People: BDO; Lupton Fawcett; Gi Group UK; and more
Accountancy and business advisory firm, BDO, has strengthened its sustainability proposition with the appointment of a trio of sustainability and ESG experts.
To help businesses better understand and navigate the complex landscape of sustainability and ESG, BDO has launched a Sustainability and ESG Hub, which will be led by Professor Simon Pringle in Leeds.
The Honorary Professor of Sustainability at the University of Edinburgh Business School specialises in the alignment of commercial strategy with sustainability, risk and reputation.
Pringle, who has held a number of board positions including Leeds City Region LEP, will be supported by Dr Tauni Lanier and Tim House in leading BDO’s sustainability and ESG offering.
Pringle said: “Boardrooms across the UK continue to grapple with how to embed sustainability into the culture and commercial strategy of their organisations.
“Boards and business owners need people around them who understand each specialist issue and know how it applies to the reality of running a business.
“That’s why we’re building our BDO Sustainability and ESG Hub. We will bring together specialist capabilities in a considered way.
“Our hires are, and will be, real specialists as part of a genuine centre of excellence to advise businesses on complex matters like green finance, sustainable development, the circular economy or the development of the hydrogen economy. And they’ll supportively upskill others in the firm as we go.”
Terry Jones, partner and head of BDO in Yorkshire the North East, added: “The arrival of someone of Simon’s calibre and expertise is an important moment, not only for the regional team but for the firm as a whole as we drive to help businesses and society succeed in addressing environmental and social agendas.”
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Yorkshire law firm, Lupton Fawcett, has promoted partner Claire Moss to lead the dispute management team at its Leeds office.
Moss has extensive experience in all aspects of dispute management, with particular expertise in property disputes.
She regularly acts for both commercial and residential landlords and tenants and deals with a variety of claims such as lease renewals, dilapidations, forfeiture and possession, enfranchisement, trespass and breaches of covenant.
She joined Lupton Fawcett as a trainee solicitor at its Leeds office in 2004, becoming a partner in 2021.
In her new role she will be responsible for managing a team of nine and collaborating with other departments in the firm to provide litigation support when required.
She said: “No-one wants to be involved in a dispute but when issues do arise legal support is often vital to resolve things in a way that satisfies both parties.
“We already provide a bespoke dispute management service to clients of all sizes and I’m looking forward to helping to grow this area of the firm and supporting more clients to achieve the best possible outcome, regardless of the value of the dispute.”
Managing partner, James Richardson, said: “Claire has a wealth of experience in her field and a well-deserved reputation for resolving clients’ disputes quickly and efficiently in what can often be complex claims.
“She also exemplifies Lupton Fawcett’s values, delivering outstanding client care and continually seeking better ways to achieve clients’ goals. Her appointment to this role further strengthens our team.”
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Recruitment consultancy Gi Group, which has a base in Morley near Leeds, has appointed Pete Taylor as managing director of Gi Group Staffing UK & Ireland.
Following the acquisition of Encore Personnel, an established Midlands and North recruitment agency set up in 2002, of which Taylor was MD, Gi Group has now successfully completed the merger of the two businesses.
Taylor will succeed Paul Smith who dedicated almost two decades of his career to growing and cementing Gi Group’s presence across the country.
Like Smith, Taylor is an industry veteran who has spent 26 years working in the recruitment sector.
He is known for his impressive track record in managing and uniting teams to achieve the very best of their potential.
He said: “I’m honoured to be taking the baton, as it were, from Paul who has demonstrated in the short time we have worked together how investment in and dedication to the people of Gi Group is the key to success in this very important role.
“Having steered the Encore ship through some of the choppiest waters in our history, during the pandemic and its aftermath, I feel prepared for, while also incredibly humbled, to be taking on the responsibility of the position of MD for our now much larger, united business, which has the combined potential to change thousands of lives for the better.
“Gi Group is one of the most respected and forward-thinking HR and recruitment businesses in the world and I know that with the added talent, passion, diverse skill sets and experience of Encore’s consultants, we are now truly a force to be reckoned with.
“Our mission is simple: to help candidates find fulfilling and rewarding work, while supporting our customers to grow their businesses through, always evolving industry-leading recruitment and HR strategies and practices.”
Gi Group operates more than 26 branches and 60 sites across the UK, employing 650 people nationally. It has established a branch in every major city in the UK with plans for further expansion over the coming months.
Paulo Canoa, country manager, said: “We wish Paul the very best and thank him for his 18 years’ service, having been with us from the very start and being instrumental in the development of the business from a small independent recruiter to where it is now, the second largest country in Gi Group globally.
“Pete Taylor is very experienced in both branch and site delivery models and comes with a wealth of experience in both blue and black collar recruitment across multiple disciplines.
“This will be an exciting new chapter for Gi UK, and the whole business joins me in wishing Pete every success in his new role.”
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Communication Specialist College Doncaster has appointed a new principal to lead the organisation.
Laurent Berges joins the college, part of Doncaster Deaf Trust, with 27 years’ experience of working in the post 16 Further Education sector.
His previous roles included group executive director of curriculum and DN College Group (which consists of Doncaster College and North Lindsey College in Scunthorpe), group director of teaching learning and assessment, also at DN Colleges Group, preceded by 15 years as senior leader – head of curriculum at Wakefield College.
Berges, who is originally from southern France, has lived in South Yorkshire for more than 20 years.
He said: “As a local resident, I have always regarded the college and the trust as a national institution, because of its reputation and the amazing opportunities that it provides to deaf/hard of hearing and other communication needs young people and adults in the region and further afield.
“I am passionate about education and vocational education in particular.
“Since 1996, I have lead on a wide range of study areas including hospitality, catering, hairdressing, beauty therapy, animal care, horticulture, health and social care, childcare, art and design, professional courses Business School and Access to Higher Education programmes – for young people aged 16 to 18 and adults.”
Alexis Johnson, chief executive of Doncaster Deaf Trust, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Laurent to our college.
“He is an experienced senior leader in education with a great track record and we are looking forward to working with him and helping him to create a vision for the future for our already amazing college that further improves our offering for students who need specialist support.”
Berges added: “My vision for Communication Specialist College is to strengthen our links with local deaf communities and improve our curriculum offer by introducing new pathways such as digital media, game design and animal management.
“It is also my strategic ambition to redefine deaf education pathways at the college.”
