administration, negotiating and reviewing a wide range of commercial contracts, including agency and sub-contractor agreements and updating terms and conditions and privacy policies.
Stuart Farrar brings more than 40 years’ experience in Residential Conveyancing.
Born in Harrogate, he has worked in Bedford, Luton, Tring and Hertford and specialises in the sale and purchase of all residential property whatever the size and value.
Kate Develly has been offered a training contract by the practice to reflect her dedication and commitment in the firm’s Crime and Fraud department, which she joined just over a year ago.
She recently gained fully accredited status to advise clients at the police station and has proved an asset to the Crime team.
Her former role has been filled with the promotion of Helen Ramsden to criminal law executive. Ramsden is often the first point of contact for clients.
Managing partner Stephen Hopwood said: “It is always good to welcome new talent to the team and these appointments and promotions will help to bolster some very busy departments.”
The new appointments follow those of partner David Birks as head of the Commercial Disputes and Sports Litigation team and commercial litigation solicitor Alex Harrison in the autumn.
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A manager at overseas trade specialist, Chamber International, has been appointed to a national role.
Trade procedures manager, Sam Paley, has been appointed to a national committee of British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) to monitor the quality of certification work within the 53-chamber network.
Paley joined Chamber International as an administrative assistant in 2016 and after extensive training, which included mentoring from the former origin lead at the World Customs Organisation in Brussels, was promoted to manager in 2017.
He holds a British Chambers of Commerce qualification in certification work for trade documents used for customs clearance in international trade.
He now leads for Chamber International on origin consultancy and trains others in his areas of expertise.
As part of the national committee, which will run alongside his role at Chamber International, Paley will attend regular policy meetings, assist chambers with technical enquiries and also inspect trade certification procedures at chambers of commerce throughout the UK to ensure strict quality standards are being met.
He said: “The chamber network issues over half a million certified documents every year and has a global reputation for its high standard of certification work.
“Overseas customs administrations rely on us to provide correctly validated trade documents, and I was flattered to be invited to play a part in helping to maintain the integrity of this service.”
Chamber International director, Tim Bailey, said ”Bringing young talent into international trade and developing them to the highest possible standard has always been part of our mission, so we’re delighted that Sam’s expertise has gained national recognition in this way.”
Chamber International, is the international trade services division of West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce with offices in Bradford and London.
It helps hundreds of new and experienced exporters throughout the UK with a range of specialist services to make exporting easier and more cost-effective.
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South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) have confirmed Richard Stubbs as the new LEP chair.
Stubbs takes over from Lucy Nickson, who has served as South Yorkshire LEP Board interim chair since January 2022.
The LEP is responsible for representing private-sector businesses and setting the strategic direction for economic growth in South Yorkshire.
South Yorkshire Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: “Richard is a highly valued member of the LEP board and we are pleased to see him taking up the position as chair.
“I’d like to thank Lucy Nickson for being an excellent interim chair and, prior to that, vice chair of the LEP, during what was a challenging time for businesses.
“Richard has been an active LEP board member for many years and brings with him a huge amount of passion for helping us boost economic growth in the region.”
Stubbs is CEO of the Yorkshire & Humber AHSN (Yorkshire and Humber Academic Health Science Network), an organisation that supports the NHS to develop and adopt innovation that improves patient care.
He said: “It’s a great honour to be appointed as chair of South Yorkshire LEP. I am looking forward to continuing the work we’ve already been doing to make a positive impact in the local economy and community.
“At this time of many economic challenges, the LEP has an important role in supporting our businesses and people and I’m committed to looking at innovative ways in which we can work even more closely with partners to transform our region for the benefit of all.”
Stubbs holds a number of local roles that allow him to contribute to the region’s economic success.
These include chairing the Strategic Advisory Board for the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre at Sheffield Hallam University, being a director of the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, and as a board trustee of Maltby Learning Trust, a muti-academy trust in Rotherham and Doncaster.
